Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase fractions in myotonic dystrophy type I: differences with healthy subjects and patients with liver disease.

Objectives: Elevation of serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), in absence of a clinically significant liver damage, is often found in Myotonic Dystrophy type-1 (DM1). In this study we investigated if a specific GGT fraction pattern is present in DM1.

Designs And Methods: We compared total and fractional GGT values (b-, m-, s-, f-GGT) among patients with DM1 or liver disease (LD) and healthy subjects (HS).

[Managing the hospitalizations for older patients in University Hospital of Pisa].

We have analyzed hospitalizations of older people (> 64) from 2002 to 2005. Patients, discharges and stay in hospital have increased, the variation has been statistically significant. We have noticed the same trend about the rehospitalizations.

Cultured human cells release soluble gamma-glutamyltransferase complexes corresponding to the plasma b-GGT.

Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) is thought to derive from the liver, but its values predict morbidity and mortality for several diseases, such as cardiac infarction, stroke, diabetes, renal failure and cancer. We assessed total GGT and its fractions in the culture supernatants of human cell lines (melanoma, prostate cancer, bronchial epithelium) by gel filtration chromatography. We also compared the GGT elution profile in plasma and the corresponding very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) fraction.

Comparison of two molecular methods used for subtyping of Legionella pneumophila 1 strains isolated from a hospital water supply.

The results of the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and the sequence-based typing (using the loci flaA, pilE, asd, mip, mompS and proA) were compared for subtyping of Legionella pneumophila 1 strains isolated from a hospital water supply. Molecular typing was carried out on 61 isolates (38% of the positive samples) selected on space and temporal criteria in order to follow the evolution of the water-system colonization. For all the 61 isolates, the sequence of the amplified mip gene fragment identified Legionella pneumophila strain Wadsworth.

Molecular epidemiology of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 isolates following long-term chlorine dioxide treatment in a university hospital water system.

This paper describes the results of a five-year monitoring programme applied to the water distribution system of the University Hospital of Pisa (Italy). The purpose of the programme was to evaluate the efficacy of an integrated water safety plan in controlling Legionella spp. colonisation of the potable water system.