PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Infantino

Publications and source records attributed to A Infantino.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The mycotic flora in proctological patients with and without pruritus ani.

The perianal mycotic flora was studied in proctological patients with and without pruritus ani, as well as in control subjects. Four groups of patients underwent perianal mycoculture. In Group 1, 53 patients with anal pruritus were treated for benign anorectal disease. In Group 2, 24 patients with no underlying disease presented with anal pruritus. Both of these groups underwent concomitant chemical and parasitical examination of the faeces and an oral glucose tolerance test. In Group 3, 50 patients without pruritus ani at present or in the past were treated for benign anorectal diseases. In Group 4, 47 surgical patients without pruritus ani were treated for benign (9) and malignant (38) non-proctological diseases. In Group 1 the mycoculture was positive in 24/53 patients (Candida albicans 14, dermatophytes 10). In Group 2 fungal infections were seen in 16/24 patients (C. albicans 7, dermatophytes 9). No parasites or diabetes were found in either group. In Group 3 C. albicans was isolated in 14/50 patients. In Group 4 C. albicans was found in 11/47 cases (2 in benign, 9 in malignant diseases). Infection by C. albicans was observed in all groups studied, independent of the presence of disease or anal pruritus. The presence of dermatophytes was always associated with pruritus ani.

Adolescent↗

The relaxing effect of caerulein on isolated human internal anal sphincter.

In the attempt to find a pharmacological treatment for the spasm of the internal anal sphincter, usually associated with anal fissures, the activity of caerulein on human internal and sphincter was investigated in vitro and in vivo. In the isolated distal part of the internal and sphincter, caerulein (0.61 microM) depressed resting muscle tone and caused marked relaxation of norepinephrine-contracted preparations. The effect of caerulein was reduced by atropine and increased by physostigmine, suggesting that it was largely due to the release of acetylcholine. In vivo, intravenous infusion of caerulein, both to healthy volunteers and to subjects affected by anal fissures and anal sphincter hypertone, did not modify the values of internal anal sphincter pressure. The lack of spasmolytic effect of caerulein in vivo may have been due to the relatively unimportant influence of cholinergic neurons on the control of internal anal sphincter tone. Alternatively, the presence of fibrosis caused by anal fissures could hinder sphincter relaxation.

Acetylcholine↗

[Infectious chemoprophylaxis in colorectal surgery. A multicenter study of imipenem-cilastatin vs. cefuroxime and metronidazole or cefotetan].

The authors report the results of a multicentric clinical study on prevention of surgical infections in colorectal surgery by chemo-antibiotic prophylaxis. This trial was carried on to evaluate the effect of imipenem-cilastatin (1 g i.v. just before operation and 1 g i.v. 3 hours from surgical procedure) vs. cefuroxime + metronidazole (1.5 g + 0.25 g i.v.) or cefotetan (1 g i.v.) given with the same modalities. In 48 patients undergoing colorectal resection (47 with malignant neoplastic disease) 24 were treated with imipenem, 18 with cefuroxime and 6 with cefotetan. In group A (imipenem-cilastatin) the infection rate was 4.2% (1/24 cases), in group B (cefuroxime + metronidazole or cefotetan) postoperative infections were registered in 4 out of 24 cases (16.6%). This study documented the good results of systemic chemoprophylaxis and the great efficacy of imipenem-cilastatin in colorectal surgery.

Cefotetan↗

Serum carcinoembryonic antigen in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic cancer: influence of tumour spread, liver impairment, and age.

In order to verify the role of CEA in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and to evaluate some influencing factors like age, tumor spread and liver dysfunction, this antigen was measured in the sera of 60 control subjects, 45 patients with pancreatic cancer, 37 with chronic pancreatitis, 67 with benign, and 28 with malignant extra-pancreatic diseases. CEA was found to be elevated in 23/45 pancreatic cancers, in 8/37 chronic pancreatitis, in 17/67 benign and in 9/28 malignant extra-pancreatic diseases. Significant correlations were documented between CEA and age in all the subjects; between CEA and immunoglobulins G in liver cirrhosis and between CEA and alkaline phosphatase in gastrointestinal extra-pancreatic malignancies. In pancreatic cancer higher CEA levels were detected in patients with metastases. We can conclude that CEA is of limited value in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic cancer; it does not seem to be able to detect early pancreatic tumors. Age and liver dysfunction may contribute towards elevating this marker in serum.

Adult↗