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F Meneghini

Publications and source records attributed to F Meneghini.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Door-to-door prevalence survey of neurological diseases in a Sicilian population. Background and methods. The Sicilian Neuro-Epidemiologic Study (SNES) Group.

In three municipalities of Sicily, a prevalence survey of major neurological diseases was conducted door-to-door using screening and examination to find cases. This was the first large-scale neuroepidemiologic survey of that type undertaken in Italy: 24,496 persons were screened yielding 1,538 positives, of whom 1,408 were examined directly by neurologists and 110 were evaluated on the basis of existing medical documentation. In the article, we provide (1) a description of the population investigated and the survey methods employed; (2) details of the cooperation and the attrition experienced in the survey; and (3) age and sex tallies for the study population, including some on education level and occupation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Osteoma of the frontoethmoidal sinuses: craniofacial resection and reconstructive strategy.

Frontoethmoidal involvement by benign tumors may lead to aesthetic and functional sequelae. The key for removal of such lesions is a proper planned craniofacial approach based on the preoperative evaluation. If total extirpation requires resection of part of the forehead or orbit, immediate reconstruction is mandatory. In recent years, craniofacial techniques and strategies have become popular. Among these are the use of split cranial bone, rotation of skull bones, the use of galeal-pericranial flaps, and the introduction of internal rigid fixation. We present a case of frontoethmoidal osteoma treated with a combined craniofacial approach. For the reconstruction, modern principles of craniofacial surgery have been applied.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Dry chemistry thin film immunoassay.

The authors report the development of a novel thin film multilayer immunoassay technology. The technology is applied to therapeutic drug monitoring and thyroid hormone testing in serum or plasma and can be extended to assays of other low molecular weight analytes. The assay detection range spans five orders of magnitude, from 1 x 10(-3) to 1 x 10(-8) M. The assay element comprises of multilayer coated chip, containing the active reagents in an agarose matrix and a plastic module serving both as a holder and a spreader. The assays are in the fluorescent competitive immunoassay format of the ligand displacement mode and are performed on an automated instrument with random access capability. The assays are fast and reliable and gave very good agreement when compared to reference methods.

Immunoassay↗
PubMed1989

Prevalence survey of major neurological disorders in Sicily. Results of a pilot study.

A pilot study on the prevalence of neurological disorders in Sicily was carried out with a protocol never previously used in Italy. A screening questionnaire was administered to 1,601 subjects of a community, designed to identify patients with cerebrovascular diseases, epilepsy, extrapyramidal syndromes, peripheral neuropathies, migraine and intracranial neoplasms. Of 262 subjects who were identified as likely to be suffering from neurological illness, 248 (94.6%) were examined by a neurologist. Of these, 8.9% were found to be normal, 46.8% were suffering from non-neurological diseases, 44.3% had one or more neurological diseases (prevalence of 6.8%). This pilot study proved to be a good starting-point for a future major survey.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Neuroepidemiological survey on Sicilian population. A feasibility study.

This research was designed as a pilot study in order to determine the feasibility and the reliability of a major door-to-door neuroepidemiological survey to be performed in the near future in 3 Sicilian towns with a total population of 30,000 inhabitants. 1,601 subjects were investigated by means of a questionnaire for the prevalence of stroke, epilepsy, parkinsonian syndromes, peripheral neuropathies, intracranial neoplasm and migraine. This preliminary study proved to be a good starting point, but some difficulties were identified in the questionnaire, in data collecting instruments and in diagnostic criteria.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Studies on the retina of the diabetic db/db mouse. I. Endothelial cell-pericyte ratio.

The genetically diabetic db/db mouse is a model of type-2 diabetes, where nephropathy and neuropathy, but not retinopathy were observed. The authors studied the retinas (trypsin digestion technique) of 16 db/db mice and 16 age-matched litter mates (db/m; controls), divided into five age groups. They noted a marked increase in the ratio of endothelial cells to intramural pericytes in diabetic mice compared to controls. This increase resulted from a selective and highly significant loss of pericytes in db/db mice (p less than 0.05). Some strand-like and relatively acellular capillaries were also observed. The db/db mouse may represent an adequate model for studies on the pathogenesis of retinopathy.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1988

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: an epidemiological study in the Province of Messina, Italy, 1976-1985.

An epidemiological investigation of 41 subjects with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis observed in the Province of Messina during 1976-1985 was performed. The incidence was 0.61/100,000 and the prevalence 2.48/100,000 inhabitants. The illness was found to be prevalent in males. The atrophic type occurred in 17 subjects, the bulbar type in 23 cases and the pseudo-polyneuritic form in only one patient. The mean age on the onset was 57.29 +/- 10.55 years. The duration of the illness was significantly higher in patients with atrophic type (p less than 0.01). No significant difference between occupation and development of the disease was found. Among all patients 12.19% presented evidence of trauma, but traumatic events were equally present in a control group.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1987

Relevance of platelet factor four (PF4) plasma levels in multiple sclerosis.

In order to study the role of platelets in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) we assessed, in a group of patients during a quiescent phase of the disease, the plasma levels of beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) and platelet factor four (PF4) both in absence of treatment and during administration of aspirin (ASA) at the dose of 50 mg/daily. In the MS patients studied, the basal plasma levels of beta-TG and PF4 were significantly higher than in control subjects. The increase in the beta-TG plasma levels occurred independently of the age, sex and severity of the disease, whereas the modification in the PF4 plasma levels was significantly correlated with the severity of the disease. Administration to the patients of ASA, at the dose that does not affect prostacyclin production, determined a decrease of beta-TG in 77% of the patients. Mean PF4 plasma levels remained unchanged. These results suggest that PF4 in the plasma of MS patients may originate not only from the platelets but also from the mast cells following platelet aggregating factor (PAF) stimulation and immunocomplex formation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Glycated serum proteins and glucose tolerance.

Glycated serum proteins (GSP), stable glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) together with some metabolic parameters were evaluated in 120 subjects, 30 with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), 30 with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), 30 with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDD), and 30 with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDD). GSP levels were significantly higher in IGT, NIDD and IDD than in NGT. HbA1c levels were not significantly higher in IGT in comparison with NGT, but were significantly higher in NIDD and in IDD than in NGT and IGT. GSP correlated better than HbA1c with all metabolic parameters considered. Taking into account the distribution of the values, GSP showed a smaller overlap than HbA1c in all four groups studied. Moreover, only 9 subjects (30%) with IGT showed GSP levels above the normal range. Therefore, GSP assay is able to distinguish between normal and diabetic subjects but is unable by itself to discriminate subjects with normal from those with reduced glucose tolerance.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical facial photography in a small office: lighting equipment and technique.

The taking of clinical photographs, to record and to utilize during surgery, is an essential aspect of activity in every professional office or department of facial surgery. To obtain the best quality and consistency of results, many suggest the use of a professional lighting system composed of two or more flash units. An entire room, or a large part of it, should be permanently reserved for this use. In the last five years, I have developed and standardized a technique for taking facial photography, utilizing a single flash unit (monolight) in a small area that, after photographing, is cleared to allow space for other activities. A remarkable effort was dedicated to make the procedure easier, to save time, to reduce cost, and to make it possible to take a complete set of shots without the aid of an assistant.

Face↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy: a door-to-door survey in a Sicilian municipality.

INTRODUCTION: Because of the limited information on cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, we conducted a door-to-door two-phase survey in a Sicilian municipality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We first screened for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy among the inhabitants of the municipality: (N = 7653, as of the prevalence day, November 1, 1987). Study neurologists then investigated those subjects suspected to have had a cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. Diagnoses were bases on specified criteria. RESULTS: We found 27 subjects affected by CSR (17 definite, 10 possible). Prevalence (cases per 1000 population) was 3.5 in the total population; it increased to a peak at age 50-59 years, and decreased thereafter. The age-specific prevalence was consistently higher in women. CONCLUSIONS: Comparison with other prevalence studies shows similar age-specific patterns, but different magnitudes, which may partly reflect methodologic differences across studies.

Adolescent↗