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Biomedical subjects

A Benini

Publications and source records attributed to A Benini.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

[Chronic fibroplastic leptomeningitis of the spinal cord and cauda equina].

Chronic (seldom subacute) low-grade spinal leptomeningitis, cystic and adhesive in natura, is a clinicopathologic condition known by several names in medical literature (arachnoiditis, arachnoditis adhesiva circumscripta, a.s.o.). The cystic structures are not cysts in the true sense of the word. They are in reality collections of cerebrospinal fluid walled off by meningeal adhesions. The extent of the leptomeningitis varies from a well-localized lesion to a diffused process involving the entire cereprospinal axis. In some cases the chronic proliferative changes lead to calcification and ossification of the leptomeninx. As well the circumscribed adhesive as the cystic form can produce a spinal cord compression syndrome similar to a tumor or a hydro-syringomyelia. Progressive paraparesis with difficulties of bladder and bowel function may nevertheless be arrested, or spontaneous remission may occur, perhaps due to temporary improvement of the local circulation of spinal fluid. An almost typical sciatic syndrome can be occasionally associated with a thickening of the leptomeninx and cystic spinal fluid collection in the region of the cauda equina. The lumbar adhesive and cystic form is as a rule a more benign disease then leptomeningitis occurring at thoracic or cervical levels. The etiological factors are trauma, spinal anesthesia, myelography, blood in the subarachnoid space, previous operations and infections. When the origin of the illness remains unidentified, low grade bacterial or viral infections can be presumed. We operated 2 patients with circumscribed severe leptomeningitis several segments far away from an intradural meningeoma. Such illness is uncommon, but not very rare. From 1970 until the end of 1986 we have carried out 33 laminectomies on 26 patients because of spinal leptomeningitis among 603 patients operated because of spinal cord compression (4.31%). Our cases are presented and literature is discussed. The dilemma what we have to do with a patient with symptomatic spinal leptomeningitis is open: the microsurgery can help the patient significantly, even if complete recovery is rare. In view of the extreme variety of these lesions a circumspect, sometime skeptical analysis of each patient must precede decision about surgery. We try to give some indications for microsurgery.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Ulnar nerve lesions at the elbow--clinical aspects and surgical treatment using medial subperiosteal epicondylectomy].

Ulnar neuropathy is a well recognized clinical entity caused by a variety of pathological lesions around the elbow and the sulcus olecrani. Numbness and paraesthesia in the little finger and medial half of the fourth digit are the most common complaints. Weakness of the small muscles of the hand innervated by the ulnar nerve, and a positive Tinel's sign are other features. Generally the diagnosis is confirmed by an electro-physiological study. We have described the technique of epicondylectomy and discussed the reasons why we believe it to be preferable to anterior transposition.

Elbow↗
PubMed1989

[Lumbar intervertebral disk disease and its sequelae: segmental instability, intervertebral disk displacement, lumbar spinal stenosis--change in a common disease].

Clinical, radiological, surgical and experimental experiences allow to construct a theory of degeneration of the lumbar spine, which explains the pathogenesis of spondylosis, stenosis and disc displacement as well. The centre of the whole process is the segmental instability due to disc derangement. Several partially new criteria for a rational surgical and conservative therapy follow from such theory, which we try to explain by some exemplaric cases. Finally, we describe shortly own surgical procedure for combined operation of decompression and lumbar fusion.

Follow-Up Studies↗
PubMed1989

Periarthropathia humeroscapularis and cervical disc herniation.

Periarthropathia humeroscapularis (PHS) is a malfunction of the shoulder girdle due primarily to diseases of the periarticular tissue and the joint capsule. Clinically a primary and a secondary syndrome are defined. Spondylogenous cervical spine conditions play an important role as causative factors in secondary PHS, among them cervical disc herniation. Among 141 patients operated on for cervical disc herniation 14 presented with a PHS-syndrome prior to surgery, and 31 patients developed the syndrome postoperatively. The patients belong to a fairly young population and showed no high incidence of a particularly severe cervical spondylosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Zinc and lymphocyte subsets in patients with HIV infection].

Serum zinc levels were assayed in patients with AIDS and related syndromes, using spectrophotometry and atomic absorption. Statistical data have shown that serum zinc levels, in addition to being significantly lower (p less than 0.001) among different groups and controls, decrease progressively with the worsening of the clinical and immunological picture from LAS to AIDS. Serum zinc levels in patients with AIDS and ARC have, moreover, been demonstrated to be related (r = 0.8240; p less than 0.001) to the lymphocyte subset CD4 helper-induced. These results suggest that serum zinc determination and possibly zinc therapy might be reasonably considered in the management of patients with symptoms of HIV infection.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1985

[Therapeutic results in spinal tumor metastases involving neurologic deficit].

Between 1976 and 1982 primary or secondary intraspinal malignant lymphomas and metastases of solid tumours with neurologic defects were found in 118 hospitalised patients. A total of 126 episodes of spinal and caudal compressions were observed. Nearly half of all tumour diagnoses were breast and prostatic carcinomas. Segments Th 3-6 were mainly involved. Symptoms of compression were the first objective hints of malignant disease in every third patient. Local and (or) radicular pains were reported as first symptoms by 80% of patients. Therapeutic success was considered satisfactory (group A) if patients were able to walk freely 3 months after initiation of treatment or isolated loss of sensitivity or defects of urination or defaecation could not be demonstrated any longer. Results were classified as unsatisfactory (group B) if the above-mentioned aims of treatment could not be achieved within this time. After individualised carefully monitored treatment, survival of patients of group A was significantly longer after 12 and 24 months than in patients of group B. Probability of survival is mainly influenced by rapid response to treatment, by tumour histology, by severity of neurologic defects and by the chosen treatment regime.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

[Psychological study of patients with implanted pacemakers].

A psychological research on 80 patients with implanted pace-makers was carried out in order to explore their psychological adjustments following surgery. A questionnaire of 29 questions has been used. We explore the presence of anxiety due to the heart disease, to the operation or to the following period. Moreover the modification of social and family life, the relationship with the surgeon and the family doctor and, finally, the body image have been considered. The results show that the patients with implanted pace-makers, usually are able to subdue their anxiety and to recompose a good psychological equilibrium, mainly because of their favorable familiar and/or social environment.

Anxiety↗
PubMed1983

Critical analysis of the vectorcardiogram's reliability in the quantitative diagnosis of old myocardial infarction.

The purpose of this work is to verify if the vectorcardiogram (VCG) can be used for the quantification of old myocardial infarction (OMI). 50 cases of acute myocardial infarction were studied by mean of seriate determination of MB-CK isoenzyme and Sobel Index (SI); 4 weeks later, Frank's VCG was recorded. The studied cases did not show any conduction disturbances or other electrical abnormalities besides the sign of OMI. The 50 cases were divided into two groups according to the site of the necrosis: Group A, including 27 cases of inferior and/or posterior infarction and Group B, including 23 cases of septal and/or anterior infarction. On the VCG records, the variables related to OMI and to the general shape of ventricular depolarization and repolarization were measured. The electrical variables and the SI were compared by means of the methods of linear regression and of principal components analysis. No significant correlations were detected. Therefore, we conclude that the VCG is useless in the quantitative assessment of OMI; that such terms as "extensive, localized" and so on, at present widely used in electro- and vector-cardiography, are misleading if based only on surface electrical records obtained at distance from the acute phase of infarction and should therefore be avoided; that the work is consistent with the hypothesis that the electrical pattern of OMI could depend mainly upon peripheral intraventricular conduction disturbances.

Humans↗
PubMed1982

Anterior cervical discectomy without fusion. Microsurgical technique.

Between March 1977 and November 1980 25 patients underwent anterior cervical discectomy (11 patients at 2 levels at one time) under the operating microscope for treatment of cervical disc herniation. The selection of the patients and the right level of discectomy are discussed. The results of discectomy without fusion are excellent. Only in cases of severe spondylosis or posttraumatic instability we still perform a fusion after discectomy.

Cervical Vertebrae↗
PubMed1982

[Root compression in lumbar scoliosis--clinical picture and treatment based on 13 personal cases].

From 1971 to 1980 13 adults presented with lumbar scoliosis and radicular symptoms. The entrapment developed in nine cases on the concave side of the scoliosis, only in one case of severe degenerative hypertrophy of one apophyseal joint, on the convex side. Bilateral symptoms in two cases with scoliosis and stenosis as well, and in one case severe compression of cauda equina. Operation consisted of appropriate laminectomy, unroofing of the lateral recess and facetectomy in advanced cases. Results of operation were usually good, occasionally with improvement even of back pain.

Adult↗