Cerebellifugal fibres to the cochlear nuclei and superior olivary complex.
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
G Rossi
Publications and source records attributed to G Rossi.
Effects of acoustic trauma on corti's ganglion.
The ultrastructural features of Corti's ganglion cells were studied in guinea pigs subjected to a wide-band plain 100 dB SPL white noise (12 hr/day for 30 days). Regression was primarily observed in cells belonging to the 2nd turn and took the form of detachment of the membrane from the myelin sheath, and cytoplasmic retraction to the point of destruction of the entire cell. Intensely osmiophilic myelin bodies were frequent in Schwann cells, and in gangliar cells and their sheath. Multivesicular bodies were also common. A description of the regression noted in the myelin fibres is given. Attention is drawn to the fact that regression was not observed in sheathless fibres and cells; the latter formed about 5% of the ganglion population.
Animals↗
Electroneuronography in the diagnosis and prognosis of diseases of the facial nerve.
Electroneuronography (ENoG) involves the recording of a summation potential of motor units provoked by an appropriate electrical stimulus. Degeneration (and obviously interruption) of a nerve fibre always means the denervation of all muscular fibres related to them. So the diminution in summation potential amplitude will be proportional to the number of denervated motor units. The test is based on a comparison of responses to stimuli of equal intensity between healthy and diseased side. Comparison with the unimpaired side, makes it possible to establish the percentage number of nerve fibres on the damaged side capable of provoking a contraction in the muscular fibres to which they are distributed. The results obtained in 60 personal cases are illustrated and the undeniable advantages offered by this straightforward diagnostic method discussed with respect to evaluating the development of facial nerve paralysis and the precise, early establishment of therapeutic indications, particularly where surgery is necessary.
Action Potentials↗
Acoustic reflex patterns according to different intensity and different duration of white noise (WN) stimuli.
The data were gathered by connecting the output from a middle ear impedance meter (Amplaid 702) to the computer and averaging section of the Amplaid MK VI which was also used as an acoustic stimuli generator. The stimuli consisted of white noise bursts having different peak equivalent sound pressures (115, 105, 95, 85 dB SPL) and different durations (from 1000 to 3 msec). The parameters examined were: stapedius muscle contraction latency time; muscle fibre recruitment time, i.e. the interval between the onset of contraction and its maximum; duration of contraction; amplitude of maximum contraction. An evaluation was also made as to the "efficiency" of contraction, expressed as the function of duration and amplitude. The authors discuss the different patterns of "efficiency" curve achieved at various intensity levels by stimuli of different duration.
Acoustic Stimulation↗
Dynamic parameters of the stapedius muscle reflex in response to stimuli of varying duration but with the same energy content.
An evaluation was made of the behaviour of the dynamic parameters of the stapedius contraction reflex (latency, amplitude, recruitment time, duration, and efficiency) in response to stimuli with the same energy content but of different duration. A comparison was made with the results of a similar experiment in which stimuli with different energy contents were used. As adumbrated in earlier studies, it was found that these parameters are more subject to the influence of the temporal characteristics of the stimulus than to its energy content.
Acoustic Stimulation↗
Influence of stimulus duration and intensity on acoustic reflex parameters.
Four acoustic reflex parameters (latency, duration, amplitude, recruitment time) in response to stimuli lasting 1 000 to 50 msec with an initial intensity of 95 dB SPL p.e. were studied in four sets of experiments. In each set of experiments, each halving of the stimulus duration was accompanied by a 3, 4, 5 and 6 dB SPL p.e. increase respectively (exchange rates: 3, 4, 5 and 6 dB SPL p.e.). It was found that latency was dependent on the threshold only and unaffected by either duration and intensity. Amplitude and recruitment time were mainly determined by energy content of the stimulus, whereas duration of contraction was solely dependent on the stimulus duration. These experiments also demonstrate that, with reference to stimuli employed, an increase of 3 dB SPL p.e. each halving of the stimulus duration is unable to maintain unchanged the environmental acoustic energy reaching the inner ear.
Acoustic Stimulation↗
Evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAE) and bone conduction stimulation. A preliminary report.
Otoacoustic emissions were evoked (EOAE) in 6 normal-hearing subjects by both bone (BCS) and air conduction stimulation (ACS). Four subjects affected by unilateral otosclerosis were also examined in order to determine the role of the ossicular chain in EOAE transmission to the eardrum. In normal-hearing subjects, EOAE by BCS showed the same characteristics as those evoked by ACS. The morphological features remained unchanged over a period of 4 months and their amplitude increased non-linearly with increasing stimulus intensity. In subjects with unilateral otosclerosis before surgery, no EOAE could be elicited by ACS from the otosclerotic ear, whereas they could be recorded by BCS. After stapedectomy, EOAE could be obtained by ACS too. These results suggest that the ossicular chain is important but not essential in the transfer of the EOAE to the eardrum.
Acoustic Stimulation↗
Epidemiology of cancer of the large bowel--the 12-year experience of a specialized registry in northern Italy.
BACKGROUND: In 1984, a specialized colorectal cancer registry was instituted in Modena; aims of the Registry were: the evaluation of incidence and mortality, the study of morphological aspects, staging, survival and familiarity of the registered patients. AIMS: Purpose of the research was to provide an updated description of the main findings (in particular, incidence, staging, morphology and survival) observed in the 12-year registration period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1984 and December 1995, 1,899 malignancies of the large bowel in 1,831 patients were registered. Tumours were classified according to the International Classification of the Diseases for Oncology (ICDO) and staged with the TNM system. Cancer specific survival was assessed with life table analysis and Log-Rank tests. RESULTS: Crude incidence rate showed minor fluctuations between 1984 and 1989, but tended to rise in the following years. Tumours were mostly located distal to the splenic flexure (73.3% of the total), with a slight tendency over time to a gradual "shift" to the right colon. Staging became progressively more favourable throughout the registration; in 1984 both stages I, II and stage IV + unstaged lesions represented 40% of the total, but in 1995 the former rose to 50% whereas the latter fell to 21.6% (p < 0.001). This move to earlier stages resulted in an improved survival of patients registered in 1990-91 versus 1984-85 (Log-Rank 14.3 p < 0.002). Factors associated with a poor survival were the advanced age of patients at diagnosis (> 74) and clinical stage.
Aged↗
[Trends in the treatment of cystic fibrosis].
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Butyrates↗
[Adrenomedullin. A new peptide involved in the regulation of the cardiovascular system].
Adrenomedullin was originally discovered in human pheochromocytoma but is now known to be widely distributed in various organs. Adrenomedullin is a potent vasodilatator peptide that exerts major effects on cardiovascular function. Plasma adrenomedullin concentration is increased in patients with cardiovascular disease such as hypertension, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, renal failure and other diseases. The present review summarizes the recent advances on adrenomedullin research and demonstrates that adrenomedullin is one of the important vasoactive peptides involved in the physiology and pathophysiology of cardiovascular system.
Adrenal Gland Diseases↗
Clinical and molecular diagnosis of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer: problems and pitfalls in an extended pedigree.
Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (or Lynch syndrome) is an autosomal dominant disease in which early onset colorectal carcinomas aggregate in families together with tumours of other organs. The genetic basis of the syndrome has been clarified with the identification of mutations in several DNA mismatch repair genes (MSH2, MLH1, PMS1, PMS2 and MSH6). We describe the clinical features and molecular characterization of a large hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer family which has been followed for almost 10 years. The kindred showed a striking aggregation of colorectal tumours in 3 successive generations; most of these neoplasms developed before the age of 50 years and were localized in the proximal colon. Molecular tests (carried out in ten individuals) showed specific alterations at the MLH1 gene, consisting in the insertion of a T nucleotide between bases 2,269 and 2,270; the mutation caused frameshift of the open reading frame and synthesis of a polypeptide longer than normal. The only tumour that could be analysed was positive for microsatellite instability. Physicians should become more confident with hereditary tumours and their implications, which are not limited to a single individual but concern all family members at risk of cancer. This family approach is different, and requires more expertise than the traditional individual approach. Common problems encountered in Hereditary Non-polyposis Colorectal Cancer families include: A) poor collaboration of subjects at risk (a situation which may cause some conflict between the doctor's duty to inform patients about their risk of disease and the rights of patients to choose and decide about their health); B) definition of the most appropriate surveillance programme for a given family (how many investigations to propose to the patients, and how often); C) possible interaction between genes and environmental factors (for instance, a gene carrier--in this family--developed an endometrial carcinoma after standard tamoxifen adjuvant therapy for breast cancer).
Adult↗
[Splenectomy in immune thrombocytopenia and other hematological diseases].
The Authors report a retrospective study of 74 splenectomies performed for hematologic diseases. The role of splenectomy has changed over recent years with increased indications for immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). The aim of this study was to assess indications to surgery in relation to clinical presentation with typical hemorrhagic features or severe thrombocytopenia only; interval between onset of symptoms and splenectomy; failure of medical management and complications from steroid administration; scintigraphic studies predictive of response to splenectomy and preoperative treatment in patients with severe thrombocytopenia were also studied. The Authors reported response rates to splenectomy of 84% without mortality and only 11% of postoperative complications. These results encouraged to surgery for treatment of those patients with severe thrombocytopenia, who fail to obtain remission or develop serious complications after medical therapy. The splenectomy cured severe thrombocytopenia also in some patients with acquired immunodeficiency (HIV+). Moreover the Authors discuss the indications in patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia and lymphoma diseases. In selected patients the splenectomy has the potential to relieve symptoms due to splenomegaly, correct cytopenias, specify hystological diagnosis and modify the disease course of malignant lymphomas. In fact splenomegaly sometimes complicated the course of malignant lymphomas because of hematologic abnormalities that are inconsistent with active chemotherapy.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Biotechnologies and acute hepatic failure.
Orthotopic liver transplantation survival for patients with acute liver failure is poor (50%). Mortality on the waiting list is high due to the lack of donors. For these reasons, the possibility of sustaining hepatic function by extra-corporeal liver perfusion must be considered. In this experimental research, two groups of pigs have been submitted to total de-vascularisation of the liver causing acute hepatic failure. In the first group (4 pigs) no extra-corporeal assistance has been used after total de-vascularisation. All pigs died between 16 and 33 hours after the acute hepatic failure was induced. In the second group (8 pigs) after complete hepatic de-vascularisation an extra-corporeal hepatic support by continuous allo-perfusion of isolated liver was performed using the Abouna-Costa extra-corporeal circuit. All pigs were observed during the acute hepatic failure which lasted from 6.30 to 7.30 hours. The data that were more positively influenced by the extra-corporeal assistance were ammonia and lactates that improved after the application of hepatic assistance.
Animals↗
[Air pollution and daily mortality in Turin, 1991-1996].
A time series study was carried out to assess the relationship between the air pollutants measured by the air quality monitoring network and daily mortality in Turin, Italy. We used TSP, SO2, NO2, O3, and CO concentrations measured from 1-1-1991 to 31-12-1996 at three stations of the city network, chosen to represent different, typical circumstances of exposure to air pollution in the town. The analysis was performed by robust Poisson regression model including loss smoothing functions to allow for long-time trend, seasons, temperature and relative humidity. Dummy variables for the days of the week and holidays were also included. The relative risk of death for a unit increase in the pollutant concentration either during the same day (lag 0) in the previous ones (lag up to 5) was computed. The unit increase was 50 micrograms/m3 for TSP, SO2, NO2, O3, and 2 mg/m3 for CO. The average daily number of deaths for natural causes was 21. The relative risks for total mortality were 1.04 for TSP (lag 1), 1.10 for SO2 (lag 2), 1.06 for NO2 (lag 1), 1.01 for O3 (lag 0), 1.03 for CO (lag 1). The relative risks were 1.05 for TSP (lag 0), 1.12 for SO2 (lag 2), 1.07 for NO2 (lag 1), 1.03 for O3 (lag 0), 1.03 for CO (lag 1) for cardiovascular mortality, and 1.08 for TSP (lag 2), 1.20 for SO2 (lag 2), 1.12 for NO2 (lag 2), 1.03 for O3 (lag 2), 1.05 for CO (lag 2) for respiratory mortality.
Adolescent↗
[New computerized tomography findings in infarct of the entire colon: gas in the inferior mesenteric vein, the parietal branches and the visceral origin of the plexus of the internal iliac veins. Description of a case].
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Colon↗
Immunohistochemical demonstration of spinal ventral horn cells involvement in a case of "myoclonus epilepsy with ragged red fibers" (MERRF).
OBJECTIVE: To detect mitochondrial lesions in the spinal cord from an autoptic case of myoclonus epilepsy with ragged-red fibers (MERRF) that harbored the A8344G mutation and was deemed to be free of pathological abnormalities in the spinal cord after conventional post-mortem examination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Antibodies against subunits of complex III and IV of the respiratory chain were used to perform immunohistochemical analysis on cervical, thoracic and lumbar sections of the spinal cord from the case of MERRF and from controls. Immunostaining was carried out by the avidin-biotin peroxidase complex (ABC) method. RESULTS: A selective decreased expression of subunit II of cytochrome c oxidase (COX-II) was found in all spinal cord sections from the patient. CONCLUSIONS: The immunohistochemical demonstration of mitochondrial lesions in the spinal ventral horn cells from this case with MERRF seems to be consistent with the results of many genetic studies pointing to a high and homogeneous distribution of mutant mtDNA in different neuronal populations of patients with this disease. The use of these immunological probes in the study of mitochondrial encephalomyopathies can increase both the resolution and the specificity of morphological observations in the central nervous system (CNS).
Adult↗
[Evaluation of tracheobronchial lesions with spiral CT: comparison between virtual endoscopy and bronchoscopy].
INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to describe the scanning parameters for virtual bronchoscopy in the evaluation of the tracheobronchial tree and to compare the results of this examination with the endoscopic findings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 27 patients with tracheobronchial neoplasms suspected at preliminary clinical and chest film findings or postoperative follow-up for malignant disease were evaluated with spiral CT of the chest and bronchoscopy. Virtual endoscopy was performed on the pulmonary volume involved by the lesion, using narrow axial images (thickness 2 mm, table index 3 mm, reconstruction index 1 mm.) so as to obtain MPR, MIP and 3D reconstructions with 3D Endo Vew program (Philips Medical System, Eindhoven, Holland). We compared these reconstructions and the findings the normal spiral CT scanning with the corresponding endoscopic examinations. RESULTS: In all patients we were able to study the lobar and segmental bronchi in all patients and in 2 we also evaluated the subsegmental bronchi. 25 lesions in 23 patients were shown by virtual endoscopy (8 occlusions, 8 stenosis, 5 compressions, 3 flogosis with endobronchial mucus, 1 bronchocele) and in 4 patients the examinations were negative. The bronchoscopy was negative in 4 patients and positive in 23 patients with 25 lesions, but we had agreement in 23/27 patients (85,1%). In 2 patients virtual endoscopy showed the lesions in a different bronchus compared to bronchoscopy. In one patient we interpreted the obstruction as neoplastic instead of mucus inside the bronchi and in the last patient bronchoscopy was not performed due to his old age and the virtual endoscopy showed total obstruction of a segmental bronchus. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The results show that virtual endoscopy can study the tracheobronchial tree as far as the segmental bronchi, and sometimes also the subsegmental bronchi and the bronchi below a closed obstruction. In addition, it can evaluate the extraluminal location of the lesions. For these reasons virtual endoscopy provides a road map for bronchoscopy as a guide for transbronchial biopsy and for endobronchial treatment planning. The limitation of this technique is its inability to evaluate the mucosal surface and distinguish flogosis from neoplastic lesions by biopsy. It can be used however in the postoperative follow-up both for cancer and transplant, when immediate biopsy is not necessary.
Adenocarcinoma↗
[Behavior of contingent negative variation during street noise. Study on normal volunteers].
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Adult↗