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G Belli

Publications and source records attributed to G Belli.

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

An analysis of time-dependence for Chernobyl fallout in Italy.

We present here an analysis of the airborne radioactivity measured in Italy after the Chernobyl accident. We provide some quality assurance, isolate suspicious data, and devise a mathematical model to aid in interpreting time-dependent fallout data. The model consists of an interpolating function whose parameters can be related to 1) the arrival time of the radioactive cloud; 2) the time of the maximum radioactive concentration; and 3) the decay-rate of airborne radioactivity as the pollutant cloud passes. Multiple arrivals of the radioactive cloud in a given site can also be considered. The parametrization can be used to estimate concentrations of 137Cs using measurements of (131)I, 103Ru, or 132Te. The interpolating function is fitted to the data collected in several Italian Provinces. We feel this model is an useful tool for interpreting time-dependent fallout data.

Cesium Radioisotopes↗
PubMed1997

Isolated agenesis of the gallbladder. An intraoperative problem.

Agenesis of the gallbladder and cystic duct is a rare congenital malformation. In 40-70% of cases this anomaly is associated with other gastrointestinal, skeletal, cardiovascular and genitourinary malformations. Lithiasis of the common bile duct is present in 25-50% of cases. In the majority of cases patients are asymptomatic or have symptoms compatible with a biliary disorder. A preoperative diagnosis is extremely difficult and the absence of the gallbladder is often an intraoperative finding. The authors report a case of isolated agenesis of the gallbladder. The relative embryology, development, diagnostic pitfalls, intraoperative behaviour and therapeutic strategies are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Subacute stent thrombosis: evolving issues and current concepts.

During percutaneous coronary revascularization, intracoronary stents are effective in the treatment of abrupt vessel closure and improvement of suboptimal angioplasty results, and compared to balloon angioplasty, they reduce stenosis recurrence. Opposing these benefits, subacute thrombosis of stents is associated with a substantial increase in periprocedural morbidity and mortality. To review factors associated with stent thrombosis and to study the impact of evolving procedural techniques on the incidence of stent thrombosis, we reviewed all English articles from MEDLINE (1988 to 1995) with key words "stent" and "thrombosis." Stent registry data and recent abstracts from scientific meetings were also reviewed. Factors related to the clinical setting, the lesion, the stent and the procedural technique that affect the risk of stent thrombosis were identified. Sixty clinical studies were reviewed and include 7,914 patients receiving intracoronary stents. Studies were separated into those reporting stents placed emergently or electively without adjunct high-pressure balloon inflations, stents placed in saphenous vein graft conduits, and stents placed with high-pressure balloon inflations but without subsequent oral anticoagulants. Overall, subacute thrombosis was substantially higher in stents placed emergently (10.1%) compared to those placed electively (4.3%). Among contemporary trials employing high-pressure balloon inflations, the rate of stent thrombosis appears markedly lower (1.3%) despite reduced postprocedural anticoagulation. Taken together, these studies suggest factors associated with a heightened risk of stent thrombosis, many of which can be avoided with proper case selection and contemporary techniques.

Coronary Artery Bypass↗
PubMed1996

Modelling the Chernobyl radioactive fallout (I): A fractal approach in northern Italy.

This paper deals with the 137Cs airborne radioactive concentration measured in Northern Italy after the Chernobyl accident. We devised a fractal model to aid in describing the space-time distribution of radioactivity. The model is based on the Fractal Sum of Pulses theory, involving additive stochastic processes. We use, as input source of information, the parametrization of the time trend of radioactive concentration in a few Italian Provinces we calculated in previous work. The results look promising, since realistic scenarios of environmental pollution are produced.

Air Pollutants, Radioactive↗
PubMed1996

Modelling the Chernobyl radioactive fallout (II): A multifractal approach in some European countries.

This paper deals with the 137Cs cumulative soil deposition measured in some European Countries after the Chernobyl accident. We devised a multifractal model to aid in describing the spatial distribution of radioactivity. The model is based the Fractal Sum of Pulses theory, involving additive stochastic processes. We use, as input source of information, the available data of radioactive deposition measured in some European Countries. The results look promising, since realistic scenarios of environmental pollution are produced.

Air Pollutants, Radioactive↗
PubMed1996

Primary extrahepatic bile duct carcinoids.

Biliary tact carcinoids are extremely rare: only ten cases have been reported up to now. The Authors describe a successfully treated carcinoid tumour of the proximal bile duct and review the literature about these rare malignancies. Despite extensive preoperative work-up, including ultrasound, CT scan and ERCP, a definite diagnosis is hardly possible prior to histologic examination of the operative or necropsy specimen. Due to the slow-growing nature and the non-aggressive behaviour of these malignancies, surgical resection followed by biliodigestive anastomosis should be the treatment of choice.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Minilaparotomy with rectus muscle sparing: a personal technique for cholecystectomy.

The present paper describes a minilaparotomy technique characterized by an horizontal incision of the skin and two successive vertical incisions which run along distinct sagittal as well frontal planes, sparing, thus, the rectus muscle. This approach, in comparison to other minilaparotomy techniques, ensures a reduced incidence of incisional hernia, decreased postoperative pain and optimal cosmetic results. The technique is useful when laparoscopic cholecystectomy is contraindicated or the laparoscopic apparatus is not available.

Cholecystectomy↗
PubMed1995

Colorectal cancer. Diagnosis of recurrence.

After curative surgery for colorectal cancer, the goal of an aggressive surveillance program is the detection of recurrent disease at an early and potentially curable stage. The routine use of endosonography (EUS) following surgery for colorectal cancer allows a detailed examination of the pelvis not previously possible without more sophisticated and expensive techniques, such as CT scans or MR imaging. EUS gives good information on established recurrence and is the single modality that allows for the detection of asymptomatic extramural local failures. EUS is a valuable tool for the detection of locally recurrent rectal cancer.

Colorectal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1994

What do Italian hospital physicians know about quality of life assessment in oncology?

AIMS: To assess the current level of information and use of quality of life assessment instruments by Italian physicians involved in oncologic patient care. METHODS: Specifically trained scientific representatives of a pharmaceutical company interviewed 2237 hospital physicians all over Italy. RESULTS: A total of 1390 physicians (62.1%) had some knowledge of quality of life assessment tools in oncology, but 364 of them (26.2%) were unable to recall the name of any instruments. The one that was most frequently recalled by the 1026 physicians who knew of the existence of one or more instruments was the Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) (91%) followed by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance scale (ECOG) (35.5%) whereas the Quality of Life Index and Visual Analogue Scale were at the very bottom of the list (5.9% and 3.7%, respectively). Physician age and type of department were found to be strong predictors of knowledge of the instruments, which was greater among young physicians and those working in oncological departments. Of the physicians aware of the KPS, 56.6% used it, whereas the percentage of physicians using ECOG was higher (69.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The collected data indicate a poor knowledge of quality of life assessment instruments in Italian physicians. Most physicians tend to use so-called << objective >> instruments where the assessment is made by the physician and not by the patient (KPS, ECOG Quality of Life index), are practically unaware of the new generation of "subjective" self-rating instruments. The use of such instruments in particular might provide greater insights into the impact of the disease and related treatments on the quality of life of cancer patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

A model for the estimation of visceral mass displacement in periodic movements.

This study suggests a method that, on the basis of concurrent cinematographic and dynamometric measurements, detects the motion of the visceral part of the body, provided that an estimate of its mass has been given in advance and the periodicity of the system dynamics can be assumed. The mathematical model provides equations for both vertical and horizontal displacements of the visceral mass, so that they can be used either separately or in combination to detect its one-, two- and three-dimensional trajectories. To test the model predictions, an external load has been periodically raised and lowered by a subject while standing on a dynamometric platform, and its vertical movement has been estimated accurately. A further experiment on hopping in place (without loads) reveals that the internal visceral mass (assumed equal to about 9 kg) oscillates out-of-phase with respect to the body frame, with a vertical range of about 0.05-0.08 m. A discussion on the possible sources of experimental inaccuracy is included. Also discussed are the applications of the model to work calculations in periodic movements as hopping, walking and running, as well as in investigations about locomotion-respiration coupling.

Acceleration↗
PubMed1994

The effects of thymopentin on the development of SLE-like syndrome in the MRL/lpr-lpr mouse.

Thymopentin (TP-5) is a synthetic pentapeptide that corresponds to the active 32-36 amino acid sequence of the thymic hormone thymopoietin, of which it retains all the immunomodulatory properties. In this study, we have evaluated the effects of long term prophylactic treatment with TP-5 on the clinical, immunological and histological parameters of the SLE-like syndrome that spontaneously occurs in MRL/lpr-lpr (MRL-lpr) mice. TP-5, administered (s.c.) to these mice at the doses of 1, 10 and 100 mg/kg, was given daily, five times a week, from the 9th to the 26th weeks of life. The prophylactic treatment with TP-5 prolonged in a clear dose-dependent fashion the lifespan of MRL-lpr mice as compared with PBS-treated control mice, and the effect reached statistical significance at the doses of 10 and 100 mg/kg. In parallel ex vivo studies, this clinical effect was associated with multiple profound modifications of the immune system including: (i) the reduction of the spontaneous and Con A-induced release of interleukin-4 (IL-4); (ii) the increased secretion of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and IL-6 upon polyclonal mitogenic stimulation, and (iii) the amelioration of the defective Con A-induced lymphoproliferative response. In contrast, although the drug diminished the severity of proteinuria in MRL-lpr mice, it neither reduced histological signs of lupus nephritis nor diminished the serum titres of anti-native DNA and anti-histone autoantibodies. These results indicate that TP-5 displayed powerful immunodulatory activities in a well known model of human SLE.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

[Palliative gastroenteroanastomosis in pancreatic carcinoma].

The surgical treatment of pancreatic carcinoma is palliative in 90% of cases. The authors report their experience with 25 patients with unresectable pancreatic exocrine cancer, 23 of whom underwent palliative surgery. Sixteen patients had a bilioenteric by-pass and in 7 cases a gastroenterostomy was associated. The postoperative mortality rate was 8.7% and morbidity 28.6%. Eight patients with bilioenteric bypass only survived and only two of these required gastroenterostomy later on because of neoplastic duodenal obstruction. The shorter hospital stay and the longer survival of patients treated by bilioenteric by-pass only suggest that prophylactic gastroenterostomy is unnecessary and should be associated in selected patients only.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Severe hemorrhage associated with pancreatic pseudocysts: report of two cases.

Severe hemorrhage from pancreatic pseudocysts is a rare condition that poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Two cases of preoperative intracystic bleeding and massive postoperative gastrointestinal hemorrhage observed during the last year form the basis of the present report. In the first patient, transcystic suture ligation of the bleeding vessel was necessary to control this life-threatening and dramatic condition--External drainage of the cyst was followed by an uneventful postoperative course. In the second patient, massive gastrointestinal bleeding occurred after cysto-gastrostomy, and neither endoscopy nor arteriography was able to identify the source. Despite aggressive medical and surgical therapy, the patient died. Massive intracystic or gastrointestinal hemorrhage caused by rupture of pseudoaneurysms into pancreatic pseudocysts still remains a rare but severe condition, difficult to treat and affected by high mortality rates. Angiography should be performed routinely in the preoperative assessment of pancreatic pseudocysts, even when the other diagnostic techniques do not raise the suspicion of pseudoaneurysm formation. After internal drainage procedures early surgery is recommended whenever GI bleeding occurs in the postoperative course.

Acute Disease↗