[The thyrotropin response to hypothalamic TRH in some extra-thyroid pathological conditions: simple obesity, Paget's disease, endocrine exophthalmos without thyrotoxicosis].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to C Dotti.
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This study was undertaken to establish the plasma pharmacokinetics of beta-methyl-digoxin (betamd) in 8 normal subjects (group 1) and 17 uraemic patients (group 2, not undergoing dialysis; group 3, undergoing dialysis). Blood samples were collected serially up to 5 hrs after an initial stimulus of 0.2 ng betamd i.v. betamd was determined both in serum and in dialysate by digoxin radioimmunoassay after having verified the following parameters: the immunological similarity between digoxin and betamd; the possibility of evaluating betamd in dialysate; the quantitative recovery of betamd both in serum and in dialysate. At 15 min after stimulus, the following betamd peaks occurred: 5.82, 3.70 and 6.00 ng/ml for groups 1,2 and 3, respectively, with a significant difference (p less than 0.02) between groups 1 and 2 and between groups 2 and 3 (p less than 0.02) up to 1 h after stimulus. For each group the rapid, mean and slow betamd half-times (T1/2) were calculated. The three T1/2 values differing from each other but being related to the different initial betamd concentrations, the angular coefficients of the disappearance regression lines (taken as parameters related to the betamd disappearance rates, dr) were plotted against the betamd concentrations expressed as % of their highest value corresponding to the respective rapid T1/2. From this approach, it can be deduced that the dr of group 1 is much higher than the dr of groups 2 and 3 which are similar. This finding, together with the consideration that we never found betamd in dialysate, permits the conclusion that the distribution rate of betamd to the tissues is significatively higher in normal than in uraemic patients and that it does not change during dialysis treatment.
The experimental parameters of a Double Antibody Solid Phase (DASP) radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the determination of serum luteinizing (LH) and follicle-stimulating (FSH) hormones, are described. The lowest detection limits can be fixed at about 20 pg LH and about 10 pg FSH. Evidence of parrallelism among the dose-response curves and the dilution curves of different sera is provided for FSH-RIA and for about 92% of the tested sera for LH-RIA. The antisera dilution curves are reported (final titres: (/160 - 10(3) for anti-LH and 1/40 - 10(3) for anti-FSH). The traditional cross-reaction study in buffer indicates that 5.38 and 46.8) muU TSH/ml mimic 1 ng LH/ml and 1 ng FSH/ml respectively. The regression-line equations of antigen recovery (f = found, e = expected) are: lH f = 0.94 LH e + 0.91 and FSH f = 1.05 FSH e + 0.17; the same equations when TSH is added become: LH f = 1.30 LH e + 1.46 and FSH f = 1.40 FSH e -- 0.37. It is concluded that LH-RIA is interfered by TSH over 8-10 muM TSH/ml and in function of TSH concentration; FSH-RIA is not interfered by TSH up to 4-5 ng FSH/ml; for higher FSH levels, TSH interferes according to a linear law (angular coefficient 1.40) and not in function of its concentration. LH and FSH levels throughout normal menstrual cycle in follicular phase, centre peak and luteal phase are: 3.14 +/- 1.16, 16.71 +/- 12.99, 2.31 +/- 1.04 ng LH/ml (mean +/- 2SD) and 3.57 +/- 0.95, 5.72 +/- 2.90, 2.57 +/- 0.80 ng FSH/ml (mean +/- 2SD) respectively. Finally, the within-assay coefficient of variation is 7.65% for LH-RIA and 3.16% for FSH-RIA.
Berylliosis is an environmental chronic inflammatory disorder of the lung caused by inhalation of beryllium dusts, characterized by the accumulation of CD4+ T cells and macrophages in the lower respiratory tract. Beryllium presentation to CD4+ T cells from patients with berylliosis results in T cell activation and these Be-specific CD4+ T cells undergo clonal proliferation and Th1-type cytokine production such as interleukin-2, interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. In exposed workers, genetic susceptibility to this granulomatous disorder is associated with major histocompatibility gene and the TNF-alpha gene. The HLA-DP glutamic 69 residue was shown to be the MHC genetic marker associated with disease susceptibility; furthermore the TNF-alpha TNFA-308*2 allele was found to be independently associated with HLA-DP Glu69 in the determination of berylliosis risk.
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Since 2001, the region of Lombardy has accreditated nursing homes named R.S.A. "Residenza Sanitario-Assistenziale", which make up Italy's principal RSA network with the annual turnover of approximately 60,000 people. The most noteworthy element of the reform introduced is a concentration on resident's frailty rather than disability. This is assessed by using SOSIA, a form for intermediate observation of assistance. Residents are classified into eight classes of frailty, called isofrailty classes of SOSIA, which are differentiated by how compromised their motor and cognitive skills are, and by the presence of comorbidity. The study presents the methodology used to identify and estimate cut-offs of three indicators employed in SOSIA classification. It also discusses their characteristics versus other evaluation systems, such as Resource Utilization Group RUG-III and Autonomie Gerontologique--Groupes Iso-Resources AGGIR.
Our recent studies have shown a significant association between lithiasic biliary disease and colorectal cancer. This could be due to the existence of risk factors common to both disease or to a cause-effect correlation between them. This latter hypothesis is supported by the observation in gallstone patients of the increase of biliary and fecal concentrations in secondary biliary acids. These could have co-carcinogenic effect on the colon. With a view to singling out further elements which might help us to understand more clearly the possible cause-effect correlation between cholelithiasis and colon cancer, we examined 12 patients affected by both diseases. In these, we evaluated the composition of the gallbladder stones, by means of spectrophotometry and diffractometry. Bile samples were taken from the gallbladder and used to examine the lipidic composition and the cholesterol saturation index according to Carey. In addition bacteriological examinations were carried out. The results were compared with those of 10 patients with cholelithiasis but not cancer, 10 with cancer but not cholelithiasis and 10 with neither. Analysis of the results did not reveal significant differences in gallstone and bile composition between colon cancer patients with concomitant gallstones and control groups. However, in cancer patients with gallstones a higher incidence of bile bacteria (35.7%) was observed than in the other groups. Bile bacteria were observed more frequently in right colon cancer patients who had pigment stones in 75% of the cases. The results seem to evidence peculiarities in patients with a cancer of right colon.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
About 30% of the ovulation induction cycles in GIFT and FIVET programmes are cancelled due to an inadequate response of patients to gonadotropins and/or clomiphene citrate. GnRH agonist-gonadotropins and/or "pure" FSH combination has been successful in inducing ovulation in patients with a previous history of cycle cancellation and/or alterations in the menstrual cycles. In order to reduce the number of cycle cancellations and obtain more homogeneous oocytes, GnRH agonist-gonadotropins and/or "pure" FSH combination in all candidates for GIFT and FIVET has been recently hypothesised. The Authors report results obtained from GnRH agonist-"pure" FSH combination in 30 normally menstruating patients of the GIFT programme: in 93% of cases the harvested oocytes were preovulatory, in 27.6% of cycles and in 28.6% of the GIFTs respectively an ongoing pregnancy was obtained. While the results obtained must be considered preliminary, they nevertheless suggest that the use of a combination of GnRH-agonist "pure" FSH in all patients in the GIFT programme may be of real clinical validity.
Plasmatic Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) was studied in 41 patients undergoing salpingectomy for tubal pregnancy. On the temporal scale of our research, a biexponential model proved to be adequate to describe hCG clearance; the combined reading of the results of this research and those of other Authors have led us to maintain that hCG clearance is characterised by at least three components. HCG clearance was faster in patients with a higher initial hCG. Nevertheless the problem of hCG clearance depending on its initial value remains unsolved and requires further investigation. The regression curve and relative hCG values obtained in this study can be used as reliable models of comparison in the monitoring of patients undergoing conservative surgical treatment of tubal pregnancy.
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The radioimmunoassay (RIA) blank (Blk) value (as calssically determined) does not represent the real aspecific portion of the radioactivity because of the lack of both antigen and antiserum and the consequent total availability of free tracer, and is, therefore, unlike the standard and unknown tubes. Gastrin-RIA with bound-free separation by charcoal adsorption was chosen as example for providing evidence that the subtraction of such an empirical constant (Blk) from the dependent variable (the response) of a function (response versus dose) is analytically incorrect. Antigen-recovery and parallelism (serum dilution) tests were carried out, and the results obtained by the so-called "Blk subtraction procedure" (BS values) were compared with the corresponding values without Blk subtraction (BNS values). In the recovery test, the BS values were higher than the BNS values, but the former were higher than the expected values, whereas the latter showed a quantitative recovery. The same result was also found in the serum dilution test: the BNS values gave dilution curves more parallel to the BNS standard curve than did the BS values to the BS standard curve. It is concluded that the Blk subtraction procedure must be avoided in processing RIA results.
BACKGROUND: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, one of the most common human enzymatic defects, is characterized by extreme molecular and biochemical heterogeneity. The molecular bases of almost all polymorphic italian variants have now been identified and the overall heterogeneity is lower than expected from biochemical data. METHODS: We examined 161 G6PD-deficient subjects (130 males and 31 females) originating from different parts of Italy. G6PD activity and molecular characterization were determined in all the subjects analyzed. RESULTS: We found the G6PD Mediterranean genotype in roughly 70%, G6PD Union and G6PD Seattle in about 6% and G6PD A- in 4% of the samples analyzed. G6PD S. Antioco and G6PD Cosenza were less frequent (1.2%), and single cases of G6PD Partenope and G6PD Tokyo were also detected. CONCLUSIONS: We report the frequency and distribution of the most common G6PD variants in Italy. Greater molecular heterogeneity than described by others was observed, especially in Sardinia. Among the severe deficient variants, G6PD Mediterranean has a higher prevalence in Sardinia (83%) than in continental Italy (61%), as does G6PD Union (10% and 4%, respectively). G6PD Seattle and A-, associated with mild G6PD deficiency, are by contrast more frequent in continental Italy.