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Biomedical subjects

F Pisano

Publications and source records attributed to F Pisano.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

EMG evaluation of motor neuron sprouting in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Collateral sprouting has been evaluated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients on the basis of: 1) Motor Unit action potential (M.U.A.P.) parameters evaluated by simultaneous EMG recordings using concentric needle electrodes and surface electrodes and 2) Motor Action Potential (M.A.P.) activated by graded electrical stimulation of nerve and recorded with the same electrodes. Mean values of duration and amplitude were calculated in 40 normal age-matched controls, 42 ALS patients in the early phase of the disease and in 5 muscles of three ALS patients during the whole course of the disease including the last paralytic phase. Percentage of M.U.A.P.s with linked potentials and highest amplitude was also calculated. The study confirms previous suggestions on collateral sprouting occurring in the early, middle and advanced phases of the disease and it shows, at variance with some recent claims, that it fails in the latest phase of paralysis.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1991

[Serum levels of IgG subclasses in critically ill premature infants treated with intravenous immunoglobulins].

Fifty eight premature infants, all needing intensive care and mechanical ventilation, were randomly allocated to two groups. Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG, 500 mg/kg Sandoglobulin) were administered to Group 1 while Group 2 received saline as placebo. IgG subclass serum levels were evaluated in both groups on admission, after two hours from the end of IVIG or saline infusion and from day 3 to 7 from birth. IgG subclasses were also measured in 10 healthy term neonates during the first day of life. Results show that after 2 hours from the end of IVIG administration all IgG subclasses reach levels comparable to term neonates. Comparing IgG values between treated and untreated preterm neonates it was observed that on day 3 only IgG1 and IgG3 subclasses were significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2. At day 5 no differences were observed between the two groups. IgG2 subclass rose reaching a significant difference between the two groups ad day 5 and 7. Our data show that IVIG single dose (500 mg/kg) administration doesn't produce a constant elevation in all IgG subclasses during the first week of life in the critically ill preterm infant.

Humans↗
PubMed1990

Ataxia in myxoedema: a neurophysiological reassessment.

In a long-standing case of myxoedema with ataxia and dysarthria, neurophysiological investigations were carried out to assess how much of the ataxic dysbasic syndrome depended on the slowness of mechanical contraction and how much resulted from primary cerebellar involvement. It was observed that the Achilles reflexogram showed a marked prolongation of contraction and relaxation time and that in both quadriceps and triceps surae mechanical percussion induced a marked myxoedema and prolonged relaxation time. The EMG of these muscles during voluntary contraction and stopping reaction detected an excessive recruitment of the antagonistic muscles, starting without any abnormal delay, a finding at variance with a typical cerebellar pattern. Post-urographic analysis gave a pattern of oscillations still within the normal range. These findings suggest that the gait alterations of our patient depended on the increase in muscle contraction time and the consequent excessive recruitment of the antagonists.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMed1986

The identification of neuroapraxia, axonostenosis and trigger zone in facial nerve pathology.

The classical electromyographic investigations and simultaneous recordings of voluntary activity and M responses from muscles of both the upper and lower branch of the facial nerve were carried out in 5 patients with Bell's palsy. R1 responses were also recorded. All investigations were extended to the healthy side. With the aim of localizing the point of axonostenosis with axonal atrophy we investigated the following parameters: conduction velocity (c.v.) in the fallopian canal, c.v. in the external facial nerve, side difference of R1-M. In one case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with previous Bell's palsy signs of collateral sprouting and of ephaptic transmission were detected.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Subcapital fractures of the femur. Treatment by reduction and fixation and 3 spongy bone screws.

The authors reviewed 21 cases of subcapital fracture of the femur treated by reduction and fixation with 3 spongy bone screws (AO type) between 1980 and 1983. There were 4 failures (2 non-union and 2 ischaemic necrosis, one definite and one suspected). In all patients with a reasonable life expectancy the treatment should be reduction and fixation, but the technique must be extremely accurate. If open reduction is necessary to ensure perfect reduction, it must be by the anterior route so as not to inflict further damage on the blood supply. Fixation must be rigid and sustained. This can be best achieved by using 3 screws of the AO spongy type which also ensures a degree of compression which enhances consolidation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Solitary chondromas of the long bones of the hand (results in 18 cases treated with autoplastic bone grafts).

Eighteen cases are reported of solitary chondroma of the long bones of the hand treated by curettage and packing with autoplastic grafts of spongy bone. The preferred localisation was in the three ulnar rays and in the metaphyseal zones in the neighborhood of the growth cartilage. In the younger patients the site was more often in the diaphysis; in the older patients, almost exclusively meta-epiphyseal. The diagnosis is usually made fortuitously as a result of a pathological fracture (61 per cent of the cases investigated). The results, assessed at an average of two and a half years after operation, were consistently excellent. They demonstrate that, in practice, any variety of this condition can be successfully treated by this method.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Polymorphism of phenylbutazone: properties and compressional behavior of crystals.

Data from X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, IR spectroscopy, and solubility studies were used for the identification and characterization of four crystalline modifications of phenylbutazone. The thermal behavior of the polymorphs under different treatment conditions also was investigated. Compression of the thermodynamically unstable forms, at a compression force of 1590--2040 kg, induced polymorphic changes in the crystals. Similar changes also were produced through grinding. The apparent equilibrium solubilties of polymorphs were determined, as was the dissolution of the polymorphs as compressed disks in an aqueous medium. The small effective surface area possessed by one polymorph resulted in slow dissolution.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Transcranial magnetic stimulation and silent period in spasmodic torticollis.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to study the corticobulbar projections to neck muscles in cervical dystonia. DESIGN: We compared both the motor evoked potentials and the electromyographic silent period after transcranial magnetic stimulation from sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles in a group of 13 patients with spasmodic torticollis with those of 20 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: With the target muscle at rest, no changes of motor threshold, motor evoked potentials latency, and amplitude were observed in dystonic patients. With facilitation, the mean amplitude of the motor evoked potentials was increased in patients compared with controls, the significant difference being for the trapezius muscle, whereas the latency did not differ between groups. The cortical silent period was significantly shorter in dystonic patients than in healthy subjects in both muscles. The duration of the cortical silent period recorded from the sternocleidomastoid muscle showed a positive correlation with the degree of neurologic disability assessed by Tsui's scale. No abnormalities of both nerve conduction velocity and peripheral silent period by stimulation of accessory nerve were found. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate an impairment of the mechanisms of inhibitory motor control in patients with spasmodic torticollis, which could be the result of a decrease of the basal ganglia inhibitory output over the motor cortex.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Posterolateral instability of the elbow.

The authors describe a rare case of recurrent posterior post-traumatic subdislocation of the elbow in a male aged 40 years. From a clinical point of view, it is a highly disabling condition, due to lesion of the ulnar portion of the radial collateral ligament. It is produced at minimum degrees of flexion movement in the elbow and depending on the entity of capsuloligamentous injury it may occur with episodes of instability, recurrent subdislocation or recurrent dislocation. Treatment is surgery and capsuloligamentous reconstruction according to the Osborne-Cotteril method, which has allowed for very satisfactory results to be obtained.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Nosocomial infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a pediatric intensive care unit].

We performed an epidemiological investigation owing to the appearance between February and March 1988, of subsequent MRSA infections in our ICU; we also started a checking scheme. At the same time we performed a retrospective-perspective study of 701 patients (310 newborns 391 not newborns) admitted into ICU from 1-1-1987 to 30-6-1988. This study allowed us to settle the presence of MRSA in ICU and the manner in which they become infected. From our study the 4.9% of our patients contracted hospital infections and the 34.2% of these were MRSA infections. The 39.7% of our colonized patients were MRSA. It is really significant the frequency of MRSA colonization (p less than 0.0005) among newborn patients compared with other age patients; in the meantime there is not statistical significance in the frequency of MRSA hospital infections among the two groups. The results of our study show that infections were probably transmitted by the hands of the members of staff and that the reservoir of MRSA are tracheostomized hosts or long term ventilated patients.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Apple peel small bowel: surgical correction and post-operative treatment].

The authors describe 6 cases of Apple Peel Small Bowel observed in the last ten year experience in Institute G. Gaslini of Genoa, Italy. They make a precision on early diagnosis and on surgical treatment, which is original, and also on post-operatory medical treatment. The importance of making an optimal nutritional support with total and partial parenteral nutrition for long time is of great significance to have a better outcome and psycho-physical development in such patients.

Female↗