Biomedical subjects

Giuseppe Balducci

Publications and source records attributed to Giuseppe Balducci.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Acute alcoholic hepatitis.

Acute alcoholic hepatitis (AAH) is a frequent inflammatory liver disease with high short-term mortality rate. In this review, relationships between alcohol abuse and the epidemiology and the outcomes of AAH are discussed, as well as AAH pathogenesis. The role of endotoxins, tumor necrosis factor alpha, fibroblasts, and immune response to altered hepatocyte proteins is discussed. The need of a careful prognosis, supported by the use of Maddrey score, by the model for end-stage liver disease [Mayo end-stage liver disease (MELD)] score or by the Glasgow alcoholic hepatitis score, is outlined, as the use of the most effective drugs (glucocorticoids and anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha infliximab) is recommended only in severe AAH cases. The problems of liver transplant in severe AAH, and the need of a 6-month alcohol abstinence before transplant, are discussed, as well as the need of a careful psychologic assessment before the transplant.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2002

Experience with first level ultrasound and echocardiography for a selected and an unselected population.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the difference in prevalence, distribution and prenatal detection rate of congenital heart disease (CHD) in both newborns and second trimester termination of pregnancy (TOP) in two separate time periods. PATIENTS AND METHODS: At the University Hospital of Bari, an observational study was performed, which included all cases of CHD in newborns and second trimester TOP during the periods 1998-99 and 1992-93. Prevalence, distribution and prenatal diagnosis in each group were evaluated, also selecting cases with and without known risk factors. RESULTS: Prevalence of CHD in livebirths and aborted fetuses did not change between the two periods and the same was observed for distribution of CHD spectrum. In the more recent period antenatal detection of CHD significantly increased only in TOP. Moreover, classifying all cases as low or high risk, detection rates were significantly increased in high risk cases while they were unchanged in the general population. CONCLUSION: Our data show that antenatal detection of CHD is ameliorated by concentrating expertise and good equipment on high risk cases, while it remains low in the general population.

Abortion, Induced↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Neoplastic disease and deletion 22q11.2: a multicentric study and report of two cases.

Deletion 22q11.2 is a chromosomal abnormality detected in young patients with clinical manifestations of the DiGeorge/velocardiofacial syndrome. Conotruncal heart defects are also associated with del22q11.2. An association of these cardiac malformations with neoplasias has been observed. Our series includes two cases of malignancies, a hepatoblastoma and a renal-cell carcinoma, arising in children with complex cardiac malformations. The aim of the study was to determine if the deletion at 22q11.2 was present and could be responsible for both pathological processes. Del22q11.2 was identified in both cases. Comparative genomic hybridization revealed terminal gains on chromosomes 1q and Xq and terminal loss on 1p in the hepatoblastoma, and gains in 1p, 12q, 16p, 20q, 22q, and whole chromosome 19 and loss of Xq in the renal-cell carcinoma. Our results confirm a common genetic basis for cardiac malformations, and del22q11.2 presents a risk factor for the development of pediatric tumours.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗