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Biomedical subjects

G Comi

Publications and source records attributed to G Comi.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Clinical and biochemical correlations in mitochondrial myopathies treated with coenzyme Q10.

We tested the efficacy of coenzyme Q10 (ubidecarenone, CoQ10) therapy in patients with Kearns-Sayre syndrome and other mitochondrial myopathies with chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO). We treated seven patients for 1 year with daily oral administration of 120 mg of CoQ10. Throughout the treatment most of our patients showed a progressive reduction of serum lactate and pyruvate levels following standard muscle exercise and generally improved neurologic functions. The ECG and echocardiogram showed no significant changes in our patients. None of our patients showed any improvement in ptosis and CPEO.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

The rapid assessment of visual dysfunction in multiple sclerosis.

A consecutive series of patients with normal activity and a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (10 male and 31 female) underwent extensive ophthalmological examination including visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and a new test of contrast sensitivity, which is described in detail. Seventy three per cent of patients had abnormal contrast sensitivity and 83% had abnormal VEPs. There was no association between abnormalities of the two types, but patients who had impaired contrast sensitivity and normal VEPs were younger than those whose contrast sensitivity was normal but whose VEPs were not. The test of contrast sensitivity (which took less than 5 minutes to administer) was the only examination to reveal visual abnormalities in all nine patients with a history of optic neuritis, and would be a useful supplementary test in the examination of patients with suspected multiple sclerosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Peripheral neuropathy associated with Crohn's disease.

Peripheral neuropathy in Crohn's disease has been described, to date, only with vitamin B12 deficiency or as due to oral metronidazole treatment. We report the association of Crohn's disease and peripheral neuropathy in two patients in whom neither of these pathogenetic factors of nerve damage apply. The CSF of both was normal. Patient 1 has had Crohn's disease for 12 years with predominantly sensory distal neuropathy and recurrent course related to worsening and improvement of the enteritis. Patient 2 had Crohn's disease some years before symptoms of recurrent sensory loss in the feet. Axonal degeneration was the mechanism of nerve damage in both patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Assessment of visual function in MS patients: comparative study of some diagnostic tests.

Optic pathways are frequently involved in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). However, in some cases the involvement is asymptomatic or gives rise to only slight visual disturbances without alterations of visual acuity or of clinically evident visual field defects. In these cases several diagnostic tests permit an objective evaluation of the visual dysfunction. The aim of this study is to compare the value of contrast sensitivity test (CST), pattern reversal visual evoked potential (VEP), ophthalmoscopy, Goldmann perimetry in 45 MS patients with normal visual acuity. Examination of contrast sensitivity was carried out with a simple two-alternative forced choice test estimating the spatial frequency of 4 cycles/degree. The VEP was performed with a pattern reversal checkerboard at a spatial frequency of 1 and 2 cycles/degree. Fundus examination was abnormal in 12 patients; visual field defects were detected in 16 patients. 32 patients (71.1%) had abnormal CST in one or both eyes. VEP for the 30' checks was abnormal in 32 cases (71.1%) and that for the 15' checks in 36 cases (80.0%). All but 4 patients (91.2%) had one or more abnormal tests. All patients with abnormal perimetry and/or fundus examination had also CST and/or VEP altered. It is apparent that CST and VEP reveal a significant proportion of abnormalities in the visual system that have not been revealed by routine neuroophthalmological examination.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

A multicenter study of the incidence of multiple sclerosis in Italy: design of the study.

Italy, extending from 37 degrees to 46 degrees North latitude is usually classified as a medium risk area for Multiple Sclerosis (MS). However, the results of prevalence studies carried out in Italy indicate ratios from 7.2 to 65.3/100.000. The difference between these prevalence figures may be explained in part by methodological and local regional problems; however real differences from area to area cannot be excluded. The Section of Neuroepidemiology of the Italian Society of Neurology organized a Multicenter Study of the Incidence of Multiple Sclerosis in Italy in January 1982. The period selected was 1 January 1971-31 December 1980. 14 different centers have participated in the study, each investigating one area. The aims of the study are to evaluate incidence of MS in different areas of Northern, Central and Southern Italy and to investigate the effects on the risk of some variables (latitude, altitude, migration, socio-economic and urban-rural factors). The design of the study and the methodological problems are considered in this paper.

Demography↗
PubMed1986

Visual evoked potentials in diabetic teen-agers: influence of metabolic control and relationship with peripheral neuropathy.

85 type 1 diabetics aged between 8 and 20 years (mean: 15.06) performed Pattern Reversal Visual Evoked Potentials (PRVEP). In addition all of them were investigated for peripheral neuropathy and 63 subjects for retinopathy. Our study disclosed a subclinical involvement of optic nerve pathways in about 1/4 of diabetic teen-agers. P100 mean latency was delayed in diabetics for both 30' (112.8 +/- 7.7 msec versus 109.1 +/- 4.8 msec) and 15' check size (119.1 +/- 10.5 msec versus 112.8 +/- 5.2 msec). The N75-N140 interpeak latency was also significantly delayed and the mean N75-P100 amplitude was significantly reduced in diabetics. No correlation was found between PRVEPs latency and age, HbA1, and insulin requirement. The mean P100 latency significantly increased with the duration of diabetes. A negative correlation was found at the 30' check size between P100 latency and motor and sensory conduction velocity in all the examined nerves. 10 out of 63 patients, who had been examined with fluorangiography, showed abnormalities; only 2 of these 10 subjects had abnormal PRVEP. The association of prolonged P100 latency, prolonged N75-N140 interpeak latency and reduced N75-P100 amplitude can be considered consequent to a desincronisation of the impulses travelling along the optic pathways.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Potassium depletion myopathy: a clinical and morphological study of six cases.

Acute myopathy in conditions associated with endogenous or drug-induced potassium loss has been reported. We describe six patients with potassium depletion myopathy (P-DM). The clinical picture included flaccid muscle weakness without sensory loss, myalgia, polyuria, and polydipsia. All the cases had markedly increased serum creatine kinase (CK) levels. The most consistent pathological characteristics were phagocytosis of degenerating muscle fibers plus fiber regeneration. Atrophy of type 2 fibers was observed. Vacuoles and vesicular elements originating from T-tubules were also encountered. The clinical manifestations and morphological changes had reversed after potassium repletion. Both constriction of vascular smooth muscle and cellular energy failure may be pathogenetic factors in P-DM.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Cognitive deficits and their relationship to other neurological complications in chronic alcoholic patients.

In randomly selected chronic alcoholics hospitalised for the first time for detoxification a high prevalence (68%) of cognitive deficits was found. Peripheral neuronal damage was seen in 74%, autonomic neuronal damage in 24%. Cognitive deficits were not correlated with age, daily ethanol intake, duration of alcohol abuse or severity of liver damage. There was no correlation of peripheral, autonomic and central nervous system damage. Alcohol-induced damage of the nervous system is a common complication of chronic alcoholism, whose clinical importance often obscures possible concomitant liver damage.

Adult↗