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Biomedical subjects

G Gamberini

Publications and source records attributed to G Gamberini.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Reliable disability scale for myasthenia gravis sensitive to clinical changes.

INTRODUCTION: we developed a disability scale to monitor myasthenia gravis (MG) patients, based on degree of function impairment and daily frequency of each symptom. MATERIAL & METHODS: the scale was based on standardized questions and clinical examination. The scale was administered to 12 patients, one or more times, for a total of 22 interviews. Each observation was recorded on videotape and reviewed by five independent observers. The ability of our scale to discriminate clinical changes was also compared with the Osserman classification. RESULTS: our scale showed from substantial to almost perfect inter and intraobserver agreement. Our findings showed that clinically relevant changes not detected by Osserman staging were disclosed by our scale. CONCLUSION: our scale is simple and easy to use in clinical practice. It offers an accurate means of evaluating disability in MG patients and may detect clinically relevant changes in disability. It would therefore be useful to monitor the effects of therapy.

Activities of Daily Living

Determination of azelaic acid in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics by RP-HPLC after pre-column derivatization.

This paper reports a RP-HPLC method for the determination in topics of azelaic acid, a keratolytic and anti-comedogenic agent widely used in the treatment of all types of acne. A derivatization step was needed prior to chromatographic analysis because the analyte is lacking in chromophore. A sample clean-up procedure by solid-phase extraction was also developed to analyse azelaic acid in complex matrices, such as pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations.

Antineoplastic Agents

Comparative study on the prevalence of myasthenia gravis in the provinces of Bologna and Ferrara, Italy.

This cooperative study was performed in the provinces of Bologna and Ferrara to estimate the prevalence rate of Myasthenia Gravis (MG). Two independent groups used the same case collection method and diagnostic criteria. The study was performed from January 1, 1987 to March 1, 1988. Cases were collected through: 1) review of clinical files from neurology clinics in Bologna and Ferrara, and from the main North-Italian centers for MG (neurology clinics of Milan and Turin; thoracic surgery unit, Turin); 2) thoracic surgery and intensive care units in Bologna and Ferrara; 3) physicians prescribing anticholinesterase drugs. Prevalence rates of generalized MG per million population were 60.9 in the city and 41.0 in the remaining province for Bologna and 118.9 in the city and 87.9 in the remaining province for Ferrara. The difference in prevalence rates between the two areas was statistically significant. Our survey shows that prevalence studies on MG may be biased by factors that cannot be controlled and that most previous studies have probably underestimated the prevalence of MG.

Adolescent

Hemipelvectomy in malignant neoplasms of the hip region.

The authors report the results of 76 hemipelvectomies performed from 1978 to 1988 in malignant neoplasms of the hip region. Several surgical techniques were employed, including King and Steelquist's "classic" technique (77%), the technique involving the anterior flap of the thigh (9%), and the technique involving the subcutaneous gluteal flap (14%). In 8 cases palliative surgery was performed. Of the remaining 68 patients, 31 (45%) are alive and show no signs of the disease after an average of 44 months. Postoperative complications are discussed in relation to surgical technique and previous adjuvant therapy; the subcutaneous gluteal flap technique exposes the patient to the greatest risk of major complications (54%), while the "classic" technique is the most reliable, although there was superficial infection in 18% of cases. Fifty percent of the patients previously treated with radiotherapy suffered local postoperative complications. In order to reduce local recurrence, special care is advised in the preoperative stages and in the execution of the pelvic osteotomies.

Adolescent

S-aryl (tetramethyl) isothiouronium salts as possible antimicrobial agents, IV.

The 1-octanol/water partition coefficients of a series of antimicrobial S-aryl(tetramethyl)isothiouronium salts, were determined. The concentration of the solute in the two phases was measured by means of HPLC. The values of the hydrophobic parameters thus obtained were correlated to the corresponding capacity factors (log Kw) and compared with those expected on the basis of additive-constitutive principles. The deviations were interpreted quantitatively on the basis of electronic interactions of the substituents in the benzene ring. Equations correlating structural features and antimicrobial activity of some studied compounds by means of molecular parameters were formulated.

Anti-Bacterial Agents

Heteroarylalkanoic acids with possible antiinflammatoric activities. Part 6: 3-(4H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine-1,1-dioxide-3-yl-thio)-propanoic acid derivatives.

A series of 3-(4H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine-1,1-dioxide-3-yl-thio)-propanoic acids was synthesized in order to study their possible antiinflammatory in comparison with the corresponding lower homologues and isosters previously studied. Most of the compounds proved effective against carrageenan-induced plantar oedema. The possible influence of some chemico-physical parameters on the occurrence of this biological activity was investigated.

Animals

Heteroarylalkanoic acid with possible antiinflammatory activities. Note VII.

A series of 3-(4H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine-1,1-dioxide-3-ylamino)-propanoic acids was synthesized in order to study their possible antiinflammatory activity and to compare it with the corresponding homologous or isoster series previously studied. Of particular interest is parent compound 1, which is unsubstituted in the benzenoid moiety and exerts a very marked inhibitory effect on carrageenan-induced plantar oedema greater than that observed for any of the terms of the other series hitherto studied. The possible influence of some chemico-physical parameters on the occurrence of this antiinflammatory activity is investigated.

Animals

Epidemiology of headache in the Republic of San Marino.

An epidemiological survey on headache was performed in the Republic of San Marino, which is the smallest independent State in the world, located near the Adriatic Coast, within Italy. Among a random sample of 1500 inhabitants over 7 years of age the frequency of headache, severe headache and migraine in the previous year was 35.3%, 12.2%, 9.3% respectively for men, and 46.2%, 20.6%, 18% for women. The most common factors reported to provoke headache were emotional stress, physical strain, lack of sleep, particular foods or drinks and for women menstruation. Migraine patients differed from people without headache in that they had a higher consumption of coffee, more frequently reported bad sleep, allergic disease and previous appendectomy. Furthermore, migraine patients and severe headache sufferers had a higher diastolic blood pressure than non headache subjects.

Adolescent

Prevalence of Parkinson's disease in the Republic of San Marino.

A prevalence survey on Parkinson's disease (PD) was performed in the Republic of San Marino, which is the smallest independent state in the world, and is located near the Adriatic coast, within Italy. On April 30, 1986, it had a population of 22,322. We found 34 cases of PD (17 men, 17 women). Crude prevalence ratio per 100,000 population was 152 (154 for men, 150 for women) with an age-adjusted ratio of 185 (both sexes). This study shows that the prevalence of PD in the Mediterranean area of South Europe is similar to that in North Europe and the United States.

Age Factors

Cluster headache in the Republic of San Marino.

The prevalence of cluster headache (CH) in the Republic of San Marino (21,792 inhabitants; 10,893 men and 10,899 women) was studied, reviewing the past 15 years' medical records of neurological, ophthalmological, and otorhinolaryngological services. Further cases were searched for by means of a letter sent to each inhabitant. Control of the case collection method was performed on a random sample of 1314 inhabitants over 7 years, interviewed for possible past or present cluster headache. We found 15 cases of CH (14 men, 1 woman), for an estimated prevalence ratio of 69 cases per 100,000 population. No previous reports have been published on the prevalence of CH in the general population.

Adult

Subtotal and total femoral resection: an alternative to total femoral prosthetic replacement.

Two cases of chondrosarcoma involving the proximal femur and the soft tissues are reported. Both patients underwent subtotal femoral resection and quadriceps excision followed by reconstruction with a special prosthesis and arthrodesis of the knee. The tibial stem of the prosthesis was fixed with cement. The advantages of this method are discussed and compared with the use of total femoral prostheses.

Arthrodesis

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of monoalkylcarbamic and thiocarbamic esters of 3-mercapto-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine-1,1-dioxide and of its Bz-derivatives.

A new series of monoalkylcarbamic esters of 3-mercapto-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine-1,1-dioxide (I) and of its 6-chloro- and 5,7-dichloroderivatives [compounds (II leads to XVI)] and a series of monoalkylthiocarbamic esters of (I) [compounds (XVII leads to XIX)] were synthesized and evaluated in vitro for antimicrobial activity. All the substances studied have been found to possess an inhibiting action on one or more strains of mycetes of the genus Candida and on some strains of Gram-positive bacteria belonging to the genus Staphylococcus. Moreover, some compounds have shown a bacteriostatic effect on a strain belonging to the genus Streptococcus. None of the substances tested was active on Gram-negative schizomycetes.

Anti-Bacterial Agents

Propranolol and acetylsalicylic acid in migraine prophylaxis. Double-blind crossover study.

The aim of this double-blind crossover study was to compare the prophylactic effect of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) with that of propranolol (PRP) in the treatment of migraine. Plasma concentrations of the two drugs were measured in order to investigate a possible relationship to the clinical effect. Compared to the pretreatment period, PRP and ASA reduced migraine index, frequency, duration, severity of attacks and headache days. Due to the limited number of patients, our results should be cautiously interpreted, however relevant the clinical improvement seemed. Improvement of migraine index was not related to different plasma levels of the two drugs.

Adolescent