Publications (11) View all
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Article: Myelo-optico-neuropathy in copper deficiency occurring after partial gastrectomy
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ABSTRACT: Acquired copper deficiency has recently been recognized as a cause of myeloneuropathy mimicking subacute combined degeneration due to vitamin B-12 deficiency. A remote history of gastric surgery is frequently associated with this syndrome. However, the very limited prevalence of severe copper deficiency in patients with a history of gastric surgery suggests that additional contributing factors are likely to be involved. We describe a patient with copper deficiency and a previous Billroth II partial gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma, presenting with severe myelo-optico-neuropathy, demyelinating lesions of the brain, and subjective hyposmia. An abnormal glucose breath test also revealed small bowel bacterial overgrowth syndrome. Copper replacement therapy associated with antibiotic therapy was effective in preventing further neurological damage and in obtaining mild improvement. We propose that copper status should be evaluated in all patients presenting with unexplained noninflammatory myeloneuropathy. Small bowel bacterial overgrowth syndrome should be investigated as a cause of generalized malabsorption and a possible contributing factor to copper deficiency after gastric surgery, as should occult zinc ingestion. Key words copper deficiency-spastic paraparesis-optic neuropathy-malabsorption neuropathyJournal of Neurology 04/2012; 254(8):1012-1017. · 3.47 Impact Factor -
Article: In vitro model for IgE mediated food allergy.
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ABSTRACT: In intestinal food allergy, the non-specificity of gastrointestinal symptoms and the limited access to the reacting organ are the reasons for the limited understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease and the difficulties in establishing an appropriate diagnosis in the individual patient. To develop an in vitro model reproducing pathophysiological mechanisms of IgE mediated food allergy. Distal duodenum biopsies of nine patients with food allergy and 10 control subjects were cultured for 3 h with medium alone and with 1 mg/ml of peptic-tryptic digest of wheat gliadin, wheat albumins, and apple proteins. Each biopsy was used for conventional histological examination and for immunohistochemical detection of IgE-positive cells. We have also analyzed the expression of tight junction proteins, occludin, claudin-1, and ZO-1 by immunoconfocal microscopy. Histamine and tryptase release were measured in the culture medium and collected at 0, 30 min, and 3 h of culture using an enzyme and radio immunoassay, respectively. Exposure of small intestinal biopsy specimens of patients with food allergy to food allergens led to a significative increase of IgE-positive cells with a significative increase of histamine and tryptase release and an altered expression of tight junction proteins. No differences were found in intestinal biopsies of controls, cultured with or without food antigens. Small intestinal organ culture is a functional model of food allergy and could be considered as an in vitro oral food challenge, with evident reduction of costs and risks for the patients.Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology 10/2010; 46(2):177-87. · 2.08 Impact Factor -
Article: Recalling pain experienced during a colonoscopy: pain expectation and variability.
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ABSTRACT: This study investigated the relationship between participants' expected levels of pain intensity before a colonoscopy, pain intensity experienced while they were undergoing this medical procedure (real-time pain), and their retrospective evaluation of this experience. Correlational design. Regression analyses were performed and mediational models were tested. Ninety patients who were about to undergo a colonoscopy were asked to report the pain intensity on a scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (extreme pain). They reported the expected intensity of pain before the examination, their real-time intensity of pain every 60 s during the colonoscopy, and their global retrospective evaluation of the pain experienced when the procedure was over. Results confirmed that, regardless of participants' gender, the variability of the real-time pain distribution was a significant predictor of the accuracy of recall (i.e. the discrepancy between recalled pain and mean real-time pain). Moreover, participants' pain expectations preceding the examination were a significant predictor of the accuracy of recall. It was further demonstrated that the effect of patients' expectations on the discrepancy was mediated by the real-time pain variability. The results of the present study provide useful indications about what the target of interventions aimed at reducing the bias in pain recall should be.British Journal of Health Psychology 08/2009; 15(Pt 2):253-64. · 2.70 Impact Factor -
Article: Neurological complications of celiac disease and autoimmune mechanisms: a prospective study.
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ABSTRACT: Humoral immune mechanisms may have a role in the neurological complications of celiac disease (CD). We assessed 71 CD patients for neurologic manifestations and presence of serum antibodies to neural antigens. Sixteen patients (22.5%) were found to have neurological deficits including headache, depression, entrapment syndromes, peripheral neuropathy, and epilepsy. Antibody reactivity to neural antigens was detected in 30/71 (42.2%) patients. There was no clear correlation between anti-neural reactivity and neurologic dysfunction. Follow-up of 62 patients did not reveal change in electrophysiology or antibodies, regardless of diet. However, in 2 patients with neuropathy, symptoms improved or worsened depending on the diet.Journal of Neuroimmunology 04/2008; 195(1-2):171-5. · 2.96 Impact Factor -
Article: Antibodies to muscle and ganglionic acetylcholine receptors (AchR) in celiac disease.
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ABSTRACT: About 2.5% of patients with idiopathic peripheral neuropathy or idiopathic dysautonomia have underlying celiac disease (CD). Antibodies to ganglioside have been reported in CD patients with neuropathy. No data are so far available on the presence in CD of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies. Muscle AChR antibodies are found in patients with myasthenia gravis, and ganglionic AChR antibodies in patients with autoimmune autonomic neuropathy. To determine the frequency of AChR antibodies in CD patients and assess possible correlations with neurological manifestations. Seventy CD patients (16 M, 54 F, mean age 36 years) underwent neurological and electrophysiological evaluation. AChR antibodies were detected with radioimmunoprecipitation assay. Sera from 15 age-matched patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 10 with Sjogren syndrome were studied as controls. None of our CD patients complained of autonomic symptoms or fatigable weakness. Borderline titres (0.03-0.05 nmol/l) of ganglionic AChR antibodies were present in 4 patients, one affected with type I diabetes and one with subclinical neuropathy. Three of the 4 patients underwent cardiovascular autonomic function tests, which showed no abnormalities. Low levels of ganglionic AChR antibodies (0.05-0.10 nmol/l) were found in 2 SLE control patients, one of whom had a severe sicca complex. Muscle AChR antibodies (>1.0 nmol/l) were found in two CD patient and one control patient with SLE. Neither had symptoms or signs of myasthenia gravis. CD is occasionally associated with neurologic disease, and with antibody reactivity to neuronal antigens. None of our CD patients had autonomic failure or significant levels of ganglionic AChR antibodies. Two CD patient and one control with SLE had muscle AChR antibodies without clinical evidence of myasthenia. The presence of antibodies in CD and in SLE patients may reflect a non-specific autoimmune response in these patients or may indicate subclinical autoimmune autonomic and neuromuscular involvement.Autoimmunity 02/2008; 41(1):100-4. · 2.47 Impact Factor
