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Biomedical subjects

R Esposito

Publications and source records attributed to R Esposito.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

[Acute pancreatitis in biliary microlithiasis: a study of the biliary sediment].

The Authors report the results of a clinical trial based on the study of the biliary sediment in cases of acute pancreatitis considered as idiopathic that, on the contrary, resulted to be correlated to a condition of biliary microlithiasis. Four cases of biliary acute pancreatitis out of 94 are reported (1979-1988) in which the diagnosis of biliary microlithiasis was possible only through the microscopic analysis of the bile, that documented a significant presence of cholesterol and/or bilirubinate crystals. It allowed a proper therapeutic approach.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1988

Effect of some uremic toxins on oxygen consumption of rats in vivo and in vitro.

In rats, oxygen consumption is reduced by about 40-50% 24 h after bilateral nephrectomy. This is also the case when the animals are pretreated with triiodothyronine, 3 x 0.75 mg/kg body weight orally, for 2-3 days. Indole, cresol, putrescine, methylguanidine or acetoine was given intraperitoneally to normal rats at doses of between 5 and 300 mg/kg body weight. Only low single doses of indole (5 mg/kg) reduced oxygen consumption significantly. Single doses of the other substances studied were ineffective even at tenfold higher doses. Some combinations of these substances, however, (10 mg/kg each), reduced the metabolic rate significantly. In contrast to the results in vivo, plasma of uremic rats, as well as the uremic toxins, dissolved in Krebs-phosphate buffer pH 7.4 at concentrations of 30 mg/dl each, had no influence on respiration of rat diaphragma or liver slices in vitro (single substances and different combinations).

Acetoin↗
PubMed1988

Toxicity in uremia. 1. Correlation between PTH levels and depressed cell proliferation.

Cell proliferation is significantly depressed in uremia; to assess the influence of PTH on it, normal lymphocytes were cultured in presence of uremic patients' serum with low or high plasma PTH levels (Group A; PTH less than 2.5 ng/ml; Group B: PTH greater than 12 ng/ml), and serum of normal subjects (Group C). Cell proliferation was lowered by serum from both groups (p A vs C less than 0.004; p B vs C less than 0.001). However, the depressing effect was more evident when group B serum was employed (p A vs B less than 0.002).

Cell Division↗
PubMed1988

Toxicity in uremia. 2. Correlation between PTH levels and impaired aspecific immunity.

The role of PTH in depressing polynuclear leucocyte (PMN) phagocytosis in uremia was investigated. The hydrophobicity and phagocytic activity of normal PMN was tested in presence of uremic patients' serum with low (Group A) or high (Group B) levels of plasma PTH. The PMN phagocytic index was lowered by serum of both groups, but more in presence of Group B serum (p A vs B less than 0.002). Similarly, the contact angle of cells was affected more in presence of serum of patients with high PTH levels (p B vs A less than 0.003; p B vs C less than 0.002).

Cytotoxins↗
PubMed1988

Long-term results of mitral valve reconstruction with Carpentier techniques in 148 patients with mitral insufficiency.

There have been few relatively complete follow-up studies of long-term mitral valve function after Carpentier-type surgical reconstruction. Between January 1980 and May 1986, 148 patients underwent Carpentier reconstruction for mitral valve disease (43% degenerative and 30% rheumatic). Operative mortality was 5.4% overall (1.2% for isolated mitral reconstruction), and follow-up (mean, 26 months) was completed for all survivors. Five-year survival from late cardiac death was 90.0%, as was 5-year freedom from postreconstruction mitral valve replacement. Postreconstruction mitral replacement was needed in eight patients, in only five for failure of repair. Follow-up echocardiographic studies on 83.2% (104 of 125) of eligible patients showed 92.3% were free of significant (3+ or 4+) mitral regurgitation. Freedom from mitral valve replacement or recurrent severe (4+) insufficiency was 84.4% at 5 years overall, but was lower for the rheumatic type of mitral disease than for the degenerative type (71.6% vs. 88.3%). At 5 years, 95.2% of patients were free from thromboembolism without the necessity for long-term warfarin (Coumadin) therapy. At follow-up, 95.3% of survivors had improved to New York Heart Association Class I or II. The functional durability of mitral reconstruction and consistently high level of freedom from late endocarditis and thromboembolic and anticoagulant complications support the value of the Carpentier method of mitral reconstruction for mitral insufficiency, especially insufficiency due to degenerative disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Asymptomatic parasitic infections in renal transplant recipients and in haemodialysis patients.

One hundred and sixty-seven clinically asymptomatic renal transplant recipients and 119 patients on chronic haemodialysis were studied for the presence of intestinal parasites and for the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. Intestinal parasitic infections were more frequently found in transplant recipients than in haemodialysis patients and in controls. Among transplant recipients, the prevalence rate of T. gondii antibodies at high titres was significantly increased, but in these subjects the positivity rate of specific IgM assays was reduced. This seems to indicate a greater occurrence of asymptomatic reactivated infections. Our findings suggest that parasitologic surveys of immunosuppressed patients should be periodically performed also in temperate climates, in order to prevent the possibility of disseminated infections.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Epidemiology of imported malaria in a hospital in Milan, Italy.

The main epidemiological features of 47 cases of malaria imported into Italy and diagnosed in Milan during the period 1980-84 are reported. Plasmodium falciparum was the most frequently found species and caused two deaths. In P. falciparum infections, the importance for epidemiological and therapeutic purposes of the evaluation of chloroquine sensitivity, not only with in vivo tests but also with in vitro techniques, is stressed.

Chloroquine↗
PubMed1986

Clinical and epidemiological aspects of the first 50 cases of AIDS in Milan.

Between April 1984 and December 1985, 50 patients diagnosed as AIDS were observed in our Clinic. Risk factors were homosexuality in 21 cases (42%), drug addiction in 20 (40%), homosexuality and drug addiction in 3 (6%), haemophilia in 1 (2%). In the remaining 5 cases the infection was acquired by vertical transmission in 2 (4%), by promiscuous heterosexual intercourse in 2 (4%) and by a single blood transfusion in 1 (2%). Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) was the main clinical feature in 8 patients, although associated with opportunistic infections (OI) in 7 of them. A total of 91 different OI were diagnosed with a noteworthy prevalence of mycotic infections compared with OI due to other micro-organisms: 40 deep mycoses by Candida albicans, and 5 cryptococcoses. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) was diagnosed in 20 patients. Our data differ from the ones collected in the USA both epidemiologically, since we observed a greater incidence of AIDS in drug-addicts than in homosexuals and clinically, since in Italy a lower rate of neoplastic disease and, conversely, a higher rate of OI other than PCP are reported.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1986

Albendazole in the treatment of cystic hydatid disease.

Four cases of cystic hydatid disease treated with albendazole are described. The first patient had previously undergone surgical treatment with only partial removal of her hepatic cysts. The size of the remaining cyst resulted remarkably reduced after three courses of the drug. The second patient had recurrent hydatid disease involving the lumbar spine. After therapy, an evident diminution in the size of the cyst was detected. Two patients (one with a partially calcified cyst of the liver, the other one with multiple pulmonary lesions) did not show any objective evidence of improvement. Failures were probably due to the presence of calcified or thick-walled cysts. In all the patients, neither side-effects were observed, nor recurrences were noted during a 2 years' follow-up. In cystic hydatid disease, whenever radical surgical procedures are impracticable, albendazole treatment can achieve significant clinical results.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Defect of leukocyte functions and circulating immune complexes in visceral leishmaniasis.

Seven patients affected with visceral leishmaniasis have been tested for polymorphonuclear leukocyte functions and for presence of circulating immune complexes during the course of the disease and on recovery. These parameters have been correlated with clinical features; phagocytic and killing defects observed during acute stages of the disease seem to be dependent from high levels of circulating immune complexes observed in same period. Reduction of CIC levels observed after a first course of therapy are probably related to the gradual improvement of phagocytic functions which are almost complete in all patients at recovery.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Ultrastructural study of the dermis in a case of type IV Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Light microscopic and ultrastructural examination of the skin in a case of type IV Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) showed the presence of morphological changes involving all the dermis components. Collagen fibres were smaller, more irregular and more spaced apart than in normal dermis. Conversely, elastic, microfibrillar and amorphous components were considerably increased. Collagen fibrils presented poorly defined outlines and a loose texture, besides being markedly reduced in size. Fibroblasts were characterized by variable degrees of dilatation of RER cisternae containing flocculent material. In addition to these features, which confirm previous description of dermis structure in a case of type IV EDS (Holbrook and Byers, 1981), we have also observed thickening and delaminations of epidermal, perineurial and perivascular basement membranes and the presence of filamentous banded elements associated to nerve bundles. Moreover Langerhans' cells were found in papillary dermis, probably indicating the existence of an abnormal antigenic stimulation.

Adult↗