An Enhanced GC/MS Procedure for the Identification of Proteins in Paint Microsamples.

The chemical characterization of materials used in works of art is extremely useful for gaining a better knowledge of the artistic heritage and to guarantee its preservation. A derivatization GC/MS procedure for the identification of proteins in a microsample from painted works of art has been optimized. The amino acid fraction is derivatized using anhydrous dimethylformamide (DMF) as solvent instead of pyridine (Py), commonly used to facilitate the reaction. Although pyridine is often considered a silylation catalyst, there are many instances in which silylation reactions actually are slower in pyridine than other solvents. In addition, pyridine also may have other undesirable effects such as the promotion of secondary products and other chromatographic anomalies. Using DMF, the formation of artifacts is limited and the derivatization yield of hydrophilic amino acids such as proline and hydroxyproline has improved, thus making the identification of organic paint media more straightforward. The method has been validated and successfully applied to identify the binder of the sample taken from the pictorial cycle of the 12th century monastery of Santa Maria delle Cerrate (Lecce, Italy), thus highlighting the use of eggs as a binding medium.

Oesophageal achalasia in elderly people: results of the laparoscopic Heller-Dor myotomy.

AIMS: To assess the outcome of laparoscopic Heller-Dor myotomy for oesophageal achalasia in two groups of patients identified by age (under and over 70 years) using functional and clinical instruments. BACKGROUND: Current therapies for achalasia can't restore normal motility but can palliate dysphagia. Many other symptoms may persist difficult to quantify and to compare. In order to understand if age is a factor that influences the therapeutic outcome we tested the reliability of a specific QoL instrument for comparing outcomes of surgery for achalasia. METHODS: Functional examinations and the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) were used before and after laparoscopic Heller-Dor myotomy. RESULTS: Starting in January 1996, 28 consecutive patients of 32 diagnosed (instrumental evidences) achalasia were operated on laparoscopically for various clinical stages of achalasia. In 78% of patients dysphagia disappeared, the incidence of gastro-oesophageal reflux was of 11%. The patients completed a GIQLI questionnaire preoperatively and after a minimum postoperative follow-up of 1 year. Median preoperative GIQLI score was 78(range 38-109) out of a theoretical maximum score of 144. At a median follow-up of 35 months (range 18-72), the score had significantly improved to 115 (range 71-140). All the items assessing gastrointestinal symptoms and physical, social, and emotional function were significantly improved. There is no difference between the two groups identified. CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic Heller-Dor myotomy is an effective palliation for acalasia, the medium-term outcome is not affected by the age of the patients. The GIQLI is a reliable instrument to compare the impact of achalasia symptoms on health-related QoL.

The 'real' woman with heart failure. Impact of sex on current in-hospital management of heart failure by cardiologists and internists.

AIM: To identify differences between sexes in the clinical profile, use of resources, management and outcome in a large population of 'real world' patients with heart failure (HF). METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional survey was conducted on 2127 consecutive patients (47% women) admitted with HF to 167 cardiology and 250 internal medicine departments between February 14 and 25, 2000. RESULTS: Women were older, had a higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation, and more frequently a hypertensive or valvular aetiology. Females were admitted more frequently in Medical than in Cardiology Departments. The rate of invasive and non-invasive procedures was lower in women than in men, slightly higher if managed by cardiologists. Women were less frequently prescribed ACE-inhibitors, amiodarone, and spironolactone, and more frequently prescribed digoxin. In-hospital mortality was similar, without difference between health-care providers. A 6-month follow-up was performed in 56.4% of the cases in both setting, but less frequently in women. Event rates were similar with nearly half of patients re-hospitalised at least once. CONCLUSION: The 'real' HF woman has generally a more severe disease; she is an old lady who is more frequently hospitalised in a medical unit, receives few diagnostic, and cardiovascular procedures and pharmacological therapy, has a relatively low probability of dying in hospital, but a high likelihood of requiring readmission.

[Bamifylline in the therapy of asthmatic syndromes. Efficacy and side effects vs delayed-action theophylline anhydride]. / La bamifillina nella terapia delle sindromi asmatiche. Efficacia ed effetti collaterali vs teofillina anidra ad azione prolungata.

Two homogeneous groups of 8 patients suffering from bronchial asthma or chronic obstructive bronchial pneumonia were treated with slow release theophylline anhydride or bamiphylline respectively, both products being given orally twice a day. The results showed that both drugs possess a powerful bronchodilatory action and therefore have a beneficial effect on subjective symptoms. Statistical analysis confirmed the absence of any significant difference between the two xanthine derivatives, both of which were well-tolerated though bamiphylline offered a slight advantage in this respect. In fact there were no side effects at all in the bamiphylline group whereas there was one case of moderate gastric intolerance in the group given theophylline anhydride, though it was not severe enough to warrant suspension of the treatment or reduction of the dose.

[Antiblastic agent-induced vomiting: possibilities of its prevention and alizapride therapy]. / Vomito indotto da antiblastici: possibilità di prevenzione e terapia con alizapride.

The spread of cytostatics has made the search for safe drugs for the prevention and treatment of induced vomiting important. In the present study, the protective (prophylactic and therapeutic) effect of Alizapride has been examined. Ten oncological patients of average age 60 were treated with a total of 30 cycles according to the commonest protocols of drugs with varying emetic potential (from bland bleomycin type to high cisplatin type). The patients were subdivided into two groups: a) prophylaxis before and after chemotherapy; b) treatment only as needed. Analysis of the data showed excellent tolerance and significant effectiveness in both groups.

[High-frequency atrial arrhythmia induced by a cisplatin-etoposide combination]. / Aritmia atriale ad alta frequenza indotta dalla combinazione cisplatino-etoposide.

The cardiotoxicity of cytostatic drugs reported in the literature is marked for some (adriamycin), rather rare for others. Cases of angina, infarction, and atrial arrhythmia have been reported during treatment with cisplatin. The case is reported of a 65-year-old patient with no risk factors for cardiovascular disease who had two attacks of high-frequency atrial arrhythmia during combined treatment with cisplatin and etoposide. The first attack came after the first cycle and disappeared spontaneously; the second, after the second cycle, required antiarrhythmic treatment. The potential myocardial toxicity of cisplatin, especially when combined with other potentially cardiotoxic drugs or administered after cycles of adriamycin is discussed.

Evocative test of serum pancreatic enzymes to bombesin in chronic pancreatitis.

The levels of serum immunoreactive trypsinogen and P-isoamylase in response to Bombesin intravenous infusion were evaluated in 25 controls, 18 patients with documented chronic pancreatitis, and nine subjects with nonpancreatic gastroenterological diseases. Mean immunoreactive trypsinogen peak values were significantly higher in controls and gastroenterological diseases than in chronic pancreatitis, but there was marked overlap in individual values between the three groups. As for P-isoamylase, a statistical difference was detected only between mean peak concentrations of control versus chronic pancreatitis. Integrated responses for both enzymes did not result in a better discrimination between controls, chronic pancreatitis, and gastroenterological diseases. This study confirms that evocative tests are of limited value in the diagnosis of pancreatic disease.