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Biomedical subjects

D Biasi

Publications and source records attributed to D Biasi.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

[Behçet's syndrome. Description of a clinical case].

We present a case of a young man hospitalized for a fever and bipolar aphtous. The absence of typical ocular lesions, the delayed occurrence of thromboflebitis, arthritis, abnormal skin reactivity, as well as the presence of splenomegaly and limphoadenopathy, induced us to consider a large variety of infection disease before the diagnosis of Behçet's Syndrome. The complete remission has been achieved with corticosteroids and Laevamisole (150 mg/weekly). No therapy has been necessary in the last twelve months.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Different binding proteins for folic acid in serum of patients with acute hepatitis.

Serum from 44 volunteers and 21 patients with acute hepatitis and 18 with cirrhosis were tested for the total and unsaturated folate binding capacity (TFBC-UFBC). A high level of TFBC was noted in acute hepatitis (p < 0.001) and in cirrhosis (p < 0.05), whereas only in the last case a reduced UFBC was present (p < 0.05). When serum from patients with acute hepatitis was eluted on Sephadex G-200 after incubation with radio-active folic acid (500 pg), two main peaks were observed, one in the exclusion peak of protein and the second in the position of the only binder found in normal serum (MW 43,000). A third small peak was also present in the position corresponding to a MW of 20,000. These findings documented the release of binders from hepatic cell when a massive necrosis of liver occurs.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1979

Serum folate binding capacity in leukemias, liver diseases and pregnancy.

Total and unsaturated folate binding capacity (TFBC, UFBC) have been measured in sera of selective groups of patients to study the role of cell turnover, cell necrosis and the effect of pregnancy in determining their concentrations in blood. The mean value of TFBC in 35 normal sera was 151 +/- (SD) 53 pg/ml with a saturation of 88%. The TFBC was raised in chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL), in acute hepatitis, in cirrhosis, and in pregnancy (third trimester). The normal mean value of TFBC was found in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and inthe first trimester of pregnancy. The mean UFBC in the normal sera was 19 +/- 18 pg/ml. In all the pathological conditions studied the mean UFBC was significantly greater than normal and it was particularly high in CGL (85 +/- 78 pg/ml).

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Endothelin-1 serum levels correlate with MCP-1 but not with homocysteine plasma concentration in patients with systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether homocysteine (Hcy) plasma levels are correlated with molecules indicative of endothelial cell and fibroblast activation, including endothelin-1 (ET-1) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and -3 (MCP-1, MCP-3), in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: Eighty-two patients were enrolled in this study; the control group included 75 age- and sex-matched subjects. Plasma Hcy was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography; folic acid, and vitamin B(12) plasma levels were determined by a chemiluminescence method. ET-1, MCP-1, and MCP-3 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Analysis of the 677C-->T mutation in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and digestion with the enzyme HinfI. RESULTS: Hcy levels were lower in patients whereas ET-1 was significantly higher in patients and correlated with MCP-1. Stratification of the patients on the basis of Hcy levels was not associated with any statistical difference in the concentration of ET-1, MCP-1, and MCP-3. Patients with diffuse disease presented the highest levels of ET-1 and MCP-1. The distribution of the MTHFR genotypes was not different in patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS: In SSc, Hcy plasma concentration does not influence ET-1, MCP-1, or MCP-3 levels. On the contrary, ET-1, a marker of vascular activation, correlates with MCP-1, a chemokine involved in the fibrotic process of SSc.

Biomarkers↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Serum folate binding capacity in patients with solid tumors.

Total and unsaturated folate binding capacity (TFBC-UFBC) was measured in 44 normal volunteers and in 77 patients with solid tumors; of them 31 had a lung cancer, 18 a cancer of the gastrointestinal tract (GI), and 28 a breast cancer. With the exception of patients with cancer of the stomach, all the other groups showed a significant increase in TFBC. An increase in UFBC was statistically observed in patients with lung cancer and cancer of the GI tract. No correlation was observed in breast cancer between the presence of hormone receptors on cancer tissue and the value of TFBC. However, a significant increase in TFBC was noted in this group of patients when metastases were present.

Blood Proteins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Middle ear mechanics in subjects with rheumatoid arthritis.

The incudo-malleolar and incudo-stapedial joints are true diarthroses and therefore may be subject to the same rheumatic lesions as any other articulation in the body. The existence of this involvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), however, is highly controversial. The present study investigates modifications of the mechanical properties of the middle ear in a group of subjects with RA by evaluating the resonance frequency obtained with multiple-frequency tympanometry (MFT). Thirty patients with RA, aged 20 to 68 years (mean age: 45.8 +/- 12.4 years), participated in the investigation. Their data were compared with those obtained in a control group of 48 age-matched subjects. Results obtained in both ears were examined in all subjects. The two groups displayed almost equal hearing levels with mean air conduction thresholds ranging from 10 to 22 dB HL. None of the subjects displayed an air-bone gap greater than 5 dB. Normal resonance frequency, calculated at the 95th percentile from the control group, ranged from 900 to 1250 Hz. Twelve rheumatoid arthritis patients (40 per cent) displayed abnormal resonance values. These findings were monolateral in 9 patients and bilateral in 3. Eleven out of 15 ears with abnormal multiple-frequency tympanometry data were characterized by an increase in resonance and 4 by a decrease. A correlation between abnormal resonance values and more aggressive RA was established. The results of this study suggest that rheumatoid arthritis may involve the incudo-malleolar and incudo-stapedial joints, altering the ossicular mechanics in response to static air pressure modifications. This does not impair sound conduction through the middle ear, but might reduce the protective mechanisms of the middle ear towards high static pressures.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Rheumatoid arthritis and the kidney. Pinpointing an aspect of confusing contours].

In literature there are only a few papers about renal involvement in rheumatoid arthritis. The scarcity of reports is due to the difficulties of pinpointing this subject; in fact a bloody investigation like kidney biopsy is necessary to obtain an exact diagnosis. Moreover it is often clinically hard to distinguish renal injury provoked by rheumatoid arthritis from nephropathy caused by drugs, either non steroidal antiinflammatory drugs or disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. This topic is perhaps neglected because primary renal involvement in rheumatoid arthritis is not considered to influence the survival, with the exception of renal amyloidosis. Pathologic examination of kidney biopsy shows in order of frequency: mesangial nephritis, renal amyloidosis, membranous nephritis, focal proliferative nephritis, minimal nephritis, interstitial nephritis. Both immune complexes and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies may play a pathogenetic role. The mesangial nephritis with IgA or IgM deposits is linked to high levels of rheumatoid factor of IgA or IgM class; it has been hypothesized that the ability of mesangium to remove circulating immune complexes provokes the mesangial damage. Moreover it has been observed that rheumatoid arthritis with renal involvement shows positivity for perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies more frequently than rheumatoid arthritis without nephropathy. Also in the former cases the title of these autoantibodies is higher. The aim of this paper is to bring the terms of the problem into focus by the revision of the literature. Further and wider studies are necessary to obtain more available data.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Scleroderma and occupational risk factors: a case-control study].

In a hospital-based case-referent study of systemic sclerosis (SSc) and occupational risk factors (55 cases and 171 referents), an excess risk for SSc was observed in men with previous occupational exposure to solvents and certain chemicals (vinyl chloride, formaldehyde). SSc was associated, even though not significantly, with occupational exposure to solvents and silica among women. The possible role of occupational exposures in the etiology of SSc, as well as the methodological limitations of the present study, are discussed.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Elimination diet in the treatment of selected patients with hypersensitivity vasculitis.

We have evaluated the effects of an elimination diet in 5 patients with hypersensitivity vasculitis and a personal or family history of allergy. The presence of autoimmune disorders, infections and neoplastic diseases was excluded on the basis of physical examination, clinical history and laboratory data. Three patients had elevated serum immune complexes and evidence of complement consumption before the oligoantigenic diet. In one patient food allergy was diagnosed on the basis of a positive and concordant challenge test, skin prick test and RAST. The study consisted of a 3 week elimination diet, followed by open and double blind challenge tests with specific foods and additives. Four patients achieved a complete remission and one patient experienced great improvement on the elimination diet. In three cases the vasculitis relapsed following the introduction of food additives; in one case with the addition of potatoes and green vegetables (i.e., beans and green peas) and in the last case with the addition of eggs to the diet. The offending foods and additives were subsequently eliminated from the usual diet and no relapses were observed in 2 years of follow-up. These results show that in selected patients with a history of allergy, hypersensitivity vasculitis can be triggered and sustained by food antigens or additives.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Methotrexate in the therapy of rheumatoid arthritis. Results in 30 patients].

30 patients affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis were treated with Methotrexate (5-7.5 mg/weekly) per os and followed up for at least 12 months; 10 patients had a further control at 24 months. 27 subjects were also on corticosteroid and 2 patients did not stop the therapy with second line drugs. Sulindac was allowed. 3 months later it was observed a significant reduction in the number of affected joints, in the duration of morning stiffness, in the dose of steroid and an improvement of the laboratory investigations indicating the activity of the disease. In the following 12 months, in the 25 subjects still in the study, there was a further clinical improvement. In 24-months follow-up, side effects were present in 17 patients (56.7%); only in 4 cases it was necessary to stop therapy with Methotrexate (3 cases for hepatotoxicity, 1 case for leukocytopenia and stomatitis). 3 subjects did not respond to therapy and 3 patients interrupted for psychological distress. This study confirms the efficacy of Methotrexate at low doses in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis and the modest incidence of severe side effects.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Unicentric Castleman's lymphadenopathy presenting with Behçet's syndrome: a case report.

We describe a male patient with Behcet's syndrome and Castleman's lymphadenopathy. He was affected by severe oral and genital ulcers, bilateral uveitis, necrotic purulent nodules on both hands. A CT scan of the mediastinum showed the presence of a mediastinal mass. On the basis of histological and immunohistological findings, a diagnosis of Castleman's disease, angiofollicular type, was formulated. The lymphadenopathy was unicentric. After the surgical excision of the mediastinal mass (January, 1989) until now, Behcet's syndrome is in complete remission with a low dosage of prednisone.

Adult↗