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Biomedical subjects

F Ferrario

Publications and source records attributed to F Ferrario.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Clinical significance of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies with specificity for lactoferrin in renal diseases.

The prevalence and clinical significance of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies with specificity for lactoferrin was determined in patients with renal diseases. Antilactoferrin antibodies were found in only 12 of 920 patients (1.3%). These patients had either "pauci-immune" necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis (three cases) or lupus nephritis (nine cases). To verify whether antilactoferrin antibodies were specific for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and renal involvement, we studied 61 additional lupus patients, 40 with active lupus nephritis and 21 with active SLE and no renal involvement. Antilactoferrin antibodies were found in approximately 15% to 20% of patients with SLE, irrespective of the presence of renal involvement. We conclude that antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies with specificity for lactoferrin are only sporadically found in patients with renal diseases; these patients have either necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis or lupus nephritis. However, antilactoferrin antibodies are not a marker for renal involvement in SLE.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Epidemiology of hepatitis B virus in non-institutionalized children and adolescents affected by handicap.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers in a population of non-institutionalized handicapped 1-19-year-old patients. Thirty-six out of 70 patients lived in southern Italy and 19 were affected by Down's syndrome. Only three (4.2%) were positive for anti-HBc (one of these also for anti-HBs) and none for HBsAg. Low prevalence seems to indicate that no particular anti-HBV vaccination strategy is to be considered on this subset of population and on their contacts. Serum prevalence of HBV among nurses and other members of personnel was 11.3%.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Nizatidine: a meta-analytical study].

The medline database was applied to search all randomized clinical trials published from 1986 to 1992 concerning the use of Nizatidine, a powerful H2-antagonist, versus other treatments, including placebo, in the treatment of duodenal ulcer disease. Therapeutic efficacy of nizatidine is comparable to that of other H2-antagonists; with the use of meta-analysis, no significant differences were demonstrated, both in acute and long-term treatment of duodenal ulcer between nizatidine and ranitidine, but untoward side effects were less frequent with nizatidine than with ranitidine.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗
PubMed1992

Mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis.

The clinical and histological features of idiopathic mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis (MCGN) have been reviewed, with a survey of the most recent literature, including the retrospective analysis of the data of the Italian Study Group of Renal Immunopathology on 368 patients. In both major types of MCGN, six morphological variants have been characterized (classical MCGN, nodular MCGN, exudative MCGN, focal segmental MCGN, MCGN with massive deposits, and crescentic MCGN) that have different etiologic, pathogenetic, or clinical outcome correlates. Actuarial renal survival 10 yr after renal biopsy has been calculated with life-table analysis to be 60 to 65% in type I MCGN, without significant differences between treated and untreated patients; none of the therapeutic regimens tested up to now for this disease have been independently demonstrated to be efficacious. As for the pathogenesis, the interrelationships between the three mechanisms that contribute to the development of the morphological features of the disease (accumulation of electron-dense deposits on the subendothelial side of the glomerular basement membrane or within the glomerular basement membrane; mesangial proliferation and peripheral interposition; and inflow of inflammatory cells, mainly monocytes) have been discussed, and the role of hypocomplementemia and circulating nephritic factors (NFa and NFt) has been analyzed. Available evidence suggests that MCGN is an immunocomplex-mediated disease, the deposition of immune deposits being the initiating phenomenon, whereas the morphologic changes and complement system activation are secondary events.

Complement System Proteins↗
PubMed1992

Renal function at hospital admission as a prognostic factor in adult hemolytic uremic syndrome. The Italian Registry of Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome.

The clinical records of adult patients with a diagnosis of hemolytic uremic syndrome were retrospectively reviewed with the aim of evaluating the long-term outcome of renal function. The setting is the Italian Registry of Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome, with which 13 Nephrology Centers have participated. Clinical and laboratory data of 43 patients with hemolytic uremic syndrome were evaluated. The mean age at onset was 34.3 +/- 18.3 yr. Men and women were equally affected. No seasonal trend in presentation was observed. In 20 patients, hemolytic uremic syndrome was primitive, whereas in 23, it was associated with another disease (cancer, preeclampsia, malignant hypertension, vasculitides). Gastrointestinal symptoms were the most frequently observed prodromes. Thirty (70%) patients required dialysis during the acute phase of the disease. Six patients died during the acute phase of the disease, and one died later after discharge (overall mortality, 16%). After 1 yr of follow-up, 11 (26%) patients had recovered a normal renal function, 14 (33%) had hypertension and/or renal insufficiency, and 11 (26%) were on regular dialysis. When prognostic factors of survival and recovery of renal function were considered, it was found that older age was associated with higher mortality in the acute phase, whereas severe renal involvement at the onset of the disease (as expressed by elevated serum creatinine) was associated with a long-term unfavorable prognosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[The otilonium bromide-benzodiazepine combination in the therapy of the irritable colon syndrome].

The irritable bowel syndrome is classified ad "disturbance of intestinal motility without an identifiable anatomic substrate". However, the clear etiopathogenetic implications of a psychosomatic nature complicate the search for an adequate therapeutic strategy. Based on this clinical experience, we set out to check the importance of a spasmolytic with a benzodiazepine and the tolerability of this type of combination. We therefore compared the results in 60 patients with irritable bowel syndrome of 8 weeks' treatment with tablets containing octylonium bromide (OB) 20 mg plus diazepam (DZ) 2 mg or OB 40 mg + 2 mg DZ. The doubling of the spasmolytic without increasing the daily dose of anxiolytic appeared to be useful for reducing the symptoms typical for the irritable bowel syndrome. In addition, the combination was found to be perfectly tolerated.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[An analysis of the variability in the heart rate in relation to the presence of transient ischemia and to its physiopathological mechanism].

To assess the differences in the pathogenesis of cardiac ischemic events and the role of the autonomic nervous system, we studied the electrocardiographic measures of tonic vagal activity during 24-hour Holter monitoring. We tested the circadian rhythm of the power in the high frequency energy (HF: 0.15-0.40 Hz) of the normal R-R interval power spectrum, the daily percent of successive normal R-R greater than 50 ms (pNN50) and the roots mean square of successive difference of normal R-R intervals (MMSD) in patients with coronary artery disease of comparable angiographic severity. Group A consisted of 5 patients (mean age 62 +/- 8) with chronic stable angina and Group B of 5 patients (mean age 61 +/- 8) with variant angina. Characteristic anginal pattern, typical ST changes during ischemic events on Holter monitoring and angiographic evidence of vasoconstriction induced by hyperventilation distinguished the 2 groups. Mean Cosinor analysis showed the presence of a significant circadian rhythm of HF only in Group A with a peak in the early morning hours (phi at 03.45, % rhythm 50.0, p less than 0.03); a significant reduction of parasympathetic activation was also found in Group B (MSSD: 27.8 vs 15.4, p less than 0.05; pNN50: 2.9 vs 0.6, p less than 0.05). These results suggest a different pattern in circadian variation of HF and lower degree of time and frequency domain of heart rate variability, as a marker of vagal tone in patients with high susceptibility to coronary vasospasm.

Angina Pectoris, Variant↗
PubMed1990

Prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Italian adolescents.

Prevalence of HBV markers (HbsAg, anti-Hbs, anti-HBc) was retrospectively estimated in 204 adolescents (12-20 years old) of the Bambino Gesù Hospital (174 patients of orthopaedic department and 30 student nurses). HBsAg carrier rate was 3.4% (all healthy, none HBeAg positive) and prevalence of HBV marker (at least one positive) was 13.2%. Male sex, residence in the south of Italy or Italian islands, being inpatients, past surgical procedures and past hepatitis showed higher prevalences, but never significantly; anti-HBc prevalence was significantly higher in patients with a previous surgical procedure with transfusions. Future vaccinations should take into account the substantial HBV infection rate occurred as early as in adolescence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Successful treatment of mitomycin C-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome by plasmapheresis.

Therapeutic attempts have generally failed to reverse the rapid progression of renal failure after mitomycin C (MMC)-induced hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). A patient who developed HUS after MMC and who showed pathologic changes in the kidney consistent with thrombotic microangiopathy is reported. Treatment with plasmapheresis was followed by a favorable outcome and significant recovery of renal function. Accordingly, this therapeutic modality should be considered for patients with MMC-induced HUS.

Adult↗