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Biomedical subjects

A Bianchi

Publications and source records attributed to A Bianchi.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Spectral analysis of antepartum heart rate variability.

The present paper illustrates the basic methodological aspects of the power spectral analysis applied to fetal ECG starting from a gestational age around the 25th week of gestation until term. An abdominal ECG signal is recorded and fetal and maternal QRSs are recognised through selective digital filtering and averaging techniques. Power Spectral Density (PSD) of the discrete R-R series is then calculated through an autoregressive (AR) technique. In analogy with what happens in adult human subjects, fetuses manifest variability in correspondence to particular bands in the spectrum which are sensitive to the sympatho-vagal balance which controls many cardiovascular functions and respiration in different physiological conditions. Such a method is easily implemented on a personal computer and may be used to asses the development of the autonomic nervous system in fetuses as well as to show the physiopathological reasons which perturbate the relevant control mechanisms.

Cardiotocography↗
PubMed1989

Lymphogranuloma venereum: 27 cases in Paris.

Twenty-seven men with laboratory-confirmed lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) were identified among 211 patients tested for LGV or chancroid during a 6-y period. The patients with LGV ranged in age from 17 to 73 y; most were from countries other than France. Twenty-five sought care because of inguinal adenopathy (with spontaneous draining fistulae in two patients) and two because of proctitis. Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from nine patients; all isolates were the LGV biovar as demonstrated by biologic characterization and monoclonal antibody reactivity. In patients without isolation of C. trachomatis, the diagnosis was based on chlamydial complement fixation antibody titers greater than or equal to 1:32 (mean titer, 1:128). Genital herpes was an associated diagnosis in one patient and syphilis in two patients. Serologic evidence of exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 was present in five patients and to HIV-2 in one patient.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Evaluation of antimicrobial schemes in episodes of fever and granulocytopenia in children with cancer].

The efficacy of two antibiotic regimens used as initial empiric therapy was evaluated in 299 episodes of fever and granulocytopenia in children with cancer. Of these, 148 were treated with the combination cefoxitin-amikacin-carbenicillin and the remaining 151 with ceftriaxone-amikacin. All of the patients were evaluated at the beginning and 72 hours after starting treatment with laboratory tests and based on their clinical condition. Each was classified according to the type of infection. A few modifications were made to the initial treatment plan and in accordance with the clinical condition of each patient. Over 52% of the episodes were due to fever of unknown origin and 47.2% due to infections, of which 33.8% proved to be positive blood cultures mainly for Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The modifications made to the basic treatment regimens were the addition of amphotericin B, clindamycin or vancomycin. An 89.2% therapeutic index percentage was obtained, independent from the use of either antibiotic scheme. The total therapeutic index for the study was 83.6%.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Preliminary pharmacokinetic and clinical evaluation of ofloxacin in dental and oral cavity diseases.

In 14 healthy volunteers (8 M and 6 F), aged 19 to 33 years, serum and salivary concentrations of ofloxacin, administered in a single oral dose of 300 mg, were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the microbiological agar diffusion method. The serum peak was observed at hour 1 (2.61 +/- 0.17 micrograms/ml), with a T1/2 of 4.14 h, a Kel of 0.167 h-1 and AUC of 15.07 micrograms/ml.h. The peak salivary concentration, obtained at hour 2, was 1.96 micrograms/ml, with a T1/2 of 4.40 h. Twenty dental patients (12 M and 8 F), aged 18 to 37 years, with various diseases, were treated orally with ofloxacin 600 mg/day for a period of four to six days. The clinical response proved excellent in one case, good in 16, fair in two and poor in one, with 85% efficacy rating. In five of these patients, ofloxacin concentrations in gingival tissue and alveolar bone were found to be 1.90 +/- 0.09 micrograms/g and 1.58 +/- 0.06 micrograms/g, respectively, while serum and salivary assays by HPLC confirmed the previous results. No changes of importance in haematochemical parameters were found in any of the patients. One patient only presented with diarrhoea and a skin rash which promptly cleared on discontinuing the therapy. Ofloxacin for its spectrum of action and good diffusion in the salivary and parodontal tissue compartment can be considered an useful tool in oral chemo-antibiotic therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Pancreatic pseudocysts. Treatment with percutaneous drainage].

Recent advances in the field of imaging diagnosis, particularly sonography and CAT, have permitted the development of the so-called interventional radiology techniques, which have made it possible to resolve a series of complex problems like intraperitoneal abscess and pancreatic pseudocyst. We present the results of treatment of a series of 9 patients diagnosed as pancreatic pseudocyst using percutaneous drainage directed by sonography or CAT. Seven of the pseudocysts were secondary to episodes of acute pancreatitis and two derived from chronic pancreatitis. In 8 of the patients a complete resolution of the process was achieved, in one case after a second drainage attempt when the pseudocyst recurred one year later. The success rate was 88.8% and morbidity and mortality were null.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Pharmacological activity, blood and tissue levels of indomethacin after single oral administration of two long-acting forms in the rat.

The duration of pharmacological action in the rat (carrageenin edema inhibition) of a long-acting indomethacin form (Dolcidium PL) was compared to that of a reference long-acting indomethacin form after a single oral dose (3 mg/kg) considered as the ED50 value and compatible with clinical use. Kinetic comparison of both forms was achieved in the blood and at the level of the inflammatory site. There was an identical bioavailability, but the rate of indomethacin release from the test preparation was significantly slower than that of the reference form. Greater pharmacological potency and significantly longer duration of action were also demonstrated for the former, indicating that this novel formulation exhibited better sustained release characteristics than the reference form, and thus exerted an optimal pharmacological effect (over 24 hr). Since there is a high degree of correlation of clinical efficacy with potency in the rat foot edema test, better effectiveness of Dolcidium PL should be expected in man. The reduction in peak plasma level of indomethacin should improve its tolerability as well.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1989

Effectiveness of erythrocytapheresis in idiopathic hemochromatosis. Report of 14 cases.

Thirteen men and one woman (mean age 48.8 yr +/- 6.9, range 36-63) with idiopathic hemochromatosis were treated by erythrocytapheresis. Iron depletion followed 9.60 months treatment (median 24), with 21-203 erythrocytaphereses (mean 93 +/- 61) and total iron removal of 4.2-40.6 g (mean 19 +/- 11.9). Trasferrin saturation decreased from 90 +/- 8.7% to 17 +/- 10.6% and serum ferritin from 3164 micrograms/L +/- 1488 to 60.5 micrograms/L +/- 77.5, and liver iron content normalized in all cases. Initial serum ferritin in the patients who were iron-depleted at 18 months (50%, cumulative percentage) was significantly lower than in those still iron loaded at that time (2280 micrograms/L +/- 940 vs 4049 micrograms/L +/- 1444, p less than 0.02). Clinical improvement was noted in all cases with about a 30% decrease in insulin requirement in most diabetics. Thus erythrocytapheresis appears to be effective and safe in obtaining iron depletion in idiopathic hemochromatosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

The generation of alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes requires the expression of ecto-5'nucleotidase activity.

Ecto-5'-nucleotidase (ecto-5'NT) activity is highly expressed by CTL precursor cells. The aim of this work was to investigate whether ecto-5'NT is involved in their functional activation. The inhibition of ecto-5'NT activity by biochemical (alpha,beta-methyleneadenosine 5-diphosphate; AOPCP) or immunologic inhibitors (polyclonal anti-ecto-5'NT serum) suppressed the proliferative and cytotoxic activation of CTL against a lymphoblastic B cell line in primary one-way MLC. The kinetic analysis of suppression showed that AOPCP and anti-5'NT serum had different effects: AOPCP suppressed only the activation of the cytotoxic program whereas anti-5'NT serum suppressed also recognition and binding to the stimulatory/target cell. Inhibition of CTL generation was not a metabolic consequence of the purine salvage blockade. Incubation of AOPCP-treated MLC with hypoxanthine restored proliferation but not cytotoxicity. The ecto-5'NT inhibitors used had no general toxic effect on cell numbers or viability. AOPCP selectively affected CTL generation and displayed no activity against mitogen-induced proliferation, activation of Ts cells, and generation of IL-2-activated killer cells. These data indicate that ecto-5'NT has a critical role in the functional activation of alloreactive CTL.

5'-Nucleotidase↗
PubMed1988

Radiation-induced sarcoma of the breast in a female adolescent. Case report with histologic and therapeutic considerations.

A 14-year-old girl developed a radiation-induced sarcoma of the left breast after successful combined surgical and radiation therapy of a left adrenal carcinoma when she was 9 months old. The breast lesion was histologically described as a stromal sarcoma with fibrosarcomatous and myxosarcomatous areas. The second primary lesion and local recurrence of this was treated with surgery. At each recurrence the tumor became more aggressive both clinically and histologically, and eventually proved fatal.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Tumour necrosis factor as an autocrine tumour growth factor for chronic B-cell malignancies.

Recombinant tumour necrosis factor (TNF) promotes survival and induces proliferation in the tumour cells from two malignancies of B lymphocytes--hairy-cell leukaemia and B-chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Culture with TNF also induces TNF mRNA and protein, so the cytokine may act as an autocrine tumour growth factor. These growth promoting effects are antagonised by alpha but not by gamma interferon.

B-Lymphocytes↗