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Biomedical subjects

E Ferri

Publications and source records attributed to E Ferri.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

A comparative study between a calcium channel blocker (Nicardipine) and a combined alpha-beta-blocker (Labetalol) for the control of emergence hypertension during craniotomy for tumor surgery.

We compared the efficacy of the combination of enalaprilat/labetalol with that of enalaprilat/nicardipine to prevent emergence postcraniotomy hypertension. A prospective, randomized open labeled clinical trial was designed to compare the incidence of breakthrough hypertension (systolic blood pressure [SBP] > 140 mm Hg) and adverse effects (hypotension, tachycardia, and bradycardia) between the two drug combinations. Secondarily, the effects of the drugs on SBP, mean blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure were evaluated over the course of the study. Forty-two patients received enalaprilat 1.25 mg IV at dural closure followed by either multidose nicardipine 2 mg IV or labetalol 5 mg IV to maintain the SBP below 140 mm Hg. SBP was similarly controlled in both groups. There was a marginally smaller incidence of failures and adverse effects with labetalol. Blood pressure profiles were similar for both groups.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed2000

System of automated gas-exchange analysis for the investigation of metabolic processes.

Conventional gas-exchange instruments are confined to the measurement of O(2) consumption (VO(2)) and CO(2) production (VCO(2)) and are subject to a variety of errors. This handicaps the performance of these devices at inspired O(2) fraction (FI(O(2))) > 0.40 and limits their applicability to indirect calorimetry only. We describe a device based on the automation of the Douglas bag technique that is capable of making continuous gas-exchange measurements of multiple species over a broad range of experimental conditions. This system is validated by using a quantitative methanol-burning lung model modified to provide reproducible (13)CO(2) production. The average error for VO(2) and VCO(2) over the FI(O(2)) range of 0.21-0.8. is 2.4 and 0.8%, respectively. The instrument is capable of determining the differential atom% volume of known references of (13)CO(2) to within 3.4%. This device reduces the sources of error that thwart other instruments at FI(O(2)) > 0. 40 and demonstrates the capacity to explore other expressions of metabolic activity in exhaled gases related to the excretion of (13)CO(2).

Calorimetry, Indirect↗
PubMed2000

[Surgical treatment of urologic complications of idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis. Our experience].

The chief complications of retroperitoneal fibrosis RPF in the ureteric compression ab extrinseco by fibrotic tissue. In the period 1994 to 1999, we treated two cases of idiopathic RPF: the first case a 49 years aged man, presented a left hydronefrosis and bilateral ureteral displacement to the midline. RMN showed widespreads fibrotic tissue in the retroperitoneal space. At operation, the histological findings was that of aspecific fibrositis. The surgical procedure was ureterolysis and lateralization of both ureters with the aid of a wrapping with a pedicled omental graft. The patient was also treated with metilprednisolon, 8 mg-die, for altogether twelve months, Now he is asymptomatic. The second case, a man aged 60, had a compression of both ureter by fibrotic tissue down to the pelvic tract; the histologic picture was the same of that of the first case. A difficult ureterolysis was carried on, plus an omentoplasty and a left ureteral reimplantation to the bladder. Medical treatment followed, following the above scheme. Seven months after surgery the patient is well. This experience of ours urological complications of RPF is confirmatory of the importance of a sound surgical approach and of a tight follow up as well as a sustained corticosteroid therapy in order to prevent relapse.

Humans↗
PubMed2000

[Pelvic floor rehabilitation as treatment of female urinary incontinence. Our experience].

We refer herein on a simple program of rehabilitation that may be a first approach the treatment of, U.S.I. In our urodynamic service, we treated 38 female patients, affected by this condition, aged between 37-73 years. The same procedure was applied to all the patients, consisting of 10 seances twice weekly, during which we subjected the patients to biofeedback and vaginal electrostimulation of 50 Hz frequency. The results after 3 months were: 38% restored to normal, 51% improved, 11% unchanged; after 1 year were: 27% restored to normal, 49% improved, the remaining unchanged. As a whole, perineal rehabilitation by this technique can be curative in selected cases and, should it be necessary, can be repeated; its advantages are simplicity, low cost and lack of collateral effects. Motivation and compliance on the part of the patients are, anyhow, the chief factor of success. Moreover, the procedure does not preclude alternative treatments. It is suitable to chose cases where surgery is not so, or else is ill-accepted or has failed.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Buschke-Löwenstein tumor: report of 2 clinical cases].

In our department two cases of Buschke-Löwenstein tumor were up to day observed. The first case, a man 51 years old, showed a big exophytic growth all over the glans, plus some similar lesions all along the shaft of the penis, besides a bilateral inguinal lymphoadenopathy. The second case was that of a man 70 years old, presenting a single exophytic growth on the glans. Both cases underwent a surgical excision of the lesions. The first patient had a local relapse after one year and a second one after further four months, which were both surgically exsected. Today, both patients are disease-free, being elapsed twelve years and sixteen months respectively. Surgical excision seems therefore to answer well the clinical problem, as for as the rarity of distant spread, the feasibility of conservative removal or reiteration, should it the case, are concerned.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

[Interstitial laser therapy in benign prostatic hyperplasia].

The interstitial laser therapy is a low invasivity system for prostatic benign hyperplasia. We report our experience with Indigo 830e new system where diode laser and optical temperature sensor warrant a laser-induced interstitial thermal therapy able to continuously adjust energy delivery to the tissue.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

[Unusual case of mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis associated with prostatic adenocarcinoma].

Malignant mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis, is a very rare neoplasm with highly aggressive biological behaviour. It usually occurs in patients aged between 55 and 75 years. A testicular mass is always observed, often accompanied with hydrocele. The response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy is poor. Initial aggressive surgery is necessary. The median survival, without surgical treatment is 23 months. A rare case of malignant mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis, observed in a patient affected by prostate neoplasm is reported. A radical retropubic prostatectomy was performed. The patient was suffering from dysuria and there was a suspect area at the digital examination. Rectal ultrasonography and biopsy showed an adenocarcinoma at T1c clinical stage. A radical prostatectomy was carried out and histology showed an adenocarcinoma, Gleason score 7 pT3bN0M0. Surgery was followed by radiation therapy. After three years, a pleural seroma, a cutaneous mass and testicular nodule were observed and cytological examination showed endothelial cells. Scrotal orchiectomy was performed, because he was suffering from emphysema. Cytological examination confirmed malignant mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis. Only 73 cases of this tumour have been reported in the last 30 years. The therapeutic options for this aggressive neoplasm are discussed. Since chemotherapy and radiation therapy had poor results, a rapid surgical treatment, by radical orchiectomy, is important.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1999

Chemiluminescent determination of xanthine oxidase activity in milk.

A chemiluminescent method for determining xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity was developed and applied to the assay of milk enzyme activity using a photomultiplier luminometer. Various kinds of milk and cream samples were analysed for XOD content. In pasteurized milk, XOD activity depended on the fat content and in UHT milk it disappeared owing to the heat treatment. Milk sample preparation was very simple, requiring only homogenization at 40 degrees C followed by a 1:10 dilution with UHT ('XOD-free') milk. The assay was carried out at 25 degrees C. The response obtained from XOD standard solutions in milk was linear from 0.1 to 500 enzyme units (U) l-1, but for the actual milk samples values ranged only from 1 to 135 U l-1. The detection limit at 2 SD was 0.1 U l-1 in milk, while in buffer it was 100 times lower. The intra-assay and interassay CV for XOD activity in milk were 6-12%.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

[Treatment approaches to benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Clinical features in 228 cases of posterior and lateral canalolithiasis].

After having discussed the etiopathogenesis, epidemiology and physiopathology of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), the authors present their case study covering audiovestibology out-patients treated in the last two years: 228 cases of canalotithiasis-derived BPPV, both posterior (186 cases) and lateral (42 cases). These patients were diagnosed and treated between July 1996 and July 1998 and account for 15% of the 1550 patients complaining of balance and postural disorders seen during that period. Analysis of the results shows BPPV epidemiological data that are practically the same those reported in the literature: greater incidence in females, predominance of posterior canalolithiasis and optimal use of the canalith repositioning techniques. The authors reconfirm the effectiveness of the Semont maneuver and its variations in the treatment of those forms involving the posterior semicircular canal (97% healing). As regards BPPV due to lateral canalolithiasis. The authors feel the vestibular "barbecue" rehabilitation techniques suggested by Lempert--i.e. a 270 degrees rotation starting from the decubitus position on the pathological side, rather than Baloh's traditional 360 degrees rotation--is most suitable for the treatment of BPPV stemming from lateral canalolithiasis. The Lempert technique provided satisfactory results (76% healing) and a reduction in the number of failures (24%).

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Primitive carcinoid tumor of the middle ear: a case report and review of literature].

Carcinoid tumors are neuroendocrine neoplasms. Their prognosis is nearly always favorable and they rarely affect the middle ear. An accurate review of the literature has shown that since 1980 only 37 cases of primary carcinoid tumor of the middle ear have been described. Diagnostic precision has increasingly improved over the years thanks to the use of modern immunohistochemical techniques and electron microscopy. The treatment of choice is surgical exeresis through a radical tympanomastoidectomy. Distant metastases have never been indicated. The authors present a case of primary tympanic carcinoid tumor, basically extended to the external auditory duct. They underline the clinical aspects, the difficulties in histopathological diagnosis and the treatment strategies applied.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Forty years on: professor Neville Butler and the British Birth Cohort studies.

This paper traces the major contribution made by Professor Neville Butler, over a period of 40 years, to the foundation and subsequent development of two of Britain's three national birth cohort studies: the National Child Development Study, which has monitored the lives of all those in Britain born in the week 3-9 March 1958, and the British Cohort Study 1970, which has similarly followed the development of those born in the week 5-11 April 1970. Some recent findings from the two studies in the areas of health and health behaviour are briefly summarised, as are the plans for their future development.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein due to Fusobacterium necrophorum (Lemierre's syndrome): case report and review of literature].

Lemierre's syndrome is an uncommon clinical entity. It is characterized by oropharyngeal infection followed by septic thrombophlebitis of the jugular vein with embolization to the lungs and other organs. It is usually due to Fusobacterium necrophorum. Although Lemierre's syndrome is rare, it is potentially fatal. It is important for clinicians to recognize and treat it appropriately. With prompt recognition, abscess drainage with possible ligation of the internal jugular vein and appropriate antibiotic coverage complete recovery can be achieved in most patients.

Bacteremia↗
PubMed1998

[Necrotizing fasciitis of the neck in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia: clinical features, therapeutic strategy and review of the literature].

Necrotizing fasciitis is a severe polymicrobial infection of the soft tissues, characterized by necrosis of the fascia and subcutaneous tissues. Although it most commonly involves the groin, abdomen and extremities it may also occur in the head and neck. The present work presents a case of cervical necrotizing fasciitis arising from a dental infection in a young girl with acute myeloid leukemia. The causes, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of this potentially lethal disorder are reviewed.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Mitochondrial respiratory chain features after gamma-irradiation.

Radiation provokes damage to DNA but also to membrane and protein structure. Radiolysis is a tool used very often in the study of free radical biological effects and of scavenger molecules effectiveness. Nitroimidazoles have been demonstrated to enhance the radiation effects on biological structures. The studies we have performed on isolated mitochondria irradiated, with and without nitroimidazoles, at a radiation dose equal to LD90, indicate that this treatment is not able to affect the structural and functional features investigated (ubiquinone-10, fatty acids, respiratory cytochrome levels or membrane fluidity and respiratory enzymatic activities), suggesting that an involvement of such externally produced radicals on membrane damage is unlikely. Moreover it was ascertained that the mitochondrial redox activities do not take part into the intracellular nitroimidazole reduction.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Chemiluminescent immunoperoxidase assay for the dot blot hybridization detection of Parvovirus B19 DNA using a low light imaging device.

A new synthesized stable trifluoro-substituted acridan (2',3',6'-trifluorophenyl 10-methylacridan-9-carboxylate known as Lumigen PS-3) has been applied as chemiluminescent substrate of the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme (neutral isoenzyme C) in a dot blot hybridization assay for the detection of B19 Parvovirus DNA. The dot blot hybridization assay uses digoxigenin-labeled DNA probes which are immunoenzymatically revealed by anti-digoxigenin Fab fragments conjugated with HRP. The results obtained using PS-3 reagent or the luminol-based enhanced chemiluminescence detection system (ECL Amersham and Renaissance DuPont NEN kits) were compared. A high-performance, low-intensity-light imaging luminograph apparatus to collect light emission was used. The detection systems using the different chemiluminescent substrates gave sensitive and reproducible results for calibration graphs, with high precision (relative standard deviation 5-18%). With the chemiluminescent assay it was possible to detect 0.5, 1, or 2 pg of target homologous DNA, using PS-3, ECL, or Renaissance (RE) reagents, respectively, while colorimetry had a detection limit of 5 pg. When clinical samples were analyzed the positive reference sera and the PCR-positive products gave light emissions with values higher than background at 2 sigma level, while the negative samples gave a signal comparable to the background noise for all chemiluminescent reagents. The PS-3 reagent detected one more dilution (1/256) than ECL and RE (1/128) of positive reference sera.

DNA, Viral↗
PubMed1996

Adventitial cyst of the popliteal artery. Report of a case.

A case of cystic degeneration of the popliteal artery in a 58-year-old male is reported. Symptoms consisted of a claudication of abrupt onset and the correct diagnostic clue was initially given by magnetic resonance of the knee and confirmed by angiography. Treatment consisted of surgical removal of the cyst and saphenous vein angioplasty of the popliteal artery, with good anatomic and functional result at one year follow-up. Diagnostic tools and treatment of the condition are briefly discussed.

Humans↗
PubMed1995

Application of a low-light imaging device and chemiluminescent substrates for quantitative detection of viral DNA in hybridization reactions.

In this quantitative dot-blot hybridization assay for detecting B19 parvovirus DNA, we used three different chemiluminescent substrates [adamantyl-1,2-dioxetane phenyl phosphates (PPD and the new PPD-Plus) and the chloro-5-substituted adamantyl-1,2-dioxetane phosphate (CSPD) plus Emerald enhancer] and a high-performance, low-intensity-light imaging luminograph apparatus. The hybridization test uses digoxigenin-labeled DNA probes, which are immunoenzymatically revealed by anti-digoxigenin Fab fragments conjugated with alkaline phosphatase. All the detection systems with the various chemiluminescent substrates gave sensitive and reproducible results for calibrators and positive or negative reference clinical samples, with high reproducibility (CV 4-17%). The signal was measured after 45 min of incubation. The luminograph apparatus could detect 10 fg of homologous DNA with the PPD-Plus substrate, whereas the detection limit with the CSPD and PPD substrates was 20 fg and 20-50 fg, respectively. Analysis of 26 samples with the three substrates showed good sensitivity and specificity for viral detection.

DNA, Viral↗