Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A Francia.
The pigmented strain Serratia marcescens ATCC 274 had a higher buffering capacity and a higher membrane H conductance than S. marcescens GP, a spontaneous nonpigmented mutant of ATCC 274. The data suggest that mutations which apparently affect only the synthesis of a secondary metabolite can modify buffering capacity and passive H conductance.
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High-dose ifosfamide/mesna was administrated to 28 mostly pretreated patients with locally advanced and metastatic head and neck cancer who failed conventional surgery/radiation treatment. Primary sites include tongue (5), salivary gland (3), floor of mouth (5), oropharynx (2), hypopharynx (5) and larynx (8). The dose and schedule of ifosfamide (IF) was 3.5 g/m2 8 h, i.v. infusion, days 1-5, every 28 days, and mesna was given as 20% of IF dose intravenous bolus injection at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 h; mesna 40% of IF dose was given by oral route at 10 and 12 h, days 1-5, every 28 days. All patients were evaluable for both toxicity and response. 14 patients had received prior treatment with surgery plus radiation therapy and 14 patients radiation therapy. Following chemotherapy, 4 patients (14.2%) achieved complete remission and 8 patients (28.5%) achieved partial remission, with an overall response rate of 42.7%. Toxicity was reported for 186 cycles and ranged from mild to moderate: anemia 4, leukopenia 6, thrombopenia 1, nausea and vomiting 12, alopecia 28, microscopic hematuria 3, increased transaminase 1. No CNS symptoms and renal toxicity were registered. Median duration of survival is 11+ months (range 3+ to 18+ months). Nine patients died. We conclude that ifosfamide/mesna at this dose and schedule has a significant activity in recurrent head and neck cancer, and produces minimal toxicity.
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Viewing a rotating field induces a counter-rotating tilt of the subjective vertical in normal subjects. A similar, though smaller, effect is observed when only one hemifield is stimulated. This technique was used with 7 hemianopic patients having retrogenicular lesions. It was hypothesized that the stimulation of a moving scene in the blind field produces an additional tilting effect to that produced by the stimulation of the normal hemifield alone. The visual rotation within only the blind field is expected to have a systematic tilting effect. Both predictions were confirmed in all 7 patients having either right or left hemianopic disorders.
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The present study has been devoted to the analysis of 120 patients presenting with reversible focal cerebral ischemia without conventional signs of cardiopathy and/or relevant atherosclerotic disease. In 77% of the patients vascular risk factors, such as hypertension or hyperlipemia, were present. In 23% of the patients, no abnormal finding was discovered at clinical, hematochemical and cardiological examinations. In these patients a further cardiological evaluation was performed with echocardiography. Dynamic electrocardiography was performed in 52 patients. Echocardiography and dynamic electrocardiography revealed the occurrence of 6 cases of mitral valve prolapse (MVP), 2 cases of frequent premature ventricular beats, and 1 proximal atrial arrhythmia. All 6 cases of MVP were detected in the subgroups of patients without vascular risk factors. In our patients younger than 45 years, the relative frequency of MVP attains 21.5%. This study confirms that MVP has to be regarded as a risk factor for focal cerebral ischemia in young patients.
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Xeroradiography and its physical phenomena are briefly described and attention is drawn to its offer of marked contrast and hence greater perception of details than conventional radiography. A comparison is made between ordinary and xero pictures of the spine, mediastinum and lungs with regard to the definition and identification of individual parts. The literature dealing with results obtained in areas where xeroradiography is best employed (joints and accompanying soft parts) is reviewed and personal experience in this field, based on a nosographic criterion and specific diagnostic choice, is presented. Cases illustrated cover ligamentous microcalcifications, knee meniscus calcifications, shoulder periarticular calcifications, and partial fractures. A comparison is made between conventional and xero pictures of joint changes in rheumatoid and uraemic arthritis, and bone changes in osteomyelitis and specific forms of arthritis. Diagnosis in osteo-necrosis and prosthesis complications is also examined. The results are such as to encourage further use of the method in the gathering of a fuller series of selected cases.
The peculiar characteristics of xeroradiography make it respond fully to the requirements of the radiographic represenattion of the breast. All the anatomical components of the breast are virtually identical as far as atomic number and low density are concerned. Xeroradiography has proved to be particularly suitable for highlighting the little difference in contrast between the various anatomical components of the breast. Pictures show the quality differences between traditional photographic mammography and xeromammography. The latter differs by its high power of resolution at all contrast levels thus making for easier identification of details and clearer outline, and by its broader exposure latitude making it possible to focus on a wider range of tissues. Visualization of dense, compact, youthful breasts [so-called opaque breasts] is also more reliable. Density differences can be exploited more effectively in cases of concomittance of two or more pathological situations such as: association of two mastopathic pictures, the presence of a small benignant formation or of a heteroplasia within an intensely dysplasic region. Thanks to a more smaller than immediate greater than interpretation of the picture, xeromammography also provides clearer evidence of the radiographic signs typical of benign neoformations and those typical of malignant forms.
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The authors have described a case of transverse myelopathy as a complication of L.E.S.; serological studies are reported. This case was considered very important because the damage of the spinal cord was the first symptom of mesenchymopathy.
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