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Biomedical subjects

E Tomei

Publications and source records attributed to E Tomei.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Demarcation of myocardial ischemia: magnetic susceptibility effect of contrast medium in MR imaging.

Dysprosium diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid-bis (methylamide) (DTPA-BMA), a new nonionic contrast medium for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, produces signal loss on T2-weighted images because of induced magnetic field gradients. The potential of this agent to delineate myocardial ischemia was investigated in 10 rats with acute (30 minutes) occlusion of the left coronary artery. T2-weighted MR images were acquired before and for 1 hour after intravenous administration of 1 mmol/kg of Dy-DTPA-BMA. Before administration of the contrast medium, signal intensity (SI) in the ischemic region was significantly greater than that in the normal myocardium; however, the borders of the ischemic region were not consistently distinct. The contrast medium caused marked decrease in SI of normal myocardium (18% +/- 3% of the control value), only slight decrease in the jeopardized region (76% +/- 6% of the control value), and no discernible effects on heart rate or blood pressure. Substantial contrast between normal and ischemic myocardium persisted for 1 hour. Moderate signal loss was observed in skeletal muscle. Dy-DTPA-BMA has the potential to demarcate the myocardial area in jeopardy as a region of high signal intensity because it erases signal preferentially in the normal myocardium.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

[Radiological study of the duodenum in celiac disease in adults].

Celiac disease (CD) is the most common form of malabsorption in childhood when it presents with diarrhea and growth failure, a jejunal biopsy is considered the first diagnostic investigation by some authors. In adulthood, clinical symptoms of CD may mimic several different disease, such as peptic ulcer and IBS, and the first diagnostic investigation is an upper GI series. Radiological features of duodenum and small bowel were evaluated in twenty patients with adult onset celiac disease. Sign of duodenitis such as thickened folds, mucosal nodules, dilatation of duodenum and erosions were observed in 19 out of our 20 patients (95%); particularly, thickened folds in 17 (85%), nodularity in 16 (80%), duodenal dilatation in 12 (60%) and erosions in 4 (20%). In celiac disease the lesions are more severe in the upper part of small bowel, and duodenitis may be the unique sign of CD. Duodenitis may be part of a disease involving the entire small bowel; so, a duodenitis observed in the upper gastrointestinal tract requires the study of the entire small bowel--which seems to be very important in the case of celiac disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Cyclophosphamide-induced suppressor cells in mice: suppression of the antibody response in vitro and characterization of the effector cells.

It was found earlier that nonspecific suppressor cells obtained from the spleen of mice injected with cyclophosphamide (Cy) at a dose of 200 mg/kg body wt are nonadherent, surface Ig negative, and Thy-1 negative. It is now reported that Cy-induced suppressor (Cy-S) cells suppress the in vitro primary and secondary humoral responses in a dose-dependent manner. Suppressor activity is a property of a low density cell that is found in the spleen from 5 to 11 days after Cy administration. Cy-S cells are negative for a number of T-cell markers and are nonadherent to plastic. They are not agglutinated by peanut agglutinin and do not acquire the Thy-1 antigen after treatment with thymosin, suggesting that they are not T-cell precursors. While NK activity was detected in the Cy-S cell preparations, this activity was removed by treatment with antibodies specific for the Qa-5 antigen and complement without affecting the suppressor activity. Cy-S cells are, therefore, distinct from B cells, T cells, NK cells, and macrophages.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Intestinal gas in ulcerative colitis.

Intestinal gas was measured planimetrically on plain abdominal films from 25 healthy subjects and 47 patients with active ulcerative colitis (mild, moderate, severe and toxic megacolon). Compared with controls, significant colonic distention was found in toxic megacolon. Gas in the small bowel was significantly increased in toxic megacolon and in severe colitis but was within the normal range in the mild and moderate forms. Two groups of patients with severe colitis were identified, showing either normal or increased gas content in the small bowel. Two of seven patients in the latter group developed toxic megacolon in spite of intensive medical treatment. Intestinal gas values showed a linear correlation with arterial blood pH, ESR and body temperature. No correlation was found between intestinal gas and other features of severity. It is suggested that an abnormal collection of gas in the small bowel loops associated with metabolic alkalosis corresponds to an early stage of a toxic complication ("impending megacolon").

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Internal hernia with volvulus and intussusception: case report.

An 82-year-old male presented to the hospital because of acute exacerbation of abdominal pain and biliary vomiting. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen was performed. A left paraduodenal hernia associated with volvulus, intussusception, and bowel wall ischemia were radiologically diagnosed. Surgery confirmed the diagnostic imaging findings. We present the first case of an association of these acute abdominal conditions.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Hypothyroidism in adults: a magnetic resonance study of cerebral and hypophyseal changes].

The case of a 55-year-old woman with postpartum (at age of 22) hypopituitarism is reported. The patient, with signs of myxedema, was admitted to a psychiatric hospital for hallucinations. In addition to routine tests and measurements of thyroid hormones level, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and pituitary region was performed. The results of MRI showed cerebral atrophy and a large "empty sella". On the basis of clinical, laboratory and instrumental data, a diagnosis of panhypopituitarism with prevalent hypothyroidism was achieved. Many hypotheses could be made regarding its pathogenesis. Initially we considered the diagnosis of Sheehan's syndrome in which the sella turcica usually presents normal or reduced dimensions. However the presence of a large "empty sella" with thin walls, excludes this diagnosis. The delay of menarche and the short stature suggest the hypothesis of a preexistent pathological condition. It is possible that the patient had liquefied pituitary adenoma as a consequence of the postpartum shock or that she was hypothyroid, a condition in which the "empty sella" is very common.

Brain Diseases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Imaging diagnosis in the study of the hypophysis in congenital hypothyroidism].

A high incidence of empty sella was found, by CT.HR and MR, in 18 patients with congenital hypothyroidism studied by plain skull radiographs, hormonal and radioimmunoassays and scintiscan. From a pathogenetic point of view, it is interesting to note that all patients had been given inadequate therapy for a long period. A significant incidence of cerebral atrophy was found in young congenital hypothyroid subjects. Radiographic examination is still useful, mainly in the screening of these lesions. In fact, morphologic and/or volumetric alterations of the sella, corresponded in all cases to the finding of an empty sella, as demonstrated by CT.HR and MR. Both these techniques have a high diagnostic accuracy in identifying the lesion. The contribution of imaging techniques is even greater in view of the fact that the clinical and biohumoral picture of empty sella is still ill-defined.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A digital radiology method for assessing vertebral osteoporosis].

The radiologic identification of vertebral fractures is usually subjective and reproducibility is poor. This paper describes a new digital radiologic method to perform vertebral morphometry, i.e. osteoradiometry (ORM). Lateral radiographs of the thoracic and lumbar spine were obtained in 50 premenopausal women and digitalized by means of a video camera. A special computer software enables to calculate the anterior (Ha), middle (Hm), and posterior (Hp) heights of vertebral bodies (T4-L5) and the morphometric indices of vertebral fractures. ORM reproducibility was assessed by comparing repeated measurements made by two radiologists: the intra- and interobserver variation coefficients (CV) were respectively 1.5% and 2.3% for Hp; 1.3% and 2% for Hm; 1.4% and 2.1% for Ha. The normal range for vertebral dimensions was therefore established. The anterior and posterior heights increased from T4 to L2, but for L3-L5 the posterior height was lower than the anterior height (Ha/Hp > 1). Vertebral heights positively correlated with the standing heights of the subjects (r = 0.2, p < 0.05). Weight and the body mass index (BMI) were not correlated with vertebral heights. These normal values, compared with those found in osteoporosis patients, will allow to assess ORM diagnostic efficacy in identifying vertebral fractures.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗