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Biomedical subjects

M Plebani

Publications and source records attributed to M Plebani.

At least 397 records · Page 22Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Metastatic colorectal cancer stimulates collagen synthesis by fibroblasts.

BACKGROUND: We ascertained in vitro whether there were any differences in the growth of fibroblasts and the production of collagen (PIIIP), in relation to the presence of conditioning sera or tumor tissues from colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with disease progression or regression after surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fibroblasts were conditioned with: 1) 10% of control (n=20) or CRC patients' (n=57) sera; 2) 10% of tumor tissue homogenates obtained from CRC patients without (group A, n=6) or with (group B, n=5) liver metastases. After surgery, 29/57 patients (group 1) developed while 28/57 (group 2) did not develop a recurrent disease. RESULTS: The ratio between cell growth and PIIIP production increases when fibroblasts were conditioned by group I (p<0.05), but not by controls or group 2 sera. Tumor homogenates from group B inhibited cell growth (p<0.001), while they induced PIIIP production (p<0.001) in comparison with results from group A. CONCLUSION: CRC non-metastatic cancer cells induce mainly fibroblasts growth, while metastatic cells mainly induce collagen synthesis. This effect is probably caused by soluble mediators, which partly pass into the systemic circulation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

CAR-3 and CA 19-9 serum levels in pancreatic cancer: any differences between two epitopes of the same mucin-like glycoprotein?

The aim of this study was to compare the utility of two recently identified tumour markers of pancreatic cancer, CA 19-9 and CAR-3, and to ascertain the roles of some factors influencing both antigens. CA 19-9 and CAR-3 were measured in sera of 18 control subjects, 27 patients with pancreatic cancer, 25 with chronic pancreatitis, and 29 with extra-pancreatic diseases. CA 19-9 and CAR-3 were, respectively, found to be increased in 85 per cent and 44 per cent of patients with pancreatic cancer, 28 per cent and 0 per cent with chronic pancreatitis and 72 per cent and 28 per cent with extra-pancreatic diseases. The ROC curves showed that, for any serum value considered, CA 19-9 is more effective than CAR-3 in discriminating between pancreatic cancer and control subjects and chronic pancreatitis. With the combined use of both antigens the results were no better than those given by CA 19-9 alone. Correlations were found between liver function tests and CA 19-9 levels and between cholestasis indices only and CAR-3 values. Our findings show that CAR-3 is not a sufficiently reliable marker of pancreatic cancer, due to its low sensitivity. Nor does it offer any more information than CA 19-9. Both assays are influenced, at least in part, by the extent of the neoplasia. Cholestasis which can greatly influence a serum glycoproteic marker such as CA 19-9, was found also to affect, to a lesser extent, CAR-3, an epitope on the same mucin molecule.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Morpho-functional characteristics of reflux gastritis in patients after cholecystectomy and without cholecystectomy].

The aim of this study was to evaluate some biochemical and histopathological aspects in a group of patients with a view to identifying any differences depending on whether the pathology was associated with previous cholecystectomy or idiopathic. The study involved 23 patients (8 post-cholecystectomy cases and 15 ulcer-free dyspeptic patients) with the diagnosis of duodenogastric reflux gastritis confirmed by endoscopic histopathological evaluation. The following parameters were considered: 1) pH and bile salt concentration in gastric juice; 2) histological classification of antral biopsies (Niemela's criteria); 3) dyspeptic symptoms (dyspepsia, pyrosis and epigastric pain, sense of repletion, foul-tasting mouth) graded on a scale from 0 to 4. All parameters were considered in relation to whether or not Helicobacter Pylori was found in the histological specimens. No significant differences were found between the two groups for pH and bile salt values or for Helicobacter Pylori positivity. No relationship was observed between the Helicobacter Pylori and either the severity of the histological picture, the features of the biochemical parameters or the severity of the clinical symptoms. Such findings confirm the common pathophysiological pattern of reflux gastritis regardless of any permanent biliary tract alterations and the low importance of Helicobacter Pylori infection in determining this syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The effects of nizatidine and misoprostol on peptic activity and gastric mucus].

The effects of Nizatidine, an H2-receptor antagonist, and Misoprostol, a PGE1 analogue, on gastric pH, pepsin, pepsinogen group I and N-acetylneuraminic acid concentration were evaluated in a group of 20 patients with duodenal ulcer. Nizatidine decreased pepsin concentration while it increased gastric pH, although not to a significant degree and left pepsinogen group I and N-acetylneuraminic acid concentration unchanged. Misoprostol did not modify gastric pH, pepsin and N-acetylneuraminic acid values but it increased pepsinogen group I levels. These data support the view that H2-receptor antagonists, especially Nizatidine, and Misoprostol do not directly affect pepsin and/or N-acetylneuraminic acid concentration.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Gastrin tissue levels in patients with peptic ulcer: a different methodological approach].

The function of G cells has been mainly evaluated by serum gastrin. A different analytical approach considers the direct determination of gastrin levels (ng/g of wet tissue) in perendoscopic biopsies, but, up to now, the results are contradictory. In the present study we evaluated, by means of a RIA method, the concentration of gastrin (ng/g of protein nitrogen) in homogenized gastroduodenal biopsies in 127 patients with peptic ulcer and in 12 dyspeptic patients. The results demonstrated: 1) a significant gradient of gastrin concentrations among the different anatomical sites, according to the distribution of the G cells; 2) a correlation with serum gastrin levels; 3) a good equivalence of gastrin content in adjacent biopsy specimens. This preliminary report indicates that it is possible directly quantitate tissue levels of gastrin by means of an accurate and simple method.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Changes in the pattern of serum biliary acids and lipoprotein picture during therapy with biliary acids in cholesterol lithiasis].

Several studies are present in the literature about the efficacy of medical treatment with biliary acid, orally administered, on the symptomatic gallstone patients. Both this drugs act, with different mechanisms, on the same pathophysiological pathway, represented by the supersaturated bile in cholesterol. Aim of the present investigation was to study the possible modifications of serum bile acids pattern and of lipoproteins in a large sample of gallstone patients under long-term treatment with biliary acids. One hundred and twelve patients with radiolucent gallstones entered the study; 54 received chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and 58 ursodeoxycholic (UDCA) at dosage of 15 mg/kg/daily. Blood samples for determination of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, lipoproteins, total and fractionated biliary acids were collected from each subjects every three months for a mean "follow-up" of 24 months. The levels of serum cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids showed a mild decrease only in the patients under therapy with CDCA, while no modifications were detected using UDCA. The same was found for two other parameters, HDL-cholesterol and lipoproteins, with both treatments during the overall period of follow-up. The biliary acids levels showed a significant increase only in the patients treated with CDCA, but no differences were found between "responders" and "non responders" to the therapy.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Cigarette smoking and group I pepsinogen levels. Study in a normal population].

Several studies have shown an influence of cigarette smoking on serum pepsinogen group I (PGI) levels in duodenal ulcer patients and in control subjects. The elevation of PGI in smokers has just been interpreted as reflecting some degree of smoking-induced inflammation of the gastric mucosa. We have determined fasting serum PGI by radioimmunoassay in 163 healthy subjects investigated by a survey conducted on a sample population of an urban area in the North-East of Italy by means of a random selection based on the public registers of home addresses. The data reported confirmed that PGI levels are increased by smoking in a healthy population. The main contribution of this study consists in demonstrating in a non-selected population an increase of the only parameter up to date claimed to be a possible serological predictive index for ulcer disease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Cyclosporin].

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Cyclosporins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Serum carcinoembryonic antigen in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic cancer: influence of tumour spread, liver impairment, and age.

In order to verify the role of CEA in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and to evaluate some influencing factors like age, tumor spread and liver dysfunction, this antigen was measured in the sera of 60 control subjects, 45 patients with pancreatic cancer, 37 with chronic pancreatitis, 67 with benign, and 28 with malignant extra-pancreatic diseases. CEA was found to be elevated in 23/45 pancreatic cancers, in 8/37 chronic pancreatitis, in 17/67 benign and in 9/28 malignant extra-pancreatic diseases. Significant correlations were documented between CEA and age in all the subjects; between CEA and immunoglobulins G in liver cirrhosis and between CEA and alkaline phosphatase in gastrointestinal extra-pancreatic malignancies. In pancreatic cancer higher CEA levels were detected in patients with metastases. We can conclude that CEA is of limited value in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic cancer; it does not seem to be able to detect early pancreatic tumors. Age and liver dysfunction may contribute towards elevating this marker in serum.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Uric acid].

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Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Theophylline].

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Chemical Phenomena↗