Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Torri

Publications and source records attributed to G Torri.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Effect of nasal pressure support ventilation and external PEEP on diaphragmatic activity in patients with severe stable COPD.

Nasal pressure support ventilation (NPSV) has been shown to be useful in the treatment of acute and chronic pulmonary failure. However, little is known about respiratory muscle activity during NPSV in stable patients with COPD. The aim of this study was to test the effect of two levels (10 and 20 cm H2O) of NPSV on diaphragmatic activity, in a group of seven stable, severe COPD patients (FEV1 20 percent +/- 7 of pred, FEV1/FVC 35 percent) with hypercapnic respiratory insufficiency. Since these patients had an intrinsic PEEP (PEEPi) of 2.6 +/- 1.3 cm H2O, we also investigated the effect of adding 5 cm H2O external PEEP (PEEPe) during NPSV. Blood gases, ventilatory pattern by inductive plethysmography, integrated electromyogram of the diaphragm (Edi), transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi), and the diaphragmatic pressure time product (PTPdi) were recorded during randomized 15-min runs of both levels of NPSV with and without the addition of PEEPe. Minute ventilation did not change with the application of NPSV, but a significant decrease in breathing frequency with a parallel increase in tidal volume was observed, so that blood gas determinations improved at the higher levels of support. A marked statistically significant reduction in diaphragmatic activity, as assessed by a decrease in Pdi swings, PTPdi, and Edi, was detected at the levels of 10 and 20 cm H2O; a further significant decrease in these values was observed when PEEPe was added. PEEPi decreased significantly only with the application of PEEPe, resulting in a small increase in end-expiratory lung volume. We conclude that NPSV improves diaphragmatic function in patients with severe stable COPD; this effect may be enhanced by the applications of external PEEP.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

[Conventional radiology and computerized axial tomography in the diagnosis of pneumothorax in intensive therapy. Retrospective study of 2 years of activity].

The role played by chest radiograph and CT scan in diagnosis of pneumothorax is analyzed in a retrospective study based on two years of activity in Intensive Care Unit. The sensibility of traditional chest radiography was 75% while the sensibility of CT scan resulted higher (87.5%). In the authors opinion, when pneumothorax is suspected, particularly in patients with polytrauma, CT scan of the chest is mandatory unless patient's conditions or logistic difficulties related with transport of the patient contraindicate it.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Claude Bernard-Horner syndrome following percutaneous catheterization of the jugular vein in an infant].

A case of Horner's syndrome is reported in a 8 month-infant after ultrasound guided, percutaneous internal jugular cannulation. This syndrome receded spontaneously after resolution of a laterocervical hematoma caused by reiterated venipunctures performed during the cannulation. Ultrasound imaging, by providing vizualization of the internal jugular vein and surrounding structures, may help to localize the vein and decrease the incidence of complications. Considering this case report and the cases previously reported in literature, the authors conclude that paediatric patients are at a higher risk compared to adults to develop Horner's syndrome following percutaneous internal jugular cannulation.

Catheterization, Peripheral↗
PubMed1992

Heparin binding to human plasma low-density lipoproteins: dependence on heparin sulfation degree and chain length.

Binding between low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and fluorescein-labeled heparin was studied quantitatively with a modified form of a published procedure [Cardin, A. D., Randall, C. I., Hirose, N., & Jackson, R. L. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 5513-5518], using fluorescence anisotropy titrations. Assumption of binding site equivalence satisfactorily interpreted experimental data. Accordingly, the apparent total capacity, n, and the average dissociation constant, Kd, were estimated as n approximately 24 disaccharides per LDL particle and Kd approximately 4 microM in 0.05 M HEPES/0.1 M NaCl, pH 7.4, 22 degrees C. Competition experiments with unlabeled heparins were exploited for the quantitative study of Kd as a function of heparin chain length and sulfation degree (ns = sulfate groups per disaccharide). The former parameter was investigated with a series of bovine lung heparin fractions with Mw ranging from 1,800 to 21,000 and constant sulfation degree (ns = 2.8 +/- 0.1). A series of physically fractionated or chemically modified heparins having 1.2 less than ns less than 3.5 were used to explore the dependence on sulfation degree. LDL affinity was found to increase with increasing both ns and Mw: an empirical Mw-1.6 dependence represented very well the chain length data set; a linear dependence was observed for log Kd as a function of ns, after appropriate allowance was made for chain length differences among samples. This regularity confirmed that LDL-heparin binding is mainly driven by electrostatic forces.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Apolipoprotein B-100↗
PubMed1992

High-performance liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of oligosaccharides from enzymatic digestion of glycosaminoglycans. Application to human samples.

Glycosaminoglycan contents were evaluated in plasma and urine samples from volunteers treated intravenously with a mixture of dermatan sulphate and heparin, combining a novel liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric technique for the determination of oligosaccharides from glycosaminoglycans with a classical technique for the extraction of glycosaminoglycans from biological samples (precipitation with cetylpyridinium chloride). In plasma samples dermatan sulphate and heparin can be measured for 2 h after treatment; urine excretion was detectable for 24 h. These results suggest that this novel approach is promising for future studies on the pharmacokinetics of glycosaminoglycans, although some technical aspects need further improvement, mainly regarding the procedures for sample clean-up; cetylpiridinium precipitation is a complex procedure and the recovery is limited.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1992

Octreotide administration in the treatment of pancreatic fistulae after pancreas transplantation.

Among the surgical complications of pancreas transplantation are pancreatic fistulae, which arise rather frequently. Suppression of exocrine secretion with polymers has succeeded in reducing the rate of this complication. Nevertheless, in some instances, pancreatic fistulas may occur. Thirty pancreas transplantations were performed in 27 diabetic patients. In 5 cases a pancreatic fistula occurred and was drained after the insertion of a catheter for the collection of secretions. A serous liquid was collected with a high concentration of amylases (61604 +/- 19562 IU/24 h). Fistula output was 280 +/- 87 ml/24 h. Patients were treated with octreotide, administered subcutaneously in a dose of 300-750 micrograms/day. In all patients a progressive reduction in fistula output was observed after a mean of 16 + 2 days. Fistula flow rate dropped to 24 +/- 10 ml/24 h--a reduction of 95% +/- 5% and drainage was subsequently stopped. Sonographic follow-up did not show recurrence of peripancreatic collections in these patients. All patients were insulin-independent up to 12-44 months after surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Pulmonary and chest wall mechanics in anesthetized paralyzed humans.

Pulmonary and chest wall mechanics were studied in 18 anesthetized paralyzed supine humans by use of the technique of rapid airway occlusion during constant-flow inflation. Analysis of the changes in transpulmonary pressure after flow interruption allowed partitioning of the overall resistance of the lung (RL) into two compartments, one (Rint,L) reflecting airway resistance and the other (delta RL) representing the viscoelastic properties of the pulmonary tissues. Similar analysis of the changes in esophageal pressure indicates that chest wall resistance (RW) was due entirely to the viscoelastic properties of the chest wall tissues (delta RW = RW). In line with previous measurements of airway resistance, Rint,L increased with increasing flow and decreased with increasing volume. The opposite was true for both delta RL and delta RW. This behavior was interpreted in terms of a viscoelastic model that allowed computation of the viscoelastic constants of the lung and chest wall. This model also accounts for frequency, volume, and flow dependence of elastance of the lung and chest wall. Static and dynamic elastances, as well as delta R, were higher for the lung than for the chest wall.

Adolescent↗