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Biomedical subjects

G Gallone

Publications and source records attributed to G Gallone.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Multiple myeloma: beta-2-microglobulin is not a useful follow-up parameter.

Serum beta-2-microglobulin (beta 2M) has been suggested as the most powerful prognostic factor in multiple myeloma (MM). This paper investigates its ability to detect remission and relapse in individual patients. A correlation analysis was carried out between beta 2M and M component determinations, at diagnosis and monthly during follow-up in 21 consecutive MM patients with normal renal function. A statistically significant correlation was observed in 52.4% only. The lack of correlation in the remaining cases was due to low beta 2M production at diagnosis, or independent fluctuation of these 2 parameters. Serum beta 2M proved a much less reliable parameter for the detection of tumour variations than simpler M-component determination.

Blood Proteins↗
PubMed1988

Insulin binding to monocytes and in vivo peripheral insulin sensitivity are normal in Graves' disease.

Insulin resistance in hyperthyroidism seems to depend on increased glucose production rather than on decreased glucose utilization. A decreased insulin binding on different target cells has been reported in patients in whom an in vivo evaluation of peripheral insulin sensitivity was lacking. In 20 patients with Graves' disease (6 males, 14 females), aged 40.0 +/- 2.0 yr, BMI 23.7 +/- 0.7, and in 20 well-matched controls we performed the following tests: 75 g o.G.T.T., euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp at 50 microU/ml combined with D-[3-3H] glucose infusion in tracer amounts, in vitro insulin binding on circulating monocytes. Fasting plasma glucose values were similar in the two groups, whereas plasma insulin values were significantly higher in hyperthyroids (21.4 +/- 2.5 vs 10.6 +/- 0.6 microU/ml, p less than 0.01). The values of peripheral glucose utilization (5.61 +/- 0.24 vs 6.01 +/- 0.22 mg/kg-min) and of total specific insulin binding (4.07 +/- 0.20 vs 4.39 +/- 0.23% bound to 10(7) cells/ml) were not significantly different in the two groups. These results indicate that in vitro and in vivo data, when recorded in the same patients, are concordant to confirm a normal peripheral tissue sensitivity to insulin in Graves' disease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Procoagulant activity of mononuclear cells is increased in myeloproliferative and myelodysplastic diseases.

Procoagulant activity (PCA) of peripheral mononuclear cells (PMC) was evaluated in patients with primary thrombocythemia (PT, group A), polycythemia vera (PV), idiopathic myelofibrosis (IM) and myelodysplastic syndromes (group B), and in 15 healthy subjects as control group. PCA of PMC was assayed under basal conditions and after agonist-induced stimulation: bacterial lipopolysaccharide, glycosylated granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, recombinant alpha-interferon. PCA was similar in the control group and group A when no stimulation was used, while PCA was found significantly higher in group B patients in the same conditions. In group A patients and in the control group, but not in group B patients, a lower PCA expression was found when PMC were simultaneously coincubated with LPS and alpha-interferon with respect to LPS incubation alone.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Intact whole bioactive parathormone: problems arising from comparing different methods].

BACKGROUND: Parathyroid hormone (PTH) has important applications in the nephrological clinical practice. Because assays of Intact PTH (I-PTH) are liable to interferences by N-truncated fragments, a novel method for whole-(1-84) PTH has been proposed. This study is aimed at comparing the latter with some of the previous I-PTH assays. For each method the results are referred to pertinent markers of mineral metabolism. METHODS: We enrolled 171 subjects, including 56 healthy controls (C), 65 calcium stone- formers (CaSF), 40 haemodialysis patients (HD), 10 with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP). On blood samples we measured: I-PTH by four methods (N-Tact, Advantage, Elecsys, Scantibodies), whole-(1-84) PTH, defined as CAP (Cyclase Activating PTH), total and ionised calcium, phosphate, vitamin D, osteocalcin and Crosslaps. The difference between I-PTH and CAP Scantibodies is defined as CIP (Cyclase Inhibiting PTH). RESULTS: Despite relating to each other (r>0.97) PTH values varied remarkably among methods. For all methods, the reference intervals differed from those provided by the producer. Assuming these new ranges, 10 CaSF had over-range values not always associated with abnormalities of mineral metabolism. One of the PHP patients was normal for I-PTH with 2/4 methods. In HD the differences among methods were even greater, there were inverse (p<0.05) and direct (p<0.001) relationships with ionised calcium and osteocalcin-crosslaps, respectively. The CAP/CIP ratio was lower in low bone turnover patients, but the two subgroups widely overlapped. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the reliability of I-PTH assays is still unsatisfactory, and none of the four methods emerged as the best. Assay for CAP only improves diagnostic efficiency, whereas the CAP/CIP ratio does not exhibit powerful discriminating capacity. Our suggestion is that each Centre should establish its own reference ranges. PTH assay should always be coupled with measurements of other markers of mineral metabolism as well as renal function.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A multicenter study of child poisonings. Preliminary epidemiological results].

The project of a multicentre study of poisoning in children planned by 4 Italian pediatric departments to get epidemiologic and clinic information is presented. The study is carried out retrospectively on admissions during 1975-90 and prospectively during 1991-92. Poisonings are classified as not-confirmed, asymptomatic because of early treatment or symptomatic. In the latter group three degrees of severity are assessed. Diagnostic-therapeutic protocols will be elaborated and quality of the hospital care evaluated according to peer review methodology. Preliminary data on changing pattern of poisoning over the time and on main toxic agents involved in younger children are also reported. The first topic has been studied taking into account 1831 patients aged 0-13 years, admitted during 1977-79 and 1987-89. A decrease of exposures to drugs and an increase of poisonings under the age of 3 years have been observed in more recent period. On the other hand household products resulted to be the main poisoning agents in 1044 children under the age of 5 years during 1984-86. Lack of infant supervision by parents and possible influence of compulsory child resistant containers only for drugs are stressed. The findings suggest the need of health education campaigns in general population as well of safety devices for some domestic harmful products.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Consolidation treatment with dexamethasone and alpha-2B recombinant interferon further reduces the M-component level in multiple myeloma patients responding to conventional induction chemotherapy.

Three patients with symptomatic multiple myeloma who had achieved an objective response after conventional induction chemotherapy were treated with alpha-2b-interferon plus intermittent high-dose dexamethasone as consolidation therapy. This treatment included three mega units of alpha-2b-interferon three times a week, plus 4 days pulsed high-dose dexamethasone every 28 days for 6 months. Toxicity was limited to a mild flu-like syndrome. A further and significant M-component reduction (50%), obtained after conventional chemotherapy, suggests the value of intermittent high-dose dexamethasone plus interferon as consolidation therapy.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Sudden infant death].

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Diseases in Twins↗