[Control of endoscope disinfection procedures in a large Roman hospital].
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Disinfection↗
Biomedical subjects
A Serra
Publications and source records attributed to A Serra.
[Eosinophilia in a patient with chronic bronchitis].
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Animals↗
Temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica masquerading as panarteritis nodosa.
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Aged↗
[Clinical and microbiologic characteristics of 282 pediatric patients with mesophilic Aeromonas isolated from feces].
BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to assess the microbiological characteristics and the clinical aspects of pediatric patients (age < 14 years) with infectious diarrhea due to one of the species included among the mesophilic Aeromonas group (AMs) from January 1989 to December 1991. METHODS: The samples (stools) were processed following the routine methodology recommended. For isolation of AMs the XDCA medium was used and identification of species was performed by gas production tests from glucose and esculin hydrolysis. Clinical and epidemiologic features were recorded by means of a retrospective analysis of the clinical histories. RESULTS: In 30.3% of the 7,653 stool-cultures studied, an enteropathogenic microorganism identified as S. enterica (I) was isolated in 979 (12.8%), 536 cases to Campylobacter sp. (7.0%) infection, 58 to Shigella sp. (0.7%), 56 to Y. enterocolitica (0.7%, 221 to rotavirus (2.8%) and 49 to adenovirus (0.6%) The presence of AMs was detected in 282 patients (3.7%), representing 12% of the all positive stool-cultures. The species isolated were A. caviae (54.9%), A. sobria (21.9%) and A. hydrophila (23.1%). In 56% of the cases the AMs were isolated as the single pathogen. Thirty-nine point seven percent of the isolations were performed in patients aged less than 12 months (17% with less than 3 months). The A. caviae species was found to be predominant among the breast-fed babies (51.7%). Seventy percent of the children of 0-3 months presented A. caviae as unique pathogen. A total of 84.3% of the children infected with A. caviae, had been or were being fed with artificial lactation. AMs predominated in the late summer-early fall months (August-October) reading the maximum rate of isolations in these months (35.3 cases/month). CONCLUSIONS: Infections gastroenteritis due to mesophilic Aeromonas in the authors' geographic area appears to affect males mainly, and presents as an acute self-limited diarrhea, community-acquired. The predominance of A. caviae during the lactation period and in the first three months of life are data which should be further considered and confirmed.
Adolescent↗
[Effectiveness of a test for verification of the presence of acari in house dust for the prevention of respiratory allergies in children].
Respiratory allergy and bronchial asthma in particular can be serious afflictions in younger as well as in older children. Therefore interest has been focused on methods for the prevention of atopy. The role and allergenic importance of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpt) in house and other environments have been identified. This mite provokes asthma in children at an earlier age than pollens. However the most under-valued area of asthma prevention is environmental control. The steps may seem difficult at first, but the results will be well worth the efforts and the sacrifices. We report on the high effectiveness of the guanine detection test (Acarex) based on the colorimetric quantification of allergen sources in house dust (mattresses, pillows, upholstered furniture, carpets, moquettes, etc), which can be treated with house dust mite extermination products such as benzyl benzoate. The eradication measures will allow the parents to reduce the allergen exposure, to be monitored at 3-6 month intervals. The guanine detection test performed in our Division on house dust samples assembled by the patents of children with house dust mite induced asthma (study group) or pollen asthma (control group) yielded highly significant statistical differences.
Acari↗
[Etiology and rational therapy of acute otitis media in adults].
Acute otitis media (AOM) is an infection frequently found in children, but tends to be less frequent with age and its frequency in adults is only about 1%. The etiology of AOM in children is prevalently bacterial; numerous studies have shown the most common etiological agents. But the etiology in adults has not been well studied. The authors examined 40 cases of AOM in adults, the pathologic material was obtained by needle aspiration; in 32 samples there was bacterial growth. In the majority of the cases (94%) the bacteria isolated were the same as those found in children: S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae and B. catarrhalis; much rarer were S. pyogenes and S. aureus. On the potential beta-lactamase producing strains, this activity was measured. From our findings we believe that there is the necessity to have a rational antibiotic therapy (due to the difficulty in obtaining pathologic material) with active drugs for the probable etiological agents of AOM.
Acute Disease↗
Interaction of natural killer cells with extracellular matrix induces early intracellular signalling events and enhances cytotoxic functions.
NK cells are endowed with a wide array of adhesion molecules which mediate their interaction with endothelium and extracellular matrix components. We have shown that cross-linking of beta 1 integrins and CD44 on human NK cells induces a signal transduction pathway involving both tyrosine kinase activation and the modulation of intracellular calcium levels. Our studies have also demonstrated the ability of beta 1 integrins and CD44 to upregulate both the spontaneous and the CD16-triggered cytotoxic activity of human NK cells. Although the molecular mechanisms responsible for this costimulatory activity have not been defined yet, our studies indicate that the simultaneous cross-linking of beta 1 integrins and CD44 results in a synergistic effect on CD16-mediated enhancement of intracellular free calcium concentration, and suggest that this may be relevant for the cooperation observed.
Cell Communication↗
[Sialolithiasis of the submandibular gland: therapeutic options and technical notes].
The Authors report their experience in the surgical treatment of submandibular sialolithiasis, particularly as far as simple sialolithotomy of Wharton's duct and submandibular gland resection are concerned. Care must be taken to minimize the risk of nerve damage (marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve; lingual nerve; hypoglossal nerve).
Aged↗
[Growth and renal function].
Some genetic conditions, as cystinosis, familial hypophosphataemic rickets, type-I vitamin D-resistant rickets and renal tubular acidosis have an impact on growth and growth failure is one of the major problem in children with chronic renal failure (CRF). In early childhood, anorexia and malnutrition, electrolyte disturbances and metabolic acidosis are the main contributing factors for reduced growth, whereas renal osteodystrophy, anemia and hormonal disturbances are responsible for growth impairment later and during puberty. During infancy, loss of growth potential can be prevented by adequate nutrition. Later in life, catch-up growth cannot be induced by nutritional intervention or dialysis and renal transplantation allows catch-up growth in only a small percentage of patients. There is evidence for a state of resistance to growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in CRF. GH secretion is normal, but GH half-life is prolonged and the binding activity of the GH-binding protein is reduced, which points to a low receptor expression. IGF-I production may be diminished and the serum concentration of IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP-1 and 3) is increased. The imbalance between normal IGF-I and excessive IGFBP serum levels results in decreased IGF bioactivity that plays a pathogenic role in the growth failure. This insensitivity seems to be overcome by supraphysiological doses of recombinant human GH (rhGH). Many clinical studies have confirmed that rhGH increases growth velocity in children with CRF with and without dialysis and after renal transplant, without significant side-effects. The improvement of growth is more marked in prepubertal patients and during the first year of rhGH treatment. Long-term rhGH treatment in children with CRF improves the growth potential of children, achieving target adult height. The Authors discuss the recent studies employing rhGH in renal diseases and attempt to give some guide lines to rhGH treatment in these illnesses.
Acidosis, Renal Tubular↗
[Post-thymectomy extrathymic tumors].
The Authors report the case of a 78 year old woman affected with two synchronous primary cancers (epidermoid bronchial and rectal adenocarcinoma); 16 years previously, after the discovery of a thymoma, she underwent thymectomy. Thus, the discussion issue is if post-thymectomy extra-thymic malignancies are to be considered just a simple coincidence or a true syndrome.
Adenocarcinoma↗
[The energy cost and the use of individual protective devices in firefighters].
Firefighters are required to wear fire-protection devices when involved in hazardous work situations. To determine whether fire protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) affect maximal physical work performance and to assess their additional energy requirement, we studied a cohort of Italian firemen while performing a rapid air-stair climbing (Mt. 29). Heart rate (HR) and maximal speed (time/distance) were measured in 23 firemen during the exercises, performed either wearing fire protection clothing and SCBA (p2) and service dress (p1). We also measured maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max, indirect determination), WBGT and the speed/HR ratio (iR) as an arbitrary index of physical work performance. The participant reached the sub-maximal HR in both exercises (p1 87.01%; p2 88.84%). Fire protection devices significantly reduced the exercise maximal speed (p < 0.001) and increased the maximal HR (p < 0.01). IR index was significantly (p < 0.001) lower for p2, indicating a reduction of physical work performance (-26.9%); VO2 max was inversely related with mean and maximal HR (p < 0.001). These results suggest that only well trained firefighters should be employed in emergency actions requiring fire protection devices and SCBA.
Adult↗