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A Ferrari

Publications and source records attributed to A Ferrari.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

[Outlook for the use of the colpocystoproctogram in the pre- and postoperative diagnosis of patients with urinary stress incontinence].

Colpocystoproctography is an X-ray investigation that uses radio-opaque material to highlight the bladder and urethra, vaginal canal and rectum. Twenty-five patients (7 suffering from SUI, 7 operated on for SUI and cured, 7 operated on for SUI with relapse, 4 suffering from prolapse without SUI) were submitted to this X-ray examination so as to determine mutual space relations within the pelvic viscera and the efficiency of their support mechanisms. The following parameters were examined: the anterior angle, the urethro-pelvic angle, the vagino-pelvic angle, the ano-rectal angle, the pubo-vesical distance and the position of the vesical neck with respect to the subpubic margin, in three different pictures recorded at rest, during voluntary contraction of the pelvic floor and in the contrary condition of increase in abdominal pressure. The purpose of the study is to see which data provide useful clinical indications in the pre- and post-operative stages in patients with SUI. The extreme variability of the data under dynamic conditions limits the usefulness of the X-rays taken with the pelvic floor at rest. It can be stated that the anterior angle (a.v. 30 degrees) expresses the anatomic condition of the vesical neck supports; the vagino-pelvic angle (a.v. 106 degrees) is an indicator of the support function of the vaginal walls with respect to the cervico-trigonal region, while good elevation on the neck of the bladder and its closeness to the posterior side of the pubic bone are necessary for complete cure. Colpocystoproctography may therefore represent an important diagnostic tool for assessing what operation is available today as the most suitable for correcting the anatomic defect.

Female↗
PubMed1988

Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of flavone acetic acid in mice.

The pharmacokinetics of the novel anticancer agent, flavone acetic acid (FAA) were investigated in Balb-c mice treated with i.v. doses of 100 mg/kg or 300 mg/kg, using an HPLC assay. The kinetics of disappearance from plasma was monoexponential and dose-dependent. After 100 mg/kg, the plasma peak level was 250 +/- 11 micrograms/ml, t1/2 was 0.5 h, and AUC was 309 micrograms/ml per h. After 300 mg/kg, the plasma peak level was 710 +/- 57 micrograms/ml, t1/2 was 2.1 h, and the area under the curve (AUC) 1771 micrograms/ml h. Mouse plasma protein binding of FAA was about 70%. As is the case with plasma, in all tissues analyzed, the FAA-AUC values were disproportinately greater after 300 mg/kg than after 100 mg/kg. The highest drug concentrations were found in the liver and small intestine; concentrations were intermediate in lung, heart, and spleen, and lowest in brain. Less than 5% of the FAA dose was eliminated as unchanged drug in the stool. Total excretion of FAA as unchanged drug in the urine collected up to 96 h after drug treatment corresponded to 75% and 60% of the i.v. doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg, respectively. A minor fraction of FAA dose, corresponding to 1% and 6% of the two doses, was eliminated in the urine as a FAA glucuronide or sulfate.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Large bowel adenomas containing carcinoma--a diagnostic and therapeutic approach.

Adenomas containing invasive carcinoma of the large bowel form the majority of early colorectal cancers. Conclusive histological diagnosis of early colorectal cancer depends on two conditions; first, the whole lesion must be examined and second the resection margin must border on healthy tissue. The presence of certain histopathological features makes it possible to distinguish between cases with high and low risk of having lymph node metastases. Sixty-six adenomas containing invasive carcinoma are reported. They comprised 3.15% of 2,095 adenomas removed by colonoscopic polypectomy during the same period. Five cases were lost to follow-up. Forty-nine patients considered to be at low risk of having lymph node metastases have been treated by endoscopic polypectomy only with a rigorous follow-up regime including CEA estimation, ultrasonography and total colonoscopy at regular intervals. In none have distant metastases been found on follow-up examinations at a mean duration of 3 years. Two of these cases have developed a metachronous colorectal carcinoma and 15 (30.5%) have metachronous adenomas. Two low risk patients with no tumour found in the operative specimen have undergone major surgical resection. Ten high risk cases have been referred for major surgery and lymph node metastases have been found in four (40%). The need for careful histological examination for lymphatic and veinous invasion is stressed by the presence of this finding in all four high risk patients with involved lymph nodes.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Immunohistochemical study of epithelial cell proliferation in hyperplastic polyps, adenomas, and adenocarcinomas of the large bowel.

A monoclonal antibody to bromodeoxyuridine was used in tissue specimens previously incubated with bromodeoxyuridine to show S-phase cells by immunohistochemical technique. Biopsy specimens of normal mucosa (n = 10), hyperplastic polyps (n = 10), adenomas with low-grade dysplasia (n = 20), adenomas with high-grade dysplasia (n = 10), and invasive adenocarcinomas (n = 10) of the large bowel were studied. Labeling index and cell proliferative patterns were analyzed. No statistically significant difference was found in labeling index between normal mucosa and hyperplastic polyps or between adenomas with high-grade dysplasia and adenocarcinomas. The labeling index was significantly lower in normal mucosa and in hyperplastic polyps than in adenomas and adenocarcinomas (p less than 0.001). The difference in labeling index between adenomas with high-grade dysplasia and low-grade dysplasia was also statistically significant (0.01 less than p less than 0.05). In normal mucosa and in hyperplastic polyps the proliferative zone was confined to the lower two-thirds of the crypt; no kinetic activity was found in the upper portions of the crypt or in surface epithelium. In adenomas the labeled cells were either present in the upper third or scattered along the whole axis of the crypt and in the surface epithelium. Labeling patterns in invasive carcinomas were similar to those observed in adenomas with high-grade dysplasia. The difference in proliferative patterns between hyperplastic polyps and adenomas supports a different significance of the two polypoid lesions in the histogenesis of large bowel cancer; our results confirm the subsequent steps of the adenoma-carcinoma sequence. Immunohistochemical labeling patterns observed with monoclonal antibody to bromodeoxyuridine in polypoid and cancer lesions of the large bowel are similar to those described by autoradiographic studies.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1988

A morphometric study of liver cell dysplasia.

Thirty-seven cases of cirrhosis with large liver cell dysplasia (LLCD) were evaluated by morphometric analysis and the results compared with those in 11 cases of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive cirrhosis, 12 cases of cirrhosis with nodules of active regeneration, 15 cases of hepatocellular carcinomas, and 15 cases of inactive cirrhosis. The nuclear-cytoplasmic, nucleolar-cytoplasmic, and nucleolar-nuclear ratios of LLCD were significantly higher than those observed in all other nonneoplastic groups. Whereas the nuclear-cytoplasmic and nucleolar-cytoplasmic ratios of hepatocellular carcinoma cells were significantly higher than those measured in dysplastic cells, the latter had a nucleolar-nuclear ratio similar to that of neoplastic cells. These results show that, in contrast to previously accepted criteria, the nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio of LLCD is increased and that some morphometric features of LLCD are consistent with its supposed premalignant nature. The usefulness of a morphometric analysis in evaluating any group of abnormal-appearing hepatocytes is stressed.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1988

[Effect of the sympathetic activation and its inhibition on left ventricular mechanics in mitral prolapse. Echocardiographic study in 35 patients].

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is characterized by arrhythmias, atypical anginal chest pain and left ventricular (LV) wall motion abnormalities. The role of autonomic nervous system (ANS) as the origin of these disturbances is still debated. The aim of the study was to determine the possible interference between left ventricle (LV) mechanics and ANS. 35 consecutive patients with MVP (24 female, 11 male) (mean age 30 +/- 9 years), matched with a homogeneous control group, were examined by means of 2D-Echo during resting conditions and during sympathetic activation induced by passive orthostatism (90 degrees Tilting). At rest, no significant difference was found between the two groups regarding heart rate (HR), LV volume (LVV), ejection fraction (EF). Tilting produced a significant increase in HR (p less than 0.1) and LVV reduction (p less than .01) in both groups; on the other hand, EF did not change significantly. At 2D-Echo, LV abnormal wall motion at rest in 10/35 (29%) MVP, increasing to 17/35 (49%) was found during Tilting. This abnormality consisted in LV wall reduced systolic thickening and motion, localized in the antero-apical region in 11 patients (54%) and in the posterior wall in 6 patients (36%). Thirteen MVP patients with LV abnormal contraction patterns were re-examined after two weeks of beta-adrenergic blockade (200 mg Metoprolol orally per day). In all of them, LV abnormalities disappeared while LVV and EF remained unchanged. These data stress the role of the ANS in inducing LV abnormalities in patients with MVP.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

The presence of methanobacteria in human subgingival plaque.

Through a procedure of setting up a strictly anaerobic chain from sampling subgingival plaque to incubation in an anaerobic cabinet (O2 less than 10 ppm), it was possible to, for the first time, isolate methanobacteria from human subgingival plaque.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Danazol therapy in refractory chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

We report our experience with danazol in the treatment of patients with refractory immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). The effects of this drug were investigated in 10 patients, 6 males and 4 females, aged from 40 to 85 years, (median 58 years), with a platelet count below 50 X 10(9)/l. The patients had previously been treated with steroids; one of them had also been unsuccessfully splenectomized. Danazol was administered at a dosage of 600 mg/day for 3 months. Before and after treatment, detection of antiplatelet antibodies was performed. Seven patients were treated for 3 months. One of them showed a transient increase of platelet count, in the others, no significant rise was noted. Six patients experienced side effects during treatment. We think that danazol does not appear to be an alternative therapeutical approach in refractory ITP.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Cardiac sensory receptors in Dahl salt-resistant and salt-sensitive rats.

The Dahl strain of genetically salt-resistant (DR) and salt-sensitive (DS) rats affords an opportunity to explore mechanisms responsible for salt resistance and sensitivity. Dahl sensitive rats exhibit abnormalities in sympathetic neural control of the circulation and in renal sodium handling. Since cardiac baroreflexes participate in regulation of sympathetic nerve activity and sodium excretion, we have evaluated cardiac baroreflex function in DR and DS rats. This article briefly reviews evidence that cardiac sensory endings with vagal afferents are reset to a higher threshold in DS rats before elevation of arterial or cardiac filling pressures, as a result of this resetting, cardiac baroreflex inhibition of sympathetic nerve activity during volume expansion is impaired in prehypertensive DS rats, a high-sodium diet enhances the gain of cardiac baroreflex inhibition of sympathetic nerve activity in DR but not DS rats, and atrial natriuretic factor stimulates cardiac sensory receptors with vagal afferents. Taken together, these studies prompt speculation that humoral factors released during intake of a high-sodium diet may sensitize cardiac baroreflexes and thereby protect against sodium retention and hypertension. An absence of this compensatory adjustment or plasticity in cardiac baroreflex function in DS rats may predispose to salt-induced hypertension.

Animals↗