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Biomedical subjects

F Vianello

Publications and source records attributed to F Vianello.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Pepsin concentration in gastroduodenal biopsy homogenates in chronic ulcer disease.

A modification of Berstad's spectrophotometric method was tested and proved capable of detecting pepsin concentrations in mucosal perendoscopic biopsy homogenates. The relationship between this parameter and pepsin in gastric juice and pepsinogen group I in serum and in biopsy homogenates was analyzed. From the biochemical point of view, the assay was found sufficiently accurate. Mucosal pepsinogen group I, but not mucosal pepsin, concentration was found higher in gastric and duodenal ulcer patients than in controls. Patients with corpus-fundic gastric ulcer showed significantly lower mucosal pepsin and mucosal pepsinogen group (PG) I. Aging and smoking did not influence either parameter but male duodenal ulcer subjects presented higher mucosal pepsinogen group I concentration. The lack of any relationship between serum and mucosal PG I and between pepsin in gastric juice and in mucosa raises a question, at least in methodological terms, about the validity of using serum pepsinogen group I and pepsin as indicators of peptic output.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Are tryptase and cathepsin D related to Helicobacter pylori infection and mucosal gastrin in peptic ulcer?

The pathogenesis of peptic ulcer is a complex phenomenon and several factors are thought to be involved in this process. Among others, Helicobacter pylori infection, hypergastrinaemia and some proteases seem to play an essential role in inducing peptic ulceration. We investigated whether tryptase (a serine endoprotease released by mast cells) and cathepsin D (a lysosomal hydrolase which seems able to derange the extracellular matrix) play a part in peptic ulcer disease and whether they are linked to Helicobacter pylori infection and mucosal content of gastrin. We studied 13 controls, 25 patients with gastric ulcer, 47 with duodenal ulcer and 11 with duodenitis. Tryptase and cathepsin D were measured in mucosal biopsy specimens (body and antrum of the stomach and duodenum) using IRMA methods. Gastrin was assayed in the antral mucosa by means of a RIA method. Helicobacter pylori infection was histologically evaluated (Giemsa). Tryptase and cathepsin D levels were higher (25%) in patients with active peptic ulcer, whether gastric or duodenal. The mucosal content of cathepsin D, but not that of tryptase, was associated with Helicobacter pylori infection. Tryptase, on the other hand, was related to gastrin content. No correlation was found between the two enzymes. It is concluded that tryptase and cathepsin D probably reflect different pathophysiological modifications in ulcer disease. Cathepsin D seems to be mainly related to the phlogistic reaction of the mucosa to Helicobacter pylori infection; tryptase may reflect and indirect link between the action of gastrin and the function of mast cells.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Laboratory medicine in ulcer disease.

The role of laboratory medicine in ulcer disease is poorly defined. However there is increasing evidence of the clinical usefulness of some laboratory tests that investigate secretory functions and defensive properties of the stomach, gastrointestinal hormones and Helicobacter pylori infection. These tests may modify the clinical management of patients with peptic ulcer by identifying H. pylori positive subjects, patients with high acid output, patients who do not respond to antisecretory therapy, and patients with high gastrin levels in whom Zollinger-Ellison syndrome may be suspected. Here we review the clinical value of laboratory tests in ulcer disease, particularly as concerns the cost/benefit ratio. The relative merits of these tests are described giving an indication of their possible role in the diagnostic algorithm.

Chemistry, Clinical↗
PubMed1994

Effect of age on gastric acid, pepsin, pepsinogen group A and gastrin secretion in peptic ulcer patients.

To verify the effect of age on gastric secretions in gastric (GU) and duodenal ulcer (DU) patients, we carried out a retrospective study evaluating basal and stimulated gastric acid secretion in 427 peptic ulcer subjects aged between 12 and 73 years (GU = 74, DU = 353) in addition to studying gastric juice pepsin, serum pepsinogen group A (PGA) and gastrin in 175 patients (GU = 28, DU = 147). All subjects were then divided into groups according to their sex and age (< 30, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 and > 60 years). Basal, maximal and peak acid outputs (BAO, MAO, PAO) were unchanged in the various age groups, though MAO and PAO were higher in males than females and in DU than in those with GU, even in the elderly (> 60 years). Pepsin and gastrin levels were unchanged at the various ages in GU and DU, while PGA was higher in males with DU aged 50 or over. This demonstrates that acid, pepsin and gastrin secretions do not change with age in ulcer patients. Acid secretion retains its typical distribution according to pathology (DU > GU) and sex (males > females), and also appears to have a fundamental pathogenetic role in peptic ulcer in the elderly.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Purification and characterization of amine oxidase from soybean seedlings.

A simple and rapid procedure for purification of soybean seedling amine oxidase is reported. The crude enzyme, obtained by ammonium sulfate fractionation was purified by ion-exchange chromatography on a cellulose phosphate column and batch affinity chromatography on 6-aminohexyl-Sepharose. Cyclohexylamine, a competitive inhibitor, was utilized to elute the enzyme. A homogeneous enzyme was obtained with a yield higher than 25%, the content of minor components being < or = 2%. The M(r) estimated by gel filtration is 113,000 and 77,000 by sodium lauryl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme is a dimer and contains two Cu2+ ion per molecule. Its EPR spectrum is typical of Cu2+ in a tetragonal symmetry. The enzyme oxidizes cadaverine at high rate, the specific activity being 4.3 mukat/mg. Molecular, spectroscopic, and kinetic properties of this enzyme are reported.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗
PubMed1993

Markers of slow-healing peptic ulcer in the elderly. A study on 1,052 ranitidine-treated patients.

Little is known about ulcer outcome in the elderly. The aims of the present paper were to establish whether risk factors of slow-healing peptic ulcer can be demonstrated in the elderly and whether clinical differences exist between ulcer patients whose age of onset of the disease was before or after 65 years old. The short-term, open study, involving 1052 elderly patients (over 65 years) in 37 gastroenterology centers throughout Italy aimed to compare two schedules of ranitidine treatment: 150 mg twice daily versus 300 mg at bedtime. As nonsignificant differences were found between these two schedules, the sample was considered as a whole. It included 319 gastric ulcer (GU) patients, 699 duodenal ulcer (DU) patients, and 34 concomitant GU and DU cases. Ninety-three patients dropped out of the trial; 79/294 GU, 138/635 DU, and 10/30 GU+DU were found still unhealed after four weeks and 20 GU, 15 DU, and 1 GU+DU remained so after eight weeks. Statistical analysis was performed using likelihood-ratio and Pearson's chi-squared tests and Cox's models. Univariate analysis showed that the indicators of slow-healing GU were ulcer size (P = 0.002) and persisting ulcer symptoms (P = 0.0001); indicators of slow-healing DU were ulcer size (P = 0.0001), persisting ulcer symptoms (P = 0.0001), alcohol (P = 0.0003), and NSAID (P = 0.0088) consumption. DU patients taking antiplatelet drugs have significantly better results after four weeks and worse results after eight weeks (P = 0.0352).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗
PubMed1993

Uptake and life time of fluoride ion in rats by 19F-NMR.

19F nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was utilized to obtain information on the uptake and half-life time of fluoride ion in rats. Changes in tissue fluoride level after acute loading were monitored over time in blood and tissue homogenates obtained from liver and brain. The rate of fluoride elimination from various tissues was roughly similar, following in all cases a first-order kinetic rate law. The F- concentration in brain was about 20% of that found in liver, indicating a reduced fluoride diffusion across the blood-brain barrier. In vivo F- spectra were obtained in rat brain in few minutes with a good signal-to-noise ratio; this confirms the possibility of extending the use of F- as a probe of biomolecules to in vivo applications.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with precancerous changes and gastric cancer.

Several papers suggested a role for H. pylori infection in gastric cancer. We evaluated the prevalence of H. pylori infection in an endoscopic population of patients with gastric precancerous conditions and lesions by studying biopsies from 252 patients and recording the presence and degree of H. pylori infection. Patients were subgrouped as follows: chronic non-atrophic gastritis (CG), chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), intestinal metaplasia (IM), epithelial dysplasia (ED) and gastric cancer (K). As control populations, patients with duodenal ulcer (DU) and patients with no endoscopic and histologic damage (CO) were investigated. H. pylori infection rate increased with age, but became significantly lower (P < 0.001) with the progression of gastric mucosal damage: DU 85%, CG 72%, CAG 58%, particularly in the antral type (39%), IM 63% overall, ED 44% and K 35%. The density of colonization showed the same trend (P < 0.001). Of the K patients, only 36% were H. pylori positive in the adjacent mucosa. Anti-H. pylori antibodies (IgG, IgA and IgM) were also tested. A concordance in the diagnosis between histology and serology was obtained in 82% of the cases. In our experience, H. pylori infection correlates inversely with the presence of gastric precancerous changes and cancer. A cautious interpretation of the epidemiological data regarding H. pylori infection and gastric cancer is therefore, in our opinion, mandatory.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Changes in parietal and mucous cell mass in the gastric mucosa of normal subjects with age: a morphometric study.

Whether or not the gastric mucosa undergoes significant changes in normal aging subjects is still open to debate. In 51 subjects undergoing endoscopy and lacking any significant endoscopic or histologic modification we evaluated mucosal thickness, gland number, numbers of parietal, chief and mucous cells at the fundus and of mucopeptic cells at the antrum, with a morphometric method, subgrouping the patients according to their age class. Our findings demonstrate that the number of parietal cells tends to increase with age and, on the other hand, the number of mucous cells is reduced in elderly subjects (p < 0.05). When considering the parietal-to-mucous cell ratio, this is significantly increased (p = 0.0005) with age. Acid secretion being an offensive factor and mucus a fundamental component of the gastric mucosal barrier, these findings suggest an increased susceptibility of the gastric mucosa to damage in the elderly.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Gastric bicarbonate secretion in high-relapsing, smoking duodenal ulcer patients.

Gastric bicarbonate secretion has been evaluated by Feldman's method in 48 duodenal-ulcer patients. The relationship between smoking, clinical ulcer outcome (healing and recurrence) and bicarbonate secretion has been analysed. Heavy smokers secreted higher bicarbonate ions than did non-smokers. High-relapsing patients produced lower bicarbonate output. These preliminary data suggest that an impaired gastric bicarbonate secretion is associated with smoking, a well-known ulcer-associated factor; further-more, it may single out high-relapsing duodenal ulcer patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Alcohol-dependent mast cell activation in ulcer].

Numerous studies have shown that alcohol causes both acute and chronic damage to gastroduodenal mucosa. The methods of damage differ however, and experimental studies in animals have shown that the degranulation of mast cells in gastric mucosa causes acute hemorrhagic lesions after the consumption of alcohol. It is not known whether this mechanism also operates in man. The aim of the present study was therefore to evaluate whether there is a correlation between mast-cell activation, determined by assaying tryptase levels in gastric mucosa, and the consumption of alcohol in patients with ulcerative diseases. Thirty-one patients with cicatrized ulcerative lesions (13 gastric ulcers, 18 duodenal ulcers) were included in the study. Biopsies at the level of the gastric fundus and antrum and the duodenal bulb were performed in all patients to determine tryptase levels. Biopsy material was frozen and subsequently homogenized; the enzyme was assayed in the supernatant using a radioimmunometric method. The mean daily alcohol consumption was calculated in clinical terms for each patient over the past 5 years and patients were subdivided into non-drinkers and moderate (< 60 g alcohol/day) and excessive (> 60 g alcohol/day) drinkers. It was found that tryptase concentrations were higher in the fundus compared to the gastric antrum and duodenal bulb, irrespective of alcohol consumption both in patients with gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer. The importance of mast cells in provoking alcohol-dependent damage was studied at a gastric level. Alcohol leads to their degranulation and therefore contributes to the formation of gastric lesions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Evaluation of the cost of maintenance therapy (6 months) with 150 mg ranitidine vs 20 mg omeprazole vs 20 mg omeprazole every other day in duodenal ulcer].

Prevention of ulcer relapse and of its complications is a problem which remains to be solved. Our study involved 250 patients, with healed duodenal ulcer. We evaluated efficacy and costs of three different maintenance therapies: ranitidine 150 mg/day, omeprazole 20 mg/day every other day and omeprazole 20 mg/day. Six months later, we found the incidence of relapse to be 24.4% (32/131) in the once-a-day ranitidine group, 19.7% (13/66) in the day every-other-day omeprazole group, and 3.8% (2/53) in the once-a-day omeprazole group. Further, we evaluated costs relative to relapsing patients, and total costs for each treatment group. From these data, we conclude that personalized maintenance therapy with omeprazole is the most cost-effective: a dosage of 20 mg/day is extremely effective in maintaining remission, and is therefore most indicated in patients at risk; omeprazole 20 mg/day every-other-day affords better compliance, lower costs and fewer relapses with respect to standard H2-antagonist dosages.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Esaprazole effect on acid, peptic and alkaline secretion in duodenal ulcer patients.

To study the effect of Esaprazole, a new antiulcer drug, on acid, peptic and alkaline secretion a modified gastric acid test was performed in 18 duodenal ulcer patients. Pentagastrin was administered as bolus 30' and 75' after the beginning of the test, followed by Esaprazole 300 mg i.v. at 90'. Gastric juice was collected every 15' for determination of: total volume, volume of non parietal secretion, acid, bicarbonate and pepsin output. Serum pepsinogen group I was determined by radioimmunoassay. Esaprazole had a significant inhibitory effect on the total volume of gastric secretion and on volume of non parietal secretion. Pepsin output and serum pepsinogen group I were not affected by Esaprazole, while bicarbonate secretion was reduced. Antiulcer activity of Esaprazole seems to be due to the reduction of total volume of gastric secretion.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Role of serum fasting gastrin in screening for hypergastrinemic syndromes in duodenal ulcer disease.

Basal serum gastrin levels were measured in 237 patients with endoscopically confirmed duodenal ulcer and were higher than normal in 16 cases. Protein meal gastrin stimulation was performed on this group of 16 patients and on a control group of 48 patients with normal basal gastrin concentrations but high rates of either ulcer recurrence or of complications (e.g., bleeding or perforation); 21 patients from the two groups were also tested for serum gastrin inhibition with secretin. Four cases (25%) of antral G-cell hyperfunction were found in the first group, plus 1 case compatible with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (6.2%). Only 1 case (2%) of antral G-cell hyperfunction was found among the 48 controls. These results suggest the clinical utility of routine basal gastrin measurement in screening for hypergastrinemic patients with duodenal ulcer disease.

Adult↗