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Biomedical subjects

R Naccarato

Publications and source records attributed to R Naccarato.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources

[Infections caused by hepatitis virus A and B in hospital personnel. Prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis virus A, HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc].

In order to evaluate the risk of hepatitis A and B virus infection among hospital staff in our area, 584 medical and paramedical employees of the Hospital of Ferrara (Italy) were studied for the presence of anti-HAV, HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc serum. HAV infection was found to be less frequent among medical and nursing staff than the general population, matched for age (78.6% vs 72.2%) indicating that HAV spread within the hospital is irrelevant. However, the evidence of HBV infection is higher in hospital staff than in the general population (37.6% vs 23.0%) with a maximum prevalence in surgeons and in the operating-theatre staff, followed by nurses (both from surgical and medical wards) and physicians. The prevalence in auxiliary staff is not significantly higher than in the general population. The incidence of antibodies against HBV (anti-HBs and anti-HBc) increases with age and duration of employment, while the prevalence reaches a maximum during the initial years. The anti-HBc testing allowed for the detection of further 10% of subjects evidencing previous HBV infection.

Adult↗

Fibergastroscopic study of early and advanced gastric cancer in a series of 8,000 consecutive patients.

Eight cases of early gastric cancer (EGC) (histological diagnosis on the resected specimens) were detected Type III (excavated; seven out of eight cases). In three endoscopies. They constituted 3.3% of the gastric cancers observed (239 cases). The most frequent type of EGC was Type III (excavated: seven out of eight cases). In three patients the diagnosis was made only at a second examination, since the first had been negative for malignancy; at the follow-up examination in these cases, the lesion seemed to have healed. The operation was therefore carried out only on the basis of the histological interpretation of endoscopic biopsies.

Adenocarcinoma↗

The efficacy of two doses of omeprazole for short- and long-term peptic ulcer treatment in the elderly.

This study evaluated the efficacy, safety, and most suitable dose of omeprazole in short-term acute treatment (4 weeks) and maintenance treatment (6 months) of patients older than 60 years of age with endoscopically diagnosed gastric ulcer (GU) or duodenal ulcer (DU). This randomized, prospective study included 156 patients (67 GU and 89 DU; mean age, 74.8 and 72.3 years, respectively) who were randomized in the acute phase into two treatment groups: omeprazole 20 mg/d or 40 mg/d as a single morning dose for 4 weeks. The 6-month follow-up phase included 101 patients who were randomized to receive omeprazole 20 mg/d or 20 mg every other day. After 4 weeks of treatment, 94.0% of GU patients and 95.5% of DU patients showed complete ulcer scarring with no statistical differences between doses. At the end of the 6-month follow-up, 4.5% of GU patients and 8.8% of DU patients relapsed, with no statistical differences between groups. No clinically significant adverse events were recorded. In conclusion, omeprazole is a highly effective, well-tolerated, and safe drug for the short- and long-term treatment of GU and DU in the elderly. The dose of 20 mg/d for the acute phase and 20 mg on alternate days for maintenance therapy appears most appropriate for elderly patients with ulcers.

Aged↗

Carbohydrate-induced thermogenesis in liver cirrhosis: glucose vs. fructose.

Reduced thermic response after a glucose load has been reported in liver cirrhosis. To determine the mechanism and the site of this phenomenon, the effects of glucose and fructose on energy expenditure (EE) were measured in seven well-nourished cirrhotic patients and in six healthy control subjects. EE and fuel utilization were measured via indirect calorimetry for 3 h after oral glucose or fructose administration (1 g/kg body wt). After a glucose load, plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were higher in cirrhotic patients than in control subjects (p < 0.05). During the glucose trial, the cumulative incremental changes in EE over the 3-h measurement period were lower (p < 0.01) in patients than in the control subjects (0.98 +/- 0.13 vs. 1.70 +/- 0.23 kJ.kg-1.3 h-1). After fructose ingestion, the cumulative changes in the EE of control subjects (1.76 +/- 0.24 kJ.kg-1.3 h-1) and cirrhotic patients (1.59 +/- 0.15 kJ.kg-1.3 h-1) were similar. In cirrhotic patients, the EE increase after fructose was higher than after glucose (p < 0.05). After glucose and fructose ingestion, no difference was observed between the carbohydrate oxidation in cirrhotic patients and that in control subjects, and lipid oxidation was suppressed to the same extent in both groups. We conclude that glucose-induced thermogenesis is impaired in liver cirrhosis, whereas fructose can normalize the thermic response. Because fructose is chiefly metabolized in the liver, these findings suggest that extrahepatic tissues are the site of defective thermogenesis in liver cirrhosis.

Administration, Oral↗

High IgE serum levels and "peptic" ulcers: clinical and functional approach.

The prevalence of high total IgE serum levels was evaluated in 232 consecutive patients suffering from peptic ulcer. Twenty-one percent of the patients presented total IgE serum levels above 200 KU/L compared with the 5% found in a healthy control population (p < 0.004). Similar prevalence was found in gastric and/or duodenal ulcers. No significant differences in the duration of the disease, smoking habits, familiarity for peptic ulcer, symptomatology and frequency of complications were observed between patients with high and with normal total IgE serum levels. Gastric function studies (gastric acid secretion, serum pepsinogen and gastrin levels) did not show any significant differences between the two groups. The incidence of Helicobacter pylori infection was 65% in patients with normal IgE levels and 75% in those with high IgE levels (p: n.s.). The response to treatment with full dose of H2-receptor antagonists was comparable in both groups (91.25% and 90.7% of ulcer healing after 6-8 weeks of treatment). A relapse of the ulcer after 6 months of maintenance therapy (half dose of H2-receptor antagonists) was observed in 39.5% of the patients with ulcer and high total IgE serum as against the 11.9% observed in patients with normal IgE (p < 0.001). These data lend further support to the hypothesis of an underlying immuno-allergic reaction in some forms of gastric or duodenal ulcer.

Adolescent↗

Effects of H2 blockers and omeprazole on peptic secretion: a prospective, randomized study in duodenal ulcer subjects.

UNLABELLED: Aim of the present study has been to investigate the possible modifications of peptic secretion after a period with H2 blockers and omeprazole, evaluating in the same patient pepsinogen group A levels in gastric mucosa and pepsin in gastric juice. 54 active duodenal ulcer were studied: during an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy a sample of gastric juice and one fundus biopsy were taken before and after four weeks 300 mg/daily ranitidine (23 patients), 40 mg/daily famotidine (7 patients), 300 mg/daily nizatidine (12 patients) therapy and 40 mg/daily omeprazole (12 patients) therapy. RESULTS: H2-blockers and omeprazole treatment determines a non statistically significant decrease of pepsin in gastric juice and in pepsinogen group A in gastric mucosa.

Adult↗