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Biomedical subjects

E Colombo

Publications and source records attributed to E Colombo.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Muscle fibre type and habitual snoring.

Although anatomical abnormalities of the upper airway have been recorded in some patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), a muscle tone dysregulation also seems to have an important role in this disorder. Since habitual snoring is the initial stage of OSA, the structural characteristics of upper airway muscles (medium pharyngeal constrictor muscle [MPCM]) from 13 men (9 non-snorers and 4 habitual snorers) were studied. MPCM fibre structure in non-snorers was broadly similar to that in normal limb muscles, with the exception that fibre diameters were smaller for all fibre types. Compared with limb muscles, MPCM had a smaller proportion of type IIb fibres and a higher proportion of types I and IIa fibres. MPCM in habitual snorers had an abnormal distribution of fibre types (low percentage of type I and type IIb fibres and high percentage of type IIa fibres) compared with non-snorers (p less than 0.001) and the type IIa fibres were hypertrophic. No myopathic or neurogenic changes were seen. Two possible hypotheses explain the abnormal distribution of fibre types in snorers. First, a constitutionally determined reduction of slow alpha-motor neurons induces an adaptive transformation of type IIb to type IIa fibres and a hypertrophy of type IIa fibres; or, second, motor neurons change their patterns of discharge and, hence, of activation, and modify fibre-type distribution of MPCM as an adaptation to the anatomical characteristic of upper airway and habitual snoring.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Etiopathogenesis and biodynamics of closed laryngo-tracheal injuries].

The blunt laryngotracheal trauma, once quite a rare phenomenon, has become quite relevant today, particularly because of the great increase in automotive traffic. It was, therefore, felt knowledge of the etiopathogenesis and biodynamics of this form of trauma is important for proper diagnosis and treatment. After having noted that the literature in this regard is generally incomplete and fragmentary, the authors felt it worth compiling the various etiopathogenesis and biodynamic factors involved; characteristics of blunt laryngotracheal trauma. Three basic elements of this form of trauma were studied. These are: trauma subject, trauma forces and impact plane. The biodynamic mechanisms responsible for the damage caused to the laryngotracheal skeleton and its soft parts have been analyzed. Finally, a case study was made including 99 cases drawn from international literature and 23 cases which had come under observation by the authors. The purpose of this analysis was to determine the frequency of various etiologies in relation to trauma type and site. The difficulties involved in drawing these simple data from the literature is underlined. This stems from the fact that often the various authors report overall data failing to give the etiology and site of individual cases. Traffic accidents have proved to be the cause of 80% of all such traumas and 90% of those with fracture, dislocation or separation of the laryngotracheal skeleton. The most serious lesions are to be seen in cases of frontal trauma. In the elastic cartilage of young people, the elastic snapback is of particular significance in the genesis of damage to the soft tissues. The most frequently encountered lesion is fracture of the thyroid cartilage alone while fracture of the cricoid alone is quite unusual. Fractures or detachment within the cricoid-tracheal area is quite common. In 85% of the cases cricoid cartilage involvement is associated with that of the tracheal cartilage. The authors assert that, due to a question of resistance, cricoid fracture traumas almost always involve the trachea while thyroid cartilage fractures act as a relief, letting off and absorbing the forces, thus preventing cricoid involvement. On the basis of these considerations the authors feel it fitting to classify the blunt laryngotracheal traumas into three groups according to topography: supraglottic laryngeal trauma with or without involvement of the glottis; subglottic laryngeal trauma, generally associated with the trachea and only rarely involving the glottic region; isolated trauma of the cervical trachea.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1989

[A comparative evaluation of tumor markers (TPA and CEA) in various malignant neoplasms at an advanced stage].

Radioimmunology was used to measure serum levels of CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) in 108 patients with a variety of different advanced malignant neoplasms and in a control group of 60 healthy subjects. TPA proved more sensitive as a tumour marker than CEA, since increased TPA was found in 76% of the cancer cases compared to 42% for CEA. No significant increase in diagnostic sensitivity was obtained by using both markers rather than PTA alone.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1989

Motor effects of locally administered pinaverium bromide in the sigmoid tract of patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

The effects of pinaverium bromide, a non-absorbable antispasmodic agent, administered locally, on sigmoid-rectal motility was investigated in 20 patients with irritable bowel syndrome. The influence of either pinaverium (10 subjects) or placebo (10 subjects) on a neostigmine-induced increase of sigmoid pressure was assessed and compared by means of computerized electromanometry. The drug was found to counteract significantly the motor effects of neostigmine, thus appearing to be an effective compound for the treatment of functional disorders of the colon.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Nizatidine and ranitidine in the short-term treatment of duodenal ulcer: a cooperative double-blind study of once-daily bedtime administration.

The aim of the present study was to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of a new H2-antagonist, nizatidine (N), administered as a single bedtime dose of 300 mg, compared with ranitidine (R) at the same dosage, in the short-term treatment of duodenal ulcer. One hundred forty one patients were included in the study: 70 were treated with N and 71 with R. During the study, three patients were withdrawn for unwanted effects not related to the treatment, and therefore, 69 patients per group were studied. After 4 wk of treatment, 58 patients treated with N (84.1%) and 55 in the group treated with R (77.5%), showed complete endoscopic ulcer healing (p greater than 0.5). The corresponding figure after 8 wk of therapy was 64 (94.2%) and 65 (94.2%) (p greater than 0.5). A similar effect on pain relief was observed: 42% of patients in both groups became asymptomatic after 4 wk. After 8 wk, the percentage rose to 84.2% in the group treated with N and 87.0% in the R group (p greater than 0.5). In both groups, only minor side effects occurred, not requiring drug discontinuation. These data show that nizatidine in a single bedtime dose of 300 mg is as effective and safe as ranitidine at the same dosage, and represents therefore a valid alternative to the usual H2-antagonists.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Phenoxy herbicides and soft-tissue sarcomas in female rice weeders. A population-based case-referent study.

A population-based case-referent study was conducted in an area of northern Italy where rice growing is the predominant agricultural activity and phenoxy herbicides have been used since 1950. Manual rice weeding was formerly performed by a seasonal female working population; in the early 1950s these women were concurrently exposed to chemical herbicides. Sixty-eight persons representing incident and histologically revised cases (31 women) and 158 population referents (73 women) were interviewed. The cases were histologically confirmed independently by two blinded pathologists, and exposure to phenoxy herbicides was assessed by two blinded pesticide researchers. An age-adjusted odds ratio of 0.91 was found for the living men (with suspect exposures; no man diagnosed as a case had been exposed with certainty to phenoxy herbicides). Among the living women the relative risk was 2.7 (90% confidence interval 0.59-12.37), and it further increased when attention was restricted to women exposed in the whole 1950-1955 period and to younger age groups.

2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗
PubMed1986

[Cancer of the gastric stump. Review of endoscopic case records].

An endoscopic series of 4610 patients examined for dyspeptic symptoms has been reviewed. The purpose was to verify the prevalence of gastric stump cancer. In 266 patients previously gastrectomized for benign peptic ulcer, 10 cases of gastric carcinoma were found (3.61%) whereas in 4344 not previously gastrectomized patients 157 gastric carcinomas were diagnosed (3.75%). Among the 10 patients affected from gastric stump carcinoma, 5 had been operated before, and 5 after, the age 45. The statistical comparison between the two groups showed a significant difference (p less than 0.02) as for the mean time intervals between surgical intervention and onset of gastric stump carcinoma, whereas the mean ages of onset of gastric stump carcinoma resulted substantially identical. We conclude that advanced age, rather than a previous gastrectomy, confers a major risk of gastric carcinoma.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Two-dimensional echocardiographic assessment of anticoagulant therapy in left ventricular thrombosis early after acute myocardial infarction.

This study was designed to assess, by two-dimensional echocardiography, the effects of anticoagulant therapy on left ventricular thrombosis detected after acute myocardial infarction. Thirty-eight patients with left ventricular thrombi detected by two-dimensional echocardiology within 5 weeks (mean 4) of the onset of infarction were randomly assigned to the following groups: group A consisted of 19 patients who received oral anticoagulants (acenocoumarin 1-6 mg daily regulated to keep prothrombin time within the range of 25 to 35%) and group B which consisted of 19 non-treated control patients. Seventeen patients from both groups were restudied 15 days, 3 months and one year later to evaluate the changes in size of thrombi. Echocardiographic examinations were read blindly; a significant decrease in ventricular thrombus size was taken as a greater than or equal to 5 mm reduction of thickness in the apical views. In Group A, 9 patients showed a complete resolution of thrombus at the 15 day study; at one year, thrombus had resolved in 15 and persisted unchanged in size in 2 patients. The mean dimension of thrombi in patients of group A was 18 +/- 6.6 mm at the screening examination and decreased to 6.6 mm, 3.8 mm and 2.2 mm, respectively, at 15 days, 3 months and one year follow-up studies. Among 17 patients of group B at the 15 day study, two had resolution of thrombus and 15 were unchanged; at the one year examination thrombus was resolved in 4, decreased in size in 4 and persisted unchanged in 9 patients. Analysis of variance of the dimensional changes of thrombi in the two groups of patients confirmed a significant efficacy of anticoagulant therapy (P less than 0.001). On the basis of our results we conclude that full-dose anticoagulant therapy, started early (within 5 weeks) after acute myocardial infarction, is effective in the resolution of left ventricular thrombosis.

Acenocoumarol↗
PubMed1983

Delayed diagnosis of endometrial cancer in Italy.

This study considers the prevalence of early bleeding in a series of 173 cases of endometrial cancer, with particular reference to the lag time between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis. The length of this interval is examined in the light of patients' and tumor characteristics. Findings show a general delay in endometrial cancer diagnosis in the population studied. In addition there was a significant trend towards worsening of the tumor stage, depth of myometrial invasion and histological differentiation with increasing delay, thus underlining the need for more care in detection of endometrial cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1983

Ten-year survival in 290 patients with endometrial cancer: prognostic factors and therapeutic approach.

Between 1970 and 1976, 290 patients with endometrial cancer were treated at the 1st Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of the University of Milan. The median age was 62 years. Surgery was completed in 262 (90.3%) patients. Abdominal hysterectomy was used in 158 (70.9%) stage I and 40 (71.4%) stage II/III) patients; vaginal hysterectomy in 55 (24.7%) stage I and nine (16.1%) stage II/III patients. Resection of the upper vagina was performed in 168 patients. Postoperative external beam radiotherapy was used in stage II/III patients and in 44 (19.7%) stage I high-risk patients. Ten-year survival, determined by the life-table method, was 84.8% in stage I (223 patients), 53.4% in stage II (37 patients), 64.4% in stage III (19 patients), and 9.1% in stage IV (11 patients). Factors associated with poorer prognosis were: late age at diagnosis (P less than 0.001); deep myometrial invasion (P less than 0.001); poorly differentiated histological grade (P = 0.11); lack of resection of the upper vagina (P = 0.13). The role and importance of surgery is discussed, with special emphasis on the selective use of the vaginal route in aged, obese and medically high-risk patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Non-invasive cardiologic study on a soccer team].

Fifteen professional football players have been examined with basal electrocardiography, M-mode echocardiography, bicycle ergometry, Holter dynamic electrocardiography; in six of them also, the electrocardiogram has been recorded by during a match. The aim of the research was to evaluate, by non-invasive tests, the cardiovascular status of an athletic team, with particular consideration to rhythm disturbances. The methods employed have given valuable informations. The echocardiographic investigation has frequently shown left ventricular dilation and/or hypertrophy. Dynamic electrocardiography has revealed in many subjects rhythm and conduction disturbances. No athlete has displayed severe rhythm disturbances during the bicycle ergometer test, except one, who had paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia, of complex etiopathogenetic and prognostic significance. Telemetric recording has been very useful to follow the heart action during a match, but its use was often hampered by technical difficulties.

Adolescent↗