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M Cottone

Publications and source records attributed to M Cottone.

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

Serum autoantibodies, ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis.

The aetiology of primary sclerosing cholangitis is unknown, but it is closely associated with ulcerative colitis. Serum anticolon antibodies, crossreacting with portal tracts, have been reported in patients with ulcerative colitis but no studies have been carried out in primary sclerosing cholangitis. The frequency of serum anticolon antibodies and portal tract antibodies have been measured in 24 patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis and ulcerative colitis; 15 patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis without ulcerative colitis; 77 patients without primary sclerosing cholangitis: 25 patients with Crohn's colitis; 10 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis; 22 patients with extrahepatic biliary obstruction and 20 normal controls. Serum anticolon and portal tract antibodies were detected using immunoperoxidase techniques on normal colon and obstructed human liver. Tissue typing was undertaken using a standard microcytotoxicity technique. The frequency of anticolon antibodies was markedly increased in primary sclerosing cholangitis patients with ulcerative colitis (62.5%) compared with patients with ulcerative colitis (17%) and Crohn's colitis (16%) (chi 2 = 17.9; p less than 0.001). The antibodies were almost entirely of IgG and IgA classes in all groups. Anticolon antibodies were not found in sera from any other group. Sera from eight of 15 patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis, ulcerative colitis and anticolon antibody reacted with portal tracts of human obstructed liver. This reaction was also seen in four of nine patients with ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis and in three of 15 patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis alone. Portal tract antibody was of IgG class and was not present in sera from any other groups. Unlike anticolon antibody, there was a close relationship between HLA-B8 phenotype and the portal tract antibody (p<0.02; chi 2 = 6.04). Absorption studies confirmed that the anticolon antibody is distinct from portal tract antibody.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1986

Predictive value of ultrasonography in the screening of non-ascitic cirrhotic patients with large varices.

To evaluate the accuracy of ultrasonography in the screening of cirrhotic patients with large varices, the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves of the portal, mesenteric, and splenic veins of 215 consecutive non-ascitic patients were plotted in order to select the most indicative optimal threshold. The contribution of respiratory variations of splenic and mesenteric veins was also evaluated. Taking 13 mm as the limit for the normal diameter of the portal vein, 10 and 9 mm for the upper limits of the mesenteric and splenic veins, respectively, and respiratory variations being absent, the positive rates were 91, 88, and 92 per cent and the false-positive rates were 44, 38, and 42 per cent, respectively. The predictive values of a positive test were 0.34, 0.33, and 0.34, respectively, and the predictive values of a negative test were 0.96 for the portal and mesenteric veins and 0.97 for the splenic vein. Because the portal vein is always visible, the portal diameter may be employed in the screening through the presence of large varices in association with the assessment of respiratory variation in the splenic or mesenteric diameter. A cut-off point of 13 mm and the absence of respiratory variations precludes the need for endoscopy in 47 per cent of patients.

Endoscopy↗
PubMed1985

HLA antigens in ulcerative colitis: a study in the Sicilian population.

HLA antigens were investigated in 41 Sicilian patients with ulcerative colitis and in 151 healthy controls. Frequencies of HLA-B5 and DR2 were increased in the group of patients with ulcerative colitis whereas the DR3 antigen frequency was decreased. However the corrected p values were not significant. Thus, present results indicate that in ulcerative colitis HLA linked genetic factors play a marginal role, if any.

Colitis, Ulcerative↗
PubMed1985

Ulcerative colitis and HLA phenotype.

The distribution of HLA A, B, C, DR antigens was investigated in a British population with ulcerative colitis. Fifty six patients were typed for HLA, A, B, C and 46 additionally for DR. No association was found between the HLA phenotype and the presence or absence of ulcerative colitis. Serum from 52 patients was tested for the presence of the anticolon antibody. There was no relation between the presence of the antibody and the HLA phenotype. Finally, no correlation was found between the HLA phenotypes, the age of onset of the disease, the extent and the clinical course.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

The clinical value of serum ferritin in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Serum ferritin is often elevated in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Its use as a disease marker has been proposed. We have measured serum ferritin levels in 85 patients with HCC and in 62 comparable subjects with cirrhosis. Abnormal values (greater than or equal to 300 ng/ml) were found in 54% of the patients with HCC and in 35% of those with cirrhosis (median 323 and 204 ng/ml, respectively). The overlap of the range of concentration in HCC and cirrhosis was so great that no discriminant level could be chosen. No relationship was found between alpha-fetoprotein and ferritin concentrations. Among 61 patients who received Adriamycin treatment, no discernible fall in ferritin levels was observed, while alpha-fetoprotein increased progressively during the follow-up. Serum ferritin has no role in diagnosing and/or monitoring the response to treatment of patients with HCC.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Ultrasonographic and radionuclide detection of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotics with low alpha-fetoprotein levels.

A total of 67 cirrhotic patients with clinically suspected neoplastic degeneration and low alpha-fetoprotein levels were assessed prospectively with ultrasound and gold (198Au) scintigraphy. Ultrasound showed space-occupying lesions in 22 of the 24 patients who had a final diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (sensitivity, 95.8%) and excluded the presence of HCC in 37 of the 43 patients with cirrhosis only (specificity, 86.0%; efficiency, 90.8%). Scintigraphy demonstrated a cold defect in 22 of the 24 patients who had a final diagnosis of HCC (sensitivity, 95.8%) and excluded the presence of HCC in 22 of the 43 patients with cirrhosis only (specificity, 51.1%; efficiency, 69.8%). It was concluded that the most accurate screening plain in cirrhotic patients suspected of having HCC with alpha-fetoprotein values below 500 ng/ml would consist of ultrasonography followed, as clinically indicated, by ultrasonographic or laparoscopic guided biopsy.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed1983

Ultrasound in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with cirrhosis.

A total of 100 cirrhotic patients with clinically suspected neoplastic transformation was assessed prospectively with ultrasound. Ultrasound was diagnostic in 27/30 patients who had a final diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (sensitivity 90%); there were five false-positive examinations (specificity 93%). The positive predictive value of the test was 84.4%; negative predictive value was 95%. Three different ultrasound patterns were observed in hepatocellular carcinoma: increased reflectivity, decreased reflectivity, and mixed echo pattern. Ultrasound can be used as a safe, effective first-line screening test for cirrhotic patients with clinically suspected neoplastic transformation.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed1980

Gray-scale ultrasonography and endoscopic pancreatography in pancreatic diagnosis.

Ultrasonography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) were performed in 216 patients with known or suspected pancreatic disease. Both techniques provided accurate information in all groups of patients (normals and those with recurrent acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, and cancer), and there were no complications. Ultrasound scans gave more information concerning pseudocysts and were more often abnormal than pancreatograms in patients with recurrent acute pancreatitis. It is concluded that the combination of ultrasonography and ERCP constitutes a comprehensive diagnostic approach to patients with upper abdominal problems. The roles of other diagnostic tests for the pancreas, such as computed tomography, isotope scanning, function tests, and angiography, are also discussed briefly.

Acute Disease↗