Search PubMedSearch

Biomedical subjects

G Emanuelli

Publications and source records attributed to G Emanuelli.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

[Markers of type B viral hepatitis].

The discovery of Australian antigen (HBsAg) has led to an increasing deal of knowledges about the virus of type B hepatitis (HBV); several markers of HBV have been detected and are becoming disposable for clinical and epidemiological purposes. The HBsAg is carried by 3 types of particulate structures discovered by electron microscopy as small spherical particles having diameter around 22 nm, long filaments and spherical particles having an overall diameter of the 42 nm (Dane-particle) with an electron-dense core. Dane-particle core contains circular double-stranded DNA molecules and an enzyme, the DNA polymerase. At present, Dane-particle is thought to represent the HBV, having properties consistent with those of a complete virus. Four antigen/antibody systems related to viral type B hepatitis have been discovered; they have been designated with the following nomenclature: HBsAg/anti-HBs, HBcAg/anti-HBc, HBeAg/anti-HBe, epilon antigen/anti epilson. The availability of the HBV markers for clinical purposes will permit a better understanding of the sequence of the biological reactions as well as of the clinical and epidemiological features concerning this viral infection: incubation period, acute disease, resolution, chronic carrier state, actively or passively immunized subject, persistent or subsided infectivity, prognosis.

Antibodies, Viral

[Isolated hepatosplenic tuberculosis: 1 case].

A 27-year-old woman presented with high spiking fevers, progressive malaise, weight loss, and marked hepatosplenomegaly. The clinical picture and laboratory findings (including hepatic scintiscan, coeliac arteriography and abdominal lymphangiography) prompted surgical exploration of hypochondriac organs. On laparotomy, both liver and spleen surface exhibited extensive inflammatory lesions. Histopathologic investigations on hepatic tissue showed microscopic caseating granulomata. Specific stains and cultures for mycobacterium, fungi etc. were negative in tissue preparations. Antituberculous and steroid therapy elicited a rapid response. Follow-up observations indicated the resolution of specific hepatic lesions.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones

Renal lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzyme pattern in short-term experimental obstructive nephropathy.

The lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme pattern of different zones of rat kidney has been investigated at different stages after unilateral ureteral obstruction. In the obstructed kidney, the cortical tissue showed an early (3 days) progressive shift toward a cathodic zymogram; at 7 days LDH-5 isoenzyme was the predominant fraction (44.7 +/- 2.5). In the outer medullary tissue a similar change was observed even though middle fractions were always quite evident. No significant changes were found in the inner medullary tissue. The observed enzymatic abnormalities are related to renal hypoxia and to the occurrence of a less differentiated nephronic cell population. They represent a metabolic marker of the morphologic and functional alterations which occur in obstructive nephropathy.

Animals

[Type B viral hepatitis. Recent findings].

The discovery of hepatitis B surface antigen by Blumberg in 1965 offered a specific marker that could readily be employed in the clinical, epidemiological and experimental investigation of type B viral hepatitis. It has since been followed by the continuous gathering of further knowledge concerning this disease. The morphology and immunological and biochemical features of virus B, the epidemiology and prevention of hepatitis B, and marker determination techniques are examined in an overview of the present situation.

Animals

[Clinical significance of the tests used in the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases].

Different methods available for investigating patients for pancreatic disease are discussed. They first include measurement of pancreatic enzymes in biological fluids. Basal amylase and/or lipase in blood are truly diagnostic in acute pancreatitis but their utility is low in chronic pancreatic diseases. Evocative tests have been performed to increase the sensitivity of blood enzyme measurement. The procedure is based on enzyme determination following administration of pancreozymin and secretin, and offers a valuable aid in diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis and cancer of the pancreas. They are capable of discerning pancreatic lesions but are not really discriminatory because similar changes are observed in both diseases. The measurement of urinary enzyme levels in patients with acute pancreatitis is a sensitive indicator of disease. The urinary amylase excretion rises to abnormal levels and persists at significant values for a longer period of time than the serum amylase in acute pancreatitis. The fractional urinary amylase escretion seems to be more sensitive than daily urinary measurement. The pancreatic exocrin function can be assessed by examining the duodenal contents after intravenous administration of pancreozymin and secretin. Different abnormal secretory patterns can be determinated. Total secretory deficiency is observed in patients with obstruction of excretory ducts by tumors of the head of the pancreas and in the end stage of chronic pancreatitis. Low volume with normal bicarbonate and enzyme concentration is another typical pattern seen in neoplastic obstruction of escretory ducts. In chronic pancreatitis the chief defect is the inability of the gland to secrete a juice with a high bicarbonate concentration; but in the advanced stage diminution of enzyme and volume is also evident. Diagnostic procedures for pancreatic diseases include digestion and absorption tests. The microscopic examination and chemical estimation of the fats in stool specimens in different conditions of intake are still important screening tests. Isotopic estimates of steatorrhea and distinction between labeled triolein and oleic acid absorption do not provide greater diagnostic discrimination than traditional procedures. 131I labeled proteins permit a good evaluation of a negative nitrogen balance. Sophisticated procedures to estimate exocrine pancreatic insufficiency are based on the study of endoluminal digestive processes at several times and different level of the small intestine. They permite esclusion of extrapancreatic factors interfering in digestion and absorption functions. The endocrin pancreatic function is evaluated by mean of oral tolerance test an radioimmunoassay of blood insulin. It is generally agreed that "diabetes" caused by insulin deficiency and digestion and absorption defects are the result of diffuse pancreatic destruction. Many methods are now available investigating patients with pancreatic disease but the single use of one of them is never satisfactory...

Amylases

[Clinical Significance of Different Tests for the Diagnosis of Chronic Diseases of the Pancreas].

Enzymatic, functional and morphological test are used for the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases. The enzymatic tests-amylase is the enzyme activity most frequently investigated-are best suited to the diagnosis of acute diseases. In chronic inflammations of the pancreas the serum enzymes do not usually increase because of the destruction of the parenchyma. The provocation test with pancreozymin secretin is especially indicated in chronic diseases of the pancreas. Digestion and absorption are only disturbed in the late stages of the disease. It is important to investigate them to determine the necessary susbtitution therapy. No method should be used alone, only series of tests give satisfactory results.

Acute Disease

[Cryptococcosis in a female patient with angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy and dysproteinemia].

A case of a 72-year-old woman affected by angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia is described. She was admitted to the hospital for serious cutaneous lesions and dementia. The patient had been treated with corticosteroids for the previous two years. Cryptococcosis was diagnosed by cutaneous biopsy. Antimycotic therapy together with corticosteroid withdrawal cured the cutaneous lesions and improved her psychiatric symptoms.

Aged