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Biomedical subjects

A Nicoletti

Publications and source records attributed to A Nicoletti.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Microbiological considerations of the etiological agents of lower respiratory tract infections.

One hundred eight-four sputum specimens from the same number of patients with lower respiratory tract infections were examined to determine the bacterial count and the relationship between the microorganisms isolated and the presumptive pathology. The sputa were subdivided into three groups; "high probability", "low probability", and "contaminated sputa", following the criteria of the microscopic readings: sputum with more than 25 white cells and low numbers of squamous epithelial cells represents true lower respiratory tract infections (high probability); those with fewer than 25 white cells represent non-bacterial infections or non-infected sputa (low probability) while sputa with more than 25 squamous cells per field represent contaminated specimens (contaminated sputa). Statistical analysis was carried out to correlate these data. Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Streptococcus pyogenes showed significant differences in the three groups considered.

Gram-Negative Bacteria↗
PubMed1992

Bactericidal activity and postantibiotic effect of cefdinir (Cl 983, FK 482) against selected pathogens.

The bactericidal activity and the postantibiotic effect (PAE) of cefdinir (Cl 983, FK 482) (CDR), were determined against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Branhamella catarrhalis and Escherichia coli (5 strains each) in comparison to erythromycin (E), cotrimoxazole (SXT) and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (AMC). Kinetic studies of kill showed that CDR was rapidly bactericidal at concentrations 2 and 4 times the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): a reduction of 99.9% in CFU values was observed after 6-8 h for many of the isolates tested. As expected, a PAE was observed when S. aureus was treated with CDR at MIC (range of individual values for 5 strains 0.8-1.5 h) and 4 x MIC (range 1.1-1.4 h). Moreover, CDR showed a significant PAE at both its MIC and 4 x MIC against S. pneumoniae (range 0.5-1.0 h and 0.9-1.1 h), H. influenzae (range 0.4-0.7 h and 0.4-0.8 h), B. catarrhalis (range 0.5-0.7 h and 0.65-0.95 h) and E. coli (range 0.5-0.6 h and 0.5-0.7 h). The good bactericidal activity and the significant PAE of CDR against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (including respiratory pathogens) are a promising indication for the clinical efficacy of this cephalosporin in several bacterial infections.

Amoxicillin↗
PubMed1992

Preliminary evaluation of immunoadjuvant activity of an orally administered glucan extracted from Candida albicans.

The immunoadjuvant activity of an orally administered glucan (Glucanil, Gluimmun) was investigated in mice. Glucan was extracted from Candida albicans ATCC 20955 and purified by an alkali-acid and detergent treatment. In this study the chronic intravenous infection with Candida albicans (treated or not with amphotericin B) or Staphylococcus aureus was the experimental model. Moreover the production of interleukin-2 was evaluated in treated animals. Oral treatment with glucan at 1 mg/mouse/day repeated doses, starting from 10 days before the experimental infection, significantly increased polymorphonuclear leukocytes and peripheral monocytes number. A significant increase in number and in vitro candidacidal activity was also observed for alveolar macrophages. The resistance towards systemic infection with Candida albicans or Staphylococcus aureus increased, significantly reducing the growth of microorganisms in the kidneys of infected animals. Glucan significantly increased the candidacidal spleen cells activity and synergized with amphotericin B chemotherapeutic action. Higher doses (eg. 2 or 5 mg/mouse) were not effective. A 10 days oral treatment with 1 mg/mouse/d significantly increased the interleukin-2 production. Toxicological studies showed that glucan is highly tolerated.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1990

[Unilateral nevoid syringoma].

A case of unilateral naevoid syringoma is reported. Syringoma is an adnexal benign neoplasia originating from the ducts of eccrine sweat glands. Localized (neck, anterior portion of the chest, genitalia, fingers) and generalized forms are known, but unilateral naevoid syringoma is quite uncommon. The existence of this variety can be explained with reference to the theory of "genetic mosaicism".

Adenoma↗
PubMed1989

[Skin metastasis of clear cell carcinoma of the kidney].

A case of a 70 year old man, affected by a solitary cutaneous metastasis of a clinically asymptomatic clear cell adenocarcinoma of the kidney is reported and some histopathological differential diagnoses are considered.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Short therapy for tinea unguium with terbinafine: four different courses of treatment.

Terbinafine has partly solved the well-known problems in the treatment of dermatophyte nail infections. The aim of our study was to assess the effectiveness of very short treatment of dermatophyte nail infections with four different courses of terbinafine with or without chemical onycholysis. For this purpose, 60 patients, divided into four groups, were given different courses of treatment with oral terbinafine. Clinical, mycological and tolerability tests were performed before, during and after treatment. Clear microscopy and culture findings confirmed cure rates in the four groups of 95%, 95%, 70% and 100% without any side-effects. In conclusion, terbinafine has proved to be effective and well tolerated in the very short-term treatment of dermatophyte nail infections.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Lifetime prevalence of Bell's palsy in rural Bolivia: a door-to-door survey.

We carried out a door-to-door survey in rural areas of the Cordillera Province, Bolivia, to determine the prevalence of the most common neurological diseases in a sample of about 10,000 inhabitants. A team of non-doctor health workers administered a standard screening instrument for neurological diseases, a slightly modified version of the World Health Organization protocol. All subjects found positive at the screening phase underwent a complete neurological examination. On screening, we found 1,130 positive subjects, of whom 909 were aged 15 years and above. After the neurological examination, we found 52 cases who had experienced Bell's palsy during their life in the population aged 15 years and above. The lifetime prevalence on November 1, 1994 was 11.1/1,000 (95% confidence interval 7.8-14.5) for the population aged 15 years and above. The prevalence was higher in women than in men (13.7 and 8.7/1,000, respectively) and increased with age, reaching a peak in the group aged 65 years or more (31.7/1,000). Only 3 cases (5.8%) had received medical therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Isolated peripheral arterial ischaemia and medullary neurostimulation: case report].

Isolated peripheral arterial ischaemia (IPAI) is an unusual pathology of dialysis and peritoneal patients which represents the first sign of a complication of uraemia known as calciphylaxis. Recent studies have revealed an increased incidence of this complication. Risk factors are known but there is no consensus on them: elevated CaxP product, female gender, elevated serum parathormone. We present here the case of a 65-year-old man with 21-year history of dialysis, distal isolated ulceration and without any signs of severe vasculopathy. Our clinical diagnosis was calciphylaxis. In this case, the role of early PTX is not clear and the use of steroids is recommended only in non-ulcerating cases. The therapy gives good results but not in all patients. Electrical stimulation of the posterior roots of the spinal cord is an alternative approach to this case. We hypothesised that the electrical action, through cutaneous vasodilatation of afferent dorsal fibres and release of calcitonin gene-releasing protein, determines the release of prostaglandin E sub 2 that may positively affect the proliferation and activity of epidermal fibroblasts.

Afferent Pathways↗