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Biomedical subjects

G Parisi

Publications and source records attributed to G Parisi.

125 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Interaction of HIV infection with nervous tissue may play a crucial role in the development of AIDS.

In this note, we first review some of the immunopathogenic mechanisms of HIV infection and discuss the possible role of the idiotypic network in producing immunodeficiency; we then propose that the interaction of HIV with the nervous system is such as to generate signals which are misinterpreted by the nervous system: the feedback reaction of the nervous system may play a crucial role in the development of AIDS. We conclude by studying a very simple model for the dynamics of AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Takayasu's arteritis and Crohn's disease: an unusual association. Report on two cases.

Two cases of Takayasu's arteritis associated with Crohn's disease of the colon are described, both of which occurring in young female patients. In the first case, the vasculitic process was widespread, involving the aortic arch, the abdominal aorta, the renal arteries and the left iliac artery, similar to the angiographic "Indian" pattern. The second case presented a typical "Japanese" aortic arch involvement. In the first patient, Crohn's disease appeared to have been present prior to Takayasu's arteritis, vice versa in the second case; steroid treatment, assigned for both diseases might, however, have modified their natural evolution. The association is rare. Moreover, the coexistence of two immune-mediated diseases in the same subject is unusual as they are generally considered to be independent. Hypotheses concerning their possible inter-relationship are advanced.

Adult↗
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Determination of trazodone and its metabolite, m-CPP, in serum and urine by HPLC.

A sensitive and rapid method for the analysis of trazodone (TZD) and its metabolite, 1-(m-chlorophenyl)piperazine (m-CPP), in the serum and urine of rabbits treated with the drug was developed. The assay requires extraction from the biological fluids with adequately buffered organic solvents followed by HPLC. The assay allows good reproducibility, fair recovery, and excellent linearity in the range of 0.6 to 10 micrograms/mL for TZD and 1.2 to 20 micrograms/mL for m-CPP.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Takayasu's arteritis].

A brief review of Takayasu's Arteritis (TA), a chronic granulomatous arteritis that mainly affects the aorta and its major branches, is made. The various ethiopathogenetic mechanisms which may give origin to the vascular damage and its pathologic pattern are described. TA is a more widespread disease than previously stated, it is not exclusive of young women of Japanese origin but it is actually present worldwide irrespective of age and with variegated patterns of clinical and angiographic presentation. However, two main forms may be identified: the Japanese form in which prevails the aortic arch involvement and the Indian form in which vasculitis is present in abdominal aorta and its branches (above all the renal arteries) with an upright extension to the thoracic aorta and a protean clinical picture with a more systemic spectrum. The new clinical and angiographic criteria for TA definition are reviewed and stressed.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Assessment of hepatocyte AgNORs expression in chronic hepatopathy].

The high incidence of liver chronic diseases has aroused strong interest in researching and trying to discover the biomolecular basis. In this context the study of nucleolar organizing regions could be interesting as a prognostic factor for chronic hepatitis and for liver neoplastic disease. The Authors report on the results of their study performed on 39 selected samples from 4 different inflammatory hepatic disorders.

Hepatitis, Chronic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Anti-endomysium antibodies: a new marker for the diagnosis and treatment of celiac disease].

Coeliac disease is the most frequent cause of chronic diarrhea (1:1000 children) in Italy. It often has atypical symptoms, so a sensitive and specific test is needed that can both simplify the ESPGAM criteria and monitor compliance of patients to their gluten free diet. The AEmA (anti endomysium antibody), found by Chorzelsky in 1984, appears to be a very sensitive and specific screening test in the diagnosis of coeliac disease (CD). Sera from 150 children, mean age 4 years (range 6 months to 20 years) were tested for endomysium antibodies (IgA class) and anti gliadin antibodies (IgG class). From our preliminary study IgA-AEmA seem to be more specific for CD than IgG class anti-gliaadin antibodies.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the gluteal region: a case report.

The infiltration of the skeletal muscles on the part of lymphomatous cells is rarely reported and only histological examination can reveal it. Based on a review of the literature, it is the purpose of this study to describe a rare case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with muscular invasion, characterized by voluminous swelling in the left gluteal region, in a female aged 60 years who was completely asymptomatic. Biopsy and immunohistochemistry alone allowed us to diagnose non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It is the purpose of this study to document the existence of NHL with musculoskeletal localization, emphasizing the morphological features and the site, as well as hypothesizing that wide-margin surgery can constitute a valid therapeutic aid for such extralymphonodal forms, that are particularly large and with a single localization.

Biopsy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Auxological data and definitive height in short patients without hormonal deficiencies. A longitudinal study].

61 children (49 males and 12 females) with stature before puberty less than 3. centile were studied. They had been previously diagnosed with the various GH stimulation tests as "constitutional short" and they were measured after reaching final adult height. During longitudinal follow-up, the following auxological data were calculated: height for chronological and bone age sds (HCAsds, HBAsds), height age/bone age ratio (HA/BA), bone age sds (BA sds); all the latter were calculated both in prepuberty and in puberty (mean 1.24 years after the onset of puberty). Target height and predictable height according to Bayley and Pinneau were also calculated. Final height for males was 152-175 cm (mean 162.3) and for females 144-163 cm (mean 151.5). These values were lower than expected with both target height and Bayley and Pinneau prediction, especially if the values of Bayley and Pinneau had been calculated before puberty. In females there was a significant positive correlation with target and final height. In males final height was positively correlated with Target height, with prepuberal data of HCA sds and with pubertal data of HBA sds and HA/BA. A negative correlation was found with final height in males and BA sds during puberty. A delay in bone age, probability, represented a positive factor in increasing final height only if it was maintained during puberty. Bayley and Pinneau's method overestimated final height, in particular when it was used before puberty or with a severe bone delay. Subject with pubertal delay are 2.42 cm taller than normal pubertal children. This difference had been acquired before puberty.

Age Determination by Skeleton↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pseudorheumatoid nodules in childhood. A case report].

Subcutaneous nodules of the rheumatic type can occur in patients without other evidence of rheumatic disease. Nodules are characterized by subcutaneous location with predilection for pretibial regions and scalp, occasional large size, spontaneous regression and frequent recurrence. Sometimes lesion biopsy may be usefull for confirmation of the clinical diagnosis; etiology is unknown, therapy is unnecessary. One asymptomatic child with benign rheumatoid nodules is described by the Authors.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Therapy of active chronic hepatitis with recombinant alpha 2b-interferon: an 18 month follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of interferon therapy in patients with "active" chronic hepatitis. METHODS: A total of 115 patients with histological diagnosis of active chronic hepatitis were enrolled in the study and treated with recombinant alpha 2b-interferon at a dosage of 3 MU, 3 times a week, for a 6 month period. Patients who showed a complete normalization of serum aminotransferase levels were followed for further 12 months, in which no treatment was performed. RESULTS: After 6 months of treatment, 50 (43.4%) patients showed normalized serum aminotransferase levels and among these "responders", 18 (36%) showed a persistent normalization 12 months after stopping interferon therapy. Only 7 patients at the end of the study agreed to a second liver biopsy which showed a decrease in Knodell's index and a clear-cut reduction of inflammation and lobular necrosis. CONCLUSION: Interferon is useful for the treatment of chronic active anti-HCV positive hepatitis but the beneficial responses are often transient. Future therapeutic strategies and the development of direct assay for HCV in serum and liver are necessary to understand the real role of interferon in chronic anti-HCV positive hepatitis.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Management of hepatic encephalopathy with oral zinc supplementation: a long-term treatment.

OBJECTIVES: The effect of long-term oral zinc supplementation, in addition to standard therapy (protein-restricted diet and lactulose) on recurrent hepatic encephalopathy, was assessed in a double-blind study. METHODS: Ninety cirrhotic patients with stable recurrent hepatic encephalopathy, after following a one month period of standard therapy, were randomized to receive oral zinc acetate supplementation (600 mg/day) in addition to standard therapy or to continue only standard therapy (a diet containing 0.8 g/kg/day of protein and 90 g/day of lactulose) for six months. Psychometric tests, NCT (number correction test) and PSE (portal-systemic encephalopathy) Index, were used to evaluate the degree of hepatic encephalopathy, both at the beginning and the end of each treatment period. RESULTS: Oral zinc supplementation in addition to standard therapy was able to normalize serum zinc levels. The patients who never showed clinical signs of hepatic encephalopathy during the trial were 88.6% in zinc-group and 86% in only standard therapy group. Psychometric tests, NCT and PSE Index, were statistically better than basal values either in zinc-group or in only standard therapy group. CONCLUSIONS: Final values of psychometric tests were better in zinc-group than only standard therapy group but the differences were not statistically significant.

Acetates↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Transient pseudohypoaldosteronism secondary to congenital malformation pathology of the urinary tract (valves of the posterior urethra): a report of a case with elements of a physiopathological nature].

A case of secondary transient pseudohypoaldosteronism (PHA) in a three-month-old infant who had arrived in emergency conditions is reported. Clinically the patient presented dehydration associated with salt loss, metabolic acidosis, severe hyperkalemia, markedly elevated levels both of plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentration. Biochemical and instrumental tests and clinical evolution have given reason to consider it as a case of transient PHA, secondary to an obstructive uropathy (PUV) with urinary infection. Secondary forms of PHA have frequently been documented in young infants with urinary tract infection associated with both obstructive and non obstructive uropathy. After medical or surgical therapy the abnormalities quickly disappear. This reported case suggests that the pediatrician-neonatologist dealing with a young infant with obstructive uropathy should not only consider the surgical treatment but also the medical one, in the light of the associated physiopathological aspects.

Diagnosis, Differential↗