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Biomedical subjects

V Novelli

Publications and source records attributed to V Novelli.

43 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[Effects of therapy with bis-hemisuccinate of ursodeoxycholic acid bisodium salt in patients with chronic hepatitis].

It has recently been shown that ursodeoxycholic acid administration improves liver function tests in patients with chronic liver diseases. Aim of the present study was to evaluate an ursodeoxycholic acid derivative (bis-hemisuccinate bisodic salt Ursodamor, Farmaceutici Damor, Napoli) in patients with chronic hepatitis. Forty patients (15 M, 25 F) with biopsy proven chronic liver disease participated to the study. Patients were randomly allocated to two treatment groups. Twenty patients (4 PBC, 11 CAH/CPH, 5 cirrhosis) received the ursodeoxycholic acid derivate at the dose of 600 mg/day, while 20 patients (1 PBC, 11 CAH/CPH, 8 cirrhosis) received a placebo. For both groups the treatment period was six months. ALT serum levels were significantly reduced in the treated group (from 84 +/- 14 to 62 +/- 14 p less than 0.0005) while no significant change was observed in the placebo group. In the treated group but not in the placebo group alkaline phosphatases and gamma-GT were also significantly reduced (from 268 +/- 56 to 160 +/- 23 p less than 0.0005 and from 79 +/- 21 to 45 +/- 10 p less than 0.0005). In conclusion, our results suggest that the administration of the ursodeoxycholic acid derivate, bis-hemisuccinate, bisodic salt, improves liver function tests in patients with chronic liver hepatitis. Similarly to ursodeoxycholic acid this new derivate probably interferes with bile acid pool composition by replacing the more detergent and probably more toxic endogenous bile acid.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Acute purulent pericarditis in Omani children.

A total of eight children admitted to the Royal Hospital, Muscat with purulent pericardial effusions were analysed. Six of the cases were in children less than 2 years of age. Five of the eight children had positive blood cultures: Haemophilus influenzae was cultured from two patients, Streptococcus pneumoniae from one patient, E. coli from one patient and Streptococcus viridans from the remaining child. In three children both blood and pericardial cultures were sterile; two of these children had received prior antibiotics. In our experience early diagnosis by cross-sectional echocardiography followed by adequate surgical drainage and parenteral administration of broad spectrum antibiotics helped prevent the high morbidity and mortality usually reported in this condition in developing countries.

Acute Disease↗

Varicella-like illness caused by live varicella vaccine in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia.

A varicella-like illness occurred in five of 52 children with acute lymphocytic leukemia following the administration of live varicella vaccine. Only one of the children required treatment with acyclovir. Virus isolated from two of the children was "vaccine-like" but differed slightly from the original vaccine strain when tested by restriction enzyme analysis. There did not appear to be a reversion to virulence because two of the household contacts who seroconverted had mild or subclinical infections. Vaccinees in whom this reaction developed tended to have a poor cellular immune response to varicella-zoster virus.

Antibodies, Viral↗

Platelet immune complex interaction in the pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease.

We have shown that the thrombocytosis which occurs in the 3rd and 4th week of Kawasaki disease is associated with the appearance in the circulation of platelet aggregating factors detected by the PAT test. These factors induce aggregation and serotonin release from normal platelets. The aggregation can be blocked by EDTA and Prostacyclin. The aggregating factor appears to be of high molecular weight, and its activity was lost following fractionation at low pH. The platelet aggregating activity was significantly associated with the presence of IgG immune complexes, and these features suggest that IgG immune complexes are responsible for the platelet aggregating activity.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

Platelet immune complex interaction in pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease and childhood polyarteritis.

The role of platelets in the pathogenesis of vasculitis and the formation of coronary artery aneurysms was studied in 19 children with Kawasaki disease and five with polyarteritis. All patients with Kawasaki disease developed thrombocytosis in the third week of illness. The peak platelet count was significantly correlated (p less than 0.005) with the subsequent development of coronary artery aneurysms. The rise in platelet count was associated with the appearance in the circulation of a factor that induced aggregation and serotonin release in normal platelets. This factor was shown to be of high molecular weight, and its activity was lost at low pH--features suggestive of an immune complex. Immune complexes, detected by precipitation with polyethylene glycol, also appeared in the circulation as the platelet count increased. These complexes induced platelet aggregation, and there was a significant correlation (p less than 0.001) between the concentrations of IgG and IgA in the polyethylene glycol precipitated material and the platelet aggregating activity. Similar platelet aggregating activity was also detected in patients with polyarteritis but followed a different time course, persisting in the circulation for several months in association with continued disease activity. These findings imply that different mechanisms have a role in distinct phases of Kawasaki disease. The initial feverish phase (probably infective) is probably followed by an immune complex vasculitis that occurs when antibodies to the initiating agent appear in the circulation. The immune complexes aggregate platelets and induce release of serotonin. Platelet derived vasoactive mediators may increase vascular permeability and facilitate further deposition of complexes in the tissues.

Aneurysm↗

Extensive enteric leiomyolysis due to cytomegalovirus enterocolitis in vertically acquired human immunodeficiency virus infection in infants.

We report two infants with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and rectal bleeding due to cytomegalovirus (CMV) ileitis and colitis with minimal focal mucosal ulceration but with extensive leiomyolysis of the muscularis propria. Immunostaining and in situ hybridization for CMV showed numerous viral inclusions in the myocytes of the muscularis propria and vascular endothelium/smooth muscle with only occasional inclusions present in the muscularis mucosae. Colectomy was curative in one patient; in the other the bowel was only examined at postmortem.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗