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Biomedical subjects

C Mazzi

Publications and source records attributed to C Mazzi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Healthcare applications based on software agents.

Healthcare has been recognised as one of the most important areas for enterprise applications and services. Presently, information technologists and systems engineers all over the world are working towards achieving better efficiency and quality of service in various sectors of healthcare, such as telemedicine, hospital management, patient-care, and treatment. This paper addresses the issue of more effective and efficient handling of doctor-patient relationship. The idea is to use Software Agent technology to extend the patient-doctor relationship beyond the physical and logistical limitation of face-to-face consultations in patient management. Software agents can provide an extension of the doctor by interacting with the patient via a computer and the Internet. The agent is visualised as an anthropomorphic figure to further enhance the patient interaction.

Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMed1997

Evaluation of five new liquid stable applications on the Roche Cobas Integra.

In the present study the analytical performances of five new liquid applications on the Roche Cobas Integra were evaluated: urea and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in serum and glucose, creatinine and inorganic phosphorus in urine. The analytical evaluation consisted of imprecision, linearity and method comparison performed against either the actual Cobas Integra granulate applications or the corresponding methods on a Hitachi 704, according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards protocols. Over 3700 results were obtained within 3 months. Average values of within-run and between-day coefficients of variation (CVs) were 1.15% and 1.48%, respectively, holding to a mean total CV of 2.17%. The linearity was excellent for all the five applications evaluated as the relative non-linearity was always within 1.53%, thus completely fulfilling the 2.5% upper limit. A strict correlation was observed by comparing results of 120 samples with either the corresponding granulate applications on Cobas Integra or the Hitachi reagents. Linear regression analysis of the results yielded correlation coefficients always above 0.987 and the slopes of the Passing & Bablok regression lines did not deviate by more than 7% from unity. No drift was observed over 4 hours of operations. In conclusion, the performance of these new Cobas Integra liquid applications, as demonstrated by the present study, proved them to be highly suitable for routine use in clinical laboratories.

Chemistry, Clinical↗
PubMed1995

Levothyroxine suppressive therapy for solitary thyroid nodule.

In order to evaluate the efficacy of a TSH suppressive dose of levothyroxine to reduce the volume of a single thyroid nodule we studied 55 euthyroid patient: 45 (group A) were suppressed with LT4 (mean 1.7 +/- 0.9 micrograms/Kg/day) for 21.3 +/- 5.3 months, and 10 patients (group B) served as controls. All the nodules were "cold" at scintiscanning, solid at ultrasonography and benign by fine-needle aspiration cytology. As responders were assumed the nodules shrinked at the end of treatment of 50% in volume. Thyroid function values (TSH, T4, FT4, T3, FT3, thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies), clinical and ultrasonographic findings were evaluated initially and at the end of the study. A significant nodular volume decrease occurred in 8 treated patients (17.8%) while 37 (82.2%) amongst the group suppressed and all controls showed no change (A vs B = NS). In two untreated patients new nodules were noted; no new nodules were discovered in the treated group (A vs B p < 005). No side effects occurred in any treated patient, even if at the end of treatment a significant T4 and FT4 (p < 0.01) increase was observed. No one onset parameter can predict the response to the therapy. These results suggest that only a small group of patients affected by a single thyroid nodule seems to respond to a TSH suppressive therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Probable role of obesity on the adrenal response to acute stimulation with adrenocorticotrophic hormone in eumenorrheic and hirsute, non-eumenorrheic women].

Obesity, the most frequent nutritional problem throughout the rich nations, can have a vast and significant influence on different aspects of endocrinology, in particular on ovulation disfunction, on hyperandrogenemia, on hormone-sensitive carcinomas. Our study proposes to value the response to adrenal cortex to stimulation with adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) hormone in obese patients, with particular attention to the behavior of adrenocortical androgens and their precursor. We recruited 30 female patients so divided: 12 obese, nonhirsute, eumenorrheic patients (group A); 10 normal weight, hirsute patients in situation of secondary amenorrhea (group B); 8 normal weight, nonhirsute, eumenorrheic patients (group C). Cortisol, progesterone, 17 OH progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, androstenedione, testosterone were measured at 60, 120, 180, 240, 300 min during continual infusion i.v., for 5 h, of ACTH 1-17 at 100 mcg dose, in physiological sodium chloride solution. All the women with monthly menstruation were studied between the IV and VIII day of their cycle. In the patients with secondary amenorrhea the value of basic progesterone was used to completely exclude an eventual luteal phase and the relationship LH/FSH was so as to logically exclude a diagnosis of polycystic ovary. This exclusion was also confirmed from the report of the ultrasonography. The basic concentration of hormone dosage is not significantly different between the patients of the three groups, except for T. This hormone is different because it is found to be significantly (p < 0.01) increase in the hirsute patients, in respect of the patients in group A and group C. Also P and 17OHP have been found to be higher, if only in insignificant measure, in hirsute patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1993

[Transverse study of obesity: distribution of adipose tissue and correlated pathology].

The relationship between obesity and prevalence of dyslipidemia is well known. Recent studies affirm that differences in fat distribution can be predictive for differences in the prevalence of metabolic disturbances and cardiovascular disease independently of the BMI, presently the most common index of obesity. In order to verify whether body fat distribution can be associated with a higher risk of atherosclerosis, we have evaluated in a group of obese women the eventual presence of endocrine and metabolic diseases. Assessing regional fat distribution, the waist/hip ratio has been shown to be more closely correlated with these diseases than BMI. We have studied two groups of 10 women, comparable for age and BMI: group A aged 45.8 +/- 6.9 years with a BMI of 35.6 +/- 2.8 kg/m2; group B aged 48.3 +/- 3.6 years with a BMI of 38.5 +/- 2.8 kg/m2. The women were divided according to the waist-hip ratio, which was calculated by measuring the circumference of the waist, namely the smallest circumference between the xiphoid and the umbilicus, and the circumference of the hips at the point of the maximum protuberance of the buttocks. The cut-off value for the waist/hip ratio was considered as 0.80 for the reason that this variable is the most accurate cut-off value for abdominal obesity: for group A 0.76 +/- 0.02; for group B 0.89 +/- 0.02 (p < 0.01). All the women were healthy. None of them was in therapy with any kind of drugs, nor was there any restriction to diet. Nobody was a smoker, neither did anyone drink alcoholic beverages.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1992

A clinical study of the pineal hormone melatonin in patients with growth hormone or prolactin secreting pituitary tumours.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the well documented influence of the pineal gland on pituitary function, the evaluation of pineal activity is not generally included in the clinical investigation of patients with pituitary tumours. The present study analyzed the circadian secretion of melatonin, the main pineal hormone, in patients with pituitary adenomas. METHODS: The study included 36 patients with pituitary tumours (acromegaly: 11; prolactinoma: 25), by comparing the results with those seen in 42 healthy controls. Moreover, patients were endocrinologically investigated after oral administration of 10 mg of melatonin. RESULTS: Abnormally high serum levels of melatonin during the period of maximum light and abnormally low increases during the night were seen in 7/36 and 16/36 patients, respectively, without any relation to tumour histotype. Moreover, night serum mean levels of melatonin were significantly lower in patients than in controls. Finally, the exogenous administration of melatonin did not influence growth hormone and prolactin secretions in patients with acromegaly and prolactinomas, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the existence of an altered pineal function in patients with pituitary tumours. Further studies will be required to establish the pathogenetic and prognostic significance of pineal disorders in neoplastic disease of the pituitary gland.

Acromegaly↗
PubMed1992

[Obstetric complications associated with DIC. Importance of D-dimer in the diagnosis and treatment. A clinical case].

The case of a 32-year old woman with 36-week pregnancy presented at hospital because of spontaneous vaginal bleeding, anemia and mild hypotension is reported. Fetal mors in utero, abruptio placentae and diffuse intravascular coagulation were diagnosed. The patient subsequently underwent cesarean section and large retroplacental hematoma was removed and obviously fetum. The DIC was easily controlled by means of recently introduced method of determination of fibrin D-dimer.

Abruptio Placentae↗
PubMed1992

[Comparison of 2 techniques of anesthesia induction in modern closed-circuit anesthesia].

The application of low flow anesthesia goes back already for more than 65 years when Ralph Waters introduced and applied cyclopropane with a very simple canister technique. The guide-lines for the clinical use of the closed circuit anesthesia were published in Chicago and Los Angeles by Professor Lin and Professor Lowe 15 years ago. We examined and followed these procedures on a modern anesthesia machine and easily achieved a good clinical performance. Our results were consistent with the modern anesthesia standard in closed circuit t.i.: economical benefits, environment savage of waste gases, heat production and humidification and last but not least in both techniques a quick anesthesia plane on 10-12 minutes that was consistent with theoretical considerations.

Anesthesia, Closed-Circuit↗
PubMed1992

[The use of intravenous nifedipine for the treatment of severe hypertensive crisis. A clinical case].

Nifedipine is a calcium channel antagonist. Hypertensive crisis during anaesthesia may be elicited during the induction period or by the surgical manipulating of intrapelvic viscera. We report a case in which nifedipine given intravenously (currently an investigational dosage form) was effective in controlling a severe hypertensive crisis at dose averaging 3.4 mcg/kg/min initially and half as much for maintenance. Arterial pressure was controlled as quickly as with nitroprusside, but with no change in heart rate or cardiac output and without other untoward effects during anaesthesia.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed1990

[Combined therapy, oral hypoglycemic agent and low-dose insulin, in type 2 diabetes mellitus in secondary failure: a year's experience].

We have evaluated, for a period of 12 months, the response to the combined therapy with oral hypoglycaemic agents and insulin at low doses in a group of 21 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in secondary failure. A clear improvement of the parameters considered (fasting and postprandial glycaemia, glycated haemoglobin) was obtained, while maintaining the endogenous secretion of insulin. Important side effects were not observed and the increases of body weight and insulin dose registered in the course of one year were of minor importance.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1990

A study of pineal-prolactin interaction: prolactin response to an acute melatonin injection in patients with hyperprolactinemia.

Several studies demonstrated that the pineal gland plays a regulatory role in PRL secretion. At present, however, there are few clinical data only about the pineal function in PRL secretion disorders. To further clarify which is the pineal importance in the dysfunctions of PRL release, we have evaluated the effect of an acute injection of the pineal hormone melatonin in 19 patients with hyperprolactinemia, 8 of whom had idiopathic hyperprolactinemia, while the other 11 had a prolactinoma. Melatonin was given im at a dose of 20 mg at 09:00 h, and venous blood samples were collected at -20, 0, 20, 60, 120, 180 min. A normalization of PRL levels was achieved after melatonin injection in 3/8 patients with idiopathic hyperprolactinemia, while no effect was seen in patients with prolactinoma. Further studies, by evaluating the effect of a chronic treatment, will be required to define which is the action of melatonin on PRL release in PRL secretion disorders, and to evaluate its possible therapeutic role.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Hydrothorax as a complication of subclavian vein catheterization. Pathogenetic mechanism and description of a clinical case].

We report a case of possible detouring and malfunctioning of the left subclavian catheter in the homolateral internal mammary vein or of perforation form its tip of the wall of the left innominate vein. The tip of the catheter was rigid and sharp, may be the contractions of the heart or turbulent flow impinged it against the vein wall and have enhanced the perforation. The result was a hydrothorax that allowed a severe cardiac simile tamponed syndrome. The pathophysiology was also discussed.

Cardiac Tamponade↗
PubMed1990

[Poisoning with shoe dye. A clinical case].

The paper reports the case of a young male which was severely poisoned by anilyne shoe black. After a few hours, he was in a semicomatose state, accompanied by "very dark" arterial blood gases with oxygen tension in excess of 100 mmHg. Following the administration of intravenous methylene blue (2 mg/kg), methemoglobin was reduced to hemoglobin and the level of consciousness immediately improved.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Hemofiltration and dialysis in a case of rhabdomyolysis].

The effect of CAVDH was evaluated in a patient with rhabdomyolysis due to extreme low temperature and also to carbon monoxide poisoning. Since renal failure im myoglobinuria has a relatively good prognosis, we recommend in this case the use of a soft technique such as continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration with dialysis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

[Indications for the hormonal therapy of cryptorchism].

The treatment of cryptorchidism is nowadays based on one of the following drugs: chorionic gonadotropins, FSH, LHRH analogues. The chorionic gonadotropin treatment is the first choice treatment given in quite similar way by various Authors. It is furthermore the less expensive. Its activity is mainly pharmacological. The chorionic gonadotropin can be administered both as monotherapy as well as associated. The associated treatments are with FSH and with LHRH analogues. The latter way of treatment requires a skilled experience because of the precise diagnosis needed to administer the LHRH analogues.

Cryptorchidism↗