PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F Marotta

Publications and source records attributed to F Marotta.

54 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

A maintenance regimen of sucralfate 2 g at night for reduced relapse rate in duodenal ulcer disease. A one-year follow-up study.

One hundred seventeen patients with recently healed duodenal ulcers were entered into a one-year maintenance study. Patients were randomly assigned to treatment with sucralfate 2 g at night, cimetidine 400 mg, or placebo. The sucralfate versus placebo leg of the study was double-blind, whereas the cimetidine leg was single-blind. Endoscopy was repeated on clinical relapse and routinely at six and 12 months. Ninety-six of the 117 patients were followed up for one year or to an endoscopically proven recurrence. The remaining 21 patients were excluded from analysis because of default or protocol violation. The one-year analysis showed by endoscopy that ulcers had recurred in 17 of the 31 sucralfate-treated patients, 19 of the 32 cimetidine-treated patients, and in 28 of the 33 placebo-treated patients. These data included asymptomatic recurrences in four, four, and three patients, respectively. The relapse rate at 24 weeks was greater in patients healed initially with a histamine (H2)-blocker alone than in those healed initially with sucralfate alone, a combination of sucralfate with a H2-blocker or an antacid alone.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy. Importance of gastric acid secretion, H2-antagonists, and enteric coating.

The relative efficacy of three commercial pancreatic enzyme supplements in improving fat absorption was studied using the [14C]triolein breath test in 12 patients with chronic pancreatitis. Two of the supplements were enteric coated. The one nonenteric coated product was studied twice: with and without ranitidine coadministration. Doses complied with the manufacturers recommendations. Baseline studies included pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acids, 72-hr fecal fat excretion, and [14C]triolein absorption while not on supplementation. Acid outputs were variable (BAO: 0.3-4.1 meq/hr; MAO: 3.5-34.6 meq/hr). Three patients had mild steatorrhea (i.e., less than 10 g/day) and the remaining severe fat malabsorption (56.9 +/- 41.5 g/day). Although fat absorption was significantly improved by all three supplements, the nonenteric coated preparation was most effective (P less than 0.001). However, laboratory analysis demonstrated that lipase content was four times greater, ie, 17,000 IU/4 tablets. Pretreatment with ranitidine failed to further improve the absorption in patients given nonenteric supplements but was effective in those found to have high or normal acid outputs (P less than 0.001). Our results suggest that the recommended dosage of enteric coated preparations is insufficient for adult patients with severe chronic pancreatitis. Secondly, the marked variability of acid secretion in such patients possibly accounts for the variability of results obtained by others on the usefulness of coadministration of antacids and H2 antagonists. Routine measurement of gastric acid secretion status may help optimize the choice and form of pancreatic enzyme supplementation.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Gastric DNA synthesis rate in different experimental models of duodenal reflux.

The aim of our investigation was to study the gastric mucosa DNA synthesis pattern in different experimental models of duodenal reflux. The following operations were performed on male Wistar rats: (A) sham-operation; (B) Roux-Y gastrectomy; (C) Billroth I; (D) Polya-type partial gastrectomy; (E) Billroth II; and (F) simple gastroenterostomy. Fifteen weeks later rats were sacrificed and histological and in vitro 3H thymidine autoradiographic studies were carried out. Gastric mucosal DNA synthesis rate was also estimated. Besides group A, all other groups showed variable degrees of gastritis mainly located at the anastomosis or at the gastrostomy suture line. Severe gastritis was not present in group B rats and most commonly occurred in group F rats. Group C, D, E and F showed an intense epithelial proliferation with a labeling index significantly higher than in the controls. However, mucosal DNA synthesis rate appeared to decrease with the progression of gastritis and in group F, the group more exposed to duodenal reflux, was significantly lower than in the controls. It is postulated that progressive exposure to duodenal reflux and secondary atrophic gastric changes following gastric surgery is accompanied by a reduction in the mucosal layer of the DNA synthesis rate, due to the loss of epithelial elements and the increase in connective and inflammatory elements, together with an enhanced turnover of the residual epithelial cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Severe electrolyte abnormalities and paralytic ileus complicating delirium tremens.

Pneumonia and cardiac arrhythmias represent the most common life-threatening complications during delirium tremens. Electrolyte abnormalities are common underlying conditions in chronic alcoholics and they may further complicate the management of patients with alcohol-withdrawal syndrome or with delirium tremens. The authors present two cases in which the clinical picture of severe paralytic ileus complicating delirium tremens was closely associated with electrolyte status and postulate that the two were cause-effect related. A careful electrolyte supplement therapy guided by a strict monitoring of electrolyte balance and renal function proved to be particularly useful in successful management.

Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium↗
PubMed1989

ERCP in the assessment of patients with post-cholecystectomy syndrome: benefits and limitations.

The aim of our study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy yielded by endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) in a group of 41 patients presenting with persistent or recurrent abdominal pain and/or cholestasis following cholecystectomy. Each patient had previously undergone, without success, a different combination of non-invasive tests. Cannulation with adequate opacification of at least one duct was achieved in all patients. Aetiologically diagnostic findings obtained with ERCP were as follows: normal 36.8%, choledocholithiasis 34%, benign biliary stenosis 9.8%, chronic pancreatitis 4.9%, pancreatic carcinoma 2.4%, ampullary carcinoma 2.4%, cholangiocarcinoma 2.4%, miscellaneous 7.3%. ERCP gave a final diagnosis in 26 patients (63%) and in all the cases presenting with cholestasis. ERCP plays a first-line role in the diagnostic assessment of patients with the post-cholecystectomy syndrome. However, there is still a considerable part of this population in whom ERCP does not contribute to a diagnosis.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed1979

Bronchodilator activity in vivo and in vitro of four 13,14-didehydro-PGE2 analogues.

The bronchodilator activity of four analogues of PGE2: 13,14-didehydro-PGE2 (I), 20-methyl-13,14-didehydro-PGE2 (II), 16 S-methyl-13,14-didehydro-PGE2 (III) and 16 R-methyl-13,14-didehydro-PGE2 (IV) was studied in vivo and in vitro. The potency of III and IV when administered by aerosol to conscious guinea pigs was four times that of PGE2 in protecting against histamine-induced convulsion; I and II were less active. Compound III administered by aerosol to anaesthetized guinea pigs was six times more potent than PGE2 in protecting against i.v. histamine-induced increase of intractracheal pressure and the effect was longer-lasting. All the compounds caused relaxation of carbachol-induced tone in isolated guinea pig tracheal strips.

Anesthesia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ventilatory response to inspired carbon dioxide in premature infants recovering from intraventricular hemorrhage.

We examined the ventilatory response to inhaled carbon dioxide with a computerized waveform analyzer in two groups of premature infants. Twenty-seven infants suffered from periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) during the first week of life and comprised the study group (birth weight 1.2 +/- 0.2 kg, gestational age 29 +/- 2 weeks). The control group consisted of 15 infants without IVH (birth weight 1.4 +/- 0.3 kg, gestational age 30 +/- 2 weeks). Study infants were evaluated at a postnatal age of 9 +/- 2 weeks and control infants at 7 +/- 3 weeks. No differences were found in the slope or position of the ventilatory response curve, baseline PACO2, increase in minute ventilation, VT/Ttot, and Ti/Ttot between the two groups. Subgroups with unresolved apnea (10 IVH and eight control infants) demonstrated a rightward shift of the ventilatory response curve compared to those infants without apnea. A previous IVH did not reduce the ventilatory response to CO2 in this group of infants.

Apnea↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ethanol-related gastric mucosal damage: evidence of a free radical-mediated mechanism and beneficial effect of oral supplementation with bionormalizer, a novel natural antioxidant.

Twenty-two healthy teetotal volunteers underwent gastroscopy during which biopsy samples from the antrum and body were taken for chemiluminescence assay, routine histology, and for malonyldialdehyde, xanthine oxidase and glutathione determination. Subjects were divided into 2 groups which, in a double-blind fashion, were randomly and orally given either (a) Bionormalizer 9 g at bedtime and 3 h prior examination, or (b) flavored sugar 9 g as placebo. During the second gastroscopy 40 ml of 80% ethanol were sprayed perendoscopically. Gastroscopy with biopsy was repeated 60 min later. As compared to the placebo group, subjects given Bionormalizer showed significantly reduced gastric mucosal damage at endoscopy and the histological level. When considering the placebo group, ethanol administration brought about a significant increase in the luminol-amplified chemiluminescence response in gastric mucosa as compared to the baseline value which was correlated with the histological score. The mean chemiluminescence value in the Bionormalizer group was significantly lower than in the placebo group. Ethanol ingestion brought about a significant increase in xanthine oxidase and malonyldialdehyde together with a decreased glutathione concentration. Bionormalizer significantly prevented such changes. The present data suggest that the natural antioxidant Bionormalizer when given orally promotes an effective protection against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bacterial translocation in the course of acute pancreatitis: beneficial role of nonabsorbable antibiotics and lactitol enemas.

Two-hundred Wistar rats were allocated to 4 groups. The groups, 3 representing our acute pancreatitis model induced by intrabiliary injection of a trypsin/enterokinase mixture, were studied as follows: (A) no treatment; (B) given a daily 30-ml enema with 20 mg/kg rifaximin; (C) given a daily 30-ml enema with 20 mg/kg rifaximin plus lactitol 0.5 g/kg, and (D) given a daily 30-ml enema with warm saline. A further group of healthy rats was given an intrabiliary injection of 0.15 ml saline. Sacrifices were made after 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h of observation. Serial blood samples were drawn to measure pancreatic enzymes and endotoxin. At sacrifice, ascites, lymph nodes, pancreas, spleen, portal vein blood, arterial blood and bile were obtained for bacteriological culture. Both enema treatments brought about a significant improvement in survival. Enema treatments did not affect the serum level of pancreatic enzymes. A time-course increase in endotoxin level was observed in untreated rats. However, significantly decreased levels were observed after both enema treatments. Overall, ascites was the sample most frequently infected. Lymph nodes contiguous to the gut were found to be infected more frequently than those close to major vessels. The histological pancreatic damage was of a significantly lesser degree in both enema treatment groups. Virtually all severe necrotico-hemorrhagic pancreatic lesions were associated with bacterial infection. These data suggest that bacterial translocation plays a relevant role in the outcome of experimental necrotizing pancreatitis. Intra-abdominal spread and lymphatics seem to be the pathways most likely involved in such processes. Colonic cleansing by non-absorbable antibiotics and lactitol seems to exert a beneficial effect on the supervening infection of experimental necrotizing pancreatitis.

Absorption↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cyanocobalamin absorption abnormality in alcoholics is improved by oral supplementation with a fermented papaya-derived antioxidant.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Thirty alcoholic patients and 24 teetotaler dyspeptic patients were considered and underwent baseline blood chemical evaluation and the Schilling test. METHODOLOGY: During gastroscopy, biopsy samples were taken to assay: routine histology, malonyldialdehyde, vitamin E and glutathione concentration and for testing vitamin B12-Intrinsic Factor binding. Examinations were repeated after 1-week supplementation with Bionormalizer. RESULTS: Plasma malonyldialdehyde level and lipid hydroperoxides concentration as well as either malonyldialdehyde and xanthine oxidase concentration in the gastric mucosa in alcoholics were significantly higher than in controls and despite unchanged alcohol consumption, significantly decreased after Bionormalizer supplementation. Gastric mucosal glutathione was markedly depressed in alcoholics and partly recovered after Bionormalizer supplementation. Although the alcoholics showed a normal intrinsic factor secretion in the gastric juice, they exhibited a markedly depressed intrinsic factor-cobalamin binding on the "ex vivo" study. Moreover, nearly 23% of them had an abnormal Schilling test. Both these impairments reverted to normal after Bio-normalizer supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: It can be postulated that the antioxidative action played by Bionormalizer, possibly due to its availability substrates for glutathione synthesis as well as to its effects on local oxidative burst from neutrophil, is able to recover a normal cobalamin absorption.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Improvement of hemorheological abnormalities in alcoholics by an oral antioxidant.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It has been shown that alcohol impairs erythrocyte (red blood cell) membrane fluidity and lipid composition. The aim of this study was to test the effect of a novel acid-resistant antioxidant on the hemorrheology in alcoholics. METHODOLOGY: Thirty alcoholics (25 males, 5 females; mean age: 42 years; range: 31-54; 150 g ethanol/day for 3-5 years) were enrolled into the study. Patients were randomly and double-blindly allocated into 2 groups which were given, for a 2 week period, 18 g/day of Bionormalizer (obtained from biofermentation of carica papaya, pennisetum purpureum, sechium edule, Osato Res. Foundation, Gifu, Japan) dissolved in 5 mL of water at bedtime and 3 hours prior to examination. Placebo consisted of flavored sugar. Healthy teetotalers served as control. On the examination day, blood samples were taken for testing: routine tests, plasma glutathione, ascorbic acid, selenium, plasma lipid hydroperoxides and alpha-tocopherol. Erythrocytes were separated and tested for red blood cell malonyldialdehyde and glutathione content. The hemorheological studies were as follows: blood and plasma viscosity, whole blood filterability, red blood cell membrane fluidity by electron spin resonance, red blood cell aggregation index by photometric rheoscopy and red blood cell deformability by ektacytometry. RESULTS: As compared to healthy controls, alcoholics on placebo treatment showed no change of plasma viscosity but a significantly higher red blood cell malonyldialdehyde, blood viscosity (P < 0.05) and lower plasma glutathione, whole blood filterability and red blood cell fluidity (P < 0.01). No relationship appeared between biochemical tests and red blood cell membrane fluidity. Bionormalizer group showed a significant recovery to control values of either blood viscosity and whole blood filterability (P < 0.01) and a partial, although significant, improvement of red blood cell membrane fluidity, red blood cell malonyldialdehyde and plasma glutathione (P < 0.05). As compared to healthy control, red blood cell aggregation decreased in alcoholics (P < 0.05) and was not affected by Bionormalizer. However, Bionormalizer significantly improved the reduced red blood cell deformability (P < 0.05 vs. alcoholics) and this parameter correlated with red blood cell malonyldialdehyde (r: 0.62. P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary data suggest that an effective antioxidant supplementation is able to improve the hemorrheology in alcoholics either by directly affecting the ethanol-related lipoperoxidation and xanthine oxidase system activation and/or by modifying red blood cell membrane characteristics.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chemopreventive effect of a probiotic preparation on the development of preneoplastic and neoplastic colonic lesions: an experimental study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A number of studies have suggested a key role played by certain resident gut bacteria in the development of large bowel cancer. The aim of the present study was to test the effect of a novel symbiotic preparation, which has been recently shown to beneficially modify gut ecosystem and systemic immunity, on either preneoplastic and neoplastic changes in a colon carcinogenesis model. METHODOLOGY: Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a standard diet for 1 week and then were randomly assigned to three groups. The control diet was given to groups A and B, whereas in group C, the same diet plus 2 mL of a probiotic mixture was given throughout the experiment. Thirty rats (groups B, C) each received a weekly subcutaneous injection of azoxymethane at a dose of 15 mg/kg of body weight for 10 weeks. Group A served as a control group and received a subcutaneous injection of saline for 10 weeks. Forty-five rats were sacrificed at 3-week observation and 60 rats at 20-week observation for assessing metaphase index together with aberrant crypt foci and intestinal immune system markers from one hand and tumor occurrence from the other, respectively. RESULTS: Group A showed a significantly increased metaphase index either in aberrant crypt foci or in "normal appearing" crypts when compared to group A (p < 0.01). Group B rats caused a significant decrease at both sites (p < 0.05). The numbers of lymphocytes derived from the mesenteric lymph nodes in group B rats were significantly decreased (p < 0.01) as compared to either control and to group C. The percentage of CD8 lymphocytes in group C was significantly higher than that in group B. Group C showed a significantly reduced ratio of aberrant crypt foci/colon and of aberrant crypt per colon and per each single focus (p < 0.05). A total of 18 (90%) group B and 10 (50%) group C rats had colon tumors, this difference was significant. The mean number of colon tumors per rat was 2.2 and 1.0 in group B and C, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Effective probiotics treatment, through mechanisms still to be fully elucidated (decreased fecal pH, specific reduction of carcinogenetic bacterial enzymes, modulation of gut-associated and systemic immune system etc.) has the potential to exert significant antimutagenic properties against colon cancer.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Phytotherapeutic compound YHK exerts an inhibitory effect on early stage of experimentally-induced neoplastic liver lesions.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the herbal compound YHK on hepatocarcinogenesis induced by diethylntrosamine (DEN) in Sprague Dawley rats. Rats were randomly divided into 3 groups and followed up for 15 weeks. Groups 1 was given standard food and represented the healthy control. Liver preneoplastic foci were induced using the DEN method in groups 2 and 3 (20 rats each). However, group 3 was concomitantly given 50mg/kg/day of YHK. For quantitative assessment of liver preneoplastic foci, the placental form of glutathione-S-transferase (GST-P) positive foci were measured using immunohistochemical staining and image analysis. Treatment using DEN caused a significant decrease in body weight and increase in liver weight compared to the control group while concomitant supplementation with YHK prevented body weight loss and liver weight increase. As compared to DENonly treated rats, the group given YHK showed a significant decrease in the number, size and volume of GSTP- positive foci. Moreover, co-administration of YHK significantly reduced the incidence, number, size and volume of hepatocellular carcinoma. Anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic as well as antioxidative properties of this compound are mechanisms which are likely to be advocated for to explain its protective effect. It is concluded that herbal compound YHK by preventing hepatocarcinogenesis in DEN-induced liver preneoplastic lesions in rats has the potential to a large clinical application as a functional food.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Abstinence-induced oxidative stress in moderate drinkers is improved by bionormalizer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this investigation was to study the oxidative phenomena which take place in the early recovery phase after alcohol withdrawal. Furthermore, the effects of a novel natural antioxidant, Bionormalizer (BN), in such a clinical setting was studied. METHODOLOGY: Forty-six alcoholics with moderate drinking habits (daily ethanol intake: > 80g to < 120g) were enrolled in the study, divided into two groups and given either a placebo or 9g of BN by mouth every night for one week. The patients agreed to stop drinking alcohol, and daily blood sampling was obtained for routine tests and to check plasma and erythrocyte levels of MDA, SOD, GPX and the hydroperoxide level. The groups were comparable in terms of initial biochemical parameters. RESULTS: BN prevented the early increase of plasma TBARS observed in the placebo group, enabling a near-to-normal level of plasma and erythrocyte MDA by the fourth day. BN also prevented the significant drop of erythrocyte GPX and the transient decrease of plasma SOD observed in the placebo group. Despite alcohol withdrawal, plasma lipid hydroperoxide remained significantly elevated in the placebo group, but this phenomenon was rapidly improved by BN. CONCLUSIONS: To a significant extent, BN is able to prevent the free radical-mediated lipoperoxidative changes that occur soon after alcohol withdrawal, while fastening the recovery mechanisms.

Adult↗