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Biomedical subjects

A Cosentino

Publications and source records attributed to A Cosentino.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Rehabilitation of limb apraxia improves daily life activities in patients with stroke.

We randomly assigned 33 patients with left hemisphere stroke, limb apraxia, and aphasia to an apraxia or a control (aphasia) treatment group. Before and after each treatment, patients underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological testing battery and a caregiver evaluation of patient's activities of daily life (ADL) independence. Apraxia severity was related with ADL independence. Control (aphasia) treatment improved patients' language and intelligence performance. Apraxia treatment specifically improved praxic function and ADL.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2004

Early and delayed orthotic treatment in congenital metatarsus varus: effectiveness of two types of orthoses.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of early or delayed orthotic treatment of congenital metatarsus varus and evaluate the efficacy of static vs dynamic anti-varus orthosis. METHODS: Twenty-five children (14 males, 11 females), of 81.3 days of age (range 1-189) (41 feet affected) were selected among 88 patients referred to our rehabilitation department for foot deformity. Children were assigned to 1 of 2 groups (dynamic or static orthosis) according to a simple randomization scheme. Patients were evaluated at diagnosis (T1), at the end of treatment (T2) and at a follow-up performed at least 2 years after the end of treatment (T3). Primary outcome was measured using the Bleck scale. The IOWA functional rating system questionnaire was performed at follow up evaluation. RESULTS: The Bleck scale showed that both static and dynamic orthoses were effective and that the best results were achieved with early treatment. The IOWA questionnaire showed that no child had residual deformities that interfered with daily activities. Nonetheless, the dynamic orthosis group had better scores in 4 sub-items related to parental satisfaction, foot function, heel position, and foot passive motion. CONCLUSIONS: Both static and dynamic orthoses are useful for correction of congenital metatarsus varus. Optimal results are achieved with early treatment.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Association of MHC Class I chain-related A (MIC-A) gene polymorphism with Type I diabetes.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: A distinct family of MHC genes has been identified in the class III region and denominated MHC Class I chain-related genes (MIC). The MIC-A gene is located between the TNFA and the HLA-B genes. The aim of our study was to test the association of the polymorphism of the MIC-A gene with Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus and evaluate the interaction between MIC-A and TNFA, HLA-B, HLA-DR and HLA-DQ gene polymorphism. METHODS: Type I diabetic (n =95) and healthy (n = 98) Italian subjects were typed for exon 5 of MIC-A and for HLA-DRB1, HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1 and TNFA alleles. All subjects were also typed for the presence of HLA-B8 or HLA-B15. RESULTS: The frequency of MIC-A5 was increased in diabetic subjects (53 % vs 15 %) (OR = 6.1) (corrected p, p(c) < 0.0005). Among HLA class II haplotypes, both HLA-DRB1*03-DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201 (DR3-DQ2) and DRB1*04-DQA1*0301-DQB1*0302 (DR4-DQ8) ("at-risk class II haplotypes") were positively associated with diabetes (OR = 6.7 and 6.0, respectively) (p(c) < 0.003). Also HLA-B8 was more frequent among Type I diabetic subjects than among healthy control subjects (OR = 2.8, p = 0.01). None of the TNFA alleles were statistically significantly associated with Type I diabetes. The MIC-A5 exon was negatively associated with age at clinical onset of diabetes (p = 0.012). Thus, 68 % diabetic subjects younger than 25 years and 29 % older than 25 years were carrying this allele. Both MIC-A5 and the at-risk class II haplotypes were independently associated with Type I diabetes and the combined association of the two markers had the highest relative risk (OR = 172). In subjects younger than 25 years, the OR of MIC-A5 was as high as 21.7 and was more than twofold that of at-risk class II haplotypes (OR = 9.5). The MIC-A5 exon was not in linkage disequilibrium with any of the HLA-class I, class II or TNFA alleles studied. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The MIC-A gene polymorphism is associated with genetic risk for Type I diabetes and the combination of MIC-A5 and at-risk class II haplotypes is now to be seen as the strongest genetic marker for this disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Autoantibody recognition of COOH-terminal epitopes of GAD65 marks the risk for insulin requirement in adult-onset diabetes mellitus.

Some type 2 diabetic subjects develop secondary failure to sulphonylurea treatment and require insulin therapy. To test the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of epitopes of GAD65 autoantibodies (GAD65Ab) for insulin requirement, in patients with latent autoimmune diabetes of the adult, we studied 569 adult subjects with a clinical diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. All the patients had been initially treated with hypoglycemic agents and/or diet for at least 1 yr. The presence of GAD65Ab (61/569, 10.7%) depended on insulin therapy (P<0.0001), low BMI (P<0.0001), and low basal C-peptide (P = 0.01). The majority of GAD65Ab-positive subjects (47/61, 77%) had antibodies directed to both middle (GAD65-MAb) and COOH-terminal (GAD65-CAb) epitopes. However, GAD65-CAb were more frequent in insulin-treated subjects (92% of GAD65Ab+ individuals) than in subjects treated with hypoglycemic agents and/or diet (18.2% of GAD65Ab+ individuals), while the exclusive presence of GAD65-MAb was more frequent in subjects treated with hypoglycemic agents and/or diet (81.8% vs. 8%) (P<0.0001). The presence of GAD65-CAb had a diagnostic specificity for insulin requirement as high as 99.4% (compared with 96.9% of GAD65Ab as measured in the traditional radiobinding assay) and identified a subgroup of patients with low BMI, low basal C-peptide values, and a need for insulin therapy. Subjects carrying only GAD65-MAb were phenotypically indistinguishable from GAD65Ab-negative patients. Patients positive for GAD65-M+CAb, but not those positive for GAD65-MAb only, showed an increased risk for thyroid autoimmunity, as revealed by the presence of thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies. Our study demonstrates that the use of epitope-specific antibody assays improves the diagnostic specificity of GAD65Ab, and that the presence of GAD65Ab binding to COOH-terminal epitopes is strongly associated with a need for insulin requirement.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Autoantibodies against recombinant human steroidogenic enzymes 21-hydroxylase, side-chain cleavage and 17alpha-hydroxylase in Addison's disease and autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type III.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency of autoantibodies (Ab) against 21 hydroxylase (21OH), side-chain cleavage (SCC) and 17alpha-hydroxylase (17OH), in Addison's disease (AD) and autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type III (APSIII). DESIGN AND METHODS: We used radiobinding assays and in vitro translated recombinant human (35)S-21OH, (35)S-SCC or (35)S-17OH and studied serum samples from 29 AD (18 idiopathic, 11 granulomatous) and 18 APSIII (autoimmune thyroid disease plus type 1 diabetes mellitus, without AD) patients. Results were compared with those of adrenocortical autoantibodies obtained with indirect immunofluorescence (ACA-IIF). RESULTS: ACA-IIF were detected in 15/18 (83%) idiopathic and in 1/11 (9%) granulomatous AD subjects. 21OHAb were found in 14/18 (78%) idiopathic and in the same (9%) granulomatous AD subject. A significant positive correlation was shown between ACA-IIF and 21OHAb levels (r(2)=0.56, P<0.02). The concordance rate between the two assays was 83% (24/29) in AD patients. SCCAb were found in 5/18 (28%) idiopathic (4 of whom were also positive for 21OHAb) and in the same (9%) granulomatous AD subject. 17OHAb were found in only 2/18 (11%) idiopathic and none of the granulomatous AD patients. Two APSIII patients were positive for ACA-IIF, but only one was positive for 21OHAb and SCCAb. 17OHAb were found in another two APSIII patients. CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of 21OHAb should be the first step in immune assessment of patients with AD and individuals at risk for adrenal autoimmunity, in addition to ACA-IIF. Due to their low prevalence in AD, measurement of SCCAb and 17OHAb should be indicated only for 21OHAb negative patients and/or for those with premature ovarian failure, regardless of ACA-IIF results.

Addison Disease↗
PubMed1999

[An interlaboratory study of the use of PapNet in the quality control of cervico-vaginal cytology].

In this feasibility study of the utilization of the PapNet System (Neuromedical Systems, Suffern, NY) for computer-assisted cervical/vaginal cytology diagnosis, a random sample of 329 negative smears and a series of 68 positive smears reported as such by the Caltagirone laboratory, underwent PapNet review at the Imola laboratory. False-positive (FP) cases (smears originally classified as ASCUS, LGSIL, AGUS, e HGSIL and interpreted as negative on PapNet) and false-negative (FN) cases (reverse discrepancies) were further and conventionally re-evaluated by the staff of the originating laboratory. On PapNet review, there were 16/68 FP cases (23.5%) e 20/329 FN cases (6.1%) with a FP:FN rate ratio of 3.8 (95% confidence interval, 2.2-6.3). At final re-examination of these diagnostic errors, most FP cases (14/16) were confirmed as such whereas the FN cases significantly decreased from 20 to 9, with a final rate of 2.7%. As a consequence, the ratio of the FP rate (14/68) to the FN rate (9/329) rose to 7.5 (4.1-12.6). The study suggests one potential approach to the preliminary utilization of PapNet by those laboratories that are interested in this technology. The results are in accordance with those of the previous PapNet review studies which have generally shown a greater frequency of FP cases compared with FN cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Metanephric adenoma of the kidney: histologic, immunohistochemical and DNA content analysis study. A case report.

Metanephric adenoma is an uncommon and distinct clinicopathologic entity, recently described among benign epithelial kidney tumors. The authors report a case of a metanephric adenoma in a 70-year-old man. Because of its benign clinical course, it is important to distinguish metanephric adenoma from renal cell carcinomas and adult Wilms' tumor for which it is usually mistaken. Clinical, pathologic features and diagnostic problems of the case are discussed.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1995

A system for automated procedure documentation.

Quantitative information regarding competency in performing procedures is invaluable in attesting to a house officer's abilities when assessments need to be made. Thus, the means by which procedures, proficiency, and experience can be recorded and organized in an automated fashion need not be any further away than the nearest micro-computer. The procedure documenting system (PDS) automates the documenting of procedures and quantitative information pertaining to these procedures, and shortens the time demanded of the house officer to document procedures from a mean of 5.5 to 1.9 min. This paper is a description of the work done to automate the recording of procedures performed by housestaff at a teaching hospital and the acceptance by housestaff. This computer program takes the specific information and places it into a specialized database so that house officers can have detailed documentation attesting to their proficiency in various procedures. In addition, the program director can access the database to document the quantity of procedures to which an individual house officer has attained competence.

Automation↗
PubMed1995

[Urinary cytology of transitional-cell carcinoma].

The authors report on their experience about urinary cytology in 1991. They studied 100 patients with cytology and histology, carried by cystoscopy and cold-mapping biopsy, trying to have notice about cytological value and proficiency.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1991

[Effects of nimodipine on mental deterioration in subjects with chronic cerebrovascular pathology].

In order to assess the efficacy of Nimodipine against a polymorphous pathology, such as chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency, the authors studied 96 subjects affected by chronic cerebrovascular diseases aged between 65 and 85 years old. The various symptoms were evaluated individually using tests and subjects were then divided into two groups on the basis of overall results. All subjects were followed for six months and then reassessed using the above-mentioned tests at the end of the study. From results obtained, it appears that Nimodipine is a useful tool for controlling the most common symptoms associated with mental deterioration in subjects affected by chronic cerebrovascular disorders.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

A statistical comparison of the emotional status of hospitalized versus nonhospitalized subjects: a pilot study.

It has been suggested that the health care system might be best assessed by the patient's own attitudes concerning the quality of service rendered (Wood, 1974). The purpose of this study is to analyze the psychosocial quality of the health service/hospital system in the greater Iowa City, Iowa area, and the relative emotional stability of hospitalized patients in several local hospitals. Specifically, a survey of 20 questions has been developed to assess (1) patient's attitudes and psychosocial outlook, (2) patient's self-perception. (3) situation generated feelings and (4) family/support group generated feelings. The comparative results of this experiment may indicate (1) the overall emotional status of hospitalized patients relative to non-hospitalized individuals and (2) the general psychosocial effectiveness of the hospital system (in the greater Iowa City. Iowa area). This information may be useful to both the medical/allied-health student and the inexperienced clinician, relative to various preconceived notions concerning the emotional state of hospitalized patients, in general.

Attitude↗