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Biomedical subjects

A Martini

Publications and source records attributed to A Martini.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

Serial recordings of auditory brainstem responses in severe head injury: relationship between test timing and prognostic power.

ABRs have proved to be very accurate prognostic indicators in severe head injury, even when predictions are based on single ABR recordings. In this study we submitted 30 severely head-injured patients to serial ABR recordings (during the clinical course of posttraumatic coma) in order to verify whether the ABR prognostic power may depend on test timing in relation to the injury. 15 patients (50%) died, 5 (16.7%) remained vegetative, 2 (6.6%) severely disabled and 8 (26.7%) recovered. All recovered patients had normal ABR throughout clinical course, while severely disabled and vegetative patients showed at least transently ABR abnormalities (namely, an interpeak latency of waves V-I greater than 4.48 ms). Among dead patients, 8 showed steady and 3 transient ABR abnormalities during the clinical course, while 2 of 3 patients with normal ABR dead from extracranial complications. ABRs were significantly related to the outcome at any time, but gave more accurate prognostic indications on days 3-6 after the injury. The use of serial ABR recordings appeared to improve the outcome predictions in comparison with single ABR tests. Finally our result confirm the previously reported existance of a breakpoint between reversible brainstem dysfunction and irreversible brainstem damage defined by an IPL V-I of about 4.50 ms.

Adolescent↗

New amylolytic yeast strains for starch and dextrin fermentation.

Yeast strains capable of fermenting starch and dextrin to ethanol were isolated from samples collected from Brazilian factories in which cassava flour is produced. Considerable alcohol production was observed for all the strains selected. One strain (DI-10) fermented starch rapidly and secreted 5 times as much amylolytic enzyme than that observed for Schwanniomyces alluvius UCD 54-83. This strain and three other similar isolates were classified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. diastaticus by morphological and physiological characteristics and molecular taxonomy.

Journal Article↗

Dichotic performance in elderly Italians with Italian stop consonant-vowel stimuli.

Dichotic listening tests were carried out at various interaural onset asynchronies (from 0 to 500 ms) on normal-hearing young and elderly subjects using a free recall method. The stimuli were Italian stop consonant and vowel syllables computer-edited to reduce prevoicing of the consonant and vowel syllables from the original 100-120 ms to 30 ms. Results suggest that right-ear advantage is uninfluenced by age, despite a significantly lower total dichotic performance and abnormal lag effect in the older group.

Adult↗

Hypergammaglobulinemic purpura in childhood. Report of two cases and review of the literature.

Hypergammaglobulinemic purpura is a rare syndrome characterized by long-standing recurrent purpura of the lower limbs, polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and high titer rheumatoid factor positivity. The syndrome can occur isolated or in association with a systemic disease. Few cases have been described in childhood. We report two cases together with a review of the paediatric literature.

Child↗

Topographic brain mapping of middle latency auditory evoked potentials in normal subjects.

Topographic brain mapping of auditory middle latency evoked responses (MLR) were obtained from 20 subjects (10 males and 10 females), all right-handed and with normal pure tone audiograms. Clicks with alternative polarity, with a rate of 7.7/sec. were delivered at an intensity of 75 dB HL monoaurally to both ears. Responses from 21 channels were amplified and band-pass filtered (3-150). All the surface maps were analyzed with a Bio-Logic Brain Atlas III system. MLR maps obtained show a quite small intrasubjective variability at the latencies of the principal components Na and Pa. The grand averages of MLR maps at the corresponding latencies in males and females were compared each other. All the entire temporal window has been segmented into some subepochs, showing similar spatial characteristics of the maps, like location of maxima and minima and, overall, shape.

Adult↗

Auditory and academic performance of children with unilateral hearing loss.

Since the data provided in the literature concerning unilateral hearing loss in children are still lacking, we decided to study a group of subjects suffering from unilateral sensorineural deafness that has developed during the first 12 years of life. One hundred and fifteen subjects out of 150 answered a questionnaire that intended to investigate at what age the disorder developed, how it was recognized, its possible causes and a subjective evaluation of the difficulties encountered because of the hearing deficiency. In a second stage of the research, more detailed case history data were obtained on 30 children who satisfied more stringent selection criteria. The same children were compared with a matched control group of 30 normal hearing subjects, on speech in noise recognition, and sound localization skills. Results were correlated with the academic and educational progress and case history data. Our results may demonstrate that unilateral deafness represents a far from negligible handicap concerning the child's learning and relationship with classmates and teachers, specially during compulsory school life.

Adolescent↗

Systemic lupus erythematosus with Jaccoud's arthropathy mimicking juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

We describe a girl who presented at age 5 with objective signs of arthritis and was initially diagnosed as having juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Over the following years, she developed slowly progressive joint deformities indicative of Jaccoud's arthropathy. When she was 11 years old, symptoms typical of systemic lupus erythematosus appeared, accompanied by anti-DNA antibodies. This case illustrates that in children also, Jaccoud's arthropathy may be a precocious manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Adolescent↗

Three newly delimited species of Saccharomyces sensu stricto.

Deoxyribonucleic acid reassociation studies of 24 different wine and beer-associated strains of Saccharomyces confirmed the presence of three separate species. S. cerevisiae and S. bayanus strains had only 22% of their genomes in common. S. pastorianus, with intermediate hybridization values between S. cerevisiae and S. bayanus (52 and 72%, respectively) could possibly be a natural hybrid of the two species. S. pastorianus replaces S. carlsbergensis with which it is homologous for 93% of its genome, since the former species was described first by Hansen in 1904. These data do not agree with the results of traditional physiological tests.

DNA, Fungal↗

Italian multicenter study of reversible cerebral ischemic attacks. Part 5. Risk factors and cerebral atherosclerosis.

As part of a prospective study, the influence of several premorbid and environmental factors on the presence, extent and severity of cerebral vessel atherosclerosis was studied in 462 patients with clinical diagnosis of RIA who underwent cerebral angiography. The extent and severity of atherosclerosis of the cerebral vessels was quantified using extracranial and intracranial cerebrovascular scores (ECS, ICS) based on the number and severity of the lesions in 11 extracranial and 21 intracranial arterial segments. Results of univariate and multivariate analyses indicate that the presence of atherosclerotic changes of cerebral vessels, as shown by angiography, was strongly related with age in both sexes. The lesions were more frequent in males, in particular under age 55. Elevated cholesterol was associated with a higher incidence of atherosclerotic lesions. Smoking was associated with a higher incidence of extracranial lesions. Age, smoking and history of hypertension were the best predictors of the extent and severity of cerebral vessel atherosclerosis.

Adult↗

The individuality of the immune response.

The high degree of polymorphism of the genes controlling the immune system makes immune reactivity of any being very individualized. Self non self recognition, rejection of non-self is the most clear and common expression of this individuality. Moreover antigen experience, chance and even psychological conditions may further affect the immune response characteristics so contributing to enhance the individuality of the "way of reacting" and, therefore, of susceptibility to immune-mediated diseases. In this perspective man can consider himself as a true biological ego.

Antibody Formation↗

Immunological abnormalities in juvenile chronic arthritis.

The immunological alterations that have been reported in juvenile chronic arthritis are reviewed. Their role in patient management and classification as well as their possible etiopathogenetic relevance are discussed.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗