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J P Balducchi

Publications and source records attributed to J P Balducchi.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

[Shock? Stop!].

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Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Severe preeclampsia superimposed on polyarteritis nodosa.

A patient with a history of drug abuse and histologically diagnosed hepatitis B-related polyarteritis nodosa was admitted for severe hypertension. After a cesarean section because of worsening of her clinical status with severe proteinuria and edema, she improved dramatically. No sign of acute polyarteritis nodosa occurred.

Adult↗

Subcutaneous erythropoietin administration in predialysis patients: a single centre prospective study.

Since 1991 we have used subcutaneous administration of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) in predialysis patients selected on the basis of chronic anaemia [haemoglobin (Hb) < 7.5 g%] without any extrarenal cause and chronic renal failure with a creatinine clearance of less than 10 ml/min. rHuEpo was given to 16 predialysis patients with nephropathy, due to chronic glomerulonephritis in all 12 of the cases. The sex ratio was 1:1 and mean age was 65 +/- 9 years (range 43-87). Hb was 7 +/- 0.4 g%. rHuEpo was injected subcutaneously thrice weekly while iron was given orally systematically before rHuEpo administration. Follow-up was performed monthly until dialysis (mean 9 months). Anaemia was corrected in all cases (Hb 11 +/- 0.5 g%). Mean Epo dose was 53 +/- 26 IU/kg/week in males and 47 +/- 11 IU/kg/week in females. Iron was systematically added (Fe2+ 8.2 mg/kg/week). Every patient had improved physical and intellectual ability after rHuEpo within the first month. No adverse side effects were noted but all patients were under antihypertensive therapy (one to three drugs). Serum potassium was unchanged. Mean creatinine before treatment was 507 mumol/l, and was 820 mumol/l after the treatment. Progression of renal failure was only affected by rHuEpo in one patient. In this case renal failure progression decreased. There was no significant alteration in the slope of the creatinine curve from 12 months before to after rHuEpo. Ten patients underwent dialysis (five CAPD, five haemodialysis), while six remained dialysis free. From January 1991 to December 1993 rHuEpo was given to 12.3% of the end-stage renal failure patients on dialysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Mycobacterium haemophilum and mycobacterium xenopi associated infection in a renal transplant patient.

The case is presented of a renal-transplant patient in Europe with a Mycobacterium haemophilum infection in association with M. xenopi infection. Clinical signs suggested the diagnosis of mycobacteriosis, which was confirmed by a skin biopsy. Despite antitubercular treatment which rapidly eliminated M. xenopi, the patient's condition did not improve until M. haemophilum was identified. Minimal inhibitory concentrations of various antimicrobial compounds showed a lack of efficacy of isoniazid, and rifampin had no clinical effect. The patient recovered only after careful surgical drainage of the lesions and the administration of minocycline. The pathogenesis of such mycobacterioses is discussed, with focus on the immunodepressive status which in our patient may have been partially induced by a cytomegalovirus reinfection.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Blood lines should be considered in studies of biocompatibility during acetate haemodialysis.

In this one-year prospective study, the biocompatibility of blood lines used for acetate haemodialysis treatment was evaluated in 12 patients. These blood lines, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane extruded PVC (PE) respectively were compared in a schedule of four alternating three-month periods of treatment: PVC/PE/PVC/PE. White blood cell count, complement, IgE and thromboxane values were recorded monthly. A reduction in white blood cell and polymorphonuclear counts after 30 minutes of dialysis was significantly less during period 2 than period 1. Pre-dialysis eosinophil counts varied in a seasonally dependent pattern. We conclude that in spite of their small area, blood lines have some effect on biocompatibility and that the season of the year has to be considered in biocompatibility studies involving eosinophils.

Acetates↗

[Chronic insulin urticaria. Therapeutic efficacy and good tolerability of human insulins].

A case of type III (Arthus') hypersensitivity to insulin which occurred several years after insulin treatment was instituted is described. Its persistence even with highly purified insulins of bovine or porcine origin was suggestive of a direct reaction against insulin itself. The patient had no history of allergy and, contrary to most similar cases published, had not received intermittent insulin therapy. Using stimulation of lymphocyte blastogenesis, the authors were able to demonstrate the presence of specific antigen-mediated hypersensitivity to all insulins tested, including human insulins. The circulating immune complexes did not appear to be pathogenic, since the patient only had minimal retinopathy after 22 years of insulin-dependent diabetes. Human insulin was tolerated and proved effective in controlling both blood glucose levels and skin rashes in response to conventional insulins.

Adult↗

[Portal hypertension and hypervitaminosis A. Apropos of 2 cases and review of the literature].

Portal hypertension consecutive to hypervitaminosis A has seldom been well documented. Two cases are reported here. The first case concerns a 39-year old woman who had taken meladinine (8-methoxypsoralen) for the purpose of tanning. In the second case, a 43-year old woman had absorbed Plethoryl (a combination of tiratricol, cyclovalone and retinol) in order to lose weight. Both patients had histological hepatic lesions, such as hypertrophic Ito cells, perisinusoidal cirrhosis and spontaneous autofluorescence, suggestive of vitamin A overload, associated with a hepatic vein pressure gradient of 10 mmHg or more and high liver concentrations of vitamin A. The responsibility of Plethoryl in case 2 is beyond any doubt, but the mechanism of hypervitaminosis in case 1 is controverted. A review of the literature has provided detailed information on the signs of vitamin A overload, the frequency of which is probably underestimated. Patients with portal hypertension of unknown origin should be investigated for hypervitaminosis A.

Adult↗

Ultrasonically continuously guided renal biopsy.

Since 1980 we have refined a procedure for renal needle biopsy with continuous ultrasonic guidance (USRNB) which facilitates control of the needle progression through the soft tissues to the lower pole of the kidney. The advantage of this method is evident in a selected population (major obesity, small kidneys). We compared this procedure to the conventional blind biopsy in a series of 32 nonselected patients. Tissue samples with more than 10 glomeruli were obtained in 87% of patients with 2.8 punctures using USRNB, the difference was significant when compared to a blind technique (56%, 4.0, respectively, p less than 0.05). USRNB has been performed in 108 patients with 2 failures due to a poor echographic contrast. Reasons why this procedure should be substituted for the blind technique include: (i) Less morbidity, (ii) improvement of the quality of renal tissue, (iii) better comfort for both patient and physician, and (iv) less technical restriction of the biopsy indication when compared to blind renal needle biopsy.

Adult↗