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Biomedical subjects

L Lupo

Publications and source records attributed to L Lupo.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Relation between steroid receptor status and body weight in breast cancer patients.

Obesity is known to adversely affect breast cancer prognosis. Since obesity is associated with increased oestrogen levels, and oestrogens are growth stimulators of oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast carcinomas, we evaluated the relationship between the ER and progesterone receptor (PR) status of the neoplastic tissue and obesity in a series of 615 breast cancer patients. Both ER and PR concentrations were significantly and positively correlated with obesity by multiple regression analysis. Furthermore, the estimated probability of having an ER+/PR+carcinoma was significantly higher in obese patients (odds ratio 2.65, 95% confidence interval 1.56-4.48). This association between receptor-positive status and obesity was observed both in premenopausal and postmenopausal patients. Our data suggest, therefore, that obesity plays a role in determining the ER status of breast cancer and raise the possibility that ER presence in breast carcinomas occurring in obese patients is not indicative of a favourable prognosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Prediction of mortality by logistic regression analysis in patients with postoperative enterocutaneous fistulae.

The contrasting results of treatment of patients with postoperative enterocutaneous fistulae reflect the heterogeneity of the disease and depend on the patient's condition and the characteristics of the fistulae. For this reason, the use of a prognostic index, which enables such patients to be classified according to their risk of death, could be useful. In this study we propose a prognostic index based on a logistic regression analysis, obtained by using two (APACHE II score and serum albumin concentration) of the eight risk factors that have been retrospectively analysed in a series of 70 patients with postoperative enterocutaneous fistulae treated in our surgical department since 1981. The logistic regression equation indicates that patients with a probability of dying of less than 0.35 have a good prognosis, with a sensitivity of 90 per cent, a specificity of 90 per cent, a negative predictive value of 79 per cent, a positive predictive value of 96 per cent and an accuracy of 90 per cent. The predictive performance of the index has also been evaluated in a group of 17 patients studied prospectively, and this confirms the sensitivity and specificity of the model. This postoperative enterocutaneous fistulae index could be a helpful tool in clinical trials and surgical audit.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Protective colostomy closure: the hazards of a "minor" operation.

A retrospective study of 87 patients, subjected to colostomy closure between 1976 and 1987, was conducted in order to evaluate the role of 8 potential risk factors on morbidity and mortality. Possible risk factors were age greater than 65 years, presence of hypoalbuminaemia (less than 3.0 gr%), anaemia (Hb less than 10 gr%), operative technique, duration of colostomy, site of colostomy, underlying disease and presence of subcutaneous drainage. Apart from hypoalbuminaemia, no clear risk factor was identified, although an interval of more than 90 days between construction and closure of colostomy appears to be safer than shorter intervals. A comparison was also made between two different periods from 1976 to 1982 and from 1983 to 1987 which resulted in important changes in patient management in the second period including: type of antibiotic prophylaxis, type of anastomosis and suture material, site of colostomy and mean duration of colostomy. Four post-operative deaths (4.6%) (two for myocardial insufficiency and two for sepsis), 11 major (13%) and 25 (29%) minor complications were recorded. The analysis of the two different periods showed a strong reduction in both mortality and morbidity in the second period, which could be related to a better management of this type of patient. In conclusion, the incidence of mortality and morbidity in colostomy closure cannot be underestimated and therefore the same skill and meticulous approach are required for this operation as for any major surgical procedure on the colon.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Rectal carcinoma: CT staging with water as contrast medium.

Computed tomography (CT) was used to study 42 patients with rectal carcinoma. Water was used as a contrast medium for studying the local extent of tumor in all patients. Scans were read prospectively without knowledge of the histologic staging and then compared with pathologic specimens. CT depicted the tumor in all patients. Comparison of CT and histologic results (following the Dukes classification) showed that disease was correctly staged as A in three of four patients, as B in eight of 12, as C in 15 of 17, and as D in nine of nine. Overall, carcinoma was correctly staged with CT in 35 of 42 patients (diagnostic accuracy, 83.3%). The accuracy in the assessment of local invasion was 97.6% (41 of 42). In the detection of lymph node involvement, the accuracy was 78.6% (sensitivity, 88%; specificity, 64.7%). CT is recommended in the preoperative staging of rectal carcinoma and as an aid in choosing the appropriate therapy. The use of water enema and complete distention of the rectum are reliable techniques for improving the accuracy of CT in the assessment of local invasion by cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Epidemiological survey of dental caries in 937 middle school students in Gravina, Catania].

The AA. have carried out a transversal epidemiologic investigation on 937 children attending the school of Gravina. The age of the subjects range from 10 to 14 years. In these young subjects dental decays percentage, DMF/dmf were evaluated and compared to age and oral hygiene. Oral hygiene has been expressed with values ranging from 1 to 3, the point 1 showed the best situation and 3 the worst. It has been evaluated also the number of subjects with dental decay that have been cured by the dentist. No correlation between dental decay and weight has been found infact X analysis was not significative.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Epidemiology of acute diarrhea in children living in Sicily.

A longitudinal survey (February 1984 - January 1985) on the incidence of acute diarrhea episodes in a sample of 8,164 children (aged 0-12 years) living in southeastern Sicily was carried out by means of weekly telephone interviews with doctors practising in the territory. The incidence rate was 0.479 (0.472-0.485 95% C.I.) per child per year and the frequency of episodes was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) in children aged 0-4 years (0.86). Diarrhea was more frequent in industrial areas than in rural ones, and almost half (45.1%) of the total episodes had a mild course. No death from diarrhea occurred and admission to hospital was reported for 8.4% of all cases.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1988

Interference of oral poliovirus vaccine on RIT 4237 oral rotavirus vaccine.

A vaccination trial, performed on 86 3-month-old infants, has shown that the ability of the RIT 4237 live attenuated rotavirus strain to induce seroconversion is dramatically reduced when administered with live poliovirus vaccine. In a subsequent trial performed on 93 infants the attempt to overcome the poliovirus interference by administering two doses of associated vaccines was unsuccessful. No interference by the RIT 4237 strain on live attenuated polioviruses was observed.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1988

Macrodystrophia lipomatosa of the foot.

This study deals with a case of macrodystrophia lipomatosa, the literature is reviewed, the surgical correction is described and attention is drawn to the differential diagnosis.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1985

Increased in vitro and in vivo generation of procoagulant activity (tissue factor) by mononuclear phagocytes after intralipid infusion in rabbits.

Intralipid, a fat emulsion widely used in parenteral nutrition, can produce marked functional changes of the mononuclear phagocyte system. We investigated the effect of Intralipid administration on the generation of procoagulant activity by rabbit mononuclear phagocytes. Two groups of ten rabbits given either a single infusion of Intralipid 10% or a similar volume of sterile saline were studied before and after infusion. Procoagulant activity was measured on isolated blood mononuclear cells after incubation with and without endotoxin, using a one-stage clotting assay. Cells from animals infused with Intralipid produced significantly more procoagulant activity than controls (P less than .01). Results were similar when freshly collected whole blood was incubated with and without endotoxin, and procoagulant activity was measured on subsequently isolated mononuclear cells (P less than .01). In addition, when rabbits were given a single injection of endotoxin, blood and spleen mononuclear cells harvested 50 to 60 minutes after the injection from animals pretreated with Intralipid expressed five to seven times more procoagulant activity than did cells from animals pretreated with saline. In all instances, procoagulant activity was identified as tissue factor. These findings suggest that Intralipid may cause functional changes in mononuclear phagocytes, resulting in increased production of tissue factor on incubation in short-term culture in vitro and in response to endotoxin in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Cutaneous horn (cornu cutaneum).

A cutaneous horn (Cornu Cutaneum) is a relatively rare tumour, most often arising on sun-exposed skin in elderly men, usually after the Vth decade. The tumor is often conical, consisting of marked retention of stratum corneum. This lesion can be caused by many primary underlying processes that may be benign, premalignant or malignant, thus the importance of accurate determination of the nature of the conditions at the base of the lesion. Surgery is the treatment of choice. We describe an illustrative case with cutaneous horn of the forearm. We also review various known causes of cutaneous horn and the pertinent literature.

Aged↗
PubMed1977

The effect of oxidase positive bacteria on total coliform density estimates.

The most probable number method for enumerating coliforms was shown to give a false estimate of the coliform density. The inflated estimates were due to lactose positive, non-coliform bacteria whose presence was detected by an oxidase test. Thirty-six percent of all the samples examined contained oxidase positive bacteria that were able to produce gas from lactose. Their presence resulted in coliform density overestimates which ranged from 2 to 33 times the true value. The frequency of occurrence of inaccurate estimates was shown to be affected by water temperature but unrelated to environmental source.

Aeromonas↗