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Biomedical subjects

V Balsamo

Publications and source records attributed to V Balsamo.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux].

Fifteen children with gastro-esophageal reflux took part in a treatment trial with a regimen of magnesium hydroxide and aluminium hydroxide for 8 weeks period (700 mmol/1.73 mq/die). All children were evaluated clinically and underwent a 24-hour continuous esophageal pH-monitoring both at diagnosis and after 8 weeks of treatment. After therapy 12/15 children were cured and 3/15 improved. Moreover the total percentage of time during which pH was less than 4, the number of reflux episodes and the number of refluxes lasting than 5' recorded during 24-hour continuous esophageal pH-monitoring were significantly reduced after treatment. The Authors conclude that antacids in large quantities are effective in medical treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux.

Aluminum Hydroxide↗

The steatocrit test as a guide in the prevention of cow's-milk enteropathy following acute infectious enteritis.

This study was designed to evaluate the following in infants with acute enteritis (AE): the influence of different types of milk on the evolution of the acute phase of the diarrhea and whether the degree of steatorrhea during the acute phase might be a risk factor for developing cow's milk enteropathy (CME). We studied 90 infants with AE, divided into three groups and refed differently after the acute episode: group A was refed using a semielemental formula; group B was refed using a milk containing soy proteins and vegetable oils; and group C was refed using a common cow's-milk formula. Patients with pathological steatocrit values on hospitalization were randomly assigned to groups A and B; patients with normal steatocrit values were placed in group C. After 4 weeks, the patients included in groups A and B were challenged with cow's milk and their reactions were recorded. During the acute phase of the disease, we noticed a longer persistence of diarrhea in group A than in groups B (p less than 0.01) and C (p less than 0.0025). In addition, the number of evacuations per day and steatocrit values were higher in group A than in groups B or C, but these differences were not statistically significant. After 4 weeks, the patients in groups A and B were challenged with cow's milk, and eight of 60 patients had positive reactions; intestinal biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of CME. The mean age of these eight patients was 40.3 days.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Disease↗

Steatocrit test: normal range and physiological variations in infants.

In order to define the normal values of steatocrit during the first 3 months of life and the normal correlation between fecal fat content and steatocrit values, 60 full-term healthy unweaned infants (30 bottle-fed, 15 breast-fed, and 15 mixed-fed) were studied. The steatocrit micromethod was performed in these babies at 7, 14, 21, 28, 45, and 90 days after birth. Steatorrhea often occurs during the first month and then decreases, as shown by the fall in the steatocrit curve from 7th to 28th day in our subjects; at 45 days, few babies have steatorrhea. The 90th percentile profile of steatocrit values shows a value of 25% at the first week of life and a value of 13% at the fourth week. After the end of the third month, babies with steatocrit values higher than 2% should be put under close observation. Moreover, fat absorption can be greatly influenced by diet; in breast-fed babies, steatorrhea disappears more rapidly and steatocrit values are lower at every age than in partly or totally formula-fed babies. The good correlation between steatocrit values and fecal fat content (r = 0.97) confirms that this micromethod can be used for monitoring steatorrhea instead of other more cumbersome and expensive methods.

Animals↗

Pharmacokinetics of dactimicin in rats.

Dactimicin is a new pseudo-disaccharidic aminoglycosidic antibiotic produced by Dactylosporangium matsuzakiense. The aim of the present research was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of dactimicin intramuscularly administered, at the dosage of 20 mg/kg, in male Sprague-Dawley rats with an average b.w. of 200-220 g. Dactimicin levels were assessed by using a microbiological method (agar diffusion) employing Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 as test organism. Samples were collected immediately before and 0.25, 0.50, 1, 1.15 and 2 h after drug administration. The mean peak serum level, reached after 15 min, was 33.6 micrograms/ml (range 30.3-40 micrograms/ml); T1/2 beta was 0.42 h; extrapolated AUC was 26.8 mg h/l.

Aminoglycosides↗

Prostatic tissue concentrations and serum levels of Myocamicin in human subjects.

The diffusion of Myocamicin in the prostatic tissue of patients undergoing prostatectomy after a single oral dose of 600 mg has been studied. The maximum concentration of antibiotic in the prostatic tissue and the serum peak are reached at the first hour with mean values respectively of 3.8 micrograms/g and 2.6 micrograms/ml. The concentrations of Myocamicin remain more elevated in the prostatic tissue compared with the serum levels, at the second, fourth and sixth hours. Myocamicin has shown itself to be an antibiotic with optimal capabilities of diffusion in the prostatic tissue, where it rapidly reaches good therapeutic concentrations.

Humans↗

Reliability and usefulness of random fecal alpha 1-antitrypsin concentration: further simplification of the method.

The reliability of random fecal alpha 1-antitrypsin (FA-1-AT) concentration has been evaluated by comparing FA-1-AT values on random specimens and on concomitant 24-72 h fecal collections. In order to simplify the method, FA-1-AT data derived from lyophilized fecal samples were compared with those obtained from 37 degrees C heat-dried fecal samples. Random FA-1-AT concentration was assayed in 80 children with various gastrointestinal illnesses and 36 healthy age-matched controls. There was a close relationship between FA-1-AT values obtained from random samples and 1-day or 3-day collections. There was also a significant relationship between FA-1-AT values derived from the two different ways of drying the stools. Mean FA-1-AT values were statistically different when compared to the controls in the following groups of disorders: untreated and after-gluten-challenge celiac disease, post-enteritis syndrome, and cow's milk intolerance. The possible meanings of the abnormal FA-1-AT concentration in the various disorders are discussed. We conclude that FA-1-AT is a simple and reliable test for enteric protein loss. The simplification of the method proposed by us should reduce the cost of the test and moreover make it feasible in all laboratories.

Adolescent↗