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G Bertazzoni

Publications and source records attributed to G Bertazzoni.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

In vitro testing of tensides employing monolayer cultures: a comparison with results of patch tests on human volunteers.

Evaluation of the irritant potential of new products or ingredients prior to human testing is generally performed in vivo on animals. However, according to the 6th amendment and following updates of the European Community directive on cosmetic products (93/35/EEC), animal testing will be banned when suitable substitutes will be available. To know whether in vitro tests for assessment of skin irritancy provide results approaching human conditions, comparisons have to be made between data deriving from in vitro tests and skin response in humans. The aim of our study was to assess the validity of the monolayer culture system of normal human keratinocytes as a model for the evaluation of the irritant effects of detergents, by comparing in vitro cell culture data to in vivo acute skin irritancy effects of cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB), an amphoteric compound, Tween 20 (TW20) (polysorbate 20) and Tween 80 (TW80) (polysorbate 80), representing nonionic compounds, applied to the skin of 24 healthy volunteers at a concentration similar to that employed in commercial products. As parameters for cytotoxicity, cell proliferation, cell membrane integrity and cell metabolism were assessed by cell counts, thymidine incorporation, MTT conversion, and Neutral Red uptake. In order to increase the sensitivity of the in vivo evaluation, bioengineering methods for assessment of the effects of test products on the skin were employed. Whereas all 4 in vitro methods ranked the tensides according to their toxicity in the following order: CAPB>SLS>TW20>TW80, both in vivo methods agreed in identifying SLS as the most irritating substance. Moreover, as compared with the irritation potential on human skin, all 4 in vitro tests overestimated the toxicity of CAPB. This suggests that the keratinocyte monolayer cell culture technique cannot directly replace in vivo methods, and that data obtained by this method should be interpreted cautiously.

Adolescent

Telecar: an Italian telecardiology project.

The Telecar (tele-assistance cardiology) project was an example of tele-assistance between health centres of the Regione Lazio in Italy. The project was approved by the Ministry of Health, financed with 500,000,000 lire and carried out by an operative station within 'La Sapienza' University (Rome). About 40 of the health centres in Lazio that did not have cardiologists or electrocardiography (ECG) equipment were provided with telematic instruments (Cardiophone and fax). With this equipment, they were able to transmit ECG signals and receive copies of ECG reports. The 40 health centres included first-aid clinics, 'guardia medica' surgeries and community centres. The project was carried out between 1989 and 1992. During these three years the health centres transmitted a total of 4807 ECGs, 2057 (43%) of which were routine, the remaining 2750 (57%) being suspected emergencies. Of the suspected emergencies, 681 cases (25%) had a confirmed abnormality. We can confirm that telematic aids are very important for an operative station, where all kinds of emergencies must be dealt with.

Cardiology

[The evaluation of in-hospital precoronary times. The experience of a department of emergency medicine].

The above study was aimed at evaluating the "in-hospital precoronary times" of patients with acute myocardial infarction presenting to the Emergency Department of Policlinico Umberto I, Rome. From April to August 1993, 58 cases of acute myocardial infarction were admitted. In six of these, over 24 hrs had elapsed before admission. In 24 of the remaining cases thrombolysis was indicated. Mean time before admission to the coronary unit was 5 hrs for 52 patients. Mean in-hospital delay before starting thrombolysis was 40 +/- 20 minutes; mean delay before admission to the coronary unit was 3 h/45 min. In-hospital time before thrombolysis was one of the lowest in the literature and shows the efficient organization of the department. Delay until transfer to the coronary unit was long and is a sign of the paucity of these specialized beds. Therefore, the possibility to perform thrombolytic therapy immediately in the emergency department becomes even more essential.

Adult

Early experience with Telehealth during sport activities.

In order to verify the usefulness of a system designed to provide participants of sport competitions with a cardiological emergency service, the authors utilized a cardiotelephone apparatus during a "24-hour Marathon race" in which 1008 subjects took part. In 18 cases, an ECG was transmitted owing to various symptoms after exertion. One case of pseudoischaemia and one of complete A-V block were registered. The authors emphasize the importance of a telephone ECG transmission system as a special aid able to cut down the intervention time without moving the patients.

Adolescent

Mitral valve prolapse as a risk factor for TIA. A study with echocardiography and dynamic ECG.

The present study has been devoted to the analysis of 120 patients presenting with reversible focal cerebral ischemia without conventional signs of cardiopathy and/or relevant atherosclerotic disease. In 77% of the patients vascular risk factors, such as hypertension or hyperlipemia, were present. In 23% of the patients, no abnormal finding was discovered at clinical, hematochemical and cardiological examinations. In these patients a further cardiological evaluation was performed with echocardiography. Dynamic electrocardiography was performed in 52 patients. Echocardiography and dynamic electrocardiography revealed the occurrence of 6 cases of mitral valve prolapse (MVP), 2 cases of frequent premature ventricular beats, and 1 proximal atrial arrhythmia. All 6 cases of MVP were detected in the subgroups of patients without vascular risk factors. In our patients younger than 45 years, the relative frequency of MVP attains 21.5%. This study confirms that MVP has to be regarded as a risk factor for focal cerebral ischemia in young patients.

Adult

Some aspects of the pathophysiology of hypertrophic cardiopathies. An echocardiographic computerized study.

35 patients, of them 10 with aortic stenosis, 7 with idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis, 6 with asymmetric septal hypertrophy, and 12 with systemic hypertension were examined with the aim of a pathophysiological differentiation of various hypertrophic cardiopathies. The authors' own ECE digital echocardiographic system was used. The results attest to an abnormal diastolic function in hypertrophic cardiopathies. At the same time, the diastolic compliance is less affected in symmetric cardiopathies, even in their more advanced clinical stage, than in asymmetric ones.

Aortic Valve Stenosis

Cardiophone.

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Electrocardiography

[Computers in emergency medicine].

Computer's applications in emergency medicine are reviewed. In the Emergency Health Care computer science provides support to the solution of medical problems (with diagnostic and medical decision making softwares) and to the management of emergency departments. Computer interfaced to instrumental equipments allows the monitoring of biomedical signals and their transmission at distance. Finally, the possibilities of computer-aided instruction are presented. Teaching methods such as the tutor-system and the simulation are discussed.

Computer-Assisted Instruction