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Biomedical subjects

P Borini

Publications and source records attributed to P Borini.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Noninvasive classification of liver disease in asymptomatic and oligosymptomatic male alcoholics.

The predominant type of liver alteration in asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic chronic male alcoholics (N = 169) admitted to a psychiatric hospital for detoxification was classified by two independent methods: liver palpation and multiple quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA), the latter applied to two parameters reported by the patient (duration of alcoholism and daily amount ingested) and to the data obtained from eight biochemical blood determinations (total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, glycemia, potassium, aspartate aminotransferase, albumin, globulin, and sodium). All 11 soft and sensitive, and 13 firm and sensitive livers formed fully concordant groups as determined by QDA. Among the 22 soft and not sensitive livers, 95% were concordant by QDA grouping. Concordance rates were low (55%) in the 73 firm and not sensitive livers, and intermediate (76%) in the 50 not palpable livers. Prediction of the liver palpation characteristics by QDA was 95% correct for the firm and not sensitive livers and moderate for the other groups. On a preliminary basis, the variables considered to be most informative by QDA were the two anamnestic data and bilirubin levels, followed by alkaline phosphatase, glycemia and potassium, and then by aspartate aminotransferase and albumin. We conclude that, when biopsies would be too costly or potentially injurious to the patients to varying extents, clinical data could be considered valid to guide patient care, at least in the three groups (soft, not sensitive; soft, sensitive; firm, sensitive livers) in which the two noninvasive procedures were highly concordant in the present study.

Adult↗

[Bayonet finger and the use of illicit drugs].

Prevalence of "bayonet finger", a semiologic sign of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), was determined in male illicit drug users, admitted in psychiatric hospital. A control group, paired in sex, age and social status, was built from the general population. The sign was observed en 165/345 (47.8%) drug users and 13/50 (26%) controls, the difference being statistically significant. Bearers of this sign had 2.61 odds ratio, 1.84 relative risk and 92.7% probability for being drug users. The observations suggest that, for males: (1) ADHD and related syndromes should be present in approximately half of illicit drug users and should represent a vulnerability factor for becoming drug user; (2) individuals presenting "bayonet finger", mainly adolescent, should deserve special attention for prevention of drug use.

Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorder↗

[Prevalence of "bayonet finger": a manifestation of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder among male alcoholics and psychotics].

The prevalence of Bajonettfinger, a semiologic sign of attention-deficit disorder hyperactivity (ADHD), was determined in male alcoholics and psychotics from a psychiatric hospital. A control group was taken from the hospital staff. The morphologic alteration was observed in 35% of the 200 alcoholics, 45% of the 100 psychotics and 16% of the 50 controls. The difference in prevalence of the sign between the alcoholics and psychotics groups was not significant but the differences between any of these groups and the controls was significant. The observations suggested that: (1) ADHD would be present, as judged through its high correlation with the prevalence of bajonettfinger, in approximately 1/3 of the alcoholics and 1/2 of the psychotics; (2) ADHD would be a vulnerability factor for alcoholism; (3) adolescents with bajonettfinger should deserve special preventive attention with respect to alcoholism.

Adult↗

[Clinical and laboratory changes before the development of delirium tremens].

Thirteen alcoholic male patients that developed delirium tremens (DT) after admission in a psychiatric hospital for treatment of alcoholism (group I) had their clinical and laboratorial records examined. The laboratory samples were taken during the phase previous at the DT. Data on this group were compared to those of two other groups of alcoholics--26 patients each--that did not develop DT in the present admission, with (group II) or without (group III) previous history of DT. The patients of group I had significantly lower average age and worse general conditions than the patients of group III. The frequency of elevated aminotransferases and hypomagnesemia was significantly higher in the group I and II than in the group III. The aminotransferases, especially the aspartate-aminotransferase, were significantly more elevated in the groups I and II.

Adult↗

[Alcoholism and syphilis: prevalence and clinical and hepatic biochemical changes].

The prevalence of syphilis in chronic alcoholics and the hepatic clinical and biochemical alterations were evaluated in patients with both entities. The prevalence of syphilis in patients with other psychiatric diagnosis was taken as control. The patients were asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic with respect to hepatic alcoholic dysfunction or to any manifestation of the three clinical stages of syphilis. Alcoholics (206 patients) and patients with other psychiatric conditions (228 patients) were submitted to clinical examination and to quantitative serology for syphilis (Wasserman and VDRL), yielding 6.3% and 3.1% of seropositivity, respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed between alcoholics of the seropositive or seronegative groups, as to the frequencies of clinical or biochemical alterations which would indicate hepatic alterations.

Adult↗

Indicators of inflammation and cellular damage in chronic asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic alcoholics: correlation with alteration of bilirubin and hepatic and pancreatic enzymes.

Biochemical and hematimetric indicators of inflammation and cell damage were correlated with bilirubin and hepatic and pancreatic enzymes in 30 chronic male alcoholics admitted into psychiatric hospital for detoxification and treatment of alcoholism. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and total bilirubin were altered, respectively, in 90%, 63%, 87%, 23% and 23% of the cases. None of the indicators of inflammation (lactic dehydrogenase, altered in 16% of the cases; alpha-1 globulin, 24%; alpha-2 globulin, 88%; leucocyte counts, 28%) was correlated with alterations of bilirubin or liver enzymes. Lactic dehydrogenase was poorly sensitive for detection of hepatocytic or muscular damage. Alterations of alpha-globulins seemed to have been due more to alcohol metabolism-induced increase of lipoproteins than to inflammation. Among indicators of cell damage, serum iron, increased in 40% of the cases, seemed to be related to liver damage while creatine phosphokinase, increased in 84% of the cases, related to muscle damage. Hyperamylasemia was found in 20% of the cases and significantly correlated with levels of bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltransferase. It was indicated that injuries of liver, pancreas, salivary glands, and muscle occurred in asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic chronic alcoholics.

Adult↗

Liver synthesis function in chronic asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic alcoholics: correlation with other liver tests.

Liver function and its correlation with bilirubin and hepatic enzymes were evaluated in 30 male chronic asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic alcoholics admitted into the psychiatric hospital for detoxification and treatment of alcoholism. Hypoalbuminemia, lowered prothrombin activity, hypotransferrinemia and hypofibrinogenemia were detected in 32%, 32%, 28%, and 24% of patients, respectively. Transferrin was elevated in 8%. Greater prevalence of hyperbilirubinemia was found in patients with lowered prothrombin activity, hypofibrinogenemia, or hypotransferrinemia. No correlation was found between serum bilirubin or aminotransferase levels and normal or elevated albumin levels, time or activity of prothrombin, and fibrinogen levels. Serum alkaline phosphatase was elevated in normoalbuminemics and gamma-glutamyltransferase in patients with lowered prothrombin activity. Hypoalbuminemia was associated with hypofibrinogenemia, hypotransferrinemia with elevated aspartate aminotransferase or gamma-glutamyltransferase, and hypertransferrinemia with elevation of alanine aminotransferase. These data indicated the occurrence of hepatic dysfunction due to liver damage caused directly by alcohol or by alcoholism-associated nutritional deficiencies.

Adult↗

The height of the diaphragm domes in pathologies of abdominal organs of the digestive apparatus.

The present study reports on diaphragmatic changes observed in 226 patients with diseases of abdominal organs of the digestive system. The group consisted of 121 males (53.5%) and 105 females (46.5%) (mean age: 44.1 +/- 4.3 years; range 15-83 years). The parameter of reference for comparisons between normal and pathological conditions was the normal average difference in height between the hemidiaphragms, which was obtained from 220 postero-anterior chest radiographs. These radiographs were obtained from 99 males (49.5%) and 101 females (50.5%) (mean age; 41.1 +/- 5.6 years; range: 15-78 years) who did not present any symptoms compatible with diseases of the digestive system. Several diseases which affect different abdominal organs were found to cause various differences in height between the left and right hemidiaphragms. The mechanism and clinical applications of the alterations observed are discussed.

Adolescent↗

[Alcoholism].

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Adolescent↗

[Alcohol-smoking interaction in hepatic lesions].

The consequences upon the liver of the simultaneous action of alcohol and of tobacco smoke substances were evaluated. The clinical and biochemical alterations shown by 18 alcoholics non smokers were compared to those shown by 36 alcoholics smokers, taken from a population of 189 male patients admitted into a psychiatric hospital for alcoholism treatment. The smokers, relative to the non smokes, had lower average age and earlier onset of alcoholism, drank greater quantities of alcohol per day and in shorter periods, and showed between others biochemical plasmatic alterations, more elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase (with AST/ALT ratio greater) and alkaline phosphatase, suggestive of more pronounced hepatic aggression.

Adult↗