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Biomedical subjects

G Pesce

Publications and source records attributed to G Pesce.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Delta infection in the Naples area. Epidemiologic and clinical significance.

To define the epidemiologic and clinical significance of delta infection in the Naples area, we sought anti-delta antibodies in all cases of HBV-associated liver diseases, hospitalized in our department during 1983 (234 acute hepatitis, 9 of which fulminant; 51 chronic hepatitis; 32 cirrhosis; 19 hepatocarcinomas) and in randomly selected acute hepatitis over the previous 6 years. Delta agent in acute forms and IgM anti-HBc in delta-positive acute forms were also tested. The acute cases were controlled for at least 9 months after dismissal. Delta infection showed a high prevalence in the Naples area (20% of all acute cases in 1983; similar prevalences in previous years; high rate of coinfections, 81%; no peculiar modalities of circulation) and a high pathogenicity, as proved by the greater prevalence in fulminant cases (66.7%) and severe chronic forms. Moreover superinfection appears a more dangerous event than coinfection as regards the diseases becoming chronic (77.8% vs 2.5%).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

The 'safety snare'--a ligature-placing snare to prevent haemorrhage after transection of large pedunculated polyps.

A modified snare has been fabricated in prototype form which permits the placement of a tightenable nylon loop ligature around the stalk of large polyps, which is then left in situ after withdrawal of the snare handle and endoscope. The clinical application of the safety snare is likely to be the prevention of immediate or delayed haemorrhage from the stalks of unusually large polyps, or after polypectomy in patients with bleeding diathesis. The use of the snare has proved practicable in preliminary clinical trials.

Hemorrhage↗
PubMed1986

Cirrhosis: value of caudate to right lobe ratio in diagnosis with US.

To verify the value of ultrasound (US) in the diagnosis of cirrhosis, the ratio of transverse caudate lobe width to right lobe width (C/RL) was determined with US in 25 healthy subjects and 156 consecutive patients with either histologically proved acute viral, chronic persistent, or chronic active hepatitis or cirrhosis. The C/RL ratio had a sensitivity of 43%, a specificity of 100%, and an accuracy of 79% in cirrhosis. The sensitivity was very low in alcoholic cirrhosis, low in cryptogenic cirrhosis, and high in hepatitis B virus related cirrhosis. In spite of its fairly low overall sensitivity, the C/RL ratio is a useful measurement in assessing chronic liver disease because of its high specificity in cirrhosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Isolation of human monocytes according to volume and density.

Human peripheral blood monocytes were obtained in very pure preparations by using buoyant density gradient centrifugation followed by velocity sedimentation. We introduced several modifications in the experimental procedure in order to take advantage of the minimal differences in cell density and size between monocytes and lymphocytes. Previous methods used to isolate monocytes based on their physical properties are reviewed, and the theory of velocity sedimentation is discussed with regard to the differences in the methodology used, which account for the different results we obtained.

Cell Separation↗
PubMed1986

Salivary IgA levels in normal children.

Salivary IgA (SlgA) levels were determined in 1,539 normal children, aged between 8 months and 6 years. In four children (0.26%), an absence and in 25 children (1.62%) a relative defect, (less than 1 mg/dl) were found. These values are similar to those encountered in an adult male population. Conversely, the mean SlgA in all age groups we examined was much lower in comparison to the adult mean. This difference is particularly great for SlgA and much smaller for total salivary proteins. There was no difference between males and females, and no relation with personal or familial history of allergic and/or infectious episodes. The conclusions of this study are as follows: Absolute and relative SlgA defects, when found, are present from birth, The complete maturation of SlgA occurs after 6 years of age, The role of SlgA in the protection against allergic or infectious episodes perhaps ought to be revised.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1983

Comparison of the effects of beta-phenylethylamine and d-amphetamine on rat isolated atria.

beta-Phenylethylamine (PEA) produced a positive chronotropic effect in the spontaneously beating isolated rat atria. The concentration-response curves to PEA and to d-amphetamine (AMPH) were virtually superimposed and potentiated to the same extent by inhibition of monoamine oxidase with pargyline. As reported for AMPH, the rate accelerating effect of PEA was abolished by pretreatment with reserpine. In the reserpinized tissue, the responses to PEA were partly restored by pargyline pretreatment and fully restored after the incubation with norepinephrine (NE). Repeated exposures to high concentrations of both PEA and AMPH produced tachyphylaxis to low concentrations of the amines but did not modify the endogenous atrial content of NE. in atria labeled with [3H]NE, PEA (6.4 microM) and AMPH (7.9 microM) increased the overflow of tritium mainly as unmetabolized [3H] NE (90%). For both drugs the increase in 3H-transmitter outflow coincided with the positive chronotropic response and it was independent on external Ca++. Cocaine (3.3 microM), which inhibits the uptake mechanism of catecholamines, displaced to the right the concentration-response curves to both PEA and AMPH and reduced the overflow of [3H]NE elicited by either amine. The release of 3H-products elicited by PEA was not modified by drugs that inhibit the uptake mechanism of NE accumulation, such as 26 microM corticosterone or 28 microM hydrocortisone. The results presented show that PEA behaves as AMPH as far as the mechanism of their indirect sympathomimetic effect is concerned. If accepted that PEA and AMPH, due to their high lipid solubility, might freely diffuse into nerves, the antagonism caused by cocaine on the effects of both amines could be interpreted as being the result of the inhibition by this drug of the carrier-mediated efflux of NE.

2H-Benzo(a)quinolizin-2-ol, 2-Ethyl-1,3,4,6,7,11b-↗
PubMed1982

Cardiovascular effects of 2-Br-alpha-ergocriptine in urethane anesthetized rats.

Experiments were designed to study the cardiovascular effects of Bromocriptine (2-Br-alpha-ergocriptine) in the normotensive anesthetized rats. The intravenous administration of bromocriptine (20 micrograms/kg and 200 micrograms/kg) produced a long-lasting and not dose-dependent fall in the mean blood pressure and heart rate. The pressor response to phenylephrine, an alpha adrenergic agonist, was antagonized by bromocriptine in a dose-dependent manner. At a dose of 20 micrograms/kg bromocriptine behaved as a competitive antagonist, whereas at the dose of 200 micrograms/kg produced an insurmountable blockade of the response to phenylephrine. Previous administration of phentolamine (5 mg/kg) prevented the insurmountable blockade of alpha adrenoceptors by bromocriptine. This observation suggests that both drugs compete for the same receptor. It is concluded that blockade of peripheral alpha-adrenoceptors may contribute to cardiovascular effects of bromocriptine.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed1981

[Early gastric cancer: a retrospective study of our cases (1974-1979)].

A retrospective analysis of 3052 gastroscopies made by our Digestive Endoscopy Department from 1974 to 1979 was carried out. 14 Early Gastric Cancers out of a total of 157 gastric carcinomas were diagnosed (8.9%), with an EGC: Gastroscopies ratio = 1:218. From the macroscopic point of view 8 were found to belong to type III, 5 to type II, and 1 to type I. The main location was the lesser curvature (angulus-antrum). With regard to the degree of infiltration, 2 were found to belong to stage 0a, 8 to stage 0b, and 5 to stage I. The endoscopic observation gave reason to suspect the presence of a malignant lesion in 6 of the 14 cases. The bioptic examination proved positive in 10 cases, while in 4 the diagnosis was made on the operatory piece. The importance of multiple bioptic samples is again confirmed. Cytology performed by brushing showed malignant tumoral cells in 4 cases, and again in 4 cases the radiological examination led to suspicion of degenerated gastric ulcer. 13 patients were subjected to surgery during which no metastases to the locoregional lymphonodes were found; the patients are all alive. We started gastric carcinoma screening by selecting the patients on the basis of a worksheet covering epidemiological, clinical, biohumoural and instrumental parameters, since the prognosis for the disease is directly proportional to the earliness of its diagnosis.

Adolescent↗