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Biomedical subjects

L Rizzo

Publications and source records attributed to L Rizzo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Which method for quantifying "microalbuminuria" in diabetics? Comparison of several immunological methods (immunoturbidimetric assay, immunonephelometric assay, radioimmunoassay and two semiquantitative tests) for measurement of albumin in urine.

We have compared the chemical and clinical characteristics of an immunonephelometric assay (INA), two immunoturbidimetric assays (ITA) and two semi-quantitative methods with those of a solid-phase radioimmunoassay (RIA) for measurement of urinary albumin (UA) concentration in 136 diabetic patients. INA and RIA had similar accuracy, and provided comparable results. However, RIA has slightly greater sensitivity than INA, which is easier and faster. Good agreement was also found between RIA and the two ITA methods, although one of these overestimated RIA values in the low-medium range (5-30 mg/l) of urinary albumin. ITA seems suitable for initial screening of albuminuria in diabetic patients but more sensitive procedures (such as RIA and INA) seem preferable for measurement of UA concentrations in the normal range. The two semi-quantitative methods showed high sensitivity but poor specificity, because of the large number of false positive results. About 50% of diabetic patients "positive" by these methods did not have microalbuminuria. The utility of these methods is questionable, because many samples from diabetic patients need to be reassayed by a more specific and sensitive assay such as the RIA, INA or ITA methods.

Albuminuria↗
PubMed1992

Cholinergic modulation of GH secretion in acromegalic patients before and after pituitary surgery.

Cholinergic neurotransmission exerts a physiological control on GH secretion. Pirenzepine (Pz), an antagonist of muscarinic receptors, by enhancing hypothalamic somatostatin release, inhibits stimulated GH secretion in normal subjects but not in acromegalic patients. To address the hypothesis that a feedback effect of GH hypersecretion can be involved in this condition, GH responses to GHRH 1-29, 1 microgram/kg iv, with and without administration of Pz, 40 mg iv before tests, were investigated in eight acromegalic patients, before and 20-30 days after transsphenoidal adenomectomy. Pz diminished (p < 0.001) the incremental area under the curve (AUC) of GH responses to GHRH in seven normal controls. In contrast, GHRH responsiveness in untreated acromegalic patients was not affected by Pz. Postoperative basal GH levels decreased by 62.4 +/- 14.9% (p < 0.01). Pz inhibited GH responses to GHRH (p < 0.01). Furthermore, a direct relationship (r = 0.73, p < 0.01) between basal concentrations and the AUC of GH responses following Pz plus GHRH-test was found. The finding that muscarinic receptor activity recovered after the reduction of serum GH basal levels by pituitary surgery lends support to the proposed pathophysiological role of GH excess as a possible determinant factor in cholinergic-somatostatinergic dysfunction in acromegaly.

Acromegaly↗
PubMed1992

[Inhalation anesthesia in low-flow systems. Clinical evaluation of the kinetics of isoflurane in induction phase].

Closed circuit and low flow anaesthesia offer numerous advantages such as reduction of gas consumption, low cost, and less pollution in both the operating theatre and the environment. These procedures also offer increases in inspired gas humidity and temperature. However the time needed to attain the alveolar concentration MAC 95, is too long. Prefilling the whole circuit, the bellow and the bag with anaesthetic vapours shortens that time without overdosage.

Anesthesia, Closed-Circuit↗
PubMed1991

Long-term low-dose glucocorticoid therapy in hyperandrogenized women: utility and effects on bone mineral content and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical function.

The effect of chronic low-dose glucocorticoid administration on bone mineral content and corticotrope reserve was investigated in 12 hyperandrogenized women treated with 1-6 mg oral evening doses of 16 beta-methylprednisone for 12-58 months. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis was evaluated in 9 patients by a standard metyrapone test after 45-75 days off steroid therapy. All the patients had a normal rise in serum 11-deoxycortisol after metyrapone. Bone densitometry was assessed at the end of therapy using dual photon absorptiometry. No significant differences between patients and age-matched hyperandrogenic controls were found either in spine (1.048 +/- 0.096 vs. 1.023 +/- 0.175 g/cm2) or femoral neck (0.863 +/- 0.115 vs. 0.899 +/- 0.216 g/cm2), respectively. In conclusion, absence of quantitative bone mass reduction and normal corticotrope reserve were observed even after 58 months of daily steroid administration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Liver cirrhosis and chronic calcifying pancreatitis are associated with different morphotypes.

The different morphotypes of patients have been determined by sonography of the upper abdomen and statistical calculation according to a previously published method. Patients have been classified into the following 3 groups: 'longilignes', 'normotypes' and 'brèvilignes' which fit with ancient anatomical descriptions. In 74 normal controls, there were 21.6% brévilignes and 44.5% longilignes, in alcoholic cirrhosis (n = 31) 77.4 and 6.4%, respectively, in postnecrotic viral cirrhosis (n = 28). 25.0 and 17.8% and in alcoholic chronic calcifying pancreatitis (n = 25) 12.0 and 76.0%. These differences which are significant between all groups show that the morphotype of the human body is different in cirrhotic and pancreatitis patients. As morphotypes preexist to cirrhosis and chronic pancreatitis, this is an argument for the assumed predisposition (possibly hereditary) to cirrhosis and chronic pancreatitis.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1989

Clinical significance of intraoperative cultures of aneurysm walls and contents in elective abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy.

To investigate the clinical significance of intraoperative cultures in elective abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy, we cultured the aneurysmal wall and contents in 90 patients undergoing vascular graft surgery. Prosthetic graft infection was documented in 1 out of 62 patients with negative cultures and in none of 28 patients with positive cultures (chi 2 = 0.4, p greater than 0.1). Bacterial growth was seen in neither of 2 inflammatory aneurysms, 3 of 14 atherosclerotic aneurysms and 2 of 5 aneurysms without specific features. A retrospective analysis of patients' charts aimed at finding possible risk factors failed to identify any correlation between results of cultures and length of hospitalization before surgery, time interval between angiography and surgery, route of angiography procedure or minutes of surgery before sample collection. We conclude that positive cultures may not imply clinical infection at the time of surgery and that prolonged post-operative organism-specific antibiotic therapy does not appear necessary to prevent graft contamination in patients undergoing elective abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Clinical study of picotamide in patients with vascular diseases].

The authors report on a group of 44 patients operated on for vascular disease, treated with antiplatelet therapy (picotamide). These patients were followed up for a period of 12 months with clinical and instrumental controls (Doppler ultrasound) in order to evaluate the evolution of atherosclerotic disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Early and late complications of endoscopic oesophageal varices sclerotherapy.

We report the complications of perendoscopic sclerotherapy observed during treatment of oesophageal varices in 104 patients and 409 sclerotherapy sessions. Complications were related to each individual session and to the aim of the treatment (therapeutic or prophylactic). Major complications occurred in 17.3% of the patients treated: 13 cases of severe bleeding and 5 of oesophageal stricture. Conservative therapy stopped haemorrhage in all but 4 patients, who died of uncontrolled bleeding (3.8%). Three oesophageal strictures recovered spontaneously, while the remaining two required endoscopic dilations. Minor complications occurred after 102/409 sessions (24.9%). Epigastric and/or retrosternal pain developed after 17.6% of the sessions, oesophageal ulcerations after 12.5%, fever after 11.7% and transient dysphagia after 3.7%. Bleeding was observed only in Child's category C patients who underwent therapeutic treatment. The risk of bleeding remained unchanged until complete eradication of varices was achieved. The incidence of minor complications did not correlate with the progression or the aim of the treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase serum activities in neonatal transient myocardial ischemia.

The behavior of serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase was evaluated during the first 30 postnatal days in 16 neonates with clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic features of transient myocardial ischemia. These common laboratory tests, requested usually as an aid to diagnosis and surveillance of myocardial damage both in the adult and infant age groups, do not seem to have any value in the perinatal period compared to established reference values of healthy or asphyxiated controls.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1988

Low molecular weight heparin prevention of post-operative deep vein thrombosis in vascular surgery.

Ninety-two patients undergoing vascular surgery took part in a controlled clinical trial to study the effectiveness of a new low molecular weight (LMW) heparin for prevention of post-operative deep vein thrombosis. Forty-six patients were treated daily, for 7 days after operation, with a single subcutaneous injection of 15,000 Anti X-activated Factor Units of the new LMW heparin; the remaining 46 patients were treated, for the same period, with 2 daily subcutaneous injections of 5,000 International Units of calcium heparin. Deep vein thrombosis detection was by the radioactive fibrinogen uptake test, performed each day during therapy in all patients. A very low incidence of sub-clinical deep vein thrombosis was observed; in 3 (6.5%) patients in the LMW heparin group and in 4 (8.6%) patients of the calcium heparin group. The results of laboratory investigation showed that the antithrombotic activity (inhibition of Factor Xa) of the LMW preparation was significantly greater than that of calcium heparin, while activated partial thromboplastin time was greater in the calcium heparin group. The new preparation also showed better local tolerance, with less pain on subcutaneous injections.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Diffusing capacity predicts morbidity and mortality after pulmonary resection.

Patients who are considered for major pulmonary resection are normally evaluated by spirometry and clinical assessment. Despite this, the morbidity and mortality rates are high after these operations. We retrospectively reviewed results of lung resection performed during a period of 7.5 years in 237 patients to identify other important predictors of morbidity and mortality. There were 144 male and 93 female patients with a mean age of 59.4 +/- 11.4 years. The indication for operation was lung cancer in 199 (76 stage I, 34 stage II, 89 stage IIIA-B), benign disease in 34, and metastatic disease from other primary tumors in four. Lobectomy or bilobectomy was performed in 164 patients and pneumonectomy in 73. Data on 38 preoperative and operative risk factors were correlated with information on 24 postoperative events grouped into four major categories: death, pulmonary complications, cardiovascular complications, and other problems. Logistic regression analysis and chi 2 analysis were used to identify the relationship of the preoperative risk factors to the grouped postoperative complications. The diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide was the most important predictor of mortality (p less 0.01) and was the sole predictor of postoperative pulmonary complications (p less than 0.005). This diffusing capacity can reveal the existence of emphysematous changes in the lung, even when spirometric values are acceptable, and it usually should be a part of the evaluation of patients being considered for pulmonary resection.

Adolescent↗