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Biomedical subjects

G Ruggiero

Publications and source records attributed to G Ruggiero.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Distribution of HBs-(Australia) antigen in progressive systemic scleroderma and other connective tissue disorders].

Of 173 patients, mostly suffering from collagen diseases and rheumatoid disease, the HBs antigen (HBsAg) was present in 1.73%. This figure is no higher than that observed among blood donors from the same area (Naples and surroundings). One HBsAg positive patient suffered from chronic active hepatitis and rheumatoid arthritis; another from chronic active hepatitis and a secondary type of reticuloendotheliosis; the third was one of seven patients with psoriatic arthritis. HBsAg was not found in any of 48 patients with other collagen diseases, including 22 patients with Progressive Systemic Sclerosis. These data do not support the hypothesis based on observations of polyarteritis nodosa that HBsAg plays an ethiopathogenetic role in collagen diseases with serious vasculitis.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Factor V Leiden in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

A common mutation in coagulation factor V gene gives rise to factor V Leiden, which is resistant to the proteolytic activity of activated protein C. This mutation is known to be a major inherited risk factor for venous thrombosis. In order to investigate the possible pathogenetic role of factor V Leiden in coronary thrombosis, we screened patients with acute ischemic heart disease for this genetic mutation. We conducted a case-control study on 114 unrelated patients referred to the Cardiology Department of a University Hospital for coronary angiography. Fifty-three case patients with myocardial infarction or unstable angina were compared with 61 control patients seen for a different coronary syndrome or for stable angina pectoris. The two groups did not differ with respect to the well established risk factors for ischemic heart disease. For each patient genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood by standard techniques; the DNA region carrying the mutation was amplified by polymerase chain reaction, and the allele-specific restriction digestion was used in order to detect the mutation itself. The frequency of factor V Leiden was 0.028 among cases and 0.008 among controls (p = 0.5). According to the data presented, factor V Leiden cannot be considered as a risk factor for acute coronary events.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Use of PTFE membranes in the orbital floor fractures].

BACKGROUND: Because the orbital-malar complex has a peculiar anatomic constitution and position, it is at the third place for frequency of the fractures especially if we compare it with another skeleton's parts. Till now have been tested numerous materials with advantages but also some disadvantages used to rebuild the orbital floor. We thought it right to test a material with biocompatibility, easy handiness, chemical stability and elasticit, as PTFE membrane. METHODS: We studied 40 cases of both sexes (age between 19 and 70 years) of orbital-malar complex fractures: 14 with isolated fractures, 20 with complexes fractures and 6 politraumatized. They show various degree prolapse of the orbital contents in the maxillary sinus. We make clinic examination and orthoptic analysis by Hess's screen, test of forced traction, axial and coronal TC. In all patients, surgery approach and methodology of plate application were the same. RESULTS: All the floors had a optimal and immediate functional renewal; there wasn't any inflammatory reaction neither immediately nor after a two years follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the results show a lot of clinical and practical advantages of the PTFE membrane: the extreme biocompatibility and the easy handiness, the ductility and the low cost.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Glutathione, ascorbic acid and antioxidant enzymes in the tumor tissue and blood of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Oral squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most common cancers in the world. Reactive oxygen species are postulated to be involved in neoplastic transformation. The antioxidant defence system limits cell injury induced by reactive oxygen species. Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and a cell's oxidant capacity or when there is a decrease in this capacity. This stress may cause mutagenesis, cytotoxicity and changes in gene expression that initiate or promote carcinogenesis. OBJECTIVES: The present study was conducted to investigate whether tumor tissue and blood of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma have altered antioxidants levels. METHODS: Levels of antioxidants such as reduced glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid (AA) and the activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutatione reductase (GR), were estimated in the tumor tissue and blood of 18 oral squamous cell carcinoma patients and in 20 healthy subjects as control. RESULTS: Significantly increased levels of GSH, GPx, GR and AA and significantly decreased activity of SOD were observed in tumor tissue (p < 0.001) and in tumor-free tissue of oral cancer patients as compared with healthy subjects. In contrast, decrease in antioxidants (GSH, GPx, GR and AA p < 0.001, SOD p < 0.05 respectively) was observed in the blood of oral cancer patients, as compared with healthy subjects. CONCLUSION: The low levels of antioxidants in the blood of oral cancer patients may be due to their increased utilization to scavenge lipid peroxides as well as their sequestration by tumor cells. The enhanced antioxidant capacities in tumor tissues can make them less susceptible to oxidative stress, conferring a selective growth advantage on tumor cells. These finding suggest that normalization of the levels of these antioxidants might be used to reduce oral tumor malignancy.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical presentation and natural history of chronic persistent hepatitis. A multicentre retrospective study on 1197 cases.

To obtain data on the clinical presentation and the course of the disease of biopsy-proven chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH), we coordinated a multicentre retrospective study on 1197 patients observed in 16 liver units throughout Italy from 1975 to 1985. Most patients were asymptomatic and CPH was often diagnosed either after a chance finding of liver enlargement, or increased serum aminotransferases and/or HBsAg antigenemia. Of the 1197 patients, 534 (44.6%) were HBsAg-positive and 663 (55.4%) were HBsAg-negative. HBeAg was tested in 356 of the 534 positive cases and detected in 58.4% of them. This percentage was higher (80%) in patients under 20. Hepatitis delta virus infection (HD-Ag in liver tissue and/or anti-HD in serum) was detected in 28 (14.7%) of the 191 patients tested on presentation. Liver function tests showed mild hepatic involvement in both HBsAg-positive and negative cases, a pronounced derangement being observed only in patients with HDV infection. A second liver biopsy was performed in 212 patients (144 HBsAg positive and 68 HBsAg negative) and the outcome of the disease was evaluated only in these 212 patients. Of the 144 HBsAg-positive cases followed-up from one to ten years (median 4 years), 47 recovered, 70 remained unchanged and 27 developed chronic active hepatitis or cirrhosis. Clearance of HBsAg was uncommon even in patients who recovered. Being under 15 years of age favourably affected the course of the disease, while HDV infection was correlated to an unfavourable outcome. Among those patients who were HBeAg positive on presentation and who underwent a second affect the outcome. Of the 68 HBsAg-negative clearly affect the outcome.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Bronchiolitis. Our clinical experience in the 4 years from 1981 to 1984].

The clinical experience of 661 children with bronchiolitis is reported in four-years period to gain a better understanding of diagnosis and pathogenesis of bronchiolitis. Upper airways infections, expiratory dyspnea, clear sound by chest percussion, vesicular rales and whistling by chest auscultation, air trapping on the chest radiography were considered as essential data of diagnosis. It was found in 595 patients: expiratory dyspnea, air trapping, vesicular r. and whistling in 85% and whistling only in 15%; hypoxemia in 20% combined with hypercapnic acidosis in 10%; normoxemia in 80% combined with hypocapnia in 54%; hyperlactemia in 64% combined with an increment in the serum of CPK in 50% and of GPT in 30%; virus were cultured in 27%, adenovirus and RSV were identified in 90%. Instead it was found in 66 patients: air trapping but no difficult breath, with normal chest auscultation; crisis of cyanosis or paleness-cyanosis chilly sweat in 80% were motive of admission. The clinical and/or radiological features of "air trapping" were considered as essential symptoms and signs of bronchiolitis. The insufficient systemic perfusion was considered as a frequent occurrence and as cause for sudden respiratory and circulatory emergency.

Bronchiolitis, Viral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Congenital rubella. Present knowledge and perspectives (author's transl)].

This paper deals with features and problems of congenital rubella and perspectives in the prevention of this infection. We discussed the factors determining whether or not the maternal infection will involve the fetus, the pathogenesis and the clinical aspects of congenital rubella, the epidemiological importance of infected infants who may be contagious for long periods of time, the problems encountered in diagnosis. The efficacy of the active immunization programs, the data available in the literature on inadvertent vaccination of pregnant women, the restriction in the prophylactic use of immunoglobulins are also reported. The great importance of the premarital serological test for women is stressed.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Focused encephalography.

Focused encephalography is a diagnostic procedure performed after computed tomography (CT) that can be specifically focused on diagnostic problems not solved by CT. The authors have used the procedure in 20 cases, and it has proved to be quick, risk-free, and without serious side effects. It provides useful supplementary diagnostic information, and can be especially helpful when CT is not available or when the CT scanner is an early-generation model.

Brain Diseases↗