[Alpha fetoprotein in non-neoplastic liver diseases]. / L'alfa-feto proteina nelle malattie epatiche non neoplastiche.

Seric alfa-FP has been studied in acute and chronic hepatitis and in hepatocellular carcinoma. Sixty five normal subjects, 62 cirrhoses, 10 active chronic hepatitis, 12 chronic persistent hepatitis, 4 primary biliary cirrhoses and 9 hepatomas have been examined for seric alfa-FP. Abnormal seric alfa-FP (> 10 ng/ml) values agree with literature data. It is likely that hepatocellular regeneration due to viral or inflammatory disorders, can produce formation of alfa-FP and other abnormal proteins fro a depression mechanism of sue regulator gene.

[Assay of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in acute and chronic liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma]. / Comportamento dell'antigene carcinoembrionale (CEA) nelle epatopatie acute e croniche e nel carcinoma epatocellulare.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) has been studied with a radioimmunoassay technique with an antiserum obtained from hepatic metastases of colonic cancer (Sorin Biomedica, Saluggia). The normal range of seric CEA varies from 0 to 10 ng/ml; 10 ng/ml is the higher value found in a smoker healthy subject. Seric CEA than 10 ng/ml has been found in 27% of cirrhoses, 39% of acute viral hepatitis (HBsAg+), 13.3% of chronic active hepatitis, 7.7% of chronic persistent hepatitis, 36% of alcoholic hepatitis and 100% of hepatomas. The diminished hepatic clearance of the antigen, or the derepression of its regulator gene, or the formation of CEA-like substances may cause the increase of seric CEA in hepatic diseases. The antiserum obtained from hepatic metastases of colonic carcinoma may explain the positivity in all the patients with hepatoma.

[Problems of general surgery in the cardiosurgical patient]. / I problemi della chirurgia generale nel paziente cardiochirurgico.

The preoperative problem is analysed with proposal of a heart risk index table and assessment of the manifold problems involved. Stress is thenn laid on the importance of careful postoperative treatment, establishing rules of surgical and resuscitatory behaviour to be followed in the general surgery of the heart patient. These rules of behaviour permit prevention of surgical complications, which are fully illustrated. Particular attention is paid to the selection of those conditions of pertinence to general surgery which have treatment of choice prior to heart surgery. Personal experience of 75 general surgery operations between 1977 and 1979 in the Villa Pia Clinic is then reviewed.

[Immunotrypsinogen and amylase isoenzymes in pancreatic diseases]. / Immunotripsinogeno e isoenzimi dell'amilasi nelle pancreatopatie.

Serological tests used in pancreatic diseases, especially isoamylase analysis and trypsin radioimmunoassay are presented. The results show that these markers are helpful in the diagnosis of chronic pancreatic diseases.