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Biomedical subjects

G Pizza

Publications and source records attributed to G Pizza.

63 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

In vitro production of a transfer factor specific for transitional-cell carcinoma of the bladder.

Human dialysable Transfer Factor (TFd) extracted from lymphocytes of patients with transitional cell carcinoma of bladder (TCCB) was replicated in culture by lymphoblastoid cell lines. The effectiveness of two such TFdLs produced in vitro in transferring sensitivity to TCCB was assessed in the lymphocyte migration test (LMT) using formalin-treated TCCB cells as antigen. The results, showed that one TFdL transferred sensitivity in 5/14 cases and the other in 12/15, not only to leucocytes of healthy individuals but also to leucocytes of TCCB patients. Preliminary results showing an in vivo transfer of sensitivity are discussed.

Carcinoma, Transitional Cell↗

Specific transfer factor with activity against Epstein-Barr virus reduces late relapse in endemic Burkitt's lymphoma.

Twenty-seven children with abdominal Burkitt's lymphoma (stage III), who had achieved complete remission, were entered into a prospective controlled trial of adjunct treatment with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific transfer factor (TF). Two patients treated with TF and 2 controls relapsed early (less than or equal to 12 weeks). Two out of 12 TF-treated patients and 5 out of 11 controls subsequently suffered relapses. Time to first late relapse was longer among TF-treated patients (p = 0.08), and no late relapse occurred while a patient was receiving TF treatment. Thus it seems that specific TF might be useful in the management of endemic Burkitt's lymphoma and also in the treatment of other virus-associated cancers and diseases.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

Impaired insulin-mediated erythrocyte magnesium accumulation is correlated to impaired insulin-mediated glucose diposal in aged non-diabetic obese patients.

Basal erythrocyte magnesium levels were significantly lower in obese than lean subjects. In vitro incubation in the presence of 100 mU/l insulin significantly increased magnesium erythrocyte levels in both groups of subjects. However, even in the presence of 100 mU/l, the erythrocyte magnesium content of obese patients was lower than that of control subjects. The in vitro dose-response curve of the effect of insulin on magnesium erythrocyte accumulation was shifted to the right when the red cells of obese were used, with a highly significant reduction of the maximal effect. Such reduction of the maximal effect of insulin suggests that the impairment of insulin-induced erythrocyte magnesium accumulation observed in obese patients results essentially from a post-receptor defect. In obese patients, net increase in erythrocyte magnesium levels (calculated as the difference between basal and 100 mU/l insulin-induced erythrocyte magnesium levels) was negatively correlated with basal plasma insulin levels (r = 0.79 p less than 0.01), and with body mass index (r = 0.81 p less than 0.01) while it was positively correlated with the glucose disappearance rate after glucose load (r = 0.67 p less than 0.05) and glucose metabolic clearance rate (r = 0.71 p less than 0.01). These results demonstrate that insulin-induced erythrocyte magnesium accumulation is impaired in patients with obesity and that such defect is correlated to impaired -- mediated glucosal disposal in the patients.

Aged↗

Lack of diabetogenic action of calcitonin in subjects affected by insulinoma.

Calcitonin has been shown to affect calcium handling within cells thus impairing insulin secretion and glucose tolerance in healthy subjects. In the present study we investigate the effects of calcitonin on basal and nutrients-induced plasma glucose and insulin levels variations in healthy subjects (n = 10) and in patients affected by islet cell tumor (n = 6). In healthy subjects calcitonin markedly decreased basal and nutrients-induced plasma insulin levels while in patients with islet cell tumor this calcitonin-mediated effect was lost. So we conclude that the lack of calcitonin effect upon insulin secretion in patients with insulinoma is probably due to the autonomous insulin secretion characterizing islet cell tumor.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗