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Biomedical subjects

D Lombardi

Publications and source records attributed to D Lombardi.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

[Hormonal treatment of cryptorchism: indications and limitations].

Cryptorchidism is the most frequent anomaly of male genitalia. The major concerns of cryptorchidism are on psychological problems in childhood and infertility and increased cancer risk in adulthood. Medical treatment with various hormones has been used in the last 70 years to induce testicular descent, but some discrepancy exists in the various reports. In this paper, the efficacy on testicular descent, the effect on adult fertility and the inferences on risk of malignancy of the various hormonal strategies are reviewed and briefly discussed. From the literature data, a practical approach to the hormonal treatment of cryptorchism is suggested.

Child↗

Prevalence and clinical presentation of subclinical/silent celiac disease in adults: an analysis on a 12-year observation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In recent years, an increased incidence of subclinical/silent celiac disease has been reported. Thus, we herein describe the prevalence and the clinical presentation of subclinical/silent celiac disease in 252 consecutive diagnosed celiac patients. METHODOLOGY: From 1988 to 1999 we diagnosed 252 celiac patients (74M and 178F, mean age: 27.9 yrs; range: 15-65 yrs, F/M ratio: 2.4). 144 patients were referred to us due to gastrointestinal symptoms, while 108 were referred to us from other specialists due to unexplained or unresponsive disease. All patients underwent both total immunoglobulin A and antigliadin antibodies antiendomysium antibody and evaluation, followed by gastrointestinal endoscopy with duodenal histological examination. RESULTS: 144 (57.14%) and 108 (42.86%) patients showed classical and subclinical/silent celiac disease, respectively. The most frequent extraintestinal marker of subclinical celiac disease were iron-deficiency anemia (27.77%), alopecia and dermatitis herpetiformis (11.36%), osteoporosis (6.81%) and recurrent aphtous stomatitis (5.68%), while first-degree relatives (30%), Basedow's disease (25%) and insulin-dependent diabetes (20%) were the most frequent in silent celiac disease. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the extremely polymorphic nature of this condition that can affect several organs and apparatus without gastrointestinal symptoms. However, a more precise description of subclinical/silent celiac disease can only emerge from screening studies on general populations.

Adolescent↗

[Treatment of major iatrogenic lesions of the bile ducts].

BACKGROUND: The appropriate treatment of major bile duct injuries is mandatory in order to avoid serious complications, such as bile peritonitis or secondary biliary liver cirrhosis. In the last fourty years, surgical, endoscopic or radiologic techniques of cure have been proposed, but in our opinions, the preferred option is given by Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy or hepaticojejunostomy. Creating an anastomosis on narrow bile duct could be difficult; in these really rare cases, the jejunal loop could be secured by a second suture to the hilar plate with satisfactory long-term results. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the last four years, in our Institution, six patients underwent surgery for major bile duct injuries. A Roux-en-Y hepaticochojejunostomy was performed for all of them. Two patients had the jejunal loop secured to the hilar plate. RESULTS: Operative morality was nil, and long-term results at a mean follow-up of 20 months are encouraging. CONCLUSIONS: The prevention of major bile duct injuries remains the main target during cholecystectomy or surgery in the area of the hepatoduodenal ligament. In our experience, in general agreement with data from literature, bile reconstruction is best achieved by Roux-en-Y hepaticojejanostomy. In patients unsuitable for surgery, endoscopic balloon dilatation and stent positioning represent a satisfactory alternative.

Adult↗

Brain damage following subarachnoid hemorrhage: the imbalance between anti-oxidant systems and lipid peroxidative processes.

We have studied the pattern of enzymatic antioxidant activities (Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase = SOD, Mn-SOD and glutathione peroxidase = GSH-Px) in brain cortex of rats subjected to experimental induction of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), in order to discuss the modifications of antioxidant systems in relation to the development of lipid peroxidative processes occurring in brain cortex. Lipid peroxidation (quantified as TBRAs content) did not show significantly changes, when sham-operated and SAH rats were compared; meanwhile at 1 hour TBARs content shows an increasing trend both in sham-operated and hemorrhagic rats. The release of leukotriene C4, the major lipoxygenase metabolite, is significantly enhanced at 1, 6 and 48 hours after SAH induction. Cu-Zn SOD activity is significantly reduced at 6 and 48 hours after SAH induction; Mn-SOD activity is significantly affected at 1, 6 and 48 hours after the hemorrhage. GSH-Px activity is significantly reduced only in the late phase (48 hours) after SAH. The results of the present study suggests that: (a) in brain compartment a significant reduction of antioxidant enzymatic activities is related to the increasing trend of enzymatic lipid peroxidation; (b) antioxidant activities showed specific time-dependent modifications: Cu-Zn and Mn SOD activities, which are specific scavengers of superoxide radicals, showed an early impairment, while GSH-Px activity is significantly reduced only after 48 hours; (c) the enhancement of enzymatic lipid peroxidation via the lipoxygenase pathway seems to play a primary role in brain response to SAH. These results should be considered the rationale for pharmacological treatment with antioxidant compounds for brain protection against detrimental effects of subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Animals↗

[Management of lymph node metastases in well-differentiated and medullary thyroid cancer: retrospective study on 52 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To define the surgical principles of neck dissections as applied to the head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, extending their rationale to treatment of lymph nodes metastases from thyroid carcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1994 and June 2002, 52 patients affected by well-differentiated thyroid cancers (1 follicular, 9 medullary, and 42 papillary cancers) underwent uni- or bilateral neck dissections at our Department, for a total of 73 neck dissections. Patients were subdivided into 2 groups: 37 simultaneously treated on the thyroid and the neck (Group A), and 15 operated elsewhere on the thyroid and for a neck recurrence and/or persistence at our Department (Group B). RESULTS: 48 patients underwent a regular follow-up (range: 3-86 months, mean: 38). Among patients alive with disease, 5 in Group A and 4 in Group B had a local-regional recurrence. In particular, 2 patients for each group (2 medullary and 2 papillary cancers) had a regional recurrence on the N site, at the level of one or more lymph nodes "in field" as regards the neck dissection previously performed. Moreover, in all these patients a local recurrence on the T site has been observed. DISCUSSION: Lymph nodes metastases have a minor prognostic impact in well-differentiated thyroid cancers in respect of the rest of head and neck cancers. Nonetheless, when performing a curative or elective neck dissection, the gold standard surgical principles must be the same. As a matter of fact, a 20% incidence of lymph nodes metastases at the V level, often not specifically addressed in neck dissections for thyroid cancers, it is noteworthy. Aim of such an aggressive surgical approach of the neck is to obtain a low incidence of "in field" regional recurrences, which become no more amenable of a subsequent surgical salvage. CONCLUSION: Surgical techniques as lymphadenectomy or "pick-berry procedure" must be abandoned because they do not respect the basic anatomic, physiopathologic, and oncologic principles of neck dissections along cervical fasciae and spaces.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗

The immune response of the chicken to vaccination against Newcastle disease with live virus and killed emulsified virus in relation to the length of time between two vaccinations.

Chicks with no specific antibodies were initially y vaccinated against Newcastle disease at 21 days old with the live 'La Sota' strain or beta-propiolactone-killed virus emulsified in mineral oils. After a second vaccination 15 or 21 days later with the live "La Sota' strain, the interference produced by the first vaccination on the antibody production induced by the second vaccination was investigated. It was found that the live virus vaccine used for the second immunization was affected by the antibodies induced by the first vaccination, as shown in previous work utilizing 1-day-old chicks.

Animals↗