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Biomedical subjects

F Russo

Publications and source records attributed to F Russo.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Diabetes mellitus and spontaneous hypoglycemia. Report of a clinical case with extrainsular neoplasm].

The authors report a case of hypoglycemia in a subject with NIDDM and CAD. The clinical syndrome, which was diagnosed as an induced form for a long time, was found to be spontaneous and caused by metastasised kidney neoplasm. This led to considerable problems of differentiated diagnosis owing to the concomitance of diabetes and vascular pathology. An adequate assessment of the clinical findings and the instrumental and biohumoral tests would have enabled a more rapid diagnosis, thus allowing a correct therapeutic approach to be adopted.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Role of radioisotopic lymphoscintigraphy in postphlebitic syndrome of the legs].

Post-phlebitis syndrome of the lower limbs is a set of symptoms that follow a state of phlebostasis and phlebolymphostasis with consequent oedema and tissue distress. We submitted 36 patients with post-phlebitis syndrome of the lower limbs to radioisotopic lymphoscintigraphy for the purposes of evaluating the vicariant function of the lymphatic system and the possible role of the lymphatic system in the genesis of dermo-epidermal abnormalities. The average age of the patients was 53.2 years (range: 43-69 years; M:F ratio: 0.50). The control group consisted of 6 healthy subjects. The average duration of the post-phlebitis syndrome in the patients studied was 8.5 years. We excluded from the study patients in whom a central cause was identified as being responsible for the pathogenisis of the oedema of the lower limbs. In addition, patients with obliterant arteriopathy were also excluded. Venous pathology was evaluated first clinically and then investigated by continuous-wave Doppler. As a first step, venous pressure was measured by Doppler phlebomanometry in clino- and orthostatism. All patients underwent radioisotopic lymphoscintigraphy with microcolloids using the Rijke technique. Radioactivity was monitored by means of a computerized gamma-camera. We classified the pathological findings of radioisotopic lymphoscintigraphy as follows: 1) delayed transit; 2) obstacles; 3) star-shaped superficial collateral lymphatic circulations; 4) lymphocoele or cutaneous lakes. A significant difference was detected (p < 0.05) between the pressure values in the post- phlebitis lower limbs and the pressure values in normal subjects. Combining the results of our measurements we recorded delayed transit in 5 patients (69.5%). This latter group included the cases with the severest forms of post-phlebitis syndrome. Therefore, better knowledge of the pathophysiology of the lymphatic system would appear to be useful in order to understand the origin and evolution of oedema of the lower limbs of patients with post-phlebitis syndrome. To this end, radioisotopic lymphoscintigraphy may be useful as a first-level examination in order to evaluate the capacity and efficiency of the lymphatic system.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of 17beta-estradiol administration on apoptosis and polyamine content in AGS cell line.

BACKGROUND: Estrogens and polyamines seem to play an important role not only in cell growth and differentiation, but also in programmed cell death. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of 17beta-estradiol supplementation on apoptosis as well as on the polyamine content of an ER-positive human gastric cancer cell line (AGS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Apoptosis was investigated by evaluating DNA fragmentation, using enzyme immunoassay and agarose gel electrophoresis and the phosphatidylserine exposure by flow cytometry analysis. Polyamine levels were evaluated by HPLC. RESULTS: 17Beta-estradiol gave rise to a marked pro-apoptotic effect at concentrations of 16 microM or higher compared to the control. Moreover, the hormone significantly reduced the contents of polyamines compared to control cells. The apoptotic effect of 17beta-estradiol was partially counteracted by exogenous spermine administration. CONCLUSION: 17Beta-estradiol administration induces apoptosis in AGS cells. Further, an increase in cell sensitivity to apoptosis due to a decline in the polyamine content may be suggested.

Apoptosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of central venous catheters by endocavitary ECG].

Jugular vein catheterization (JVC) is adopted for blood access in patients with acute renal failure, chronic renal failure and when patients demonstrate traditional vascular access (VA) failure. We believe that the best technique, first described by Serafini et al, to establish the position of a central venous catheter (CVC) is endocavitary electrocardiography (EC-ECG) and its use is recommended in all uremic patients requiring hemodialysis (HD). This technique uses the tip of the CVC as a reference point in standard electrocardiography. From 2001 to March 2004, we successfully applied this CVC technique in 33 patients requiring HD. The EC-ECG technique is a method that complies with the Food and Drug Administration guidelines regarding catheter tip location in uremic patients.

Catheterization, Central Venous↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Management of colorectal emergencies: percutaneous abscess drainage.

Pelvic abscesses represent the most frequent complications of colorectal surgery. Percutaneous CT or US guided drainage can be an alternative to surgical drainage that is associated to a significant mortality rate. In the current study results of PAD, performed in 39 patients with pelvic or abdominopelvic abscesses were reviewed in order to evaluate reliability of such procedure. Major part of the collections 33/39 (85%) developed after resective colorectal surgery, and 20/39 (51%) were associated to anastomotic fistula; 22/39 (56%) were poorly defined; 16/39 (41%) were multiloculated; 16/39 (41%) had a stool contamination, 23/39 (58%) were greater than 10 cm; 14/39 (35%) were multiple. Thirty-five patients (89.7%) healed, despite high number of complex abscesses and complete resolution of sepsis was achieved in 5.1 +/- 2.9 days. CT proved to be the most reliable tool in assessing distinctive features of collections as well as in identifying the best route for drainage. Adequate size of the catheter was essential to get an effective drainage. In particular, large sized catheter (> 20 Fr) had to be used to drain collections associated to anastomotic fistulas with stool contamination. In four elderly neoplastic patients with chronic illnesses (10%), only a single small sized catheter could be positioned, because of patients poor compliance and PAD was inaffective. Nevertheless even those patients got a partial resolution of the sepsis and their general conditions markedly improved, so that they were able to underwent successful surgical drainage. In conclusion PAD is a safe and reliable tool that can be employed as an alternative to surgical drainage at least as first measure, even if complex pelvic abscesses are found.

Abdominal Abscess↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Industrial processing of wool: biomechanics and ergonomic aspects].

Workers in a wool processing industry were analyzed for risk factors in development of musculoskeletal disorders from specific repetitive movements that they executed, in all phases of the preparation of wool products ("tintoria", "mescolanza", "finitura", "filatura", "riroccatura", "ritorcitura", "confezionamento"). The evaluation revealed nonergonomic work situations, due to both repetitive movements of the upper extremities as well as prolonged asymmetrical postures of the trunk while moving loads; both of these problems were due to suboptimal interface between the anthropomorphic characteristics of the operators and the technical movements required at the machines. The risk analysis was performed both for cumulative trauma disorders as well as for low back pain, based on formulas in the exisiting literature. Ergonomic interventions were implemented and evaluated for the most stressful situations.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Brain tumor death risk in mental patients.

Several investigators have previously reported a low cancer mortality in mental patients. They hypothesized there were possibilities of actual exclusion between cancer and psychosis. On the other hand, some Authors warned that the reported association between psychiatric illness and cancer death might vary, depending on the used statistical methods. To clarify this problem, we have examined the incidence of deaths caused by malignant neoplasm, particularly from brain tumor, in the chronic patients of Bisceglie Psychiatric Hospital, evaluating either absolute or relative mortality rate analysis. Our results seem to suggest an increased absolute mortality from malignant brain tumor in mental patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The urinary sodium/potassium ratio in children from southern Italy living in Cimitile: a case for concern.

The urinary sodium/potassium (Na/K) ratio was evaluated in 220 children aged 3-16 years living in Cimitile, a small town near Naples in Southern Italy by utilizing 24 hour urinary collections. The Na/K ratio averaged 3.79 +/- 1.68 and correlated significantly (p less than 0.001) with age, body weight and height but not with Body Mass Index (BMI). No difference was seen when data were analyzed by sex. Mean daily sodium excretion averaged 3.91 +/- 1.52 mM/Kg while potassium excretion averaged 1.17 +/- 0.54 mM.Kg. The Na/K ratio was higher than that observed in children studied in Israel, United Kingdom, USA, and the Federal Republic of Germany and is of the same magnitude of that previously reported in children born in Japan. This high Na/K ratio is a case for concern because of the risks connected with high Na/K ratio in urine.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Possibility of using the spot camera in the documentation of the arterial phase in urography].

32 patients have been examined with sequential angiourography (AUS) and image subtraction, utilizing a spot-camera instead of a rapid seriograph, for the visualization of the vascular phase of the renal artery. Satisfactory results have been obtained since in 96.9% of the cases (31/32) it has been possible to obtain representation of those structures sufficient for a clinical evaluation. This technique for its low cost and simplicity of execution can therefore be proposed as a routine examination in the suspect of vascular renal pathology. This method and the more diffuse AUS with rapid seriograph offer, with respect to digital subtraction angiography (DSA), the advantage of a better nephrographic and urographic phase due to the higher quantity of contrast medium injected.

Adolescent↗