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Biomedical subjects

G Ballardini

Publications and source records attributed to G Ballardini.

84 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1975

[Pharmacological treatment of neurotic depressions].

Neurotic depression covers all forms triggered by exogenous factors, often in conjuction with an underlying personality disposition, and includes reactive, exhaustion and neurotic depression. A feeling of sadness and loss of affection is generally present, together with anxiety provoked by insecurity and apprehension. The complexity of the picture makes treatment of the overall situation difficult with one drug only. For this reason, a series of 25 patients aged 31 to 67 yr with syndromes classifiable as neurotic depression were treated with 2 to 6 daily administrations of an association of 25 nortryptiline and 1 mg trifluoperazine. Analysis of the behaviour of a number of target symptoms showed the effectiveness of the association. There were virtually no side-effects. Success was obtained in the management of anxiety, loss of appetite, depression, irritability, weeping, failure to adapt, and remissiveness, especially in the first week of treatment.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Basement membrane production by hepatocytes in chronic liver disease.

The immunohistologic distribution of fibronectin, laminin, type IV collagen and whole basement membrane was evaluated in liver biopsies from patients with chronic active liver disease. Fibronectin was consistently increased in the areas of piecemeal necrosis, portal tracts and fibrous septa. Laminin was not detected in normal liver parenchyma. In contrast, laminin positive linear basement membrane structures were prevalent in portal tracts, fibrous septa and the peripheral sinusoids of cirrhotic nodules. In areas of piecemeal necrosis, the hepatocytes, single or assembled in "rosettes", were frequently underlined by linear deposits of laminin and type IV collagen. This immunoreactivity was often polarized, being confined to the stromal side of liver cells, while the parenchymal side was negative for both proteins. Electron microscopy revealed a typical basement membrane in corresponding areas. Hepatocytes normally do not produce a basement membrane, but do so following chronic injury. We suggest that the polarized basement membrane accumulation by hepatocytes is a hallmark of hepatocyte regeneration following damage.

Basement Membrane↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Risk of colorectal cancer following colonoscopic polypectomy.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: To follow a cohort of patients who had undergone polypectomies in order to assess the overall risk of subsequent colorectal cancer in relation with various adenomas characteristics. METHODS: A total of 1,063 patients with adenomatous polyps of the large intestine were treated between 1979 and 1996 at the National Cancer Institute of Milan, during a screening program for colorectal carcinoma. Data on patients who had undergone colonoscopies were collected prospectively. The relation between colorectal cancer and adenomas characteristics was assessed by computing the hazard ratio (HR) values and corresponding confidence intervals (95% CI), according to Cox. RESULTS: Of the 1,063 patients who met the eligibility requirements, 672 had single adenomas (63.2%) and 391 had multiple adenomas (36.8%). Histological examination revealed 743 cases of tubular adenoma, 196 cases of tubulo-villous adenoma, and 96 cases of villous adenoma. High-grade dysplasia was found in 3.1% of the cases. During the 8,906 persons/year of follow-up, adenocarcinomas of the large bowel developed in 11 patients. Several adenomas' characteristics at index polypectomy were significant predictors of colorectal cancer occurrence. In univariate analysis the risk of colon cancer was significantly related with multiple adenomas (HR 4.2, 95% CI 1.1-6.5), high-grade dysplasia adenomas (HR 10.0, 95% CI 2.6-38.1) and with adenomas larger than 2 cm (HR 5.0, 95% CI 1.2-20.4). A multivariate stepwise procedure confirmed that the presence of multiple adenomas and presence of high-grade dysplasia are the most important predictors of carcinomas. Hazard ratios for colorectal cancer occurrence, from multivariate Cox's model, were 5.1 (95% CI 1.2-19.9) for multiple compared to single adenomas, and 13.0 (95% CI 3.6-50.7) for adenomas with high-grade dysplasia compared to those with low-grade dysplasia. CONCLUSIONS: High-grade dysplasia, number and size of adenomas were confirmed as the major cancer predictors. Based on this conclusion, a subgroup of patients, who may benefit from intensive surveillance colonoscopy, can be identifiable.

Adenoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Thyroid autoimmunity in chronic urticaria.

A subset of patients with idiopathic chronic urticaria (CU) has been recently classified as autoimmune on the basis of two main findings: association with thyroid autoimmunity and with anti-IgE and/or anti-IgE receptor antibodies. The association of CU with thyroid autoimmunity has been known since 1983, but its frequency varies in different reports. The objective of the present study was to verify the prevalence of thyroid antibodies (anti-thyroid peroxidase, TPO; thyroglobulin, TG; TSH-receptor, TSH-R) in two distinct series of CU: of known cause (70 cases, group A) and idiopathic (52 cases, group B). Twenty-three patients (M/F:7/16) of group A (33%) and 12 (M/F:4/8) of group B (23%) tested positive for at least one type of thyroid antibody. The difference was not statistically significant. Thyroid disease or altered serum TSH levels (requiring treatment) were present in 39% of group A and 42% of group B seropositive patients. In conclusion, the present study shows that CU, either of known cause or idiopathic, is more common in females than in males and is significantly associated with thyroid autoimmunity. These results were not expected on the assumption that autoimmune phenomena are a specific pattern of idiopathic CU. Thus, screening for thyroid autoimmunity and function is advisable in all patients with CU for the early identification of patients requiring either treatment of underlying thyroid dysfunction or follow-up.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Microvascular changes in progressive systemic sclerosis: immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study.

Fifteen patients affected by Progressive Systemic Sclerosis have been studied. With immunofluorescence, specific antibodies against collagen type IV and laminin clearly outlined the microvessels, while endothelial cells showed a brilliant heavy fluorescence for vimentin antibodies. In the deep dermis, fibronectin proved to have increased. At electron microscopy, microvessels appeared with occluded lumina due to the presence of swollen endothelial cells. Endothelial cytoplasm was filled with intermediate filaments (vimentin type), generally condensed into peripherally located bundles or in perinuclear rings. The perivascular basal lamina was thickened and laminated. Although these changes do not demonstrate a specific pattern, representing a common step in several connective tissue disorders, the data tend to confirm a clear involvement of the microvasculature in Progressive Systemic Sclerosis.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

IgG autoantibodies to complement C1q in pediatric-onset systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: Antibodies to C1q (aC1q) have been found in up to 50% of adult patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and have been associated with proliferative glomerulonephritis. We investigated the prevalence and clinical significance of aC1q in pediatric SLE. METHODS: Antibodies to C1q, measured by an ELISA method, were evaluated in 29 patients with childhood-onset SLE, 26 females and 3 males, aged 7.5 to 19.6 years. RESULTS: Seventeen (59%) of the 29 patients were initially positive for aC1q. No correlation was found between either the presence or titer of aC1q and any of the clinical manifestations, including nephritis. However, a significant correlation was observed between aC1q levels and anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies and C3 values. Serial determinations of aC1q in 23 patients showed a progressive decline in the titers with few significant fluctuations. Antibodies to C1q were not a reliable predictor of increased SLE activity, since they increased or became detectable in only 50% of the pre-flare sera. CONCLUSION: Antibodies to C1q were frequently positive in our patients with pediatric SLE and were correlated with laboratory variables of disease activity. However, unlike in adults with SLE, a high correlation between aC1q and glomerulonephritis was not found in these pediatric patients.

Adolescent↗