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Biomedical subjects

G Ferrario

Publications and source records attributed to G Ferrario.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Side effects during therapy with low dosage amiodarone.

Amiodarone is a very active antiarrhythmic agent, but true incidence of Amiodarone-related side effects is still questionable. In a prospective trial of 400 or 200 mg of Amiodarone day for 56 days in 58 patients, we monitored thyroid and liver function, blood count, chest x-ray, ecg. In addiction we took regularly notice of subjective disturbances and physical signs. Side effects were: conduction disturbances 6%, bradycardia less than 50/min. 2%, gastrointestinal 12%, sleep disorders 12%, hyperthyroidism 4,15% and hypothyroidism 6.25%. Blood levels of Amiodarone and desethylamiodarone were not predictive of side effects. Noteworthy was the absence of cutaneous and pulmonary side effects. On the other hand, thyroid function should be monitored carefully because disfunction is not rare (10.4%) and in the case of hyperthyroidism could be related to worsening of arrhythmias.

Adolescent↗

Multinucleated giant cells in myeloma kidney: an ultrastructural study.

The origin of multinucleated giant cells in myeloma kidney is not yet defined. These cells have long been thought to represent tubular epithelial cells transformed in syncytia, but, more recently, they have been considered as histiocytic cells arising from the interstitial tissue. We have studied by electron microscopy the distal tubules of kidney biopsies of 5 patients affected with myeloma kidney: our ultrastructural findings do not seem to clarify the problem. In fact, in the same patient, we have observed multinucleated giant cells probably originating from epithelial tubular cells and others, probably originating from histiocytes.

Cell Nucleus↗

[Atrial septal defect of the ostium secundum associated with incomplete left bundle branch block].

The ECG in Ostium Secundum Atrial Septal Defect (O.S. ASD) shows typically a pattern of incomplete right bundle branch block with right axis deviation and a 12 year old boy suspected of having O.S. ASD on the basis of x-ray and echocardiographic findings showed an ECG pattern of incomplete left bundle branch block. Physical examination and a phonocardiogram revealed a single second heart sound. An ECG recorded at age five showed a typical pattern consistent with O.S. ASD. The angiographic examination confirmed the suggested diagnosis. This is, to our knowledge, the first case of O.S. ASD with incomplete left bundle branch block. The conduction disorder may have abolished the fixed splitting of the second heart sound.

Bundle-Branch Block↗

[Presence of bites in VCGrams of a high coronary risk population (author's transl)].

The association between the presence of areas of myocardial fibrosis and the appearance of unexpected DEVIATIONS OF THE QRS loop-outline on the vectorcardiographic tracing (bites) has been reported. In order to re-evaluate the correlation between the presence of bites and the possible existence of scars we have studied 511 patients. On the basis of clinical data, laboratory data, rest and exercise electrocardiograms, the subjects have been divided into four groups; 195 normal subjects; 267 with ischemic heart disease, 16 with arterial hypertension and 33 with diabetes mellitus (the last two groups as representative of subjects with higher risk for myocardial ischemia). Bites in at least one plane were detected in 9.7% of normal subjects, 27.8% of ischemic patients, 56.3% of hypertensive patients and 18.2% of diabetics (less than 0.001). The genesis of bites and reliability of the diagnostic criteria are discussed. With more restrictive criteria the frequency in the normal subjects falls to 1%, while in the other three groups it remains much higher (10.1%-12.5%-6.1%).

Adult↗

Levels of nitric oxide, gamma interferon and interleukin-12 in AIDS patients with toxoplasmic encephalitis.

The production of nitric oxide (NO) by macrophages is important for the killing of intracellular pathogens, such as Toxoplasma gondii. Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and lipopolysaccharide stimulate NO production. The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of NO, IFN-gamma and interleukin-12 (IL-12) in the host immune response in AIDS patients suffering from toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE). It was demonstrated that the production of NO, detected as nitrite/nitrate in the sera and in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 32 AIDS patients with TE, was normal. In addition, levels of IFN-gamma in the sera and in the CSF of patients with TE were not increased. In contrast, serum levels of IL-12 in these patients were significantly increased (6.5 +/- 7.1 pg/ml; P = 0.0368), compared to the control patients (1.7 +/- 3.5 pg/ml). Furthermore, increased but not significant levels of IL-12 were also observed in the CSF of patients with TE (2.2 +/- 4.7 pg/ml; controls: 0.5 +/- 1.9 pg/ml). The results of this study indicate that reactivation or recurrence of T. gondii infection in HIV-1-infected patients is probably due to a down-regulation of IFN-gamma along with a resulting non-optimal NO activity.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Levels of circulating nitrate/nitrite and gamma interferon not increased in uncomplicated malaria.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate nitric oxide (NO) activity in patients with uncomplicated malaria. Lipopolysaccharide and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) are potent inducers of NO by inducing production of NO synthase. NO activity was determined by measuring serum levels of nitrite/nitrate (metabolic end products of NO), and IFN-gamma in patients with uncomplicated malaria, mostly caused by Plasmodium falciparum. Neither serum levels of nitrite/nitrate nor of IFN-gamma were significantly increased in patients with uncomplicated malaria, especially in patients with P. falciparum infection, and in those with high parasitaemia. These results show that NO cannot play a role in uncomplicated malaria, and it is still debatable if NO production in this infection has beneficial or detrimental effects.

Adult↗