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Biomedical subjects

G Giuliani

Publications and source records attributed to G Giuliani.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Factors affecting calving interval in Italian Holstein-Friesian heifers.

Effect of rump conformation on calving interval of 520 Italian Holstein Friesian heifers was evaluated with simultaneous adjustment for herd, year of birth, calving month, age at first parturition, and milk production. All factors, except age at first parturition, were important sources of variation. Heifers with narrow rumps at the pins had the longest calving interval. There were significant differences among the herds. Cows born between 1979 and 1981 had shorter calving intervals, probably resulting from a national plan against bovine infertility initiated in 1981. Cows calving in July had better reproductive performance. There was positive relationship between milk production and calving interval.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1988

Arachnoid cysts of the middle cranial fossa: experience with 77 cases treated surgically.

Arachnoid cysts of the middle cranial fossa (Sylvian cysts), represent the most common type of intracranial leptomeningeal malformation. Among the 102 intracranial arachnoid cysts operated on at the authors' institution from January 1970 to August 1986, the 77 cases (75%) located in the middle cranial fossa are reviewed. The higher incidence in the first two decades of life (51 cases) as well as the marked predilection for the male sex (60 cases) and the left hemisphere (55 cases) are confirmed in the authors' experience. As for clinical presentation cranial deformities, symptoms of raised intracranial pressure and epilepsy constituted the most frequent features. In 13 patients a complicating lesion was associated: subdural or intracystic haematomas in 7 cases, subdural hygromas in 4 cases and, extradural haematomas in 2 cases. Based on the appearance at CT scan and the results at CT cisternography the authors proposed a classification into three basic types of increasing severity and different pathophysiologic conditions. All the patients underwent craniotomy, excision of the cyst walls and perforation into the basal cisterns. There was one postoperative death (mortality rate of 1.3%) due to meningitis. The remaining clinical results were gratifying in all three types of lesion; on follow-up CT scans the cysts of type I. and II. exhibited a steady tendency to reduction or obliteration while cerebral reexpansion seemed less evident in the third, most severe, type. The authors compare and discuss the options of radical open surgery versus shunting procedures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

The Karpas AIDS Cell Test compared with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detecting antibody to the human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV-I and HIV-2).

We have compared the Karpas AIDS Cell Test for antibodies to the human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Organon Teknika) by testing serum samples from 324 intravenous drug abusers in Turin. The cell test was found to be more sensitive and as specific as the ELISA with the serum samples from the drug abusers. In Lisbon, 30 samples were tested on slides containing cells infected with HIV-1 and/or HIV-2. All 15 samples, which were positive for HIV-2 alone (in the HIV-2 Elavia test and by the Western blotting technique), were also positive in the Karpas AIDS test. In contrast, only one of the 15 samples (7%) gave a positive reading in the ELISA for HIV-1. Results of 30 samples tested in Turin and Lisbon by the Western blotting technique agreed closely with those obtained with the Karpas AIDS Cell Test. We were also able to show that the entire test can be performed at room temperature and completed within 1 hour. Moreover, the cell test requires minimal skill and simple equipment and is inexpensive. It also includes non-infected cells as a control and the specificity of positive samples may be verified with a bench microscope. Furthermore, this test which detects antibodies to both HIV-1 and HIV-2 allows rapid typing of the infecting strain.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

Pituitary apoplexy, bilateral carotid vasospasm, and cerebral infarction in a 15-year-old boy.

The authors report a case of pituitary apoplexy associated with oculomotor defects and focal cerebral signs; the visual pathways were intact. Computed tomography documented a mass of heterogeneous density within an enlarged sella turcica and a right parietal infarct. Angiograms revealed bilateral carotid spasm and occlusion of the right angular artery. Treatment was conservative. Control angiograms showed spontaneous resolution of the vasospasm and recanalization of the cortical artery. The patient made a complete neurological recovery; he needed only treatment with vasopressin due to transient diabetes insipidus. The risk of vasospasm and brain ischemia should be kept in mind when treating pituitary apoplexy. The early occurrence of vasospasm in our case suggests the participation of powerful vasoactive agents liberated from the tumor.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1986

Chronic expanding intracerebral hematoma.

The cases of 10 normotensive patients with chronic intracerebral hematomas are reported. The patients' median age at diagnosis was 42 years. The median duration of symptoms was 22 days. Seizures were the presenting symptom in 50% of the cases. Computerized tomography almost consistently demonstrated ring-shaped lesions with mass effect and perifocal edema. Arteriography revealed that all but one of the lesions were avascular. All patients had superficial white matter lesions, mostly in the frontoparietal region. All patients were treated surgically. Most of the hematomas were encapsulated and contained blood in various stages of organization. The thick capsule consisted of an outer layer of collagenous tissue and an inner layer of granulation tissue. Occult cerebrovascular malformations were detected in two instances. There were two deaths, both related to recurrent postoperative hemorrhage. This entity can present much like a brain malignancy and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of ring-shaped lesions whatever the clinical presentation. Strategies of treatment are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

[The management of particle accelerators in radiotherapy].

In this multicentric survey, the management costs and the technical problems connected with the use of electron accelerators in Radiotherapy are studied. The data were collected by a proper questionnaire and concern 11/35 accelerators in use in Italy, in public hospitals, during the period 1982-1983. The average purchase cost of an accelerator was 1113 milions lire and the amortization cost is 111 milions lire per year. The expenses for the amortization of the cost of the bunker, for ordinary and extraordinary maintenance, for the employed staff and for the electric power respectively, represent the 22%, 5%, 43% and 2% of the total management cost (395 milions lire per year). In 1983 the load per machine was 400 patients and the cost per patient was 1 milion lire. On the average, 4 years are needed from the order to the beginning of the treatments with large differences among centers. The machines average use is 7.1 hours a day and keep 2.8 technicians busy per week. The time wasted by repairs or maintenances increases (+7%) the average duration of stay in hospital of patients. An attentive evaluation of the studied parameters allows us to single out the most significant variables on which is possible to work to increase the efficiency and to reduce the management costs of an accelerator.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed1983

Epidemiologic patterns of infection with the hepatitis B virus-associated delta agent in Italy.

To assess the epidemiology of infection with the delta agent associated with hepatitis B virus, sera from 1314 carriers of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and 687 patients with hepatitis B collected in 1978-1981 from different regions of Italy were tested for delta antigen and antibody to the antigen (anti-delta), and the characteristics of delta-positive patients were analyzed. Anti-delta was found in each center participating in the study, indicating that delta infection has spread throughout Italy. Its prevalence was higher in carriers in southern Italy and in those with chronic hepatitis. In northern Italy, delta infection predominated among southern emigrants in industrial towns but also among parenteral drug addicts with hepatitis B virus infection. The prevalence of delta markers was variable and generally low in acute hepatitis B, suggesting that in Italy self-limited forms of delta infection occur sporadically or by limited outbreaks. Delta infection appears to be endemic in southern Italy but a new epidemiologic event in northern Italy, where it was probably introduced by southern emigrants and is presently exceeding its ethnic confinement to spread selectively in communities of drug addicts. Presumably, the endemicity of delta is maintained by transmission of this agent from carrier to carrier of the HBsAg.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Neuropsychological performances in patients treated with different antiepileptic drugs.

Twenty-six patients, suffering from various forms of epilepsy (2 with simple partial, 14 with complex partial, and 10 with generalized seizures) and treated with different drugs (10 with DPH, 10 with PB, and 6 with CBZ), underwent neuropsychological tests in order to evaluate: 1) Vigilance; 2) attention; 3) motor, sensory and adaptive (visuomotor) performances; 4) memory span, short-term and long-term memory, considering verbal as well as spatial aspects. The battery of tests was administered prior to treatment and when the drug plasmatic levels were within the ranges considered therapeutic. The results show that in the case of DPH there is an improvement of vigilance and adaptive performances but a worsening of attention and memory functions. With PB, only motor and adaptive performances improve; all other functions worsen. Finally, with CBZ, vigilance, attention, sensory performances and memory functions are unmodified while only motor and adaptive performances appear to improve.

Adult↗