Giovanni Gigante

Reduced mitogenic stimulation of human lymphocytes by extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields

Blastogenesis of human peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated in vitro by non‐specific mitogens (PHA, ConA, PWM) upon exposure to extremely low frequency EMF has been studied. Different frequencies of square waveforms have been used. PHA‐stimulation resulted in strong inhibitions as measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation. A frequency window (3–50 Hz) within which ConA‐induced blastogenesis was significantly inhibited has been individuated. The mitogenic effect of PWM was significantly affected only at 3 Hz.

A role for Ca2+ in the effect of very low frequency electromagnetic field on the blastogenesis of human lymphocytes

The DNA synthesis of lymphocytes triggered by phytohemagglutinin or phorbol‐myristate‐acetate is strongly reduced by the externally applied electromagnetic field (ELF). Ca2+ uptake by stimulated lymphocytes is also reduced by ELF. The effect appears to be synergistic with that of the well‐known calcium blocker agent, verapamil.

Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy for Esophageal Achalasia: Outcomes of the First 100 Patients With Short-term Follow-up

OBJECTIVE Aim of this study is to report the mid-term outcomes of a large series of patients treated with peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) in a single European center. BACKGROUND POEM is a recently developed treatment of achalasia, which combines the efficacy of surgical myotomy, with the benefits of an endoscopic procedure. Previous studies, including few patients with a short-term follow-up, showed excellent results on dysphagia relief. METHODS The first 100 adult patients treated in a single tertiary referral center were retrospectively identified and included in this study (41 men, mean age 48.4 years). Patients were treated according to a standard technique. Follow-up data, including clinical evaluation, and results of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), manometry, and pH monitoring were collected and analyzed. RESULTS POEM was completed in 94% of patients. Mean operative time was 83 minutes (49-140  minutes). No complications occurred. Patients were fed after a median of 2 days (1-4 days). A mean follow-up of 11 months (3-24 months) was available for 92 patients. Clinical success was documented in 94.5% of patients. Twenty-four-hour pH monitoring documented Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) in 53.4% of patients. However, only a minority of patients had heartburn (24.3%) or esophagitis (27.4%), and these patients were successfully treated with proton-pump inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS Our results confirm the efficacy of POEM in a large series of patients, with a mean follow-up of 11 months. Should our results be confirmed by long-term follow-up studies, POEM may become one of the first-line therapies of achalasia in the next future.

Interaction of keV photons with matter and new applications

Abstract The fundamental interactions of keV photons with matter, i.e. photoelectric effect and coherent and incoherent scattering are treated from a non-traditional point of view. Section 1 is designed to lay a foundation of the basic science. Section 2 deals with non-imaging analytical techniques that have been developed over the past 20 or so years. These techniques include energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence, Compton profile measurements, and general scattering techniques. In section 3, imaging techniques are described. These imaging techniques ultilize the details of section 1, and some expand on techniques described in section 2. This section finishes with discussions of “traditional” computerized tomography (CT) techniques followed by newer developments such as differential tomography, Compton tomography, coherent scatter tomography, and fluorescent X-ray tomography.

Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy for the Treatment of Achalasia in Children

ABSTRACT Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a new endoscopic technique for the treatment of esophageal achalasia, with excellent results in adults. Three children with classic-type achalasia (mean age 9.6 years) underwent POEM in a single center. Mean basal lower esophageal sphincter pressure and Eckard score were 34.6 mmHg and 5.3, respectively. Mean length of myotomy was 10 cm. On average, POEM was completed in 60.6 minutes. No patients experienced postoperative complications or gastroesophageal reflux disease. In the 2 patients who completed a 12-month follow-up, complete symptoms relief was documented (Eckard score 0), as well as a significant drop of the basal lower esophageal sphincter pressure.

Role of Probiotics in Patients with Helicobacter pylori Infection

Probiotics are defined as live, nonpathogenic microbial feeds or food supplements that exert a positive influence on their host by altering his microbial balance. As shown in several studies, probiotics also possess a direct antimicrobial effect; for this reason, several authors have tested a possible application in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection. In particular, probiotics may compete directly with H. pylori, possibly through the inhibition of adherence, as well as produce metabolites and antimicrobial molecules, properties supported only by animal or in vitro data. Moreover, implementation of standard anti‐H. pylori regimens with probiotics can also improve patients’ compliance to therapy, reducing the occurrence of antibiotic‐related adverse events. The same effect was also reported after using a combination of two different prebiotics such as butyric acid and inulin in patients who underwent H. pylori eradication treatment. Based on current data, even though an effect against H. pylori has been described, probiotics cannot be considered as an alternative to standard anti‐H. pylori treatment. Nevertheless, their use in association with standard anti‐H. pylori treatment may be advisable, as they are able to improve patient compliance by reducing antibiotic‐related adverse events, thus increasing the number of patients completing the eradication therapy.

Applications of non-cryogenic portable EDXRF systems in archaeometry

Abstract In this paper the most relevant developments in the realisation of portable Energy-Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) equipments are discussed. In particular, the latest advances in non-cryogenic (Peltier cooled) X-ray detectors and miniaturised X-ray generators are shown. The energy resolution of the new detection systems is adequate to resolve the characteristic X-ray emission lines of contiguous elements. This small size and low power make the system ideal for portable instrumentation and have stimulated the development of small- and low-power X-ray generators which can be used for the excitation of fluorescence radiation in a broad energy range (5–40 keV). Finally, the use of EDXRF related to archaeometric research (pigments in ancient paintings and major elements in the metal alloys) is emphasised. Recent results obtained with new HgI 2 and silicon PIN detector systems combined with miniaturised highly stable air-cooled X-ray generators are described.

Mitogen dose-dependent effect of weak pulsed electromagnetic field on lymphocyte blastogenesis

The effects of pulsed extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on human peripheral blood lymphocyte mitogenesis induced by phytohaemoagglutinin, concanavalin A or calcium ionophore A23187 were studied. The dependence of the field effect on mitogen concentrations was investigated. Field exposure produced strong inhibition of DNA synthesis when optimal doses of mitogens were used, confirming our previous findings. Opposite effects were observed at suboptimal concentration of mitogens. Experiments performed by exposing cell cultures to the field for short periods indicated that a field application of at least 6 h is needed to influence irreversibly lymphocyte blastogenesis.

Impact of Lactobacillus reuteri Supplementation on Anti-Helicobacter pylori Levofloxacin-Based Second-Line Therapy

Introduction. Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy has the potential burden of antibiotic-associated gastrointestinal (GI) side effects. The occurrence of side effects is among the major drawbacks of such regimens. GI manifestations may be related to alterations in the intestinal microflora. Probiotics can prevent or reduce antibiotic-associated side effects and have an inhibitory effect on H. pylori. Methods. To define the efficacy of Lactobacillus reuteri supplementation in H. pylori eradication and in preventing GI-associated side effects during a second-line levofloxacin triple therapy. 90 H. pylori-positive patients receive for 7 days a second-line triple therapy with esomeprazole, levofloxacin, and amoxicillin with L. reuteri for 14 days (group 1) and without probiotic supplementation (group 2). Each subject received a validated questionnaire to record symptoms everyday for 4 weeks from the start of therapy. H. pylori status and side effects were assessed 6 weeks after treatment. Results. The eradication rate was significantly influenced by probiotic supplementation with L. reuteri (group 1: 36/45, 80%; group 2: 28/45 62%; P < 0.05). The incidence of nausea and diarrhoea in group 1 was significantly lower than that in group 2. Conclusion. In H. pylori-positive subjects L. reuteri supplementation increases the eradication rate while reducing the incidence of the most common side effects associated with antibiotic therapy in second-line treatment.

Coherent and incoherent scattering of 14.93, 17.44 and 21.12 keV photons from Al, Cu, Sr, Cd, Ce, Pr, Sm, Pt, Au and Pb

Coherent and incoherent scattering cross sections for the elements Al, Cu, Sr, Cd, Pr, Ce, Sm, Pt, Au and Pb have been measured at 14.93, 17.44 and 21.12 keV Kα x-ray energies. Measurements have been performed using an x-ray tube with a secondary exciter system as the excitation source instead of radioisotopes. Bremsstrahlung radiation from the x-ray tube has been used to excite nearly monoenergetic x-rays in secondary targets. In order to improve the efficiency of the detection system the excitation source detector and the target assembly were placed in a vacuum chamber and a pressure of 10−2 mbar is maintained throughout the measurements. The coherently and incoherently scattered intensity by the sample into the detector has been detected at an angle of 90° using low energy HP Ge and Si (Li) photon detectors. The present system considerably reduced the scattering and background effects and improved the monochromacy. Experimental scattering cross sections are compared with the normalised integrated cross section based on form factor and incoherent scattering approximations. The present experimental results do not strongly support any set of theoretical values. More accurate experimental results and extended exact calculations of atomic form factors at more closely spaced values of incident x-ray energies and scattering angles are clearly needed if more meaningful comparison between experiment and theory are to be possible.