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Biomedical subjects

D Taranto

Publications and source records attributed to D Taranto.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Regional variations in total and nonprotein sulfhydryl compounds in the human gastric mucosa and effects of ethanol.

This study evaluated the regional distribution of sulfhydryl compounds in the human gastric mucosa and the effect of ethanol on gastric sulfhydryl tissue levels. Total sulfhydryl, glutathione, and cysteine and their oxidized forms were measured in biopsy specimens taken from the gastric body and antrum of 22 healthy volunteers. Total sulfhydryl and glutathione contents of the body of the stomach were significantly higher than those of the antrum. In contrast, cysteine concentration was higher in the gastric antrum than in the body. No difference was found in the levels of oxidized sulfhydryls between the gastric body and antrum. The effect of acute administration of ethanol on gastric sulfhydryl content was studied in nine subjects. Ethanol caused gross mucosal damage and lowered the concentration of sulfhydryl compounds in both the body and the antrum. In 10 chronic alcoholics total sulfhydryl and glutathione, but not cysteine, were markedly decreased in the gastric body but not in the antrum as compared with nonalcoholic controls. In conclusion, 1) the human gastric body contains significantly higher tissue levels of total sulfhydryls and glutathione and lower concentrations of cysteine than the antrum; 2) ethanol in a damaging concentration significantly decreases gastric tissue levels of sulfhydryl compounds; and 3) chronic ethanol intake lowers total sulfhydryl and glutathione tissue levels in the gastric body.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Effect of metoclopramide on transmural oesophageal variceal pressure and portal blood flow in cirrhotic patients.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of metoclopramide on transmural oesophageal variceal pressure and portal blood flow in cirrhotic patients. Sixteen cirrhotics were randomly assigned to metoclopramide (10 mg i.v.) or saline. Metoclopramide significantly decreased transmural variceal pressure (15.7% decrease, p less than 0.05 vs. basal value). In order to evaluate if the metoclopramide-induced drop in transmural variceal pressure was due to an effect on portal haemodynamics, we also measured, by means of real time and pulsed Doppler ultrasonography, portal vein diameter, mean velocity of portal flow, and portal venous flow. No significant change was observed before and after metoclopramide. In conclusion, metoclopramide, which increases lower oesophageal sphincter pressure, significantly decreases transmural variceal pressure in cirrhotic patients. However, it does not have any effect on portal haemodynamics.

Double-Blind Method↗
PubMed1989

Mild pancreatic damage in acute viral hepatitis.

Whether and to what extent the pancreas is involved in acute viral hepatitis is still unclear. In order to address this issue we evaluated serum and urinary amylase and isoamylase levels in 92 patients with acute viral hepatitis of different etiology and in 60 healthy volunteers. Furthermore, pancreatic structure and volume were evaluated by ultrasound scanning. Significant increase in serum and urinary pancreatic isoamylases was found in 12 and 35% of patients, respectively, in the early stage of the disease. Increase in serum pancreatic isoamylases was found only in patients suffering from B and non-A, non-B hepatitis. Ultrasonographic evaluation did not show any change in pancreatic structure and volume. In conclusion, this study suggests that mild pancreatic damage may occur during viral hepatitis.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of the arterial share of portal flow using a scintigraphic technique in patients with liver cirrhosis. Correlations with other parameters of portal hypertension].

This study aimed to measure in semiquantitative terms the arterial-venous ratio of the portal flow using a scintigraphic technique, by means of a simple intravenous injection of a 99mTcDiethylHIDA bolus, a method which was found to be extremely simple and non-invasive, with a good degree of repeatibility. The percentage of arterialisation of the portal flow was found to be higher in cirrhotic patients compared to non-hepatopathic subjects, and among cirrhotic patients it was correlated with the severity of disease, the presence and degree of esophageal varices, and the presence of porto-systemic shunts, assessed using the ammonium chloride test.

Adult↗