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R Abbiati

Publications and source records attributed to R Abbiati.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Free amino acids in plasma and skeletal muscle of patients with liver cirrhosis.

Free amino acids were measured under postabsorptive conditions in plasma and intracellular water of skeletal muscle obtained by needle biopsy in nine healthy controls and 14 subjects suffering from clinically stable liver cirrhosis. The aromatic amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine in cirrhotics were elevated to the same extent in plasma and in muscle water. Branched-chain amino acids were uniformly reduced in plasma, but in muscle water only valine was significantly lower (222 +/- 92 mumoles per kg intracellular water vs. 368 +/- 82, p less than 0.001), while isoleucine (142 +/- 63 vs. 103 +/- 30), leucine (223 +/- 88 vs. 226 +/- 36) and branched-chain amino acids as a whole (589 +/- 186 vs. 681 +/- 88) were normal or elevated with an increased muscle:plasma ratio (3.12 +/- 2.03 vs. 1.41 +/- 0.37, p less than 0.05 for isoleucine; 3.00 +/- 1.28 vs. 1.85 +/- 0.27, p less than 0.025 for leucine; 2.24 +/- 0.64 vs. 1.69 +/- 0.13, p less than 0.05 for total branched-chain amino acids. Our data show that, in cirrhosis, plasma concentrations of branched-chain amino acids do not reflect their levels in muscle cellular water; only the intracellular pool of valine is severely depleted. This suggests that higher amounts of valine supplementation may be useful in nutritional treatment of liver cirrhosis. The elevated muscle:plasma gradients for branched-chain amino acids may result from abnormalities in their transport through muscle-plasma membrane.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Reduced quality of life in patients with chronic hepatitis C: effects of interferon treatment.

BACKGROUND: Quality of life is an area of increasing interest in hepatology. Studies, so far, have assessed quality of life in patients with chronic virus C-related hepatitis in relation to antiviral therapy by means of generic questionnaires. AIM: To measure quality of life in chronic hepatitis patients without cirrhosis by means of the Nottingham Health Profile questionnaire, a measure of "distress" in comparison with the Medical Outcome Survey SF-36, an index of well-being. PATIENTS: A series of 126 outpatients with chronic hepatitis; 37 on and 89 not on active interferon treatment. METHODS: The two questionnaires were used in random order. Clinical and laboratory data were also collected. The final score of any domain of the two questionnaires, for any individual patient, was compared to age-adjusted normal values obtained in 2 random samples of Italian population. RESULTS: Patients showed a significant modification of 3 domains of Nottingham Health Profile (Energy, Social Isolation and Physical Mobility) and 6 domains of SF-36. In relation to interferon treatment, the Nottingham Health Profile questionnaire was able to detect differences in Energy, Physical Mobility and Pain, which were modified only in treated patients. SF-36 did not show any differences in relation to treatment. In addition, the Nottingham Health Profile demonstrated that treated patients had a lower prevalence of concern for family life, possibly due to expectations of treatment itself. CONCLUSIONS: Active interferon treatment causes considerable distress in chronic hepatitis C patients, adding to the perceived change in health status caused by liver disease.

Adult↗

[Adhesion capacity of Enterococcus faecium (SF 68) and Enterococcus faecalis to various substrates].

The author's studied the adherence ability of Enterococcus faecium SF 68 compared to that of Enterococcus faecalis IM 11f, on various substrates: vascular catheters and cardiac valves of rabbit, immunodepressed rats and diabetic rats. The bacterial adherence test was calculated by the number of bacteria adhered for microscopic field enlarged to 2000. The data obtained by scanning electron microscope SEM (Cambridge Stereoscan 150 MK2) revealed a different adherence action of the two germs on the various substrates. All the adherence tests showed a higher and uniform adherence activity of E. faecalis compared to that of E. faecium.

Animals↗

[Role of Enterococcus faecium SF 68 in experimental infection in mice].

The normal intestinal flora is an important defence against various infectious agents. It also allows important metabolic stages in the host. The Authors studied the ability of Enterococcus faecium SF 68 to protect the mice (Swiss strain) from infection by Salmonella typhi and its role when used with penicillin in infection by Staphylococcus aureus. Our results showed that SF 68, determined a good protection against infection. Moreover the association E. faecium SF 68-antibiotic lowers the mortality rate in the infected mice compared with the control group.

Animals↗