PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E Pisi

Publications and source records attributed to E Pisi.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Comparison of various cell types as substrates for the detection of antiactin antibodies in chronic liver disease.

Human cultured fibroblasts and Raji and peripheral blood mononuclear cells have been compared as substrates for the immunofluorescent detection of antiactin microfilament antibodies in sera from chronic liver disease. Raji and mononuclear cells, which exhibit a rich microfilament network, proved to be the most sensitive substrates for this purpose. The clinical relevance of these findings in the diagnosis of "autoimmune" chronic liver disease is discussed.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗
PubMed1986

Tissue antigen distribution in hepatocellular carcinoma.

An immunohistochemical study on 63 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) was performed for the demonstration of alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigens. AAT and AFP were also investigated in 54 cases of cirrhosis not associated with HCC. AAT was frequently expressed both in HCC (82.5%) and in cirrhosis (53.7%), whereas AFP was present in 41.2% of HCC and never detected in cirrhosis used as controls. These findings suggest that AFP is the more specific antigen for use as a marker of malignant cellular transformation. The HBsAg-positivity in 31.7% of HCC supports the hypothesis of a close link between virus B infection and the tumor.

Antigens↗
PubMed1986

Evaluation of liver volume and liver function following hepatic resection in man.

In a longitudinal study liver volume and liver function were measured in a series of 12 patients undergoing partial liver resection for focal hepatic lesions. Ultrasonography revealed that liver volume, reduced by about 50% by the resection, progressively increased, and 6 months after surgery it returned to nearly normal values. A variable reduction in routine liver function tests was observed, possibly reflecting the influence of the different reserve synthetic capacity of the liver and, in the early postoperative phase, plasma half-life of liver products and blood loss or changes in plasma volume. The galactose elimination capacity was only marginally reduced in the early period (from a pre-surgery value of 2.49 +/- SE 0.21 mmol/min to 2.31 +/- 0.14 after 7 days; p = ns) and reached a nadir at 14 days (1.97 +/- 0.16; p less than 0.001). When expressed per unit of liver volume, the galactose elimination (22 +/- 2 mumol/min per unit before resection) progressively decreased during the regeneration phase from 36 +/- 4 at 14 days to 26 +/- 3 at 6 months (P vs 14-day: less than 0.01). At 6 months both galactose elimination and galactose elimination per unit of liver volume were no longer different from baseline values. Our data show that, following hepatic resection, both liver volume and liver function increase and progressively return to nearly normal values. In agreement with data obtained in animal studies, it appears that the metabolic activity of the remaining parenchyma is increased in the early postoperative phase, and it slows down in the course of regeneration.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Autoimmunity in chronic liver disease caused by hepatitis delta virus.

Recent evidence shows that chronic liver disease induced by hepatitis delta virus is closely associated with production of autoantibodies. To verify this sera from patients with hepatitis delta virus and from those with hepatitis B virus mediated chronic liver disease were tested for a panel of autoantibodies. Although the traditional non-organ specific autoantibodies were similarly distributed in the two groups, a considerably higher prevalence of IgG basal cell layer antibodies, IgM anti-intermediate filaments, and IgG antimicrotubule antibodies was found. Although these phenomena might be secondary to hepatitis delta virus infection, they might be the serological markers of underlying immune events.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Antibodies to dietary antigens in coeliac disease.

Antibodies to gliadin (AGA) were found in 77 (94%) of 82 sera from patients with active coeliac disease (untreated and after gluten challenge). Although IgG AGA had a higher nosological sensitivity than IgA AGA (88% versus 67%), their nosological specificity was lower than that of IgA antibodies (87% versus 100%). The sensitivity of antibodies to casein, beta-lactoglobulin, and ovalbumin in active coeliac disease varied from 36% to 48% without significant difference between IgG and IgA antibodies. IgG and IgA antibodies to milk and egg proteins showed a specificity similar to that of AGA, although some IgA antibodies other than AGA were found in disease controls (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, post-enteritis syndrome).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Relationship between smooth muscle and cytoskeleton antibodies in neuroblastoma.

The previously reported high prevalence of smooth muscle antibodies in neuroblastoma has been found to be associated with a similarly elevated prevalence of anti-cytoskeleton antibodies. The most relevant finding is related to anti-microfilaments (anti-actin) and anti-microtubules antibodies, which were detected with highly significantly different prevalences when compared with a disease control group (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.000001, respectively). The correspondence between smooth muscle antibodies and anti-cytoskeleton antibodies is incomplete, and it is more relevant for anti-microfilaments. It is concluded that antigen specificities of smooth muscle antibodies in neuroblastoma are as complex as documented in other diseases. Possible pathogenetic and clinical implications emerging from these data are discussed.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1985

Pancreatic beta-cell function in cirrhotic patients with and without overt diabetes. C-peptide response to glucagon and to meal.

To study the role of pancreatic beta-cell function in glucose intolerance and frank diabetes that sometimes develops in cirrhosis, the C-peptide response to a bolus IV injection of 1 mg of glucagon was measured in nine controls and in two groups of patients with cirrhosis. The first group comprised nine subjects with normal or high-normal fasting plasma glucose and no glycosuria; five of them had impaired glucose tolerance. The second group consisted of eight cirrhotics in whom frank diabetes had developed six to 48 months after the diagnosis of cirrhosis. They were characterized by fasting plasma glucose greater than 140 mg/dL and permanent glycosuria. No differences in the degree of liver impairment or portal-systemic shunting were observed between the two groups. Plasma glucose response to glucagon was similarly reduced in cirrhotic subjects. Basal C-peptide was high normal in patients with cirrhosis, and significantly increased in nondiabetic subjects. By contrast peak C-peptide levels and total C-peptide responses to glucagon were low normal in cirrhotics and significantly reduced in patients with cirrhosis and diabetes. In 14 patients the C-peptide response to a standard meal was also measured. It was significantly reduced in patients with cirrhosis and diabetes (six cases), as compared to cirrhotic subjects without diabetes. Peak C-peptide after IV glucagon significantly correlated with peak C-peptide after the meal (r = .927), or total C-peptide response to meal (r = .871). Impaired insulin secretion may add to insulin resistance in patients with liver cirrhosis, leading to the development of frank diabetes, characterized by fasting hyperglycemia and glycosuria.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Different course of acute hepatitis B in elderly adults.

A retrospective study on 50 young and 35 aged patients with acute hepatitis B was performed. Clinical and laboratory parameters were evaluated. The most significant results obtained in the aged group when compared with the young were longer hospitalization, less elevated serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, serum bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase significantly higher, lower IgM and higher IgA levels. The results indicate that acute hepatitis B in elderly adults is characterized by a milder liver cell necrosis and a hypercholestatic pattern. The possible causes for these features are discussed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1985

Mechanically isolated hepatocytes are unsuitable to detect antibodies directed against plasma membrane determinants.

The ultrastructural morphology of mechanically and enzymatically isolated hepatocytes was compared. Plasma membrane integrity was evaluated by electron microscopy, both in the absence and in the presence of ruthenium red, which stains cell coat glycoproteins and makes it possible to identify even partially permeable cells, and by indirect immunofluorescence using experimental antibodies directed against epithelial submembranous components (prekeratin, actin). In order to evaluate the antigenic integrity of the hepatocellular plasma membrane after the isolation procedures, an immuno-electronmicroscopical technique (Staph. pA-colloidal gold) was applied using the IgG fraction from two liver-kidney microsomal antibody (LKM) positive sera, known to react with both plasma membranes and smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER). Enzymatic procedure made it possible to isolate hepatocytes with a good preservation of both plasma membranes and subcellular organelles. Ruthenium red staining was confined to plasma membranes, thus indicating the preservation of both cell-coat glycoproteins and plasma membrane. Most cells were negative after exposure to experimental antibodies. After exposure to LKM positive sera colloidal gold was strictly confined to the plasma membrane. On the other hand, mechanically isolated hepatocytes showed wide interruptions of the plasma membrane and gross alterations of subcellular organelles. Most cells were stained by ruthenium red, thus confirming the plasma membrane permeability. In addition, a linear peripheral positivity was found in the vast majority of the cells tested with anti-prekeratin and anti-actin antibodies. LKM-colloidal gold complexes were found at the level of both residual plasma membrane and SER.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Actins↗
PubMed1985

Antibodies to gliadin detected by immunofluorescence and a micro-ELISA method: markers of active childhood and adult coeliac disease.

Antibodies to gliadin have been detected by immunofluorescence (IFL-AGA) and a micro-ELISA method (ELISA-AGA) in 45 out of 47 (96%) sera from patients with active childhood and adult coeliac disease. The two methods were more sensitive than R1-reticulin antibodies (R1-ARA) which were found only in 28 of the same patients (60%). R1-ARA were always negative in the 26 sera from patients with childhood coeliac disease and adult coeliac disease after gluten free diet, while IFL- and ELISA-AGA were respectively found in three (12%) and in four (15%) out of these patients. Moreover, while R1-ARA and IFL-AGA were strictly confined to coeliac disease. ELISA-AGA were occasionally found in patients with control diseases. These 'false positive' antibodies were all of IgG class and had low titres. In our experience IFL- and ELISA-AGA of IgA class were strictly confined to active childhood coeliac disease and adult coeliac disease. The detection of AGA is useful in monitoring the diet and in the follow up of coeliac disease. IFL- and ELISA-AGA, then, are to be preferred to R1-ARA for the screening of coeliac patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Immunomorphological characterisation of antinuclear antibodies in chronic liver disease.

Two immunofluorescence procedures to evaluate antinuclear antibodies were compared in a series of 221 patients with chronic liver disorders of various aetiologies. The use of HEp-2 cells allowed us to discriminate with more confidence between the homogeneous and speckled patterns, to show the presence of associated patterns in the same serum, and, above all, to identify two specificities, unrecognizable on tissue sections. The anticentromere antibody was found in 10% of cases of primary biliary cirrhosis and occasionally in other conditions; the antibody staining multiple nuclear dots was strictly confined to primary biliary cirrhosis (17%). With the exception of autoimmune chronic active hepatitis the prevalence of antinuclear antibodies increased in all groups, particularly in primary biliary cirrhosis. Homogeneous antinuclear antibody was associated by both immunofluorescence procedures with autoimmune chronic active hepatitis. The multiple nuclear dot antinuclear antibody turned out to be an additional marker of primary biliary cirrhosis, helpful for the positive diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis in a proportion of cases negative for antimitochondrial antibody. Absorption experiments showed that multiple nuclear dot and antimitochondrial antibody are antigenically distinct. Moreover, multiple nuclear dot antinuclear antibody was associated with the finding of a dry Schirmer's test.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗
PubMed1985

Portal pressure changes induced by medical treatment: US detection.

The portal venous system was studied by ultrasonography (US) in 18 patients with cirrhosis of the liver who had previous bleeding from large esophageal varices. Portal-tract pressure for ten of these patients also was measured by hepatic vein catheterization. After 21 days of treatment with atenolol, the calibers of their splanchnic veins decreased during expiration, while a response to breathing maneuvers was restored. The decrease in the caliber of the splenic and superior mesenteric veins seen by US appeared to correlate significantly with the decrease in portal pressure (P less than .05). Nonresponse to treatment also was detected by US. Real-time US may be routinely carried out as a noninvasive, easy-to-repeat technique for the study of portal system hypertension in patients with cirrhosis undergoing therapy with beta-adrenergic blocking agents.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Antibodies to the cytoskeleton components and other autoantibodies in inflammatory bowel disease.

A high prevalence of antibodies to cytoskeleton components (anti-CYTO) and of anti-smooth muscle (SMA) and antinuclear (ANA) antibodies has been found in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In particular, a significant correlation has been documented between anti-CYTO and activity of the disease in ulcerative colitis and anti-fibroblast intermediate filaments (anti-vimentin) antibodies and Crohn's disease. The antibodies are detectable in the three major immunoglobulin classes, including IgA. While titres of anti-CYTO did not exceed 1:40, ANA and SMA were of high titres (up to 1:1,280). Antibodies to epithelial cells intermediate filaments (anti-cytokeratin) were detected only occasionally. The significance of these findings in IBD is discussed.

Adolescent↗