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Biomedical subjects

D Basso

Publications and source records attributed to D Basso.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Serum markers and clinical data in diagnosing pancreatic cancer: a contrastive approach.

In order to assess the value of serum markers and simple clinical data in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, we studied 32 control subjects and 28 patients with pancreatic cancer, 26 with chronic pancreatitis, and 37 with extra-pancreatic diseases. CA 19-9 was found to be the best marker in detecting pancreatic cancer. Among the clinical data, presence and onset of pain attacks, age, and weight loss were selected as the most informative in assessing chronic pancreatic disease. Clinical data correctly classified 88.5% of chronic pancreatitis and 75.0% of pancreatic cancer; serum markers identified pancreatic tumor in 67.9% of the patients. The adjunct of serum markers to clinical data did not improve accuracy in diagnosing chronic pancreatic disease. Since clinical data and serum markers generally become positive at an advanced stage of the disease, early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is a goal still to be attained.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Ribonucleases and deoxyribonucleases in pancreatic cancer: clinical value and pathophysiological interrelationships.

In this study we evaluated some pathophysiological aspects of pancreatic and liver ribonucleases and alkaline deoxyribonuclease and their clinical usefulness in diagnosing pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic RNase was found to be a sensitive index of pancreatic malignancy; however it was not specific in distinguishing pancreatic malignancy from chronic pancreatitis or other pathologies. Liver RNase and alkaline DNase did not provide better results than pancreatic RNase. These three enzymes were found to be age-dependent and related to each other. Therefore serum nucleases are not useful for clinical purposes since they are influenced, at least in part, by different non-specific factors.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed1988

Limits of CEA and ferritin in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

In this paper the clinical usefulness of CEA and ferritin in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer was pointed out. CEA was found to be increased in 51% of patients with pancreatic cancer; it was also abnormal in 22% of chronic pancreatitis and 31% of extra-pancreatic diseases. In patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer CEA was found to be more elevated than in those with localized tumor. CEA correlated with the age of the subjects in all material; in liver cirrhosis with IgG and in extra-pancreatic gastro-intestinal malignancies with alkaline-phosphatase. Ferritin was found to be increased in 73% of pancreatic cancer patients; it was also abnormal in 40% of chronic pancreatitis and in 38% of extra-pancreatic diseases. Patients with chronic pancreatitis studied during a relapsing phase all had elevated serum ferritin. We can conclude that neither CEA nor ferritin are useful indices of pancreatic malignancy, due to the lack of sensitivity or specificity. Both are influenced by several factors: CEA mainly by age and liver dysfunction, ferritin by the presence of an acute inflammation with cell necrosis.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed1988

Cytology in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

The study of cytology in duodenal and/or pure pancreatic juice has been proposed in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. In our experience the sensitivity of cytology in duodenal juice, collected during Secretin-Cholecystokinin test, in diagnosing pancreatic cancer was 66.6%. False positive results were obtained only rarely (1.4%) in patients with chronic pancreatitis and benign diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The cytological evaluation of pure pancreatic juice, obtained by ERCP, increases sensitivity up to 80-90%, especially when the combination of the results of ERCP and cytology is performed. Cytological examination of duodenal and/or pure pancreatic juice is a useful tool in detecting pancreatic malignancy and in differential diagnosis with chronic pancreatitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1988

C reactive protein in pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis.

Serum C reactive protein was determined in 30 control subjects, 32 patients with pancreatic cancer, 28 with chronic pancreatitis and 23 with extra-pancreatic diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract. The aim was to ascertain possible alterations of this index in chronic pancreatic disease and to speculate on some influencing factors. Higher C reactive protein levels were found in pancreatic cancer as compared to controls. Pancreatic cancer patients with systemic metastases had higher levels of this index compared to those with non-metastatic disease. Raised concentrations of C reactive protein were detected in 7/28 subjects with chronic pancreatitis. In this group these higher levels were found in patients in a relapsing phase of the disease; no association was observed with pancreatic pseudocysts. Among all subjects a correlation was found, between C reactive protein and age; patients with abnormal fasting blood glucose levels or increased white blood cell count had higher levels of this protein as compared to the remaining patients. We may conclude that C reactive protein increases in pancreatic cancer, specially in relation to tumour extent; in chronic pancreatitis it reflects the inflammatory status of the gland. While acting in the context of the acute phase response, this test may provide an adjunct in evaluating patients with a chronic pancreatic disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Molecular size distribution of immunoreactive trypsin and renal tubular dysfunction: role in trypsin plasma-urine transfer.

In order to investigate the role of circulating free trypsinogen and renal tubular dysfunction in affecting trypsin plasma-urine transfer, serum immunoreactive trypsin (IRT), its urinary output, IRT molecular size distribution, filtrable immunoreactive trypsin, gamma-glutamyltransferase and alpha-glucosidase outputs were studied in 6 control subjects, 9 patients with pancreatic cancer and 15 with chronic pancreatitis. The majority of immunoreactivity was always eluted at a molecular weight of about 24,000 and might therefore be considered as free trypsinogen. Variable amounts of IRT at higher molecular weights, possibly represented by trypsin-inhibitor complexes, were also detected. Increasing IRT levels were generally accounted for by free trypsinogen, regardless of the nature of the disease. Unlike serum free trypsinogen levels, renal tubular damage, evaluated by means of the excretion of two high-molecular weight urinary enzymes, seems to play a prominent role in explaining trypsin plasma-urine transfer.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Pancreolauryl test in chronic pancreatitis.

The pancreolauryl test was performed in 30 subjects with chronic pancreatitis, in order to evaluate its behavior in relation to the duration of the clinical history and the presence of pancreatic calcifications, diabetes mellitus, jaundice, and pancreatic pseudocysts. A significant inverse linear correlation was found between the onset of symptoms and FDL test values. While calcifications and diabetes were present in patients with both normal and abnormal test results, those with pseudocysts or jaundice always had pathological results.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[The role of CEA, CA 19-9 and TPA in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Evaluation by discriminant analysis].

In order to assess the relative value of CA 19-9, Tissue Polypeptide Antigen (TPA) and Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA), evaluated alone and in combination, in diagnosing pancreatic malignancy, serum CA 19-9, TPA and CEA were determined in 25 control subjects (CS), 26 pancreatic cancer (PC), 23 chronic pancreatitis (CP) and 21 benign extra-pancreatic diseases (EPD). The three markers were able to allocate the subjects correctly in 56.8% of the cases (CS 100%, PC 73.1%, CP 17.4%, EPD 28.6%). Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy in detecting pancreatic cancer were respectively: 77%, 91% and 68% for CA 19-9; 92%, 75% and 67% for TPA; 50%, 84% and 34% for CEA; 73%, 91% and 64% for the three parameters evaluated simultaneously. CA 19-9 and TPA appear to be useful indices of pancreatic cancer with a satisfactory specificity when related to chronic pancreatitis; their diagnostic value seems to be comparable and better than that of CEA; the combination of these markers does not improve the results obtained by CA 19-9 or TPA alone.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Is tissue polypeptide antigen more accurate than serum CEA for diagnosing pancreatic cancer?

Tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were determined in the sera of 36 control subjects, 30 patients with pancreatic cancer, 35 with chronic pancreatitis and 25 with non-pancreatic digestive disease to evaluate their role in detecting pancreatic malignancy. Abnormal values of TPA and CEA were found in 28 and 19 of 30 patients with pancreatic cancer, and in four and seven of 35 patients with chronic pancreatitis, respectively. Raised titres of TPA were observed more often than equivalent serum CEA in simulated pancreatic diseases. The receiver-operating (ROC) characteristic curves showed that TPA was more discriminating than CEA in detecting pancreatic cancer. Specificity was enhanced when both titres were abnormally high and sensitivity when one titre was raised, but the diagnostic accuracy of TPA alone has not improved, which satisfactorily discriminates pancreatic cancer from chronic pancreatitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Serum elastase 1 and immunoreactive trypsin in chronic pancreatic disease: is there any relationship with trypsin inhibitors?

In order to investigate modifications of serum levels of elastase 1, immunoreactive trypsin, alpha 1-antitrypsin and alpha 2-macroglobulin in chronic pancreatic disease, and to speculate on the possible relationships among these parameters, the enzymes and inhibitors were assayed in the sera of 33 control subjects, 34 pancreatic cancer, 28 chronic pancreatitis and 36 extra-pancreatic diseases. An increase of elastase 1, alpha 1-antitrypsin and alpha 2-macroglobulin was detected in pancreatic cancer, chronic pancreatitis and extra-pancreatic diseases; no changes were found for serum immunoreactive trypsin. Multiple regression analyses showed that only 7% of elastase 1 was explained by inhibitors with alpha 1-antitrypsin playing a major role. Inhibitors did not influence immunoreactive trypsin. Our data indicate that the variations of the serum levels of proteases and antiproteases in chronic pancreatic disease are probably independent of each other.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in pancreatic cancer. Role of age and liver dysfunction.

In order to ascertain the clinical usefulness of CA 19-9 in detecting pancreatic cancer in comparison with CEA, and to verify the influence of age and liver dysfunction on serum levels of these two antigens, serum CA 19-9 and CEA were assessed in 32 control subjects, 32 patients with pancreatic cancer, 26 with chronic pancreatitis and 43 with gastrointestinal extra-pancreatic diseases. Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of CA 19-9 and CEA in detecting pancreatic cancer were: 69% and 44%, 91% and 75%, 60% and 19% respectively. Linear correlations were observed between the age of the subjects on the one hand and CA 19-9 or CEA on the other. Significant relationships were also noticed between alanine-amino-transferase or bilirubin serum levels and CA 19-9 values. Serum CA 19-9 seems to be a better diagnostic tool than CEA in the assessment of pancreatic cancer; nevertheless the influence of liver dysfunction and age to some extent limits the diagnostic value of CA 19-9.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Serum deoxyribonuclease and ribonuclease in pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis.

Serum ribonuclease (RNase) and deoxyribonuclease (DNase) were investigated in 18 control subjects, and in 22 patients with pancreatic cancer, 13 with chronic pancreatitis and 29 with extrapancreatic diseases in order to assess their clinical usefulness in pancreatic cancer diagnosis and to evaluate whether modifications were consensual and/or age-related. Increased DNase and RNase values were found not only in a notable proportion of pancreatic cancer, but also in chronic pancreatitis and extra-pancreatic diseases. Thus the clinical value of both enzymes in pancreatic cancer diagnosis is negligible. DNase does not seem to be strictly age-dependent, whereas serum RNase does. Elevated levels of the two enzymes, when present, were consensual, suggesting that factors involved in such an increase were partially common to both.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Planning times during traveling salesman's problem: differences between closed head injury and normal subjects.

We studied planning behavior in a group of normal subjects and a group of closed head injury patients (CHI). A computerized version of the traveling salesman's problem was used as a visuospatial planning ability task. The program collected measurements of partial times, number of moves, and number of skipped subgoals. These measures allow us to calculate a "planning index" of subjects' planning ability. Results show that CHI patients present limitations in the planning process due to the lack of ongoing planning.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Serum growth factors in patients with pancreatic cancer.

The aims of this study were (1) to assess possible variations in the serum levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF I) and somatostatin in patients with pancreatic cancer as compared to other pancreatic or extrapancreatic diseases and (2) to ascertain the role of these substances in tumour growth and spread. 35 patients with pancreatic cancer were compared to 15 patients with chronic pancreatitis, 15 with benign hepatobiliary diseases, 23 with benign or malignant gastro-intestinal diseases and 22 control subjects. Increased EGF and IGF I serum levels were found in 10% of patients with pancreatic cancer. Somatostatin levels were increased in 8/16 (50%) patients with pancreatic cancer. No correlation was found between EGF, IGF I or somatostatin and tumour size or stage. In pancreatic cancer somatostatin serum levels were correlated with total bilirubin (p < 0.04), while EGF and IGF I were inversely correlated with fasting serum glucose levels (p < 0.05). In conclusion, (1) the serum levels of EGF, IGF I and somatostatin were not related to tumour size and clinical stage of pancreatic cancer, (2) the serum levels EGF and IGF I may be related to altered glucose metabolism, and (3) liver impairment can influence somatostatin serum levels.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical utility of TPS, TPA and CA 19-9 measurement in pancreatic cancer.

UNLABELLED: The aims of this study were to (1) evaluate the diagnostic utility of a new tumor marker, TPS, with respect to TPA and CA 19-9 in patients with pancreatic cancer; (2) ascertain the reliability of the markers in predicting survival, and (3) evaluate the effect of liver dysfunction on the results. CA 19-9, TPA and TPS were measured in the serum of 19 control subjects, 42 patients with pancreatic cancer, 29 with chronic pancreatitis, and 52 with extrapancreatic diseases. CA 19-9 was confirmed to be the best serological indicator of pancreatic cancer, while TPA and TPS lacked both sensitivity and specificity. Pancreatic cancer patients with liver metastases had higher mean CA 19-9 and TPA, but not TPS, values than pancreatic cancer patients without metastases. A shorter survival time was associated with the presence of liver metastases and with higher serum tumor marker levels. CA 19-9, TPA and TPS were found to be correlated with liver function test results (ALT, ALP and bilirubin). IN CONCLUSION: (1) TPS adds no significant information to that obtained using CA 19-9 in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer; (2) CA 19-9 and TPA, but not TPS, are influenced by the presence of liver metastases; (3) the main factor to influence survival is advanced disease, which is in turn associated with higher tumor marker levels, and (4) liver dysfunction can influence not only CA 19-9 and TPA, as already described, but also TPS.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Is CA242 really a new tumour marker for pancreatic adenocarcinoma?

CA 242, a sialylated carbohydrate epitope situated on the same macromolecule as CA 50 has been proposed as a new tumour marker for pancreatic cancer (PC). The aims of the present study were: (1) to evaluate serum CA 242 versus CA 19-9 in PC patients, and (2) to assess whether these markers can predict tumour spread or patient survival. We studied 59 healthy controls, 27 PC patients, 12 chronic pancreatitis cases, 107 with extra-pancreatic gastrointestinal tumours, 30 with benign jaundice and 24 with benign extra-pancreatic gastrointestinal diseases. Mean CA 242 values were significantly higher in PC than in any other group; CA 19-9 showed a similar pattern. The best diagnostic efficacy (ROC curves analysis) in diagnosing PC was 86% for CA 242 and 84% for CA 19-9, using cut-off values of 60 and 80 U/ml, respectively. In PC, serum levels of both markers were unrelated to tumour spread or size; in PC patients with high levels of CA 242 or CA 19-9 survival was significantly shorter. CA 242 and CA 19-9 were correlated both when considering all the patients together (r = 0.962, p < 0.001) and PC alone (r = 0.880, p < 0.001). Given the very close relationship between CA 242 and CA 19-9, we tested for cross-reactivity between CA 242 antigen and CA 19-9 antibody: CA 242 antigen with CA 19-9 antibody produced a similar curve to CA 242 antigen and its corresponding antibody. In conclusion, CA 242 showed similar diagnostic values to CA 19-9 in assessing PC patients; both seem unrelated to tumour size or spread, but seem to predict survival. Their remarkably similar behaviour is due to cross-reactivity between CA 242 antigen and CA 19-9 antibody, so CA 242 cannot, in our opinion, be considered a new tumour marker for PC.

Adenocarcinoma↗