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Biomedical subjects

L Barbara

Publications and source records attributed to L Barbara.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Transfer factor for the treatment of HBsAg-positive chronic active hepatitis.

Transfer factor was obtained from four patients having recovered from acute type-B viral hepatitis. It was replicated in vitro using the LDV/7 lymphoblastoid cell line. This in vitro-produced transfer factor specific for hepatitis B (TFdL-H) was administered to 10 randomly selected patients with biochemically and histologically proven HBsAg-positive chronic active hepatitis (CAH) at 15-day intervals over a 6-month period. In three out of four initially HBeAg-positive patients, anti-HBe antibodies appeared when the HBeAg disappeared. In one of these patients and in two other HBsAg-positive patients, the appearance of anti-HBs antibodies was noted. The improvement in several biochemical parameters of the TFdL-H patients was statistically significant when compared with those of another group of 10 randomly selected untreated CAH patients. Liver biopsies in six out of eight treated patients showed a histological improvement at the end of the treatment. These results suggest that TFdL-H may be used with beneficial effect for the treatment of HBsAg-positive CAH.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Famotidine versus placebo in prevention of the recurrence of duodenal ulcer disease. A multicenter study in Germany, Austria and Italy].

The aim of this study was to gain experience concerning efficacy and safety of famotidine, the new H2-receptor antagonist, for the maintenance of duodenal ulcer disease. 344 patients whose acute duodenal ulceration had recently been healed under famotidine or ranitidine were recruited for a year maintenance treatment with 20 mg bedtime dose of famotidine or placebo. 167 patients were treated with famotidine over 6 and 52 over 12 months. The corresponding numbers in the placebo control were 177 and 21. A life table method of analyses showed that the ulcer relapse rate was consistently and significantly (p less than 0.01) lower on famotidine than on placebo after 6 months (26% [43/167] versus 55% [98/177]). Of the 52 patients treated with 20 mg famotidine at night for further 6 months 7 (14%) developed an ulcer relapse. Of the 21 patients treated for further 6 months with placebo 5 (24%) showed an acute ulcer crater at endoscopy. Famotidine was well tolerated in the longterm therapy. The results confirm the efficacy and safety of famotidine in the prevention of duodenal ulcer relapse for at least 6 months.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Depression and gastrointestinal illness: the joint use of biological and clinical criteria.

Occurrence and characteristics of depression were investigated in 37 consecutive patients suffering from gastrointestinal illness. More than 40% of patients with an organic digestive disease and about a quarter of those with functional gastroenterological complaints were found to suffer from a major depressive disorder according to DSM-III criteria. The dexamethasone suppression test--a laboratory marker of the endogenous depressive state--supported clinical diagnosis in several cases, yet its routine use to screen depression is not warranted because of its poor specificity. The results should alert the physician to include clinical and biological criteria for depression in the diagnostic work-up for gastrointestinal illness.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Ranitidine].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Cimetidine↗
PubMed1984

Early gastric cancer. Clinico-pathological analysis of 125 cases of early gastric cancer (EGC).

The frequency and the pathological findings of 125 early gastric cancers (ECGs), and particularly of small and minute lesions, were evaluated in a retrospective study of 839 surgical specimens of gastric carcinoma. Sixty two ECGs were believed to have risen from gastric epithelium, 27 from areas of intestinal metaplasia, and 3 from cardio-pyloric mucosa. The remaining lesions showed mixed histological patterns. The most frequent macroscopic type was IIc (24.8%) followed by IIb (16.8%), I (16.8%), and III (14.4%). In 63 cases (50.4%) the cancer was limited to the mucosa. In all specimens, and particularly in small and minute lesions, the surrounding mucosa was accurately analyzed to detect any lesions, from which the cancer could have developed. Intestinal ECGs, especially if protruded, seem to arise from areas of intestinal metaplasia or of chronic atrophic gastritis. Rarely ECGs seem to stem from polypoid lesions both hyperplastic and adenomatous. On the contrary, most important seems to be the role of ulcerative lesions, since in 14 cases of our series, carcinomatous foci were observed within the regenerative epithelium covering the crater. No correlation was found between histologic type, size, staging, and frequency of node metastasis; this suggests the existence of ECGs with different biologic behaviour.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Effect of ranitidine and cimetidine on gastric emptying of a mixed meal in man.

The effect of acute and chronic crossover administration of ranitidine and cimetidine on gastric emptying was studied in healthy volunteers and in duodenal ulcer patients, respectively. In the first series of experiments, intravenous ranitidine (50 mg) significantly (p less than 0.05) delayed emptying of both solids and liquids, whereas cimetidine (300 mg i.v.) was totally ineffective. In the second set of experiments, neither ranitidine (150 mg bd orally for two weeks) nor cimetidine (400 mg bd) significantly modified emptying rate. These results, therefore, suggest that only high blood levels of ranitidine, as elicited by intravenous administration, are able to affect gastric emptying. On the contrary, at steady state levels elicited by conventional therapeutic doses, no effect on gastric emptying is evident.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1984

Hypersensitivity of gastric parietal cells to selective H2-receptor stimulation in duodenal ulcer.

According to previous studies, duodenal ulcer patients not only secrete more acid than normal subjects, but are also more sensitive to pentagastrin stimulation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether hypersensitivity of parietal cells also occurs with specific H2-receptor agonists such as impromidine. Twelve duodenal ulcer patients and 12 healthy volunteers were admitted to the study. After 30 minutes of basal secretion, impromidine was infused at increasing doses (2.5; 5.0; 10.0; 20 micrograms/kg-1/h-1) in both groups of subjects. The gastric acid secretion was significantly higher in the duodenal ulcer group. The percentage, for each dose, of the calculated maximal response (CMR) was always higher in the patient group, and the difference with respect to the control group, was always higher in the patient group, and the difference, with respect to the control group, was statistically significant. Also, the average D50 was significantly lower in the duodenal ulcer group. Drug safety evaluation confirmed the presence of reversible dose-dependent pharmacological side effects. This study showed that parietal cells are more sensitive to highly selective H2-receptor agonists such as impromidine. These results add further information to the physiopathological features of duodenal ulcer.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Oesophageal function after oral ranitidine: an acute double blind study in normal subjects.

The effect of oral ranitidine on oesophageal peristalsis, LOS basal pressure and gastro-oesophageal acid reflux, was investigated in 6 healthy men in a double-blind randomized study. Simultaneous manometry and pH measurements were performed twice in each volunteer during a five hour study period which included the administration of a standard meal. Ranitidine did not affect the motor parameters studied (amplitude, duration and velocity of the peristaltic waves and LOS basal tone), whereas it almost abolished acid gastroesophageal reflux. Our results show that ranitidine, like cimetidine, does not alter the motor function of the oesophagus, while it virtually abolishes acid gastro-oesophageal reflux in normal man.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1984

A single-specimen fecal chymotrypsin test in the diagnosis of pancreatic insufficiency: correlation with secretin-cholecystokinin and NBT-PABA tests.

An investigation of fecal chymotrypsin activity on spot fecal specimens was carried out in three groups of subjects, divided as follows: 45 healthy controls (group C); 36 patients with gastroenterological diseases of extrapancreatic origin (group VP); and 42 patients with chronic pancreatitis (group CP). Nineteen patients of group CP underwent pancreozymin-secretin and NBT-PABA tests. The following results, expressed as mg of chymotrypsin/g of feces, were obtained: C = 0.610 +/- 0.203; CP = 0.291 +/- 0.154, p less than 0.001; VP = 0.560 +/- 0.234. FCT showed a sensitivity rate of 78.5% and a specificity rate of 71.6%. The fecal output of chymotrypsin correlated well with the pancreatic secretion of chymotrypsin (r = 0.59, p less than 0.01) and with the percentage of recovery of urinary PABA (r = 0.44, p less than 0.05). We conclude that chymotrypsin assay by the described method on spot stool specimens is a simple, reliable technique which may be considered a good screening test for pancreatic insufficiency. The test will not detect minimal pancreatic disease or minimal pancreatic dysfunction.

4-Aminobenzoic Acid↗
PubMed1984

Intestinal morphological changes during oral refeeding in a patient previously treated with total parenteral nutrition for small bowel resection.

This report describes a patient who, after a subtotal resection of small intestine for an embolic obstruction of the superior mesenteric artery, was maintained on total parenteral nutrition for 30 days and then refed. Cytoproliferative analysis of the intestinal mucosa, evaluated by peroral biopsies performed on days 1, 5, 14 and 30 after oral refeeding, demonstrated an increase in cell proliferation from 1 to 14 days after refeeding, followed by a return to starting values after 30 days. On days 1 and 5, we saw an intestinal hypoplasia that became a hyperplasia after 14 days of oral refeeding. Our data confirm the importance of oral nutrition for the small intestinal response after resection.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Proliferative and antigenic properties of rectal cells in patients with chronic ulcerative colitis.

Two markers related to preneoplasia were studied simultaneously in ulcerative colitis (UC). The renewal of the rectal epithelial cells together with expression of second-trimester fetal antigen (STFA) were evaluated in nine patients with UC and four healthy subjects. Endoscopic biopsies were incubated with tritiated thymidine. Cell renewal was studied with microautoradiography, and the antigenic properties of the cells were evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence. At the time of the study, all the UC patients were in a mildly active or in a quiescent stage of the disease; their biopsies did not show dysplastic or neoplastic changes in epithelial cells. STFA was expressed in five UC patients. The analysis of cell renewal in this group revealed a shift of the proliferative compartment towards the luminal surface of the colonic crypts. By contrast, the patient group with STFA-negative reactions showed a pattern of cell proliferation similar to that observed in the controls. These results suggest that the expression of STFA in colonic mucosa is associated with an expansion of the epithelial stem cell population or with arrested cell differentiation, and it may represent a phenotypic marker of proneness of the mucosa toward neoplastic development.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Evaluation of an oral ursodeoxycholic acid load in the assessment of bile acid malabsorption in cystic fibrosis.

Serum levels of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) were measured by radioimmunoassay in 20 children with cystic fibrosis (CF) and in eight controls, who had received 300 mg of this bile acid orally. Area under the curve (AUC) after UDCA load was significantly reduced (25.24 +/- 9.54) in CF patients, as compared to controls (52.98 +/- 5.87 mean values +/- SD percent dose/liter X hr X kg body weight, P less than 0.001). AUC values were compared with daily fecal bile acids (BA) and fat excretion, and with serum fasting conjugated cholic (CCA) and chenodeoxycholic (CCDCA) acid levels. Total fecal BA were increased in CF patients (7.84 +/- 5.57 mg/kg/day) as compared to control values (2.7 +/- 1.1 mean +/- SD, P less than 00.5); they were inversely correlated with AUC values (r = 0.48) but not with steatorrhea (r = 0.32). UDCA load seems to be useful in detecting BA malabsorption in CF. Fasting CCA levels did not significantly differ in CF patients (0.87 +/- 0.61 mumol/liter) and in controls (0.60 +/- 0.26 mumol/liter) and did not correlate with fecal BA excretion. Fasting CCDCA mean levels were significantly increased (mainly in CF patients with liver damage), suggesting a lowered first-pass extraction in the liver: their determination may be useful in the follow-up of liver involvement in CF.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Circadian rhythm of gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) in man.

The diurnal variations of serum gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), serum insulin, plasma glucagon, plasma glucose and serum triglycerides were studied for 24 hr in 6 healthy young men, consuming three meals and performing their usual physical activities. Serum GIP levels peaked after each meal and stayed significantly elevated from the peak after lunch till late night. Glucose and insulin showed early and short-lasting postprandial peaks, declining thereafter to basal values within a short time. Plasma glucagon was inhibited by the meal ingestion and fluctuated around the basal levels in the interdigestive periods. On the other hand, serum triglycerides tended to parallel GIP changes for most of the day, being significantly elevated starting from lunch consumption to late night. The present results suggest that GIP may have effects other than the insulinogenic one, being probably involved in the control of lipid metabolism.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Treatment of constipation with chenodeoxycholic acid.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the cathartic effect of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) could be helpful in the management of chronic constipation. Twenty cholesterol gall-stone patients with chronic constipation were randomly treated with either CDCA (750 mg/day in three divided doses at meals) or placebo for a period of 4 weeks. The administration of CDCA produced a significant increase of stool frequency and a decrease of stool consistency, while placebo was not effective in improving the bowel habit of the patients. As some patients complained of diarrhoea, and some had no modification of bowel frequency, further studies are needed to determine the most appropriate dose for each patient.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Ranitidine vs cimetidine: short-term treatment of gastric ulcer.

We compared the clinical effectiveness and endoscopic results of ranitidine and cimetidine treatment; 71 outpatients, all affected with benign gastric ulcer, were selected for the study (43 type I, 7 type II and 21 type III, according to Johnson's classification). The patients were treated randomly for 4 weeks with ranitidine (300 mg daily) or cimetidine (1 g daily). An endoscopic examination was repeated within 3 days after the end of the treatment. Clinical checks were performed weekly in order to monitor the clinical course of pain and antacid consumption, according to the patient's needs. The patients who did not demonstrate complete healing on endoscopic examination were treated for an additional 4 week period. At the end of this 4 week period, another endoscopic examination was done. Thirty-six patients treated with ranitidine and 33 with cimetidine completed the first period of therapy. The two groups were homogeneous with regard to sex, age, duration of disease, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, and type and size of ulcer. Ranitidine and cimetidine treatments did not demonstrate any significant difference with regard to ulcer healing after the 4th or the 8th week of therapy. Both ranitidine and cimetidine were less effective in healing type I than type II and III G.U., at the 4th week of treatment. No significant differences between the two groups were noted with regard to pain or weekly antacid consumption. No significant side effects were reported.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Endocrine effects of the H2-receptor antagonists cimetidine and ranitidine.

This paper reviews investigations on the endocrine effects of two H2-receptor antagonists, cimetidine and ranitidine. Cimetidine has hyperprolactinaemic properties and interferes with the peripheral activity of the sexual hormone (DHT) and probably with the pituitary LH secretion. A possible effect on TSH and thyroid hormone secretion or peripheral metabolism is suggested. Ranitidine seems to have no central or peripheral effects (after both acute and chronic administration) on sexual hormones. High doses (300 mg i.v. bolus) of the drug induce a significant increase in prolactin basal levels, whereas no effects follow oral administration. The effects on PRL are sex-related and less marked than those obtained with cimetidine. The chronic administration of this drug does not affect basal or TRH-stimulated PRL levels. No effects were apparent on TSH serum levels after either oral or i.v. acute administration, whereas lower basal and TRH-stimulated T4 values were registered after chronic treatment. On the basis of these results, a possible interference of ranitidine on iodothyronine metabolism can be suggested.

Animals↗