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Biomedical subjects

A Petri

Publications and source records attributed to A Petri.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

The modified AFP score: an attempt to make the results of anti-reflux surgery comparable.

Comparison of different strategies in anti-reflux therapy is complicated by wide variations in patient selection and in the criteria employed to assess outcome. A modification of the classification system originally developed by Bancewicz et al. was used to grade a series of 57 patients before and after fundoplication (primary reflux group). An additional group of 39 patients with an unsatisfactory result after previous Nissen fundoplication (failed Nissen group) were assessed before and after reoperation. The classification system used comprises three elements: the A element depicts gastro-oesophageal anatomy based on the findings at endoscopy: the F element codes the amount of acid reflux by means of 24-h intra-oesophageal pH monitoring; and the P element describes mucosal abnormalities. The overall severity was quantified by means of a score on a scale from 0 to 10. The mean preoperative score in the primary reflux group was 5.45 and in the failed Nissen group 7.3. After fundoplication, this was reduced to 1.07 and 1.30, respectively. In general, there was good correlation between the results of the three elements under consideration, pointing to a potential pathophysiological inter-relationship. Marked individual variation did occasionally occur. The AFP system enabled a detailed description of the preoperative and postoperative condition of the patient, and proved easy to use in clinical practice. Its employment is recommended as an objective means of comparing the value of different treatment strategies.

Adolescent↗

Activities of serum cathepsin (B, H and L) and metalloproteinase (MMP7-ase) in patients with gastrointestinal and bronchial malignant tumours.

Serum lysosomal cysteine proteinases cathepsin B, H, L and metalloproteinase (MMP7-ase) activities of 14 patients suffering from gastrointestinal and bronchial carcinomas were investigated. The serum cathepsin B and H activities were significantly diminished in the carcinoma group as compared to the controls, while the activity of cathepsin L and of MMP7-ase was normal.

Cathepsin B↗

Late malignant transformation of chronic corrosive oesophageal strictures.

The number of patients with scar carcinoma of the oesophagus developing on the basis of a corrosive stricture seems to have been rising in the past two decades. 36 patients of this kind were treated surgically between 1965 and 1984; this is the second largest series in the literature. The patients with scar cancer comprised 7.2% of the overall oesophageal carcinoma cases; this ratio is currently the highest of all in the literature. The interval between the caustic burn and the diagnosis of scar carcinoma was found to be 46.1 years; this is higher than the 30-35 years generally accepted so far. It was 50.9 years in those patients who drank lye before the age of 12, but 14 years less when it happened in adulthood. The long-term survival time proved to be excellent: 45.6% of the resected cases were alive after 5 years and 14.4% after 10 years. The explanation of the good prognosis lies in the fact that carcinoma developing in a lye stricture is at first surrounded by a rigid scar which allows only its intraluminal growth, and it causes early dysphagia through luminal obstruction. Early dissemination is prevented for the same reason. One-stage resection and replacement is suggested in the radically operable cases. In patients with oesophageal corrosive stricture which needs operation, both a by-pass procedure and resection can be adopted, but it should be pointed out that malignancy may develop even years after the operation in the remaining part of the gullet. Total oesophagectomy is therefore suggested instead of bypass.

Burns, Chemical↗

[Effect of anticoagulants on blood viscosity].

In 21 cases the blood viscosity of native blood was determined in comparison to heparin blood at a shear rate of 218.7 and 1312 sec-1 by using the rotational viscosimeter Rheotest 2. As a result, a low viscosity of the heparin blood could be found. In addition, the impact of phenprocoumon treatment on several rheologic parameters was examined in 20 healthy test persons. With the haematocrit and fibrinogen level remaining constant, a reduction of blood viscosity could be observed when the Quick value decreased. This was detected with Rheotest 2 at 7 different shear rate between 218.7 and 1312 sec-1. The influence of anticoagulants on the erythrocyte deformability is discussed as a possible cause underlying the obtained decreases of viscosity. This would have to be proved by investigations using erythrocyte filters.

4-Hydroxycoumarins↗

Ischemic stricture of the intrathoracic roux loop used for esophagoplasty.

Three cases of stenosis of a Roux loop are presented, following the replacement of the lower third of the esophagus resected for cancer. In each case fibrotic stenosis developed 6 weeks after reconstruction, which was attributed to ischemia: in one case it was due to reduced blood flow during digitalization and in the other two cases to the vascular compression of the supplying vessels because of unsatisfactory dilatation of the hiatus.

Adult↗

[Premalignant and malignant changes in the epithelium in an antethoracic skin tube after esophagus replacement surgery].

Seven clinical cases are described of plastic repair of the stenosed oesophagus by means of a skin tube in which premalignant changes have developed after the lapse of several decades. The authors assume that these changes have been caused by chronic inflammation due to chemical irritation of the skin tube by stagnant food, saliva, and the gastro-"neo-oesophageal" reflux. On the basis of data from the literature and personal experience, the authors suggest that use of a skin tube in the repair of the oesophagus should be reserved for the small group of patients with oesophageal malignancy not amenable to other methods of reconstruction.

Adult↗

Puberty onset in Northern Italy: a random sample of 3597 Italian children.

Entering puberty is one of the most important milestones in life. Studies from around the world have shown that age of pubertal changes onset can vary with race and ethnicity, environmental conditions, geographical location and nutrition. In the last century, the onset of puberty progressively shifted back towards younger ages in several European countries, with a levelling off in the last decades. The aim of our study was to describe the prevalence of secondary sexual characteristics in a group of children living in Northern Italy comparing them with the percentile values published by Tanner in 1976. We enrolled 3496 children drawn from public schools and evaluated height, weight and pubertal stages. The analysis of our data evidenced that the 50th percentile age of puberty onset in both sexes decreased by about 1 yr compared to data published by Tanner. Mean body mass index (BMI) z-score was significantly higher (p = 0.01) in pubertal than in pre-pubertal girls, on the contrary it was higher (p = 0.005) in pre-pubertal than in pubertal boys. In conclusion, our study found that girls and boys of our region are beginning pubertal development about 1 yr earlier than Tanner's British population. Taking into consideration the 3rd percentile age for Tanner's breast stage 2 in girls and testicular volume (TV) of 4 ml in boys, the current internationally used cut-off age for precocious puberty, i.e. 8 yr for girls and 9 yr for boys, can be maintained in our population.

Age Factors↗

Long-term risk of death, cardiac events and recurrent chest pain in patients with acute chest pain of different origin.

The purpose of the study was to describe the prognosis of patients with acute chest pain of different origin, but without myocardial infarction (non-AMI). A total of 204 patients were included. In 56, a definite diagnosis was obtained within 24-48 H of admission. The remaining 148 patients underwent the following examinations: exercise test, myocardial scintigraphy, echocardiography, Holter monitoring, hyperventilation test, oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy, oesophageal manometry, oesophageal pH monitoring, Bernstein test, physical chest wall examination, bronchial histamine test, chest X-ray and ultrasonic upper abdominal examination. Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) was diagnosed in 64 patients, 81 had gastro-oesophageal disorders, 58 chest wall disorders, 9 pericarditis, 5 pulmonary embolism, 4 pneumonia/pleuritis, 3 pulmonary cancer, 2 dissecting aortic aneurysm, 1 aortic stenosis and 1 herpes zoster. During follow-up of 33 months, 31 of the 64 patients with IHD had a cardiac event (cardiac deaths, non-fatal AMI, bypass surgery or PTCA), whereas only 3 event occurred among the 140 patients without IHD (p < 0.00001). However, the frequency of readmissions and of recurrent episodes of chest pain were similar in the 3 major diagnostic groups (NS). To conclude, the high-risk subset of a non-AMI population can be identified by means of non-invasive cardiac examination. The remainder who have other diagnoses are at low risk. However, the morbidity is high with frequent readmissions and recurrent episodes of chest pain and the need for development of strategies with regard to diagnosis and treatment of these patients are emphasized.

Acute Disease↗