Biomedical subjects

L Ferrante

Publications and source records attributed to L Ferrante.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

Antiangiogenic, antitumoural and antimetastatic effects of two distamycin A derivatives with anti-HIV-1 Tat activity in a Kaposi's sarcoma-like murine model.

The antiangiogenic, antitumoural and antimetastatic effects of two novel sulphonic derivatives of distamycin A, PNU145156E and PNU153429, were studied in a Kaposi's sarcoma-like tumour model obtained by injecting nude mice with cells releasing extracellular HIV-Tat protein, derived from a tumour which developed in a BK virus/tat transgenic mouse. Both PNU145156E and PNU153429 were administered intraperitoneally every fourth day for three weeks at doses of 100 or 50 mg/kg of body weight respectively, starting one day after injecting the tumour cells. Both drugs delayed tumour growth in nude mice, preventing neovascularization induced by the Tat protein. PNU153429 also significantly reduced the number and size of spontaneous tumour metastases. Both effects on tumour growth and metastases were augmented by treating simultaneously nude mice with 7.5 mg/kg of body weight of minocycline given per os daily for four weeks starting four days after injecting the tumour cells. Neither acute nor chronic toxic side-effects were observed during the life span of treated nude mice. Due to their antiangiogenic and anti-Tat effects, these drugs are promising for the treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma in AIDS patients.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗

PubMed1999

Anterior clinoidal meningiomas: report of a series of 33 patients operated on through the pterional approach.

Between 1985 and 1995, 33 cases of clinoidal meningioma were surgically treated by pterional approach. In 6 cases, according to the grading scale of Al-Mefty, the lesions were group I, having originated from the lower part of the clinoid; in 22 cases, the lesions were group II, having originated from the upper or lateral part of the clinoid process; and in 5 cases, the lesions were group III since they arose from the optic foramen. Postoperatively, 17 patients showed an improvement, 4 were unchanged, and 6 presented further deficits. Five patients died after surgery: two from pulmonary thromboembolism, one from myocardial infarction, one from hematoma of the operative field, and one from cerebral ischemia after severe vasospasm of the internal carotid artery (unresponsive to treatment). The mean follow-up was 53.7 months (range 12-108 months) and included 19 patients. During this period, there were five recurrences, and three patients underwent resection again and showed no signs of tumor regrowth 1 year later; one patient who did not undergo resection again due to his age and poor general conditions died 3 years after onset of the recurrence; the last patient has so far refused a second operation. The clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects of this not infrequent pathology are discussed in the light of our experience and the pertinent literature.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

[Nutritional status, obesity and metabolic control in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus].

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status of children with type 1 diabetes and to search for possible influences of changes in body composition on aspects of diabetes. METHODS: A group of 96 diabetic subjects (41 males and 55 females) were studied, aged between 3 and 19 years old. The following parameters were examined: weight, stature, 5 skin folds, 7 circumferences, bioelectric impedance, arterial pressure, cholesterolemia, triglyceridemia, insulin dose, HbA1c and duration of disease. RESULTS: Obesity and overweight were present in 34.5% of the sample, but obesity was only observed in females (25.5%). There was also a high percentage of underweight subjects (11.5% of the entire sample). The mean values of weight BMI, 5 skin folds, 4 circumferences, FM (calculated using fold measurement and BIA) and AFA were higher in females, whereas mean values of waist/hip ratio and waist/thigh ratio and FFM (in % of body weight) were higher in males. A close correlation was also found between the 4 weight classes (underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese) and the majority of marker parameters for adiposity (5 folds, 4 circumferences, BIA, FM calculated using BIA, fold measurement and AFA). Of the other parameters examined (mean duration of disease, HbA1c assay, daily insulin dose, total cholesterolemia, triglycerididemia, arterial pressure), only the daily insulin dose showed higher values in females in 3 weight classes (underweight, normal weight and obese). Following a comparison with the control population (2469 subjects), higher mean values were found in the latter compared to diabetic subjects, but only in relation to 3 skin folds (tricipital, subscapular and suprailiac) and one circumference (forearm). CONCLUSIONS: The study shows a high frequency of overweight and obesity in children with type 1 diabetes, comparable to that in the healthy population. The finding of a higher frequency of obesity in diabetic females might be explained by their advanced puberal status, given that almost all the obese diabetic females were aged between 10 and 19 years old. The study confirms the validity of a number of anthropometric measurements (BMI, folds, circumference) and BIA in the evaluation of nutritional status in terms of body composition.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Abducens nerve paresis as first symptom of trigeminal neurinoma. Report of two cases and review of the literature.

Two cases of neurinoma of the Gasserian ganglion with abducens nerve paresis as the first symptom are described and 27 cases culled from the literature are reviewed. The anatomo-surgical and clinical-radiological features of this pathology were re-assessed in an attempt to identify the pathogenetic mechanism responsible for a trigeminal neurinoma manifesting with VI cranial nerve palsy.

Abducens Nerve↗

PubMed1999

[Nutritional status, obesity, and metabolic balance in pediatric patients with type I diabetes mellitus].

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Determination of meropenem in serum by high-performance liquid chromatography with column switching.

A rapid, accurate and sensitive liquid chromatographic assay with on-line solid-phase extraction for determination of meropenem in serum is described. Sample was directly injected onto the extraction column for sample clean-up and extraction. Thereafter, using an on-line column-switching system the drug was quantitatively transferred and separated on a C18 analytical column. Ultraviolet absorption at 298 nm was used for detection. The assay was linear from 1 to 100 micrograms/ml. Recovery was 98.5%. Based on a 20-microliters sample volume (serum- water, 1:1, v/v), detection limit was 0.1 microgram/ml. An application of the method to study the pharmacokinetics of meropenem is given.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

PubMed1998

Cavernous angioma of the VIIIth cranial nerve. A case report.

We report a case of a 24-year-old woman affected by a cavernous angioma of the right VIIIth cranial nerve associated with a venous angioma. The malformation was diagnosed by MRI, performed in relation to an acute onset of right anacusia. The case report is indicative that, even if unusual, an acute onset of an cerebellopontine angle syndrome can be subsequent to a bleeding cavernous angioma. This occurrence must be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of the cerebellopontine angle tumors.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

QT interval and QT dispersion in systemic sclerosis (scleroderma).

OBJECTIVES: To measure QT interval and QT dispersion, and to evaluate possible relationships between these measurements, heart rate variability parameters, and early myocardial involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Tertiary care centre, University 'La Sapienza', Rome, Italy. SUBJECTS: Thirty-eight patients with SSc (35 females and three males, mean age 47 +/- 11 years), 19 patients with the diffuse form of disease and 19 with the limited form, and 17 healthy controls (11 females and six males, mean age 43 +/- 10 years) were studied. INTERVENTIONS: Both patients and control subjects underwent resting 12-lead electrocardiogram and 24-hour Holter monitoring. Moreover, resting myocardial scintigraphy with 99 m Tc-sestamibi was performed in all SSc patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Bazett's formula was used to obtain rate corrected value of QT interval (QTc). QT and QTc dispersion were defined as the difference between maximum and minimum QT or QTc interval, respectively. Twenty-four-hour heart rate variability was analysed both in the frequency and in the time domain. RESULTS: Twenty-three SSc patients (60.5%) had myocardial resting perfusion defects (group A) and 15 (39.5%) did not (group B). Maximum QTc interval, QT and QTc dispersion were significantly increased in SSc patients compared to the control subjects. No significant differences between group A and group B were observed for all QT measurements. Furthermore, maximum QTc interval, QT dispersion and QTc dispersion were significantly increased in group A patients compared to the control group. Total power, low-frequency, and high-frequency values were significantly lower in all SSc patients, whether in group A or group B, than in control subjects. On the other hand, low-frequency/high-frequency ratio was similar in all groups. Heart rate variability in time domain analysis showed no statistically significant differences between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SSc have increased QTc interval, QT dispersion, and QTc dispersion. The role of autonomic nervous system and myocardial involvement on ventricular repolarization in patients with SSc needs further investigation.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Surgically verified case of optic sheath nerve meningocele: case report with review of the literature.

Optic sheath meningocele is rare; only approximately 31 cases have been reported. The term optic sheath meningocele has recently been proposed by Garrity and Forbes to describe primary CSF cysts of the optic nerve sheath, without apical mass or malformation of the cranio-orbital junction. Presenting symptoms are often related to involvement of the optic nerve, with a slow or rapid decrease of visual acuity. CT and MRI studies reveal a tubular-cystic enlargement of the optic nerve/optic sheath complex (on/onsc), with thickening of the optic nerve. Radiological differential diagnosis should include optic nerve tumors such as gliomas, meningiomas, and arachnoid cysts involving the optic nerve sheath. Up to now, it seems that early surgical management by means of optic nerve/optic nerve sheath decompression affords an improvement of visual function with minimal morbidity in patients who present a rapid decrease of visual acuity within 3-6 months. We present an additional case and discuss the clinical, radiological, and operative features of this pathological condition of the optic nerve sheath.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

MRI in the diagnosis of cystic meningiomas: surgical implications.

Nine cases of cystic meningioma diagnosed by MRI are described. All cases were surgically confirmed. The lesion was extra-axial with a clear dural attachment. On T1-weighted images the solid component was iso-hypo-intense in 6 cases and iso-hyperintense in 3; on T2-weighted images it was hyperintense in 7 cases, iso-intense in 2. After i.v. injection of gadolinium, the solid component enhanced in all cases and a "dural tail" were visible in 8 cases. No gadolinium enhancement of the cyst wall was observed in Nauta's types II and III. The authors found MRI to be very useful for diagnosis of cystic meningioma but insufficient for differential diagnosis between types II and III according to Nauta. This aspect requires further study, especially in view of the implications of this differentiation in terms of surgical management.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

Relationship between cutaneous and pulmonary involvement in systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary disease may shorten survival in patients affected by systemic sclerosis (SSc). However, pulmonary involvement may commonly be silent, whereas skin fibrosis is usually the clinical feature drawing most attention. We investigated the relationship between cutaneous and pulmonary involvement during SSc. METHODS: We studied 52 patients (mean age 50.2 +/- 13.7 years) affected by SSc (mean duration of disease 13.8 +/- 9.5 years). Twenty-eight had the diffuse form of the disease (dSSc) and 24 the limited form (lSSc). All patients underwent pulmonary function studies, high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the lungs, and complete echocardiographic examination. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure was measured by Doppler echocardiography. Pulmonary interstitial fibrosis and skin fibrosis were evaluated using a point system. RESULTS: Mean percentages of predicted values of forced vital capacity and total lung capacity were significantly reduced in patients with dSSc compared to lSSc (80.0 +/- 18.9 vs 98.4 +/- 16.8%, p < 0.001; and 81.3 +/- 13.9 vs 92.1 +/- 14.2%, p < 0.01, respectively). The overall HRCT score was 6.1 +/- 4.9, with no significant differences between disease subgroups. However, a HRCT score of 10 or more was present in 10 patients with dSSc vs 2 patients with lSSc (p = 0.02). Pulmonary hypertension was present in 27 patients, 15 with lSSC and 12 with dSSc (p = NS). No significant correlation was observed between skin score and lung volumes, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity, HRCT score, or pulmonary artery systolic pressure for all patients and subgroups. CONCLUSION: Extent and severity of cutaneous and pulmonary involvement in SSc are not directly correlated. Nevertheless, different patterns of pulmonary involvement between SSc subgroups were observed. Restrictive lung disease was more frequent in patients with dSSc, while a trend to higher prevalence of pulmonary hypertension was observed in patients with lSSc.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

The TEACCH strategy in mentally retarded children with autism: a multidimensional assessment. Pilot study. Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication Handicapped children.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Noninvasive assessment of myocardial involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis: role of signal averaged electrocardiography.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of late ventricular potentials (LVP) in detecting early myocardial involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: Seventy-seven patients with SSc (68 women, 9 men, mean age 50 +/- 13 yrs) and 33 control subjects (18 women, 15 men, mean age 46 +/- 10 yrs) underwent resting electrocardiogram (ECG), 24 h Holter monitoring, complete echocardiographic and Doppler echocardiographic examination, and signal averaged ECG at high pass setting of 40 Hz, with the low pass fixed at 250 Hz. Patients with SSc underwent resting myocardial scintigraphy and radionuclide angioventriculography. RESULTS: The prevalence of LVP at 40 Hz was 20.5%. Compared to control subjects, patients with SSc showed higher prevalence of septal infarction pattern (p = 0.05), complex ventricular arrhythmias (p = 0.03), pulmonary arterial hypertension (p < 0.001), and LVP (p = 0.02). Forty-four patients with SSc (57.1%) had resting perfusion defects by myocardial scintigraphy. Fourteen of 15 patients with LVP showed perfusion defects compared to 29 of 58 without LVP (p = 0.002). Linear regression analysis showed that myocardial perfusion defect score was significantly correlated to either the filtered QRS duration, or the duration of low amplitude signals < 40 microV of the terminal QRS, or the root mean square voltage of the last 40 ms of the QRS complex. After a mean followup period of 20 months, 8 patients died. In 2 patients who died suddenly, LVP were present. CONCLUSION: Signal averaged ECG is a sensitive and inexpensive technique in the clinical assessment and followup of patients with SSc.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Relationships between electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings in systemic sclerosis (scleroderma).

We assessed the prevalence of electrocardiographic abnormalities in patients with systemic sclerosis and evaluated their functional significance through a comparison with echocardiographic findings. Seventy-two patients with systemic sclerosis and 64 controls underwent resting electrocardiogram (ECG) and M-mode, two-dimensional, Doppler and color Doppler echocardiography. Electrocardiographic abnormalities were observed in 48.7% of patients. Conduction disturbances (27.7%) infarction pattern (13.8%), non-specific ST-T wave changes (13.8%) and right ventricular hypertrophy (11.1%) were the most frequent abnormalities. QTc interval was significantly longer in patients with systemic sclerosis than in controls. Significant differences between patients and controls were found in the prevalence of long QTc interval (p = 0.0016) infarction pattern (p = 0.0016), right ventricular hypertrophy (p = 0.007) and non-specific ST-T wave abnormalities (p = 0.0016). All patients with infarction pattern and 90% of patients with prolonged QTc interval had some echocardiographic abnormalities. Electrocardiographic signs of right ventricular hypertrophy were 16% sensitive and 93% specific for pulmonary hypertension; the sensitivity and specificity of the combination of right ventricular hypertrophy, right atrial enlargement and right bundle branch block were 35% and 90%, respectively. Standard ECG is useful to assess cardiac involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis. If infarction pattern, right ventricular hypertrophy or long QTc interval are present, a cardiac involvement is very likely.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Aneurysms of the posterior cerebral artery: do they present specific characteristics?

A series of 7 cases of PCA aneurysm treated between 1978 and 1992 were analytically reviewed together with 79 cases culled from the literature. In comparison to those localized elsewhere, PCA aneurysms are more frequently large, more frequently present with tumour-like symptoms and appear at an earlier age. Surgical outcome was evaluated in relation to clinical onset, site and size of the aneurysm, the surgical procedures adopted for excluding it and pre-operative clinical grading appeared to influence outcome. The fact that site, size and surgical technique do not significantly influence prognosis is probably due to the rich collateral flow present in the areas fed by the posterior cerebral artery. The authors conclude that, clinically speaking, PCA aneurysms should be considered as a separate group.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Twenty-four hour heart period variability in systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: In patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), an autonomic dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Raynaud's phenomenon and gastrointestinal symptoms. To evaluate cardiovascular autonomic function we analyzed the heart rate variability (HRV) on 24 h electrocardiogram recordings. METHODS: In 50 patients diagnosed with SSc and 24 control subjects HRV was analyzed for both frequency and time domain. RESULTS: Frequency domain analysis showed reduction of low frequency and high frequency values in the patients with SSc compared to controls (5.52 +/- 0.74 vs 6.04 +/- 0.78 In(ms2), p = 0.007; and 4.17 +/- 0.97 vs 4.74 +/- 0.97 In(ms2), p = 0.021, respectively). Analysis in time domain showed no significant differences in any variable between groups. There were no significant differences between the diffuse and the limited form of SSc. Number of ventricular ectopic beats, prevalence of frequent ventricular ectopy, and supraventricular tachycardia episodes were increased in the patients with SSc compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Spectral analysis of heart period variability suggests cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in patients with SSc. Better understanding of this complication could help delineate new strategies for the treatment of SSc.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

On-line solid-phase extraction of ceftazidime in serum and determination by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A column-switching high-performance liquid chromatographic assay is described for the determination of ceftazidime (a third-generation cephalosporin) in human serum. The method does not require prior sample pretreatment. Serum is directly injected in a first chromatographic column for sample clean-up and extraction. Thereafter, using an on-line column-switching system, the drug is quantitatively transferred and separated on a second, analytical column followed by determination using ultraviolet absorption at 258 nm. The technique allows direct, rapid, precise, and simple determination of ceftazidime in serum over the range of 1-250 micrograms/ml using 12.5 microliters of serum. This method was applied to study the pharmacokinetics of the drug in patients undergoing vascular surgery.

Ceftazidime↗

PubMed1995

Pediatric cystic meningioma: report of three cases.

Three cases of pediatric cystic meningioma are reported. In a review of the literature the authors stress the importance and difficulty of accurate preoperative diagnosis. Cystic meningioma in pediatric patients differs from that in adults in the following respects: higher incidence, predilection for males, shorter clinical history, less specific neuroradiological diagnosis, frequent absence of a dural attachment, prevalence of Nauta type II cystic meningioma, and high incidence of the fibroblastic histotype.

Adolescent↗