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Biomedical subjects

E Brunetti

Publications and source records attributed to E Brunetti.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Prevalence and histologic features of transfusion transmitted virus and hepatitis C virus coinfection in a group of HIV patients.

BACKGROUND: A recently identified DNA transfusion-transmitted virus has been associated with post-transfusion non-A to G hepatitis. AIM: To determine the prevalence of transfusion-transmitted virus in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Its clinical role in the pathogenesis of liver disease was also evaluated in patients with transfusion-transmitted-virus hepatitis C virus coinfection compared with those with hepatitis C Virus infection alone. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated 312 HIV-hepatitis C virus coinfected patients (225 males, 87 females). All underwent screening for transfusion-transmitted virus DNA using a nested polymerase chain reaction technique. In some transfusion transmitted virus-DNA positive patients, we performed a phylogenetic analysis. In 56 patients (20 transfusion-transmitted-virus-hepatitis C virus and 36 hepatitis C virus alone), liver biopsy was collected. RESULTS: The prevalence of transfusion-transmitted virus was 113/312 (36%). The genotype distribution was similar to that reported in other studies. No difference in liver histology was found between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Transfusion-transmitted virus infection is common in human immunodeficiency virus patients. We found no histologic differences between liver biopsy specimens from patients coinfected with transfusion-transmitted virus plus hepatitis C virus compared with those infected with hepatitis C virus alone. Transfusion-transmitted virus is not clearly associated with a distinct liver injury.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Echinococcal liver cysts: treatment with echo-guided percutaneous puncture PAIR for echinococcal liver cysts.

In spite of recent progress, treatment for liver echinococcal cysts is still far from satisfying. In recent years, percutaneous drainage has been increasingly used for this purpose and it has been shown to be an effective alternative to surgery and chemotherapy alone. This technique is known as PAIR, from Puncture, Aspiration, Injection (of a scolecidal agent), Reaspiration: here we present our experience and the state of the art of PAIR. Patients from Italy and Turkana (Kenya), harbouring 233 Gharbi type I, II and III echinococcal cysts were successfully treated with PAIR: it was performed according to protocols established at the Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, IRCCS--Policlinico S. Matteo, University of Pavia. In Italy, one relapse was recorded, four years after the procedure; the patient was treated again with PAIR; no cases of anaphylactic shock or peritoneal dissemination were observed in a follow-up of 10 years; only 10 minor complications (biliary fistula, urticarioid reaction, abscessualization of the cyst, anaphylactoid reactions) were reported. Long-term results indicate that in Gharbi type I, II and III echinococcal cysts, and in developing countries, in particular, PAIR is a first choice method for the treatment of abdominal localizations of this disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Novel clinical approaches in monoclonal antibody-based management in colorectal cancer patients: radioimmunoguided surgery and antigen augmentation.

Surgery, the most effective treatment for colon and rectal cancer, is based on empirical knowledge of the patterns of tumor spread, gross findings at laparotomy, and histologic confirmation of tumor-free margins. In spite of the many technical improvements in surgery, there has not been a significant change in cure rates for colon and rectal cancers. In fact, one-half of affected patients will not survive 5 years. It is in this arena of treatment for primary colon and rectal cancer patients that radioimmunoguided surgery (RIGS) technology may provide the most benefit. RIGS is an intraoperative procedure for detection of carcinoma lesions that are targeted with a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody (MAb) to provide the surgeon with immediate intraoperative definition of tumor margins and identification of occult disease. To optimize this technique, our studies were designed to increase tumor uptake by higher affinity CC-49 (a second-generation MAb) and to increase tumor antigen expression using biological response modifiers (BRMs). The ability of BRMs, such as interferons (IFNs), to enhance the expression of tumor-associated antigens, may play an important role in an adjuvant setting for MAb-based treatment. Preclinical and clinical data provided evidence for the use of IFN as an adjuvant to enhance MAb-targeting of human carcinoma lesions. A combination protocol with IFN and RIGS is ongoing at our institution.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1997

Use of PAIR in human cystic echinococcosis.

The authors report their experience with ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous treatment of hydatid abdominal cysts (mainly hepatic). From November 1987 to January 1996 in Italy and in Kenya 231 cysts in 163 patients were treated with a technique called PAIR (puncture, aspiration, injection, re-aspiration), using 95% ethanol as a scolecide agent according to a routine protocol. In Kakuma, Turkana (Kenya) 141 cysts in 85 patients were treated with a simplified protocol and a portable US machine. No anaphylactic shock or peritoneal dissemination was observed. One failure was observed due to the proximity of the parasitic cyst to the gallbladder, resulting in a fistula between the two cavities; this complication was resolved by surgery. A few minor complications were observed. In all the other cases detachment of the germinal membrane and subsequent reduction in size was observed, with a more or less complete solidification of the cyst and reduction of serology titers. Only one cyst recurred after 4 years and was treated again by PAIR. Long-term results indicate that in type I, II and III cysts, according to the Gharbi classification, PAIR is a first-choice method for treatment of liver hydatid cysts, especially in developing countries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Outcome of hepatic amebic abscesses managed with three different therapeutic strategies.

Three different approaches to hepatic abscesses due to Entamoeba histolytica were compared in 51 patients. The three modes of therapy utilized were: medical therapy with nitroimidazoles (N = 11 patients), open surgical drainage (N = 9 patients), and percutaneous drainage using ultrasound guidance followed by intralesional nitroimidazole administration (N = 31 patients). The results with each form of therapy were assessed clinically and by abdominal ultrasound. Patients receiving combined US-guided drainage and intralesional chemotherapy experienced a faster and overall better clinical response, which was confirmed also by sonographic follow-up of the hepatic lesions. This better response was associated with faster resolution, fewer relapses, and less residual hepatic scarring than either with medical therapy alone or open surgical drainage combined with medical therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Familial Alzheimer's disease. Evidences for clinical and genetic heterogeneity.

We report the genealogical, clinical and molecular genetic findings of a new family with autosomal dominant early-onset Alzheimer's disease (FAD) discovered in Torino (Italy). Up to now, the pedigree comprises 1500 members, distributed in 8 generations. 22 patients affected with Alzheimer's disease have been identified. The clinical course of the disease was fairly uniform in all the patients. An high incidence of myoclonic jerks and epileptic seizures was found. Molecular genetic studies showed the presence of positive but nonsignificant lod scores between chromosome 21 anonymous DNA markers and the disease. The data obtained from the Torino family were computed together with those of additional 47 pedigrees, with both early-onset and late-onset Alzheimer's disease. A predisposing locus for the disease was found on the pericentromeric region of chromosome 21 only in early-onset FAD pedigrees.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

A new therapeutic approach for hydatid liver cysts. Aspiration and alcohol injection under sonographic guidance.

The treatment of hydatid disease is still rather difficult; surgery is not always feasible, and there are no definite methods to evaluate the outcome of medical treatment. Although percutaneous needle aspiration of hydatid cysts has been discouraged because of potential complications, e.g., anaphylactic shock or spreading of daughter cysts, these risks have never been quantified. Therefore, it was decided to treat hydatid liver cysts by aspiration and alcohol injection under sonographic guidance using 95% sterile ethanol. Five patients are reported who were treated by this procedure without complications or relapses during a follow-up period ranging from 10-26 mo.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Effects of chronic ethanol treatment on alpha-MSH concentrations in rat brain and pituitary.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were chronically treated with a liquid diet containing 6.5% (v/v) ethanol or equicaloric sucrose. Rats were killed after 21 days of treatment. alpha-MSH-like immunoreactivity was measured in the intermediate lobe of the pituitary gland and in several brain regions. Chronic ethanol treatment significantly reduced alpha-MSH-like immunoreactivity in the pituitary gland; in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus and in the substantia nigra. The results of this study confirm the earlier findings that chronic ethanol treatment reduces POMC biosynthesis in the pituitary gland and in the central nervous system.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1990

Parasitologic findings in percutaneous drainage of human hydatid liver cysts.

Percutaneous drainage under ultrasonographic guidance was carried out on 12 patients with liver cysts and 1 with an abdominal cyst. In 8 the cyst was proved to be of hydatid origin by means of direct detection of parasites in the aspirated fluid. In these individuals a 95% ethanol solution was subsequently introduced into the cystic cavity and slowly removed over 30 min. Direct observation, staining for viability assessment, and in vitro isolation attempts were done both before and after the injection of the alcoholic solution, thus making possible the immediate evaluation of the protoscolicidal properties of the solution used. The procedure seems to be therapeutically successful, safe, and feasible.

Adult↗