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G Marchini

Publications and source records attributed to G Marchini.

63 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Erythema toxicum neonatorum: an immunohistochemical analysis.

Erythema toxicum neonatorum is a benign rash of unknown etiology, present to various degrees in most term newborns and characterized by an accumulation of eosinophils in dermal lesions. The recruitment of leukocytes to tissues implicates the involvement of adhesion molecules, cytokines, and chemokines. We therefore performed immunohistochemistry on punch biopsy specimens from cutaneous lesions of ten 1-day-old infants with erythema toxicum using specific monoclonal antibodies directed against a variety of adhesion molecules, cytokines, chemokines, and cell type-specific membrane markers. Biopsy specimens of noninflamed skin from four matched newborns and four adults served as controls. The immunohistologic features of erythema toxicum in all 10 infants included a strong staining of the adhesion molecule E-selectin in the vessel wall and the presence of numerous inflammatory cells that were identified as dendritic cells (CD1a, CD83, HLA-DR, CD40, and ICAM-1 positive), eosinophils (EG2 positive), neutrophils (CD15 positive), macrophages (CD14, CD68, and Mac387 positive), and E-selectin-expressing cells. Furthermore, the lesions showed a high incidence of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1alpha and IL-1beta and of the chemokines IL-8 and eotaxin. This immunologic activity was reduced or absent in noninflamed skin from newborn controls and adults. We conclude that there is an accumulation and activation of immune cells in the lesions of erythema toxicum, also present in noninflamed skin of 1-day-old infants, but to a lower level. The physiologic significance of the rash remains to be elucidated.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nonnutritive sucking in tube-fed preterm infants: effects on gastric motility and gastric contents of somatostatin.

The present study investigated the way that sucking of a pacifier influences gastric secretory and motor functions in connection with tube feeding. Experiments were performed on eight preterm infants who were tube fed twice--once with and once without sucking of a pacifier. The time for tube feeding was significantly decreased and gastric retention decreased in five of seven infants when sucking a pacifier. Maternal milk was found to contain gastrin-17, somatostatin-14, and a somatostatin-like peptide larger than somatostatin-28. Somatostatin levels were significantly reduced in connection with non-nutritive sucking. Gastrin levels were increased in six of ten experiments 2 h and/or 3 h after bolus feeding, suggesting that these peptides were not only supplied by the milk, but were also released from the gastric mucosa. The presence of gastrin and somatostatin in gastric aspirates was established by use of chromatographic methods. The results indicate that somatostatin and gastrin are released into the gastric lumen in preterm infants and that sucking of a pacifier, in connection with bolus feeding, stimulates the gastric motor functions and facilitates the digestion process, probably via activation of vagal mechanisms.

Enteral Nutrition↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Plasma levels of somatostatin and gastrin in sick infants and small for gestational age infants.

Sick neonates often have a disturbed gastrointestinal motility. As somatostatin inhibits various gastrointestinal functions, we investigated whether or not somatostatin levels are high in sick infants. Somatostatin and gastrin levels were measured in plasma samples collected from sick and healthy neonates. Somatostatin levels were found to be significantly elevated in sick infants when compared to healthy ones, both term (91 versus 5 pM) and preterm (35 versus 5 pM). We suggest that the gastrointestinal symptoms seen in infants during illness may be related to an enhanced secretion of gastric somatostatin.

Gastrins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The relationship between intraocular pressure and glaucoma in a defined population. Data from the Egna-Neumarkt Glaucoma Study.

PURPOSE: To provide data on the prevalence of ocular hypertension and glaucoma and on the diagnostic validity of tonometry. METHODS: In this cross-sectional, population-based study, 4,927 subjects over 40 years of age were examined. Each subject underwent a complete ocular examination as part of the Egna-Neumarkt Glaucoma Study. These examinations were carried out by trained, quality-controlled ophthalmologists, according to a predetermined standard protocol that included a medical interview, applanation tonometry, computerized perimetry, optic nerve head examination and other ocular measurements. The following data were recorded: mean IOP, prevalence of ocular hypertension, primary open-angle glaucoma and normal tension glaucoma. Sensitivity, specificity and the predictive value of the tonometric test, as well as the distribution of IOP in the different groups were also determined. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of ocular hypertension, hypertensive primary open-angle glaucoma and normal tension glaucoma corresponded to 2.1, 1.4 and 0.6%, respectively. Other types of glaucoma accounted for a further 0.9%. The sensitivity and specificity of the tonometric test in recognizing glaucoma (cut-off between 21 and 22 mm Hg) were, respectively, 80.1 and 97.8%. The predictive values of the positivity and negativity of the test were 52.1 and 99.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of ocular hypertension and glaucoma was similar to that found in several recent epidemiological studies. Tonometry alone is obviously not sufficient to ascertain or to exclude the presence of glaucoma; its diagnostic validity however is high and should never be underestimated. An elevated IOP is the main risk factor for glaucoma, with the degree of risk increasing as the level of IOP increases.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Transscleral diode laser photocoagulation in refractory glaucoma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Patients with glaucoma refractory to medical or surgical treatment are difficult to treat. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of contact transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation (DLPC) on these patients' intra-ocular pressure (IOP) and visual acuity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 37 eyes of 36 patients who suffered from refractory glaucoma and who had undergone DLPC, were followed at the Eye Clinic of Verona University for an average of 14 +/- 4 months. The average age was 54 +/- 26 years. IOP, visual acuity and ocular complications were analysed. RESULTS: A total of 71 treatments were given. More than 1 treatment was given in 22 eyes (59%). The mean pretreatment IOP was 33.1 +/- 3.3 mm Hg. At the last follow-up, the mean IOP was 21 +/- 1.6 mm Hg. Mean total medications were reduced from 4.4 +/- 0.5 to 2.4 +/- 0.3. No serious complications occurred in 71 treatments. Visual acuity remained stable in 25 eyes (67.5%), improved in 6 eyes (16.2%) and decreased in 6 eyes (16.2%). CONCLUSIONS: DLPC is effective in lowering IOP in eyes with refractory glaucoma. It also serves to reduce the number of antiglaucoma medications. This procedure is relatively safe. Nevertheless, multiple DLPC applications may be needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ultrasound biomicroscopy and corneal endothelium in Nd:YAG-laser iridotomy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Thirty eyes affected by angle-closure glaucoma that had undergone YAG-laser iridotomy were studied to evaluate variations of central anterior chamber depth, width of the angle, and loss of endothelial cells after laser treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: These parameters were determined before and after iridotomy: endothelial cell count using a "non-contact" specular biomicroscope, and anterior chamber depth and angle width using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). The width of the iridotomy and the distance of the iridotomy from the scleral spur and from the corneal endothelium were also measured by UBM, after laser treatment. RESULTS: Results confirmed that, after iridotomy, there is not a significant variation in the central depth of the anterior chamber: it goes from 2.02 mm pre-laser to 2.07 +/- 0.38 mm post-laser. There is, however, a statistically significant increase in the angle (P < .001), which goes from 10.69 +/- 8.88 degrees (0.109 +/- 0.07 mm) to 21.03 +/- 11.28 degrees (0.183 +/- 0.09 mm). The mean dimension of the iridotomies was 0.46 +/- 0.13 mm. The mean endothelial cell count was 55.8 +/- 4.08 cells per linear millimeter before laser treatment and 47.01 +/- 5.39 cells per linear millimeter afterward (P <.001). CONCLUSION: This study confirms that YAG-laser iridotomy leads to a reduction in the average endothelial cell density. The loss of these cells is inversely proportional to the distance of the iridotomy from the endothelium and the scleral spur.

Anterior Chamber↗