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Biomedical subjects

G Lembo

Publications and source records attributed to G Lembo.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Infliximab in the treatment of extra-intestinal manifestations of Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: Crohn's disease (CD) is frequently associated with extra-intestinal manifestations (EIMs) and infliximab has been recently proposed for the treatment of CD with EIMs. Our aim was to evaluate the short-term efficacy of infliximab in this treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty CD patients were treated with infliximab. Fifteen patients (50%) showed EIMs before starting therapy. Ten patients presented an arthritis (five sacroiliitis, five spondylitis), with six also reporting peripheral arthralgias. Four patients presented cutaneous EIMs while three patients had an ocular EIM. RESULTS: At week 10, all patients reported an improvement in EIMs. Regarding arthritis, ASAS20 and ASAS40 improvement was observed in 80% and 60% of patients, respectively. In the four patients with cutaneous EIMs and in the three with ocular EIMs, complete healing was observed. Recurrence was observed in 10 out of 15 patients (66%) and a second course of treatment with infliximab was required. This proved to be effective in all cases except for one patient who stopped treatment because of a severe adverse reaction. CONCLUSIONS: Infliximab is an effective drug in the short-term treatment of EIMs complicating CD. Although relapse of EIMs occurs frequently, retreatment ensures effective control of the symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A truncated form of teratocarcinoma-derived growth factor-1 (cripto-1) mRNA expressed in human colon carcinoma cell lines and tumors.

The human teratocarcinoma-derived growth factor (TDGF)-1 gene encodes a 188-amino acid protein, cripto-1. The TDGF-1 gene is overexpressed in the majority of human primary colorectal carcinomas and hepatic metastases, in breast carcinomas and in testicular nonseminoma germ cell embryonal carcinomas. In the human embryonal carcinoma cell line NTERA-2 clone D1, a 2-kb TDGF-1 mRNA transcript is expressed. The present study shows that a 1.7-kb mRNA transcript lacking the first two exons of the TDGF-1 gene is expressed in the human colon carcinoma cell line GEO. This shorter mRNA is the only TDGF-1 transcript that is present in the majority of primary human colorectal carcinomas and hepatic metastases and in adult human tissues such as the pancreas, heart, stomach, mammary gland, skeletal muscle, liver and placenta. In contrast, in the kidney, brain, testis, ovary and spleen, the longer 2-kb TDGF-1 mRNA transcript is expressed. The putative shorter protein starts at a CUG codon 129 nucleotides downstream of the starting AUG codon of the longer protein. These data indicate the potential for differential transcriptional regulation of the TDGF-1 gene in different normal and tumor tissues.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cardiopulmonary exercise response in patients with left ventricular dysfunction or heart failure: a noninvasive study by gas exchange and impedance cardiography monitoring.

We investigated the upright bicycle exercise cardiopulmonary response in 20 patients with left ventricular dysfunction (LVD, secondary to previous myocardial infarction, left ventricular ejection fraction range 18-44%). Ten patients (48 +/- 7 years) asymptomatic (I NYHA class) without drug treatment (LVD group). The others (n = 10) (50 +/- 1 years) complained of dyspnea and/or fatigue despite therapy (NYHA II-III). They represented the heart failure (HF) group. Eight sedentary men (40 +/- 10 years) served as controls. Controls and patients performed stress testings under drug treatment, when administered. Anaerobic ventilatory threshold (ATge) was considered as an index of submaximal exercise while peak exercise VO2 (Peak VO2) was considered the maximal volitional exercise capacity. The ratio between minute ventilation (VE) to carbon dioxide release (VCO2) (VE/VCO2) was assessed to evaluate the ventilatory response during exercise. We coupled gas exchange assessment (2001, MGC) with noninvasive monitoring of stroke volume (SV) by impedance cardiography (NCCOM3, BOMED) and total systemic vascular resistances (TSVR; by auscultatory blood pressure measurement). In controls VO2 increase during exercise was related to higher heart rate (HR) and SV both from resting to ATge and from this point to the peak. TSVR declined during both steps. In patients with HF VO2 rose from resting to ATge (by faster HR and unchanged SV). VO2 increased slightly from this point to Peak VO2. This result was related to flat HR increase and unchanged SV as well as TSVR. In patients with LVD VO2 increased similarly to controls from resting to ATge and less above the threshold. In these patients both HR and SV increased during submaximal exercise. From ATge to Peak VO2 only HR increased. TSVR declined significantly similarly to controls. The VE/VCO2 ratio was higher at peak exercise in patients with HF compared to controls. Different determinants were demonstrated in patients with left ventricular dysfunction with mild or symptomatic chronic heart failure (CHF). These findings and the increased ventilatory response in patients with CHF can explain different changes of VO2 in these patients during submaximal and maximal voluntary exercise and contribute to explain exercise-induced exertion in these subjects.

Adult↗