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Biomedical subjects

A Dessì

Publications and source records attributed to A Dessì.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Serum levels of leptin and proinflammatory cytokines in patients with advanced-stage cancer at different sites.

Leptin is a recently identified hormone produced by the adipocyte ob gene which acts as a negative feedback signal critical to the normal control of food intake and body weight. A number of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL) 1alpha, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha and interferon (IFN) gamma, have been proposed as mediators of cancer cachexia. These data suggest that abnormalities in leptin production/release or in its feedback mechanism play a role in cancer patients. To elucidate this we studied the relationship between total serum leptin and serum cytokines IL-1alpha, IL-6, TNFalpha as well as the production of leptin and cytokines by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from cancer patients. Sixteen advanced cancer patients (mainly stage IV) with tumors at different sites were included in the study. The serum levels of leptin in cancer patients were significantly lower than those of healthy individuals at all times (7 a.m., noon, 3 p.m.). No significant differences were found in circadian rhythm between patients and controls. Serum levels of IL-1alpha, IL-6, and TNFalpha were significantly higher in cancer patients than in healthy individuals. An inverse correlation between serum levels of leptin and IL-6 was found in cancer patients. The production in culture of leptin by unstimulated PBMCs and those stimulated by phytohemagglutinin M or by phorbol myristate acetate isolated from cancer patients was very low; no differences were observed in comparison with leptin production by PBMCs from healthy individuals.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric follicular hyperplasia. A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of lymphoid follicles in the gastric mucosa was recently considered to be acquired in respose to infection by Helicobacter pylori. METHODS: In order to investigate whether there is any correlation between follicular hyperplasia and Helicobacter pylori colonization, a morphological study was performed in antral biopsy specimens from 267 patients with H. pylori-associated gastritis, and from 312 subjects with histological evidence of chronic gastritis, but without H. pylori colonization. RESULTS: Follicular hyperplasia was observed in 33 (12.3%) specimens with H. pylori-associated gastritis, and in 56 (9%) samples from non-infected group (p=ns). In both H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative specimens lymphoid follicular hyperplasia showed a significant correlation with the degree of the gastritis. In these two groups the prevalence of follicular hyperplasia was also significantly higher in the elderly. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these results, we were unable to find any significant correlation between H. pylori infection and occurrence of lymphoid follicular hyperplasia. The appearance of organized follicular structures in the gastric mucosa seems to be acquired in response to multiple events, and not exclusively in consequence of the colonization by Helicobacter pylori.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1993

EPR investigation of the oxovanadium(IV) complexes formed by the tripeptide glutathione and some related ligands in aqueous solution.

Complex formation between oxovanadium(IV) and glutathione (gamma-L-glutamyl-L-cysteinylglycine, GSH) was investigated in aqueous solution by EPR and electron absorption spectroscopy to identify the complexed species that were reported to form upon reduction of exogenous vanadium(V) in cellular systems. The complexing behavior of the related ligands glycine, N-acetyl-glycine, 3-mercaptopropionic acid, cysteamine, L-cysteine, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, N-acetyl-cysteamine, and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) was also examined in order to have suitable reference models. The results are compared with those reported previously.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Effect of Helicobacter pylori colonization on quantitative distribution of antral G-cells in apparently healthy subjects and in duodenal ulcer patients. A morphometric study.

To investigate whether antral colonization by Helicobacter pylori (Hp) modifies gastrin-cell population, the number of G-cells was evaluated in antral biopsy specimens from 22 apparently healthy subjects and from 48 duodenal ulcer patients using a morphometric method. The level of serum immunoreactive gastrin in a sample of fasting serum obtained at the time of biopsy was also measured. In healthy subjects the G-cell count (evaluated according to G/I index) and the serum gastrin levels were not significantly different than those found in duodenal ulcer patients. When the antral colonization by Hp was assessed, we found that, both controls and duodenal ulcer Hp-positive patients had a mean G-cell count and fasting serum gastrin levels not significantly higher than in patients without Hp.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Oxovanadium(IV) complex formation by simple sugars in aqueous solution.

The binding of oxovanadium(IV) to simple sugars in neutral or basic aqueous solution, as studied by EPR and electronic absorption spectroscopy, is reported. The complexation is favored in basic media and involves the coordination of the metal ion to couples of adjacent deprotonated hydroxyls of the sugar molecule. However, only the ligands provided with cis couples can adopt this chelating ligand behavior. The ability of the cis hydroxyl couples to yield chelated complexes has been related to the structural rearrangement (decrease of the O-C-C-O torsion angle in the five-membered chelated ring) needed to permit the oxovanadium(IV) coordination by the sugar molecule.

Carbohydrates↗
PubMed1990

[The role of Campylobacter pylori in gastroduodenal pathology].

Biopsy specimens from the gastric antral mucosa of 194 patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms were studied with the Warthin-Starry silver stain to demonstrate the presence of Campylobacter Pylori (CP). Of these patients, 44 had peptic ulcer visible on endoscopic investigation. Spiral bacteria were detected in 70 out of 75 specimens with histologically active gastritis (93%), in 34 of 54 specimens with inactive form of gastritis (63%) and in 26 of 65 specimens without morphological changes (40%). Of 44 patients found to have gastric or duodenal ulcers, 33 also had bacteria. No significant differences between patients with endoscopically visible peptic ulcer and those without ulcer were seen. Our results indicate a close relationship between the active form of chronic gastritis and Campylobacter; however they do not show a definite association with peptic ulcer.

Biopsy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Intestinal metaplasia of the gastric mucosa: a study of its incidence in various disease states.

The incidence of intestinal metaplasia (IM) was studied in 159 specimens from gastric mucosa. Rare in histologically normal specimens (4%), the IM showed the highest incidence in patients with gastric carcinoma (75%). Intermediate values were observed in chronic atrophic gastritis (25%) and peptic ulcer (21%). Histochemical data shows that type complete-IM was most common in benign conditions; type incomplete-IM and particularly subtype secreting sulphomucins revealed a higher frequence in the mucosa bordering carcinomas.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Tissue carcinoembryonic antigen in normal conditions and neoplastic pathology of the colorectum].

Using an immunohistochemical method, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was evaluated in bioptic specimens from 12 colorectal carcinomas, 32 neoplastic polyps and from 12 preparations of normal rectocolonic mucosa. CEA was demonstrated in 7/12 samples of normal mucosa, always localized on the apical pole of the columnar cells. In carcinomatous specimens CEA was found in 11/12 biopsies and showed a localization predominantly intracytoplasmatic or in the surrounding stroma. In 8/12 tumor specimens tested, the histologically normal mucosa bordering the carcinoma exhibited a slight staining for CEA on the apical surface of the glandular cells. Specimens from 27/32 polyps biopsied appeared to contain CEA on the apical pole of the glandular cells. These results confirm that CEA is a normal constituent of the human adult rectocolonic mucosa; the difference in CEA content between benign and malignant mucosa is very likely quantitative rather than qualitative. No indications on the prognosis of the polyps could be obtained from this study.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mucin histochemistry in Barrett's esophagus.

Specimens from twelve patients with Barrett's esophagus and four additional cases of esophageal carcinoma who had Barrett's epithelium were histologically and by mucin histochemistry examined. Specialized epithelium was observed in 10/12 non cancerous patients. In 9 of these either gastric-fundic or junctional epithelium were seen. All patients with carcinoma had evidence of specialized epithelium. Sulphated mucins were preponderant in biopsies from 7 of the 9 patients with dysplasia either alone or associated with carcinoma. In all 5 specimens with specialized epithelium but without dysplasia or carcinoma, sialomucins were predominant.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Helicobacter pylori in Barrett's esophagus and in normal or inflamed esophageal mucosa: a retrospective study.

To investigate on the presence and significance of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) in Barrett's mucosa, esophageal biopsy specimens from 34 patients with columnar-lined epithelium were retrospectively examined. The incidence of colonization was compared with that observed in a control group of 76 subjects with normal esophageal mucosa or moderate esophagitis. Three of the 34 Barrett's specimens were Hp-positive and only 1 of these showed evidence of inflamed mucosa (p = NS). We do not find in this study any evidence to support the existence of association between Hp and Barrett's esophagus or esophageal inflammation. The presence of Hp in antral mucosa of all positive cases suggest the possibility that esophageal colonisation might merely be a consequence of reflux from the gastric antrum.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Helicobacter pylori and intestinal metaplasia in antral mucosa. A study on their correlation.

To investigate the possible relation between Helicobacter pylori (HP) colonization and incidence of intestinal metaplasia (IM), antral biopsy specimens from a total of 263 subjects (167 had chronic gastritis, 12 gastric cancer, and 84 no histological changes) were examined. IM was observed in 27.7% of the HP positive specimens and in 18.3% of the HP negative biopsies (p = NS). Histochemical characterization of mucins showed that the percentage of HP colonization was not significantly different within various subtypes of IM. We do not find in this study any evidence to support the existence of a pathogenetic role of HP on the morphogenesis of IM in antral mucosa.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The relationship between dietary intake of vitamin A and risk of gastrointestinal neoplasia].

A study on dietary intake of retinol and beta-carotene was conducted in 51 patients affected by gastric (23 cases) and colorectal (28 cases) carcinoma, considering the period preceding the onset of their illness. In all patients were measured serum retinol levels. The data were compared with those in 44 control subjects. Mean values of retinol and beta-carotene intake in the two groups showed not significant differences. The mean serum levels of retinol were similar in controls and in cancer patients (68.1 and 66.8 micrograms/dl, respectively). Our data fail to confirm previous observations about relationship between alimentary intake of retinol and beta-carotene and risk of gastrointestinal cancer.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A retrospective study on the incidence of lymphocytic gastritis in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection.

To investigate the relationship between lymphocytic gastritis and H. pylori infection, antral biopsy specimens from 162 patients with histological evidence of H. pylori infection, and from 177 subjects without colonization were retrospectively examined. Among patients with antral colonization, lymphocytic gastritis was identified in 8 cases (4.9%). Lymphocytic gastritis was not detected in specimens without H. pylori infection. Quantitation of the epithelial lymphocytic infiltration was carried out in all specimens and showed that cases with lymphocytic gastritis had a mean of 35.3 lymphocytes per 100 epithelial cells, compared with a mean of 2.6 and 2.4 respectively in chronic gastritis and normal mucosa. Among the 331 patients without lymphocytic gastritis, specimens colonized by H. pylori had a mean of epithelial lymphocyte counts significantly higher than those observed in both chronic gastritis and normal mucosa. These findings show a positive correlation between antral colonization by H. pylori and occurrence of lymphocytic gastritis, and suggest that the bacteria may have an important role in the induction of such particular form of antral inflammation.

Adult↗