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Biomedical subjects

G Grimaldi

Publications and source records attributed to G Grimaldi.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

Multiple sclerosis in southern Europe. I: Prevalence in Sicily in 1975.

Previous reports on large population groups have suggested that the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Sicily and southern Italy is low, of the order of 4-8 per 100 000. In contrast, immigrants from Italy resident in Greater London, many of whom are from southern Italy and Sicily, had a hospitalised MS prevalence similar to that found among people born in the United Kingdom (1960-72). The present study shows that in Enna city (population 29 000) in central Sicily, the prevalence of probable MS was 53 per 100 000, which is of the same order of magnitude as has been reported from the United Kingdom and northern Europe. The high prevalence of MS found in Enna city may be due, at least in part, to the fact that the population studies was small. Because Enna is on high ground, similar studies are being undertaken in two small coastal towns of Sicily.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

[Identification of Candida albicans from various materials].

We examined 300 stipes of leavens coming from various material. Among these we identified 264 brances belonging to Candida king, utilizing the test for pseudomicelio production. Combininb with this test that of clamidospore production, the auxonogramma, culture media, we arrived to the classification of the species: C. Albicans 71%, C. Tropicalis 15.8%; C. Pseudotropicalis 0.6%; C. Krusei 0.3% C. Parapsilosis 0.3%. An analysis of the experiments utilized for the classification of the kind, proved that the test of germination is the most simple, rapid and safe method of ascrive the branches belonging to Candida kind to Albicans species.

Blood↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Twenty-four hour profile of integrated TSH concentration in puberty.

The 24-h pattern of integrated serum TSH concentrations has been investigated in 12 healthy adult males and 14 pubertal boys by means of continuous blood flow sampling. For every subject the integrated values and the mean concentrations, corresponding to the entire 24 hours, to the daytime (08:00-20:00) and to the nighttime (20:00-08:00) were calculated. A circadian rhythmicity has been shown in boys, as well as in adults. The mean TSH concentrations were significantly higher in boys with respect to adults. The nyctohemeral maximum was mostly recorded in pubertal boys after sleep and in adults before the onset of sleep. Mean and integrated concentrations corresponding to the nighttime period were significantly higher than those corresponding to the daytime in both groups. In conclusion, the 24-h TSH secretion seems different in boys with respect to adults both in the increased concentrations and in the time (generally after the onset of sleep) of the maximum.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The type of urinary diversion after radical cystectomy significantly impacts on the patient's quality of life.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we used a previously well-validated survey to assess the impact of different forms of urinary diversion on overall quality of life in patients with bladder cancer. METHODS: A total of 92 patients, having three different forms of urinary diversion after radical cystectomy, completed by mail the SF-36, a validated quality-of-life survey. All patients had local/regional disease at the time of cystectomy and are currently without evidence of disease. Completed surveys were then analyzed into physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component quality-of-life scores per published protocols. Results were then compared with published age-based norms. RESULTS: A total of 38 men who had cystectomy and ileal neobladder had a mean PCS (+/- SD) of 48.4 (7.8) and a mean MCS of 51.0 (7.4); 16 men and women who had cystectomy and Indiana Pouch had a mean PCS of 48.4 (8.9) and a mean MCS of 55.7 (3.8). None of these results is statistically different from published age- and sex-based population norms. Thirty-eight men who had cystectomy and ileal conduit had a mean PCS of 41.4 (8.5) and a mean MCS of 48.2 (10.7). The PCS is not statistically different from the population-based norm; however, the MCS is significantly decreased from the published norm (P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ileal conduits have significantly decreased mental health quality of life whereas patients with continent urinary diversions do not. Therefore, when not medically contraindicated, patients should be offered a continent diversion as the diversion of choice after cystectomy.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in western Venezuela caused by infection with Leishmania venezuelensis and L. braziliensis variants.

Between 1975 and 1987, epidemiological studies were carried out in several rural and urban communities in the central part of western Venezuela, especially in the state of Lara. 115 positive cultures were obtained from human cases and identified by their reactivity patterns to a cross-panel of specific monoclonal antibodies using a radioimmune binding assay; 53 were Leishmania venezuelensis and 62 were L. braziliensis. Most of these stocks were also characterized by isoenzyme electrophoresis, which confirmed the identification of the L. venezuelensis isolates. The enzyme electrophoretic profiles of the L. braziliensis isolates, however, revealed two populations with distinct electromorphs, one related to the World Health Organization L. braziliensis reference strain while the other population appeared to be a hybrid between L. braziliensis and L. guyanensis. L. braziliensis variants showed the widest geographical distribution, and were found in 7 states: Districto Federal (Caracas); Lara (Barquisimeto, Crespo, Iribarren, Jimenez, Morán, Palavecino, Torres, Urdaneta); Nueva Esparta (Margarita); Portuguesa (Las Cruces, Rio Amarillo); Trujillo (Cuicas); Yaracuy (Agua Fria, Cambural, Guaremal); and Zulia (Zipa-Yare). L. venezuelensis was found in the following endemic regions: Lara (Barquisimeto, Iribarren, Jimenez, Morán); Merida (Zéa); and Yaracuy (Campos Elias), showing that this parasite has a much wider geographical distribution than was initially recognized and that both these species can occur simultaneously within the same endemic region. Five isolates of L. braziliensis were made from infected donkeys (Equus asinus) in Urdaneta, Lara State, suggesting a possible domestic reservoir of L. braziliensis.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Weekly low dose epirubicin in elderly cancer patients.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: The treatment of elderly patients with metastatic solid tumours is still a debated problem. Patients over 75 years are generally excluded from combination chemotherapy trials because of higher toxicity. Several clinical studies have shown that weekly low dose epirubicin is a well tolerated and effective treatment for elderly cancer patients (breast, prostate, lung). METHODS: We report a study of patients aged between 75 and 85 years affected by metastatic anthracyclines-sensible carcinomas, to assess the tolerance of epirubicin given weekly at a dose of 25 mg/m2. RESULTS: 25 patients (13 males, 12 females; ECOG P.S. 0-2) entered the study and were evaluable for side effects. One-hundred and ninety-six cycles of therapy have been administered. Side effects were never severe. Mucositis (9 patients), leucopenia (7 patients), anemia (5 patients) were usually of grade 1 or 2. Grade 1 cardiotoxicity (tachycardia) was observed in only one case. Grade 3 toxicity consisted in anemia (1 patient) and mucositis (1 patient), while grade 4 toxicity never occurred. Nineteen patients were evaluable for response: 0 CR, 4 PR (1 lung, 3 breast), 8 SD (3 lung, 3 breast, 2 prostate) have been observed. Compliance was encouraging and the majority of patients showed a decrease in symptoms and an improvement in performance status. CONCLUSIONS: Weekly low-dose epirubicin is a very well tolerated treatment in elderly cancer patients. In view of the negligible toxicity encountered, it could be of utility to test this regimen in patients aged 75 years or older, affected by anthracyclines-sensible metastatic tumors, also to assess activity.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mucosal leishmaniasis ("espundia") responsive to low dose of N-methyl glucamine (Glucantime) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Response to treatment with antimonial drugs varies considerably depending on the parasite strain involved, immune status of the patient and clinical form of the disease. Therapeutic regimens with this first line drug have been frequently modified both, in dose and duration of therapy. A regimen of 20 mg/kg/day of pentavalent antimony (Sb5+) during four weeks without an upper limit on the daily dose is currently recommended for mucosal disease ("espundia"). Side-effects with this dose are more marked in elderly patients, more commonly affected by this form of leishmaniasis. According to our experience, leishmaniasis in Rio de Janeiro responds well to antimony and, in cutaneous disease, high cure rates are obtained with 5 mg/kg/day of Sb5+ during 30 to 45-days. In this study a high rate of cure (91.4%) employing this dose was achieved in 36 patients with mild disease in this same geographic region. Side-effects were reduced and no antimony refractoriness was noted with subsequent use of larger dose in patients that failed to respond to initial schedule.

Antiprotozoal Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Active cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil, induced by Leishmania donovani chagasi.

L.d. chagasi was isolated from active cutaneous leishmaniasis in both human and canine infections in an endemic area in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Both isolates were identified by molecular and immunological characterization of the parasite using three different methods: electrophoretic mobility of isoenzymes; restriction endonuclease fragment analysis of kDNA and serodeme analysis using monoclonal antibodies. This seems to be the first well documented case in the New World of a "viscerotropic" Leishmania inducing a case of cutaneous leishmaniasis. This observation emphasizes that the diagnosis of the etiologic agent of human or canine visceral leishmaniasis based solely upon clinical and epidemiological criteria may lead to erroneous conclusions.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Monoclonal antibodies for the identification of New World Leishmania species.

Monoclonal antibodies specific for selected species complexes of Leishmania have been employed for the characterization of several representative strains of Leishmania isolated from different hosts and localities in the Americas. In the past 15 years, data have been accumulated concerning (i) the specificities of a number of these monoclonal antibodies and (ii) the antigenic variation (level of the expressed antigenic determinants) occurring among New World Leishmania species or strain variants as recognized by the monoclonal antibodies. This report is an attempt to summarize in brief the data accumulated to date on these points and to indicate the directions for future applications of these specific monoclonal antibodies for identification of leishmanial isolates.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Genetic diversity in natural populations of New World Leishmania.

Our results have shown the wide diversity of parasites within New World Leishmania. Biochemical and molecular characterization of species within the genus has revealed that much of the population heterogeneity has a genetic basis. The source of genetic diversity among Leishmania appears to arise from predominantly asexual, clonal reproduction, although occasional bouts of sexual reproduction can not be ruled out. Genetic variation is extensive with some clones widely distributed and others seemingly unique and localized to a particular endemic focus. Epidemiological studies of leishmaniasis has been directed to the ecology and dynamics of transmission of Leishmania species/variants, particularly in localized areas. Future research using molecular techniques should aim to identify and follow Leishmania types in nature and correlate genetic typing with important clinical characteristics such as virulence, pathogenicity, drug resistance and antigenic variation. The epidemiological significance of such variation not only has important implications for the control of the leishmaniases, but would also help to elucidate the evolutionary biology of the causative agents.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Genetic data showing evolutionary links between Leishmania and Endotrypanum.

Striking similarities at the morphological, molecular and biological levels exist between many trypanosomatids isolated from sylvatic insects and/or vertebrate reservoir hosts that make the identification of medically important parasites demanding. Some molecular data have pointed to the relationship between some Leishmania species and Endotrypanum, which has an important epidemiological significance and can be helpful to understand the evolution of those parasites. In this study, we have demonstrated a close genetic relationship between Endotrypanum and two new leishmanial species, L. (V.) colombiensis and L. (V.) equatorensis. We have used (a) numerical zymotaxonomy and (b) the variability of the internal transcribed spacers of the rRNA genes to examine relationships in this group. The evolutionary trees obtained revealed high genetic similarity between L. (V.) colombiensis, L. (V.) equatorensis and Endotrypanum, forming a tight cluster of parasites. Based on further results of (c) minicircle kDNA heterogeneity analysis and (d) measurement of the sialidase activity these parasites were also grouped together.

Animals↗