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Biomedical subjects

N Riccioni

Publications and source records attributed to N Riccioni.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Treatment of hemodialysis-related porphyria cutanea tarda with small repeated phlebotomies.

Phlebotomy is generally thought to be contraindicated in porphyria cutanea tarda (PTC) associated with hemodialysis for the anemia which is often present in uremic patients. We report a patient with a severe form of hemodialysis-related PTC and biochemical parameters suggestive of iron overload in whom treatment with small repeated phlebotomies was well tolerated without any significant worsening of the anemia and gave marked biochemical improvement and complete clinical remission.

Aged

Lithium-induced sinus node dysfunction.

A 74-year-old woman, on lithium carbonate treatment, developed symptomatic sinus node dysfunction and central nervous toxicity, which disappeared after discontinuation of the drug and when serum lithium fell from 2 to 1.27 mEq/L. Our review of the literature demonstrates that sinus node abnormalities can occur both in presence of therapeutic and toxic serum lithium levels and are frequently asymptomatic and completely reversible. All patients receiving lithium should have their pulse regularly recorded and the drug should be promptly discontinued if severe bradycardia or other rhythm disturbances appeared during the treatment.

Aged

Free-cortisol assay by immunoextraction: comparison with an equilibrium dialysis procedure.

We describe a new method for directly determining the apparent free cortisol concentration in plasma samples by use of an antibody-coated test-tube RIA. Buffer-diluted plasma or standard serum is added to antibody-coated test tubes, incubated at 4 degrees C for 4 h, and the solutions are aspirated. 125I-labeled cortisol is added to each tube and incubated for 3 h at 4 degrees C. Then the insides of the tubes are washed and their radioactivities counted. The standard curve is in terms of free cortisol, the standard serum solutions having been measured with an equilibrium dialysis procedure. Plasma samples (n = 155) from normal subjects and from various patients, measured with the new immunoextraction method and the equilibrium dialysis technique, gave results that correlated well (r = 0.847, p less than 0.001). Results by this direct RIA also correlate well with the clinical adrenocortical status of patients for whom data on total plasma cortisol may be misleading. This simple, easy RIA is suited to be the routine method for free cortisol in plasma.

Anorexia Nervosa

[Urinary guanidinosuccinic acid in uremic children].

Urinary guanidinosuccinic acid (GSA) was measured in pediatric age: six normal subjects, six chronically uremic patients and five with acute renal failure. Urinary GSA was increased in uremic patients as compared to that in normal subjects: our levels was less than in the growth-up people. These differences might be correlated with different protein metabolism in children.

Acute Kidney Injury

[4 cases of tricholeukocytic leukemia].

The clinical, haematological, cytomorphological, cytochemical, ultrastructural, and bone marrow biopsy histological data observed in 4 cases of tricholeukocytic leukaemia are reported, along with some unusual findings. Stress is placed on the varied course of this disease and the difficulties associated with its treatment. Some criteria for the choice of therapy are also proposed.

Aged

Prenylamine-induced ventricular arrhythmias and syncopal attacks with Q-T prolongation. Report of a case and comment on therapeutic use of lignocaine.

A 70-year-old man, on prenylamine for exertional angina, complained of syncopal attacks which seemed to be caused by bursts of ventricular tachycardia associated with Q-T prolongation. These symptoms disappeared after treatment with lignocaine, and the Q-T interval gradually returned to normal when prenylamine was stopped. This communication emphasizes the possibility of the occurrence of Q-T prolongation with associated ventricular arrhythmias in patients treated with prenylamine and the usefulness of a cautious trial with lignocaine in ventricular arrhythmias linked to Q-T prolongation.

Aged

Hypoglycemia associated with a leiomyosarcoma of the small bowel.

A patient with recurrent hypoglycemic episodes associated with a leiomyosarcoma of the small bowel is described. Fasting plasma insulin levels were consistently low and a subnormal insulin response to provocative stimuli (oral glucose and i.v. glucagon) was shown. After removal of the tumor, hypoglycemic episodes disappeared, fasting plasma insulin concentrations rose to normal values and insulin response to both OGTT and glucagon test was markedly enhanced. The possible mechanisms responsible for the hypoglycemia and the causes of subnormal insulin response to provocative stimuli are discussed.

Aged