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Biomedical subjects

E Rinaldi

Publications and source records attributed to E Rinaldi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[Multiple retrofascial abscesses caused by staphylococcal sepsis].

A case of multiple retrofacial abscesses (left psoas and left paraspinal muscles) due to septic embolization probably arising from a staphylococcus aureus infection of a phlebopathic ulcer of the leg is reported. The Authors stress the pathogenetic rarity of the clinical picture, the usefulness of computed tomography for a correct diagnosis and for the follow-up of the treatment's efficacy, the favourable clinical course with medical therapy.

Abscess↗

Lipid peroxidation and human cataractogenesis in diabetes and severe myopia.

To investigate the role of lipid peroxidation in human cataract, malondialdehyde, a breakdown product of lipid peroxidation, was measured in clear and cataractous lenses from normal subjects, and in cataractous lenses from diabetics and from subjects with severe myopia. The cataractous lenses contained more malondialdehyde than did clear lenses and the level was higher in diabetes and severe myopia than in the idiopathic forms. This indicates that lipid peroxidation may be involved in the development of senile cataract and, as a direct consequence of retinal damage, also in the pathogenesis of cataract in diabetes and in severe myopia.

Adult↗

Teicoplanin in the treatment of infections by staphylococci, Clostridium difficile and other gram-positive bacteria.

Eighty-three episodes of Gram-positive infection in 82 patients were treated with teicoplanin in an open study. Infectious episodes included endocarditis (6 cases), bacteraemia (7), osteomyelitis (8), pseudomembranous colitis (13), cellulitis (11), urinary tract infection (5), pneumonia (1), wound and post-surgical infections (9) and erysipelas (23). Four patients affected by an overwhelming Gram-positive infection as well as eight cases of Gram-positive-Gram-negative mixed infections received teicoplanin in combination with other antibiotics. The average duration of treatment was 16 days (range 5-70). In pseudomembranous colitis teicoplanin was given by mouth for ten days. Staphylococcus aureus (11 methicillin-sensitive and 13 methicillin-resistant strains) and Clostridium difficile (13 isolates) were the most frequent pathogens. Overall 89% (74/83) of the infections were cured, 3.6% (3/83) improved and 3.6% (3/83) failed. Relapse and superinfection were observed in 2.4% (2/83) and 1.2% (1/83) episodes respectively. All pseudomembranous colitis cases were clinically cured and C. difficile was eradicated in all but one patient. The MIC range, MIC50 and MIC90 (mg/l) of teicoplanin for C. difficile were less than 0.125-0.250, less than 0.125 and 0.250 respectively. Pharmacokinetic studies in patients given a single iv daily maintenance dose of 400 mg showed that the steady-state trough teicoplanin concentrations in serum were reached on day 8. Assays of skin-subcutaneous tissue biopsies showed that teicoplanin penetrated well into these structures. Side effects were observed in six of the 82 treated patients (7.3%) and teicoplanin had to be discontinued in four cases. The results of the study show that teicoplanin is a safe and useful new agent for the treatment of infections caused by Gram-positive organisms, including methicillin-resistant staphylococci and C. difficile.

Adolescent↗

Third generation cephalosporins as a risk factor for Clostridium difficile-associated disease: a four-year survey in a general hospital.

The main clinical features of patients who developed pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) or Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea (CDAD) during their stay at the S. Anna General Hospital, Como, over the period February 1984 to May 1988, are reported. Forty patients developed either CDAD (ten cases) or PMC (30 cases). Twenty-seven (65.7%) had undergone surgery and 32 (80.0%) had received prolonged antibiotic treatment. Three patients (7.5%) were given three doses only of ceftriaxone. Five patients (12.5%) had not received any antibiotic treatment; but three were nursed in a bed next to a patient with PMC-CDAD. The number of cases diagnosed were correlated retrospectively with the cumulative consumption of different groups of antibiotics on wards in which PMC or CDAD occurred. A significant difference (P less than 0.01) between third generation cephalosporins (16 cases) and ureidopenicillins (one case), was found. Twenty-five patients were treated with oral vancomycin. Two died of the underlying disease and 23 were cured. The disease recurred clinically in three, and follow-up cultures were positive in another asymptomatic case. Fifteen patients (all PMC cases) were treated with oral teicoplanin. All were clinically cured and remained asymptomatic and all but one were also cleared of C. difficile. No adverse reactions were observed in patients given either drug. Third generation cephalosporins, even when administered as short-term perioperative prophylaxis, but not ureidopenicillins, are significantly associated with C. difficile-related diseases. Teicoplanin proved to be very effective and safe in the treatment of PMC, and should be further evaluated there.

Cephalosporins↗

Treatment of Clostridium difficile-associated disease with teicoplanin.

Forty-seven patients affected by Clostridium difficile-associated disease were treated orally with either vancomycin (patients hospitalized from February 1984 to February 1987) or teicoplanin (from March 1987 to December 1988). All patients given teicoplanin remained asymptomatic after discontinuation of treatment, and all but one were also cleared of C. difficile. In the vancomycin group, clinical symptoms recurred in 3 of 23 evaluable patients, and follow-up cultures were positive in another asymptomatic case.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

In vivo measurement of human lens aging using the lens opacity meter.

Lens aging has been measured in vivo using a new instrument: the lens opacity meter 701 (Interzeag, Schlieren, Switzerland). Statistical analyses have been performed to verify the occurrence of the phenomenon, the sex differences and the reproducibility of the obtained results. The findings demonstrate an increase in the light scattering in the normal lens with aging, which is similar in both sexes. The instrument detects this process and the measurements have a high degree of reproducibility.

Adolescent↗

[Role of the non-enzymatic glycosylation of protein in the formation of human cataracts].

We have measured the free epsilon amino groups in soluble and insoluble proteins of clear human lenses and diabetic and non-diabetic senile cataractous lenses. The free epsilon amino groups content of soluble and insoluble proteins was significantly lower in diabetic cataracts than in clear lenses and non diabetic senile cataracts. Our results seem to demonstrate that non-enzymatic glycosylation of lens protein could play a role in the pathogenesis of cataract in diabetes.

Adult↗

Multifocal fractures of the femur.

Multifocal fractures of the femur in modern traumatology are becoming more and more frequent and often pose difficult problems of treatment. In view of the sparse contributions on this subject in the literature, we analysed our series of 33 cases with a view to formulating our conclusions as to the best type of treatment. Because of the varied associations of different types of fracture in a single skeletal segment, there is no single method of synthesis applicable to all cases. The various means of synthesis at our disposal (Küntscher nail, Grosse Kempf blocked nail, Ender nail, AO plates and screws, external fixators) should be selected depending on the individual case, respecting the concept of closed surgery as much as possible. This requires imagination as well as experience.

Adolescent↗

[Lipid peroxidation and cataract formation in experimental diabetes].

To investigate the role of lipid peroxidation in diabetic cataractogenesis, malondialdehyde, a breakdown product of lipid peroxidation, was measured in lenses with incipient opacities and in retinas from diabetic rats and in clear lenses and in retinas from normal rats. The malondialdehyde mean values obtained in the transparent and cataractous lenses showed non-significant differences, while non-diabetic rat retinas had a significantly lower mean level of malondialdehyde compared with diabetic rat retinas (p less than 0.01). This indicates that, in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, lipid peroxidation is apparently not involved in the development of cataract, but it is quite probably involved in retinal damage. The retina, richer in polyunsaturated fatty acids than other ocular structures, is the elective site of lipid peroxidation and from this membrane peroxidation products might probably diffuse and damage other ocular tissues.

Animals↗

Immune response to hepatitis B vaccine given at different injection sites and by different routes: a controlled randomized study.

Two-hundred-ninety-nine hospital workers were randomly allocated to receive MSD hepatitis B vaccine in different injection sites and by different routes (intramuscularly by gluteal or deltoid injections or subcutaneously in the arm) or Pasteur vaccine subcutaneously. Highest rates of seroconversion and highest mean anti-HB, titres were found in subjects given MSD vaccine by intramuscular injection into the deltoid muscle.

Adult↗

Systemic human diseases as oxidative risk factors in cataractogenesis. I. Diabetes.

In this study we have investigated the oxidative metabolism of red blood cells (RBC), plasma, serum, aqueous humor, and lens of healthy subjects and of age-matched cataractous patients with and without diabetes. Reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH GSSG) levels in RBC were similar among the three groups. Plasma levels of GSSG were higher in diabetics than in cataractous and control subjects. No differences in plasma content of GSH were noted among the three groups. The activity of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was significantly diminished in diabetic patients. Controls and cataractous patients showed similar levels of malondialdehyde (MDA). Although not significant the MDA content in RBC from diabetics was elevated. No differences in plasma levels of vitamin E were noted among the three groups. The biological liquid oxidant activity of serum in diabetic patients was significantly higher than in controls and cataractous patients. GSH levels in aqueous humor were similar in diabetic and nondiabetic cataractous patients. The content of GSSG in aqueous humor was highest in diabetic patients. Control clear lenses showed low levels of MDA. The MDA levels in cataractous lenses from nondiabetic patients were significantly higher than those of controls. In diabetic patients the content of MDA in the lens was approximately twice as high as the cataractous values. Our results seem to demonstrate that oxidative damage could play a role in the pathogenesis of cataract in diabetes.

Adult↗