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Biomedical subjects

G Franco

Publications and source records attributed to G Franco.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

[Subadventitial cyst of the popliteal artery. Non-invasive explorations. Anatomo-pathologic data].

Subadventitial cyst of the popliteal artery is a well known entity. We report a new case and the diagnostic and therapeutic advantages of noninvasive explorations. Transcutaneous duplex-scan provided diagnosis and showed cystic formations in contact with a segmentary occlusion of the popliteal artery. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidenced communication between the cysts and the articular capsule of the knee joint. Surgical exeresis confirmed the communication with the synovial fluid. This observation demonstrated: i) the contribution of duplex-scan for the diagnosis of adventitial cysts and arterial consequences; ii) the contribution of MRI in identifying communication with the synovial fluid; iii) the presence of arterial wall lesions (necrosis of the media) would favor no conservative treatment.

Humans↗
PubMed1997

[Ultrasonographic exploration for recurrent varicose veins in the popliteal fossa after surgery].

Recurrence rate, five years after surgery is known to be high, about 50%, further reoperations amount a quarter of global venous insufficiency surgery. True varicose veins recurrence has a very theoretical definition which is reappearance of the disease after initial total eradication. Early post surgical recurrence result from an incomplete or inadequate operation. Late recurrence is known to occur after correct surgery but with deterioration of the remaining superficial venous system and with evolving point of reflux, or in case of inappropriate surgery leaving communication between superficial and deep venous systems which have evolved silently, or even recurrence following incomplete surgery because of unrecognised anatomical variation. This distinction is merely theoretical, duplex-scan shows that incomplete removal of varicose veins remain the main cause of recurrence. In presence of post-surgical varicose vein recurrence, the aim of sonographic investigation is to identify the main factors, more than the cause, before surgery assessment which could serve as reference being seldom available. In practice certain technical or and tactical errors could surely be identified in the course of treatment, without being able to assess precisely what could be attributed to the evolution of the varicose disease itself. Sonographic tests enables dynamic mapping of recurrence and allows for a better choice of further treatment, surgery, phlebectomy, sclerotherapy, or various techniques combined, or even abstaining from any aggressive therapy if even slightly risky. Ideally this mapping should be followed by skin marking when further surgery is necessary to avoid yet more incomplete treatment.

Hemodynamics↗
PubMed1996

Frontal lobe dementia presenting as personality disorder.

The early differential diagnosis of frontal lobe dementia is particularly difficult because changes of personality or behaviour overwhelm intellectual and cognitive impairments. We report the case of a patient presenting with paranoid personality disorder who refused to collaborate in neuropsychological testing. Initial functional imaging showed frontal hypometabolism that served as an early marker of frontal lobe dysfunction.

Brain↗
PubMed1996

Evaluation of an occupational health course. Developed for nursing education programs in Italy.

1. Italian schools of nursing are now required to have a standardized curriculum. Part of the standardized curriculum is an occupational health course. The course is divided into two main units including occupational health (18 topics) and occupational health in the hospital (25 topics). 2. In an effort to identify relevant course topics from the two modules, an external evaluation using an audit approach was performed. 3. Items identified as most relevant (with a percentage of the theoretical maximum level > 78%) included both the basic concepts in occupational health and occupational health in the hospital. 4. The audit process revealed that a number of topics should be considered compulsory, whereas others could be omitted because of their lower relevance for nursing education curricula.

Curriculum↗
PubMed1995

[Partial interruption of the inferior vena cava using a Greenfield titanium percutaneous filter. Present indications and evaluation].

We report a prospective study of 39 patients who presented thromboembolic disease (TED) treated by partial interruption of inferior vena cava (PIIVC) with Greenfield Titanium filter. We observed 2 recurrent pulmonary embolisms, 1 symptomatic deep venous thrombosis and 2 asymptomatic filter thrombosis. With 1 year follow up, the survival probability is of 85%. Concerning the 12 last years evolution in our hospital, we note that the approach of TED diagnosis and treatment by a central, specialised team within the hospital care structure has lead to a reduction in the number of severe cases of TED, and consequently of PIIVC. So the use of percutaneous filters has not lead to an increase in the real rate of PIIVC performed but to a decrease (21% of patients with TED in 1982 vs 8% in 1993).

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Partial interruption of the inferior vena cava: ten-year evolution in protocols at Grenoble University Hospital. Study of 621 patients.

An evolution in protocols regarding indications and modalities for Partial Interruption of the Inferior Vena Cava (PIIVC) on 621 patients at Grenoble University Hospital is reported and the influence of new methods in diagnosis (vascular sonography) and therapy (percutaneous filters) is assessed. This comparative study covers the intervals from 1982-1984 (Period A - 333 patients), and 1989-1991 (Period B - 288 patients). The percentage of patients with venous thromboembolic disease who underwent PIIVC clearly decreased (21.8% in period A vs. 13% in period B, p < 0.01). The incidence of what are currently miscalled "prophylactic", but are in fact adjunctive indications also diminished (115 patients in period A, or 34.5% of the PIIVC cases vs. 60 patients in period B, or 20.8% of the PIIVC cases, p < 0.05). There was a reduction in the use of Miles caval clips (59 patients or 17.7% for period A vs. 34 patients or 11.8% for period B, p < 0.05). Although there has been an increase in the use of percutaneous caval filters, the use of percutaneous filters has not lead to an increase in the real rate of PIIVC performed by an Angiology Unit with a large experience in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with venous thromboembolic disease.

Combined Modality Therapy↗
PubMed1994

Chewing electric wire coatings: an unusual source of lead poisoning.

This report describes a case of lead poisoning occurring in an electrician as the result of an unusual personal habit, namely, the chewing of lead-containing coatings of electric wires. A coating chewing test showed that a few minutes after beginning chewing, saliva lead concentration increased from 10 micrograms/l to several milligrams per liter. This case is an example of poisoning caused by an occupationally related source (coatings containing lead) as a consequence of a singular and unconventional worker's habit.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Scrotoscopy: a promising future? Our preliminary experience.

Scrotoscopy is a new endourologic technique for the exploration of the scrotum. After distention of the tunica vaginalis space with saline, a standard arthroscope was employed in 20 cadavers and subsequently in 5 patients before full surgical exploration for hydrocele (1 case), testicular biopsy (3 cases), or orchidectomy (1 case). There was a clear view of the testis and epididymis. The procedure was easy, and there were no major complications. Scrotoscopy could potentially be performed on an outpatient basis. Its indications in infertility appear to be particularly promising.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Advances in evaluating liver response to operating theatre work: urinary D-glucaric acid as an index of effect.

The contribution of operating theatre work to specific diseases is still a controversial matter involving a variety of risk factors. The concept that the liver plays a central role in anaesthetics biotransformation stimulated numerous studies aimed at establishing the occurrence of liver changes and at verifying the relationship between liver disease and anaesthetics. The liver microsomal enzyme system has received particular attention in order to clarify the mechanism involved in anaesthetics hepatotoxicity and an increased microsomal activity has been detected in experimental conditions and in humans. In particular, a significant increase in the excretion of urinary D-glucaric acid (UDGA) in subjects occupationally exposed to anaesthetic mixture was observed. Nevertheless, few results exist about the relationship between UDGA increase and environmental anaesthetic concentration, and mechanisms responsible for UDGA increase still need to be clarified. Attention is focused, however, on the possibility of using UDGA as an index reflecting an adaptation effect (rather than an injury effect), which may represent a more adequate approach for evaluating any change related to working in the operating theatre.

Anesthetics↗
PubMed1994

New trends in occupational and environmental diseases: the role of the occupational hygienist in recognizing lung diseases.

This review deals with some of the emerging events that are assuming increasing relevance as work-related respiratory diseases (indoor air pollution and sick building syndrome, respiratory toxicity of formaldehyde, pollutant-induced asthma, dental technician lung diseases, lung cancer from diesel exhaust, environmental silicosis). The industrial hygienist's role in recognition, evaluation, and control of health hazards is stressed as an essential contribution to both prevention and diagnosis of occupational lung disease.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1993

Methylene chloride exposure in industrial workers.

Methods of environmental and biological monitoring were applied in order to evaluate exposure to methylene chloride in workers operating in a factory where this substance was used as a solvent. For the measurement of methylene chloride in environmental concentration, the ambient air was sampled by using personal passive dosimeters. The activated charcoal was desorbed with CS2 and injected into a gas chromatograph connected with a mass spectrometer. The biological monitoring of exposed workers was performed by determining the concentration of CO in alveolar air (CA, ppm) and methylene chloride in urine (Cu, mu/L). Immediately after the end of the exposure, a urine sample was collected avoiding solvent loss and using gas-tight samplers. Excretion level in urine was determined by using headspace gas chromatography linked to a mass spectrometer. The CO was determined at the end of the shift by using a portable instrument. A group of 20 workers (12 smokers and 8 nonsmokers) in the manufacturing plant were monitored. No significant correlation was observed among the CO of all subjects and the concentration of methylene chloride in ambient air. When those workers who smoked were removed from the analysis, a correlation between the methylene chloride concentration in air and the CO concentration in alveolar air was found. Significant linear correlation was found between the environmental concentration of methylene chloride in the breathing zone and methylene chloride concentration in urine.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Cerebral glucose utilization during stage 2 sleep in man.

Using [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose method and positron emission tomography, we performed paired determinations of the cerebral glucose utilization at one week intervals during sleep and wakefulness, in 12 young normal subjects. During 6 of 28 sleep runs, a stable stage 2 SWS was observed that fulfilled the steady-state conditions of the model. The cerebral glucose utilization during stage 2 SWS was lower than during wakefulness, but the variation did not significantly differ from zero (mean variation: -11.5 +/- 25.57%, P = 0.28). The analysis of 89 regions of interest showed that glucose metabolism differed significantly from that observed at wake in 6 brain regions, among them both thalamic nuclei. We conclude that the brain energy metabolism is not homogeneous throughout all the stages of non-REMS but decreases from stage 2 SWS to deep SWS; we suggest that a low thalamic glucose metabolism is a metabolic feature common to both stage 2 and deep SWS, reflecting the inhibitory processes observed in the thalamus during these stages of sleep. Stage 2 SWS might protect the stability of sleep by insulating the subject from the environment and might be a prerequisite to the full development of other phases of sleep, especially deep SWS.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Work coding.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Humans↗