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Biomedical subjects

E Polettini

Publications and source records attributed to E Polettini.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Plasma endothelin-1 levels, pulmonary hypertension, and lung fibrosis in patients with systemic sclerosis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the behavior of circulating endothelin (ET)-1 concentrations in patients affected by systemic sclerosis, and to elucidate the possible relationships existing in this disease among plasma peptide levels, pulmonary hypertension, and lung fibrosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Circulating ET-1 levels were determined by reverse-phase, high-pressure liquid chromatography followed by sensitive radioimmunoassay in 20 patients affected by systemic sclerosis (18 women and 2 men, mean age 48.1 +/- 13.7 years) with or without pulmonary hypertension as evaluated by Doppler echocardiography, or lung fibrosis as measured by a score method based on lung examination by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). A group of 18 normal volunteers served as controls (15 women and 3 men, mean age 45.0 +/- 10.1 years). RESULTS: Plasma ET-1 levels were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in patients with systemic sclerosis (1.72 +/- 0.28 pg/mL) than in control subjects (0.63 +/- 0.06 pg/mL). Pulmonary artery systolic hypertension was detected in 10 patients (50%) with systemic sclerosis (56.2 +/- 18.0 mm Hg, range 37 to 97) versus none of the control subjects (30.2 +/- 2.2 mm Hg, P < 0.0001). Lung fibrosis was present in 12 patients (60%), with an HRCT overall score of 9.0 +/- 4.6. There were no significant differences in plasma ET-1 levels between patients with pulmonary hypertension (1.58 +/- 0.20 pg/mL) or without it (1.76 +/- 0.39 pg/mL, P = 0.188, not significant [NS]); or between patients with lung fibrosis (1.65 +/- 0.14 pg/mL) or without fibrosis (1.78 +/- 0.37 pg/mL, P = 0.290, NS). In particular, 6 patients had neither pulmonary hypertension nor lung fibrosis. In these patients, plasma ET-1 levels were similar compared with the others (1.85 +/- 0.49 versus 1.66 +/- 0.13, respectively; P = 0.180, NS). No correlations were observed between ET-1 levels and either pulmonary pressure levels or HRCT overall scores. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a sensitive assay, highly selective for ET-1, showed higher levels of circulating peptide in patients affected by systemic sclerosis than in control subjects. Neither pulmonary hypertension nor lung fibrosis was accompanied by a further rise in plasma ET-1 concentrations.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[High resolution computerized tomography in cystic fibrosis. Clinico-radiologic correlations in 25 patients].

Twenty five patients with a clinical and radiological diagnosis of cystic fibrosis underwent high resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) with the aim to study pulmonary parenchymal localization of disease. Both patients with initial pulmonary alterations and patients in a more advanced phase of the disease were studied. HRCT proved an excellent method for detecting very early lesions such as bronchiolar ectasia and bronchiolar obstruction by mucous accumulation. Moreover, HRCT proved to be very useful in detecting centrolobular and panlobular parenchymal lesions, with diagnostic information on axial and peripheral interlobular connective tissue. HRCT provided a better spatial definition of bronchiectasia and subpleural air if compared to conventional radiology. It also allowed for correct diagnosis of pneumothorax and detection of pleural fibrosis as a result of iatrogenic complications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Diagnostic accuracy of computerized tomography. Preoperative staging of gastric cancer].

"Imaging techniques" have assumed greater clinical value in the further assessment of an endoscopically or radiologically verified neoplastic lesion of the stomach through the ability to evaluate its extent of invasion, metastatic involvement of lymphnodes and/or distant organs. US, CT, and more recently NMR are non-invasive modalities that provide an accurate preoperative assessment of potential surgery decision making. Common current practice of preoperative CT in gastric cancer and relevant results documented in letterature, have inclined many clinicians in its use in staging this disease. The aim of the study is to evaluate and assign the efficacy of CT imaging in the preoperative staging of gastric cancer by comparing the results obtained with this imaging technique with the postoperative histopatologic findings of 25 patients with adenocarcinoma of the stomach. CT demonstrates the primitive lesion as a gastric wall differentiate T1 (parietal invasion extending to the lamina propria and submucosa) and T2 (invasion of the muscolaris propria and the submucosa). The performance values of CT in detecting tumor extension to the sierosa were as follows: sensitivity of 78%, specificity of 63%; and overall accuracy of 72%. The sensitivity and specificity of CT in demonstrating adjacent organ involvement were approximately 75% and 85% respectively, and overall accuracy of 84%. In the detection of metastatic involvement of lymphnodes CT demonstrated to be 70% sensitive, 62% specific with an efficacy of 68%. In terms of M-stage, CT imaging identified liver metastases in 3 patients (2 located in the VII segment and 1 in the IV) and 1 metastasis to the adrenal gland. All were confirmed by specimen histopathologic findings.

Humans↗
PubMed1995

[Radiologic evaluation of parietal infiltration of bladder cancer (integrated imaging: US, TC, RM) and comparison with transurethral resection (TUR)].

In this work we checked the reliability of Ultrasounds (US), Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the staging of parietal infiltration of bladder carcinoma. We studied 49 patients with documented bladder carcinoma. All patients underwent CT examination, 43 patients to MR examination and 40 patients to US examination. Between the patients who underwent US examination, 35 out of them had a sovra-pubic Ecography, 27 patients a trans-rectal Ecography and in 30 patients a trans-uretral Ecography was performed. After radiologic examination, all patients underwent a deep fractionated trans-uretral resection of the neoplastic mass (TUR) for the tumor staging. The results of the computed images and US examinations were then compared with the TUR staging. Among the group of patients studied with US, the agreement between imaging and TUR staging was respectively of 51% for the sovra-pubic study, 44.5% for the trans-rectal study and 56.7% for the trans-uretral study. The agreement was of 55% with the CT studies and 45.7% with the MRI. The sovra-pubic US studies showed a good correlation in the evaluation of superficial lesions (Tis-T1 stadied on TUR), if compared to the CT and MRI studies; moreover US is certainly more suitable because of its lower price and discomfort for the patient. On the contrary patients with a documented stage > T1 need a CT and MRI study for the correct staging. MRI has shown to be more sensitive in selected cases with localization of tumor on the top of the bladder roof, on its floor or in the follow-up after TUR. CT scan showed a better reliability in the staging of superficial lesions (Tis-T1 stages). On the contrary MRI has shown to be more sensitive in distinguishing superficial lesions (T1-T2 stages) from deeper lesions with muscles infiltration (T3a stage) on the basis of the loss of the parietal hypointense line on the T2 weighted images. Tumors with a grade T3b or more are well studied in both CT scan and MRI, which allow to get more useful information than US about the lynphoglandular involvement.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Magnetic resonance imaging of the parotid glands and lip biopsy in the evaluation of xerostomia in Sjögren's syndrome.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the parotid glands was performed in 23 patients with dry mouth. Each patient underwent lip salivary gland (LSG) biopsy and complete clinical and immunological assessment. MRI showed a quite specific nodular pattern in the parotid glands of patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS), especially those with severe histologic abnormalities in LSG. However no significant correlation could be detected between MRI score and both LSG biopsy class and immunological abnormalities. MRI of the parotid glands can be regarded as a useful noninvasive procedure with high positive predictive value for the evaluation of the salivary component in SS.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Magnetic resonance with intrarectal coil in the study of the prostate].

The objective of this study was to determine the usefulness of the endorectal surface coil in the evaluation of the prostate. The endorectal surface coil provide more detailed visualization of the prostate and periprostatic structures than the body coil. Seminal vesicle architecture and the prostatic capsula are well seen on all of the endorectal coil images thus, disruption of the capsule on the endorectal coil images could be used as a sign of capsular invasion. Furthermore, focal thickening of the tubular walls on the endorectal coil images is considered to be evidence of early seminal vesicle invasion. The limits are represented essentially by the dimension of the endorectal surface coil.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1994

[Magnetic resonance angiography in the study of cervical and endocranial vascular pathology].

The principles of MR angiography techniques for the detection of vascular anatomy are discussed in this review. We underlined the possibilities and limits of this technique with its advantages and disadvantages. We also discuss the applications of MR angiography in diagnosing of cerebrovascular or neoplastic diseases. Finally we stress the role of MR angiography in clinical practice, and its reliability, in comparison with digital angiography, conventional angiography, and spiral CT.

Carotid Arteries↗
PubMed1994

[Magnetic resonance spectroscopy].

Although the usefulness and feasibility of MR spectroscopy in clinical practice has not been proven, this technique has shown to be useful for the understanding of pathogenetic mechanisms of several diseases. In this work we reviewed the most important fields of application of MR spectroscopy and discussed its diagnostic potential.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Diffusion and perfusion studies with magnetic resonance imaging in cerebral ischemia].

The results of diffusion-perfusion RM studies in cerebrovascular diseases are reviewed in this paper. We discussed the role of these techniques for the understanding of the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemia, in experimental studies as well as in humans and their future application in diagnostic clinical trials, for early detection and management.

Brain Ischemia↗
PubMed1994

[Role of imaging technics in the identification, characterization and staging of lung neoplasms].

The findings in different imaging techniques in the diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma are discussed in this report. Conventional radiology is useful for diagnosis, but is insufficient for characterising and assessing the extension of neoplastic masses of the lung. CT and MR imaging are not essential for the diagnosis and characterization of these lesions, but they certainly allow a more accurate evaluation of staging than normal X-ray examination.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1994

[Re-evaluation of bronchogenic carcinoma after radiochemotherapy. Role of CT and MR].

The above paper was intended to evaluate the usefulness of CT and MR in the study of radiation and chemotherapy induced pulmonary changes. CT proved very useful in the evaluation of the remission rates of the tumor and of radiation-induced pulmonary effects and, hence to minimize its confusion with malignancies and other abnormalities. On the other hand, MR proved very useful in the differentiation between post-therapy fibrosis and recurrent tumor at least 13 months after chemo-radiotherapy.

Carcinoma, Bronchogenic↗
PubMed1994

Intracerebral schwannoma: CT and MR findings.

A case of intracerebral schwannoma in a 19-year-old man is reported. CT and MR findings were nonspecific, suggesting a primary glioma. The histologic features were of schwannoma.

Adult↗