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C Pasquali

Publications and source records attributed to C Pasquali.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Human liver protein map: a reference database established by microsequencing and gel comparison.

This publication establishes a reference human liver protein map obtained with immobilized pH gradients. By microsequencing, 57 spots or 42 polypeptide chains were identified. By protein map comparison and matching (liver, red blood cell and plasma sample maps), 8 additional proteins were identified. The new polypeptides and previously known proteins are listed in a table and/or labeled on the protein map, thus providing a human liver two-dimensional gel database. This reference map can be used to identify protein spots on other samples such as rectal cancer biopsies.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Evaluation of surgical risk in palliation and resection of pancreatic cancer. Perspective study and tables to calculate the risk.

High morbidity and mortality rates are reported for bypass and resective surgery of pancreatic cancer. In a retrospective study we correctly predicted the postoperative course in 88% of the patients who underwent bypass surgery and 83% of those who had a resection for pancreatic cancer. Before starting with clinical application of this scoring system, we undertook a prospective study to confirm its predictive value. Sixty-seven consecutive patients with pancreatic cancer were included: 42 patients underwent bypass surgery and 25 pancreatic resections. The operative mortality was 14% for palliative surgery and 0% for resective surgery. Surgical team and nurses were totally unaware of the predicted risk. The preoperative forecast proved to be correct in 81% of bypass surgery and in 88% of resective surgery, although surgical mortality had decreased from 21 to 14% for bypass surgery and from 17 to 0% for resective surgery. Tables are included to calculate the surgical risk for each of 162 combinations of the risk factors considered in the predictive model (81 for bypass surgery and 81 for resective surgery). Calculation of surgical risk is important when evaluating different treatments for pancreatic cancer are available.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Adrenal cystic lymphangioma. A case report].

Adrenal cysts are uncommon. A case of left adrenal cystic lymphangioma in 16 year old boy is reported. The adrenal cyst was a chance finding during radiological investigation for abdominal pain. Ultrasound and CT scan showed the cyst and suggested the correct diagnosis of cystic lymphangioma of the left adrenal gland. The patient underwent surgery and a left adrenalectomy was performed. Histology confirmed the previous diagnosis of cystic lymphangioma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Hormonal treatment of unresectable pancreatic cancer with LHRH analogue (goserelin).

Recently non-controlled clinical trials reported encouraging results using a suppressive endocrine treatment in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. In this study 15 patients were given an LHRH analogue every 4 weeks (goserelin 3.6 mg), while 18 patients with advanced stage pancreatic carcinoma were given only symptomatic therapy. All patients treated with goserelin had sexual hormone suppression. Follow-up included abdominal ultrasound or computed tomography scan every 3 months; Ca 19-9 assay and routine laboratory blood tests were performed every month. No partial or complete response, no performance status or Ca 19-9 level changes were found. No significant difference in survival was seen in the two groups of patients. This study suggests that goserelin is unlikely to have a major influence on the survival of patients with advanced pancreatic carcinoma and casts further doubt upon the hormone-dependence of this neoplasm.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

How does liver dysfunction influence serum CA 19-9 in pancreatic cancer?

Serum CA 19-9 was determined in 83 control subjects, 99 patients with pancreatic cancer, 104 with chronic pancreatitis and 137 with extra-pancreatic diseases mainly of gastrointestinal origin in order to evaluate whether hepatic factors can influence circulating CA 19-9 in pancreatic cancer. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of this test in determining pancreatic malignancy were: 74%, 83% and 57%. We divided patients into two groups: group A (159 cases) and group B (181 cases) with and without anatomical liver damage (presence of primary or metastatic cancer, cirrhosis, hepatitis, steatofibrosis, cholangitis). Group A presented higher CA 19-9 values as compared to group B. Significant correlations were found in group B but not in group A between CA 19-9 and ALT, ALP and total bilirubin. Multiple regression analysis (CA 19-9 dependent and ALT, ALP and total bilirubin predictor variables) was significant only in group B. The standardized partial regression coefficients found to be significant were those of ALP and total bilirubin. We can conclude that CA 19-9 is an index of pancreatic cancer with satisfactory sensitivity and specificity. The presence of anatomical liver damage seems to increase the value of this index, probably releasing CA 19-9 into the bloodstream. Extra-hepatic cholestasis may also be an important factor in elevating CA 19-9 probably by reducing the hepatic catabolism of this glycoprotein.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Ca 19-9 in the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma].

This study was undertaken in order to ascertain the role of CA 19-9 in pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Therefore CA 19-9 was determined in the sera of 83 control subjects, 108 patients with pancreatic cancer, 112 with chronic pancreatitis and 126 with extrapancreatic diseases. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in detecting pancreatic cancer were: 75%, 86% and 61% respectively. The receiver-operating characteristic curves showed that CA 19-9 is able to well discriminate pancreatic cancer from controls; satisfactorily it differentiated pancreatic malignancy from chronic pancreatitis and other benign extrapancreatic diseases. Extrapancreatic neoplasms were not accurately separated. No difference was detected in CA 19-9 levels between pancreatic cancer patients with or without hepatic metastases. We can conclude that CA 19-9 is a test for pancreatic malignancy with a satisfactory sensitivity and specificity in respect of other pancreatic and extrapancreatic benign pathologies; the presence of hepatic metastases is only one of the factors which may increase its serum levels.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Clinical usefulness of the blood gastrin curve after protein meal in duodenal ulcer].

Conflicting data are present in the literature on pathophysiological role of serum gastrin and peptic ulcer disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in duodenal ulcer patients, the possible correlation between post-prandial serum gastrin concentrations and some epidemiological (sex, family history, onset of the disease, blood group status, smoking habit, alcohol consumption) and clinical (effectiveness of therapy, bleeding episodes) factors. The gastrin levels were expressed in absolute values and as per cent increase of fasting serum gastrin concentrations. As regards sex, the per cent increase of fasting serum gastrin concentration was significantly higher in females (No. 16) than in males (No. 60) at 30 and 60 minutes (192.25% vs 116.52% and 105.42% vs 40.96% respectively; p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.005). Post-prandial serum gastrin concentrations, expressed as per cent increase, were higher in heavy drinkers (No. 14) and statistically significant at 120 minutes (40.57% vs 9.58%, p less than 0.025); as well as in smoker patients (No. 31), at 15, 30 and 60 minutes (227.59% vs 123.52%, 177.23% vs 101.62%, 0.025 and p less than 0.05). Post-prandial gastrin was unrelated to blood group status, onset of the disease, family history, effectiveness of medical treatment and bleeding episodes.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[Hepatocyte receptors for polymerized albumin. Experimental study on isolated hepatocytes and in vivo animals].

In the present work receptors for polymerized rat serum albumin (P-RSA) were studied by incubation of radiolabelled polymers with rat hepatocytes isolated with mechanical techniques. Isolated rat hepatocytes showed a receptor activity for polymerized albumin and such a membrane receptor seems to be controlled by the cellular cytoskeleton. During rat total body scintigraphy receptor expression was detected exclusively in the liver. These observations support the hypothesis of a selective receptor activity of the liver cells for polymerized albumin. To confirm our results, further studies were performed on rat bile, after 125I-P-RSA infusion in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Plasma protein map: an update by microsequencing.

The reference plasma protein map, obtained with immobilized pH gradients in the first dimension of two-dimensional electrophoresis, is presented. By microsequencing, more than 40 polypeptide chains were identified. The new polypeptides and previously known proteins are listed in a table and labeled on the protein map, thus providing an update of the human plasma two-dimensional gel database.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Improving the detection of proteins after transfer to polyvinylidene difluoride membranes.

N-Terminal sequence analysis of proteins separated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transferred onto polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membranes has become the method for molecular characterization of proteins contained in biological samples. However, the proteins of lower abundance cannot be sequenced directly, without improving the technique. We have studied a drying method on several PVDF membranes including Trans-Blott, Immobilon P and Problott. Using Amido Black, Coomassie Brilliant Blue R-250 and Ponceau S, we have obtained, in comparison with the non-dried membranes, an enormous increase in the number of detectable proteins.

Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional↗
PubMedDate not supplied

MRI in insulinomas: preliminary findings.

After establishing the diagnosis of an insulinoma, most surgeons prefer preoperative localization. Selective arteriography is usually considered the gold standard for this purpose. Recently, computed tomography (CT) and preoperative US have contended the role to angiography. MRI has been used in few cases of endocrine pancreatic tumors, and its role in this particular field has to be defined. Between November 1988 and September 1990 we evaluated 7 adult patients who had had surgery in our Surgical Department. Eight tumors were resected in 6 patients who were cured; in an 18-year-old woman surgical treatment was unsuccessful. Arteriography, CT, preoperative US, MRI and intraoperative US detected 2, 6, 6, 5 and 6 tumors, respectively. Two insulinomas (0.2 and 0.7 cm) were found at histologic examination in resected specimen. The ability of intraoperative US and careful surgical exploration to resolve more than 90% of cases makes the preoperative use of arteriography and CT of questionable value. If further experience confirms these findings, US and MRI may suffice.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Androgen profile in patients with pancreatic carcinoma.

Serum testosterone, free testosterone and androstenedione levels were measured in 28 male patients with pancreatic cancer and compared with the values obtained from 28 male patients with chronic pancreatitis, 29 with gastrointestinal malignancies and 41 healthy controls. Mean total testosterone values were significantly lower in the pancreatic cancer group when compared to chronic pancreatitis and healthy controls. Total testosterone concentrations were also significantly lower in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies when compared to healthy controls. No difference was found in free testosterone and androstenedione levels in the four groups of patients. Total testosterone serum levels correlated significantly with poor nutritional status. This study confirms low testosterone levels in patients with pancreatic cancer, but provides no evidence to support a direct relationship between pancreatic cancer and testosterone metabolism.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A clinical molecular scanner: the Melanie project.

We developed an expert system to analyze and interpret protein maps. This system, Melanie (medical electrophoresis analysis interactive expert), can distinguish between normal and cirrhotic liver and identify various types of cancer on the basis of protein patterns in biopsy specimens. Our findings suggest that some diseases associated with toxic compounds or modifications of the human genome can be diagnosed by expert systems that analyze protein maps. The combination of protein mapping and computer analysis could result in a clinically useful "molecular scanner". The massive amount of information analyzed and stored in such studies requires new strategies, including centralized databases and image transmission over networks. Increased understanding of protein expression and regulation will enhance the importance of the human genome project in medicine and biology.

Computer Systems↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Clinical evaluation of clotiazepam in the ambulatory treatment of anxiety states].

To assess the therapeutic efficacy and tolerability of Clotiazepam in the treatment of anxiety, the drug was administered to 20 subjects suffering from anxiety (12 cases) or from nervous depression (8 cases), all of whom were without psychopharmacological drugs for at least one month prior to the trial. Treatment with Clotiazepam improved the anxiety and brought about a statistically significant reduction in both groups of patients regards the total score in the Hamilton Scale and in the two sub-scale scores (somatic and psychological symptoms). Tolerability to the drug was very satisfactory.

Adult↗