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Biomedical subjects

C Pasquali

Publications and source records attributed to C Pasquali.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

[Clinical usefulness of the blood gastrin curve after protein meal in duodenal ulcer].

Conflicting data are present in the literature on pathophysiological role of serum gastrin and peptic ulcer disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in duodenal ulcer patients, the possible correlation between post-prandial serum gastrin concentrations and some epidemiological (sex, family history, onset of the disease, blood group status, smoking habit, alcohol consumption) and clinical (effectiveness of therapy, bleeding episodes) factors. The gastrin levels were expressed in absolute values and as per cent increase of fasting serum gastrin concentrations. As regards sex, the per cent increase of fasting serum gastrin concentration was significantly higher in females (No. 16) than in males (No. 60) at 30 and 60 minutes (192.25% vs 116.52% and 105.42% vs 40.96% respectively; p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.005). Post-prandial serum gastrin concentrations, expressed as per cent increase, were higher in heavy drinkers (No. 14) and statistically significant at 120 minutes (40.57% vs 9.58%, p less than 0.025); as well as in smoker patients (No. 31), at 15, 30 and 60 minutes (227.59% vs 123.52%, 177.23% vs 101.62%, 0.025 and p less than 0.05). Post-prandial gastrin was unrelated to blood group status, onset of the disease, family history, effectiveness of medical treatment and bleeding episodes.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[Hepatocyte receptors for polymerized albumin. Experimental study on isolated hepatocytes and in vivo animals].

In the present work receptors for polymerized rat serum albumin (P-RSA) were studied by incubation of radiolabelled polymers with rat hepatocytes isolated with mechanical techniques. Isolated rat hepatocytes showed a receptor activity for polymerized albumin and such a membrane receptor seems to be controlled by the cellular cytoskeleton. During rat total body scintigraphy receptor expression was detected exclusively in the liver. These observations support the hypothesis of a selective receptor activity of the liver cells for polymerized albumin. To confirm our results, further studies were performed on rat bile, after 125I-P-RSA infusion in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Evaluation of carbohydrate antigens 19-9 and 12-5 in patients with pancreatic cancer.

The diagnostic value of the tumor-associated antigens Ca 19-9 and Ca 12-5 was tested in 130 subjects (38 healthy controls, 37 carcinomas of the pancreas, 23 chronic pancreatitis, 23 extrapancreatic gastrointestinal cancers, 9 endocrine pancreatic tumors). Ca 19-9 levels above 37 U/ml were obtained in 67.6% and Ca 12-5 levels above 39 U/ml in 45.9% of carcinomas of the pancreas, 4.3 and 8.7%, respectively, of chronic pancreatis, 21.7 and 17.4% of extrapancreatic gastrointestinal tumors, and 0 and 11.1% of endocrine pancreatic tumors and in none of the healthy controls. Results of preoperative determination of Ca 19-9 and Ca 12-5 gave a sensitivity of 67.6 and 45.9%, a specificity of 91.8 and 90.9%, a predictive value of a positive test of 80.6 and 70.8%. When elevation of both antigens was required, sensitivity decreased to 32.4% but specificity rose to 97.3%. All but one of the pancreatic cancer patients were at stage 3 and 4. The only patient with pancreatic cancer in stage 1 had normal levels of both markers. Ca 19-9 and Ca 12-5, whether alone or associated, represent a good diagnostic test for differentiating pancreatic cancer from chronic pancreatitis. Due to the low sensitivity of both markers, the tests are of limited value when any other diagnostic evidence of pancreatic cancer is absent.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1987

Transhepatic portal sampling for preoperative localization of insulinomas.

The data of 72 patients with pancreatic insulinomas were analyzed. Twenty-one were obtained from personal experience and 51 from a review of the literature. In all instances, detailed information about insulin levels in the portal tree as obtained by means of a transhepatic portal sampling (THPS) and localization of the tumor as found during the surgical procedure was available. Five different criteria were compared for defining the peak insulin concentrations regarded as indicative of tumor localization: 1, peak above 500 milliunits per liter; 2, peak above 200 milliunits per liter; 3, peak 2.5 times higher than the lowest portal value; 4, peak 2.3 time higher than the distal mesenteric value, and 5, peak higher than mean portal concentration plus or minus 2 standard deviation. Criterion 5, associated with sample numbers larger than 15 and catheterization of the cephalic veins, provided the best results for obtaining valuable information from THPS.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗
PubMed1986

Surgical experience with adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater.

Between 1968 and 1982, 13 patients in this study had a pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), one patient had a total pancreatectomy, two had an ampullectomy, and one patient had a choledochoduodenostomy for neoplasia of the ampulla of Vater. The operative mortality was zero, and the 5-year actuarial survival rate for the 16 resected patients was 52.6 per cent. From a review of the literature, the authors evaluated 1,894 PDs and 61 ampullectomies. The operative mortality rate was 14 per cent and 3 per cent, respectively. The 5-year survival rate was 21 per cent for PD and 23 per cent for ampullectomy. However, 187 patients with negative lymph nodes who underwent PD had a 5-year survival rate of 39 per cent. PD resection is fully warranted for ampullary tumors. Ampullectomy should be reserved only for high surgical risk patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1985

Effects of pirenzepine on plasma insulin, glucagon and pancreatic polypeptide levels in normal man.

The secretion of various pancreatic hormones (insulin, glucagon and pancreatic polypeptide) is affected to a different extent by the cholinergic system. In 7 healthy subjects the effects of treatment for 1 week with pirenzepine, an anticholinergic drug selective for muscarinic receptors, on basal secretion of these hormones and on that induced by i.v. glucose (IVGTT) and arginine were evaluated. The drug did not reduce basal levels of insulin and glucagon whereas it caused an appreciable reduction in basal pancreatic polypeptide (PP). The responses of insulin and blood glucose to IVGTT and to arginine were not changed by treatment, nor was that of plasma glucagon to arginine. The infusion of arginine did induce an increase in PP level, which reached a statistically significant maximum at 90 min. This response was not particularly different after administration of pirenzepine. Thus, the results confirm the finding that arginine stimulates PP secretion in vivo and that pirenzepine reduces the basal level of the hormone, whereas it did not appear to affect the response to arginine. The findings exclude any direct action of the drug on insulin or glucagon secretion or on glucose metabolism in general.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Usefulness of transhepatic portal catheterization in the treatment of insulinomas.

Twenty-four per cent of beta-cell tumours require more than one operation to control the hypoglycaemic syndrome. Almost all of them are small insulinomas undetectable by palpation of the pancreas. Arteriography is too insensitive to detect non-palpable tumours. Transhepatic catheterization of the splenic and portal veins (TPC) can detect the position at which there is an abrupt increase in insulin level indicating the site of the tumour. Routine use of TPC allowed us to locate all 9 insulinomas in which this technique was employed, whereas of 15 patients not studied by TPC only 12 tumours were located at first operation, 2 of which were found by blind resection of the tail of the pancreas. We believe that routine application of TPC to all cases of suspected insulinoma would reduce the incidence of surgical failures, unsuccessful blind resections and lengthy trials of medical therapy before laparotomy.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Plasma protein map: an update by microsequencing.

The reference plasma protein map, obtained with immobilized pH gradients in the first dimension of two-dimensional electrophoresis, is presented. By microsequencing, more than 40 polypeptide chains were identified. The new polypeptides and previously known proteins are listed in a table and labeled on the protein map, thus providing an update of the human plasma two-dimensional gel database.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Improving the detection of proteins after transfer to polyvinylidene difluoride membranes.

N-Terminal sequence analysis of proteins separated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transferred onto polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membranes has become the method for molecular characterization of proteins contained in biological samples. However, the proteins of lower abundance cannot be sequenced directly, without improving the technique. We have studied a drying method on several PVDF membranes including Trans-Blott, Immobilon P and Problott. Using Amido Black, Coomassie Brilliant Blue R-250 and Ponceau S, we have obtained, in comparison with the non-dried membranes, an enormous increase in the number of detectable proteins.

Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional↗
PubMedDate not supplied

MRI in insulinomas: preliminary findings.

After establishing the diagnosis of an insulinoma, most surgeons prefer preoperative localization. Selective arteriography is usually considered the gold standard for this purpose. Recently, computed tomography (CT) and preoperative US have contended the role to angiography. MRI has been used in few cases of endocrine pancreatic tumors, and its role in this particular field has to be defined. Between November 1988 and September 1990 we evaluated 7 adult patients who had had surgery in our Surgical Department. Eight tumors were resected in 6 patients who were cured; in an 18-year-old woman surgical treatment was unsuccessful. Arteriography, CT, preoperative US, MRI and intraoperative US detected 2, 6, 6, 5 and 6 tumors, respectively. Two insulinomas (0.2 and 0.7 cm) were found at histologic examination in resected specimen. The ability of intraoperative US and careful surgical exploration to resolve more than 90% of cases makes the preoperative use of arteriography and CT of questionable value. If further experience confirms these findings, US and MRI may suffice.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Vancomycin prophylaxis in joint arthroplasty.

Postoperative infections in prosthetic surgery still constitute a serious problem, and one that is difficult to treat, because of the occurrence of agglomerates of microbes that are resistant to immune defenses and antibiotics. In nearly all cases, removal of the prosthesis is the only possible means of solving the problem of infection. The systematic use of antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery of this sort offers advantages in terms of a reduction in the risk of infection. The authors present a personal case series relative to the strategies of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis used in cases of hip and knee arthroplasty; we refer to 233 joint arthroplasties performed between October 1993 and April 1996. In all of the cases, perioperative prophylaxis with vancomycin chlorohydrate at a dose of 1 g i.v. 1 hour prior to surgery, and 6-8 hours after surgery was carried out. The choice of the antibiotic was based on the epidemiological knowledge of the literature and the experience on the ward.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Androgen profile in patients with pancreatic carcinoma.

Serum testosterone, free testosterone and androstenedione levels were measured in 28 male patients with pancreatic cancer and compared with the values obtained from 28 male patients with chronic pancreatitis, 29 with gastrointestinal malignancies and 41 healthy controls. Mean total testosterone values were significantly lower in the pancreatic cancer group when compared to chronic pancreatitis and healthy controls. Total testosterone concentrations were also significantly lower in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies when compared to healthy controls. No difference was found in free testosterone and androstenedione levels in the four groups of patients. Total testosterone serum levels correlated significantly with poor nutritional status. This study confirms low testosterone levels in patients with pancreatic cancer, but provides no evidence to support a direct relationship between pancreatic cancer and testosterone metabolism.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Enucleation-resection of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: 25 years of experience].

From 1980 to 2004, out of 109 patients who underwent surgery for neuroendocrine pancreatic tumor, 33 had a simple tumor excision. Seventy-two percent of cases were insulinomas. Age, sex, site and size of the tumor, associated diseases, hospital stay and complications were retrospectively reviewed by the clinical records. Patients (12 males and 21 females) averaged 56.8 years, range 20-86. Mean size of the tumor was 1.7 cm and 54.5% were in the pancreatic head; 78.8% of cases had medical associated diseases. Hospital stay was 12 days (median; range, 6-81 days) and mean period of gastric suction was 4 days. Forty-eight percent had a uneventful postoperative course. Complications were divided in early (related to pancreatic surgery, related to general open surgery and medical) and late events. Complication related to pancreatic surgery were 6/33 (18%); 5 pancreatic fistulas (4 low output) and 1 acute pancreatitis, while 5/33 had a general surgery complication (2 leacking due to gastric and duodenal associated operations). Medical complications were recorded in 13 cases. Late complications occurred in 4 cases (2 incisional hernias, 1 pseudocyst and 1 keloid). No patient was re-operated for pancreatic complications; 1 was reoperated for evisceration and 1 for hyper-parathyroidism in the early post-operative period. No mortality occurred. Re-evaluation of the clinical records in order to be submitted to laparoscopic surgery excluded 17/33 cases (51%) as candidate to laparoscopic approach.

Adult↗