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Biomedical subjects

D Rossi

Publications and source records attributed to D Rossi.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

MRI in epilepsy.

A retrospective study was done of the MRI and CT scans of 267 consecutive patients sent for an evaluation of one or more seizures. 21% (57/267) of the MRI scans were abnormal. The CT scan was normal in 28% of these MRI documented abnormal cases. In an additional 10% of these cases, MRI was more specific than CT scan. CT was more specific in cases of calcification and abscess (7%). There was one case specific than CT scan. CT was more specific in cases of calcification and abscess (7%). There was one case of undetermined pathology in which CT was abnormal despite a normal MRI. The predominant abnormalities found on MRI included tumor, infarction and vascular malformation. MRI is more sensitive than CT in noting central nervous system pathology and lesions of potential therapeutic significance in patients with seizures.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

MRI appearance of AIDS subacute encephalopathy.

A case of biopsy documented subacute encephalopathy of AIDS was evaluated by CT and MRI. CT scanning revealed ventriculomegaly and ill-defined nonspecific periventricular white matter hypodensities. MRI, however, demonstrated extensive unequivocal diffuse white matter disease as the cause of the ventriculomegaly. MRI findings in this patient support the preliminary suggestion that MRI is more useful than computed tomography (CT) in demonstrating AIDS subacute encephalopathy.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Magnetic resonance imaging examination of denervated muscle.

Denervated muscles due to lumbar radiculopathy, peroneal axonal neuropathy and hypoglossal neuropathy were studied with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Denervated muscle was clearly distinguished from normal muscle by its higher intensity signal. Comparison of the resulting signal intensity of the muscle using various imaging parameters suggests an alteration in water macromolecular binding. These preliminary findings indicate that MRI may be useful in the noninvasive in vivo diagnosis and study of the effects of denervation on muscle.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Knee motion following multiple soft-tissue releases in ambulatory patients with cerebral palsy.

Multiple soft-tissue releases (MSTRs) in cerebral palsy have been advocated to improve knee motion during gait. Forty-five extremities underwent MSTRs as recommended by preoperative gait analysis. Pre- and postoperative analyses were evaluated in relation to knee motion and foot progression angle. Maximum knee flexion during swing and the foot progression angle showed no significant change postoperatively. The total knee ROM and minimum knee flexion in stance improved significantly towards normal. The timing of maximum knee flexion and slope of the knee flexion curve at toe off improved with respect to age and number of previous surgeries. MSTRs increased knee ROM and improved the sequential timing and event progression during gait.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genotype in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas with and without hypermethylation of the DNA repair gene O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase.

C677T and A1298C methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms have been suggested to affect susceptibility to malignant lymphoma, possibly by altering DNA methylation. The DNA repair gene O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is transcriptionally silenced by promoter hypermethylation in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL). We analyzed the MTHFR677 and MTHFR1298 genotypes in 111 DLBCL patients and 465 controls. No significant difference in the frequency of MTHFR polymorphisms between patients and controls and no significant association between MTHFR677 or MTHFR1298 genotypes and methylation of MGMT promoter were observed. These results indicate that MTHFR variants are not related to DLBCL development and MGMT hypermethylation.

Alleles↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Ergonomic approach to risk control].

The aim of the paper is to emphasise the role and the importance of the ergonomic approach to improve reduction and management of the risk related to repetitive strain injuries. The authors tried to select and to put in evidence the risk factors related to the investigated problem, proposing a critical analysis of them, and to detect some guide lines to design or correct workplaces and tasks. These guidelines are based on ergonomic principles and they aim at reducing the risk related to repetitive strain injuries. The proposed interventions are grouped by a risk-factor criterion.

Arm Injuries↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Molecular characterization of common variable immunodeficiency-related lymphomas.

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVI) patients are at high relative risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL), mainly represented by B-lineage diffuse large cell lymphomas. The molecular pathogenesis and histogenesis of CVI-related NHL are poorly understood. We have thus attempted to provide a detailed molecular characterization of their histogenesis and pathogenesis. A panel of 5 CVI-related NHL was subjected to detailed analysis of histogenetic markers (mutations of immunoglobulin variable heavy chain-IgVH and of BCL-6 genes) acquired by B-cells at the time of germinal center transit. Somatic hypermutation of IgVH and BCL-6 genes occurred in 5/5 cases; in all cases, mutations were stable with no evidence of ongoing mutation processes. In 3/5 cases, the pattern of IgVH mutations was consistent with selection and stimulation of the tumor clone by antigen. To further clarify the pathogenesis, samples were tested for inactivation by promoter hypermethylation of the genes 0(6)-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) p1, which code for detoxifying enzymes, as well as of death-associated protein (DAP)-kinase, coding for a proapoptotic molecule. Promoter hypermethylation of MGMT, GSTp1 and DAP-kinase was detected in 2/5, 3/5 and 3/5 CVI-related NHL, respectively. Overall, these data indicate that: i) similarly to other immunodeficiency-related NHL, CVI-related NHL derive from germinal center-related B-cells, namely centrocytes or post-germinal center B-cells; ii) antigen stimulation and selection are involved in the development of at least a fraction of these cases; iii) hypermethylation of the MGMT, DAP-kinase and GSTp1 genes occurs at sustained frequencies in CVI-related NHL and may provide novel prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for the clinical management of these lymphomas.

Common Variable Immunodeficiency↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A new cisplatin/gemcitabine schedule in locally advanced (IIIB) and metastatic (IV) non-small cell lung cancer: relationship between dose-intensity and efficacy. A phase II study.

BACKGROUND: Cisplatin/gemcitabine are one of the "standard" chemotherapy schedules in locally advanced and metastatic NSCLC cancer. A number of trials documented that omission of gemcitabine on day 15 and reduction of cisplatin up to 70 mg/mq are equivalent in term of response rates to "classic" administrations on days 1, 8 and 15 with cisplatin 100 mg/mq. The aim of this study was to confirm this evidence and to demonstrate that a further reduction of gemcitabine dose-intensity may be performed with the same efficacy on response. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty untreated patients with locally advanced and metastatic NSCLC entered the study: 24 stage IIIB and 26 stage IV. The median age was 65 years (range 32-76); 44 males and 6 females Genicitabine was administered 1000 mg/mq weekly on days 1 and 8 followed by a 2-week rest and cisplatin 80 mg/mq on day 2 of each 28-day-cycle. RESULTS: Forty-five patients were evaluable for response and all for toxicity. The overall response rates were 35.5% with 16 partial responses (95% Confidence Interval: 32%-61%). Most of the objective responses were seen in IIIB patients (56% of the stage IIIB and 44% of the stage IV patients responded). According to the intent-to-treat-principle, the response rates were 32% (16 out of 50 patients). The median dose-intensity of gemcitabine and cisplatin was respectively 477.6 mg/mq/week (481.4 for responders) and 19.5 mg/mq/week (19.9 mg/mq for responders). The median response duration was 5 months (range 1-18) and the median time to progression was 5 months (1-21); median survival was 9 months (range 2-31). The main toxicity was haematological: thrombocytopenia grade IV in 5 patients (10%) and grade III in 11 patients (22%); neutropenia grade III-IV in 4 patients (8%); grade III anemia in 3 (6%). Asthenia was the most significant non-haematological toxicity and was observed in 19 patients (38%). CONCLUSION: This trial confirmed the efficacy of a schedule with 2 administrations of gemcitabine (on days 1, 8) and a cisplatin dose on day 2 lower than 100 mg/mq. Moreover, the same efficacy was obtained with a median-dose intensity of cisplatin and gemcitabine lower than planned in a 21-day-schedule. For safety and low toxicity, we think that this schedule provides another chance to treat patients with non-small cell lung cancer, especially the elderly or patients with coexistent medical illnesses.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Flow cytometry in bladder lavage fluid for the diagnosis and surveillance of bladder tumors. Preliminary results].

The authors evaluate the accuracy and practical applications of flow cytometry (FCM) on bladder lavage fluid in the diagnosis and follow-up of bladder tumours. The apparatus used was a Coultronics Epics Profile II cytofluorograph. Two hundred and fifteen samples were obtained with a yield of 86%. The specimens were preserved in ethanol. The staining was performed on whole cells with preservation of the cytoplasm. The analysis of a control group of 45 patients confirmed that the FCM study of ploidy was specific (0.97 for normal bladders and 0.8 for inflammatory lesions). Four aspects were evaluated: Correlation between FCM and the histological type of the tumour: a significant difference was observed between the control group, the invasive tumour group (p < 0.01) and the carcinoma in situ group (< 0.001). A significant difference was observed in the case of high-grade PTA and PT1 tumours. No significant difference was observed between FCM and classical cytodiagnosis when this technique was performed by a trained cytologist. Predictive value of FCM for the recurrence of PTA and PT1 tumours: 40 patients were followed with a mean follow-up of 13 months. The relative risk of recurrence in the case of a tumour with an abnormal FCM was 2 (p < 0.05). FCM and monitoring of conservatively treated tumours: 30 patients with normal endoscopic examination after endoscopic resection of a PTA or PT1 tumour underwent cytometric analysis and cytodiagnosis. In the case of an abnormality on cytometry, randomised bladder biopsies and urography were performed. The positive predictive value for the presence of a lesion not diagnosed by cystoscopy and detected by FCM was 0.38 +/- 0.26. FCM and intravesical chemotherapy: 16 patients with PT1 tumours and abnormal FCM received BCG therapy (11 patients) or mitomycin C instillations (5 patients). A significant difference (p < 0.01) was observed between the 2 treatments in terms of normalisation of cytometry.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Flow Cytometry↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Acute renal failure, hemolysis and thrombocytopenia].

A 41-year-old male was admitted because of severe systemic hypertension and acute renal failure (ARF) that required hemodialysis (HD). Also present were hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and increased plasmatic levels of aldosterone and reninic activity. The diagnostic tests performed during the recovery led to the conclusion of malignant hypertension. This case dealt with a cause of ARF, which is not currently so common; physicians should be aware of this condition especially when it is present with hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia, which are the microangiopathy markers.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Cystic renal cancers. 14 case reports].

The authors present 14 cases of renal cancers with a cystic appearance raising pre and intraoperative diagnostic difficulties. Although ultrasonography has become the first-line investigation, computed tomography is now the most accurate diagnostic examination. The diagnosis of complicated benign cyst must be proposed very cautiously and the persistence of doubtful images justifies surgical exploration. In order to be reliable, frozen section histological examination must include all of the cystic tumour. Polar nephrectomy with frozen section examination is therefore the recommended intraoperative diagnostic procedure in a case of suspicious cyst. The curative treatment of these cancers is classical radical nephrectomy.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Impotence caused by venous leakage. Placement of a prosthetic venous bandage].

A new treatment of impotence by venous leakage is reported. It consists of tying the dorsal and lateral aspects of the cavernous body with a bandage of synthetic material. The bandage, inserted on the bulbo-cavernous muscles, restores a "carter effect" and prevents venous leakage during erection. This technique has been used in 20 patients, with satisfactory results in 10 who were followed up for more than 4 months.

Blood Vessel Prosthesis↗