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Biomedical subjects

G Capelli

Publications and source records attributed to G Capelli.

54 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Diagnosis of canine filariosis: relative sensitivity and specificity of some haematological techniques.

Blood samples from 329 dogs of an hyperendemic area in Northern Italy were examined for filariosis. At the filter method (5 microns), taken as reference test, 163 (49.5%) were positive: 160 for Dirofilaria immitis, 2 for D. repens and 1 for both species. The direct smear test (DS), the modified Knott technique (KT) and a further modification of the Knott technique (MKT) were performed in order to assess their relative sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP), positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV). The relative SE values are of 88.3%, 91.0% and 91.8% for DS, KT and MKT, respectively. Only the DS relative SP value (99.3%) is less than 100%. Also the PPV and NPV are very high (all above 89%) as well as the values of the coefficient Kappa (all above 0.8), a measure of the concordance between the results of the FT and of the comparison tests.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[The recombination factor in an ionizing chamber used for dosimetry of a linear accelerator].

The authors starting from the discussion of Boag address experimentally the ion recombination in an ionizing camera. They outline the fact that several basic dosimetry protocols do not highlight the importance of the used radiation sources, beam width, ionizing camera dimensions, even though they mention to take into account the recombination factor. The authors determine experimentally the recombination factor with two kinds of ionizing camera, one cylindrical and the other flat, on a linac pulsed and scanned radiation beams. As a result it ensued that it is advisable to use a Markus type ionizing camera rather than a cylindrical one, especially when scanning beams are used, to reduce the recombination phenomena.

Models, Theoretical↗
PubMed1985

[Gastrointestinal parasitic fauna of cats in the cities of Bologna, Florence and Milan].

The results of a parasitological survey carried out on 116 cats found dead in Bologna, Firenze and Milano was reported. The parasites identified were: Toxocara cati (49.1%); Toxascaris leonina (3.4%); Ancylostoma tubaeforme (9.5%); Ollulanus tricuspis (3.4%); Dipylidium caninum (41.4%); Taenia taeniaeformis (11.2%); Mesocestoides lineatus (1.7%); Spirometra sp. (0.9%); Coccidia (12.9%). The autopsies' results were compared with coprological ones in order to assess their reliability.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

[Anal incontinence].

The Authors describe the clinical rectal incontinence according to etiology, physiology and pathologic anatomy. They report a case of such rectal incontinence followed to hemorroidectom and treated by transplantation of gracilis muscle according to Pikrell technique, comparing this approach with other current surgical procedures.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Homecare in a radiation oncology service: psychological, ethical and organizational aspects of the Unità di Cura Continuativa "A. Romanini".

The experience with a model of homecare provided to oncologic patients and their families, implemented in a Radiation Oncology service, is reported. The requirements in terms of care and psychological support to terminally ill patients are considered and the global needs of their families are analyzed. To address the related complex problems, a new organizational model was designed to integrate healthcare providers expert in different fields who are dealing with those problems.

Bioethics↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Sexual knowledge, attitudes, and behavior in HIV-seropositive individuals at the AIDS referral center Latina].

AIM: The objective of the study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and sexual behaviours of HIV positive users of the AIDS Centre of Latina, with the scope of enabling one to program effective interventions on the theme of sex education. METHOD: An anonymous self-administered questionnaire containing questions about the socio-demographic characteristics of the subject, about the transmission of HIV, about sexual behaviours and about the relationship between sexual habit and being HIV positive, was compiled in the period between 1st October 2000 and 3rd January 2001. In all, 259 subjects (92.84% of eligible subjects), of which 166 males and 93 females aged between 20 and 62 years (mean = 38.51), participated in the study. RESULTS: Regarding the knowledge about HIV/AIDS, 63.7% believed that a vaccine against AIDS is currently unavailable. Nearly all responders thought that the HIV virus can be transmitted through the shared use of infected syringes among drug addicts, through homosexual and heterosexual intercourse and through blood transfusions with infected blood. Vertical transmission, during pregnancy, is considered possible by 78.6% of respondents. Regarding the sexual behaviours of participants, 81.9% reported to have full intercourse, of which 78% declared to use condoms during sexual intercourse. As regards the attitudes about sexuality and HIV, 83.7% reported that education is a fundamental factor in the reduction of risk behaviours, though 32.9% considered it embarrassing to ask their partner to use condoms and, surprisingly, 22.3% would consent to unprotected sex even if their partner wasn't wearing a condom. CONCLUSION: In the area of STDs, among which HIV and AIDS, it is worrying that many people overlook the most elementary forms of prevention. This study confirms the necessity for an adequate form of informative counselling for those who are HIV positive.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Epidemiology of unintentional drowning in children younger than 5 years in Italy].

The objective of the study was to describe the epidemiology of unintentional drowning in Italy in the period 1983-1997, in the age-group 0-4 years. We used mortality data from the Italian National Statistical Institute (ISTAT), and calculated the potential years of life lost (PYLL), for the single age-group and for all the children aged 0-4 years, following the CDC method (age limit 65 years). Only in 1983 the rate of mortality due to accidental drowning in the age-group 0-4 years was over 1.00 per 100,000 inhabitants (1.27). In the male sex the rate was over 1/100,000 in 1983 (1.93), 1984 (1.18) and 1989 (1.03). In the females the higher rate reached was 0.66/100,000 (1984). Considering both genders, the lower rate was reached in 1997 (0.33/100,000), and it was 0.42 for males (1992) and 0.07 for females (1988). Considering all ages, statistically significant differences in the mean death rates were found by sex (0.8/100,000 for males and 0.31/100,000 for females; t = 4.504; p < 0.0001). Considering the single age-groups, statistically significant differences in the mean death rates were found by sex only for 2, 3 and 4 years (respectively, p = 0.005; p = 0.001 e p < 0.0001). Considering all children, we estimated a PYLL of 15,750 years (PYLL for males representing 72.2%). The mean death rate for unintentional drowning in the age-group 0-4 years in Italy is lower than the mean vaues in other countries, but there is a clear need to lower this kind of death, that accounted for almost 16,000 PYLL in the period 1983-1997.

Age Distribution↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Applicability of the new law of State and Regional Agreement on management of swimming pools].

The Authors carried out a survey on private and public managers of 80 Italian swimming pools to evaluate the hygienic aspects and safety of the swimming pools. Participants were submitted to a set of questions about the modifications recently brought to the Act on management of the swimming pools during 2003. The study showed a poor knowledge about the hygienic-safety parameters, in particular of chlorine doses, range of temperature and frequency of daily turnover of the swimming pool water. The respect of chemical-physical parameters is necessary not only to assure an adequate microbial control of the water, but also to reduce the production of irritant and potentially toxic substances. The Authors pointed out the need of greater attention to hygienic aspects in order to reduce health risks, deriving from an uncorrected application of the laws, and to provide a greater comfort to the users of swimming pools.

Chlorine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of the appropriateness of hospital admissions using the iso-gravity classification systems APR-DRG and Disease Staging and the Italian version of Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol (AEP)].

Our main purpose was to evaluate the organizational appropriateness of admissions made in a university hospital, by comparing two iso-gravity classification systems, APR-DRG and Disease Staging, with the Italian version of AEP (PRUO). Our analysis focused on admissions made in 2001, related to specific Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs), which, according an Italian Law, would be considered at high risk of inappropriateness, if treated as ordinary admissions. The results obtained by using the 2 classification systems did not show statistically significant differences with respect to the total number of admissions. On the other hand, some DRGs showed statistically significant differences due to different algorithms of attribution of the severity levels used by the two systems. For almost all of the DRGs studied, the AEP-based analysis of a sample of medical records showed an higher number of inappropriate admissions in comparison with the number expected by iso-gravity classification methods. The difference is possibly due to the percentage limits of tolerability fixed by the Law for each DRG. Therefore, the authors suggest an integrated use of the two methods to evaluate organizational appropriateness of hospital admissions.

Diagnosis-Related Groups↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Diverticulosis of the small intestine (a report of 5 cases)].

The authors report on five cases of jejuno-ileal diverticulosis, which is a rare generally fairly unimportant disease, but which may unexpectedly develop into a life-threatening situation for the patient. The Authors take these cases as their starting point for presenting a number of findings and considerations regarding various aetiopathogenetic, clinical and therapeutic aspects of the condition.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Epidemiological analyses on animal parasitoses: recent activity of the I.M.I.P.P.V.

The paper presents a selected review of the epidemiological analyses performed in recent years (1984-1988) in the Institute of Malattie Infettive, Profilassi e Polizia Veterinaria of the University of Bologna on animal parasitoses, with special reference to the evaluation of some risk factors of bovine, swine and canine helminthoses, and to the validity of the coprological test for some parasites of the red fox.

Academies and Institutes↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Strangulated obturator hernia as a rare cause of intestinal obstruction (report of 2 cases)].

The Authors report on tpo cases of strangulated obturator hernia observed in their department during the period 1977-1987 and successfully operated on by mid-line laparotomy, both pith a diagnosis of occlusion of the small bowel. The Authors review the clinical signs and instrumental investigations which may be of use in reaching an early pre-operative diagnosis, which constitutes the only possibility of reducing the mortality associated with this condition. Particular attention is devoted to the somatic characteristics of the patients: elderly, thin, chronic bronchitic, hypertensive cardiopathic. In one of the two cases, there was a concomitant crural hernia. In both cases, which presented a picture of acute intestinal occlusion, the type of surgery opted for was a mid-line laparotomy. In one case, an ileal resection was performed. To close the orifice of the obturator canal, plain suture of the peritoneum was used in one case and a mersilene patch in the other.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

One-week low-dose triple therapy vs. two-week medium-dose double therapy for H.pylori infection.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Our study is to compare a short-term low-dose triple therapy with a long-term medium-dose double therapy for H.pylori eradication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and ten consecutive patients, suffering from dyspeptic symptoms, with H.pylori infection, were randomly allocated to one of the following 2 groups with different therapeutic regimens: A) omeprazole 20 mg/day for 7 days, tinidazole 500 mg bid for 7 days, clarithromycin 250 mg bid for 7 days (55 pts, 20 with peptic ulcer); B) omeprazole 20 mg bid for 14 days, amoxycillin 1000 mg bid for 14 days (55 pts, 28 with peptic ulcer). The "H.pylori status" was evaluated by means of histology, culture and urease test, at entry and 8 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: Two group A and one group B pts didn't complete the treatment. The H.pylori eradication was obtained in 38 pts of group A (71.69%) (C.I.95%: 55.19176-80.86293), in 31 of group B (58.49%) (C.I.95%: 42.32777-69.7017); on Intention-to-Treat analysis, the rate of eradication gave similar results. Side effects occurred in 9 pts of group A (16.98%), in 8 of group B (14.81%). CONCLUSIONS: Short-term low-dose triple therapy with omeprazole/tinidazole/clarithromycin has a better cost/benefit ratio than long-term dual therapy with omeprazole/amoxycillin in the H.pylori eradication, but it causes more side-effects.

Amoxicillin↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of propylthiouracil on intestinal transit time and symptoms in hyperthyroid patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastrointestinal disturbances such as diarrhea and malabsorption with steatorrhea may show up in hyperthyroid patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate oro-caecal transit time (OCTT) and gastrointestinal symptoms in hyperthyroid patients before and after propylthiouracil administration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty hyperthyroid patients (15 Females and 5 Males, mean age 47 years) were studied. Eight of them had diarrhea and 10 steatorrhea. The control group was composed of 20 healthy volunteers (13 F and 7 M, mean age 49 yrs). OCTT and fecal fat excretion were measured before and after propylthiouracil administration (300 mg/day for 10 day and then 200 mg/day for 30 days). RESULTS: Before the treatment in hyperthyroid patients had began the mean OCTT was significantly lower than in the control group (64 min. versus 107 min; p < 0.0001). After treatment mean OCTT became similar to the controls (p = ns); diarrhea disappeared in all affected patients and mean fecal fat excretion was reduced from 7.9 gr/24h to 3.4 gr/24h, with a statistically significantly difference (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The treatment with propylthiouracil induces the normalization of thyroid hormone status and consequently of OCTT with the disappearance of gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea and steatorrhea, with a better efficacy if compared to other drugs utilized in the treatment of hyperthyroidism.

Administration, Oral↗