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Biomedical subjects

A Ghezzi

Publications and source records attributed to A Ghezzi.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

[Exploration of the optic and somatosensory pathways with cerebral evoked potentials].

Visual and somatosensorial evoked potentials are the electrical response, recorded on the scalp, that follows the presentation of visual and sensorial stimuli. After briefly mentioning the technical premises enabling evoked responses to be obtained from EEC activity, some cases are reported (demyelining, degenerative, compressive, ischaemic, anoxic pathology) where visual or sensory evoked potentials presented changes, proof of the usefulness of these techniques for the purposes of clinical documentation or for diagnosis in different fields of DNS pathology.

Brain↗
PubMed1981

Multiple tests in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

Visual evoked potentials (VEPs), somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs), E-UFA test and CSF isoelectrofocusing (IEF) were applied to 42 multiple sclerosis patients. VEPs were abnormal in 29 cases. SEPs in 31 cases, E-UFA in 30 cases, CSF IEF in 38 cases. At least two tests were abnormal in 41 out of 42 patients; 16 cases revealed pathological responses in three tests (38,1%), 15 in four of them (35,7%). The authors discuss the value of using several tests in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and emphasize their importance for the purpose of diagnostic classification.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Pregnancy: a factor influencing the course of multiple sclerosis?

The influence of pregnancy on the course of multiple sclerosis was analyzed in 119 patients who had a pregnancy during the disease. A worsening of the disease and a higher number of relapses were observed in puerperium, whereas pregnancy and the following year were generally characterized by a favorable course. The comparison with a control group did not show significant differences as concerns the invalidity and the mean rate of relapses. The results indicate that pregnancy does not substantially modify the course of the disease.

Female↗
PubMed1979

[Evolution and prognosis of retrobulbar optic neuritis as the initial symptom of multiple sclerosis].

In 61 of 300 patients suffering from multiple sclerosis, disease onset was retrobulbar optical neuritis. Comparing the clinical data of these patients with those of the remaining 239 cases, the following typical features were observed: in patients with optical neuropathy, disease onset is more frequently acute and course, in the early years of the disease, is in fits and starts. Recurrence frequency is higher in these patients but not significantly so. Prognosis, deduced from the analysis of degrees of invalidity, does not differ substantially between the two groups. Current techniques of diagnosing multiple sclerosis in patients with retrobulbar optical neuritis are also discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

[Visual evoked potentials and the E-UFA test. Laboratory contribution to the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis].

Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and electrophoretic mobility test of erythrocytes (E-UFA test) were compared in 50 multiple sclerosis (M.S.) patients as diagnostic tests. Abnormal VEPs were recorded in 35 patients. E-UFA test was found positive in 31 cases. With respect to Mc Alpine diagnostic criteria, 26 out of 33 definite M.S., 6 out of 9 probable M.S. and 3 out of 8 possible M.S. cases had abnormal VEPs. A positive response in E-UFA test was observed rispectively in 16, 8, 7 patients. Complessively 48 cases (96%) had an abnormal response to the one and/or to the other of the two tests, which apper complementar in early diagnosis of M.S.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Erythrocyte unsaturated fatty acid test (E-UFA test): a biological test to detect optic neuritis as initial feature of multiple sclerosis.

Retrobulbar optic neuritis, though suspicious is not always considered as a possible onset of MS. For this reason we submitted to the E-UFA (erythrocyte unsaturated fatty acid) test, 41 subjects who suffered from one or several episodes of retrobulbar optic neuritis with no other neurological signs. The test was positive in 14 subjects (34, 1%).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

2 [(methylsulfinyl) acetyl] pyridine (Oxisuran): a new immunosuppressive agent in EAE.

The authors discuss the effects of a new immunosuppressive agent on the development of EAE. Animals (albino rabbits) were inoculated with an encephalitogenic emulsion, according to Kies' method, whereas a control group was inoculated by a physiological saline solution. Some animals were treated by Oxisuran in the first day after challenge; some others after initial symptoms (18th day). Thirty days after challenge, the animals were sacrificed. No toxicity was found in thoracic and abdominal structures neither in blood count. Pharmacological effectiveness of Oxisuran is well documented either in pretreatment or in therapy; the course was positively influenced in animals, when treated after the appearance of initial symptoms.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Clinical picture of multiple sclerosis with late onset.

A group of 47 patients (multiple sclerosis (M.S.) diagnosed according to Schumacher's criteria) with age at onset over 40 years, was studied by statistical analysis and compared with a control group (100 M.S. patients with onset between ages 18 and 38). The following features appear peculiar in this group: --the most frequent initial symptoms are motor disturbances --the onset is generally monosymptomatic --the course is generally progressive and more severe than that of controls, as seen by Kurtzke's Disability Scale, relapse rate, interval between first and second attack --the course is more severe when the onset is progressive and characterized by motor disturbances.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Functional improvement in patients with severe spinal spasticity treated with chronic intrathecal baclofen infusion.

In this retrospective study we evaluated the efficacy and functional benefits of chronic intrathecal baclofen infusion in severe spinal spasticity. Twenty patients with a diagnosis of severe intractable spinal spasticity were evaluated prior to implantation of a programmable pump for chronic intrathecal baclofen therapy and at follow up, which ranged from 12 to 36 months (mean 22.4 months). The mean age of the patients was 39.1 years. The prevailing pathology was multiple sclerosis. All were unable to walk. Patient assessment was based on the Ashworth Scale, the Spasms Frequency Scale, self-reported pain and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores. The Wilcoxon test was used for statistical analysis. A statistically significant decrease in muscle tone, spasms and pain was observed in all the patients. The Ashworth score decreased from 4.4 to 1.8, the spasms frequency score from 2.5 to 0.5 and the self-reported pain score from 5.5 to 2.3. The FIM score also showed a statistically significant change (increasing from a mean of 33.8 to 58.7). Two patients in employment were able to return to work. No severe side effects were observed. Chronic intrathecal baclofen infusion was seen to produce a functional improvement in patients with severe spinal spasticity, particularly as regards bathing, comfortable wheelchair sitting and mobility.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Study of serial lymphocyte subsets in multiple sclerosis: their possible role in the evaluation of disease progression.

We followed-up 30 patients with definite multiple sclerosis (MS) for one year recording monthly: clinical evolution, neurological examination and T-lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood recognized by monoclonal antibodies. Although clinical relapses could not be strictly associated with lymphocyte abnormalities in all cases, the parallel clinical-immunological survey permitted to correlate significantly the type of clinical course (chronic-progressive, relapsing, stable) with a correspondent immunological pattern (steadily high, transiently high, steadily normal CD4/CD8 ratios respectively). Our results suggest a possible role of serial lymphocyte subsets analysis in defining evolution of MS.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Multimodality evoked potentials and disease progression in multiple sclerosis monitoring: 18 month follow-up of 36 patients.

Serial visual, brainstem auditory and somatosensory evoked potentials have been recorded in 36 MS patients. The follow-up lasted 18 months. A correlation among neurophysiological modifications and clinical status of the tested pathways was inconstantly found. At the end of the study responses at the three modalities worsened in a higher percentage of progressive patients with respect to stable ones (in 41% instead of 11% of cases). Final latencies were more delayed in progressive that in stable cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Oral contraception and multiple sclerosis].

The uncertain question of the use of oral contraceptives by women with multiple sclerosis is discussed. Reference is made to results observed in animals with experimentally induced allergic encephalitis subjected to oestroprogestin management. The course of M.S. during pregnancy is examined and the effects of blood lipid changes produced by oestrogens and progesterone, on the assumption that M.S. is due to a deficiency of unsaturated fatty acids. Lastly, attention is directed to interference with immunity, clotting, and platelet changes, these being factors in the spread off the disease. The data point to a protective rôle on the part of oestrogens, while the picture for progesterone is less conclusive. It would seem that these biological and immunological findings justify the use of oral contraceptives in subjects with M.S., though due caution is imposed by the absence of clinical and epidemiological data.

Blood Coagulation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Biochemical aspects of lipid metabolism in multiple sclerosis].

The biochemical features of lipid metabolism in multiple sclerosis are discussed and the contribution made by work on the aetiopathogenesis of the disease is illustrated. Reference is made to diagnostic tests (E-UFA and MEM tests), whose premisses are based on lipid metabolism. A link between biochemical and immunological research in this field is put forward.

Arachidonic Acids↗