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Biomedical subjects

G Magazzù

Publications and source records attributed to G Magazzù.

46 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunohistochemical localization of lactoferrin in duodenojejunal mucosa from celiac children.

The immunohistochemical localization of lactoferrin (LF) was investigated in the duodenojejunal mucosa of children with untreated and treated celiac disease and in a control group of children of short stature and of children with postenteritis syndrome. In subtotal villous atrophy, LF was present in all epithelial cells of the luminal surface with a lower degree of positivity in crypts, whereas a variable degree of reactivity for LF was observed in epithelial cells of reconstituted villi and crypts. The LF mucosal distribution, however, was not specific for celiac disease since the LF pattern was similar in untreated celiac disease and also in postenteritis syndrome. Moreover, LF was detectable only in 7 of 18 duodenojejunal juice samples obtained from untreated and treated celiac patients and normal controls, the observed values being irrespective of the mucosal morphological status. We conclude that the immunohistochemical evidence of LF in the enterocyte may derive from an autochthonous production since our histochemical findings cannot be related to the concentration of LF in duodenal juice.

Anemia, Hypochromic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Gastrin 17 and gastrin 34, before and after a meal, in newborn infants.

In 89 healthy full-term newborn infants, we studied the different contribution of gastrin 17 (G17) and gastrin 34 (G34) to neonatal hypergastrinemia and the G17 and G34 response to a meal in the first days of life. Serum concentrations of G17 and G34 were measured by radioimmunoassay specific for the NH2-terminus of G17 and G34 in 23 newborn infants in the cord blood and in 66 newborn infants before or 20 min after bottle-feeding. Basal serum G17 and G34 values were also obtained in 38 healthy fasting adults. Mean (+/- SEM) G17 levels in the cord blood were not different from those of the adult controls (29.28 +/- 4.16 versus 31.00 +/- 2.62 pg/ml) and increased significantly either at 12 h (48.06 +/- 7.32 pg/ml, p less than 0.025) or on the 4th day of life (80.56 +/- 9.99 pg/ml, p less than 0.01). Serum G34 levels in the cord blood were significantly higher than in adult controls (163.22 +/- 11.19 versus 126.68 +/- 5.57 pg/ml, p less than 0.005) and increased at 12 h of life (225.22 +/- 25.95 pg/ml, p less than 0.02), but no increase was found on the 4th day of life (204.87 +/- 18.08 pg/ml). Neither postprandial G17 nor G34 increases were found on the 1st or on the 4th day of postnatal life. The study supports the following conclusions: (a) neonatal hypergastrinemia is mainly due to G34 fraction; (b) the increased levels of gastrin on the 4th day of life are due to G17 fraction; (c) bottle-feeding does not stimulate either G17 or G34 release in the first 4 days of life.

Gastrins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

First-phase insulin response to intravenous glucose in cystic fibrosis patients with different degrees of glucose tolerance.

The aim of our study was to determine whether first-phase insulin response to intravenous (i.v.) glucose could be used as a simple and rapid test to identify cystic fibrosis (CF) patients at risk to develop diabetes mellitus. Forty consecutive CF patients with normal fasting blood glucose values but with different degrees of glucose tolerance on the standard oral glucose tolerance test (22 with normal glucose tolerance, 16 with impaired glucose tolerance, 2 with diabetes mellitus) and 12 normal subjects, matched for age and body mass index, underwent an i.v. glucose bolus to evaluate early phase insulin release. When compared to the normal subjects, CF patients had significantly reduced basal (76 +/- 50 vs 108 +/- 30 pM/l, 2 p < 0.02) and glucose stimulated insulin levels (1 + 3 min insulin = 456 +/- 275 vs 951 +/- 170 pM/l, 2 p < 0.01). Early phase insulin release, however, did not differentiate between CF patients with normal and impaired glucose tolerance; also in the two diabetic patients insulin levels did not clearly differ from those observed in the other groups of CF subjects. In conclusion, first-phase insulin response may identify an impairment of B-cell function in CF subjects; however, it does not discriminate between different degrees of glucose tolerance, as determined by the oral glucose tolerance test and, therefore, it does not reliably identify those patients who will eventually develop overt diabetes mellitus.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Phenotype/genotype correlation and cystic fibrosis related diabetes mellitus (Italian Multicenter Study).

BACKGROUND: A genotype/phenotype correlation between early onset cystic fibrosis related diabetes (CFRD) and the N1303K mutation of the CF gene was previously identified in a small series of 28 CFRD patients, out of 313 CF patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In order to confirm the observation, data of 141 CFRD patients out of 1,229 CF patients attending 14 Italian CF centers were collected. All patients were older than 10 years and had been genotyped. RESULTS: DeltaF508 was the most frequent mutation (147/282 alleles: 52%) and N1303K the second most frequent mutation (18/282 alleles: 6.3%) in CFRD patients, without significant difference as compared with CF patients without DM (52% vs 48.6% and 6.3% vs 5.1%, respectively). W1282X was the third most frequent mutation in CFRD patients, more frequent than in CF patients without DM (5.3% vs 2%; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Unlike the previous study, we did not find a higher frequency of the N1303K mutation in CFRD patients; moreover, data from this large CF series showed a significant correlation between the W1282X mutation and CFRD.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Barrett's esophagus in an infant: a long standing history with final postsurgical regression.

Data on the frequency of regression of Barrett's esophagus after medical therapy or antireflux surgery in adult patients are conflicting; these data, with regard to pediatric age, where Barrett's esophagus is considered rare, are scarce and disappointing after antireflux surgery. We report a 4-month-old infant affected by severe reflux esophagitis who developed a junctional-type Barrett's epithelium. Histochemical procedures to detect mucin pattern were also carried out. The regression of Barrett's esophagus was observed 4 months after antireflux surgery whereas medical therapy had been unsuccessful. We suggest that esophageal biopsy should also be performed in the presence of severe esophagitis. Longer follow-up observations of other patients may clarify the role of antireflux surgery when Barrett's esophagus complicates gastroesophageal reflux (GER).

Barrett Esophagus↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Jejunal biopsy].

Considering many years' experience in various centres, the authors evidence indications, contraindications, and possible technical inconveniences relative to jejunum biopsy. They analyze various aspects concerning the rightest methods of performance particularly concerning the patient's sedation and immobilization, the local anaesthesia of the back pharynx, techniques facilitating the placement of the capsule the sampling of the mucosa (mucous membrane) and the recovery of the capsule. Then the authors examine the criteria of evaluation of the biopsy sample through both stereomicroscopical and traditional microscopical examinations. They analyze the main parameters in the histological evaluation of biopsy and the basic conditions to observe in order to evaluate histological aspects correctly. Finally they propose a score of histological evaluation, for quick, easy routine use; its results can be reproduced in accordance with traditional histological reading which allows examiners from different centres to confirm their judgements about the atrophy of the mucosa and enables more significant comparisons in case of biopsy repeated on the same subject.

Atrophy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Celiac disease and short stature].

The Authors analyze the prevalence (30,8%) of short stature in 39 coeliac patients at variable age. Height defect was especially remarkable in the subjects diagnosed after the fourth year of life. In 8 out of the studied coeliac patients, short stature was the only clinical sign at the time of diagnosis. Nevertheless, remote anamnesis revealed the existence of classical gastroenteric symptoms during the first 2 years of life. The Authors extensively report the clinical history of a coeliac girl who had been initially considered and treated as hypothyroid.

Body Height↗