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Biomedical subjects

A Cavallaro

Publications and source records attributed to A Cavallaro.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Long-term outcome after transaxillary approach for thoracic outlet syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Recurrence or persistence of neurologic symptoms after surgical treatment of patients with thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) are reported to be as high as 25%. To identify factors affecting the long-term outcome of surgical treatment of patients with TOS, we reviewed our 20-year experience. METHODS: One hundred thirty-four transaxillary first rib resections were performed on 118 patients (43 men, 75 women, mean age 38 +/- 13 years). Eighty-three operations (61.9%) were undertaken to relieve symptoms resulting from compression of the lower roots of the brachial plexus, 37 (27.6%) for compression of both lower and upper roots, and 14 (10.5%) for lower root and vascular symptoms. All patients underwent a transaxillary extraperiosteal first rib resection with transection of the scalene muscles. In 73 cases (54.5%) a resection of the anterior scalene muscle was also performed. A cervical rib was removed in 28 cases (20.1%), and anomalous fibrous bands adjacent to the neurovascular bundle were resected in 41 cases (30.6%). RESULTS: No major complications were observed. Of 105 patients (118 procedures) followed up (mean follow-up, 99 +/- 72 months), good to excellent results were obtained in 96 cases (81.4%) and fair to poor results were recorded in 22 cases (18.6%). The presence of a long posterior first rib stump, measured from the chest x ray films, was the strongest determinant of the long-term results among the variables examined (p < 0.0001). Reoperation, consisting of neurolysis and resection of the stump, was performed in 16 patients. The results were excellent in all cases at a mean follow-up of 66 +/- 46 months. Primary and secondary 10-year, actuarial freedom rates from recurrent symptoms were 80.9% and 93.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the long-term outcome after surgery for TOS was strongly influenced by the extent of the first rib resection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

bFGF release is dependent on flow conditions in experimental vein grafts.

OBJECTIVES: Basic Fibroblastic Growth Factor (bFGF) is a powerful mitogen for smooth muscle cells and has been implicated in the genesis of Myointimal hyperplasia. The aim of this study was to determine the release of bFGF by veins in different haemodynamic conditions. DESIGN AND SETTING: Laboratory animal study. MATERIALS: In 39 Lewis rats, a 1 cm long segment of inferior vena cava was inserted at the level of the abdominal aorta. The segments of inferior vena cava were obtained from syngenic Lewis rats. Arterial Vein Grafts (AVG) were harvested after 4 weeks (AVG 4) and 12 weeks (AVG 12). In 16 animals the arterial vein grafts were explanted 4 weeks after the initial operation and reimplanted (Reimplanted Vein Grafts: RVG) in syngenic Lewis rats as venous-venous bypass grafts at the level of the left iliac vein and harvested after 2 weeks (RVG 2) and 8 weeks (AVG 8). OUTCOME MEASURES: The tissue was studied in organ culture in a serum-free system for (1) release of bFGF (immunoassay) and (2) mitogenic activity of the conditioned media. Scanning electron and light microscopy studies were also performed. RESULTS: bFGF release by veins increased significantly (p < 0.01) when veins were inserted in the arterial circulation, and decreased significantly (p < 0.01) when grafts were reimplanted in the venous system. bFGF release (ng/cm2): [Formula: see text] CONCLUSION: Vein inserted in the arterial circulation release a higher quantity of bFGF. This could explain in part, the formation of myointimal hyperplasia in arterial vein graft.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Shear stress induces changes in the morphology and cytoskeleton organisation of arterial endothelial cells.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the changes in the morphology and cytoskeleton organisation of endothelial cells (EC) determined by exposure to a laminar flow. Cultured EC were exposed to a wall shear stress of 6 dyne/cm2 for 24 hours. CHIEF OUTCOME MEASURES: The morphology of EC was analysed by light and scanning electron microscopy. The organisation of the cytoskeleton was determined by double fluorescence labeling with antibody anti-vimentin, anti-vinculin, anti-tubulin, and with rhodamine-labeled phalloidin. RESULTS: EC exposed to laminar flow become round-shaped with decreased area of adhesion to the substrate. There was a clear reorganisation of the cytoskeleton after exposure to shear stress; the distribution of actin changed from a stress fibre pattern to a more diffuse membrane-associated distribution. These changes in shape and cytoskeleton organisation were reversible after a 48-hour resting period. CONCLUSIONS: EC respond to laminar flow in a predictable manner and these findings may be correlated to the functional changes of EC observed after exposure to shear stress.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Incidence and prognosis of stroke in the Belluno province, Italy. First-year results of a community-based study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We sought to register the incidence rate, risk factors, and case-fatality rate of all the new cases of first-ever-in-a-lifetime stroke in the province of Beluno, Italy. This study aimed to provide an epidemiological survey of cerebrovascular disease that could supply investigative objectives and support information for regional healthcare facilities planning. METHODS: We undertook a prospective population-based study in the territory of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th local health units in the province of Belluno, an area located in northeast Italy (population, 211 389). RESULTS: In the first year of the study (June 1, 1992, to May 31, 1993), 474 cases of first-ever stroke were registered. The crude annual incidence rate was 2.24/1000 (2.01/1000 for men and 2.45/1000 for women). After adjustment to the European population, the incidence rate for first stroke was 1.70/1000 per year. The pathological diagnosis was confirmed by a CT scan in 89.5% of cases. Cerebral infarction accounted for 319 cases, while 93 patients suffered a primary intracerebral hemorrhage, 12 patients a subarachnoid hemorrhage, and 50 patients a stroke of unknown origin. The overall 30-day case-fatality rate was 33%, and the mortality within the first week from stroke onset was 23%. The recurrence rate after 1 month was 1.9%. After 1 month, 46% of our patients were functionally independent in activities of daily living. CONCLUSIONS: Our first-year results confirm the fairly high risk for stroke in central and northern Italy and support European findings regarding risk factors for stroke.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1995

Seasonal variation in the incidence of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

In order to determine any possible influence of climatic variables on the incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture, we reviewed 49,144 autopsies performed in two major hospitals in Rome, Italy, from January 1956 to March 1986. There were 297 subjects who were found to be sufferers of atherosclerotic abdominal aortic aneurysm for a prevalence of 0.6%. The aneurysm was intact in 220 cases (74%) and ruptured in 77 cases (26%). The highest incidence of ruptured aneurysm occurred during the Autumn and in the months May and July. The incidence of ruptured aneurysm was highest in case of significant changes of the atmospheric temperature. There was no correlation between the incidence of ruptured aneurysm and barometric pressure or humidity.

Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal↗
PubMed1995

Aneurysms of the infrapopliteal arteries.

Atherosclerotic aneurysms involving only infrapopliteal arteries are extremely rare. The present report describes a patient with two completely separate aneurysmal dilatations involving the tibioperoneal trunk and the anterior tibial artery. To our knowledge, this condition has not been previously described. An international bibliographic review was also made, collecting four patients affected by atherosclerotic infrapopliteal aneurysms. Clinical presentation, radiographic findings, and surgical management are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

The nucleotide sequence of a complementary DNA encoding Flaveria bidentis carbonic anhydrase.

We have isolated and characterised a cDNA clone encoding the cytosolic form of carbonic anhydrase in the leaves of Flaveria bidentis, a C4 dicotyledonous plant. The deduced amino acid sequence is similar to the carbonic anhydrase found in the chloroplasts of C3 dicotyledonous plants. Western blot analysis of crude leaf extracts of F. bidentis indicates that the leader sequence (equivalent to the transit peptide of the chloroplastic form of CA found in C3 plants) is not removed following translation of mRNA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

The effect of ethnic differences on the pattern of HTLV-I-associated T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (HATL) in the United States.

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus Type I (HTLV-I) is the primary etiologic factor for adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL). Although HTLV-I is endemic in Japan and the Caribbean islands, the reported clinical and epidemiologic features of ATL in these 2 parts of the world are quite different. ATL has been diagnosed at a younger age and is reported more frequently as the lymphomatous type rather than the acute type with leukemia in the Caribbean basin as compared with the presentation in Japan. In order to characterize ATL in the United States, a registry has been established at the National Cancer Institute for the purpose of recording all cases originally diagnosed in the United States. This registry was utilized to examine the effect of ethnic differences on age of onset and clinical features of ATL, using the same data base. Clinical and laboratory information was obtained from 177 patients suspected of having ATL, who were treated at the National Institutes of Health, or had biological samples sent for evaluation, or were reported in the literature. Histopathologic review and virologic studies were performed by standardized methods. Of 177 patients registered, 127 were considered as having ATL, according to an algorithm combining clinical, pathologic and laboratory features. Presenting features in the confirmed cases consisted primarily of lymphadenopathy (76.6%), hypercalcemia (72.5%), leukemia (82%), skin involvement (48.2%) and hepatomegaly (53.6%). Patients of Japanese ancestry were generally older (median age 63, range 51 to 73 years) than patients of African-American descent (median age 39, range 7 to 75 years) and presented more often with leukemia (90 vs. 69%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Cystic adventitial degeneration of the popliteal artery: lectin-histochemical study.

A case of cystic adventitial degeneration (CAD) of the popliteal artery is presented. Histologically the cyst appeared localised in the adventitia, outside the elastic lamina. A lectin-histochemical study evaluated the following peroxidase conjugated lectins: Peanut agglutinin, Concanavalin A, Ulex Europaeus (UEA I) and Wheat Germ Agglutinin. The lack of UEA I reactivity excluded an arterial origin of the cyst. Moreover, the lectin binding pattern of CAD appeared to be similar to the reactivity pattern of normal synovia.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Shear stress influences the release of platelet derived growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor by arterial smooth muscle cells. Winner of the ESVS prize for best experimental paper 1993.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the correlation between haemodynamic forces and the release of two mitogens for smooth muscle cells (SMC): Platelet Derived Growth Factor (PDGF) and basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF). METHODOLOGY: Bovine aortic smooth muscle cells were seeded on fibronectin coated polystyrene cylinders and allowed to reach confluence. The cells were subjected to a laminar flow of 50 cc/min (3 dyne/cm2), 100 cc/min (6 dyne/cm2) and 150 cc/min (9 dyne/cm2) in an in vitro system. Control cells were subjected to similar incubation conditions without flow. PRINCIPAL RESULTS: Shear stress increased the release of mitogens by SMC. The release of mitogens was proportional to the level of shear stress and was still evident 24 hours after flow cessation. Conditioned serum-free medium from SMC subjected to shear stress increased tritiated thymidine uptake in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts 13-fold as compared to conditioned serum-free medium from control SMC not subjected to shear stress (p < 0.01) and threefold as compared to standard control (p < 0.001). Addition of an excess of anti-PDGF antibody reduced the mitogenic activity of the conditioned medium by 30% (p < 0.01). Addition of an excess of anti-bFGF antibody reduced the mitogenic activity of the conditioned medium by 60% (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Increasing shear stress promotes the release of both PDGF and bFGF from arterial SMC in culture and is a possible explanation for atherosclerosis formation.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

The value of angiography and selective hepatic artery embolization for continuous bleeding after surgery in liver trauma: case reports.

Two cases of continuous bleeding after primary surgical treatment of severe hepatic injury are reported. Superselective hepatic artery embolization is an alternative procedure that can be very useful, as in one of our cases, to control bleeding and avoid reoperation. It should always be considered by trauma surgeons for the treatment of patients with hepatic trauma and postoperative continuous bleeding or early rebleeding.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1994

Natural history of entrapment of the popliteal artery.

Popliteal artery entrapment (PAE) is described with increasing frequency. Reviewing the world literature and corresponding with some investigators, we were able to collect 375 instances in 291 patients, including our personal experience (33 instances in 24 patients). The present study was done to establish the natural history and evolution of PAE. Two groups of patients were created to verify if an early diagnosis and treatment of PAE is justified. Group 1 included 129 patients treated by a simple musculotendinous section. In group 2, 226 patients were treated by a vascular procedure (bypass, thromboendarterectomy, other). Age, symptoms and arteriographic findings were the parameters considered in the two groups. Results demonstrated that patients in group 1 are younger than those in group 2 (p < 0.001). Preoperative symptoms demonstrated a larger number of mild symptoms (paresthesias, a cold foot and cramping after intensive physical training) in group 1, when compared with group 2 (p < 0.001). Arteriography demonstrated a larger number of patients with normal findings at rest, with popliteal stenosis or occlusion during maneuver, in group 1 than in group 2 (p < 0.001). PAE results in progressive arterial impairment. Early noninvasive screening is mandatory to detect PAE at an early stage. Surgical treatment is thereby limited to a musculotendinous section, which has the best results.

Adult↗