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Biomedical subjects

C Curioni

Publications and source records attributed to C Curioni.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Weight reduction for primary prevention of stroke in adults with overweight or obesity.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is seen as a worldwide chronic disease with high prevalence that has been associated with increased morbidity from many conditions including stroke, which is the third leading cause of death in developed countries and a leading cause of severe long-term disability. The causal association between overweight or obesity and stroke is unclear and there is no definite study clarifying the role of obesity treatment in the prevention of a first stroke (primary prevention). Given the prevalence of stroke and the enormous health and economic cost of the disease, it is important to establish the possible impact of weight reduction per se on stroke incidence. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of weight reduction in people with overweight or obesity on stroke incidence. SEARCH STRATEGY: MEDLINE, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, LILACS, databases of ongoing trials and reference lists were used to identify relevant trials. The last search was conducted in April 2006. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials comparing any intervention for weight reduction (single or combined) with placebo or no intervention in overweight or obese people. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: No trials were found in the literature for inclusion in this review. MAIN RESULTS: There are currently no results to be reported. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Obesity seems to be associated with an increased risk of stroke and it has been suggested that weight loss may lead to a reduction of stroke occurrence. However, this hypothesis is not based on strong scientific evidence resulting from randomised controlled clinical trials. This systematic review identified the urgent need for well-designed, adequately-powered, multi centre randomised controlled trials assessing the effects of weight reduction in persons with overweight or obesity on stroke occurrence.

Adult↗

Rimonabant for overweight or obesity.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, the prevalence of obesity and overweight in industrialized countries and in a substantial number of developing countries is increasing at an alarming rate. Rimonabant is a selective cannabinoid-1 receptor antagonist that has been investigated for its efficacy in reducing body weight and associated risk factors in obese people. Phase III trials are now under way to test the use of rimonabant for long-term weight-loss. Given the prevalence of overweight and obesity, it is important to establish the efficacy and safety of rimonabant. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of rimonabant in overweight and obese people. SEARCH STRATEGY: MEDLINE, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, LILACS, databases of ongoing trials and reference lists were used to identify relevant trials. The last search was conducted in June 2006. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials comparing rimonabant with placebo or other weight loss interventions in overweight or obese adults. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers independently assessed all potentially relevant citations for inclusion and methodological quality. The primary outcome measures were weight loss change, morbidity and adverse effects occurrence. MAIN RESULTS: Four studies evaluating rimonabant 20 mg versus rimonabant 5 mg versus placebo in addition to a hypocaloric diet lasting at least one year were included. Compared with placebo, rimonabant 20 mg produced a 4.9 kg greater reduction in body weight in trials with one-year results. Improvements in waist circumference, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride levels and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were also seen. However, the results with rimonabant 5 mg demonstrated a weight reduction which was only 1.3 kg greater when compared with placebo. No clinically relevant effects on plasma lipids and blood pressure were found. Rimonabant 20 mg caused significant more adverse effects both of general and serious nature, especially of nervous system, psychiatric or gastro-intestinal origin. Attrition rates were approximately 40% at the end of one year. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The use of rimonabant after one year produces modest weight loss of approximately 5%. Even modest amounts of weight loss may be potentially beneficial. The observed results should be interpreted with some caution, though, since the evaluated studies presented some deficiencies in methodological quality. Studies with longer follow-ups after the end of treatment and of more rigorous quality should be done before definitive recommendations can be made regarding the role of this new medication in the management of overweight or obese patients.

Adult↗

Dismantling and reassembling of the facial skeleton in tumor surgery of the craniomaxillofacial area. History, surgical anatomy, and notes of surgical technique: Part 1.

In recent years, access osteotomies have been suggested to reach areas of the craniofacial skeleton that hitherto would not have been easily resectable. Some techniques of disassembling of the facial skeleton have been described in the past. In some cases, however, when the bony fragments were not pedicled to the soft tissue, reabsorption was noted. For this reason, new dismantling techniques with adequate blood supply to the bony fragments have been developed. Apart from the maxillo cheek flap, other composite flaps have been described. These flaps may be combined if necessary in selected cases. An overview of the surgical anatomy and surgical strategies will be presented. These reported techniques may be considered a major step forward in the treatment of deeply localized tumors in the craniomaxillofacial area.

Cheek↗

Anatomic and magnetic resonance imaging bases for the naso-maxillo-cheek flap technique.

A transfacial approach to the deep cranio-maxillo-facial areas by the naso-maxillo-cheek flap technique (NMCF) is indicated for the treatment of some bulky tumors of the naso-pharynx. The procedure requires precise preoperative imaging. This study presents the morphologic bases of this surgical access and the reasonable limits of the excision preoperatively determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). 18 facial and skull specimens were submitted to surgical facial dismantling by the NMCF technique according to Curioni's method. The clinical application in a 66-year-old patient suffering from a neuroblastoma of the olfactory nerve extended into the naso-pharynx is presented. Pre- and postoperative MRI correlations were made in transverse, sagittal and frontal acquisitions. Several structures were preserved in the procedure: facial reliefs, inferior orbital rim and orbital floor, posterior wall of the maxillary sinus covering the pterygopalatine fossa, lateral and medial pterygoid plates and pterygopalatine ganglion with its branches, lateral facial neurovascular pedicle, teeth and soft palate. Other structures were sacrificed: arteries and nerves located at the sites of skin and mucosal incision, and at the sites of osteotomies, ie the infraorbital nerve, the distal part of the greater palatine nerve, the nerves supplying the naso-pharynx, the nasal septum and the nasal conchae, nasolacrimal groove and lacrimal canal. The NMCF technique gives wide access to the deep nasal and nasopharyngeal areas. It is essential to preserve the lateral facial neurovascular pedicle to prevent necrosis of the midface structures. Preservation of the bony architecture surrounding the osteotomy sites is of great importance to allow precise final bone reassembly. Preoperative MRI appears of paramount importance to determine the borders of the lesion and the possibility of block resection.

Aged↗

"Stem cell candidates" purified by liquid culture in the presence of Steel factor, IL-3, and 5FU are strictly stroma-dependent and have myeloid, lymphoid, and megakaryocytic potential.

Berardi et al. (Science 1995; 267:105) reported recently that combined cytokine stimulation and antimetabolite treatment were able to isolate cells with characteristics of hemopoietic stem cells. Bone marrow (BM) low-density cells were cultured for 1 week in the presence of Steel factor (SF), IL-3, and the antimetabolite 5-FU. Following this approach one in 10(5) BM cells were purified. These cells showed no clonogenic potential in soft gel assays but presented a striking myeloid-lymphoid potential as long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-ICs). We investigated this new "stem cell candidate." following a similar approach we purified one in 55,000/130,000 cells from cord blood and peripheral blood in mobilized cancer patients. These cells displayed no clonogenic potential in methylcellulose assays in the presence of different cytokine combinations and generated very few or no clonogenic progenitors in liquid cultures in the presence of cytokines. When seeded on layers derived from the murine BM stromal cell line M2-10B4, 38-86% of the cells purified using this approach generated multilineage progenitors acting as LTC-lCs. In a different series of studies, after 5-week culture on human BM stromal cell line L87/4 layers, cells were forced to selected lineage differentiation by culture in the presence of low concentrations of SF and high concentrations of lineage-specific cytokines such as Flt3-ligand (myeloid and pre-B cell differentiation), Tpo (megakaryocytic differentiation). IL-7, and IL-2 (pre-B and NK differentiation). After 12-day culture under these conditions, generation of myeloid, pre-B, megakaryocytic, and NK progenitors was assessed by immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and mRNA expression of CD7, 14, 19, 41b, S6, and 61. We conclude that this procedure for multilineage progenitor cell purification is simple and effective and could have major implications for gene transfer and stem cell transplantation.

Cell Lineage↗

Total facial rehabilitation: the evolving concept of reconstructive surgery.

Total facial rehabilitation requires an understanding of the contributing components of the so-called aging face syndrome. This syndrome may be due to atrophy of the jaws or may result from ablative surgery for cancer. The aging face requires correction of every anatomic component (i.e., facial skeleton, dentoalveolar processes, and soft tissue). The surgical armamentarium includes maxillofacial osteotomies, autogenous bone grafts, biomaterials, internal rigid fixation, and other ancillary procedures. The introduction of osseointegrated implants has allowed the surgeon to use a stable base on which a prosthesis can be built with functional and aesthetic long-lasting results. Last, but not least, repositioning of the facial mask is the "final touch" for these complex reconstructive procedures. The concept of total facial rehabilitation may be considered an evolution of reconstructive surgery. Surgical strategies, new technologies, as well as clinical cases will be presented.

Adolescent↗

Cancer of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses: a new staging system.

This study proposes a new staging system for cancer of the paranasal sinuses on the basis of two concepts. The first concept is that the nasal cavity and the paranasal sinuses form a single unit. Consequently, the mucosa of each sinus may give rise to tumors. The histopathologic variation will be the same for all these cavities. The second concept is that the staging of these tumors depends both on the nature of the neoplastic cells and on the specific bone boundaries which surround the anatomic site and subsites. We analyzed 61 cases and we emphasize the need for a differential analysis of T4 tumors depending on which adjacent region is involved.

Adenocarcinoma↗

The Milan Cord Blood Bank and the Italian Cord Blood Network.

We describe the activities of the Milan Cord Blood (CB) Bank and of the Italian Cord Blood Network. By October 31, 1995, 763 units were banked in Milan. Of these, 8 units were used to perform 4 related and 4 unrelated transplants in 5 children and 3 adult patients. Early cord clamping after delivery was found to be crucial to increase the volume of CB collected. This procedure does not seem to be detrimental to the newborn. Of various red cell sedimenting agents used to reduce the unit volume and concentrate progenitor cells, 3% gelatin seems to be associated with the best yields. After a preliminary experience of 2 years, the Italian Cord Blood Network (Gruppo Italiano Amplificazione Cellule Emopoietiche, GRACE) was founded in 1995. The initial activities of GRACE are aimed at the development at the national level of CB banking standard operative procedures in agreement with the draft issued by The North American Task Force for The Development of Standards for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation. Moreover, a wet workshop has been organized to standardize colony-forming unit (CFU) evaluation. The main goal in Milan is the collection of 5000 CB units. Other issues of interest include CB volume reduction, hematopoietic progenitor purification, ex vivo expansion prior to transplantation, and experimental protocols for gene transfer, such as those related to the multidrug resistance (MDR) gene.

Adolescent↗

[A case of hemifacial oculo-oral anomalies].

In the present work is described a female with an incomplete oral duplication. The occurrence of a supernumerary mouth is rare. Moreover, these cases present other anomalies that make each one relatively unique. In this context, in fact, the patient presented an association of oral manifestation and ocular anomalies. From a pathogenetic point of view, maxillary duplication probably arises from a partial doubling of growth centers around the stomodeal plate.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Apert's syndrome: cephalometric evaluation and considerations on pathogenesis.

Apert's syndrome is a malformation characterized by abnormalities in the cranial vault, midfacial malformations, and syndactylia. The present study analyzes the lateral and frontal projections of the teleradiograms from five patients. Data were taken on the skeletal features and an attempt was made to interpret them in terms of functional matrices. We have used cephalometry as a descriptive device although the intent was also to use it to provide a perspective on the pathogenetic data derived from the literature. The hypothesis analyzed is that from the outset of craniofacial pathogenesis there may be a primitive alteration of the cartilaginous template from which are derived endochondral bones. The progressive involvement of the synchondrosis of the cranial base is subsequently transmitted to the membranous structures of the vault and face through the coronal ring and lambdoid suture systems. Although the data gained do not actually confirm this hypothesis, they do provide further support for it.

Acrocephalosyndactylia↗

The use of the temporalis muscle flap in facial and craniofacial reconstructive surgery. A review of 182 cases.

The authors report on their 16-year experience of reconstruction with the temporalis myofascial flap in 182 cases. All aspects of reconstructive cranio-maxillofacial surgery are covered: trauma, deformities, tumours, TMJ ankylosis, facial paralysis. The temporalis myofascial flap was used both as a single and as a composite flap with cranial bone, coronoid process or skin island. Major complications were not observed. On the basis of their experience, the authors confirm the reliability, versatility and reproducibility of the use of this flap. This is due both to its rich blood supply and to its proximity to the reconstruction site. It is suggested that the use of the temporalis muscle flap should be taken into consideration before deciding on more extensive reconstructive procedures.

Adolescent↗

Histomorphological analysis of the effect of rigid fixation on growing sutures in the rabbit.

The effect of internal rigid fixation (IRF) on bone growth was studied in an experimental model set up in the rabbit. The frontonasal suture of the right side was surgically bridged by a microplate. As reference for bone growth, four screws were placed symmetrically in the four bony segments including the frontonasal suture on both sides. The suture development was followed dynamically for 40 days on the basis of the position of the screws established radiographically. The rate of bone formation along the sutural bones was evaluated by means of the tetracycline labelling technique. The structure of the newly formed bone and its degree of mineralization were respectively analysed under polarized light and with microradiography. It was demonstrated that IRF prevents growth of the sutural membrane but not of the osteogenic process; as a consequence the constrained sutures soon undergo synostosis. This fact must be taken into consideration when IRF is employed in children in order to avoid delayed removal of the plate irreversibly stopping the growth of the constrained suture.

Animals↗

Use of the microsystem in craniomaxillofacial surgery: preliminary report.

The last few years have been astonishing technological advances in craniomaxillofacial surgery, with particular regard to the introduction of internal rigid fixation. This technique has allowed craniomaxillofacial surgeons to achieve more precise preoperative planning and use of modern techniques of fixation during surgery. As a result, rigid internal fixation has become popular and currently represents a keystone in maxillofacial surgery for trauma, deformities, orthognathic surgery, as well as reconstruction procedures following tumor resection. We review a 2-year experience with the use of microsystem in 45 patients.

Adolescent↗

Crouzon syndrome: cephalometric analysis and evaluation of pathogenesis.

Crouzon syndrome is a craniofaciostenosis characterized by brachycephaly, ocular proptosis, and maxillary retrusion. The hypothesis has been forwarded that an alteration in anterior cranial base synchondrosis activity is responsible for the skeleton abnormalities which are associated with this disorder. The present work was aimed at assessing this pathogenetic hypothesis. Cephalometry was used as the analysis method and care was taken in determining the three-dimensional measurements of some functional spaces (e.g., orbit, rhinopharynx, and nasal cavity). The results indicate that in Crouzon syndrome the craniofacial alterations depend not only on reduced synchondrosis activity of the anterior cranial base, but also of the posterior cranial base.

Adolescent↗

Osteosarcoma of the facial bones.

Maxillo-facial osteosarcoma is a rare primary tumor in adults. Between 1980 and 1990, 11 patients were considered; 6 had primary tumors in mandible and 5 in the maxillo-paranasal region. All cases were treated with surgery as the primary modality. Resection was radical in 8 patients and palliative in the other 3. Adjuvant postoperative chemotherapy with adriamycin was administered for 6 months in the 8 patients treated with complete resection. After a median follow-up of 3 years, 7 patients are still alive and 4 died of progressive disease. In the group of patients treated with radical surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy only one died for distant metastases, and 7 are living free of disease. With complete surgical resection long term local tumor control was achieved in all patients. No patient treated with incomplete resection achieved local tumor control with subsequent radiotherapy. The possibility of performing a complete surgical resection of the primary appears to be an essential step to obtain long term local control and survival in maxillo-facial osteosarcoma. Our series is, however, too limited to evaluate the therapeutic benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Adolescent↗

Frontoethmoidal meningoencephalocele. A one-stage correction, reconstruction, and plating by means of the micro system.

This case report on one stage surgical treatment of meningoencephalocele offers the opportunity for a revision of the most recent trends expressed by other authors on this topic. Surgical technique involved a system of rigid fixations by means of microplates which, according to our experience in other cases, is particularly advisable in pediatric age. We find that the simultaneous utilization of calvarial bone grafts facilitates a better reconstruction of the cranial base, and also offers greater stability in results.

Bone Plates↗