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Biomedical subjects

F Ferri

Publications and source records attributed to F Ferri.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

[Enoximone in the treatment of postoperative low cardiac output syndrome in pediatric heart surgery. Open study in tetralogy of Fallot].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor enoximone in low output states (LOS) following cardiac operations in congenital heart diseases. DESIGN: This was an unblinded, retrospective, open study. Hemodynamic effects of intravenous enoximone were investigated in 130 patients--70 adults and 60 pediatrics--offered to our Department from 1992 to 1995. To avoid multifactorial events due to different cardiopathies, our analysis was limited to 24 newborns and children operated on for correction of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). SETTING: Cardiac surgery ICU of a Regional Hospital in Italy. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 24 cases of postoperative LOS in surgical corrected TOF, treated with enoximone, were compared with a control group treated with conventional inotropic drugs. DATA ANALYSIS: Data were compared by "t"-Student's test for impaired data. RESULTS: Significative cardiac function improvement in treated group, demonstrated by an increased systemic pressure values, by decreased right chambers pressures and by significative improvement in oxygen mixed venous saturation. Better hemodynamic recovery after ICU discharge. No significant side effects were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Enoximone is, suggested also in pediatric patients in the management of refractory LOS following open heart surgery, especially when a long-standing treatment is predictable (more than 72-96 hrs).

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Severe diffuse facial cellulitis].

Twenty cases of severe cervicofacial infections among 184 cases of cellulites treated in 1991 and 1992 at the Lille University Hospital were investigated. Outcome was compared with results reported in the literature. Outcomes were similar and emphasized the critical nature of this type of infection which caused 7 deaths in our series and severe anatomic and functional sequelae. All patients (n = 20) were given anti-inflammatory drugs prior to surgery. The correlation between disease severity and use of anti-inflammatory drugs would appear to be an established fact. Criteria predicting severity were identified in order to obtain a score for high or low risk and to better adapt the medical and surgical management strategy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[Iatrogenic false aneurysm of the ulnar artery. A clinical case and review of the literature].

Nowadays false aneurysms have become an important part of the workload of a vascular surgeon as a result of the increasing number of iatrogenic arterial trauma occurring during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures requiring puncture or exposure of blood vessels. A case of a false aneurysm in the ulnar artery caused by a simple syringe needle during an intravenous cannulation is reported. The clinical symptoms and details of the diagnostic procedure based upon color-Doppler and angiography are examined. The vascular operation consisted in proximal and distal arterial control, resection of the aneurysm and end-to-end anastomosis. After surgical treatment the patient experienced an excellent anatomic and functional recovery.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Long-term exposure to zidovudine affects in vitro and in vivo the efficiency of phosphorylation of thymidine kinase.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of acquired cellular resistance to AZT, a mechanism that has been described as a potential source of drug resistance in addition to viral mutations. To study this phenomenon the kinetics parameters of thymidine kinase (TK) activity have been defined in CEMazt, a cell line previously selected for resistance to AZT, in comparison with the parental AZT-sensitive CEM cells. The results revealed that the value of the maximum velocity (Vmax) of TK activity for deoxythymidine (dThd) phosphorylation is decreased in CEMazt as compared to the wild-type cell line (Vmax: CEM = 105.3 +/- 17.6 nmol/hr/mg of protein; CEMazt = 0.3 +/- 0.02 nmol/hr/mg of protein; p < 0.001). Furthermore, the enzyme affinity versus dThd is lower in CEMazt as compared to CEM (Km: CEM = 0.9 +/- 0.2 microM; CEMazt = 1.6 +/- 0.2 microM; p < 0.01). Consequently phosphorylation efficiency, expressed as the ratio between Vmax and Km, is also reduced in CEMazt (p < 0.001). To evaluate whether such a phenomenon may also occur in patients, ex vivo experiments were carried out by using PBMCs from HIV-infected patients, treated or not treated with AZT. The results (mean values from 10 patients for each group) indicate that a prolonged treatment (> 6 months) with AZT may modify the enzymatic kinetics of TK, leading to a significant reduction in the phosphorylation efficiency of the enzyme (4.07 +/- 1.7 in treated patients versus 13.5 +/- 1.7 in untreated patients; p < 0.001). These results indicate that AZT treatment can also induce a defect in TK activity in patients.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1995

[Extra-pelvic mesonephric cyst].

The authors report a case of parovarian mesonephryc cyst that came out through femoral canal outside the pelvis and appeared in crural region. Briefly its features are discussed and compared to Literature.

Cysts↗
PubMed1995

CADMIO: computer aided design for medical information objects.

The growth of the computational capability and the tools of graphic software is nowadays available in an integrated manner into the development environments, thus permitting the realization of tool kits capable of handling information that is complex and of different kinds such as the typical medical information. This has given a great impulse to the creation of electronic medical folders joining together with new and stimulating functionality with respect to the usual paper document [1]. In the present work, we propose a tool capable of defining a multimedia electronic medical folder and representing its architecture through a layout that is formed on the basis of the particular data types to be handled. This tool is capable of providing an integrated view of data that, even though they are close in cognitive sense, are often stored and represented apart in the practice. Different approaches to the browsing feature are giving within the system, thus the user can personalize the way of viewing the information stored into the folder or can let the system guide the browsing.

Computer Graphics↗
PubMed1995

Toward an improvement of life optimizing resource use.

In this paper an object-oriented system for the storing and the managing of epidemiological data in order to decrease the incidence of a given groups of diseases by means of health care strategy application and of the relative health care resource allocation is described. The system starts from the present epidemiological situation of the territory examined and from the real distribution on this territory of human and material health care resources. The health care manager inputs the available budget, some information regarding the population living on this area, other geographical and climatic informations, the values of certain epidemiological parameters of the diseases considered--the system has stored the mathematical and departmental models of these diseases--and the system allocates (using own allocation algorithms) human and material health care resources, optimizing the cost-benefit rate.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1995

User modeling techniques as support in the clinical decision-making process.

This paper describes research work on the design and creation of a medical folder management system capable of establishing co-operative dialogue with users who have access to the information contained therein. The research work has addressed the problem of integrating into the system knowledge about the medical domain and that about users, both necessary to activate co-operative dialogue. The CADMIO [2] prototype has been developed since the study was made. The last version of the CADMIO system stores information about users for the use in recognizing and interpreting their behavior, providing help, and in acquiring and returning further information. Depending on this information the system retrieves and shows the data of the medical folder in an intelligent way by highlighting links between data. It simplifies and increases the speed of the interaction by focusing on the data useful to the decisional activity of the physician.

Bayes Theorem↗
PubMed1994

Exposure to cobalt in the welding process with stellite.

In some small factories producing moulds for ceramic tiles using a cobalt alloy (stellite), environmental and biological (CoU) monitoring was conducted for eight workers employed in gas-shielded arc (MAG) and oxy-acetylene welding processes. During oxy-acetylene braze-welding, the exposure to cobalt is very low as are urinary cobalt concentrations. On the other hand, during the MAG welding process, the exposure levels can exceed the TLV-TWA levels and correlated well with CoU at the end of a working shift. Two MAG welders followed for two consecutive weeks, showed different patterns of urinary cobalt excretion: under the same environmental conditions, the higher CoU was found in the worker with greater past exposure. This aspect needs further evaluation before adopting CoU as a current indicator of occupational exposure to the metal.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1994

[Hemorrhagic pseudocyst of the spleen].

The authors report a rare case of haemorrhagic pseudocyst of the spleen in a 37 years old female who had always enjoyed very good health and who didn't remember any previous chest or abdominal traumas. Due to the initial refusal of the patient to undergo splenectomy, it has been possible to follow pathology progress. An echography of the cyst 6 months later, showed a maximum diameter increase of more than 2 cm and a further thinning of the cyst wall. Afterwards the patient decided to undergo the operation. The spleen showed a hollow of 10 cm of maximum diameter, with a degraded haematic content; the final histological examination confirmed the initial diagnosis of haemorrhagic pseudocyst of the spleen.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Blood levels of somatotropic hormone in patients with various degrees of heart failure].

BACKGROUND: The hypothesis that in normal pituitary patients (pts) with heart failure the heart is a target-organ of the hypophysis has not be held in due consideration. Aim of the study was: 1) to determine Growth Hormone (GH) plasma levels in pts with various degree of heart failure; 2) to evaluate the relationship between GH, left ventricular mass and some haemodynamic and endocrine parameters of ventricular dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood samples for determination of GH and Atrial Natriuretic Factor (ANF) were collected 24 hours before haemodynamic study. Plasma concentrations of GH and ANF were determined by radio-immuno-assay in 20 normotensive pts (age ranging 31 to 54) without mellitus diabetes in IV (10 pts) and III (10 pts) NYHA FC: Echocardiographic determination of left atrial diameter, end-diastolic and end-systolic left ventricular diameters, index of left ventricular mass (ILVM), were performed. All pts underwent right and left cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography. RESULTS: The pts in IV NYHA FC, Group A, had lower cardiac index (IC) (1.8 +/- 0.4 vs 2.9 +/- 0.1, p < 0.0001) and higher GH and ANF plasma levels than those in III NYHA FC, Group B (4.9 +/- 4.5 vs 0.12 +/- 0.04, p < 0.01; 157.9 +/- 43.9 vs 65.6 +/- 14.6, p < 0.0001). No significant difference was found by comparing in both groups ILVM (212.6 +/- 64.7 vs 192.9 +/- 71.9, NS). GH and ANF plasma levels were 4.1 +/- 5.0 and 113.8 +/- 59.6 in pts with ILVM > or = 200 g/mq and 0.9 +/- 2.7 and 109.7 +/- 57.3 in pts with ILVM < 200 g/mq (no significant statistical difference). We found an high correlation by comparing GH and ANF in group with ILVM > or = 200 g/mq (r = 0.82, p < 0.005) and in group with ILVM < 200 g/mq (r = 0.68, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated: 1) increased GH plasma levels in pts with severe heart failure; 2) an high correlation between GH and ANF plasma levels in pts with ILVM > or = 200 g/mq.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

An object-oriented tool for the generation and management of multimedia patient folders.

Computer-based patient folders are evolving from the simple reproduction of traditional paper documents toward active tools, able to support the whole diagnostic and therapeutic process. The advent of multimediality has given emphasys to the idea of computerized folder, i.e. a collection of heterogeneous kinds of documents pertaining different media. In this paper we present a tool implementing generation and management of multimedia patient folders showing its architecture and functionalities and the innovative interaction paradigms adopted. The tool realized allows medical users to choose the concepts desired in their target application and generates a customized patient folder management system by means of a friendly interface and without the need of a programming language. The system automatically created can be effectively employed for reporting and storing clinical cases.

Computer Systems↗
PubMed1994

A new frontier for cardiac therapy. Principles and practice of aerobic cardiac surgery.

As recently reported in the literature, aerobic cardiac surgery (normothermic total body perfusion + continuous normothermic blood cardioplegia) might achieve optimal heart protection by virtually eliminating myocardial ischemia during aortic cross-clamping. Two-hundred and fifty consecutive patients underwent cardiac surgery by this technique. Mean cross-clamp time was 72.6 +/- 30.7 minutes. Ten patients (4%) died, 20 (8%) needed major inotropic support and 8 (3.2%) required circulatory assistance. Two-hundred and twenty-three patients (89.2%) returned spontaneously to normal sinus rhythm and 8 (3.2%) had evidence of perioperative myocardial infarction. Nineteen patients (7.6%) had a cross-clamp time longer than 120 minutes and no significant difference in mortality was observed with those undergoing a shorter cross-clamping. When comparing 154 patients receiving retrograde continuous normothermic blood cardioplegia induction with 46 receiving antegrade induction, no difference was found in perioperative parameters, mortality and morbidity. By univariate analysis, impaired preoperative LV performance was identified as the only risk factor for operative mortality. In our experience aerobic cardiac surgery appears most suitable for emergency and redo operations, extensive coronary revascularization, complex mitral reconstruction, aortic valve replacement (particularly with unstented biological prostheses), cardiac transplants and whenever two or more valvular and/or coronary procedures are associated. Retrograde induction is as effective as antegrade and simplifies the technique, facilitating unmodified continuous normothermic blood cardioplegia in different anatomical and clinical situations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

ADAMS: Aggregate Data Management System for epidemiologists and health-care managers.

An effective health-care policy is supported by the availability of data in the form of statistical tables for epidemiologists and health-care managers. Creation, analysis and exploitation of these data strongly support the monitoring of trends in mortality and morbidity phenomena and the evaluation of offered health services. This might imply the transformation of statistical tables to more suitable formats. A successful management, manipulation and querying of a statistical table is a complex activity requiring a considerable knowledge of statistical problems. Computerised support can be precious in this task and this led to the development of several data management systems. In this paper we sketch out the features of ADAMS (Aggregate Data Management System), a system conceived to allow an easy interaction with statistical tables, reshaping and browsing of their descriptive part. ADAMS aims at simplifying the problem of extracting information from a statistical database and performing statistical table manipulation. The following functionalities are provided: definition of a statistical database at descriptive level; storage of data in the database; manipulation of data according to the summarisation and reclassification operators; browsing between data and their descriptive part. It also supports different manipulation styles according to different user profiles.

Data Interpretation, Statistical↗
PubMed1993

[Taurodeoxycholic acid in the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis. A controlled study in comparison to ursodeoxycholic acid].

Thirty patients with primary biliary cirrhosis were enrolled; 25 completed the study period (6 months). Of these, 12 were randomised to TUDCA treatment and 13 to UDCA. Dosage range 12-15 mg/kg daily for both groups which were comparable at to age, sex, duration and stage of the disease, as well as for all liver laboratory tests. Altogether, the results obtained were satisfactory in both groups. What was surprising was that clinical experience failed to confirm the greater efficacy of TUDCA compared to UDCA. On the contrary, UDCA appeared to be more effective than TUDCA in improving liver function (even significantly so as far as GGT was concerned). Also with regard to tolerability, UDCA was definitely superior to TUDCA.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Emergency surgery of acute coronary insufficiency].

In our centre, during the last five years, emergency operations (within 6 hours) and urgent operations (within 72 hours) have represented 1/4 of all coronary surgery. 295 patients (pts) have been operated on since 1972: of these, 279 with simple revascularization, 5 with combined major surgery, and 11 as a consequence of mechanical complications of acute myocardial infarction. These last were all in cardiogenic shock: the overall 30-day mortality rate was 5.4% (3.6% in those pts with simple revascularization, 20% in those with combined major surgery, and 45.4% in pts with cardiogenic shock). In the subgroup with simple revascularization, the incidence of non fatal perioperative acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was 4.7% in 253 pts with unstable angina, 52.2% in 23 pts with abrupt closure during coronary angioplasty, and obviously 100% in 3 pts surgically treated during evolving AMI. We were able to identify in the univariate analysis as the only 30-day risk mortality factors: 1) a reduced ejection fraction (< 30%) and 2) the combination with endarterectomy. Other factors (female sex, age > 70, severity of angina, diffuse coronary artery disease and more than 3 by pass grafts) have shown a tendency to increase the mortality rate without statistical significance. No deaths occurred in pts revascularized in emergency situations due to coronary angioplasty complications. In recent years emergency and urgent coronary surgical operations have been increasing, with an increase in pts with higher risk factors. In pts with simple revascularization, 30-day mortality and incidence of myocardial infarction are similar to those of elective surgery. In pts with abrupt closure as a consequence of coronary angioplasty the mortality rate seems very low, while the incidence of infarction remains extremely high. These observations have allowed the development of an integrated protocol of intervention in acute unstable coronary syndromes.

Acute Disease↗