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Biomedical subjects

A Miani

Publications and source records attributed to A Miani.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Human neonatal ovary: proposal of a three-dimensional model.

A model of human neonatal ovary is presented, derived from morphometric, evaluations carried out on left ovaries removed from five full-term neonates with a 46, XX karyotype, free from malformations of the genital apparatus. According to this model, the gonad can be represented by a triaxial ellipsoid with a central medullary core surrounded by a cortical stratum of constant thickness. The germinal population, consisting of follicles and primitive cortical tissue, occupies the cortex, intermingled with the interstitium or stroma. In the cortex it is then possible to describe an outer layer formed by primitive cortical tissue, and an inner portion occupied by follicles. The primary and secondary follicles fill the portion near the medulla and the primordial ones are contained in the middle and outer zones. Since the variability observed among ovaries is slight, we can propose a mean model of neonatal ovary in which the spatial relationships among the different components, the total number of follicles and their position in the cortex can be calculated.

Female↗

Sexual dimorphism in the human face assessed by euclidean distance matrix analysis.

The form of any object can be viewed as a combination of size and shape. A recently proposed method (euclidean distance matrix analysis) can differentiate between size and shape differences. It has been applied to analyse the sexual dimorphism in facial form in a sample of 108 healthy young adults (57 men, 51 women). The face was wider and longer in men than in women. A global shape difference was demonstrated, the male face being more rectangular and the female face more square. Gender variations involved especially the lower third of the face and, in particular, the position of the pogonion relative to the other structures.

Adult↗

ANB skeletal types correlated to facial morphology: Euclidean distance matrix analysis.

Pretreatment lateral skull radiographs of 145 patients aged 7 to 20 years are classified according to an ANB-angle reading corrected for the position of the maxilla and rotation of the jaw. The Euclidean distance matrix analysis is applied to compare the overall facial morphology between Classes I and II. This method differentiates between size and shape and localizes those areas that differ the most. Statistically significant different facial morphologies were demonstrated in the 32 patients aged 15 years or more. The younger patients with skeletal Classes I and II did not possess these different morphological characteristics. The results show that standard cephalometric classification criteria do not always correlate to actual differences in the overall facial morphology.

Adolescent↗

Mathematical definition of the curve of Spee in permanent healthy dentitions in man.

The intrinsic morphology of the mandibular curve of Spee (i.e. independent from reference planes) was studied in 50 men and 45 women with sound dentitions. Left and right curves were reconstructed by a second-order quadratic interpolation of buccal cusp tips. Gender differences were found in both sides, while side differences were found only in the male sample. Male and female curves had similar concavities, but the position of the interpolating second-order quadratic curve relative to the dental arch was significantly different. The right and left male sides showed different concavities, the right-hand side being flatter than the left. Male curves appeared larger than female ones, and the left-hand side was significantly larger than the right regardless of gender. The reported second-order quadratic curves could be used as reference for prosthetic and orthodontic reconstructions.

Adult↗

Kinesiographic three-dimensional evaluation of mandibular border movements: a statistical study in a normal young nonpatient group.

Mandibular border movements were studied in a group of 74 healthy young men and women with sound dentitions and class I molar relationships. Movements were directly performed by the subjects and recorded with a mandibular kinesiograph, and slopes of the first millimeters of motion in the anterior and lateral guidances were calculated. In anterior guidance, the sagittal plane slope was steeper in men than in women, whereas the horizontal plane slope showed no gender differences. In the lateral guidances, frontal plane slopes were steeper in men than in women, with no side differences. The horizontal plane slope presented no side or sex differences. Most of the subjects demonstrated asymmetric guidances for both protrusive and the laterotrusive movements. These findings suggest that criteria for defining the norm should include asymptomatic asymmetry instead of strict morphologic symmetric appearance.

Adult↗

[Effects of beta blocking agent iontophoresis by modulated sinusoidal current].

The action of the transcutaneous application of propranolol using modulated sinusoidal current iontophoresis was studied. When this way of administration is used, the drug, while maintaining its negative chronotropic effect, loses the negative inotropic one. Investigations were performed on 58 men aged 32 to 62 who underwent an aortocoronary bypass for myocardial ischemia. Thirty-four patients had already had myocardial infarction. The drug reduced the heart rate and increased cardiac contractility. Moreover, the study showed that only the levogyral isomer of propranolol (the only active one) passes through the skin.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

[The effect of the use of sinusoidal modulated currents on the recovery of athletes].

Modular sinusoidal currents were used to optimize the recovery process of the force of athletes' muscles. 113 elite athletes were analyzed. They were participants in rowing, cycling, tennis and Greco-Roman wrestling. In all cases the modular sinusoidal currents were applied to the dorso-cervical and lumbar regions. It was found that applications to the dorso-cervical regions normalize the altered parameters of the cardiovascular system and increase the capacity of the humeral muscles to contract. Furthermore they stabilize the adrenergic sympathetic zone and stimulate the immune system.

Bicycling↗

[Meteoropathy: a syndrome continuously on the increase].

The authors describe the different kinds of meteoropathies, pointing out how these disorders are becoming ever more frequent in countries belonging to the consumer and welfare society due to the progressive lowering of body resistance and immunologic responses. These "unfavourable meteosyndromes", as meteoropathies should be called, develop when wave disturbances arrive, and are more manifest and persistent in subjects with neurologic disturbances, i.e. in the presence of anxiety, stress, hypertension, coronary artery disease, arthropathy, hyperthyroidism, etc. The different moments in which meteoropathies are more frequent and the possible therapies are also discussed.

Climate↗

[Correction by physiotherapy of immune disorders in high-grade athletes].

It is well known that during intense training and competitions athletes show a remarkable reduction of their immunological responses. As a matter of fact, during these periods athletes very frequently (five to ten times more than average) fall ill. In order to correct this situation, in the USSR immunomodulator drugs are used together with high frequency electromagnetic waves which are applied on the body surface corresponding to the adrenal glands. In this way body desensitisation is accelerated. One hundred high-level athletes received an application of electromagnetic waves on the body surface corresponding to the thyroid gland and thymus, so as to lower glucocorticoid activity and activate lymphoid tissue. Indices of immunologic reactivity and hormonal levels after electromagnetic treatment were measured in all athletes.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Reproducibility of electromyographic measures: a statistical analysis.

The masseter, temporalis anterior and digastric anterior muscles of five volunteers have been investigated by means of surface electromyography. Each muscle was tested by three operators at different times and under three distinct conditions of intermaxillary relationship: resting, with no occlusal contact (physiological rest position); occlusion in centric occlusion (C.O.) without clenching force; and maximum voluntary clench. In all the trials the BIO-PAK system (Bio-Research Associates Inc., Milwaukee, WI, USA) was used. Measurements were made in two consecutive experimental trials separated by an interval of about 15 days. In the first trial the operators had minimal instrumental experience, while in the second trial the same operators had minimal instrumental experience, while in the second trial the same operators had performed at least 30 measurements each. The data have been analysed by a factorial variance analysis, particularly with a view to comparing the variability between operators for each volunteer subject. The analysis revealed statistically significant differences only in the first experimental trial, due to the operators' lack of experience. The study demonstrates that the electromyographic system and protocol used allow good reproducibility of measurements. Furthermore, they have potential applications in both clinics and research.

Action Potentials↗

Cephalometrics and facial shape: new thresholds by an overall approach to classic standards.

Pretreatment lateral skull radiographs were studied to analyze the characteristics of facial morphology. Standard cephalometric measurements were compared with those provided by a Fourier description of the overall morphology. Skull patterns were divided into hyperdivergent, neutral, and hypodivergent groups (1) according to the standard thresholds of facial height ratio and (2) according to the mathematical distance between their Fourier coefficients and the Fourier coefficients of three reference plots. Linear regression analysis showed that all the Fourier variables were significantly correlated. The standard thresholds of normality used to classify patients as normal, hyperdivergent, or hypodivergent did not correlate with each other. Fourier analysis resulted in new thresholds of normality that are more accurate than previous norms developed by standard cephalometric measurements. These new thresholds take into account the overall morphologic characteristics of the patient and each separate measurement is strictly correlated with the others.

Adolescent↗

Arterial repair after microvascular anastomosis. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy study.

In order to study the morphological aspects of endothelial regeneration and vascular wall reaction after microvascular anastomosis, rat femoral arteries were sectioned and successively sutured (end-to-end anastomosis) with microsurgical techniques. Control arteries and anastomosed vessels (recovered after 1, 4, 7, 14, 21, 30, 60, 120, 180 and 360 days) were studied by means of scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The reendothelialization phenomena started after 7 days and were mainly evident at 21 days. Areas of subendothelial connective tissue with fibrin deposition remained exposed to the blood stream up to 21-30 days. Thrombus formations or post-anastomotic stenosis have been occasionally observed. Regenerating endothelium showed evident morphological differences from the control. These changes mainly consisted of shortened cell length, absence of pinocytotic vesicles, presence of cytoplasmic prolongations, and microvillous proliferations. The arterial wall showed subintimal thickening. The anastomotic site appeared completely covered by new endothelium after 30-60 days. Subintimal vascular wall changes (thickening of the media) as well as slight alterations of endothelial cells (shortened length, reduced number of pinocytotic vesicles) were evident in 60-day vessels. Lumen reduction, due to the protruding of endothelial-covered sutures, was occasionally observed in 60- to 120-day arteries. Endothelial cell morphology normalized after 60-120 days. However, thickening of the media and occasional lumen reduction were observed also after 180-360 days. Although the endothelial regeneration phenomena were clearly evident after 2 weeks, nevertheless the reestablishment of arterial wall took longer time.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

Calcification of the stylohyoid ligament: incidence and morphoquantitative evaluations.

To study the incidence of calcification of the stylohyoid ligament, 286 orthopantomographs were analyzed. All patients had no symptoms. The total incidence of calcification was noted to be high, at 84.4%. The number and the length of calcifications increased with age, and there was no relationship to sex or mandibular size. The phenomenon is often evident bilaterally. The variety of results reported in the references depends on different criteria in radiographic evaluation and in patient selection.

Adolescent↗

Endoneural vessel involvement in hypothyroidism.

Light-microscope findings and pathological ultrastructural changes in sural nerve biopsies from two patients affected by hypothyroidism, one with overt signs of peripheral neuropathy, the other asymptomatic, were studied. In both patients the endoneural vessels showed clear pathological changes similar to those of other metabolic neuropathies, but more marked in the symptomatic patient. It is proposed that the changes observed in the nerve fibers in hypothyroid neuropathy are secondary to changes in the endothelial cells and in the vessel wall.

Biopsy↗

Re-innervation pattern of heterotopically transposed lingual flaps.

Pedicled tongue flaps have proved to be an effective method of repairing defects due to tissue loss in the oral cavity. No histological investigations have been done in respect of the longterm fate of these flaps after section of their nutrient pedicle. The histological pattern of the re-innervation process of heterotopically transposed lingual flaps in the oral cavity is evaluated in this paper. Two cases are reported: in the first, the tongue flap was used to repair the vermilion of the lower lip and in the second, for the closure of a post-traumatic defect of the hard palate. The histological findings are similar in the two cases: myelinated and unmyelinated fibres, free nerve endings and encapsulated receptors are present.

Humans↗

Quantitative and comparative stress analysis in human femur under two different static situations by three-dimensional photoelasticity.

Using the three-dimensional photoelastic method a quantitative analysis was carried out on the tension trends in the proximal third of a normal human femur in a stationary weight-bearing situation on two legs. The results obtained show that in this loading situation the maximum stress values (both for tension and compression) are in the area just below the subtrochanteric zone; while going up along the borders of the diaphysis, the tension trends do not vary appreciably. Moreover, the state of the stresses is not constant but varies slightly along the thickness of the bone. The neutral axis is considerably displaced towards the tensile area. A comparison between the stress tension trends in two different static loading situations (one-leg and two-leg support) was carried out. It was found that the maximum tensile stress value in the one-leg position was about 24 times greater than that in the two-leg position and the maximum compression stress value was about 14 times greater than in the two-leg situation.

Birefringence↗