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Biomedical subjects

M Biagini

Publications and source records attributed to M Biagini.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Telemedicine for airline passengers, seafarers and islanders.

Airline passengers, seafarers and islanders are three different examples of people who can benefit from telemedicine. However, the peculiar characteristics of each group require different applications. In 60 years of activity, the CIRM has assisted more than 37,000 patients. In the 10 years from 1986 to 1996 the Centre provided radio medical assistance to 7647 patients, of whom 6981 (91.3%) were sailors, 642 (8.4%) were people living in isolated areas (small italian islands) with few medical facilities, while only 24 patients (0.3%) were airline passengers. In the same period, the telecommunication service received or transmitted almost 80,000 medical messages.

Aircraft↗
PubMed1997

Combined therapy with 5-aminosalicylic acid tablets and enemas for maintaining remission in ulcerative colitis: a randomized double-blind study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of a combination of oral and topical 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) for the maintenance treatment of ulcerative colitis, we undertook a double-blind randomized clinical trial. METHODS: Patients aged 18 to 65 yr (with disease extent greater than proctitis only) were eligible for inclusion in the study if they met the following criteria: (a) history of two or more relapses in the last year; (b) achievement of remission in the last 3 months (with maintenance of remission for at least 1 month). Patients enrolled in the study were randomly assigned to one of the two following 1-yr treatments: (1) combined therapy with 5-ASA tablets 1.6 g/day and 5-ASA enemas 4 g/100 ml twice weekly; (2) oral therapy with 5-ASA tablets 1.6 g/day and placebo enemas/twice weekly. The main end point of the study was the maintenance of remission at 12 months. RESULTS: Upon completion of the study, relapse occurred in 13 of 33 patients in the combined treatment group versus 23 of 36 patients in the oral treatment group (39 vs 69%; p = 0.036). No significant side effects related to treatment were observed in either group. A simplified pharmacoeconomic analysis shows that this form of combined treatment can have a favorable cost-effectiveness ratio. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that 5-ASA given daily by oral route and intermittently by topical route can be more effective than oral therapy alone. This form of combination treatment can be appropriate for patients at high risk of relapse.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1996

Immunochemical vs guaiac faecal occult blood tests in a population-based screening programme for colorectal cancer.

Two faecal occult blood tests (FOBTs), Hemoccult II (guaiac based) and Hemeselect (immunochemical) were compared in a population screening for colorectal cancer on 24 282 subjects aged 40-70. Hemeselect was interpreted according to a lower (+ and +/-) and a higher (+) positivity threshold. A total of 8008 compliers were enrolled in the study. Positivity rates: Hemoccult = 6.0%, Hemeselect (+ and +/) = 8.2%, Hemeselect (+) = 3.1%. Among FOBT-positive subject complying with the diagnostic work-up, 22 had colorectal cancer (17 Hemeselect-positive (+), four Hemeselect-borderline (+/-), 15 Hemoccult-positive) and 166 subjects had adenomas (62 Hemeselect(+), 56 Hemeselect-borderline (+/-), 79 Hemoccult-positive) were detected. The positive predictive values (PPVs) for cancer were as follows: Hemoccult = 3.7%, Hemeselect (+ and +/-) = 3.8%, Hemeselect (+) = 8.4%. The PPVs for adenoma(s) were: Hemoccult = 19.7%, Hemeselect (+ and +/-) = 21.4%, Hemeselect (+) = 30.5%. The specificity for cancer was: Hemoccult = 94.1%, Hemeselect (+ +/-) = 92%, Hemeselect (+) = 97.1%. Ratios between detection rates of each test and expected incidence of colorectal cancer suggest that Hemoccult anticipates cancer diagnosis by approximately 2 years on average whereas the mean diagnostic anticipation of Hemeselect ranges between 2.5 and 3.2 years. Hemeselect is superior to Hemoccult as it is at least as effective but more efficient and acceptable than guaiac testing. Further evaluation of Hemeselect cost-effectiveness and sensitivity is needed in order to assess the optimal threshold of positivity and screening frequency.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Blood pressure response to exercise in young subjects with and without parental history of hypertension.

We examined 150 young male adults in the Italian Air Force to evaluate the correlation between blood pressure (BP) response to bicycle exercise and early structural changes of the left ventricle and the carotid arteries. The subjects were divided into three subgroups: (1) borderline hypertensives; (2) normotensives having one or both parents with hypertension; (3) normotensives without family history of hypertension. All subjects underwent a submaximal exercise test, echocardiography and carotid ultrasonographic study. The echocardiographic examination showed no significant difference between the three subgroups, while the vascular ultrasonographic examination showed a significant difference in carotid thickness between borderline hypertensives and the two other groups. The exercise test induced an abnormal hypertensive response only in the borderline group. We also considered the variation of systolic BP between maximum stress and the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 8th minute of recovery phase. From our data it seems that more than the exercise test, recovery BP values may be suggestive of an exaggerated cardiovascular response.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Cancerous colonic polyps].

The treatment of cancerous polyps of the colon has not been definitely established. In the present study the authors have brought forth their contribution on the role played by endoscopic polypectomy alone or following a surgical resection. At our endoscopic service during the period from 1985 to 1992, there were 42 polyps diagnosed which after histologic examination showed an infiltrating carcinoma. 22 patients underwent surgery and 16 only an endoscopic polypectomy. The median follow-up was 43.3 months with a minimum period of 18 months. Four patients were lost during follow-up. We have analyzed for prognostic reasons, the type of polyps, the radicality of the polypectomy, the degree of differentiation and the infiltration of lymphatic and/or venous vessels of the polyp. The presence of carcinomal residue and lymphonodal metastases were taken into consideration in patients who underwent surgical resection. The results obtained were not evaluated statistically because of the limited number of patients with an adequately long follow-up. Nevertheless they are in line with those results from the majority of the cases quoted in other literature. In particular these cases which seem to have a favorable prognosis are those in which complete endoscopic polypectomy has coupled with a good degree of differentiation and the absence of infiltration of the lymphatic and venous vessels. In these cases surgery does not seem to have bettered the survival rate.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

[A rare case of primary abdominal actinomycosis].

The authors describe a case of primary abdominal actinomycosis operated on because of peritonitis sustained by a tubo-ovarian abscess. They discuss the pathogenesis of the case: the patient had been on intrauterine device contraception till two months earlier and had been operated on for breast cancer. Preoperative diagnosis is quite impossible and only the microscopic observation of the specimen can show the causative agent. Surgical options are reported, stressing the need for an adequate period of antimicrobial therapy.

Abscess↗
PubMed1995

[Effect of menstrual cycle on the immune response to surgical stress].

The Authors have studied the effects of different surgical interventions on some factors of humoral and cell-mediated immuno-competence: 112 premenopausal women, operated on mainly for benign conditions, have been considered in order to evaluate the influence of various phases of menstrual cycle on surgical immunosuppression. Two schemes were used to stratify the study sample: in the first analysis, we have subdivided the patients in 59 cases in perimenstrual phase (0 through 6 and 21 through 36 days from last menstrual period, LMP) and 53 in periovulatory (7-20 days from LMP). The second stratification relied on the hormone-dependent phases determined by the putative time of ovulation 14 days after LMP: 51 cases in follicular phase and 61 cases in luteal phase have been considered. Immune parameters have been evaluated before surgery and the day after intervention. The first comparison stresses the worst outcome of immune parameters in patients operated on in the perimenstrual period (CD4, activated lymphocytes and C3 have significantly reduced post-operatively). The second part of the study shows no significant difference in the two groups as to such parametres.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

The central role of the endothelium in the pathogenesis of vasculitides.

The pathogenesis of vasculitides is poorly understood. A growing body of evidence indicates that endothelium injury is a fundamental step in the development of all types of vasculitides. In the recent years, it has become evident that endothelial cell is responsible for a multiplicity of functions such as several immunological activities and the control of the vascular tone. The alteration of endothelium may result in metabolic and biologic disorders leading to pathologic changes. Even though the importance of endothelial cell is now demonstrated, the pathophysiological mechanisms able to induce the vascular damage are still not completely defined. In the next years, the better knowledge of the physiology of the endothelium might lead to a more appropriate therapy of vasculitis.

Endothelium, Vascular↗