Biomedical subjects

A Cavallo

Publications and source records attributed to A Cavallo.

114 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Reliability of the prick-test in comparison to other techniques.

This paper aims to establish the diagnostic reliability of the Prick test and its correlation to other techniques used in allergologic diagnosis: intracutaneous testing, RAST, hemagglutination, histamine liberation test. All of these tests were realized in 55 patients with bronchial asthma and with marked sensitization to diverse inhaled allergens and in a control group of 20 healthy subjects. A low correlation is observed between the Prick test and a positive intracutaneous test for house dust, somewhat higher correlation is seen for dermatophagoides and even higher for pollen. Greater reliability is demonstrated for the intracutaneous test as compared to the other in vitro techniques.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A study of T suppressor activity after bacterial immunotherapy.

T suppressor cell activity from twenty non-atopic patients with bronchial asthma of bacterial etiology, were studied. The patient's ages ranged from 14 to 60 years with a mean age of 40 years. Seven patients were male and thirteen were female. As control subjects six healthy young adults were studied. The patients were divided in two groups: one including patients with less than one year of bacterial immunotherapy and another, including patients with one to four years of immunotherapy. The method described in other works was followed. The results obtained in these two groups were compared to those obtained in a group of healthy volunteers and were analyzed on the basis of statistical data using the student's t test. In patients with bacterial asthma, we observed normal suppressor cell activity, similar to that of subjects undergoing immunotherapy. As such, bacterial immunotherapy does not seem to objectively affect the regulatory mechanisms of cellular immunity.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical utility of tissue polypeptide antigen determination in lung cancer management.

In view of the fact that pulmonary malignancies still represent an important cause of tumor death and that the high rate of unsuccessful treatment may be partly due to the late clinical presentation, efforts should be spent not only to develop new and effective treatments but also to improve early diagnosis and to identify prognostic factors and parameters useful for the monitoring of the treatment. Tumor markers, if used properly, can provide a useful support for the management of patients suffering from various malignancies, including lung cancer patients. The clinical significance of one of the most widely used tumor markers, Tissue Polypeptide Antigen (TPA), has been reviewed and showed this marker to be useful to the clinician for the management of patients with pulmonary malignancy, as a complementary tool for diagnosing and staging the tumor as well as for monitoring treatment response or relapse occurrence.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Retrospective analysis of color Doppler ultrasonography and flowmetry findings in solid nodular pathology of the breast].

The authors tried to identify useful flowmetric values and color-Doppler patterns for the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant solid breast lesions. To this purpose, 106 patients with breast nodules detected at mammography and/or high resolution US were examined. A US scanner with a linear 7.5 MHz transducer, a narrow sample volume, a PRF ranging (650-800 Hz) and a wall filter value of 50 Hz were used. Three parameters were considered: the number vascular sites, systolic peak velocity and pulsatility index. All these parameters related to tumor volume. Several (> 2) vascular sites, high peak velocity and quite high pulsatility index were demonstrated in malignant tumors (46 lesions). Among benign tumors no vascular site was identified in 32 of 60 lesions and no more than 2 sites were identified in 26 of 60 lesions, except for 2 phylloides tumors. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and overall accuracy rates were, as for the "vascular sites" parameter, 78%, 96%, 94%, 85%, 88%, respectively; as regards the "peak systolic velocity" 81%, 86%, 89%, 75%, 83% respectively; as regards the "pulsatility index" 100%, 85%, 100%, 85%, 94% respectively.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The laryngo-tracheal reconstruction in the management of laryngo- tracheal stenosis].

Management of stenosis of the subglottic larynx remains one of the most challenging problems facing the laryngologist. This report describes our results treating severe subglottic stenosis. Five patients, 2 males and 3 females, with acquired stabilized laryngotracheal stenosis were treated during the period 1981-1991. Ages ranged from 13 to 62 years. According to Cotton's classification the patients were assigned to a grade II-IV. The cause of the stenosis was trauma in two cases and intubation injury in three. All patients had a previously placed tracheotomy. All patients underwent a Laryngo-Tracheal-Reconstruction (L.T.R.); stenting was performed with a Montgomery type silastic laryngeal T-stent. The stent remained in place between 12 and 14 months. Four patients were decannulated and obtained a satisfactory airway. In one case granulation tissue in the reconstructed subglottis required a following Laser excision. In conclusion we can underline that, in our experience and on Literature reports, L.T.R. is a safe and effective procedure for severe crico-tracheal stenosis.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Action of nedocromil sodium in exercise-induced asthma in adolescents.

In view of the high incidence of exercise-induced asthma (EIA) in asthmatic adolescents and adults, the aim of the present study was to examine the preventive effect of nedocromil sodium administered prior to an exercise provocation test. The study involved 30 adolescents with EIA, aged between 14 and 19 years, who attended gymnastics classes at the Children's Hospital and Aerobics School. Baseline spirometry, six-minute treadmill running and spirometry for 7-15 minutes post-exercise were performed. During the same week and under identical temperature and humidity conditions, the same test was carried out with 4 mg nedocromil sodium (two inhalations) administered 30 minutes before exercise. Original post-exercise FEV1 values were compared with the findings after administration of nedocromil sodium. Seventeen subjects (56%) were totally protected (< 5% decrease in FEV1) and 13 subjects (44%) were partially protected (< 10% decrease in FEV1). EIA persisted in the fifteen subjects who received placebo pretreatment. Nedocromil sodium, administered 30 minutes prior to exercise, was effective, providing an opportunity to enhance the quality of life of the asthmatic patient troubled by exercise-induced symptoms.

Adolescent↗