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Biomedical subjects

F Russo

Publications and source records attributed to F Russo.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

[International prostate symptom score: comparison of doctor and patient].

The AUA 7 score was originally designed and validated to be self administrated to patients with LUTS, its subsequent endorsement by the WHO - BPH committee made it the most widely used. Translation into different was provided and sometime validated. Aim of the study was to investigate the possibility to self administer the IPSS questionnaire to patients referred to our Institution for lower urinary tract symptoms. Two hundred and thirty-tree consecutive patients were given the IPSS questionnaire as a part of the routine diagnostic schedule; a senior resident was available to answer any possible question from the patient. After the form was returned, a second IPSS questionnaire was filled in by investigator following patient interview. Data were entered into an Excel database and the following parameters were investigate: number of forms completely filled in by patient, number of question answered in incomplete forms, degree of concordance between patient and investigator. One hundred and fifteen patients were able to fill the AUA 7 form completely; the quality of life question was answered by ninety-six patients only. Comparison of individual scores provided by the patient or assigned by the investigator showed a trend for the physician to underscore the patient problem for question 1-4 and to overestimate it in questions 5 to 7. At the lower range of the IPS score (0-7) no significant different between physician and patient was found. In the intermediate range (8-19) the physician tended to overestimate the patient symptoms. The reverse situations was found in the high score range (20-35). Globally, there was a trend for the patient score to be higher than the one assigned by the investigator, Doctor IPSS and quality of life scores appeared to be significantly related. No relation was found between doctor IPSS and the degree of bladder outlet obstruction as measured by parameter of pressure-flow study and diagnostic nomograms. The IPSS form appeared to be a difficult questionnaire for our patients and less than half of them were able to fill it in properly. Overall, the investigators tended to underestimate the patient voiding disturbances. Careful linguistic review of the Italian version of the IPSS questionnaire is required to make self evaluation of patient symptom possible. Symptom grading by a trained investigator did not seem to introduce any significant bias which might be of importance for the sake of clinical trials.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[The Studer orthotopic ileal neobladder: patient compliance].

Radical cystectomy represents the gold standard for locally advanced bladder cancer. Orthotopic neobladder is considered the surgical option which may offer the least modification of body image and the best life condition to the unfortunate patient requiring radical cystectomy. Objective of this study was to investigate long term clinical outcome of orthotopic ileal bladder substitute with special reference to late complications and patient compliance. Twenty male patients 48 to 71 years old (mean age 59.8 + 7.4 years) underwent radical cystectomy and Studer orthotopic ileal neobladder for invasive carcinoma of the bladder. Before surgery all patients filled in a phycometric test for evaluating their knowledge capacity; after surgery they underwent a course of biofeedback and instructed to avoid overfilling of the neobladder with timed micturitions and a regular regimen of fluid intake. Pressure flow study was included in the routine follow-up carried out at six months and then yearly. Seventeen patients (85%), with a good knowledge capacity, reported a good compliance to the modified life style imposed by the bladder substitute, they all were dry during the day with 3 to 5.5 hour interval between micturitions; fourteen of these patients were continent at night with timed micturitions every 3-4 hours (mean: 3.2); an average cystometric capacity of 450 ml was found in these patients with no residual urine; three patients (18%) had incontinence episodes once or twice a week during the night; no decompensation of the neobladder, significant ureteral reflux or dilatation were reported; elongation of the afferent loop was found in one patient following small bowel resection for ileal volvulus. Three patients (15%), with a reduced knowledge capacity, who did not follow the suggested life style: fluid intake was irregular, micturitions were not timed during both day and night time, had residual urine larger than 400 ml. and incontinence episodes requiring pads; nevertheless no dilation of the upper urinary tract was found. Our experience suggests that careful compliance of patients to the new life style imposed by the orthotopic neobladder is of importance to avoid its decompensation. The possible causative role of gastrointestinal hormones such as enteroglucagon (EG) and peptide tyrosine-tyrosine (PYY) in the elongation of the afferent limb of the Studer neobladder is proposed. In conclusion, we believe that orthotopic ileal neobladder is an ideal surgical option on in the young, educated and cooperative patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Polyamine profile in human gastric mucosa infected by Helicobacter pylori.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have demonstrated increased gastric epithelial cell proliferation associated with Helicobacter pylori infection, which is reversed after bacterium eradication. Among the substances involved in cell proliferation and differentiation, polyamines are a group of polycations found in high concentrations both in normal and neoplastic cells. AIMS: Of the study were: a) to examine the influence of Helicobacter pylori infection on the polyamine profile in the gastric antrum and body, by comparing infected, to uninfected, patients, b) to evaluate the effect of successful and unsuccessful bacterium eradication on polyamine levels. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-six consecutive dyspeptic patients (20 Helicobacter pylori positive and 6 Helicobacter pylori negative) undergoing gastroscopy were enrolled. Polyamines were evaluated in antral and body biopsies by High Performance Liquid Chromatography. RESULTS: Antral and body biopsies from Helicobacter pylori positive patients contained higher polyamine levels than those from Helicobacter pylori negative subjects. In Helicobacter pylori positive patients, the baseline polyamine levels were higher in the antrum than in the body. In Helicobacter pylori negative subjects, levels in the two stomach regions were similar. After therapy, polyamine levels decreased in patients with successful eradication, whereas these levels remained unchanged in patients in whom infection persisted. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate enhanced antral cellular proliferation linked to the presence of Helicobacter pylori and add weight to the postulation of an association between Helicobacter pylori infection and increased risk of neoplastic changes in gastric antral mucosa. Differences in antral and body levels of polyamines may also be considered as a further indication of the different mucosal reactivity between the two regions of the stomach towards bacterial invasion.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[[(Arylpiperazinyl)alkyl]thio]thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidinone derivatives as high-affinity, selective 5-HT1A receptor ligands.

A series of 2-[[(4-aryl-1-piperazinyl)alkyl]thio]thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4 (1H)-one and 3-substituted 2-[[(4-aryl-1-piperazinyl)alky]thio]thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4 (3H)-one derivatives was prepared and evaluated for in vitro 5-HT1A receptor affinity by radioligand binding assays; the selectivity for 5-HT1A receptors rather than alpha 1-adrenoceptors was also examined (ratio of the IC50 alpha 1 to IC50 5-HT1A). The binding tests gave indications about the best features of the [(arylpiperazinyl)alkyl]thio moiety and of the substituents on the thiophene and pyrimidinone rings for efficacious and selective 5-HT1A ligands. The most effective derivative for displacing [3H]-8-OH-DPAT from rat hippocampal membranes was the 3-amino-2-[[3-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl] propyl]thio]-5,6-dimethylthieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-one (70) (IC50 = 0.3 nM) with selectivity of 24 for the 5-HT1A over the alpha 1-adrenoceptor. Compound 73, where the 2-methoxyphenyl on the N4 piperazine ring was replaced with a pyrimidine group, showed the best selectivity, with a ratio of 74, while its affinity IC50 for 5-HT1A was 6.8 nM. These results, compared to those for compounds 46 (IC50 24 nM; selectivity 2) and 49 (IC50 226 nM; selectivity 5), N3 unsubstituted analogues of derivatives 70 and 73, show the importance of an amino group in position 3 of the thienopyrimidine system for the interaction with 5-HT1A receptor binding sites, although this fragment can affect the affinity and selectivity only if linked to the (arylpiperazinyl)alkyl moiety. The better selectivity of piperidine 74 (IC50 0.8; selectivity 45) compared to the analogous piperazine 70 is also noteworthy. Twenty of the 30 molecules used for determining the binding affinity to 5-HT1A and alpha 1-adrenergic receptors were selected for QSAR analysis using a series of molecular descriptors and calculated with the TSAR software.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗
PubMed1997

Hypolactasia and metabolic changes in post-menopausal women.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study were to evaluate the prevalence of hypolactasia in a group of post-menopausal women in Southern Italy, and to relate hypolactasia to possible changes occurring in biochemical indicators of carbohydrate and fat metabolism as well as in biochemical markers of bone metabolism. METHODS: Fifty post-menopausal women entered the study. Lactose malabsorbers were identified by breath hydrogen test. The kinetics of D-xylose was evaluated by a graphic-mathematical analysis after oral administration of a solution of 10 g of D-xylose in water. Serum glucose, insulin, C-peptide, cholesterol and triglycerides were assayed by commercial kits. The evaluation of dietary habits and physical activities was performed by a questionnaire. The assessment of bone turnover was obtained by measuring osteocalcin, serum alkaline phosphatase, calcium, phosphorus, and urinary hydroxyproline and urinary calcium expressed as a ratio or urinary creatinine. RESULTS: Twenty-six of 50 women showed hypolactasia. Significant differences were found in serum levels of insulin, glucose, and triglycerides, which were lower in malabsorbers than lactose absorbers, and in HDL-cholesterol levels which were higher in the first group than in the second. As regards bone turnover, dietary habits or lactose intake, there were no significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The significant differences found in serum levels of glucose, triglycerides, and HDL-cholesterol between lactose absorbers and malabsorbers may be imputable to the low or absent lactase activity which does not allow the whole amount of lactose in the small bowel of malabsorbers to be metabolized. Moreover, changes in lactose absorbing capacity of intestinal mucosa did not modify the intake of milk or its by-products in malabsorbers as demonstrated by the analysis of food.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Polyamine levels and ODC activity in intestinal-type and diffuse-type gastric carcinoma.

Gastric carcinomas are divided into two types according to Lauren's classification: intestinal and diffuse types. Polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) are polycations involved in neoplastic growth of gastrointestinal mucosa. A key role is also played by ornithine decarboxylase, the rate limiting enzyme in polyamine metabolism. Our aim was to investigate whether there were differences between the two types of tumor in polyamine metabolism. Twenty-seven patients with gastric carcinoma entered the study. Seventeen carcinomas were classified as diffuse type and 10 as intestinal type. Polyamine levels were evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography. Ornithine decarboxylase activity was measured by a radiometric technique. Polyamine levels and ornithine decarboxylase activity were significantly higher in intestinal type samples than diffuse type samples. A similarity of polyamine levels in intestinal type samples with levels previously observed in patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma was also found. These findings show a different proliferative behavior of these two types of tumor, and therefore different therapeutic strategies can be hypothesized.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1997

Some uncharacteristic clinical signs and symptoms of acoustic neuroma.

OBJECTIVE: The most common initial symptoms of the acoustic neuroma are unilateral hearing loss that evolves gradually, tinnitus, and unsteadiness. However, atypical presentations may sometimes occur, more often with a small intracanalicular neuroma or with a large medial neuroma placed in the cerebellopontine angle. RESULTS: In our group of 51 patients suffering from acoustic neuroma, atypical presentations were observed in 9 cases (17.6%). Two patients had normal hearing function but reported tinnitus; two patients reported sudden hearing loss, with partial recovery; two patients had a history of fluctuating hearing loss; two patients reported neurologic symptoms (one reported trigeminal paresthesia and the other had a history of trigeminal paresthesia and recurrent headache); and one patient reported profound hearing loss for many years and the recent onset of unsteadiness. CONCLUSION: Patients with these atypical presentations have to undergo a diagnostic evaluation for acoustic neuroma and must be evaluated with BAEPs and then with gadolinium-enhanced MRI.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Physiopathology of angiotensin II and vascular lesion].

The Authors report, in this article, about pathophysiology mechanism that is to the base of the vascular injury mediate from the Angiotensin II able of modulate the primer, the acceleration and the progression of the atherosclerosis. Afterward is considered the importance of the administration of the inhibiting of the receptors AT-1 (Losartan) in the control of the hypertension and of the atherosclerosis.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1997

[Problems associated with the use and monitoring of cyclosporin. Experience at a Clinical Pharmacology Service].

BACKGROUND: A study on cyclosporine A (CyA) monitoring in the January 1992-December 1995 period is reported. The aim of this work was to give epidemiological data on the use of CyA, to verify the progressive increase of CyA determinations and to evaluate the use in other diseases as well as to compare the different technics of CyA assay in blood samples, to stress the timing of blood samples and to underline the CyA monitoring importance. METHODS: The CyA dosage was evaluated by fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: The study showed that 70% of CyA determinations come from patients undergone to renal, bone marrow and liver transplantations; the remaining 30% was associated to other diseases (psoriasis, uveitis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis). CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained showed a progressive and constant increase of CyA determinations. Moreover, the use of drug was increased in autoimmune diseases. It is stressed that CyA monitoring in blood samples is essential to optimize the therapeutic efficacy of drug and minimizing its toxicity.

Autoimmune Diseases↗
PubMed1996

Human growth hormone treatment in prepubertal children with achondroplasia.

We studied the effects of recombinant human growth hormone (GH) treatment in 6 prepubertal children with achondroplasia. The patients' age ranged from 2 11/12 to 8 5/12 years and the GH dose was of 0.1 IU/kg/day subcutaneously. Auxological assessments and bone age determinations were performed 6 months before, at the beginning, and after 6 and 12 months of therapy. The growth velocity increase during the whole year of treatment ranged from 1.1 to 2.6 cm/year in 3 patients while in the others no variation was detected. No side effects were observed during the trial apart from a slight advancement of bone age in two patients. MRI at the cervicomedullary junction and CT scan of the base of the skull did not show any variation of the dimensions of the foramen magnum at the end of the trial compared to baseline. Our study shows that r-hGH can safely increase short-term growth velocity in some but not all prepubertal children with achondroplasia. Our data confirm the individual variability in the response to the GH treatment.

Achondroplasia↗
PubMed1996

Interferon-alpha therapy may induce insulin autoantibody development in patients with chronic viral hepatitis.

Development of type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus has been recently reported in patients who underwent interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy because of chronic viral hepatitis. Furthermore IFN-alpha seems to be involved in the immunological events that lead to beta-cell destruction and development of type 1 diabetes. To evaluate whether IFN-alpha treatment could elicit an autoimmune response against beta-cell antigens, we determined the occurrence of islet cell antibodies and insulin autoantibodies in the sera of 60 patients with HCV- or HBV-related chronic hepatitis who had been treated with IFN-alpha for 6 or 12 months. The presence of antibodies against thyroglobulin, thyroid microsomal antigen, gastric parietal cells, and non-organ-specific antigens was also investigated. Insulin autoantibody positivity was observed in 2/60 (3.3%), 8/60 (13.3%), and 4/30 (13.3%) patients, before IFN-alpha treatment, and after 6 months and 12 months of therapy, respectively. None of the studied patients developed islet cell antibodies or type 1 diabetes. Before IFN-alpha therapy four patients showed thyroid autoantibodies and four others developed antibodies against thyroglobulin and/or thyroid microsomal antigen during the treatment. Coexistence of insulin autoantibodies and thyroid autoantibodies was observed in only two patients. Our results showed that IFN-alpha therapy in patients with chronic viral hepatitis is capable of inducing development of autoantibodies against insulin. This event seems to be not related to other autoimmune disorders.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Sleep and upper airway obstruction in children with achondroplasia.

OBJECTIVE: The features of achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism, includes short cranial base and midface hypoplasia; both abnormalities increased the risk of upper airway obstruction during sleep. The aim of our study was to evaluate sleep and respiratory function of children with achondroplasia and to differentiate central from obstructive apnea. We also wanted to correlate apneic events with foramen magnum stenosis. STUDY DESIGN: Sixteen children with achondroplasia (mean age, 4.7 years) were studied by noctumal polysomnography and brain computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. A comparison of sleep and respiratory findings was made between the study group and 25 children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy. RESULTS: The study revealed no significant difference between groups with respect to sleep architecture. We also found no relationship between apnea type and foramen magnum stenosis. Twelve children (75%) with achondroplasia had significant upper airway obstruction during sleep, with symptoms of continuous snoring and periods of brief obstructive apnea, hypopnea, or both. The mean apneahypopnea index (per hour of sleep) did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, the breathing rate during sleep was increased in children with achondroplasia. These findings indicate that the most important breathing disorder during sleep in children with achondroplasia is upper airway obstruction. CONCLUSION: We conclude that polysomnography with detailed scoring of breathing abnormalities is a useful tool in evaluating sleep-disordered breathing in children with achondroplasia.

Achondroplasia↗
PubMed1996

Nonverbal behavior and alexithymic traits in normal subjects. Individual differences in encoding emotions.

The relationship between nonverbal behavior and emotional awareness, as measured by the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, was studied in 24 young volunteers free of medical and psychiatric disorders. Multiple regression analysis revealed that nonverbal behavior during psychiatric interview was a significant predictor of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale total score independent of situational depression and anxiety. Subjects who had difficulty identifying and describing their feelings showed a combination of poor nonverbal expressivity and frequent self-directed behavior patterns indicative of tension and anxiety. In addition, subjects with a tendency toward externally oriented thinking showed more avoidance behavior during the interview. The ethological data of this study support clinical observations, which suggest that alexithymic traits interfere with both processing of emotion and interpersonal behavior.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Magnetic resonance angiography of the portal vein in liver transplant recipients].

This work was aimed at investigating the diagnostic accuracy of Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) in the study of the portal vein in liver transplant recipients. Ten patients (7 men and 3 women; mean age: 45 years) were examined 7-180 days after transplantation. The indications to liver transplant follow: post-infective active chronic hepatitis (4 patients), post-alcoholic chronic hepatitis (2 patients), HCC (2 patients), sclerosing cholangitis (1 patient) and primary biliary cirrhosis (1 patient). MRA images were acquired with the 2D TOF technique (TR 50 ms, TE 6.9 ms; FA 30 degrees, 40 slices; 6-mm thickness with 1-mm overlapping; 2 averages; 7.06 TA; matrix: 192 x 256). Axial scans were reconstructed with the MIP technique. Phase contrast sequences with retrospective cardiac triggering were also acquired for flow quantitation (TR/TE/FA: 26/9.3/20 degrees; FOV 150; matrix: 96 x 128; 4 averages, VENC = 20 cm/s). MRA yielded good quality images of the anatomy of the main portal vein and of the bifurcation in all cases, while a signal loss was observed in the peripheral branches. In all cases, the anastomosis could be studied at the portal vein. On MIP reconstructed images, the anastomosis appeared as a relative stenosis (4), while on 2D images it appeared as a small hypodense area on the vessel margin, because of the slight paramagnetic effect of the vascular suture. No thrombi were depicted in any patient and flow was hepatopetal in all cases. In conclusion, MRA is a useful tool for portal system studies in liver transplant recipients, because it permits the panoramic depiction of the portal system and the quantitation of flow (10).

Female↗
PubMed1995

Hepatitis B E antigen detection in formalin-fixed liver biopsy specimens. A tool to investigate wild-type and E-minus variant HBV infection.

The aim of this study is to investigate whether hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) reactivity can be detected on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded liver tissue, and whether immunohistochemical detection of intrahepatic HBeAg may help to distinguish between "wild-type" and "eminus" hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Liver biopsy specimens were analyzed from 27 patients with chronic type B hepatitis: 12 patients had serum HBeAg (group A), and 15 patients were anti-HBe positive (group B). Part of each biopsy fragment was processed for histologic and immunohistochemical studies, and a part was used for HBV-DNA analysis. Dewaxed sections from each specimen were tested with a specific monoclonal anti-HBe antibody; then a Biotin-Streptavidin kit was used as detection system. HBeAg was revealed in 10 of 12 cases of group A and in 6 of the 15 cases of group B. Pre-core region of HBV genomes, isolated from each biopsy specimen, was analyzed by direct sequencing: 10 cases of group A were found to be infected by wild-type HBV alone and 2 cases by both wild and e-minus HBV types. In group B, all the 6 cases with intrahepatic HBeAg reactivity were found to be infected by mixed viral population, whereas the 9 cases negative for such reactivity were found to be infected by e-minus HBV alone. These results show that HBeAg can be detected in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded liver specimens, and the method is sensitive and specific. Because the presence of HBeAg in the liver indicates a wild-type HBV infection, and the lack of detection of such antigen in the hepatocytes of anti-HBe positive subjects correlates with unmixed e-minus HBV infection, the authors conclude that this technique is a useful tool for recognizing the viral strains that infect patients with chronic type B hepatitis.

Adolescent↗