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Biomedical subjects

F Rubino

Publications and source records attributed to F Rubino.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Reduced plasma concentrations of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) in obese women.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate Transforming Growth Factor beta1, (TGF-beta1) plasma concentrations and the possible relationship between this growth factor and various hormones in obese women. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Outpatient's Service for the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity at the University Hospital. SUBJECTS: Twenty-five women with mild to moderate obesity, and 15 non-obese healthy women were used as controls. MEASUREMENTS: Evaluation of TGF-beta1, insulin, prolactin, sex-hormone binding globulin, androstenedione, free triiodothyronine, free tetraiodothyronine, thyroid-stimulating hormone, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate, testosterone, insulin-like growth factor 1, cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone plasma concentrations in obese women. Blood samples were taken from fasting subjects for the determination of the above parameters. RESULTS: In obese women plasma TGF-beta1 concentrations were lower than in controls. The obese subjects also had lower GH, IGF-1 and SHBG plasma concentrations and increased insulinaemia. A positive correlation was found between TGF-beta1 and both IGF-1 (r = 0.52; P < 0.01) and DHEA-S (r = 0.43; P < 0.05), while a negative correlation was found between TGF-beta1 and SHBG (r = -0.49; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The reduction in TGF-beta1, an antilipogenic factor, may play a role in the pathogenesis of obesity and could be involved in the development of some obesity-related endocrine alterations.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Bile ductopenia following therapy with sulpiride.

We report a case of ductopenia associated with cholestatic hepatitis in a 59-year-old woman treated for 41 years for temporal epilepsy. The patient developed jaundice, without any clinical or biochemical features of hypersensitivity, 10 months after the beginning of treatment with sulpiride. Liver biopsy showed ballooning and acidophilic degeneration of the hepatocytes, macrophages packed with lipofuscin, biliary pigment in Kupffer cells, some biliary plugs, confluent necrosis and absence of biliary ducts in all the portal tracts. These features and the presence of foci of cholangiolitis suggest a destructive cholangitis as the pathogenetic mechanism causing ductopenia. Other causes of ductopenia were excluded. Sulpiride is known to produce severe cholestatic jaundice, which we believe is due to ductopenia. The absence of hypersensitivity and the 10-month latency suggest that sulpiride may cause liver damage through a toxic mechanism in genetically susceptible subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Adenomatoid tumor of the epididymis].

Adenomatoid tumor of the epididymis is an uncommon lesion accounting for approximately 30% of all the paratesticular neoplasms. One case observed in this Urological Department is reported and a review of our series of paratesticular neoplasms treated in the last 10 years has been considered.

Epididymis↗
PubMed1992

Changes of the human liver GM3 ganglioside molecular species during aging.

Sialosyl-lactosylceramide, GM3, is the major ganglioside of human liver, where it constitutes more than 90% of the total lipid-bound sialic acid. When analyzed by thin-layer chromatography, human liver GM3 migrates as two main spots. They are representative of ganglioside molecular species which differ in the acyl moiety. The faster running spot is mainly composed of molecular species with non-hydroxylated C22-C24 acyl chains; the other contains mainly molecular species bearing non-hydroxylated C16-C18 and alpha-hydroxylated C16-C24 acyl chains. In this study the content of the two GM3 molecular species groups was investigated in 31 subjects ranging from 19 to 85 years of age. By thin-layer chromatography we observed that the group of molecular species containing non-hydroxylated C22-C24 acyl chains, decreased linearly with subject age, while that of non-hydroxylated C16-C18 acyl chains and hydroxylated C16-C24 acyl chains increased linearly. Fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry performed on seven samples from subjects ranging from 21 to 78 years of age demonstrated that the age-dependent increase of the lower spot is caused by an increase in the hydroxylated fatty acid form of GM3, the content of non-hydroxylated C16-C18 fatty acid species remaining constant with age.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Preparation of lyso-GM1 (II3Neu5AcGgOse4-long chain bases) by a one-pot reaction.

A simple procedure is described for preparing lyso-GM1, a GM1 derivative that lacks the fatty acid moiety, starting from GM1 ganglioside using a one-pot reaction. Ganglioside deacylation was carried out in KOH/propan-1-ol in the absence of oxygen. The yield of lyso-GM1 under optimal conditions (6 h, 90 degrees C, 0.2 N KOH, 1 mM GM1) was 54%. The chemical structure of lyso-GM1 was determined by 1H-NMR and FAB-MS analyses, thus proving that the acetamide groups of galactosamine and sialic acid units were not affected during the deacylation reaction.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗
PubMed1991

[A diagnostic protocol for gastric cancer in old age].

After examining the various diagnostic methods used for gastric cancer, the paper analyses all geriatric patients affected by this disease and hospitalised in the Institute of Pathological Surgery at the University of Pavia between 1/1/1974 and 31/12/1986. The results obtained confirmed that: the subjective symptoms of the elderly patient affected by gastric cancer differ in a large number of cases from those in adults; in some cases, in fact, the disease is silent for long periods of time, whereas it is only slight in others; tests performed revealed neoplasia and possible metastases. In conclusion, although the symptomatology in elderly patients is not clear, some symptoms (weight loss, anemia, etc.) may give the doctor cause for concern. Diagnosis may be made using a variety of tests, ranging from the more commonplace (X-ray of the digestive tract, echography, gastroscopy with biopsy, etc.) to the most recent techniques (immunoscintigraphy).

Aged↗
PubMed1991

[Hernias of the abdominal wall in old age].

Following a review of the literature on the topic, the authors examined all patients admitted to the Institute of Surgical Pathology 1st at the University of Pavia between 1-1-1974 and 31-12-1988 affected by hernias of the abdominal wall or surgical laparoceles, paying special attention to those patients aged over 65. Attention was focused on concomitant diseases, the acuteness of the basic pathology and possible recurrence. From the results obtained it was concluded that the associated pathology and the acute state of the basic diseases condition the successful outcome of the operation more than age itself. For this reason, it is important that patients affected by these pathologies are operated as soon as possible in order to carry out an elective operation which reduces postoperative complications and reduces the risk of recurrence.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

[Hiatal hernia in old age].

Following a review of the literature on the topic, the Authors examined all patients admitted to the Institute of Surgical Pathology 1st at the University of Pavia between 1-1-1974 and 31-12-1988 for hiatus hernia, paying special attention to those aged over 65. From an analysis of the results, it was possible to evaluate the influence of collateral pathologies and age-dependent biological changes on the basic disease and the outcome of the operation in elderly patients. In conclusion, this pathology, although not strictly confined to old age, affects a large number of elderly patients, particularly females. It rarely causes acute attacks and it is therefore possible to time the operation to coincide with the patient's best conditions. This is the reason for the excellent results achieved, whereas complications are not related to chronological age but above all to the biological age of the patient.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Pharmacologic probe with progabide of GABA mechanisms in essential tremor.

Progabide, a gamma-aminobutyric acid agonist, was given to ten patients with essential tremor in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. The effect of progabide did not differ from that of placebo. Alterations in gamma-aminobutyric acid neurotransmission do not appear to be involved in the pathogenesis of essential tremor.

Brain↗
PubMed1986

Acetate in predilution in bicarbonate.

Acetate in predilution in bicarbonate dialysis with AN69 S. The purpose of this work was to assess whether bicarbonate dialysis, with infusion of acetate in predilution, using an AN69-S filter, offered some advantage over bicarbonate and acetate dialysis. In a period of 16 months we analysed 11 patients with this method, comparing them with one group of 7 patients in bicarbonate dialysis and another of 11 in acetate dialysis. The following parameters were investigated: acid-basic balance, HCT, weight and the intradialytic symptoms. There was some improvement in both objective and subjective parameters in patients treated by this method compared to patients in the control groups and the results were lasting.

Acetates↗