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Biomedical subjects

B Bagni

Publications and source records attributed to B Bagni.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

[Serum level of the tumor marker CA 125 in ovarian pathology].

The tumor marker CA-125 is an embryonal glycoprotein detectable in tissues derived from celomatic epithelium. Serum CA-125 was determined by RIA in 66 patients with various ovarian pathologies (16 malignant at stage III-IV and 50 benign). Six patients with ovarian carcinoma were monitored during the first week after surgery and chemotherapy for a total of 150 days of treatment. We observed that CA-125 serum level is consistently above the normal range (greater than 35 U/ml) in all malignant diseases. In benign pathology, levels above the normal were found to be represented almost exclusively by ovarian endometriosis. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that chemotherapy alone is capable of lowering CA-125 serum levels. This tumor marker may be of great advantage in diagnosis and follow-up of ovarian malignancy.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

[Radioisotope evaluation of splenic hemocatheretic activity in a group of thalassemic patients after embolization].

Seven patients with thalassemia major underwent splenic embolization in order to assess splenic mass and function before and after treatment. Red blood cells, marked "in vitro" and chemically denatured with BMHP were also used to assess the blood parameters related to splenic function i.e. pretransfusional haemoglobin (Nb) and mean blood consumption (BC). The results show a statistically significant difference (p less than 0.01) for Hb and erythrocyte clearance before and after embolization. Before embolization no statistically significant correlations were found between the parameters examined, whereas after embolization there was a linear correlation at the limit of significance between BC and clearance half-time. The radionuclide method is proposed as safe and reproducible. Unlike blood chemical tests it also provides immediate information on the effects of embolization and a reliable parameter for follow-up.

Adolescent↗

Serum CA 125 in ovarian pathology and its variation in ovarian carcinoma after integrated therapy.

Serum CA 125 was detected by RIA in a total of 66 patients with various ovarian pathologies (16 malignant and 50 benign). Six patients with ovarian carcinoma were monitored during the 1st week after surgery (2 patients underwent only explorative laparatomy) and during chemotherapy for a total of 150 days of treatment. We observed that CA 125 serum level is consistently above the normal range (greater than 35 U/ml) in all malignant diseases. In benign pathology, levels above the normal were found to be represented almost exclusively by ovarian endometriosis. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that the chemotherapeutic regime alone is capable of lowering CA 125 serum levels.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

Hormonal sensitivity of adenylate cyclase from human endometrium: modulation by estradiol.

In human endometria, a membrane-bound adenylate cyclase is present, which is recovered in high yield in a low-speed particulate fraction. Neither the specific activity of the enzyme nor the response to modifiers that act through the regulatory subunit of the complex, are modified during the proliferative or secretory phase of the cycle. Surprisingly, we found that in vitro treatment of secretory endometrial membranes with 17 beta-estradiol stimulates 3- to 4-fold the activity of adenylate cyclase. However this response does not occur on proliferative membranes. The activation by estradiol is independent of the presence of guanylylimidodiphosphate and is additive to that of the nucleotide. Possibly, as the consequence of the phenomenon, the concentration of cyclic AMP is significantly higher in curretage samples obtained from patients during the secretory rather than in the proliferative phase of the cycle. To our knowledge this is the first evidence of a target-cell membrane-directed effect of sex steroids in humans.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Alpha and beta cell evaluation in patients with thalassaemia intermedia and iron overload.

Insulin and glucagon secretion were studied during an oral glucose tolerance test and arginine infusion in 11 patients with thalassaemia intermedia, who showed laboratory evidence of iron overload. Mean blood glucose concentrations in patients with thalassaemia intermedia were significantly higher than normal and 3 of 11 patients had impaired glucose tolerance. The principal abnormality appears to be a deficiency in insulin and glucagon from the pancreas in response to oral glucose tolerance and arginine stimulation tests. Several factors, such as iron overload, chronic hypoxia, zinc deficiency and increased catecholamine production secondary to anaemia, might play a part in the pathogenesis of these abnormalities. Each of these factors affect individual cases to a varied degree. Our data emphasize the mildness of carbohydrate defect as compared to the degree of insulinopenia and indicate the necessity for prescribing measures which prevent excessive iron deposition and improve iron excretion in thalassaemic patients with iron overload.

Adult↗

Multiple molecular forms of prolactin during pregnancy in women.

The distribution of isomorphic forms of prolactin in the serum of pregnant women was studied by gel filtration chromatography. Using this technique we were able to resolve three peaks, detected by radioimmunoassay: they were termed 'big-big', 'big' and 'little' prolactin in order of decreasing size, with approximate molecular weights greater than 100 000, 50 000 and 21 000 respectively. They displayed a comparable immunoreactivity to the antiserum employed in the radioimmunoassay, as determined in competition experiments. The relative amount of each hormone form in serum changed during the third trimester of pregnancy. At week 33 of pregnancy, 'little' prolactin accounted for 63.2 +/- 7.7% of the total circulating hormone present in the serum of five normal pregnant women. During the progression of pregnancy, there was a gradual increase in the low molecular weight prolactin, so that, at the time of delivery, the larger forms of the hormone were present only in small amounts.

Adult↗

Influence of acute estrogenic withdrawal on blood calcitonin.

As a model to investigate the pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis and the involvement of calcitonin in the bone alterations, we chose surgical menopause, studying the influence of castration on blood calcitonin. After surgery, the hormone and calcemia were raised significantly over preoperative values in castrated women, but not so in a control group of patients undergoing hysterectomy without oophorectomy. The elevated concentration of calcitonin was maintained during at least 4 months. It is speculated that this mechanism of control of calcitonin secretion by gonadal hormones might be activated in the pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Adult↗

Short-term effect of oophorectomy on lipoprotein metabolism.

The influence of steroid hormones on lipoprotein metabolism has been investigated in menstruating women undergoing oophorectomy; indeed, by this procedure, it is possible to alter selectively the secretion of the hormones and thus to determine the influence of their withdrawal on blood lipids. Within 3 months of surgery we observed significant rapid changes in cholesterol levels of total and HDL-bound components (early decrease and subsequent increase) without alteration of the triglyceride component of the lipoproteins. Similar biphasic changes were observed for the apolipoproteins A and B, determined by immunological methods. These results are suggestive of an action of sex hormones on the lipoprotein metabolism, both on the lipid and the protein moieties. They can be explained by a primary action of the hormones on the apolipoprotein metabolism and a secondary apoprotein-mediated effect on the lipid component of the lipoproteins.

Adult↗

Sex steroid hormones influence the cAMP content in human endometrium during the menstrual cycle.

The measurement of the tissue concentrations of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in human endometrium shows that the levels of the nucleotide vary during the menstrual cycle, being 11.4 +/- (SE) 2.5 and 37.7 +/- (SE) 10.1 pmol/mg protein in the proliferative and secretory phase, respectively. The individual determinations of cAMP are significantly correlated to the estradiol/progesterone blood concentration ratio: by this means we obtained a superimposable distribution with the results of histologic examination suggesting that the hormones have a direct action in determining the cAMP levels in this tissue. The relevance of these observations for the physiology of the endometrium is discussed.

Cyclic AMP↗

Blood prolactin levels: influence of age, menstrual cycle and oral contraceptives.

The relationships between the serum levels of estradiol, progesterone and prolactin have been analysed in normal women in relation to age, to menstrual cycle, and in oral contraceptives users. We have been able to detect significant differences between the prolactinemia values during the cycle in different age groups as well as following oral contraceptives. A word of caution is presented for the evaluation of the prolactin blood level which should always be related to the physiological phase of the cycle and to the age of the subjects.

Adolescent↗

Folic acid deficiency in beta-thalassaemia heterozygotes.

Plasma and red cell folate mean contents have been found to be significantly lower in 41 symptom-free beta-thalassaemia heterozygotes than in 21 controls. Such decreases must be considered as effects of an increased folate utilization caused by the enhanced total, both effective and ineffective, erythropoiesis. Since no close correlation has been found between packed cell volume and plasma or red blood cell folate levels, it seems that in 'healthy' beta-thalassaemia subjects, the degree of anaemia is not influenced by folate body reserves. However, the frequent finding of reduced red cell folate contents suggests that further folate imbalance might lead to clinically significant degrees of folate deficiency.

Adolescent↗

Beta-cell function assessed by plasma C-peptide evaluation in diabetic thalassaemic patients.

In order to investigate the pancreatic function in patients with thalassaemia major, plasma glucose and immunoreactive C-peptide levels were determined in 9 diabetic thalassaemic patients and in 7 controls after arginine infusion. Mean basal and peak values and C-peptide areas in thalassaemic patients did not differ significantly from those of the controls. However, in the thalassaemic group there was a greater variation in values, since pancreatic beta-cell function was found either normal, reduced or increased. These findings could suggest that different factors may lead to diabetes which complicates thalassaemia, i.e. insulin-resistance, probably due to liver damage subsequent to iron deposition and infectious hepatitis, and insulinopenia, probably due to beta-cell lesion following iron storage in the pancreas.

Adolescent↗

[Determination of cerebral blood flow using non-diffusible tracers].

A program for the evaluation of cerebral blood flow based on the analysis of the time activity curves is presented. The method is based on the Meier and Zierler formula, applying the partition coefficents suggested by Lassen et al. for the corrections deriving from the use of non-diffusible indicators (99Tcm-DTPA). Particular attention is given to the smoothing of the time-activity curve (using Legendre's polynomials) and to the correction function for reflux. The computation procedures and their validity is discussed.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

[Study of intestinal transit using a radioisotope method].

Intestinal transit patterns were studied in 20 normal volunteers. It was found that small changes in transit time occurred in the passage from the caecum to the sigmoid and rectum, and that most subjects evacuated the capsule 38 hr after its ingestion.

Capsules↗

[Clinical applications of the radioimmunoassay of carcinoembryonic antigen].

The clinical applications of the radioimmunoassay evaluation of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) are examined here, with special reference to the follow-up of patients undertaking radiotherapy for uterus cancers, portio and bladder cancers, whether after surgery of not. In addition the Authors point out the levels of negativity for every test method, so that the possible crossed reaction with CEA-like substances can be taken into account.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗