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Biomedical subjects

M Rugge

Publications and source records attributed to M Rugge.

154 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Cryptogenic chronic active liver disease. Evaluation of serum aminoterminal peptide of type III procollagen as a marker of histological activity.

Sera from 64 patients with HBsAg-negative chronic liver disease with or without cirrhosis were investigated for aminoterminal peptide of type III procollagen (sP-III-P) as a suitable marker of hepatic fibrosis; 244 healthy control subjects were included in the study. A close correlation (p less than 0.01) between sP-III-P levels and histological activity was observed; on the contrary, no correlation was found between the same serum marker of liver fibroplasia and biochemical activity or clinical severity of the disease. We conclude that sP-III-P as a suitable marker of liver overload of collagen fibers is strongly correlated with the histological activity of the disease. Local immune reactions produce soluble substances that might stimulate fibroblastic activity. The test has a significant sensitivity and a very high specificity as a marker of chronic liver disease with histological activity.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Delta virus and childhood leukemia.

We studied 145 children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in remission who had been off chemotherapy for at least 2 years, to assess the prevalence of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection, and to determine whether HDV infection was associated with more severe chronic liver disease. The prevalence of chronic HBV infection was 41.5% (60/145). The prevalence of HDV infection among these patients with chronic HBV infection was 50% (30/60). Eighty-five patients were HBsAg-negative. There was evidence that HDV-infected children had more severe chronic liver disease than did HBsAg-positive, anti-HDV-negative patients: (1) their serum ALT levels were significantly more likely to be elevated at long-term follow-up (27/30 vs. 10/26, p = 0.0001); (2) their mean ALT levels were significantly higher 3 years after the cessation of chemotherapy (128 vs. 84 IU/L, p = 0.001); and (3) they were more likely to have either chronic acute hepatitis or cirrhosis when liver biopsy was done (18/23 vs. 6/18, p = 0.0038). Children who were HBsAg-negative had the lowest alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and were least likely to have chronic active hepatitis or cirrhosis (3/31). We conclude that infection with HDV in children with ALL is associated with serious chronic liver disease. In long-term survivors, HDV infection is a major cause of morbidity and an adverse prognostic factor in terms of leukemia-free survival.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunohistochemical evidence of p53 overexpression in gastric epithelial dysplasia.

Molecular abnormalities of the p53 gene in chromosome 17p may be among the most commonly observed in human cancer. Their role in gastric carcinogenesis is suggested by their frequent detection in invasive adenocarcinomas. To investigate the chronology with which these abnormalities appear in the gastric carcinogenesis process, the expression of p53 proteins was investigated in late stages of the process, namely dysplasia, and in superficial carcinomas. A polyclonal antibody, CM-1, against both wild-type and mutant proteins was applied to paraffin-embedded biopsy and gastrectomy specimens previously fixed in buffered formalin. Positive nuclear stain was obtained in 36.4% of 33 cases of gastric epithelial dysplasia, corresponding to 19% of mild, 27.3% of moderate, and 64.3% of severe dysplasias. Eight of 13 (61.5%) invasive carcinomas showed positive stain. The data indicate an increased incidence of p53 abnormalities in the late stages of gastric carcinogenesis.

Biopsy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Morpho-functional characteristics of reflux gastritis in patients after cholecystectomy and without cholecystectomy].

The aim of this study was to evaluate some biochemical and histopathological aspects in a group of patients with a view to identifying any differences depending on whether the pathology was associated with previous cholecystectomy or idiopathic. The study involved 23 patients (8 post-cholecystectomy cases and 15 ulcer-free dyspeptic patients) with the diagnosis of duodenogastric reflux gastritis confirmed by endoscopic histopathological evaluation. The following parameters were considered: 1) pH and bile salt concentration in gastric juice; 2) histological classification of antral biopsies (Niemela's criteria); 3) dyspeptic symptoms (dyspepsia, pyrosis and epigastric pain, sense of repletion, foul-tasting mouth) graded on a scale from 0 to 4. All parameters were considered in relation to whether or not Helicobacter Pylori was found in the histological specimens. No significant differences were found between the two groups for pH and bile salt values or for Helicobacter Pylori positivity. No relationship was observed between the Helicobacter Pylori and either the severity of the histological picture, the features of the biochemical parameters or the severity of the clinical symptoms. Such findings confirm the common pathophysiological pattern of reflux gastritis regardless of any permanent biliary tract alterations and the low importance of Helicobacter Pylori infection in determining this syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Biochemical and histopathological aspects in duodenogastric reflux gastritis patients with or without prior cholecystectomy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate some biochemical and histopathological aspects in a group of patients with a view to identifying any differences depending on whether the pathology was associated with previous cholecystectomy or idiopathic. The study involved 23 patients (8 post-cholecystectomy cases and 15 ulcer-free dyspeptic patients) with the diagnosis of duodenogastric reflux gastritis confirmed by endoscopic histopathological evaluation. The following parameters were considered: 1. pH and bile salt concentration in gastric juice; 2. histological classification of antral biopsies (Niemela's criteria); 3. dyspeptic symptoms (dyspepsia, pyrosis and epigastric pain, sense of repletion, foul-tasting mouth) graded on a scale from 0 to 4. All parameters were considered in relation to whether or not Helicobacter Pylori was found in the histological specimens. No significant differences were found between the two groups for pH and bile salt values or for Helicobacter Pylori positivity. No relationship was observed between the Helicobacter Pylori and either the severity of the histological picture, the features of the biochemical parameters or the severity of the clinical symptoms. Such findings confirm the common pathophysiological pattern of reflux gastritis regardless of any permanent biliary tract alterations and the low importance of Helicobacter Pylori infection in determining this syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Gastric involvement in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Gastric involvement was investigated in twenty Italian patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Gastric complaints were present in 11 cases (55%) and endoscopic abnormalities in 10 (50%) including 2 cases with active duodenal ulcer. Only two patients (10%) showed moderate chronic atrophic gastritis (AG), while most (85%) had superficial gastritis (SG). No correlations were found among endoscopy, histology and gastric symptoms. Mean serum group I pepsinogen (PG I) levels were significantly higher (p < 0.01) and PG I concentrations in the fundus of the stomach were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in pSS patients than in a matched control group of dyspeptic subjects. Serum and antral gastrin levels were elevated in 3 cases with pSS (15%) including the two with AG, although the mean levels were not different from the controls. Antibodies to gastric parietal cells (PCA) were detected in two cases (10%) including 1 with AG. The present study contradicts previous reports claiming that AG with hypopepsinogenemia is a prominent feature in Sjögren's syndrome. We suggest that, at least in Italian patients, pSS is often associated with SG and high PG I levels.

Adult↗