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Biomedical subjects

A Paolini

Publications and source records attributed to A Paolini.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

[Functional changes in the esophagus and action of pentagastrin on the competence of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) after esophageal vagotomy].

In pursuance of an investigation of oesophageal physiopathology, a study has been made of the problem of the functional regulation of the inferior oesophageal sphincter in the light of new findings. Experiments carried out on six dogs made it possible to study functional modifications of the oesophagus after vagotomy, completing the technique by administering pentagastrin for the first time in vivo. Radiological and mano metric controls showed in the post-operative period a dilated oesophagus with a fall, in the lower third, of normal pressure values that did not undergo change, unlike what happened in the non-denervated oesophagus after administration of pentagastrin. The results obtained show that the integrity of the nervous structures is not only necessary for the perfect coordination of oesophageal peristalsis, but vital for normal functional response of the inferior oesophageal sphincter, since gastrin action is always mediated by release of acetylcholine by the post-gangliar vagal nerve endings.

Animals↗

Linear sebaceous nevus syndrome: report of a patient with unusual associated abnormalities.

A 9-year-old girl was diagnosed as having a linear sebaceous nevus syndrome (LSNS). The nevus sebaceus was located on the face, and the girl also had nevoid hypertrichosis on the neck, sensorineural deafness, partial anodontia, blocked tear ducts, labiopalatoschisis, and an area of micropolygyria in the left encephalic (cerebral) hemisphere. Electroencephalographic alterations were detected, but they were not accompanied by a history of seizures; furthermore, the child was not mentally retarded. This phenotypic pattern of LSNS is unusual for the rarity of associated abnormalities.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

[The diagnosis and therapy of dysphagic disorders of the LES].

Primary motor disorders of LES causing dysphagia consist in cardial achalasia and intermedius motor disorder (IMD), the last one different from achalasia because of normal motor pattern of the esophageal body. In this paper diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are examined according to an experience of 94 surgically treated cases (22 rioperations for surgical failures). Cardial dilatation as treatment of choice is recognized only for IMD in which a normal peristaltic behaviour of the esophagus can avoid the high danger of GER. Surgical procedure, now laparoscopically performed, consisting in Heller's myotomy + Dor partial fundoplication is to be preferred in cases of true achalasia.

Cardia↗

Lung microcytoma: a multidisciplinary therapeutic approach.

This report is of 26 patients diagnosed with microcytoma of the lung in stages I, II, and IIIa. All patients received surgical treatment as well as postoperative chemoradiotherapy when indicated by stage. Mean survival rates were 16 months for stage 1, 10 months for stage II and 6 months for stage IIIa disease. For many years surgery was considered contraindicated in the treatment of pulmonary microcytoma. Now a multidisciplinary approach is being used in which surgery has a crucial role. Microcytoma of the lung has a poor prognosis due to its early metastasis and rapid growth. It is crucial to have early diagnosis and accurate, consistent staging as the basis for treatment. A review of literature shows that the use of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are all important in treatment of microcytoma. Chemotherapy is successfully utilized preoperatively to improve local control, decrease neoplastic mass, induce histological regression and as postoperative adjuvant therapy. Radiotherapy has been shown to be effective preoperatively to reduce local mass and prophylactically for cerebral metastasis. Surgery is crucial to irradicate the neoplastic mass, improve staging accuracy, decrease the possible selection of neoplastic clones resistant to postoperative therapy, decrease local recurrence and allow less aggressive chemoradiotherapy. We feel the most effective protocol for pulmonary microcytoma includes preoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy when indicated followed by surgical intervention and finally successive adjuvant therapy. The limited number of our cases does not consent a statistically significative conclusion. Our data confirm the importance of the surgical procedure in stages I and II, where according also to other authors, the best results are obtained. Surgical indication in stage IIIa is still discussed due to precocius lymphnode dissemination that significantly affects long-term survival.

Carcinoma, Small Cell↗

[Ileal occlusion caused by enterolith migrated from Meckel's diverticulum].

The authors present a case report of an intestinal obstruction due to a relatively big coprolite migrated from a large Meckel's diverticulum to the distal Ileum. The patients apparently healthy and a vegetarian, complained on admission of the absence of emission of faeces and gas since four days before with noticeable abdominal distension. In the physical examination he presented intestinal meteorism, a hard abdomen, painful on deep palpation in the median quadrants, especially in the epigastric and mesogastric ones. The abdominal X-RAY in the standing position confirms: an occlusive state with numerous liquid levels in the Ileum. Because of a worsening of the symptomatology and the appearance of generalized comprimission, two days later an exploratory laparotomy was performed. The intervention showed the presence of a Meckel's diverticulum with approximately 10 cm in length, with an ample neck, the distal Ileum for approximately 15 cm in dilation returned rapidly to a normal calibre, after a pastous endoluminal formation borne in the Meckel's diverticulum (Meckel resection presented actually a large niche at the fundus level with a eroded wall) and migrated in the distal Ileum where it could cause the obstruction. In the present case it is probably useful to perform a preoperative CT scan in order to get a precise etiology and perform an ascending Colonscopy, so avoiding a surgical procedure. According to the authors a CT scan is indicated in all cases of intestinal occlusion of unknown case, in order to have a more precise definition of the physiopathology of the occlusion.

Calculi↗

Hyperthyroidism and concurrent thyroid carcinoma.

In the last twenty years, medical studies have reported a significant increase in thyroid neoplasms among patients with hyperthyroidism. Aim of the present work is to reconsider the real incidence of this not uncommon association and to establish a model for surgical treatment of hyperthyroidism for a possible concurrence with thyroid carcinoma. At the Department of Surgical Sciences and Applied Medical Technologies "La Sapienza" Rome's University, during the period 1994 to 1999, an homogeneous group of 82 patients was surgically treated for hyperthyroidism. Of our patients, fifty-four (66%) had a "multinodular toxic goiter" (MTG), twenty (24%) a "functional autonomous nodule" (FAN) while the remaining patients were affected by Graves' disease. The surgical procedures adopted were: 1) total extracapsular ipsilateral lobectomies and isthmectomies in sixteen patients with FAN; 2) total extracapsular thyroidectomy in all patients with MTG and with Graves' disease and in the remaining four patients with FAN after a long time treatment with thyrostatic drugs. On six (7%) of our patients we found out a thyroid carcinoma: five with MTG and one with Graves' disease. However, no association with thyroid carcinoma was observed in anyone with FAN. The correct treatment of thyroid surgical diseases is a single definitive operative approach. The procedure must be a total thyroidectomy in MTG and Graves' disease. However, in patients with FAN it's possible, after careful evaluation, to carry out a total extracapsular ipsilateral lobectomy with isthmectomy, justified by the normal morphology of the remaining thyroid tissue. It is always possible, in these cases, a subsequent complete exeresis if a carcinoma is present in the removed lobe.

Aged↗

[Spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma: a case report].

The A.A. present a case report of retroperitoneal spontaneous hematoma and put in evidence the difficulties in making an etiopathogenetic diagnosis of spontaneous renal cyst rupture. The patient was a 72 years old man admitted to the hospital in emergency for a painful ipogastric syntomatology and biliary vomit. The ecography showed a distanced gallbladder and the endoscopy evidenced a duodenal stenosis with compression of the gastric posterior wall, so that we were initially directed towards a pancreatic tumor even if the modest increase of the serum bilirubinemy and mostly the fact that direct component was almost normal, gave us strong doubts. The spiral TC gave finally the diagnosis of retroperitoneal hematoma and the presence of a bilateral polycystic kidney with several subcapsular cyst, let us suggest, as well as the anamnestic report of a physical stress, a renal origin of the bleeding. A wild literature review did not evidence other similar cases, but the ecclusion of other possible causes of retroperitoneal hematoma, suggested this conclusion.

Aged↗

Therapeutic approach of carcinoid tumours of the lung.

In the carcinoid tumours of the bronchopulmonary tract surgical resection is still the primary goal. Many problems are, however, unclear: the extent of resection, formal lymph node dissection or not, the role of Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) and of the multidisciplinary approach. In the Department of Surgical Sciences and Applied Medical Technologies, "La Sapienza", Rome's University, from 1969 to 1994, we observed 18 patients with carcinoid tumours of the lung: 13 typical carcinoid (TC) and 5 atypical carcinoid (AC). In our series, the choice of therapeutic procedure was made on the basis of histological criteria and TNM classification. We performed 3 conservative and 10 extensive resections on typical carcinoid and 5 extensive resections on atypical carcinoid tumours. In our series VATS played a minor therapeutic role. Formal lymph node dissection was carried out on all our patients except in the cases of those with typical carcinoid tumours without enlarged hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes. The efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy in carcinoid tumours treatment is controversial and will be confirmed by further trials. In bronchial carcinoid tumours the long-term prognosis is excellent. In our series the ten-year survival rate is 77 per cent in typical carcinoid and 40 per cent in atypical carcinoid cases.

Adult↗

Surgical treatment of differentiated microcarcinomas of the thyroid.

Thyroid microcarcinomas (TMC) are histologically malignant diseases, despite their limited dimensions and non-aggressive behaviour; frequent multifocality of the disease and local recurrence is really possible after conservative resection. Modern therapeutic approaches to thyroid microcarcinoma include both radical surgical treatment, influenced by the frequent locoregional diffusion of TMC, consisting of a total thyroidectomy with an eventual central and/or functional unilateral lymphadenectomy, depending on the clinical evidence of lymh node metastases and conservative treatment based on more limited resections which take into account the slow clinical progression of this type of tumour. The aim of our work is to examine the therapeutic guidelines for surgical treatment of TMC which, in our experience, are closely dependent on clinical presentation type. From 1991 to 2000, more than 400 patients with thyroid disease were referred to the Department of Surgical Science and Applied Medical Technologies "F. Durante". Threehundred-seventythree patients received surgical treatment: in 311 patients a benign disease was diagnosed, while in 62 neoplasia was present. In total we observed 30 TMC, consisting of 28 papillary and 2 follicular microcarcinomas. On the basis of clinical presentation we divided patients in three groups: A--patients with a clinically suspicious neoplastic lesion before surgical treatment; B--patients in whom histological diagnosis of cancer was "incidental" after an operation performed for benign disease; C--patients in whom a neck lymph node metastases were clinically found before diagnosis of an "occult" papillary carcinoma in the thyroid gland. 27 total thyroidectomies and 3 conservative resections, that required successive total exeresis, were performed. In 5 cases a central neck lymph node dissection was carried out and in 5 + 1 cases functional modified lateral neck dissections was deemed necessary. Our data suggest that an evaluation of tumor's malignancy cannot be carried out on the basis of its dimensions alone. Indeed, biological aggressivity, whether local or at a distance, is a prerogative of both large and small tumours. Therefore a microcarcinoma must be considered a full-blown form of thyroid cancer and as such must be treated. Total thyroidectomy may be followed by identification of possible local metastases. "Whole body" scintigraphy allows to identify and treat with radioiodine therapy, possible recurrent lesions. Therefore in conclusion, total resection is not only a useful, but also a necessary treatment for the correct diagnostic and therapeutic follow-up of these patients.

Adult↗