Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Messina

Publications and source records attributed to M Messina.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Total and segmental colon transit time in constipated children assessed by scintigraphy with 111In-DTPA given orally.

Serial colon scintigraphy using 111In-DTPA (2 MBq) given orally was performed in 39 children referred for constipation, and the total and segmental colon transit times were measured. The bowel movements during the study were recorded and the intervals between defecations (ID) were calculated. This method proved able to identify children with normal colon morphology (no. = 32) and those with dolichocolon (no. = 7). Normal children were not included for ethical reasons and we used the normal range determined by others using x-ray methods (29 +/- 4 hours). Total and segmental colon transit times were found to be prolonged in all children with dolichocolon (TC: 113.55 +/- 41.20 hours; RC: 39.85 +/- 26.39 hours; LC: 43.05 +/- 18.30 hours; RS: 30.66 +/- 26.89 hours). In the group of children with a normal colon shape, 13 presented total and segmental colon transit times within the referred normal value (TC: 27.79 +/- 4.10 hours; RC: 9.11 +/- 2.53 hours; LC: 9.80 +/- 3.50 hours; RS: 8.88 +/- 4.09 hours) and normal bowel function (ID: 23.37 +/- 5.93 hours). In the remaining children, 5 presented prolonged retention in the rectum (RS: 53.36 +/- 29.66 hours), and 14 a prolonged transit time in all segments. A good correlation was found between the transit time and bowel function. From the point of view of radiation dosimetry, the most heavily irradiated organs were the lower large intestine and the ovaries, and the level of radiation burden depended on the colon transit time. We can conclude that the described method results safe, accurate and fully diagnostic.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1993

Naltrexone must not be considered a real therapy in functional hypothalamic amenorrhea. The results of a double blind controlled study.

Endogenous opioids exert a tonic inhibitory control on GnRH pulsatility at the hypothalamic level and it must be responsible for some hypogonadotropic hypogonadic syndromes such as functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA). We treated 22 patients suffering from FHA with an oral anti-opioid drug, Naltrexone Hydrochloridrate (NH), 50 mg once a day or placebo, in a double blind controlled study. Six patients exhibited a regular resumption of their menstrual cycles (4 on placebo and only 2 on NH). There was an increase of 17BE2 in 3 of these 6 patients; progesterone levels did not change at all. Gynaecological echography demonstrated folliculogenesis in 4 of these 6 patients (only 1 on NH). The results show that NH is not a real therapy in patients suffering from FHA. Furthermore placebo, useful to the resumption of menstrual bleeding in 4 patients, underlines the importance of psychosomatic effects in the therapeutic management of FHA.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Virilization in women. Clinical and therapeutic aspects].

Androgenization in women can be divided, from a clinical standpoint, in two groups: a major form (with hirsutism, seborrhea, acne, hair loss, menstrual irregularities, masculinization of muscles and voice, mammary atrophy) and a minor one, with skin changes only (in particular hirsutism) with or without menstrual problems. The different clinical presentations are reviewed here: virilizing tumours of adrenal glands and ovaries, adrenogenital congenital syndromes, Cushing's syndrome and disease, iatrogenic forms, simple or idiopathic hirsutism, late onset enzymatic defects of adrenal steroidogenesis, polycystic ovary syndrome). The relevant therapeutic options are discussed. Special attention is devoted to the treatment of simple cutaneous androgenization, a problem affecting about 10% of women, by antiandrogenic drugs, mostly cyproterone acetate and spironolactone. These compounds compete with dehydrotestosterone for androgen cutaneous receptors, and have obtained good results, although not permanent. The indications, use and side-effects are also discussed.

Adrenal Gland Diseases↗
PubMed1993

[99mTc-DTPA scintigraphy in renal transplantation. Limitations related to the immunosuppressor used].

The diagnostic tools used to achieve an assessment of allograft dysfunction should be as noninvasive as possible, because kidney graft recipients are fragile patients and quite often the need is for repeated investigations. In order to evaluate the reliability and accuracy of such a method, in this case scintigraphy with 99mTc-DTPA, the authors retrospectively studied 2 groups of kidney transplanted patients, having two different basic immunosuppressive regimens: group A--86 patients--taking steroids and azathioprine; group B--93 patients--taking steroids and cyclosporine. A total of 722 scans were retrospectively compared with scintigraphic information: 196 episodes of allograft dysfunction were due to acute rejection: 118 in group A, 78 in group B; 117 episodes were due to ATN: 75 in group A, 42 in group B; 11 episodes were ascribed to CyA acute nephrotoxicity. Group A and B behave differently in respect of the perfusion index. Only in group A were perfusion indexes statistically different in rejection, ATN and nephrotoxicity. Anyway, it must be stressed that, even if in group B, scintigraphy cannot be considered an accurate diagnostic method, it is somehow a helpful tool because it gives information about a worse perfusion of the graft, independently of the underlying pathology.

Azathioprine↗
PubMed1992

Gonadotropin evaluation in the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome using either a monoclonal or a polyclonal antibody radioimmunoassay.

The LH/FSH ratio values between gonadotropins dosed with a monoclonal antibody assay (IRMA) in the micropolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), are discussed and compared to those obtained with the classic assays using polyclonal antibodies. Because of the higher selectivity of this IRMA assay it is noteworthy that the cut-off value between normal and PCOS patients is now equal to or above one. The evaluation of the LH/FSH ratio between the peak values of the two gonadotropins after a GnRH 100 micrograms iv bolus, may be useful in the diagnosis of PCOS in those patients who present an LH/FSH less than 1 in basal conditions even in the presence of clinical and ecographic aspects of PCOS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Neuroendocrine, fluid balance, and thirst responses to alcohol in alcoholics.

This study simultaneously evaluated multiple circulating neurohormones, osmolality, thirst, and fluid balance in eight actively drinking, alcoholic males and seven controls before and 12 hr after an ethanol challenge. Basal levels of serum osmolality and thirst were significantly higher in alcoholics compared with controls, yet actively drinking alcoholics at the start of the study had normal vasopressin (AVP) levels, plasma angiotensin II (Ang II), plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone (Aldo), and plasma catecholamines. In response to ethanol, serum osmolalities rose significantly higher while plasma AVP levels became significantly suppressed in alcoholics. After the ethanol stimulus, plasma Ang II levels of alcoholics were significantly higher than those of controls at 11 AM (12.15 +/- 4.49 vs. 1.83 +/- 0.6 pg/ml, p less than 0.02) and 12 noon (14.93 +/- 6.81 vs. 1.37 +/- 0.17 pg/ml, p less than 0.04). Neither plasma renin activity nor Aldo changed in accordance with the elevated plasma Ang II in alcoholics. Diuresis in the alcoholics, assessed by the sum of urine output following the challenge dose, was significantly less than that of controls. Thirst scores and fluid intakes after the ethanol challenge did not differ between alcoholics and controls. The lack of an Ang II-mediated increase in plasma Aldo or thirst response suggests that ethanol may have a specific blunting effect on Ang II receptors. This study demonstrates that ethanol can be used as a provocative test in chronic alcoholics to uncover aberrant hormonal responses for two systems, namely, Ang II and AVP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Antibodies to hepatitis C virus in kidney transplantation.

Ninety patients on dialysis, 241 cadaveric kidney donors and 27 cadaveric kidney recipients with a follow-up of 2 years, have been investigated as for anti-HCV positivity by means of 3 tests. As for patients on dialysis and cadaveric donors, the prevalence was 32 and 4%, respectively. As for transplanted patients, it must be noted that 4 negative recipients from positive donors seroconverted, but without any change in hepatic enzymes, while in 2 or 9 anti-HCV-positive recipients, hepatic enzymes increased after transplantation. Seroconversion in patients transplanted from a negative donor was not significantly different. We conclude that, according to their experience, anti-HCV positivity in the donors is not associated with a significant risk of infection in recipients of cadaveric grafts.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The GnRH 10 micrograms test promotes a maximal gonadotropic response in normal women.

The authors have compared the results of gonadotropin stimulation with a gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) intravenous bolus of 100 micrograms and of 10 micrograms in a group of eumenorrheic women. They conclude that there are no differences between the responses of the two dosages in normal women. Therefore the authors clarify that the dosage of 10 micrograms of GnRH as a bolus test may be used currently in clinical practice in order to assess gonadotropic function.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Intertubular capillary changes in kidney allografts: a morphologic investigation on 61 renal specimens.

A total of 61 kidney allograft specimens (51 biopsies and 10 nephrectomies) from 44 patients were investigated. Transplant glomerulopathy (TGP) was found in 38 specimens. Electron microscopy disclosed peculiar intertubular capillary changes (ITCC) in 47 specimens (all those showing TGP and nine without TGP). They were characterized by splitting and multilayering of the basement membranes. TGP and ITCC were graded and found mild (in 23 and 22 specimens), moderate (in 11 and 16 specimens), and severe (in four and nine specimens). Both worsened with time lapse from transplantation. When both were compared in single specimens, their grading was similar or, with a few exceptions, more severe for ITCC. TGP and ITCC were more frequent in biopsies with morphologic evidence of rejection and less frequent in patients treated with Cyclosporine A. Repeated biopsies and nephrectomies were studied in 10 patients and a somewhat more precocious appearance of ITCC than of TGP was found. Earlier and more severe ITCC were found in two patients who had had two transplants as compared to those with one. Morphologic similarities between TGP and ITCC suggest a common pathogenetic mechanism related to endothelial damage. The association to the histological evidence of rejection as well as the apparently protective activity of Cyclosporine A could support the involvement of an immune-mediated mechanism in agreement with what is reported in literature. The constant association of ITCC and TGP and its possible more precocious appearance enforce the diagnostic value of the former, which allows to infer the presence or the subsequent development of TGP even in biopsies where glomeruli are lacking.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Increasing use of soyfoods and their potential role in cancer prevention.

The United States produces approximately half of the world's soybeans. Although most of what is produced is used as animal feed, soy-protein products (eg, soy-protein flour, concentrates, and isolates) are used extensively by the food industry, primarily for their functional characteristics, such as emulsification. During the past decade, however, there has been a marked increase in the use of both traditional soyfoods, such as tofu and soymilk, and second-generation soyfoods, products which generally simulate familiar American dishes. Recently, attention has focused on the possible role of soybean consumption in reducing cancer risk. Soybeans contain, in relatively high concentrations, several compounds with demonstrated anticarcinogenic activity. Two of these compounds--protease inhibitors and phytic acid--have traditionally been viewed as antinutrients. The scientific community has begun to appreciate the potential importance of nonnutritive dietary compounds (phytochemicals) in foods such as soybeans. Dietitians need to become more aware of the phytochemical content of foods and the possible effect of phytochemicals on health and disease.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1990

Analysis of dietary fat, calories, body weight, and the development of mammary tumors in rats and mice: a review.

We have extracted from the literature data from 100 animal experiments, involving 7838 rats and mice, which compared the effects of different levels of dietary fat and/or calorie intake on the development of mammary tumors. Both higher calorie intake (P less than 0.0001) and higher fat intake (P less than 0.0001) independently increased mammary tumor incidence in Sprague-Dawley rats and in mice, as judged from analyses combining ad libitum feeding experiments and restricted feeding experiments. The effect of fat was two thirds the magnitude of the calorie effect in both Sprague-Dawley rats and mice. In ad libitum feeding experiments, a modest but significant (P less than 0.0001) average increase in body weight was found in animals fed high fat diets. However, these differences in body weight did not correspond to differences in mammary tumor incidence. The effect of log body weight on the log odds of tumor incidence was not significant (P = 0.16), while dietary fat intake significantly increased tumor incidence (P less than 0.0001). The collection of animal experimental data supports the hypothesis that, in mammary tumor development, there is a specific enhancing effect of dietary fat, as well as a general enhancing effect of calories.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Comparison between two dialytic populations undergoing renal transplantation.

The outcome of renal transplantation in CAPD patients is still controversial since age and clinical differences often make comparison with hemodialysis patients difficult. The aim of this study was to analyse two homogeneous groups of patients, on CAPD and on hemodialysis. 18 CAPD (Group A) and 18 hemodialysis patients (Group B) were selected for a case-control analysis, matched for age, presence of acute tubular necrosis and Cyclosporine A regimen. Group A and B were not different for male/female ratio, donor age, HLA-Dr mismatches, arterial pressure, cold ischemia, or follow-up. Patient, graft survival and number of rejection episodes did not differ significantly at 1 year; serum creatinine at 6 and 12 months and CyA doses at 1 and 6 months were not different; hospitalization rates for first and subsequent admissions did not differ. Infection-free patients were 9/18 in Group A and 15/18 in Group B, with 12 episodes in Group A and 3 in Group B. Post transplant cholesterol levels showed a trend to increase in both groups and triglycerides levels to a decrease; differences in pre and post transplant in body weight were not significant at 12 months. In conclusion, the outcome of transplantation in CAPD patients is not significantly different from that in hemodialysis patients with similar clinical characteristics.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Synthesis in Escherichia coli of the major glycoprotein of human rotavirus: analysis of the antigenic regions.

Various regions of the gene encoding the major neutralization antigen, VP7, of human rotavirus have been expressed in Escherichia coli, as N-terminal fusions to beta-galactosidase under the control of the lac promoter. We have determined that the fusion products of two clones containing regions AB (aa 69-158) and ABC (aa 69-319) were antigenic, reacting with antibodies raised against whole virus. When guinea pigs were immunized with fusion protein purified by monoclonal antibody affinity columns, no neutralizing or virus-binding antibodies were detected, but antibodies binding to denatured VP7 were present.

Antigens, Viral↗