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Biomedical subjects

L Abenavoli

Publications and source records attributed to L Abenavoli.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Cutaneous manifestations in celiac disease.

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune gluten-dependent enteropathy characterized by atrophy of intestinal villi that improves after gluten-free diet (GFD). CD is often associated with extra-intestinal manifestations; among them, several skin diseases are described in CD patients. The present review reports all CD-associated skin manifestations described in the literature and tries to analyze the possible mechanisms involved in this association. The opportunity to evaluate the possible presence of CD in patients affected by skin disorders is discussed.

Celiac Disease↗
PubMed2006

Hypokalemic nephropathy in an adult patient with partial empty sella: a classic Bartter's syndrome, a Gitelman's syndrome or both?

Bartter's syndrome belongs to a group of hypokalemic renal channel diseases. These channels are located in the lipid layer of cell membranes where they exist as water channels through which ion transport is performed. Based on the type of genetic disorder and clinical presentation, Bartter's syndrome is classified as neonatal, classical and Gitelman's syndrome. Most of the cases have been noted in pediatric age groups and adult-onset cases are very rare. Moreover, an association between Bartter's syndrome and empty sella has recently been reported in 3 children. We report here the second case of an adult patient affected by Bartter's syndrome with partial empty sella. The patient showed some clinical and histological characteristics of both classic Bartter's syndrome and Gitelman's syndrome, suggesting that genotype and phenotype of Bartter's syndrome are not so clear-cut and that phenotypic overlap may occur, according to a recent hypothesis. Magnetic resonance imaging disclosed a partial empty sella. A thorough endocrinological investigation showed normal hypophyseal, thyroidal, adrenal and gonadal function. Good therapeutic effects were achieved using spironolactone, ACE-inhibitor and potassium supplementation, with normalization of the kalemia. At present, the value of the association of Bartter's syndrome and empty sella remains unclear and future studies are needed to clarify the importance of this association, both in children and in adult patients affected by Bartter's syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Psychological support counselling improves gluten-free diet compliance in coeliac patients with affective disorders.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety and depression are common features of coeliac disease. Depression is cause of non-compliance to treatment in chronic illness. AIM: To evaluate the useful of psychological support counselling to improve affective disorders and gluten-free diet adherence in coeliac disease with anxiety and depression. METHODS: A total of 66 coeliac disease patients with state anxiety and current depression were enrolled. Patients were randomized in two groups: in group A psychological support was started at the beginning of gluten-free diet, while group B was free of psychological support. Both groups were followed every 2 weeks for 6 months. State and Trait Anxiety Inventory test Y-1 and the modified Zung self-rating depression scale were administered before (T0) and after 6 months of gluten-free diet (T1). RESULTS: At T1 no difference was found between groups in the percentage of state anxiety, while a significant lower percentage of depressed subjects was found in group A with respect to group B (15.1% vs. 78.8%; P=0.001). In the follow-up period, a significant lower compliance to gluten-free diet was found in group B with respect to group A (39.4% vs. 9.1%; P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In coeliac disease patients with affective disorders psychological support seems to be able to reduce depression and to increase gluten-free diet compliance.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Wilson's disease: clinical, genetic and pharmacological findings.

Wilson's disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by copper accumulation and toxicity in the liver and in other tissues. WD presents with liver disease, neurological or psychiatric disturbances or other less common clinical features. Diagnosis of WD is often difficult and may be formulated through clinical, biochemical, imaging, histochemical and genetic evaluations. Pharmacological approach in WD consists in copper chelating agents such as D-penicillamine, trientine, dimercaprol and tetrathiomolybdate. In 1997 zinc was approved for maintenance therapy of WD by the U.S. FDA. Orthotopic Liver Transplantation is indicated in fulminant hepatic failure, progressive hepatic insufficiency despite therapy, cirrhosis with complications of portal hypertension. However the most appropriate therapy, including OLT, remains controversial in WD and further studies are needed especially in order to differentiate the possibility of specific therapies for different WD phenotypes.

Chelating Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pharmacological approaches to the management of alcohol addiction.

Alcohol abuse and alcoholism represent a world-wide problem, both from a medical and a social point of view. In the past the therapy for patients affected by alcoholism was based mainly on the psychological approach. In recent years the use of pharmacotherapy together with psychosocial interventions have enhanced the percentage of success in maintaining alcoholic patients in remission. The present review discusses the main drugs experimented both in preclinical and clinical studies. Pharmacotherapy of alcohol dependence seems to be effective in both alcohol-related emergencies and prevention relapse. However, pharmacotherapy should not be considered as the only form of treatment but as an integrated part of a multimodal approach including psychological and social support.

Alcohol Deterrents↗