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Biomedical subjects

E Gaia

Publications and source records attributed to E Gaia.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Duodenal lactoferrin in patients with chronic pancreatitis and gastrointestinal diseases.

Lactoferrin (LF), chymotrypsin and lipase activity were measured in duodenal juice during pancreatic stimulation. Secretin (0.5 CU/kg/h) plus cerulein (75 ng/kg/h) were infused intravenously in 98 subjects: 33 patients without organic diseases (C), 40 patients affected by chronic pancreatitis (CP), and 25 patients with different gastrointestinal diseases (GID). LF was determined by means of a new noncompetitive immunoenzymatic assay with a sensitivity in the duodenal juice of 5 ng/ml. Duodenal LF concentrations were significantly higher in CP than in C or GID (p less than 0.001). LF was in a normal range in acute relapsing pancreatitis due to biliary stones or pancreas divisum. In the diagnosis of the chronic pancreatitis, LF/lipase ratios showed a specificity of 93% and a sensitivity of 95%. Our results show that LF immunoassay in duodenal juice is a sensitive and accurate assay to apply in pancreatic function tests involving duodenal content analysis.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Pulmonary involvement in chronic pancreatitis.

Although the association between acute pancreatitis and pleuropulmonary damage is well documented, so far no information on lung function in patients with chronic pancreatitis is available. In this study functional, radiological, and clinical investigations have been carried out in 42 patients affected by chronic calcific pancreatitis (CCP) and in 50 controls in a case-control study. An impairment of pulmonary diffusing capacity has been detected in CCP patients, while all the parameters of ventilatory function were not different from controls. This finding suggests the presence of early lung parenchymal damage in chronic pancreatitis secondary to either emphysema or pulmonary fibrosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Influence of sex and body size on pancreatic bicarbonate and enzyme output.

The study was aimed both at defining normal values of pancreatic function and at looking at variables (age, sex, body weight, height, and body surface) which may influence the range of normality in 271 normal controls evaluated consecutively by duodenal intubation from 1974 to 1981. Frequency distribution of all functional values were consistent with a Gaussian curve. A positive, linear correlation was found between secretory parameters and both volume secretion and output values, while no correlation was detected with bicarbonate and enzymes values. Duodenal fluid secretion and both bicarbonate and enzymes output were approximately 20% higher in males than in females, the difference being statistically significant. Mean values of both bicarbonate and enzyme concentration were not statistically different between sexes. When related to body surface, both volume and outputs values in males were no more different from those observed in females. The study has shown that body size influences pancreatic functional values and, therefore, the values should be related to some parameters of body size as body surface. The difference between males and females in fluid secretion and output values is linked primarily to differences in body size. The normal distribution of all functional parameters implies that normal limits may be calculated with standard parametric statistical analysis.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Relation between serum cathodic trypsinogen levels and exocrine pancreatic function.

To assess the relation between circulating cathodic trypsinogen (CT) levels and exocrine pancreatic function, and to compare the radioimmunological with the enzymatic measurement of duodenal trypsin, we evaluated exocrine pancreatic function in 34 controls and in 32 patients with proven chronic pancreatitis (CP). There was no relation between CT and the volume rate of pancreatic secretion, nor did serum CT levels correlate with the concentration output of duodenal bicarbonate in controls. However, in CP patients, there was a low value of the correlation coefficient. A good relationship between serum CT levels and duodenal trypsin secretion was detected when the trypsin content was expressed as the mean value of both concentration and output. The enzymatic estimation of duodenal trypsin was related closely to its radioimmunological measurement, but there was better correlation of serum CT to duodenal immunoreactive than to enzymatic trypsin. In patients with CP, low levels were observed in 29% of cases with serum CT estimation, in 75% with duodenal bicarbonate, and in 63% and 79% with enzymatic and immunoreactive trypsin outputs, respectively. We conclude that serum CT levels may reflect the functioning mass of pancreatic acinar cells and that in assessing pancreatic secretory capacity, the immunoreactive measurement of trypsin excretion is more sensitive than the enzymatic measurement and as accurate as bicarbonate output.

Bicarbonates↗
PubMed1983

Dose-related effect of bombesin on serum cationic trypsinogen levels.

The present study has been addressed to study the serum cationic trypsinogen (CT) response after the ingestion of a mixed meal and following the infusion of caerulein and bombesin. On the first day of study a mixed meal was administered to 12 normal volunteers. On the following day 6 of these subjects received bombesin infusion in stepwise increasing doses (18.7, 37.5, 75 and 150 pM/kg/h) every 30 min, while the remaining 6 subjects received caerulein infusion (18, 37, 75 and 150 ng/kg/h). The time course of the serum CT response to bombesin (150 pM/kg/h) was also studied in 6 patients with distal gastrectomy. Serum CT levels did not vary after the ingestion of the meal or the infusion of caerulein. Bombesin infusion was followed by a dose-related increase on serum CT levels, but it had no effect on serum amylase and isoamylases. The CT concentrations peaked 30 min after starting the infusion and remained unchanged as long as bombesin was administered. It is suggested that the bombesin action on the pancreatic acinar cells may be direct and not mediated through cholecystokinin or gastrin release.

Bombesin↗
PubMed1983

Plasma lactoferrin levels in patients with chronic calcifying pancreatitis.

Lactoferrin is a nonenzymatic secretory protein of human pancreas specifically increased in the external pancreatic secretion of patients with chronic calcifying pancreatitis. The possibility of an elevated concentration of plasma lactoferrin level in these patients needed to be explored even if the low pancreatic concentration of the protein did not favor this hypothesis. As expected, no increase could be observed between the plasma lactoferrin level of 16 patients with chronic calcifying pancreatitis (131 +/- 15 micrograms/l), compared to 17 controls (166 +/- 11 micrograms/l) and 15 patients with different organic diseases (187 +/- 18 micrograms/l).

Calcinosis↗
PubMed1976

[Chronic alcoholic pancreatitis and blood gastrin].

On the basis of some experimental observations of hypergastrinemia in animals chronically intoxicated with ethanol, both fasting and after meals serum gastrin were determined in patients affected by chronic alcoholic pancreatitis. A significant increase in serum gastrin levels was observed in patients with chronic pancreatitis compared with controls, both in basal conditions and following food stimulation. The physiopathological hypotheses and possible aetiopathogenetic implications suggested by such gastrin behaviour are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

[Effects of slowly progressive constriction on the proximal pancreas of the rabbit].

Slow, progressive constriction with cellophane tape was experimented on the proximal segment of the rabbit pancreas. Histological examination of the distal segment over a period of 10-30 days showed the appearance of morphological changes reminiscent of chronic pancreatopathy in man. Stress is laid on the need for an experimental model suitable for the provocation of chronic forms, particularly if similar results can be obtained on animals of larger size.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cold snare excision of small colorectal polyps.

This study describes a new technique for excision of small colorectal polyps in a series of 210 consecutive patients, who had total colonoscopy, and in whom any clotting problems had been excluded. A total of 288 small polyps of 5 mm or less in diameter were transected by mechanical strangulation with a polypectomy snare, but without applying any electrical energy. All polyps were recovered whole and sent for histologic examination. No case of perforation, serious bleeding, or mortality was recorded, nor was there any need for blood transfusion because of sudden or delayed bleeding. Of the small polyps, 56% were adenomas, 43% hyperplastic, and 1% were other types. No invasive cancer was found, but in seven small adenomas severe dysplasia was observed. No correlation between the macroscopic appearance of small polyps at endoscopy and their nature at histology was found. Our data confirm that all visible polypoid lesions of the colon should be removed, and that cold snare excision of small polyps is a safe and effective alternative method of treatment in patients without clotting problems.

Colon↗
PubMedDate not supplied

New methods for microbial contamination monitoring: an experiment on board the MIR orbital station.

Experiment T2, carried out during the Euromir'95 mission, was an important step toward innovative methods for spacecraft microbial contamination monitoring. A new standard sampling technique permitted samples to be analysed by different means. On board, two analysis methods were tested in parallel: Bioluminescence and Miniculture. In turn, downloaded samples are being analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a powerful and promising method for the rapid detection, identification and quantification of pathogens and biofouling agents in closed manned habitats.

Bacteria↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Primary sclerosing cholangitis associated with colonic Crohn disease and marked eosinophilia. Description of a case].

We report a case of primary sclerosing cholangitis associated with Crohn disease of the large intestine and marked eosinophilia in a 64 year old woman. Clinical features, histologic findings at biopsy of the intestine and liver and the endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography are described. The case report is discussed, particularly as regards treatment with biliary salts and aminosalicilic acid.

Cholangitis, Sclerosing↗