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Biomedical subjects

A Giovannini

Publications and source records attributed to A Giovannini.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Bilateral Acanthamoeba keratitis in a gas-permeable contact lens wearer.

Acanthamoeba keratitis is an uncommon but potentially devastating complication of contact lens wear that has been reported with increasing frequency since its first description in 1974. We describe a case of bilateral Acanthamoeba keratitis, which occurred in a 24-year-old man, wearing gas-permeable contact lenses. This is to our knowledge the first case of Acanthamoeba keratitis reported in Italy, and the fourth bilateral case reported in the literature. Medical therapy (carried out after the first week by a different institution, due to the absence of essential antiamebic drugs on the Italian market) was effective in stopping the progression of the disease.

Acanthamoeba↗

The impact of predators on livestock in the Abruzzo region of Italy.

Free-living populations of wolves (Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758) and brown bears (Ursus arctos Linnaeus, 1758) regularly cause damage to livestock in the Abruzzo region of Italy. The laws of the region provide for compensation payments to owners for losses caused by predators. In the present paper, 4,993 validated claims made between 1980 and 1988 are examined. Losses ascribed to wolf, bear and wild boar attacks were 92.1%, 7.8% and 0.1%, respectively, of the total losses caused by predators during this period. The victims of wolf attacks were mostly sheep and goats (45.0%) and equids (38.5%), followed by cattle (16.4%) and rabbits, fowl and dogs (0.2%). Bears also principally attacked sheep and goats (67.6%), other targets being cattle (18.5%), equids (9.5%) and bee-hives (4.4%). A significant difference was observed between the number of attacks by wolves and bears; although both populations are of similar size. Other statistically significant differences have been observed between the periods in which the attacks take place on the different livestock and the predator species which reportedly caused the damage. Among cattle and equids, victims are mostly new-born or young animals, while among sheep and goats only adult animals are attacked.

Animals↗

Mortality from motor neuron disease in the province of Bologna, Italy, 1986 through 1988.

We performed a study on mortality from motor neuron disease in the province of Bologna, Italy, during the years 1986 through 1988. The study was based on death certificates from the Cancer Registry of the Province of Bologna. We verified death certificates for both false-positive and false-negative cases. The crude mortality rate was 1.93/100,000 population per year. The age and sex mortality rate, standardized on the Italian population, was 1.40/100,000 (95% confidence interval, 1.05 to 1.83). Our figures are higher than those previously reported both as the incidence and as mortality in Italy, but these data are similar to values that have been found in northern Europe and in North America.

Female↗

Evaluation of the size of stray dog population and of related problems in Emilia-Romagna.

An investigation was carried out on the diffusion of stray dog populations in Emilia-Romagna by submitting a questionnaire/interview. 30 gamekeeper officers and 21 public veterinarians of Bologna and Forlì provinces were interviewed. The data collected were compared with the official data of the Health Council of the Emilia-Romagna Region. Statistical analysis confirmed a correlation between number of biting dogs and inhabitants of the province; number of captured dogs and registered dogs; number of biting dogs and owned dogs, and the existence of factors favouring dog straying in mountain areas.

Animals↗

[Macular syndrome in choroidal cavernous hemangioma: the role of laser treatment].

On the basis of a series of case with natural history of choroidal cavernous hemangioma (21 cases with follow-up of up to 13 years) the authors suggest a classification of macular syndromes (types I, II and III) in choroidal cavernous hemangioma. They also suggest that partial barrage of the tumor can be sufficient to arrest or prevent further V.A. impairment.

Adult↗

Serological investigations for some bacterial and viral pathogens in fallow deer (Cervus dama) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) of the San Rossore Preserve, Tuscany, Italy.

Sera of 43 fallow deer (Cervus dama) of the San Rossore Preserve (Tuscany, Italy) were examined for antibodies against eight pathogens; one proved positive for Brucella sp., 21 for Listeria monocytogenes, 34 for Chlamydia psittaci, three for Coxiella burnetii, one for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus, 11 for parainfluenza-3 virus, 25 for bovine viral diarrhea virus and six for bovine respiratory syncytial virus. No age and sex difference in the positivity rates and titers was evidenced, while a sex difference was found both in rates of infection and in titers against parainfluenza-3 virus. Parainfluenza-3 infection was more prevalent in 1984 than in 1983 sampling. Sera of 20 wild boars (Sus scrofa) of the same preserve were examined for antibodies against five pathogens: four sera were positive for Brucella sp., while all were negative for Listeria monocytogenes, Chlamydia psittaci, Coxiella burnetii and Aujeszky's disease virus. Public and animal health involvement with these diseases are discussed for these respective host species.

Animals↗

[Papilledema in insulin-dependent patients].

The acute edematous capillaropathy of epipapillary and peripapillary radial vascolarization is an uncommon complication of type I Diabetes. Fluorescein angiography allows a reliable diagnosis to be made, because it provides good vision of the papilla and of the peripapillary posterior pole. The authors underline the importance of differential diagnosis because of the different therapeutic approach.

Adolescent↗

[Laser treatment of diabetic maculopathy].

The authors report on the techniques of laser treatment of diabetic maculopathy: focal direct laser coagulation of I.R.M.A. in exudative maculopathy; laser grid photocoagulation in edematous maculopathy.

Diabetic Retinopathy↗

Antibody response in partridge (Perdix perdix L.) 1. Effect of sex and age on the immune response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC), Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and Brucella abortus (Buck 19).

To ascertain the immune response capacity of Partridges to classical experimental and natural antigens, dose and time response curves to sheep red blood cells (SRBC), Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and Brucella abortus (Buck 19 strain), were determined in two strains reared in two different farms. 1 ml of 20% SRBC, 10(9) NDV particles and 10(7) Buck 19 microorganisms, gave optimal antibody responses seven (SRBC and Buck 19) or fourteen days after immunization. As far as SRBC is concerned, the antibody response was sex independent, but declined markedly in partridges older than 1 year. The immunization schedule used by us allow the identification of high and low responder animals. In fact, highly significant correlation in individual partridges between antibody titers obtained after two successive immunizations to an optimal SRBC dose given three weeks apart, was found. This fact, together with the observed great variability in the antibody response to the three antigens considered, should allow a selection for high and low responder lines, in order to improve the fitness toward environmental pathogens.

Age Factors↗

Patterns of lacrimal dysfunction in primary biliary cirrhosis.

The lacrimal function has been evaluated in 23 patients suffering from primary biliary cirrhosis by rose bengal test, the Schirmer test 1, and the tear breakup time. Ocular dryness was present in 78% of cases studied. No difference was found with respect to the length or severity of the hepatic involvement between patients with and without lacrimal dysfunction, but in patients with signs of hypolacrimation the changes in the lacrimal tests increased with the duration and histological progression of liver disease.

Adult↗

[Ocular cysticercosis. Apropos of a clinical case of presumed ocular cysticercosis].

The study of a case of ocular cysticercosis and its angiographic analysis enables the authors to formulate some hypothesis regarding the pathogenesis of the retinal lesions. In particular the presence of a bilateral gravitational retinal epitheliopathy contrasting with the unilateral localisation of the parasite, associated to vascular alterations, suggests that the presence of the cysticercus at subretinal level may trigger an autoimmune process mainly directed against the photoreceptors. A similar process to the one experimentally observed in monkeys after S retinal antigen immunisation can be imagined.

Antigens↗