Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Belli

Publications and source records attributed to A Belli.

90 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

[Radiotherapy of carcinoma of the glottis in the initial stage].

The control of early glottic cancer is equally satisfactory with either surgical resection or radiation therapy; this last method gives the patient good functional results. During the period from 1/1978 to 12/1985, 73 patients with early glottic carcinoma (T1 N0 M0) were treated in the Institute of Radiotherapy L. Galvani, University of Bologna; 45 were stage T1a (tumour limited to one vocal cord) and 28 were stage T1b (tumour of both vocal cords or involving anterior commissure); radiation treatment utilised a 60Co machine and 5 x 5 cm fields; the median dose was 67.2 Gy (range 50-76) with conventional fractionation. Ten patients had local recurrence; the median time of recurrence was 13.4 months; 9/10 were treated by surgery and 2/10 died, so the overall control by radiotherapy with surgery in reserve was 100% in T1a tumours and 90.6% in T1b ones. The 5-years disease free survival rate was 93.1% in T1a tumours and 69% in T1b; lesions involving anterior commissure had the worst prognosis, independent of the dose and time-dose factor (3/10 recurrences in the group treated with TDF less than 110 and 4/18 recurrences in the group with TDF more than 110).

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[A longitudinal entomologic survey on the transmission of malaria in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso)].

A longitudinal entomological malaria survey was carried out in five zones of the town of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and in three neighbouring villages. The main vector is Anopheles gambiae s.l. with An. funestus having a role in some localities during the dry season. Pyrethrum spray catches were carried out once or twice per month to determine variations in vector density. Inoculation rates were estimated from the number of blood-fed vectors per man and from the sporozoite rates. Larval sampling was routinely carried out all over the urban area in order to map the larval breeding sites. Widely different degrees of malaria transmission were documented in the urban area mainly related to the spatial and temporal distribution of An. gambiae larval breeding sites. Higher inoculation rates, depending both on higher vector densities and sporozoite rates, were documented in the villages.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

[Dispersion of Anopheles gambiae s.l. in an urban zone of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso)].

Dispersion of Anopheles gambiae s.l. from larval breeding places was examined in the town of Ougadougou, Burkina Faso. A suitable study area was chosen, characterized by high concentration of larval breeding places along a water reservoir. Mosquito density per room was calculated from the results of pyrethrum spray catches carried out on a series of seven groups of collecting stations along a transect from 100 to 1050 m from the water reservoir area. High density and uniform distribution of houses and human host in the urban area appear associated with a remarkably low degree of dispersion since most of An. gambiae s.l. were collected within 200 m (males) or 300 m (females) from the breeding sites. Malaria transmission is consequently very focal in these conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Comparative study of iohexol and meglumine iothalamate in double-contrast knee arthrography.

A comparison has been made between meglumine iothalamate and a low-osmolar contrast medium, iohexol, in arthrography of the knee. A controlled study evaluated the immediate and delayed patient response as well as the quality of the examination, which was assessed by two radiologists without knowledge of which contrast medium had been employed. The results show that iohexol is a good contrast medium for knee arthrography but offers no advantages to offset the increased cost compared with contrast media in current use.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

[Qualitative and quantitative significance of the microbial flora in natural mineral waters during their bottling].

On the basis of data reported in literature concerning the saprophytic bacterial flora of natural mineral waters bottled in glass or in PVC containers and in view of the results obtained during their own investigations, the AA. consider it impossible to establish a limit to the charge of bacterial flora in agar at 20 degrees C and believe that any possible proposal concerning rules limiting the bacterial charge at 37 degrees C requires more detailed study and preliminary controls. In any case, they propose to apply the strictest vigilance in excluding the presence of any sign whatever of fecal contamination or of potentially pathogenic bacterial types (f.i. P. aeruginosa) in all water samples; they also suggest to require that the performance of comparative tests be extended to the stages preceding bottling. Current experimental investigations reveal that the multiplying process seems to be accelerated and more protracted in time in waters bottled in PVC containers than in those kept in glass containers.

Flavobacterium↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Disappearance of oxidative damage to red blood cell membranes in uremic patients following renal transplant.

Hemodialysis patients display increased oxidative damage to red blood cell (RBC) membranes, characterized by elevated levels of malonyldialdehyde (MDA), a short chain aldehyde produced by the oxidation of the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the RBC membranes. This is the result of a metabolic blockage of the pentose-phosphate shunt in uremic patients, which causes reduced detoxification of highly oxidative free radicals. The oxidative damage induces increased RBC rigidity and decreased RBC deformability, therefore favoring hemolysis. The aim of this work was to determine if a functioning renal graft would restore normal erythrocyte metabolism, reducing the oxidative damage. To this end, we have determined RBC MDA concentrations in 20 hemodialysis (HD) patients (RBC MDA 18.22 +/- 4.36 micrograms/ml packed RBC), 20 renal transplant (T) patients with well functioning grafts (serum creatinine less than 2 mg%) (RBC MDA 1.2 +/- 0.4 micrograms/ml packed RBC) (T vs. HD P less than 0.005) and 20 healthy controls (HC) (RBC MDA 1.44 +/- 0.6 micrograms/ml packed RBC) (HC vs. HD P less than 0.005; HC vs. T NS). Our findings show that a well-functioning renal graft restores normal RBC metabolism and eliminates the oxidative damage induced by uremia.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hypercoagulable state in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer: evidence for an acquired resistance to activated protein C.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Thromboembolic complications are common in patients with cancer and represent the second cause of death in patients with overt malignant disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the activated protein C pathway in cancer. METHODS: We studied the coagulation cascade, natural clotting inhibitors, fibrinolytic proteins and resistance to activated protein C in 20 patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer and 84 volunteers by measuring PT, APTT, fibrinogen, AT III, PC, PS, APC resistance, fibrinolytic system (PLG, ANPL, PAI-1, and t-PA) and activation peptides (D-Dimers, prothrombin 0 fragment 1 + 2/F1 + 2). RESULTS: Laboratory tests confirmed coagulation abnormalities in cancer patients. Fibrinogen, D-Dimers and F1 + 2 were increased, while t-PA activity was significantly lower than that of controls. APC resistance was higher in cancer patients compared to the control group (55% vs 2%; P < 0.0001). Excess thrombin generation was manifested by increased F1 + 2 plasma levels in APC-resistant cancer patients. Genetic analyses showed that only one patient with a poor response to APC carried a factor V R506Q mutation in exon 10. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show a high prevalence of APC resistance in cancer, compatible with an acquired defect in the APC pathway.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Efficacy and safety profile of amifostine in the preoperative combined therapy of esophageal cancer patients.

The aim of this study was to assess the protective effect and the safety profile of amifostine in 16 esophageal cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemo-radiation therapy (group A) compared to 21 matched patients (group B), treated with the same schedule without receiving amifostine, and considered as controls. Haematological and extra-haematological toxicity were evaluated according to WHO criteria and considered as result of amifostine activity. The bone marrow toxicity was globally lower in group A than in group B. We recorded 4 cases of mucosities in group B compared to 1 case in group A. amifostine-related side effects were few (2 cases of hypotension and 1 of vomiting), mild, and well controlled. In conclusion, amifostine seems to be effective and safe when used as protective agent also in esophageal cancer.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nutritional and hormonal effects of biosynthetic human growth hormone in surgical patients on total parenteral nutrition.

The anabolic effects of biosynthetic human growth hormone (BHGH) were tested on 30 patients, aged 37-68 yr, divided into four groups: group 1 received surgery plus total parenteral nutrition (TPN) plus BHGH, group 2 received just surgery and TPN, Group 3 received TPN and BHGH, and group 4 received just TPN. TPN was given as an all-in-one formula (glucose 4.7 g.kg.-1day-1, amino acids 1.2 g.kg-1.day-1, lipids 0.7 g.kg-1.day-1, electrolytes and trace elements. BHGH (0.25 IU.kg-1.day-1) or placebo were administered subcutaneously at 0800 for 10 days. Nitrogen and phosphorous balance, as well as the common plasma nutritional markers (transferrin, albumin, prealbumin), triglycerides, apolipoprotein B, insulin, and cortisol were evaluated daily. Urinary creatinine loss was evaluated on days 3, 7, and 10. Cumulative nitrogen balance was better in group 1 (-16.1 +/- 3.2 g N2) than in group 2 (-33.7 +/- 4.6 g N2) (P less than 0.01), whereas the difference was nonsignificant in groups 3 and 4. Phosphorous balance and creatinine excretion paralleled nitrogen balance. Plasma markers were not significantly improved in group 1 compared with group 2; however, they were significantly better in group 3 than in group 4. Lipids were better metabolized in the BHGH-treated groups. Insulin was increased in both groups 1 and 3, whereas cortisol did not rise after surgical stress, probably because of BHGH administration. A positive effect of BHGH on nutritional status and hormonal background is suggested by these data.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The characterization of Leishmania parasites and their vectors from Central America using molecular techniques.

The disfiguring cutaneous and mucocutaneous and often fatal visceral forms of leishmaniasis are an increasing public health problem in Central America. There are some evidences of a highest prevalence of L. braziliensis and L. mexicana in Guatemala; L. braziliensis, L. panamensis and L. infantum (L. chagasi) in Honduras and Nicaragua, and L. panamensis in Costa Rica and Panamá. Our research project, just starting, attempts to use molecular approaches for a more rapid and accurate diagnosis and to identify the parasites. The techniques include non-radioactive DNA probes, PCR, schizodeme, isoenzyme analysis and monoclonal antibodies; and specific recombinant peptides will be used to improve immunodiagnosis of the visceral form. Intra-specific heterogeneity in Leishmania isolates will be examined by pulsed field electrophoresis and random amplified polymorphic DNA. Using selected strains, the techniques will be compared on a regional basis leading to a better knowledge of parasite distribution and the related clinical entities. Furthermore, DNA probes for the identification of parasites in vectors and for sibling species of vectors, are also to be applied; chemical identification of sandfly male pheromones will be attempted possibly leading to potential novel control measures.

Animals↗