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Biomedical subjects

G Meneghetti

Publications and source records attributed to G Meneghetti.

54 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. A clinical and electrophysiological study in a 2 year follow-up.

15 patients with chronic progressive Multiple Sclerosis were treated with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at 2.0 atmospheres absolute for a total of 20 daily exposures followed by 2 exposures every month. The treatment was carried out for a 24 months follow-up. No objective benefit resulted from Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at the completion of the study while a subjective improvement in bladder control was reported in the short and in the long-term follow-up by 8 and by 5 patients respectively. No significant variations in the electrophysiological results were observed after the first 20 consecutive exposures. It is concluded from this trial that a long-term Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment cannot moderate the progression of Multiple Sclerosis. However, an improvement in the quality of life can be obtained in some patients resulting from a better control of bladder function.

Adult↗

[Type I Arnold-Chiari malformation: diagnostic considerations in a case].

An 18-year-old patient with a 5-year history of periodic vertigo, headache and stiff neck is reported. Routine X-ray of the skull showed a mild form of basilar impression while the CT scan demonstrated only a tri-ventricular hydrocephalus. Without using the traditional invasive techniques, diagnosis of Chiari type I malformation was nonetheless clearly pointed out by magnetic resonance imaging of the posterior fossa and spinal cord. Diagnostic problems of this clinically ambiguous and uncharacterized syndrome are discussed.

Adolescent↗

EEG monitoring, selective shunting and patch graft angioplasty in carotid endarterectomy. Early and longterm results.

From March 1980 to July 1986 at the Department of Vascular Surgery of the University of Padua, 182 patients underwent 210 carotid revascularizations for atherosclerotic stenosis involving the carotid bifurcation (28 operations were bilateral). Carotid endarterectomies (CE) and patch graft angioplasty totalled 192 (166 patients); an enlarging patch graft angioplasty of the internal carotid artery (ICA) without CE was performed in 14 cases (13 patients); in the remaining four surgical procedures (3 patients), for technical reasons prohibiting CE, the operation consisted of a great saphenous vein bypass between a donor vessel and the ICA distal to the lesion. The preoperative symptoms in 182 patients were as follows: TIAs (98 cases, 54%), non-hemispheric symptoms (21 cases (12%) and fixed stroke or TIAIR (10 cases, 5%). Fifty-three patients (29%) were asymptomatic. In all cases, continuous EEG monitoring was employed. The operation was performed without a temporary intraluminal shunt in the patients showing tolerance to carotid clamping. The protection of the shunt was required only in patients with EEG changes (47 cases). The arteriotomy was routinely closed with a PTFE patch graft angioplasty. Early results of the operation were excellent: none of the patients presented permanent or transient neurological deficits in the immediate postoperative period and none of them died. All patients were reassessed with C.W. Doppler sonography and Duplex scanning in the postoperative period. In all cases, the success of the operation was demonstrated. Longterm follow-up (6-72 months, mean follow-up: 35 months) was done in 121 patients (142 operations): 107 patients were completely asymptomatic, 5 remained stable or slightly improved the preoperative status. Five patients had a new or recurrent TIAs, 3 suffered a stroke, one showed a recurrence of non-hemispheric symptoms. With the exception of two patients suffering a stroke, all had a second arteriography but none of these patients showed extracranial lesions. Two patients presented an asymptomatic restenosis of the ICA. Eight patients (8.8%) revealed a significant evolution of the disease of the contralateral unoperated ICA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗

Electroencephalographic and histopathological correlations on Jakob-Creutzfeldt disease.

Three patients with Jakob-Creutzfeldt disease were studied. The clinical evolution was followed and several EEG controls were made. In all patients characteristic EEG abnormalities were present. Histopathological features in the cortical, subcortical grey matter and in the white matter were examined. Subcortical and cortical grey matter were involved while the white matter appeared intact. The results were compared with previous studies of other Authors and the correlation between the characteristic EEG alterations and the histopathological features was studied in order to explain the appearance of the paroxysmal EEG findings. In agreement with other studies, the Authors emphasized the cortical and subcortical grey matter involvement in the genesis of EEGraphic paroxysmal aspects. The intervention of other factors, possibly of histochemical nature, was postulated.

Aged↗

[Correction of the acid-base balance in the newborn asphyxia. The use of sodium bicarbonate].

The treatment of neonatal respiratory distress associates the improvement of lung ventilation with the correction of acid-base equilibrium (metabolic acidosis). In such a context we have considered 10 newborns with respiratory distress and we monitored pH, PCO2, B.E. and standard bicarbonate in capillary blood at 1, 5, 10, 25 hours after birth. The sodium bicarbonate doses given as a result of the emogasanalisis are above those usually recommended. We then give suggestions on how to use the sodium bicarbonate required to correct the acidosis without the aid of an emogasanaliser in order to avoid the iatrogenic alcalosis danger.

Acidosis, Respiratory↗

[Asymptomatic hematuria. Features of 11 observed cases].

The management of 11 cases of asymptomatic haematuria (E.A. in text) of which 1 macroscopic and 10 microscopic, involved a very accurate investigation on family medical history (focusing on haematuria, renal failure, deafness and atopy) as well as individual anamnesis (former events of E.A., concomitant and previous upper respiratory tract infections and allergic diseases) together with all laboratory and clinical tests on kidney functions. The first six months, the 24/hrs proteinuria, the "minute count" of urinary erythrocytes and the blood pressure were tested in all patients once a month, while, during the following 18 months, 3 tests only were carried out. All the subjects presented normal renal functions; for 2 of them the intravenous urography proved to be necessary because of a renal pain concomitant with haematuria while the audiogram was required for 1 subject only. After 2 years, the microscopic E.A. is still enduring in 3 patients: 2 of them recording haematuria in familial anamnesis and 1 suffering from similar episodes, long before we studied his case. None of them had to undergo the renal biopsy which the authors take into consideration only when E.A. is higher than 10,000.000 R.C./24 hrs and associated with high proteinuria and high complement decrease or when hereditary and concomitant to deafness (high frequences only).

Child↗

[Premature rupture of the membranes: its effects on the newborn infant and the validity of antibiotic prophylaxis].

Premature Rupture of Membranes (R.P.M.) is often described in association with both amniotic fluid infections and the high risk of respiratory distress sindrome and of neonatal infections. But amniotic fluid infections, as underlined by some authors, may be a cause of R.P.M. as well as a consequence. Several attempts were made to formulate guidelines for early detection and treatment of neonatal septicaemia. In such a contest we considered 10 infants with R.P.M.: 9 treated with preventive antibiotics, 1 treated without any preventive antibiotics. We monitored the leucocyte and trombocyte counts as well as superficial swabs taken from the eyes, ears, throat, nose, umbilicus; clinical findings such as temperature, weight, gastrointestinal and breathing symptoms, jaundice were also monitorised in them all. The group treated with preventive antibiotics didn't show any compliance. The patient treated without any antibiotics showed signs and symptoms of septicemia on 7th day of life.

Bacterial Infections↗

[Neurologic consequences of the neonatal respiratory syndrome in full-term and pre-term neonates].

Neonatal respiratory distress (N.R.D.) must be carefully dealt considering the high death risk as well as the possible neurologic damage in the survivors. Optimal perinatal management allowed a considerable reduction in neonatal mortality without involving, despite expectations, an increase in neurologic handicaps. In this contest we have considered 20 newborn infants affected by N.R.D. who revealed symptoms of neurologic distress at birth. Neurologic assessments were performed by a pediatrician immediately after birth and at regular intervals during hospitalization; special attention was paid to reflexes and neurologic behaviour. All study children were seen for neuro-development assessments at 3, 5 and 12 months from the date of delivery. Except for 2 who died, all the children we studied proved to have a normal psychomotorious development and no alterations were registered by the audiometric examinations. In order to avoid all neurologic handicaps the importance of the most qualified assistence is then stressed.

Female↗

[Atopic dermatitis in infants. Its relation to breast feeding and cow's milk feeding].

After analysing the literature on the more probable causes of atopic dermatitis in early childhood the authors report herein their study on 2 groups of infants: 3 breast-fed and 3 cow's milk-fed since their first days of life. In all groups an increase of IgA, IgM, IgE ha been reported. While we can easily explain the antigens passing with cow's milk, in breast-fed infants che passing cow's antigens might have occurred in fetal time, causing in this way the first sensibilization. The detrimental antigen-dose, might have then passed through breast-feeding.

Animals↗

[Increase of IgE in asthmatic children: correlation with eosinophilia, skin tests and the value of the other gamma-globulins].

After considering IgE behaviour in various forms of atopic diseases the authors examine the importance of serum IgE levels in bronchial asthma diagnosis. They herein underline the correlation between IgE and positive skin test, its relationship with other immunoglobulines and its proportional increase to the age of the patient and the eosinophilia. As far as this study is concerned, 91% of asthmatic children register an IgE increase, against 9% only, this being the case of children under three years of age; 91% skin tests are positive and 41% register an increase of IgA, while the eosinophilia is unsignificant. The anamnestic data of atopic dermatitis and asthmatic bronchitis affecting 15 among our patients are found to be of great importance.

Adolescent↗

[EEG in transient ischemic attacks (author's transl)].

60 patients under 65 years of age with one or more episodes of reversible ischemic attacks lasting less or more than 24 hours (T.I.A. or R.I.N.D.) were studied. Each patient had a complete clinical assessment and an EEG, followed by an arteriogram. 35 patients had an EEG activation with digital carotid compression. EEG abnormalities were present in 26 cases while 34 patients had normal records. No correlation was found between EEG abnormalities and arteriographic alterations. EEG activation by digital carotid compression is a valuable hemodynamic test but cannot necessarily indicate a controlateral carotid artery occlusion.

Adult↗

[Ophthalmodynamometry in transitory cerebral ischemic episodes].

The authors examine the diagnostic accuracy of ophthalmodynamometry in detecting extracranial internal carotid artery stenosis. 58 patients with T.I.A.s or R.I.N.D.s are studied. The test, compared with angiography, is positive only in 50% of patients presenting unilateral internal carotid artery occlusion.

Carotid Artery Thrombosis↗

Regional cerebral blood flow compared to angiography in ischemic cerebrovascular diseases.

Regional cerebral blood flow determination, following post-angiographic intracarotid injection of 133Xenon, was performed in 11 patients with transient (T.I.A. - R.I.N.D.) or established (Stroke) cerebrovascular disorders. The regional cerebral perfusion rate of the grey matter was compared with angiographic data. There was a good correlation between angiographic abnormalities and regional cerebral perfusion rate disturbances. The Authors emphasize the presence of regional cerebral perfusion rate disturbances (not shown by angiography) even some time after transient ischemic episodes.

Adult↗

[Measles encephalitis. Clinical, EEG, and psychometric aspects at follow up (author's transl)].

A follow-up of 23 patients with measles encephalitis was carried out six months to ten years after the onset of the disease. Neurological and electroencephalographic features have been examined together with specific psychological tests. Clinical and electsroencephalographic abnormalities, frequently observed during the acute phase of the disease, were rarely detected during the follow-up. However intellectual performances with specific visuo-spatial and attentional involvement are often impaired. Specific psychological tests are required to evaluate visuo-spatial and attention performances, frequently impaired as a consequence of the disease; these are often considered minor psychological disturbances as they are limited to scholastic performances. The Authors conclude that, although measles encephalitis is a fairly serious illness during its acute phase, it tends to improve with time until recovery is complete. The psychological residual deficits, detected during the follow-up, should not be considered as minor disturbances.

Acute Disease↗

Clinical-electroencephalographic correlations in measles: a long range study of 18 subjects.

EEGs of 18 cases of measles (uncomplicated, with seizures, with encephalitides) were obtained through an underground cable connection between the Infections Diseases Department and the EEG unit. The varions EEG features of the disease have been studied during the evolution of the illness. An occasional EEG does not offer specific information on either the severity or the evolution of the disease. Marked EEG abnormalities appeared in the encephalitic group. The Authors emphasize the importance of serial prolonged EEG follow-up of measles in order to define precisely the stage and the evolution of the disease.

Adolescent↗

[Idiopathic cupulolithiasis: vasomotor reactivity evaluation of the vertebro-basilar artery by transcranial doppler ultrasonography and acetazolamide test].

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) or cupulolithiasis is one of the more common peripheral vestibular disorders. Diagnosis is made on the observation of typical positioning nystagmus brought about by the Hallpike manoeuver. In most cases of BPPV, etiology is unknown. Microcirculatory disorders have often been considered responsible for idiopathic BPPV. Few reports have been published on this specific aspect of the problem. In our study we evaluated vertebro-basilar haemodynamics and vasomotory reactivity after Acetazolamide administration in 12 patients with idiopathic BPPV. The results obtained reveal the absence of macrocirculatory impairment in the vertebro-basilar district in basal conditions, but significative vasoreactivity variation after acetazolamide, both in vertebral and basilar arteries. Poor vasomotor reactivity in one vertebral artery was observed in 5 patients and, in two cases, in the basilar artery. Altered vasoreactivity in the middle cerebral arteries was not observed in any case. In the light of these findings, we suggest that a possible inadequate response if microcirculation in the labyrinth, in some particular haemodynamic situations, might cause otolithic damage.

Acetazolamide↗