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Biomedical subjects

M Negri

Publications and source records attributed to M Negri.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[Surgery for acute arterial emboli to the arm].

During a 5-year period (1987-1992) we removed under local anesthesia 20 emboli and 2 thrombi from the arms of 18 patients aged 60-90 using a Fogarty catheter. 18 of the emboli (90%) were of cardiac origin. 1 patient had thrombosis of the axillary artery (2 episodes). The occlusions were brachial in 14 (70%), axillary in 5 (25%), and radial in 1. From 1.5 hours to 1 week elapsed between onset of symptoms and operation. 9 patients underwent arteriography. Surgery was successful in 19 (95%). Limb necrosis developed in a patient operated on 1 week after onset of symptoms. Necrosis progressed despite a palpable radial pulse. 33 patients (15%) died of causes unrelated to the operation: 2 had terminal cardiac disease and the third concomitant occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery. Early surgical exploration is advocated for acute arterial embolism of the upper extremity. Ischemic changes may be reversible even later than 24 hours from onset of symptoms. Routine arteriography is not needed before surgical exploration of these cases.

Aged↗

Continuous esophageal pH monitoring during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Gastro-esophageal regurgitation (GER) and eventual aspiration is considered a major risk during general anesthesia. High intraperitoneal pressure produced during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a possible source of increased GER. We investigated the incidence of GER using continuous esophageal pH monitoring in 14 patients undergoing elective LC. Only two brief episodes of acid reflux (pH < 4) occurred during LC. Apparently the high intraperitoneal pressure during LC carries no increased risk of regurgitation and aspiration.

Adult↗

Deep cerebral venous thrombosis and hereditary tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) deficiency.

We describe a patient with defective tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) release who developed internal cerebral vein thrombosis. She recovered completely and, as shown by MRI, favourable outcome was probably related to vascular recanalisation. Other members of the pedigree had a similar fibrinolytic deficiency without clinical manifestations. The use of oral contraceptives may have contributed to the patient's hypercoagulable state.

Adult↗

Are elevated liver enzymes and bilirubin levels significant after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the absence of bile duct injury?

OBJECTIVE: Increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and bilirubin levels were noted incidentally after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The percentage in which such elevation occurs and its clinical significance in the absence of bile duct injury were investigated. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Bile duct injury is the most feared complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Some laboratory tests may be indicative of this complication, such as increases in liver enzyme (AST, ALT, and alkaline phosphatase [ALP]) and bilirubin. These parameters have not been investigated in patients who had laparoscopic cholecystectomy and in whom no damage to the bile duct was noted. METHODS: Sixty-seven patients with normal results of preoperative liver function test were entered into the study. Blood was collected 24 hours after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and AST, ALT, ALP, and bilirubin levels were measured. RESULTS: A mean 1.8-fold increase in AST occurred in 73% of patients; 82% showed a 2.2-fold increase in ALT. A statistically nonsignificant increase was noted in 53% of patients (ALP remained within normal limits), and in 14% of patients bilirubin levels were increased (they were primarily of the unconjugated type). CONCLUSIONS: In many patients a significant increase in AST and ALT levels occurred after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, but they returned to normal values within 72 hours. The cause of this is unclear, and these elevations appear to have no clinical significance.

Adult↗

A simple method for the evaluation of receptor binding capacity of modified cytokines.

We have developed a flow cytometric method to evaluate the binding of interleukin-2 analogues to receptors. The method relies on competition for binding between a fluorescein-conjugated monoclonal antibody (MoAb) directed against the human interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain (fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) anti-IL-2R) and the test protein. IL-2R positive cells are incubated with FITC-anti-IL-2R MoAb in the presence of native IL-2 or IL-2 iodinated by either the chloramine-T or the lactoperoxidase-glucose-oxidase method. The binding of IL-2 is indicated by decreased fluorescence. This method is suitable for measuring the binding capacity of modified IL-2 molecules and avoids the need for radioactive tracers. It provides a simple and reproducible technique, which can be extended readily to the study of the receptor binding capacity of cytokines conjugated with toxins, drugs or other molecules.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Interrelation between angiographic severity of coronary artery disease and plasma levels of insulin, C-peptide and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1.

Plasma insulin, C-peptide and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels were measured in 64 men with coronary artery disease (CAD) documented by angiography. Coronary arteriograms were analyzed, and the severity and diffusion of coronary lesions were quantified by score systems. C-peptide and PAI-1 levels in patients with CAD were significantly higher than in 30 control subjects. Insulin, C-peptide and PAI-1 showed a highly significant correlation with the severity scores for coronary lesions (C-peptide more than insulin), but only a weak correlation with diffusion scores. Highly significant correlations were found between insulin and PAI-1, and even greater ones between C-peptide and PAI-1. It has been proposed that hyperinsulinemia may be involved in the etiology of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease by dysregulating lipoprotein metabolism and blood pressure. These findings support that hypothesis and suggest that insulin secretion may be an index of the severity of CAD. Because a direct effect of insulin on the cells that synthesize PAI-1 has been shown, the present data further indicate that the effect of insulin on fibrinolysis may be another way by which hyperinsulinemia accelerates atherogenesis.

Body Mass Index↗

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy].

80 patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, of whom 64 were females and 16 males (age range 20-70 years) and 15 had undergone previous abdominal operations. 3 of the 80 operations were converted to open cholecystectomy. In 11, preoperative ERCP was performed, in 2 of whom common bile duct stones were detected. In 7 intraoperative cholangiography was performed. The average hospital stay was 2.2 days. Based on this and other studies, laparoscopic cholecystectomy seems to be the operation of choice for symptomatic cholelithiasis.

Adult↗

[Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography combined with laparoscopic cholecystectomy].

In 11 of 82 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed. Indications were biliary pancreatitis in 5 and suspected common bile duct (CBD) stones in the other 6 (based on US or liver function tests, or both). The biliary tree was normal in 9 and laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed. In 8 there was uneventful recovery but in the ninth open surgery was required when the attempted cholecystectomy resulted in uncontrolled cystic artery bleeding. Of the remaining 3 patients, 1 underwent sphincterotomy via ERCP and 3 weeks later, laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In the others, we intended to explore the CBD by laparoscopy, but had to resort to open cholecystectomy due to technical difficulties resulting from unsuspected acute cholecystitis. Based on our short experience, ERCP combined with laparoscopic cholecystectomy seems to be both safe and effective.

Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde↗

Laparoscopic endocorporeal mobilization followed by extracorporeal sutureless anastomosis for the treatment of carcinoma of the left colon.

Surgery has become progressively more reliant on technology. The technique of colonic anastomosis utilizing the biofragmentable anastomotic ring (BAR) is one such example. The benefits of therapeutic laparoscopy have been applied to the arena of colorectal surgery. A case is presented that combines these two modalities in a patient with colon cancer, laparoscopic mobilization of the large bowel, exteriorized resection, and BAR anastomosis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Levels of plasma factor VII and factor VII activated forms as a function of plasma triglyceride levels.

It has been shown that triglyceride levels are one of the determinants of factor VII levels. In this study we have simultaneously evaluated, in a group of 102 healthy individuals, the different forms of factor VII, namely factor VII mass, factor VII coagulant activity, activated factor VII double-chain form and factor VII-phospholipid complex, in relation to triglyceridaemia. The data showed a highly significant correlation of factor VII mass, factor VII coagulant activity and factor VII-phospholipid complex with triglycerides. No correlation was observed between the activated factor VII double-chain form and triglycerides. These data, together with analysis of the linear and orthogonal regression slopes, suggest that increase of plasma factor VII coagulant activity as a function of plasma triglyceride levels is attributable to an increase in both mass and activity of factor VII and that the increase in activity is dependent on an increase of factor VII-phospholipid complex rather than activated factor VII double-chain form. The ratio between the slopes of the regression straight line of factor VII mass and factor VII-phospholipid complex in relation to triglycerides was 2.23 (95% confidence limits 1.74-2.50), thus indicating that the contribution of factor VII mass is prevalent over that of the factor VII-phospholipid complex.

Adult↗

[Giant lipomas in unusual locations].

3 patients with giant lipomas located in unusual anatomic locations are described. All 3 cases had clinical features similar to those of the malignant counterpart, liposarcoma. All were operated on and the tumors removed. Follow-up ranged from 12 years, with no recurrence during that period. The treatment of choice for these lesions is surgical removal and long-term follow-up.

Adult↗

Plasma opioid levels during extracorporeal gallstone lithotripsy.

Plasma levels of beta-endorphin (beta-EP), met-enkephalin (met-ENK), ACTH, cortisol, and prolactin were measured in 20 patients who underwent extracorporeal gallstone lithotripsy (ESWL) before the treatment, at 500 shock waves (SW) (15-20 min), at 1000 SW (40-50 min), and 10 min after the end of ESWL. According to the Visual Analog Scale, nine patients had no pain, seven patients had pain from level 1 to 5, and four patients had pain from 5 to 10. No complications were observed. Plasma beta-EP values increased during the treatment, both in patients without pain and in those with pain. Only in the former group was the increase significant (baseline values (pmol/L): no pain = 4.04 +/- 1.3; pain 1-5 = 3.6 +/- 1.06; pain 5-10 = 2.9 +/- 0.5. Peak values: no pain = 6.6 +/- 1.2 (p < 0.005); pain 1-5 = 4.6 +/- 2.5; pain 5-10 = 4.5 +/- 2.2). Moreover, a negative correlation between beta-EP levels and individual pain scores during ESWL has been observed (CC = -0.64, p < 0.003). Plasma met-ENK levels reached the peak at 1000 SW and declined 10 min after the end of the treatment, although they were always higher than basal values (baseline values (pg/ml): no pain = 45 +/- 12; pain 1-5 = 38 +/- 10; pain 5-10 = 48 +/- 8. Peak values: no pain = 112 +/- 42 (p < 0.005), pain 1-5 = 114 +/- 48 (p < 0.005), pain 5-10 = 85 +/- 10 (p < 0.005). This behavior has been the same, regardless of the presence or absence of pain. We conclude that during ESWL, a rise of beta-EP and met-ENK occurs, and the increase of the former can be responsible for induction of analgesia because of its inverse correlation with pain intensity.

Adolescent↗

Plasma met-enkephalin in type I diabetes.

Physiological and pathological evidence suggests that opioid peptides may play a role in glucose homeostasis. We measured plasma levels of beta-endorphin (beta-END) and met-enkephalin (met-ENK) in 22 type I diabetic patients and 15 healthy women (control group). No differences were observed in plasma beta-END levels, whereas plasma met-ENK levels were significantly higher (Student's t test, P less than .005) in diabetics than in controls before (68 +/- 3 pg/mL v 32 +/- 7 pg/mL) and 1 hour after, a standard meal and administration of insulin therapy (81 +/- 9 pg/mL v 32 +/- 7 pg/mL). This is the first report of met-ENK levels in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), and an impaired feedback of insulin/met-ENK is suggested.

Adult↗

A radiopharmaceutical for imaging areas of lymphocytic infiltration: 123I-interleukin-2. Labelling procedure and animal studies.

The labelling of interleukin-2 (IL-2) with 123I and its in vivo application for imaging chronic pathological lymphocytic infiltrations are described. The lactoperoxidase/glucoseoxidase technique was the labelling method of choice leading to immunoreactive IL-2 with high specific activity. Labelled IL-2 was injected in diabetes-prone non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice with pancreatic lymphocytic infiltration. As control animals, Balb/c mice were used. As specificity control, monoclonal antibodies AMT13 and UCHT1, bovine serum albumin and alpha-lactalbumin were radioiodinated and injected in mice. Eighteen NOD mice and four control Balb/c mice were used for gamma camera imaging experiments. Fifty-four NOD and 20 Balb/c mice were used for time course single organ counting and autoradiography. Gamma camera images showed that radioactivity accumulated in the pancreatic region from the 10th minute onwards in NOD mice injected with 123I-IL-2 but not in Balb/c mice, or in NOD mice injected with control radiopharmaceuticals. These findings were confirmed by counting the radioactivity present in single organs. Autoradiography of NOD pancreas, after injection of labelled IL-2, showed that radioactivity was specifically associated with infiltrating lymphocytes. In conclusion, this technique is highly specific and easy to perform and we suggest its application in humans for in vivo detection of areas of lymphocytic infiltration.

Animals↗