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Biomedical subjects

C Giordano

Publications and source records attributed to C Giordano.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Immunoregulatory T-lymphocyte subset deficiency in newly diagnosed type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus.

Humoral and cell-mediated disorders in Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes suggest that an imbalance of immunoregulatory T-cell subsets exists. In 23 newly diagnosed (onset less than 3 months) and 21 long-standing Type 1 diabetic patients, T lymphocyte subsets were analyzed using monoclonal antibodies (OKT3, OKT4, OKT8, OKM1). The newly diagnosed patients showed a reduction with a significant difference from healthy controls in total T cells (OKT3+: 58.1 +/- 8.5% versus 70.7 +/- 8.0%), helper/inducer cells (OKT4+: 33.8 +/- 7.0% versus 47.1 +/- 8.3%), suppressor/cytotoxic cells (OKT8+: 18.5 +/- 7.3% versus 32 +/- 6.8%) and monocytes (OKM1+: 11.5 +/- 3.8% versus 19.9 +/- 5.2%) (p less than 0.001). The long-standing diabetic patients also revealed a low number of immunoregulatory T cells compared with control subjects, although to a lesser extent (p less than 0.01-0.05). The helper/suppressor ratio (OKT4+/OKT8+) was higher in newly diagnosed patients than in control subjects (2.2 +/- 1.3 versus 1.5 +/- 0.3; p less than 0.02). When compared with 95% tolerance limits in the control subjects, the reduction of OKT8+ cells in the newly diagnosed diabetic patients appeared more marked: the mean (18.5%) coincided with the lower limit of normal subjects (18.3%). Ten of the newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetic patients had a value below the normal lower limit. Out data point to the occurrence of different immunoregulatory abnormalities in newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetic patients, especially in OKT8+ and OKT4+ cells. The imbalance in T lymphocyte subsets is further proof of the role of cellular autoimmunity in the pathogenesis of the early phases of Type 1 diabetes.

Adolescent↗

Contribution of secretory IgA, polymeric IgA and IgA/secretory component-containing circulating immune complexes to the serum hyper-IgA in diabetes mellitus.

The relative contribution of secretory IgA, monomeric and polymeric IgA and IgA/secretory component-containing immune complexes was investigated in sera of diabetic patients. Secretory IgA and immune complexes containing IgA and secretory component seem to participate in the hyper-IgA of patients with Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes only, suggesting an altered hepatic clearance via secretory component receptors on hepatocytes. In Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes, the high serum IgA levels might be explained by an increase in IgA production in response to antigenic stimuli. Evidence is also accumulated that immune complexes containing IgA of mucosal origin may be involved in microangiopathy production in Type 2 diabetes.

Adolescent↗

[Development of acute epidural hematoma].

This study covers the evolution of 21 cases of pure acute epidural hematomas which have been classified as benign, semi-benign and malignant. For the authors immediate surgical treatment is only necessary for the cases of malignant evolution. For cases of semi-benign evolution surgical treatment can be delayed. No treatment is required for haematomas with a benign evolution.

Acute Disease↗

TSH response to TRH in hemodialysis and CAPD patients.

The thyroid status was studied in 19 uremic patients (11 on HD and 8 on CAPD) and in a group of 17 healthy adult patients. In uremic patients T3 and T4 were significantly reduced (p less than 0.001) and rT3 was increased (p less than 0.001). The time course TSH response to TRH showed a lower peak response (in 5 patients it did not exceed 5 microU/ml) which on turn was also delayed (the peak was observed at 60 minutes in 63% of them). TSH concentrations in uremics were increased at 0 time (p less than 0.02), lower at 20 minutes (p less than 0.01) and increased at 120 minutes (p less than 0.02). No difference existed between HD and CAPD. The thyroid response to TSH was normal as showed by a normal percent increase over basal values of T3 concentrations at 120 minutes. Uremic patients also showed a peak GH response at 20 minutes which was not observed in controls. The data exclude the existence on a primary form of hypothyroidism and point to the existence of hypothalamic-pituitary abnormalities, which should not be taken as indicative of secondary and/or tertiary hypothyroidism since FT4 values were normal in HD and increased in patients undergoing CAPD (p less than 0.05) who on turn showed lower plasma albumin concentrations (p less than 0.05).

Adult↗

Thyroid status and nephron loss--a study in patients with chronic renal failure, end stage renal disease and/or on hemodialysis.

Thyroid function was measured in 30 healthy subjects and 84 patients with various degrees of nephron loss (GRF: 70 +/- 15 m/min, 30 +/- 16 ml/min, 10 +/- 7 ml/min and 2.1 +/- 1.3 ml/min). A low T3 and T4 syndrome is evident when GRF is reduced to 30 +/- 16 ml/min while a blunted TSH response is detected earlier in the course of nephron loss. T3 response to TRH was normal and FT4 was not affected by renal dysfunction. The data indicate that in nephron loss hypothalamic-pituitary abnormalities occur.

Adolescent↗

[Anti-tissue autoantibodies in malignant pulmonary neoplasms].

Tissue antibodies (Ab) were investigated in 85 patients affected with pulmonary malignancy of different histologic type and, as control, in 40 non-smoker healthy subjects and in 40 smoker subjects with chronic bronchitis. A significantly higher number of patients (64, 7%) had tissue Ab in comparison with both control groups (17% in non smoker group and 25% in smoker and chronic bronchitis group, respectively). Antinuclear antibodies were found in 29.4% of patients, antismooth muscle in 31.7%, anti-mitochondrial Ab in 4.7%, antityroid microsomes Ab in 4.7%, anti-gastric parietal cells Ab in 4.7%, anti-reticulin Ab in 11.7%. The patients at third stage of disease showed all antibodies as well as anti-nuclear more frequently that patients at first and second stage. Antibodies to cytoplasmic antigens were found in patients with anaplastic and squamous cancer, but not in patients with adenocarcinoma. Our observations suggest that immunologic abnormalities similar to those present in autoimmune disease, may be associated to pulmonary malignancy.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Platelet thromboxane formation and BTG levels after intensive charcoal HP in uremics or regular hemodialytic treatment (RHT).

Vascular tissues from uremic patients show increased prostaglandin synthesizing capacity while uremic platelets have decreased thromboxane synthesis. It has been suggested that the platelet defects in uremia are partially corrected by hemodialysis and a correlation with the levels of guanidinsuccinic acid, phenolic acid, creatinine or urea has been demonstrated. In our study 6 patients with end-stage renal disease on RHT, underwent, daily and for ten days, two-hours hemoperfusion, in order to obtain lower levels of toxic metabolites such as creatinine (less than 6 mg/dl.). Before and after this intensive treatment we have evaluated BTG plasmatic levels and thromboxane formation by platelets after thrombin and arachidonic acid stimulation. The thromboxane formation was not increased following this treatment, whereas BTG plasmatic levels were significantly diminished.

Adult↗

CAPD + hemoperfusion once a week in the management of children with end-stage renal disease.

With hemoperfusion there is a sharp decline in the solute concentration of the blood compartment, but immediately after HP the concentration of these substances rises to the original level (post-Hp rebound). It may be inferred that the result would be better and the rebound phenomenon less marked if hemoperfusion could be combined with a continuous dialysis system such as CAPD. The study was performed in 3 children of our CAPD program. All patients were dialysed with 5 daily exchange each of one liter. The patients underwent at 2-hours hemoperfusion with a charcoal column (Gambro Adsorba 150 c) once a week. The data obtained with this form of treatment are indicative for a: significant increase of weekly clearance for uric acid and creatinine. low urea generation rate far 1-3 days after HP. low post-Hp rebound and reduced platelet count but not platelet activation.

Child↗

Hemoperfusion in diabetic coma.

Hemoperfusion on ionic exchange resins in the therapy of diabetic keto-acidosis (DKA) coma is proposed. Resins used are strong anionic resins in mixed form able to release bicarbonates and to trap ketoanions and organic anions in a stoichiometric manner. A series of trials in open circuit are performed in order to search for a suitable mixture of resins and to establish the amounts of HCO3- and ketoanions respectively released or entrapped. Therefore, ten simulated hemoperfusions in closed circuit systems were performed, utilizing cartridges containing 1,700 g of mixed resin (9% HCO3- form and 91% Cl- form). The results indicate that all side effects of bicarbonate i.v. therapy of DKA coma are avoided because of the smooth HCO3- administration to the patient. Furthermore, a good removal of ketoanions and organic acids is obtained without changing the blood osmolality.

Bicarbonates↗