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Biomedical subjects

C Colombo

Publications and source records attributed to C Colombo.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

[Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome caused by prolonged infusion therapy during the postoperative period].

Wernicke-Korsakoff's syndrome (W.K.S.) is a complication of alcoholism and malnutrition and usually presents acutely and is characterized by disturbances of consciousness, paralysis of the external ocular muscles, ataxia and disorder of retentive memory. The disease results from deficiency of vitamin B1, or thiamine, an essential coenzyme in intermediate carbohydrate metabolism. We report a seriously ill, nonalcoholic surgical patient, who developed W.K.S. in the postoperative period as a result of thiamine deficiency, during prolonged intravenous therapy. It is recommended that malnourished patients receive 100 mg parenteral thiamine especially when glucose infusions are administered.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Comprehensive study of the biliary bile acid composition of patients with cystic fibrosis and associated liver disease before and after UDCA administration.

The biliary bile acid composition was determined for patients with cystic fibrosis and associated liver disease before and after the administration of ursodeoxycholic acid (10 to 15 mg/kg body wt/day). Bile acids were analyzed by fast atom bombardment ionization-mass spectrometry, high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after individual bile acids were separated according to their mode of conjugation using the lipophilic anion exchanger, diethylaminohydroxypropyl Sephadex LH-20. More than 50 individual bile acids were identified in the bile of cystic fibrosis patients and these acids were predominantly secreted as glycine and taurine conjugates. Small proportions (less than 8% of the total) of unconjugated and sulfate conjugates were present. Of interest was the identification of two side-chain-elongated (C25) bile acids, homocholic and homochenodeoxycholic acids. After ursodeoxycholic acid was administered, duodenal bile became enriched with the conjugated species of ursodeoxycholic acid (accounting for 11.9% to 32.5% of the total biliary bile acids), but to a lesser extent than reported previously for patients with other liver diseases or gallstones who received comparable doses of ursodeoxycholic acid, and this presumably occurs because of bile acid malabsorption that is a feature of cystic fibrosis. The mean glycine/taurine ratio increased from 2.4 before ursodeoxycholic acid administration to 5 after ursodeoxycholic acid administration even though these patients also received taurine. Despite the relatively low enrichment of the bile by ursodeoxycholic acid, biochemical indices of liver function all improved in these patients after ursodeoxycholic acid administration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Effects of ursodeoxycholic acid therapy for liver disease associated with cystic fibrosis.

The hydrophilic bile acid ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has recently been shown to improve indexes of liver function in adult patients with various liver diseases. The clinical and biochemical responses to UDCA administration (10 to 15 mg/kg body weight per day) were therefore investigated in nine patients with cystic fibrosis and evidence of liver disease. All patients were receiving pancreatic enzymes and taurine supplementation. Liver function tests were done and serum bile acid concentrations and biliary bile acid composition were determined before and during UDCA therapy; fat balance studies and fecal bile acid excretion were carried out before and 6 months after UDCA treatment. After 2 months of bile acid therapy, biliary bile acid composition was enriched in UDCA from approximately 5% before treatment to 25%, at the expense of cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids, thus making the pool more hydrophilic. This enrichment is lower than that reported for adults with chronic liver diseases. Serum concentrations of UDCA increased significantly but variably. UDCA became the predominant fecal bile acid excreted (12% to 67%), indicating a variable absorption of the administered bile acid. Liver function improved in all patients after 2 to 6 months of therapy, although the degree of improvement (aspartate aminotransferase, -34%; alanine aminotransferase, -41%; gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, -41% alkaline phosphatase, -19%) was lower than that observed in adults with chronic liver diseases. Mean coefficient of fat absorption and growth rate were, on average, unaffected by UDCA therapy, although an improvement was noted for three patients with greater severity of steatorrhea. The study indicates that UDCA can be used safely in this patient population but that higher doses of UDCA may be of greater benefit in the treatment of the liver disease associated with cystic fibrosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Effects of taurine and ursodeoxycholic acid on liver function tests in patients with cystic fibrosis.

In 9 CF patients with clinical and biochemical evidence of liver disease, taurine (30 mg/kg/day) was administered one month before and during the successive treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid (10-15 mg/kg/day). Standard liver function tests were determined before and after each period of treatment. Taurine administration produced only inconsistent changes of liver function tests from baseline, whereas after the addition of ursodeoxycholic acid a substantial improvement in all abnormal indices was observed. The effects of longer period of treatment are currently investigated, with purpose of establishing their clinical impact and their relationship with changes in bile acid metabolism.

Bile Acids and Salts↗
PubMed1989

Alpha reactivity in schizophrenia and in schizophrenic spectrum disorders: demographic, clinical and hemispheric assessment.

Alpha EEG reactivity was assessed in a carefully diagnosed sample of 84 schizophrenic and schizophrenic spectrum disorder patients, both under resting conditions (eyes closed and eyes open) and during two spatial-geometric cognitive tasks. The influence of the subject's demographic (sex and age), clinical (diagnostic subtypes, disease course, CT scan characteristics) and neurophysiological (hemispheric recording and different cognitive tasks) characteristics on alpha peak reactivity was analyzed by means of multivariate analysis of variance. The results indicated a significant effect of type of illness on alpha EEG reactivity, patients with a diagnosis of undifferentiated and disorganized schizophrenia having the lowest alpha reactivity levels. None of the other variables considered had any contributing effect. The results are discussed in terms of orienting responses and hemispheric CNS organization in functional psychoses.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Serum levels of immunoreactive trypsin during development: comparison with levels of lipase and amylase.

In order to obtain additional information on serum pancreatic enzyme levels during development, we have measured immunoreactive trypsin (IRT), immunoreactive lipase (IRL), and total amylase in paired fetal and maternal sera. Samples were obtained during early gestation (14-21 week of gestation) and at the time of normal delivery. IRT levels were lower in maternal sera as compared to paired fetal and neonatal (p less than 0.005); conversely, IRL and amylase, although present in measurable concentrations, were significantly lower in fetal and neonatal sera than in the maternal (p less than 0.001). We also serially monitored serum pancreatic enzyme levels in a group of premature infants during the first 10 days of life. Concentrations of IRT showed a significant increase over time (p less than 0.05) and those of IRL remained stable while amylase levels decreased sharply, suggesting possible maternal origin of this enzyme. Serum concentrations of the three pancreatic enzymes in newborns at term (second day of life) were higher than in infants aged 0.5-6 months; however, only IRT levels were above the normal range for adults. Beyond the neonatal period, IRT levels were stable and comparable to adults, whereas amylase and IRL levels were very low in infants younger than 6 months and increased significantly with age (p less than 0.001). These data seem to indicate that "physiologic hypertrypsinemia" occurs early during development and may be accentuated by postnatal events. They provide an indirect indication of both early fetal production of trypsinogen and possible placental transfer of pancreatic enzymes from the maternal circulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amylases↗
PubMed1989

[Cancer of the gallbladder].

The Authors report their experience about 20 patients operated on since 1975 for primary carcinoma of the gallbladder. They remark their disappointment because of the poor percentage of preoperative and early diagnosis, that only allows a radical surgical therapy. More attention, therefore, should be payed to this not so rare pathology in the hope the survival of the patients radically operated will increase.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

[Primary retroperitoneal tumors].

The Authors report 7 cases of primary retroperitoneal tumors observed in a five-year period. On the basis of the literature data, they examine the diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic features, emphasizing the need for a surgical treatment supported, only when useful, by radio- and chemotherapy. The importance of an early diagnosis, thanks to modern technologic progress, is also stressed, echography in particular.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Characterization of CGS 8515 as a selective 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) inhibitor.

1. CGS 8515 selectively inhibited 5-LO (IC50 = 0.1 microM) with negligible effect on CO, 12-LO, 15-LO and TxS at concentrations up to 100 microM. 2. CGS 8515 selectively inhibited A23187-induced formation of 5-LO products in rat and human whole blood with a 20-70 fold separation of effects over the formation of CO products. 3. Ex vivo and in vivo studies with rats showed that CGS 8515, at an oral dose of 2-50 mg/kg, significantly inhibited A23187-induced formation of LTs in whole blood and in the lung. The effect persisted for at least 6 h in the ex vivo blood model. 4. CGS 8515, at oral doses as low as 5 mg/kg, significantly suppressed exudate volume and leukocyte migration in the carrageenan-induced pleurisy and sponge models in the rat.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Oncocytoma of the parotid gland (observations on a case)].

The authors report on an isolated case of parotid gland oncocytoma observed in an elderly patient who developed an oxyphilic cell adenoma of the parotid gland. As this conditions is very rare, they describe the clinical features of the case and review the available literature on the disease.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1988

Hepatic bile acid metabolism during early development revealed from the analysis of human fetal gallbladder bile.

A detailed study of the qualitative and quantitative composition of bile acids in human fetal gallbladder bile is described. Bile was collected during early gestation (weeks 16-19) and analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, fast atom bombardment ionization mass spectrometry, and high performance liquid chromatography. Bile acids were separated into different conjugate groups by chromatography on the lipophilic anion exchange gel, diethylaminohydroxypropyl Sephadex LH-20. Quantitatively more than 80% of the bile acids were secreted into bile conjugated to taurine. Unconjugated bile acids and glycine conjugates accounted for 5-10% of the total biliary bile acids. Bile acid sulfates were present only in trace amounts indicating that quantitatively sulfation is not an important pathway in bile acid metabolism during development. Total biliary bile acid concentrations were low (0.1-0.4 mM) when compared to reported values for adult bile (greater than 10 mM). Chenodeoxycholic acid was the major biliary bile acid and exceeded cholic acid concentrations by 1.43-fold indicating either a relative immaturity in 12 alpha-hydroxylase activity during early life or a dominance of alternative pathways for chenodeoxycholic acid synthesis. A relatively large proportion of the biliary bile acids comprised metabolites not found in adult bile. The presence of relatively high proportions of hyocholic acid (often greater than cholic acid) and several 1 beta-hydroxycholanoic acid isomers indicates that C-1 and C-6 hydroxylation are important pathways in bile acid synthesis during development. We describe, for the first time, evidence for the existence of a C-4 hydroxylation pathway in the metabolism of bile acids, which may be unique to early human development. Mass spectrometry was used to confirm the identification of 3 alpha,4 beta,7 alpha-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholanoic and 3 alpha,4 beta-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholanoic acids. Quantitatively, these C-4 hydroxylated bile acids accounted for 5-15% of the total biliary bile acids of the fetus, suggesting that C-4 hydroxylation is quantitatively an important pathway in the bile acid metabolism during early life.

Bile↗
PubMed1988

Ileal carcinoid metastatic to the breast. Report of a case.

We report a case of ileal carcinoid which clinically presented as a primary breast carcinoma. Review of the literature demonstrated only 9 cases of carcinoids metastatic to the breast. In spite of the rarity of this event, the differential diagnosis between primary and metastatic carcinoid of the breast should be considered in view of the different clinical management of these two settings.

Breast↗
PubMed1988

Characterization of CGS 8515 as a selective 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor using in vitro and in vivo models.

CGS 8515 inhibited 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) and leukotriene B4 synthesis in guinea pig leukocytes (IC50 = 0.1 microM). The compound did not appreciably affect cyclooxygenase (sheep seminal vesicles), 12-lipoxygenase (human platelets), 15-lipoxygenase (human leukocytes) and thromboxane synthetase (human platelets) at concentrations up to 100 microM. CGS 8515 inhibited A23187-induced formation of leukotriene products in whole blood (IC50 values of 0.8 and 4 microM, respectively, for human and rat) and in isolated rat lung (IC50 less than 1 microM) in vitro. The selectivity of the compound as a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor was confirmed in rat whole blood by the 20-70-fold separation of inhibitory effects on the formation of leukotriene from prostaglandin products. Ex vivo and in vivo studies with rats showed that CGS 8515, at an oral dose of 2-50 mg/kg, significantly inhibited A23187-induced production of leukotrienes in whole blood and in the lung. The effect persisted for at least 6 h in the ex vivo whole blood model. CGS 8515, at oral doses as low as 5 mg/kg, significantly suppressed exudate volume and leukocyte migration in the carrageenan-induced pleurisy and sponge models in the rat. Inhibitory effects of the compound on inflammatory responses and leukotriene production in leukocytes and target organs are important parameters suggestive of its therapeutic potential in asthma, psoriasis and inflammatory conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

The carbochromene derivative AD6 reduces the TxB2/6-keto-PGF1 alpha ratio in cerebral cortex during hypoxia and recovery and leukotriene synthesis in brain tissue, in the rat.

Pretreatments of rats with the Carbochromene derivative AD6 (4 mg/kg i.p., 2 h before sacrifice) resulted in elevation of brain levels of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in cerebral cortex under physiological conditions, had no effect on levels of TxB2 and 6-Keto-PGF1 alpha at 30 min of hypoxia (respiration of 5% O2 in N2) and prevented the accumulation of TxB2 occurring in brain at 5 min of recovery after hypoxia. In addition, the accumulation of LTC4 and B4 in brain slices incubated in the presence of the Ca++ ionophore A23187 and arachidonic acid, was reduced in samples obtained from pretreated rats. The drug, thus, had favourable effects on the 6-keto-PGF1 alpha/TxB2 ratio in normal conditions, as well as in conditions of altered oxygen supply. In addition it reduced the formation of compounds, the leukotrienes, which may exert pro-inflammatory activities on the cerebral microcirculation.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMed1988

Effect of taurine supplementation on fat and bile acid absorption in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Eleven children with cystic fibrosis (CF) and pancreatic insufficiency were given supplementation with taurine (30-40 mg/kg/day) for 2 months, while taking their usual dosage of enzymatic therapy. One patient dropped out of the study because she developed severe constipation. In the other 10 patients, urinary taurine excretion (88 +/- 30.1 mg/m2s.a./24 h) was similar to that of controls (86.2 +/- 6 mg/m2s.a./24 h) before taurine and increased markedly after supplementation (618.2 +/- 79.97 mg/m2s.a./24 h), indicating efficient intestinal absorption. Their coefficient of fat absorption was 81.2 +/- 2.3% and increased significantly after taurine (91.3 +/- 1.13%; p less than 0.01); the area under the curve of plasma triglyceride postprandial levels (1 +/- 0.1 mg X min/ml) also increased significantly after taurine (1.4 +/- 0.3 mg X min/ml; p less than 0.05), showing values very similar to those of controls. Conversely, no change was observed in the serum postprandial levels of glycocholic acid: the maximum postprandial peak before (1.2 +/- 0.3 mumol/l) and after taurine (1 +/- 0.1 mumol/l) remained significantly lower than in controls (2.4 +/- 0.3 mumol/l); p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.001, respectively. Mean total fecal bile acid (BA) excretion was 10.24 +/- 2.15 mg/kg/day before taurine and 12.8 +/- 4.27 mg/kg/day after taurine (normal pediatric values, 2.91 +/- 1.1 mg/kg/day); however, in the individual patients we found a variable trend, four of them showing a net increase in fecal BA excretion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bile Acids and Salts↗