PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Boccardo

Publications and source records attributed to G Boccardo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

[Daily short dialysis. First results in a group of patients in home dialysis training].

The preliminary data of a small group of voluntary patients in daily short dialysis according to Buoncristiani are reported. After only one month of therapy an increase of haemoglobin and of haematocrit was obtained so that it was possible to reduce the EPO dose. The arterial pressure was better controlled with a smaller dose of antihypertensive drugs, facilitated in one case by a marked reduction of the body weight. The improvement in well-being and libido has been better than expected. The good results achieved encourage to go on with this experience, reported in the literature as an advantageous method both from the theoretic and clinical point of view, despite some difficulties that have still to be minimised.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Conservative treatment of renal ptosis].

BACKGROUND: Nephroptosis or floating kidney is an acquired, caudal displacement of one or both kidneys, with differing stages and etiology. It has been almost completely ignored over the past few years. The general tendency to regard nephroptosis as a urological pathology has prompted researchers to look for resolutive surgical treatment. The existence of over 150 surgical techniques is a clear demonstration of the high failure rate with the result that surgeons are unwilling to tackle this pathology, often leaving the patient alone with his problems. The numerous nephrological complications caused by nephroptosis have prompted us to look for alternative therapies to propose to nephrologists for the consecutive treatment of the floating kidney, enabling the patient to live with his pathology. METHODS: A longitudinal study was performed for 60 months in 102 patients with mono or bilateral nephroptosis. Hematuria, urinary cylindroids, asthenia, pain and the daily intake of antispastic lenitives were analysed at 6, 12, 24 and 60 months. Throughout this period all patients were treated with a water cure (31/day) and nocturnal decubitus in Trendelenburg's position (the foot of the bed is raised by 10 cm). Patients with primary or secondary kidney pathology, UTI and nephrolithiasis were excluded from the study. RESULTS: All the parameters showed a marked and steady improvement. At one year, over half the patients treated had improved, and at two years over two thirds only complained of marginal symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Quali-quantitative and temporal values are reported in the light of which we can affirm that conservative treatment enables the patient to lead an almost normal life, as well as returning to work, with a reduced risk of complications.

Congenital Abnormalities↗
PubMed1999

IGF-1 and IGFBP in congenital and acquired hypothyroidism after long-term replacement treatment.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid hormones are involved in the regulation of the GH/IGF axis. Hypothyroidism is associated with a reduction in GH pulsatility and in GH-response to stimulatory tests. In hypothyroidism, serum levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 fall and these changes are reversed after short term replacement with L-T4. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of long term replacement therapy with T4 in IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 serum levels. METHODS: The study included 12 patients affected with hypothyroidism and in replacement treatment with T4. They were divided into 3 groups according to age at the beginning of treatment. Group A consisted of 4 pre-pubertal subjects with Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH) diagnosed with neonatal screening, where T4 treatment was started within 15 days of life. Group B consisted of 5 young adults where CH was clinically diagnosed at the median age of 6 months and replacement therapy started at this age. Group C consisted of 3 subjects affected with hypothyroidism secondary to thyroiditis where diagnosis and replacement treatment were delayed at age 11, 12 and 14 respectively. All subjects were matched with a control of the same age, sex, weight and pubertal stage. RESULTS: FT3, FT4 and TSH were in the normal range both in patients and in controls. No correlation was found between FT3 or FT4 and IGF-1 or IGFBP-3 serum levels. IGF-1 serum levels in group A (198 +/- 122 ng/ml) were significantly lower than that in group B (624 +/- 105, p < 0.001) and in group C (649 +/- 98, p = 0.003). IGFBP-3 serum levels in group A (1.98 +/- 0.56 micrograms/ml) were significantly lower than in group B (3.65 +/- 1.10, p = 0.03) and in group C (4.13 +/- 0.49, p = 0.003). The increase in IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels was seen also in control groups B and C when compared with control group A. IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were positively correlated with age both in patients and in controls. A linear correlation was found between IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 which was positive for controls (r = 0.946, p < 0.001) and patient group A and B (r = 0.839, p = 0.005) but tended to be negative for patient group C (r = -0.65, n.s.). CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that long term replacement therapy in children with hypothyroidism is associated with a physiological increase in IGF-1 and IGFBP-3. The positive correlation between IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels in group A and B confirm the efficacy of long term replacement treatment on the IGF-1/BP-3 axis in pre- and post-pubertal patients treated for CH. However, this correlation tended to be negative in patients with hypothyroidism secondary to thyroiditis, suggesting that the cause of thyroid insufficiency and/or the age at the beginning of replacement therapy may have a role in the post-pubertal hormonal status in IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 balance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Time course and functional correlates of post-transplant aluminium elimination.

Urinary excretion of aluminium after a successful transplant can reverse pre-transplant aluminium intoxication. We have evaluated the time course of urinary aluminium excretion and its correlation with several parameters of renal function and mineral metabolism in 49 patients (33 men and 16 women) with a wide range of pre-transplant serum aluminium concentrations, performing sequential determinations at pre-transplant time and at 7, 30, 60, and 90 post-transplant days. Mean serum aluminium at pre-transplant was 54.5+/-46.8 microg/l decreasing progressively to 28.7+/-24.4 microg/l at 90 days (P<0.0002), paralleling the decrease in serum creatinine. Urinary aluminium decreased from 63.0+/-77.9 to 52.4+/-55.9 microg/l at 90 days (P<0.0001). The maximum urinary aluminium/creatinine was 1.8+/-2.7 at 7 days and was associated with the greatest fractional excretion of sodium (4.7+/-5.1%), and the lowest tubular reabsorption of phosphate (55.7+/-25.1%). The fractional excretion of aluminium was also greatest at day 7 (1.1+/-0.9%) when serum creatinine was still elevated (3.6+/-2.3 mg/dl). At each period of time after transplantation fractional excretion of aluminium was similar in all patients despite disparate serum aluminium concentrations. Fractional excretion of aluminium was highest in those patients who developed post-Tx acute tubular necrosis (0.7+/-0.5 vs 1.5+/-1.0%, P=0.008). We found a direct positive correlation (r=0.43; P<0.002) between urinary aluminium and urinary phosphate. Basal levels and sequential changes in serum PTH, calcium, and phosphate did not correlated with fractional excretion of aluminium. These findings suggest: (i) urinary aluminium remains elevated during prolonged periods after transplant and is probably a marker of pre-transplant tissue aluminium accumulation; (ii) post-transplant fractional excretion of aluminium seems to correlated positively with other evidences of renal tubular dysfunction. Early post-transplant tubular malfunction could significantly enhance urinary aluminium elimination.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[High-flux arteriovenous fistula at the anatomic snuffbox].

Based on 25 years of haemodialysis experience, the authors confirm the importance of arteriovenous fistula at the anatomic snuff-box by L-L anastomosis with vessel end-tie, and assert that, even using small vessels, through simple devices, it is possible to achieve high-flux vascular access, that can be employed also for high-efficiency treatments (HF, HDF). The advantages and the troubles of this vascular access are considered and also the reasons that lead to dropping this arterio-venous fistula too. The authors describe the surgical technique and the devices of the procedure, based on their case-reports of 131 arteriovenous fistulas at the anatomic snuff-box, immediately working in 95% of the cases and compatible with high-flux blood in 67% of cases. Fine adventitial bridle resection is very important, because this procedure allows us to rest the venous vessel wall on the top of the fistula; the ligature of all collateral vessels is very important too. The arteriovenous fistula at the anatomic snuff-box (L-L terminated, with anastomotic leak of 5 mm) is the most advisable vascular access for all the patients in whom we can plan the start of dialysis some months advance.

Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical↗
PubMed1998

IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 in congenital and acquired hypothyroidism after long-term replacement treatment.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid hormones are involved in the regulation of the GH/IGF axis. Hypothyroidism is associated with a reduction in GH pulsatility and in GH-response to stimulatory tests. In hypothyroidism, serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 fall and these changes are reserved after short-term replacement with L-T4. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of long-term replacement therapy with T4 in IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 serum levels. METHODS: The study included 12 patients affected with hypothyroidism and in replacement treatment with T4. They were divided into 3 groups according to age at the beginning of treatment. Group A consisted of 4 pre-pubertal subjects with Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH) diagnosed with neonatal screening, where T4 treatment was started within 15 days of life. Group B consisted of 5 young adults where CH was clinically diagnosed at the median age of 6 months and replacement therapy started at this age. Group C consisted of 3 subjects affected with hypothyroidism secondary to thyroiditis where diagnosis and replacement treatment were delayed at age 11, 12 and 14 respectively. All subjects were matched with a control of the same age, sex, weight and pubertal stage. RESULTS: FT3, FT4 and TSH were in the normal range both in patients and in controls. No correlation was found between FT3 or FT4 and IGF-1 or IGFBP-3 serum levels. IGF-1 serum levels in group A (198 +/- 122 ng/ml) were significantly lower than that in group B (624 +/- 105, p < 0.001) and in group C (649 +/- 98, p=0.003). IGFBP-3 serum levels in group A (1.98 +/- 0.56 microgram/ml) were significantly lower than in group B (3.65 +/- 1.10, p=0.03) and in group C (4.13 +/- 0.49, p=0.003). The increase of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels was seen also in control groups B and C when compared with control group A. IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were positively correlated with age both in patients and in controls. A linear correlation was found between IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 which was positive for controls (r=0.946, p < 0.001) and patient group A and B (r=0.839, p = 0.005) but tended to be negative for patient group C (r=0.65, n.s.). CONCLUSIONS: : Our data demonstrate that long-term replacement therapy in children with hypothyroidism is associated with a physiological increase in IGF-1 and IGFBP-3. The positive correlation between IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels in group A and B confirm the efficacy of long-term replacement treatment on the IGF-1/BP-3 axis in pre- and post-pubertal patients treated for CH. However, this correlation tended to be negative in patients with hypothyroidism secondary to thyroiditis, suggesting that the cause of thyroid insufficiency and/or the age at the beginning of replacement therapy may have a role in the post-pubertal hormonal status in IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 balance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Renal ptosis. Results of a national survey].

BACKGROUND: Renal ptosis is the caudal acquired displacement of one or both of the kidneys, with different degree and etiology, considered as a urological pathology because of its urodynamic changes and, in the last years, almost completely neglected. METHODS: The aim of the work is to research a parenchymal involvement, through a close examination of our outpatient's record; compared with data from the literature on renal ptosis and with the results of a national questionnaire to specialists. RESULTS: The literature reports a largest incidence in females; in our cases, instead, the incidence is nearly the same. The 2nd degree ptosis is the most frequent, but, in females, bilateral ptosis is prevalent (77%). We agree with the literature about urinary symptoms; actually, the most of the patients shows urinary colics or lumbar pain. We also noticed UTI (62%), urinary lithiasis (26%) and pyelocalyceal ectasia (46%). A lot of patients suffer from microscopic hematuria (77%) and, in 12%, gross haematuria was noticed. Hypertension affects about an half of the patients (46%) and the proteinuria too (42%). Echography highlights a reduced cortex (12%), cysts (14%) and other changes (8%). GFR is decreased in 30% of cases, in different degree. The patients show different changes, according to their age. The results of the national questionnaire are also reported. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, considering the remarkable incidence and anatomical and functional changes, it is suggested to consider renal ptosis as a cause of chronic renal damage, also because it is included among the causes of obstructive nephropathy, which according to some researchers, can cause severe glomerular and tubular-interstitial changes, triggered off by a short urinary stasis and evident in the contralateral kidney too.

Data Collection↗
PubMed1996

[Protozoan infection (Blastocystis hominis) concomitant with Pseudomonas sp. peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)].

Case-report of protozoal infection (Blastocystis bominis) during Pseudomonas peritonitis in male patient with intestinal diverticulosis on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) treatment for chronic renal failure (CRF). Microscopic morphology and cultural characteristics are summarized from current literature. Photographic images in phase contrast from fresh-observation of faeces and peritoneal fluid are reported. Although other Protozoa (e.g. Acanthamoeba free-living) have already been found in dialysis fluid, this is the first case, referred in literature, of Blastocystis bominis infection in CAPD patients. Some pathogenetic hypothesis are done involving Blastocystis bominis in peritoneal infection, especially in immunodepressed patients like dialysed ones. Although many chemotherapeutics are provided for this protozoiasis during enteritis, in our case no supplement was required except specific antibiotic therapy for Pseudomonas infection. Symbion or pathogen? Is now-a-day the question which troubles parasitologists. Systemic research of Protozoa in dialysed patients is anyhow advisable.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Renal ptosis: nephrologic consequences of an organ malposition].

Renal ptosis is the caudal acquired displacement of one or both of the kidneys, with different degree and etiology, considered as a urological pathology because of its urodynamic changes and, in the last years, almost completely neglected. The aim of the work is to research a parenchymal involvement, through a close examination of our outpatient record of cases, compared with data from the literature about renal ptosis. The literature reports the largest incidence in females; in our record of cases, instead, the incidence is nearly the same. Second degree ptosis is the most frequent, but, in females, bilateral ptosis is prevalent (77%). We agree with the literature about urinary symptoms; actually, the most of the patients shows urinary colics or lumbar pain. We also noticed UTI (62%), urinary lithiasis (26%) and pyelocalyceal ectasia (46%). A lot of patients suffer from microscopic haematuria (77%) and, in 12%, we noticed gross haematuria. Hypertension affects about half of the patients (46%) and proteinuria too (42%). Echography highlights a reduced cortex (12%), cysts (14%) and other changes (8%). GFR is decreased in 30% of cases, to a different degree. The patients show different changes, according to their age. In conclusion, considering that the incidence and the anatomic and functional changes are remarkable, we think it opportune to take renal ptosis into account as a cause of chronic renal damage, also because it is included among the causes of obstructive nephrophaty, which according to some researches, can cause severe glomerular and tubular-intestinal changes, triggered off by a short urinary stasis and evident in the controlateral kidney too.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Utilization of an electronic archive in the organization of clinical data from patients at a dialysis center].

Today multiple programs allow storing of clinical data not yet satisfactory to practical management of nephrological patients. This work presents an electronic case history realized for nephrologic hospitalized or out patients, both in dialysis and in maintenance treatment, processed on a data-base (Fourth Dimension of Apple- Macintosh) which uses a "fourth generation" programming language and allows a personal or a multiple choice and a full data protection. As well as the personal or a multiple choice and a full data protection. As well as the storage of data about a single patient, the program allows an evaluation with correlations of data about all the patients. Fourth Dimension allows any sort of printing too, reports, accounts, cards, requests for tests, prescriptions and labels, with any kind of information coming from different files, which allows: a) to program pharmacological and dialytical treatments; b) to organize the employment of kidney machines according to the real needs and the availability; c) to balance weekly times, improving the working program; d) to plan prospects of expenses for the following year.

Ambulatory Care Facilities↗
PubMed1991

Cloning of the maize rough dwarf virus genome: molecular confirmation of the plant-reovirus classification scheme and identification of two large nonoverlapping coding domains within a single genomic segment.

The segmented double-stranded RNA genome of maize rough dwarf virus, a plant-infecting reovirus of the genus Fijivirus, was cloned and partially characterized. Nucleotide sequence analysis of full-length cDNA clones corresponding to genomic segments S6, S7, and S8 revealed each segment to contain the conserved terminal oligonucleotide sequences (+) 5' AAGUUUUUU------UGUC 3' and adjacent, segment-specific, regions of inverted complementarity (inverted repeats), a structural motif previously reported for members of the genus Phytoreovirus. Genomic segment S6 was completely sequenced and found to consist of 2193 base pairs. Computer analysis indicated that the coding strand contained two large nonoverlapping open reading frames consisting of 363 and 310 codons and located in the 5'- and 3'-terminal domains, respectively. This was confirmed by cell-free translation studies with synthetic transcripts and denatured genomic RNA. However, only the product of the 5'-proximal open reading frame, a 40-kDa polypeptide, was efficiently expressed in vitro from the full-length S6 coding strand. This represents the first case in which a reovirus genomic segment was found to contain two large open reading frames in a nonoverlapping configuration, suggesting possible alternative strategies for regulation of gene expression by members of this genus. The combined results provide a molecular confirmation of the current classification scheme for plant-infecting reoviruses. Furthermore, the fact that the same terminal structural motif is conserved across genera provides additional evidence that these elements serve an important functional role during genome transcription or replication.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

In vitro transcription of the double-stranded RNA genome of maize rough dwarf virus (Reoviridae).

An RNA-dependent RNA polymerase associated with particles of maize rough dwarf virus, a Fijivirus, was characterized using two in vitro assays differing in their energy regeneration systems. Optimum reaction rates occurred at pH 8.0 to 8.5 at 20 degrees C. The presence of virus and Mn2+ or Mg2+ was essential for enzyme activity; Mn2+ stimulated more incorporation events than Mg2+, at optimum concentrations of 2 to 4 mM and 4 mM, respectively. Incorporation was not affected by alpha-amanitin, actinomycin D or rifampicin. The products synthesized in vitro were single-stranded RNAs which hybridized specifically with the double-stranded genomic RNAs of five other reoviruses. The in vitro transcripts were also used to detect maize rough dwarf virus RNA in plants and in vector insects.

DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases↗
PubMed1988

RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity in two morphologically different white clover cryptic viruses.

RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activities were detected in purified particles of white clover cryptic viruses 1 and 2. The polymerases of the two viruses had different requirements for optimum activity. Enzyme activity was dependent upon the presence of virus particles, Mg2+, and the four ribonucleoside triphosphates, and was insensitive to actinomycin D, alpha-amanitin, and rifampicin. The labeled reaction products were dsRNAs as indicated by CF 11 column chromatography and by their ionic-strength-dependent sensitivity to hydrolysis by RNase A and resistance to S1 nuclease. The dsRNAs synthesized in vitro had the same electrophoretic mobilities as the corresponding viral templates.

Plant Viruses↗