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Biomedical subjects

G C Secchi

Publications and source records attributed to G C Secchi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Initial occupational exposure to lead: Chromosome and Biochemical findings.

Serial chromosome and biochemical studies were carried out in 11 subjects before and during initial occupational exposure to moderate quantities of lead fumes in a storage battery plant. The rate of abnormal metaphases, mostly with chromatid and one-break chromosome aberrations, was approximately doubled after one month of work; it further increased after two months of work; remained in this range up to seven months of exposure; and then tended to decrease somewhat. Blood lead levels increased progressively in the first few months, then reached a steady state. Urinary lead and coproporphyrin levels increased sharply after one month of work, while urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) levels increased moderately. The ALA dehydratase (ALAD) activity of red blood cells (RBCs) was reduced to almost 50% of the initial values after one month, decreased further in subsequent months, and remained decreased through the remainder of the study.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Comorbidity in internal medicine: analysis of a caseload of 4,156 subjects at their first hospitalization].

The prevalence of comorbidities in patients dismissed from hospitals has already been investigated to obtain economical, administrative and epidemiological information, or for health insurance-related problems. Originally designed for billing purposes, administrative data could be the basis for clinical research as well, although the clinical element has somehow been disregarded till now. The aim of this research is (i) to study the prevalence, and (ii) to evaluate the clinical relevance of comorbidities in patients dismissed from a Department of Internal Medicine. In a recent series of 1605 patients (since the Diagnosis-Related Groups-DRG-based hospital financing system has come into common use in Italy) comorbidities have been observed in 92.65% of the cases, while the percentage of comorbidities was rated as 71.97% in a previous series of 2551 patients dismissed from the same Department before the introduction of the DRG system. In the recent series, the prevalence of a single comorbid condition and of two and of three comorbid conditions was 19.50, 32.89 and 47.61%, respectively. In any case, the so-called comorbid conditions were active diseases requiring medical investigation and therapy. They included hypertensive heart disease, ischemic heart disease and angina, arrhythmias, peripheral vascular diseases, chronic bronchitis, chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, diabetes, metabolic disorders, etc. In conclusion, patients referred to a Department of Internal Medicine have a high severity of illness due not only to the gravity of the primary diagnosis but also to the number and seriousness of comorbid conditions. For these patients more hospital resources and a high level of professional skill are required.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cancer chemotherapy.

The Authors describe and discuss the biological bases and fundamental clinical principles for proper and rational anti-tumor chemotherapy. The effectiveness of chemotherapy depends essentially on the following factors: 1) kinetic phase of the neoplastic cells, 2) penetration of the drugs within the tumor mass, 3) segregation of tumor cells in pharmacological sanctuaries, 4) presence of drug-resistant cell phenotypes. It follows that proper chemotherapy must: 1) begin early, when the tumor is small and the number of drug-resistant cells and cells in G0 is small, 2) involve the simultaneous use of several drugs acting on cells in different phases of replication without overlapping toxicity and cross-resistance, 3) be utilized at high drug dosages and at optimum time intervals between one cycle and another so that the greatest number of neoplastic cells can be destroyed as soon as possible in order to prevent regrowth of the tumor and development of drug-resistant cell strains.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Predictability of the anamnesis in pathology of the upper tract of the digestive system. Computerized analysis concerning 1000 subjects submitted to esophagogastroduodenoscopy].

The ability of history taking to predict endoscopically verified pathology of the upper gastrointestinal tract was evaluated in a group of 1000 patients submitted to esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGDS). The presence of one or more of the following symptoms at the time of EGDS or 4 weeks previously, was considered: epigastric pain, dysphagia, dyspepsia, gastrointestinal bleeding, pyrosis, anorexia and/or weight loss, nausea and/or vomiting. The results of this elaboration showed that the presence of recent symptomatology does not allow differentiation of patients with endoscopically verified pathology from those without it. The presence of an "at risk history" consisting of one or more of the following factors was also evaluated: smoking 10 cigarettes per day, drinking 100 g alcohol per day, previous diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal tract pathology, gastrointestinal-irritating therapy. Data analysis showed notable importance of the presence of an "at risk history"; in fact, when compared with subjects without this type of history, "at risk" patients were twice as likely to have a pathological condition diagnosed. Thus, when protocols for endoscopic examination are established the history of the patient and his lifestyle must be taken into consideration.

Adult↗