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Biomedical subjects

A Fraioli

Publications and source records attributed to A Fraioli.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Polymyalgia rheumatica and systemic giant cell arteritis. Bioptic findings of the subclavian arteries in a case of aortic arch syndrome.

A 64 year old woman complained of aches and stiffness of the neck and the shoulders with fever and E.S.R. increase. A nonsteroid anti-inflammatory treatment was unsuccessful. A clinical examination revealed absence of both radial pulses and presence of murmurs at level of the carotids. The angiographic findings confirmed an aortic arch syndrome with severe stenosis of the subclavian and axillary arteries. The diagnostic approach, in spite of a negativity of the temporal artery biopsy, was for systemic giant cell arteries with general manifestations of polymyalgia rheumatica. The biopsies of both subclavian arteries, performed during a surgery revascularization, showed a typical giant cell arteries in acute stage. The histopathological pattern of extratemporal giant cell arteries obtained by means of a surgical biopsy is really uncommon, being the previous reports performed on necroscopic findings only. In addition this case confirms that polymyalgia rheumatica implies a systemic arteries even if the clinical and histopathological signs of temporal arteritis are lacking. Therefore the temporal artery should be only considered as a particular and inconstant localization of this vasculitis.

Aortic Arch Syndromes↗

Spas and sport.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Athletic Injuries↗

[An observational and longitudinal study on patients with kidney stones treated with Fiuggi mineral water].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the development of clinical conditions particularly the possible expulsion of renal stones, in patients with nephrolithiasis this treated with Fiuggi Mineral Water. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was carried out in 614 patients, by administering them an appropriate questionnaire 6 month after drinking Fiuggi Mineral Water. RESULTS: The percentage of patients eliminating one or more renal stones was higher in those who drank mineral water at home (55.9%) compared to those who just drank water in Fiuggi (38.5%). Renal stones were eliminated more frequently in case of consecutive treatments than in case of cyclic treatments (54.3% vs 44.4%). Stone elimination was also related to quantity of the water which was daily drunk (up to 1 L/day, 52%; > 2 L/day, 72%). In 29% of the patient a stone relapse after operation or lithotripsy or both was observed. CONCLUSIONS: These data in agreement with those of other investigations show that surgical treatment or lithotripsy are not able to avoid stone relapse. Other treatments, such as mineral water drinking, may be useful in this situation.

Data Interpretation, Statistical↗

Effect of water of Anticolana Valley on urinary sediment of renal stone formers.

An investigation was carried out to ascertain the effect of drinking Fiuggi water on the microcrystalline structure of the calcium oxalate monohydrate present in urinary sediments provided from patients suffering from recurrent idiopathic oxalic calculosis. The experimental group was administered tap and Fiuggi water for ten days. The control group was administered tap and Fiuggi water according to the same procedure as for the experimental group. The comparative data show that drinking Fiuggi water leads to a strong reduction, and sometimes even to the elimination, of the calcium oxalate monohydrate present in the urinary sediment reducing the risk of oxalic calculosis. Fiuggi water contains organic molecules belonging to the fulvic acid family. These acids are capable of complexing the calcium ions and interact preferentially with the crystal lattice of the calcium oxalate monohydrate via the formation of a film and behave as pumping systems by linking the calcium ion, demolishing the crystal lattice and dissolving calcium and oxalate ions. Mineral water treatments must therefore be viewed as a function of the specific composition of the water administered. The ecosystem influences the composition of water, as a complex matrix containing a number of organic molecules which are potentially biologically active.

Calcium Oxalate↗

[Spa and climate therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases].

The authors remind the main epidemiological and clinical findings of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); the prevalence and incidence of COPD is increasing and COPD is now the IV cause of death in the world. Moreover, it is cause of increasing pharmaceutic and hospital charges. COPD has multifactorial etiology, linked to genetic and exogenous factors, as tobacco smoke, air pollution, microbial infections and cold. The GOLD guide lines of the medical therapy of the COPD are showed. The spa therapy of COPD is based on the inhalation use of mineral water, mainly sulphurous and salsojodic. Sulphurous mineral waters have vasodilating activity on vessels of bronchial mucose, improving its trophic state, and increase the production of secretory IgA and muco-ciliary clearance; they have fluidificant activity on bronchial secretion. Clinical trials showed improvement of cough, sputum and functional indexes as FEV1 and CV. Salsojodic mineral waters increase the fluidity of the bronchial mucus, muco-ciliary clearance and the trophism of the bronchial mucose. The authors remind the properties of sulphate and bicarbonate mineral waters in the spa therapy of COPD. Finally authors refer about some effects of spa therapy and climatic-environmental situations on COPD morbidity.

Aerosols↗

[Spa therapy in urolithiasis].

In the present paper we remind epidemiology, etiopathogenesis and physiopathology of urolythiasis, emphasizing the role of lythogenic and antilythogenic urinary costituents. Mineral waters used in prevention and therapy of urolythiasis are described, namely oligomineral waters and, in uric lythiasis, bicarbonate mineral waters. We stress the activity of oligomineral waters, regarding their very low concentration of solute, presence of oligoelements, and antilythogenic components. At the end, we outline the role of spa therapy in the correction of metabolic disorders, which are etiologic and pathogenetic factors of urolythiasis.

Humans↗

[Fine tuning of the many regulations of quality system: the role of the quality in the thermal medicine].

In the last decades, quality has imposed itself as a competitive need for firms, and also as a new normative parameter to guarantee the production process and the final product which the costumer buys. In the case of health services, the importance of quality is even greater because of the special value of this service, and the special relationship between the supplier and the costumer/patient. This relationship is often mediated by the State which has to provide the health services and the financial support for them. Thus, also in the case of Thermal Medicine, quality and its certification play a key role for the evaluation of the efficiency of the health service, and tend always more to be part of the health service accreditation process. In this article, we review the development of the idea of quality of service from the ancient Egyptian until the 20th century and we briefly recall the main European and Italian norms. We also examine the norms for the accreditation of the thermal health structures, and we review the main indicators of quality in Thermal Medicine, and the role of scientific research. Finally, we indicate that the cost of the lack of quality can be so prohibitive that the firms which do not follow the new standards, are put out of the market.

Balneology↗