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Biomedical subjects

V D'Alessandro

Publications and source records attributed to V D'Alessandro.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

[Rehabilitation of the colostomy patient].

The Authors report their experience concerning the rehabilitation of patients with temporary or definitive colostomy. Mechanical and psychosocial implications as well as different rehabilitative methods are discussed and literature data are reviewed. Surgery should play a major role in this rehabilitation programme, either in terms of prevention or definitive treatment; nonetheless only through a multidisciplinary approach these patients will achieve a better quality of life.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

[Non-epithelial tumors of the colon-rectum. Our experience].

Non-epithelial malignancies of the colon and rectum are exceedingly rare. These neoplasms are usually asymptomatic and present with aspecific symptoms. Over a period of nearly 30 years (1963-1991) 1187 colorectal malignancies were treated surgically in our department. Twenty-one patients (about 2%) had non epithelial colorectal tumor: 8 lymphomas, 2 lipomas, 2 leiomyomas, 1 leiomyosarcoma, 4 neuroendocrine tumors and 4 "Tumor-like" lesions. Preoperative diagnosis could be made only in 5 patients. A retrospective analysis of our experience showed the importance of considering these lesions, though rare, among colorectal disease. Whenever an aspecific clinical picture with uncertain aetiology is showed and the patient scheduled for surgery, intraoperative histology is mandatory so as to guide any surgical strategy.

Colorectal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1993

Clonidine lowers alpha-MSH-like immunoreactivity in human plasma.

In a group of seven healthy subjects, the effects of acute intravenous administration of clonidine, a selective alpha 2 receptor stimulator, on plasma alpha-MSH-LI concentrations were measured. In comparison with saline, clonidine (0.075 mg) significantly reduced alpha-MSH-LI concentrations, with a maximum fall between 30 and 60 min., followed by a return to basal concentrations at 120 min.; no significant variations in plasma ACTH and cortisol were seen. The precise mechanism of this effect is unclear. Our study suggests that separate regulatory mechanisms exist for the secretion of POMC related peptides in the corticotroph and melanotroph cells of the human pituitary gland.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1993

Adrenergic regulation of alpha-MSH secretion in man: evidence for a stimulatory role of beta-receptors.

In several animal species the catecholamines stimulate the release of alpha-MSH from the melanotrope cells of the pituitary neurointermediate lobe through beta-receptors. The human hypophysis does not include a well-defined intermediate lobe and the methods for measuring alpha-MSH are often poorly sensitive. Neuroregulation of this hormone in man has thus received little attention. To see whether the adrenergic system is involved in the control of alpha-MSH secretion and whether the latter is independent of that of other peptides derived from proopiomelanocortin, such as ACTH, we studied the effects on plasma alpha-MSH-like immunoreactivity (alpha-MSH-LI), ACTH, and cortisol of some adrenergic drugs active on the beta-receptors. Six normal volunteers underwent the infusion of the following drugs: isoproterenol (0.03 microgram.kg-1.min-1 for 60 min), propranolol (1 mg.min-1 for 5 min followed by 0.1 mg.min-1 for 115 min), propranolol+isoproterenol (infused between 30 and 90 min of propranolol infusion), placebo (saline solution). Isoproterenol increased alpha-MSH-LI at 15 min (p < 0.001). Propranolol induced a fall of alpha-MSH-LI between 30 and 60 min (p < 0.001), followed by a return to preinfusion concentrations beginning at 75 min, and completely prevented the stimulatory effect of isoproterenol. Plasma ACTH and serum cortisol were always unaffected. These results indicate that in man the adrenergic system stimulates alpha-MSH-LI release through beta-receptors, and that alpha-MSH-LI secretion is dissociated from that of ACTH and cortisol. This in turn suggests that separate neuroregulatory mechanisms exist for the melanotrope and corticotrope cells.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1989

Severe hemorrhage associated with pancreatic pseudocysts: report of two cases.

Severe hemorrhage from pancreatic pseudocysts is a rare condition that poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Two cases of preoperative intracystic bleeding and massive postoperative gastrointestinal hemorrhage observed during the last year form the basis of the present report. In the first patient, transcystic suture ligation of the bleeding vessel was necessary to control this life-threatening and dramatic condition--External drainage of the cyst was followed by an uneventful postoperative course. In the second patient, massive gastrointestinal bleeding occurred after cysto-gastrostomy, and neither endoscopy nor arteriography was able to identify the source. Despite aggressive medical and surgical therapy, the patient died. Massive intracystic or gastrointestinal hemorrhage caused by rupture of pseudoaneurysms into pancreatic pseudocysts still remains a rare but severe condition, difficult to treat and affected by high mortality rates. Angiography should be performed routinely in the preoperative assessment of pancreatic pseudocysts, even when the other diagnostic techniques do not raise the suspicion of pseudoaneurysm formation. After internal drainage procedures early surgery is recommended whenever GI bleeding occurs in the postoperative course.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

Biliary bypass for an "accessory" biliary duct. A case report.

A case of accessory biliary duct draining segments V and VI of the liver, accidentally injured during cholecystectomy and repaired by biliary-enteric anastomosis, is reported. An accessory bile duct may occur in 15-20% of these patients. Ligation or repair is always recommended depending on the size and volume of bile flow. Roux-en-Y loop reconstruction is to be preferred as it provides the best results with the lowest risk of leakage, stenosis and cholangitis.

Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y↗
PubMed1981

Dialysis treatment in schizophrenia: two years experience.

The authors summarize two years trial of dialysis treatment of schizophrenia. Twenty-five schizophrenic patients were treated with hemodialysis using PAN membranes. The dialysis schedule was: dialyzer; RP 610; blood flow: 250 ml/min; dialysate flow: 500 ml/min; time: 3 hr; vascular access: arteriovenous fistula, femoral vein, antebrachial veins. Dialysis was first performed for three days, repeated after one week, two weeks, three weeks, and one month, and then performed once a month. The drug regimen was never modified or interrupted. The results were evaluated with the Overall and Lorr scale. Nine patients interrupted the treatment early and were not considered; nine patients showed disappearance of psychiatric symptomatology (Overall and Lorr index decreased to 21.8 at 2); non-significant modifications of the main schizophrenic symptoms were observed in seven patients. According to our trial, dialysis with polyacrylonitrile membranes can modify the psychotic attitude in a group of schizophrenic "dialysis responders".

Acrylic Resins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Internalization and release of insulin from hepatocytes.

Degradation of internalized insulin was studied after binding at 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C to isolated hepatocytes. The cells were washed to avoid extracellular insulin contamination. Degradation of both, intracellular and extracellular 125I-insulin, was measured with TCA and insulin antibody. In these conditions binding at 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C was equal but both intra and extracellular degradation were greater at 37 degrees C than at 25 degrees C. At both temperatures, intracellular degradation was greater than extracellular degradation with accumulation of degraded and non-degraded intracellular insulin. To study in what state hepatocytes release internalized insulin into the medium, 125I-insulin association was performed at an intermediate temperature (30 degrees C). Extracellular insulin contamination (whether associated or not) was avoided by three methods: 1) washing; 2) treatment with insulin degrading enzyme(s) and washing; 3) treatment with insulin degrading enzyme(s) then with trypsin and washing. Kinetics of radioactivity released from the cells was identical in the three conditions and the radioactivity was released throughout the experiments. Complete degradation of the released insulin was observed by gel filtration when the previous binding was 0.4 ng insulin/10(6) cells. When the dose of associated insulin increased (25 ng/10(6) cells) 3.5% of non-degraded insulin was liberated and when the dose was 14,300 ng/10(6) cells, the insulin released was 44.3%. In one experiment during the first 30 min, the insulin released was 52.88% and in the last 45 min 39.59%. To study the biologic behavior of the insulin released from cells, a group of mice were injected with this insulin (8.4 mU/mouse) and blood glucose was measured. The released insulin behaved as intact insulin as far as blood glucose responses were concerned. We may conclude that liver cells have the ability to internalize insulin and release biologically active insulin after accumulation.

Animals↗