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Biomedical subjects

E La Rocca

Publications and source records attributed to E La Rocca.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Octreotide administration in the treatment of pancreatic fistulae after pancreas transplantation.

Among the surgical complications of pancreas transplantation are pancreatic fistulae, which arise rather frequently. Suppression of exocrine secretion with polymers has succeeded in reducing the rate of this complication. Nevertheless, in some instances, pancreatic fistulas may occur. Thirty pancreas transplantations were performed in 27 diabetic patients. In 5 cases a pancreatic fistula occurred and was drained after the insertion of a catheter for the collection of secretions. A serous liquid was collected with a high concentration of amylases (61604 +/- 19562 IU/24 h). Fistula output was 280 +/- 87 ml/24 h. Patients were treated with octreotide, administered subcutaneously in a dose of 300-750 micrograms/day. In all patients a progressive reduction in fistula output was observed after a mean of 16 + 2 days. Fistula flow rate dropped to 24 +/- 10 ml/24 h--a reduction of 95% +/- 5% and drainage was subsequently stopped. Sonographic follow-up did not show recurrence of peripancreatic collections in these patients. All patients were insulin-independent up to 12-44 months after surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Localized crusted scabies in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Crusted scabies (CrS) is an uncommon occurrence among patients with AIDS. Indeed to date only five cases have been described, all with widespread lesions. A case of localized CrS appearing as a yellowish and crusted plaque on the second right toe is reported in a woman with AIDS. Scraping off the verrucous surface, as well as punch-biopsy revealed many mites within the horny layer. The infestation is related to the cutaneous immune response and thus CrS should be considered an opportunistic infestation in AIDS. The importance of the early diagnosis of CrS in order to prevent disseminated lesions and involvement of other health-care workers is underlined.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1992

Lack of feedback inhibition of insulin secretion in denervated human pancreas.

In this study, pancreas transplantation is used as a clinical model of pancreas denervation in humans. To assess the role of innervation on the feedback autoinhibition of insulin secretion, we studied four groups of subjects--group 1: 16 patients with combined pancreas and kidney transplantation (plasma glucose = 5.1 mM, HbA1c = 6.4%, creatinine = 86 mM); group 2: 8 patients with chronic uveitis on the same immunosuppressive therapy as transplanted patients (12 mg/day prednisone, 5 mg.kg-1.day-1 CsA); group 3: 4 uremic, nondiabetic patients in chronic hemodialysis; group 4: 7 normal, nondiabetic control subjects. The following means were used to study the groups: 1) a two-step hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp (insulin infusion rate = 1 mU and 5 mU.kg-1.min-1); and 2) a 0.3 mU.kg-1.min-1 hypoglycemic clamp (steady-state plasma glucose = 3.1 mM). Basal plasma-free IRI (84 +/- 6, 42 +/- 12, 72 +/- 12, and 30 +/- 6 pM in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively), basal C-peptide (0.79 +/- 0.05, 0.66 +/- 0.05, 3.04 +/- 0.20, and 0.59 +/- 0.06 nM in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively), and glucagon (105 +/- 13, 69 +/- 4, 171 +/- 10, and 71 +/- 5 pg/ml in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively) were increased in groups 1 and 3 with respect to groups 2 and 4 (P < 0.01). During euglycemic hyperinsulinemia, plasma C-peptide decreased by 45, 20, and 44% in groups 2, 3, and 4, respectively, but showed no significant change from the basal in patients with transplanted pancreases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗
PubMed1991

Pancreas and kidney transplantation: the San Raffaele Hospital (Milan, Italy) experience.

Results of 33 simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantations performed at the San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy are presented. In 26 cases segmental neoprene duct-injected grafts were transplanted and in seven cases, duodenopancreatic bladder-drained grafts. Five-year patient, kidney and pancreas survival were respectively, 89%, 72% and 58%. Five-year survival in patients with technically successful pancreas transplants was 73%. Thrombosis occurred in 20% of cases. Mortality was 6% and overall morbidity 76%. Surgical complications were present in 51% of cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

First peak insulin release after intravenous glucose and arginine is maintained for up to 3 years after segmental pancreas transplantation.

In this study we have investigated blood glucose and serum free insulin response to glucose and to arginine orally or intravenously, 3 months and 3 years after a successful segmental, neoprene-injected, pancreas transplantation. Serum insulin responses to different secretagogues were normal 3 months after transplantation; they remained normal up to 3 years after transplantation.

Arginine↗
PubMed1991

Effect of pancreas transplantation on life expectancy, kidney function and quality of life in uraemic type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of haemodialysis, kidney transplantation and simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplantation on survival of diabetic subjects and on kidney function. 40 Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients received a kidney transplantation: in 31 cases the kidney was transplanted simultaneously to a pancreas graft from the same donor (KP group), while in 9 cases the pancreas was not available (K group). 44 uraemic Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients on dialysis and in waiting list for kidney transplantation, constituted the control group (HD group). Patient survival rate 1, 3 and 5 years following transplantation was better in KP group (93%, 89%, 89%, respectively) and in K group (88%, 88%, 73%, respectively) and in HD group (88%, 62%, 51%, respectively). Kidney graft survival at 1, 3 and 5 years post-transplant was better in KP group (93%, 72%, 72%, respectively) than in K group (76%, 61%, 31%, respectively). 1 year after transplantation, patients of the KP group who had lost the pancreas for technical reasons (thrombosis) were included in the K group so as to evaluate the effect of the transplanted pancreas on long-term patient and kidney survival. Patient survival rate in the KP group (17 patients) at 2 and 4 years was 100%, while at the same intervals it was 78% in the K group (13 patients). Kidney graft function rate at 2 and 4 years was 93% in the KP group (17 grafts) and 54% and 27% respectively in the K group (14 grafts).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Endocrinometabolic effects of whole versus segmental pancreas allotransplantation in diabetic patients--a two-year follow-up.

We have investigated the metabolic effects of segmental (neoprene-injected) pancreas transplantation versus whole (enteric-diverted) pancreas transplantation. Seventeen uremic insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients received a simultaneous pancreaticorenal transplant: in a prospective, randomized study, 9 patients received a segmental neoprene-injected graft (group A) while 8 patients received a total pancreaticoduodenal graft, with enteric diversion (group B). The immunosuppressive therapy was based on ALG, CsA, azathioprine, and steroids. Three months after surgery, patients were submitted to the following metabolic investigation: i.v. and oral glucose tolerance tests, Hba1, i.v. arginine test, and a 24-hr metabolic profile. The OGTT, HbA1, and metabolic profile were repeated 12 and 24 months after transplantation. At 3 months after transplantation, the OGTT showed delayed insulin secretion and higher blood glucose levels in group A. Serum insulin levels after IVGTT or arginine were higher in group B than in group A. OGTT at 12 and 24 months were unchanged in group B, while in group A a higher incidence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and diabetes mellitus response were observed. HbA1 and blood glucose levels during the 24-hr profile showed good metabolic control in both groups at 3, 12, and 24 months. We can conclude that both the segmental and total pancreas transplantation restore a good metabolic control in IDDM patients, though a higher incidence of IGT and DM responses were observed after OGTT in the patients receiving a segmental graft. These abnormalities do not seem to interfere with metabolic control in everyday life. These results seem to be the consequence of the different B cell masses transplanted with these two techniques.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Proliferating tricholemmal tumour with lymph node metastases.

A 42-year-old woman with a proliferating tricholemmal tumour (PTT) with regional lymph node metastases is reported. Histochemical studies showed evidence of tricholemmal keratinization. There was recurrence following excision and subsequently the patient developed lymph node metastases.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Segmental duct-obstructed pancreas grafts versus pancreaticoduodenal grafts with enteric diversion.

Between January 1985 and September 1987, we performed a prospective comparative study between segmental-pancreas transplantation with duct obstruction by neoprene (n = 17) and pancreaticoduodenal transplantation with enteric diversion to a Roux-en-Y intestinal loop (n = 14). All recipients had insulin-dependent diabetes. The immunosuppressive protocol consisted of low doses of the steroids cyclosporin A and azathioprine. Mean follow-up was 16.5 mo for the enteric-diversion group and 13.5 mo for duct-obstructed groups. Two-year patient and pancreas- and kidney-graft actuarial survival rates were 92.9, 75.5, and 74.2%, respectively, in the former group and 92.3, 58.4, and 63.7%, respectively, in the latter group (NS). Five whole-organ grafts were lost (3 vascular thromboses, 1 pancreatitis, 1 rejection), and four segmental grafts were lost (2 vascular thromboses, 1 bleeding, 1 patient's death with functional graft). More surgical complications occurred in the recipients of whole-organ grafts and were often related to the intestinal anastomosis. A satisfactory blood glucose control was observed at 3 mo and 1 yr in both groups. Provocative tests showed higher and prompter insulin secretion in patients with whole-organ grafts. In patients with segmental grafts, the response was lower and delayed with a general tendency to impaired glucose tolerance. A marked hyperinsulinemia after meals was observed in whole-organ graft recipients. Slight nocturnal hyperinsulinemia was observed in both groups. At 1 yr, glycosylated hemoglobin was normal in both groups. The absence of a significant difference between the two groups, in terms of survival and graft function, and the lower surgical complication rate seen with segmental grafts have made us return to neoprene-injected segmental grafts.

Circadian Rhythm↗
PubMed1989

Impact of immunosuppression on improvement of results in clinical pancreas transplantation.

Since November 1975, 103 pancreas transplantations have been performed in 97 insulin-dependent diabetic patients. Pancreas and kidney were grafted simultaneously in 84 patients (plus 1 double retransplantation). Eighty-nine pancreas grafts were prepared by duct obstruction with neoprene, and 14 were pancreaticoduodenal grafts with enteric diversion in a Roux-en-Y loop. Five immunosuppressive protocols were subsequently used. With the latest protocols, patient and pancreas survival improved to 93 and 72% at 1 yr, respectively. The improvement in graft survival appeared to be particularly related to the reduction of the number of pancreas grafts lost in rejection. The patients treated with the last protocols, including cyclosporin A (CsA) and only low doses of steroids, showed a better glucose tolerance after provocative tests. Pancreas-graft function did not appear to be influenced by CsA treatment.

Antilymphocyte Serum↗
PubMed1988

Intermediary metabolism and glycemic control in insulin-dependent diabetic uremic patients treated by continuous peritoneal dialysis.

The effect on metabolic control and on intermediate metabolism of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) was evaluated in 6 insulin-dependent diabetic uremic patients treated by CAPD, in 6 nondiabetic uremic patients in CAPD and in 6 normal subjects. During the study, 4 dialysis exchanges with 1.36 g/dl dextrose concentration were performed daily; regular insulin was added to the bags in diabetic patients. Our data show a well-controlled mean blood glucose in CAPD diabetic patients by intraperitoneal insulin administration as well as higher insulinemic levels in comparison with those of normal subjects. Plasma lactate and serum glycerol levels were higher and butyrate levels were lower reflecting a continuous ketogenesis inhibition.

Adult↗