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Biomedical subjects

G Mazzacca

Publications and source records attributed to G Mazzacca.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Prolactin secretion in nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis.

Serum prolactin levels were determined following stimulation by sulpiride in 20 patients with nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis and 10 normal controls. Prolactin response was essentially the same in the two groups. Only 5 cirrhotics, all with ascites, showed a lower prolactin response after sulpiride stimulation. This was interpreted as a consequence of a rapid prolactin escape from blood into the ascitic fluid, as it was shown to be the case in 2 of these patients. It is concluded that prolactin secretion in nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis is essentially normal. The higher prolactin levels found by others in alcoholic cirrhosis could be the result of a direct effect of alcohol on hypothalamic structures involved in prolactin secretion.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Pattern and concentration of free amino acids in the plasma and liver tissue of phenobarbital-treated rats.

The pattern and concentration of free amino acids in the plasma and liver tissue of phenobarbital-treated rats was investigated. In phenobarbital-treated rats, there was a significant plasma increase of the total concentration of free amino acids. No significant change in liver free amino acid concentration was observed because of the contemporaneous and general increase in liver size which does not allow observation of any percentual variation in amino acid concentration.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1978

Urinary excretion of D-glucaric acid, total glucuronic acid and total porphyrins in porphyria cutanea tarda.

The urinary levels of D-glucaric acid, which is an index of hepatic microsome induction, and the excretion of glucuronic acid and porphyrins were measured in nine patients with Porphyria Cutanea Tarda (PCT) and twelve normal controls. The excretion of D-glucaric acid and glucuronic acid were respectively 3.5 and two times higher in PCT patients compared to controls. A statistical correlation could be demonstrated between urinary excretion of total porphyrins with that of glucaric and glucuronic acids. These findings indicate that microsomal function and porphyrin metabolic derangement are strictly related in PCT.

Fatty Liver↗
PubMed1977

Brush border peptidases and arylamidases in the experimental blind loop syndrome of the rat.

Peptidase and arylamidase activities were assessed in purified brush borders from jejunum of rats with surgically created blind loops. The blind loop segment and the jejunum proximal and distal to the blind loop were studied. Comparable jejunal segments from control rats were also studied. The blind loop syndrome was documented by presence of macrocytic anemia. Enzyme activities were determined on purified brush borders. In rats with the blind loop syndromes enzymatic activities hydrolizing sucrose, L-Leucyl-beta-naphthylamide, L-lysyl-beta-naphthylamide, alpha-L-glutamyl-beta-naphthylamide, L-phenylalanyl-alanine and L-leucyl-glycine were significantly reduced as compared to controls (P less than 0.001). After a short course of antibiotic therapy enzymatic activities returned to normal. Our findings suggest a reversible intestinal mucosa damage in the rat with blind loop syndrome.

Aminopeptidases↗
PubMed1975

The source of ascitic fluid in experimental cirrhosis in the rat.

In order to disclose the source of ascitic fluid in liver cirrhosis, normal and cirrhotic rats were injected with fluorescein into the paracecal vein. The green fluorescence was then evaluated on the surface of the liver, the intestine and the peritoneum. Among healthy rats and in those with anascitic cirrhosis a very slight fluorescence was detected on the liver capsule whereas among rats with ascitic cirrhosis a distinct fluorescence was shown on the liver surface, the small intestine and the peritoneum. Therefore, the peritoneum is a source of ascitic fluid in cirrhosis of the rat.

Animals↗
PubMed1971

Peritoneoscopic features of intraabdominal vessels in cirrhosis of the liver.

Peritoneoscopy was carried out in 57 cirrhotic patients in order to evaluate the morphological features of intraabdominal veins. These were described either as normal or characterized by minimal, moderate, or marked alterations: accordingly, the patients were classified into four groups. Intrahepatic and intrasplenic pressures were measured in most patients; abnormally elevated values were found in every case, and the higher figures belonged to the subjects with minor involvement of the intraabdominal veins. Superficial collateralization and oesophageal varices appeared unrelated to changes in these veins, whereas splenomegaly was mostly found in patients with normal or slightly altered intraabdominal veins. Percutaneous splenoportography was performed in 16 patients, and venographic appearances did not correlate with peritoneoscopic features of the intraabdominal veins. Ascites, on the other hand, was exclusively present in patients with alterations in these veins. It is suggested that some pathogenetic relationship might exist between changes in intraabdominal veins seen by peritoneoscopy and ascites.

Abdomen↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A randomized comparison of metoclopramide and domperidone on plasma aldosterone concentration and on spironolactone-induced diuresis in ascitic cirrhotic patients.

The effect of metoclopramide and domperidone, two dopamine antagonists, administered to cirrhotic patients with ascites and secondary hyperaldosteronism, was examined to evaluate the changes in plasma aldosterone levels and in spironolactone-induced diuresis. In 15 patients with ascites and secondary hyperaldosteronism, the intravenous administration of 10 mg metoclopramide significantly increased plasma aldosterone levels (23%, p less than 0.01). This effect was observed when an equivalent dose of domperidone was administered. In 20 ascitic patients treated with spironolactone (300 mg per day), the administration of metoclopramide (20 mg) significantly reduced urinary output (24%, p less than 0.001) and urinary sodium (35%, p less than 0.001) while simultaneously increasing urinary potassium (24%, p less than 0.001) and plasma aldosterone (40%, p less than 0.001). This effect was not observed with domperidone in an equivalent dose. Therefore, it is recommended that metoclopramide should be avoided during diuretic therapy in cirrhotic patients with ascites. In these circumstances, domperidone is preferred.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Thallium-201 per rectum for the diagnosis of cirrhosis in patients with asymptomatic chronic hepatitis.

In normal subjects, thallium-201, administered per rectum, is taken up mainly by the liver (heart/liver ratio in normal subjects: 0.04 to 0.12). It has been claimed that an increased heart/liver ratio is suggestive of portal-caval shunting and portal hypertension. To evaluate the possibility of using thallium-201 as a test to diagnose cirrhosis, we administered this substance per rectum to 33 patients with biochemical evidence, but no clinical symptoms, of liver disease. Laparoscopy and liver biopsy revealed chronic active hepatitis without cirrhosis in 18 patients, and chronic active hepatitis with cirrhosis in the others. The results of conventional liver function tests were similar in both groups. A significant difference, however, was found between the means of fasting serum bile acid concentrations (9.8 +/- 3.2 and 18.3 +/- 4.2 microM per liter) in chronic active hepatitis without cirrhosis and cirrhotic patients, and between the means of the heart/liver ratios 20 min after thallium-201 administration (heart/liver: 0.09 +/- 0.03 and 0.54 +/- 0.13, respectively). Unlike the serum bile acid concentration which gave some overlapping values, the thallium-201 test clearly distinguished the chronic active hepatitis without cirrhosis group from the cirrhotics. In the cirrhotic group, there was a significant correlation between the heart/liver ratio and signs of portal hypertension such as esophageal varices, increased diameter of the vena porta and hypersplenism. The thallium-201 test is therefore useful in discriminating between chronic active hepatitis with and without cirrhosis in clinically asymptomatic subjects with biochemical evidence of moderate liver function impairment. A heart/liver uptake ratio much higher than normal (above 0.30) strongly suggests the development of hepatic cirrhosis.

Administration, Rectal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Colonoscopic removal of a polypoid arteriovenous malformation.

A 53-year-old male presenting with a 3-month history of intermittent mild rectal bleeding was found, on double contrast barium enema, to have a large polyp on a long stalk in the sigmoid colon. Large bowel endoscopy confirmed the presence of a 2 cm pedunculated polyp which was removed using a diathermic snare, with slight bleeding following the procedure that did not require endoscopic haemostasis. Only after histologic examination was the polyp shown to be a colonic arteriovenous malformation. Endoscopically, arteriovenous malformations generally appear as flat or elevated bright red lesions. A pedunculated polypoid appearance is extremely uncommon. In this case, no gastrointestinal bleeding or polypoid recurrence was observed during the 12 months of clinical and endoscopic follow-up.

Arteriovenous Malformations↗