PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Augeri

Publications and source records attributed to C Augeri.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Clinical experience with recombinant human thyrotrophin (rhTSH) in the management of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer.

The purpose of this work was to gain clinical experience with and to identify the optimal conditions for the use of recombinant human TSH (rhTSH, commercially available as Thyrogen) in the management of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). The study involved 22 patients for a total of 27 administration cycles of rhTSH, for either diagnostic (in 19 instances) and/or therapeutic purposes (in 8 instances). There were 19 patients with papillary cancer (follicular variant in 4, columnar variant in 1) and 3 patients with follicular cancer (1 Hurtle cell variant). All patients had previously undergone total thyroidectomy and 1-5 cycles of 131I-therapy. Thyrogen was administered i.m. according to the suggested protocol: 0.9 mg i.m. on days 1 and 2, radioiodine on day 3. Peak serum TSH levels between 68-237 microIU/mL were observed after rhTSH administration; these were on average 65% higher, on a patient-by-patient basis, than peak serum TSH observed after conventional withdrawal of thyroxine treatment in 19 patients, while in 3 patients they were 28% lower, but still in the potent stimulation range (86-94 microIU/mL). There was general agreement between imaging results obtained under rhTSH stimulation and those obtained on prior occasions during thyroxine withdrawal, although radioiodine uptake was interpreted as less intense following Thyrogen administration. Of 18 patients undergoing rhTSH administration for diagnostic purposes, 11 patients had a negative radioiodine whole-body scan (WBS) and 7 had a positive WBS. Three of the WBS-negative patients were shown to be actually affected by tumor recurrence, respectively by PET with [18F]FDG (in 2 cases) and by post-131I therapy scan. Serum thyroglobulin (hTg) increased to abnormal levels following rhTSH stimulation in 3/7 of the WBS-positive patients as well as in 1/11 WBS-negative patients. In 3/7 WBS-positive as well as in 3/11 WBS-negative patients, serum hTg progressively rose under rhTSH stimulation, yet still remaining below 3 ng/mL. Post-131I therapy scans following Thyrogen administration showed good radioiodine uptake in 7/8 patients, the single unsuccessful case being most likely due to expansion of the iodine pool because of recent use of an iodinated contrast medium. The overall results show the feasibility and practical advantages of employing rhTSH stimulation in the general clinical setting rather than thyroxine withdrawal in the management of DTC patients. Caution should be raised on the interpretation of the serum hTg response to such potent but short-lived TSH stimulation.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗
PubMed1994

Evidence of healing of secondary hyperparathyroidism in chronically hemodialyzed uremic patients treated with long-term intravenous calcitriol.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a long-term course of high-dose i.v. pulses of calcitriol (CLT) on hyperparathyroid bone disease (HBD) and functional mass of parathyroid glands of chronically hemodialyzed uremic (CHU) patients. We prospectively studied nine CHU patients treated with CLT, 30 ng/kg/body wt, i.v., thrice weekly over a period of eight months. Plasma concentrations of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), bone GLA protein (bGLA) and bone isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase (biALP) were sampled throughout. Transiliac bone biopsies were made before and after the start of CLT therapy. Double scanning scintigraphy of the neck with 201Tl-99Tc was made before, during and eight months after the start of the treatment. All patients but one, who later responded to higher than planned CLT doses, had significant decreases of plasma iPTH (F = 76; P < 0.0001; ANOVA). The mean pretreatment value of PTH was 966 +/- 160 (mean +/- SE) pg/ml and it had decreased significantly by the first week (T = 2.4, P < 0.04), and had fallen an average of 80% by the 35th week. Ionized plasma calcium concentration was 1.19 +/- .01 mmol/liter which rose significantly (F = 13.5; P < 0.0001) by the 14th week to maximal peak levels, averaging 1.34 +/- .02 mmol/liter. Changes in biALP were parallel to those of iPTH, while bGLA tended to increase immediately after the start of the therapy and to significantly decrease thereafter (T = 3.2; P < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Changes in immune status due to anesthesia and surgical intervention. The role of thymopentin and interleukins].

OBJECTIVE: Purpose of the study was clinical evaluation of thymopentin and interleukins in the changes of immunity due to anesthesia and surgical operation. DESIGN: After randomization the patients were divided into four groups according to starter type (thiopental or propofol) and immunological pre-treatment (tymopentin or saline of control group) administered for three days before and two days after operation. SETTING AND PATIENTS: The study was effected on 40 patients undergoing venous vascular surgery in operating rooms of Medical School of University of Genoa. MEASUREMENT: At pre-established times (basal, before and after induction, recovery and 72 postoperative hours) were measured some immunological data (plasmatic concentrations of red blood cells, white blood cells, lymphocyte cells, antibodies, complement analysis, interleukins 1 and 2). RESULTS: The results show a depression of immunity with hypoleucocistosis and hyperlymphocytosis due to surgical trauma or to anesthesia drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-treatment with thymopentin no change perioperative immunity and the role of interleukins isn't clear; the immunological depression is the same in thiopental of propofol groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[The clinical evaluation of the hypocholesterolemic effects of an inhibitor of cholesterol synthesis: mevalonic acid].

Twenty eight patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia were treated with mevalonic acid (an inhibitor of cholesterol synthesis) for 45 days. Patients received a daily dose of 750 to 1500 mg mevalonic acid depending on plasma cholesterol levels. Results showed a significant reduction in cholesterol values whereas no significant difference was observed in HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Clinical evaluation of pre-surgical anxiety: changes in plasma levels of the anxiety peptide (diazepam binding inhibitor)].

The score scale of anxiety (STAI, Y, 1-2) and haematic levels of DBI (diazepam binding inhibitor) were used in 48 surgical patients for clinical evaluation of preoperative anxiety, before and after drugs for preoperative medication. After randomization, were clinically and statistically compared 6 groups according to premedicant drugs (diazepam 0.3 mg/kg; flunitrazepam 0.03 mg/kg; saline; prometazine 0.7 mg/kg); before and after preoperative medication were evaluated the anxiety relief with the score scale, haematic levels of DBI and haemodynamics (systolic and diastolic AP and HR). The results show that DBI can objectively measure the anxiety relief, that not are correlate haematic levels of DBI and score scale, that the best benzodiazepines are diazepam (0.3) and flunitrazepam (0.015) and that the prometazine might give anxiety relief for 5-HT antagonist action. Even if there are limits to study (scanty cases, are missing the range and the brain values of DBI and blood test of DBI is slow method) may be useful the use of score scale and haematic levels of DBI in clinical evaluation of preoperative anxiety relief.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Gastric chief cell mass in chronic gastritis. Count and relationships to parietal cell mass and functional indices.

The chief cell mass, expressed as the Zymogenous Index (number of cells per mm2 multiplied by the thickness of the glandular layer) was calculated in 42 subjects with chronic gastritis, and in 40 subjects with normal gastric mucosa, and was compared with the serum concentration of Pepsinogen I (PG I), with the parietal cell mass (expressed as Parietal Index: number of cells per mm2 multiplied by the thickness of the glandular layer), and with the acid output. The results showed that there are no significant variations in the chief cells in comparison with healthy controls in the case of superficial gastritis and follicular gastritis. Conversely, in the case of pre-atrophic and atrophic gastritis there is a significant reduction in the chief cell mass. The serum PG I increases significantly in the case of superficial gastritis as compared with healthy controls, while it is equivalent in the case of follicular gastritis, decreases non-significantly in pre-atrophic gastritis and is significantly reduced in the case of atrophic gastritis. The parietal cell mass shows a behavior equivalent to that of the chief cell mass, and the acid output decreases significantly in the case of pre-atrophic and atrophic gastritis, with no significant variations in the case of superficial and follicular gastritis. On comparing the behavior of the chief cell mass with that of the parietal cell mass, it was noticed that in the most severe stages of chronic gastritis there is a more pronounced reduction of the former than of the latter.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Tumor markers. I. Their significance in the preoperative assessment of lung neoplasms].

The present study has been carried out in order to evaluate the role of tumor markers in the presurgical assessment of patients with bronchial carcinoma. The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), the neuron specific enolase (NSE), the tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA), the carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) and the carbohydrate antigen 50 (CA 50) have been preoperatively measured in 133 subjects with potentially resectable lung cancers, and in 75 healthy smokers. Sixty-one patients had squamous cell carcinoma, 55 adenocarcinoma and 17 small cell carcinoma. Lobectomy (or bilobectomy) was performed in 74 cases, pneumonectomy in 36 cases, exploratory thoracotomy in 15 cases and a palliative resection in 8 cases. When individual markers were considered, TPA showed the highest sensitivity (85%) and CA 19-9 the lowest sensitivity (11%). Specificity was uniformly superior to 90%. When marker associations were considered, the combined measurement of TPA and NSE gave the best results: both the sensitivity and specificity rates approached 90%. The application of the TPA-NSE association allowed detection of 94% of small cell carcinomas, 89% of adenocarcinomas and 85% of squamous cell carcinomas. A positive correlation was found between the complete resectability of lung cancer and serum levels of CEA, CA 50 and CA 19-9. By using the discriminant analysis, a statistical model yielding identification of about 74% of patients with tumors which were judged potentially resectable according to the pre-operative non-invasive diagnostic procedures and were found to be unresectable at thoracotomy, has been get available.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1990

[Tumor markers. II. Their significance in the follow-up of patients after radical resection of lung neoplasms].

The clinical field in which tumor markers proved to be most useful is the monitoring of cancer patients. The present study was carried out in order to evaluate the role of tumor markers in the prognostic assessment, and pre-clinical identification of disease recurrence in patients with completely resectable non-small cell bronchial carcinoma. Tumor markers have been measured: a) pre-operatively, in 109 patients with resectable lung cancer and b) post-operatively, in 61 patients who underwent complete resections and were followed for at least one year after surgery. The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), the neuron specific enolase (NSE), the tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA), the carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) and the carbohydrate antigen 50 (CA 50) have been determined in each patient. Long-term survival was significantly correlated with serum levels of the CEA, CA 50 and CA 19-9, while not with those of TPA and NSE. For pre-clinical detection of cancer recurrence, TPA and NSE were the most suitable indicators.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1990

[Variations of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) concentration in the lung of asthmatic patients].

The vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) concentrations in the pulmonary and systemic arterial blood were evaluated in 11 asthmatic patients in symptom-free period and during methacholin induced broncospasm. The basal venous and arterial mean values do not significantly differ. A significant difference was observed after bronchial challenge. This could be caused by an increased VIP pulmonary production as a defensive mechanism. No correlation was found between bronchial reactivity (as PD20-FEV1 Methacholin) and VIP concentrations.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Chief cell mass in normal gastric mucosa: relationship with serum pepsinogen I.

In the present study, a counting method for the evaluation of chief cell mass was proposed, based on the assessment of a zymogenous index (ZI) obtained by multiplying the number of cells/mm2 by the thickness of the glandular layer. Results obtained in 40 subjects with normal gastric mucosa did not show significant ZI differences between sexes. A statistically significant decrease in ZI was observed in patients above age 50, thus being directly related to the significant decrease in the thickness of the glandular parenchyma and in the number of chief cells/mm2 observed in this age group. The data obtained were in agreement with the pattern of change observed for serum pepsinogen I (PG I) whose values were related to the chief cell mass in connection with sex and age of the subjects.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Significance of the evaluation of C-peptide in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus].

In type I diabetes mellitus (DM) the presence of C peptide (Cp), whose determination is unaffected by exogenous insulin, is considered expression of a residual beta-cell activity, which allows a better metabolic control. In 35 children affected by type I DM the fasting Cp was measured: in 18 cases (1st group) a value greater than or equal to 1 ng/ml was observed, while in the remaining 17 (2nd group) the Cp value was less than 1 ng/ml. A statistical comparison between the two groups demonstrated that in the first one a better metabolic control was achieved with a daily lower insulin dosage. Moreover in the 1st group the onset of the disease was more recent, while there was no difference between the two groups with regard to the age at diagnosis. The Cp evaluation and follow-up is useful in the assessment of the individual case; furthermore, on the basis of these studies, an immunosuppressive treatment may be considered during the early phase of the disease, when a residual beta-cell activity is demonstrated.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pulmonary metabolism of beta-endorphin in asthmatic patients in asymptomatic periods and after bronchospasm induced by methacholine].

Blood concentration of endogenous beta-endorphines can change during the clinical evolution of chronic bronchopneumopathies. The authors assessed the beta-endorphine concentrations in the pulmonary arterial and systemic arterial blood in 8 asthmatic patients during a symptom-free period and after methacholine-induced bronchospasm. The beta-endorphine analysis was performed in duplicate dor each sample, by means of a RIA assay. There is not difference in the systemic arterial blood concentration of beta-endorphines between asthmatic patients and normal subjects. Furthermore, there is no change in the beta-endorphine blood concentration during the passage through the pulmonary tissue after methacoline-induced bronchospasm.

Adult↗