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Biomedical subjects

M Catalano

Publications and source records attributed to M Catalano.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

[Adrenal cortex extract in the supportive therapy of neoplasm patients].

A high-title (2000 UCD) adrenal cortex extract was used in the support management of 30 neoplastic patients. Evaluation was based on performance status (PS) according to Karnofsky and symptom incidence before and after the treatment. PS improved in 30%. There was a marked reduction in asthenia and anorexia, with significant changes in headache, nausea, and vomiting. Blood pressure, heart rate, and the blood chemistry picture were not altered.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1981

The cost-effectiveness of multiple sclerosis rehabilitation: a model.

Many patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have fixed, chronic neurologic deficits are kept at home with the help of community support systems, which cannot improve the physical independence of the MS patients they serve. We have found that active, intensive, multidisciplinary rehabilitation effectively improves functional performance, even though it cannot alter the underlying disorder. Inpatient rehabilitation with follow-up home care may actually be less expensive than any other current health care alternative.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

[The lipoproteic state in patients with coronary heart disease (author's transl)].

The lipoproteic state of 28 patients with coronary heart disease (CDH) and 44 normal subjects (total N. 72) has been analyzed. In normal subjects the results showed an increase of triglyceride (TG), VLDL with age. For subjects between 20 and 40 years of age, higher values of HDL and lower RF were observed in women than in men. In CHD patients, between 40 and 60 years, higher values of total cholesterol (TC) were observed in women than in men (p less than 0,05). The comparison between male CHD patients and normal male subjects indicated a reduction of HDL and an increase of the risk factor (RF) (p less than 0,05) in coronary patients. However, the female patients showed lower levels of HDL in combination with higher values of TC, LDL, RF, and TG when compared with the control group.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

[The antithrombophilic complex of the arterial wall in the therapy of obliterating arteriopathies in lower limbs (author's transl)].

For 30 patients affected by obliterating arteriopathy in lower limbs, the use was made of an antithrombophilic complex of the arterial wall (aorta) consisting of both anti-coagulating and fybrinolytic principles. The results obtained, as regards both subjective and objective symptomatology, clearly showed a considerable increase in the hematic flow in the limbs affected by arteriopathy. Also the flow of the collateral circulation was improved. At the same time, a meaningful reduction in the abnormal cholesterol values was found. The preparation showed no antigenic activity. As or the oral administration, this preparation proved to be an effective one. Tolerance was completely satisfactory.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

[An isometric exercise for the diagnosis of chronic obliterating arteriopathies of the lower extremities].

A non invasive method for the diagnosis of occlusive diseases of the peripheral arteries and the follow-up of therapy is proposed. The method consists in the performance of an isometric effort of the inferior limbs and the Doppler detection of the dorsalis pedis systolic pressure. 41 patients with different degrees of peripheral artery involvement have been studied and the results compared with those obtained in a control group of 12 normal subjects, equally matched for ages and sex. In the normal subjects the maximal dorsiflection of the feet for 30 seconds caused a mean increase of the heart rate of 20% and no changes of the systolic blood pressure. In the patients with peripheral artery disease the isometric effort caused, contemporary to the increase of the heart rate, a decrease of the dorsalis pedis systolic pressure, that varied from 15 to 100% according to the degree of the arterial involvement. A close correlation was found between the degree of the percent reduction of peripheral systolic pressure and the entity of the arterial involvement, as evidenced by other invasive and non-invasive methods. The method proposed appears useful for a proper diagnosis of peripheral vascular diseases in those patients who cannot undergo invasive investigations or the treadmill effort test.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

[Effort test on a treadmill in peripheral arteriopathic obstructions (author's transl)].

20 males, 48 to 66 of age, whose 10 normal and 10 with chronic arteriopatic obstruction at inferior limbs, were submitted to effort on a treadmill for 5 minutes or until pain. The clinostatic systolic aterial pressure was obtained in the four limbs before and at fixed intervals of time from the exercise. Arterial pressure increases after effort in the normal limbs; the length and the amount of the systolic pressure decrease after exercise are in correlation with the degree of the arterial involvement. The exercise on treadmill seems useful when the clinical and other diagnostic data are inadequate for a reliable diagnosis and to evaluate the progression of the arteriopathy through a non-invasive, and easy to repeat, method. The possible mechanisms of the pressor decrease in the arteriopatic limbs are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Concomitant placement of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and jejunostomy.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomies have gained wide use for long-term enteral nutrition. However, gastroesophageal reflux and aspiration pneumonia have occurred following this procedure. Initial enthusiasm concerning the ability of intrajejunal feeding to negate the risk of aspiration has been challenged by some reports. In this report, a new method is described for concomitant placement of endoscopic gastrostomy and feeding jejunostomy wherein the tip of the feeding jejunostomy is placed at least 40 cm distal to the pylorus while the gastrostomy tube is used for drainage. Twenty critically ill patients underwent the procedure utilizing general or local anesthesia. Sixty-day follow-up showed one uneventful episode of pulmonary aspiration (5%) after retrograde migration of the jejunal tube into the duodenum. All but two patients (90%) tolerated their tube feedings well. This technique can be easily performed with accurate placement of the PEJ tube distal to the pylorus and is associated with minimal risk of aspiration.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Etiologic, clinical, and pathologic analysis of 31 fatal cases of acute respiratory tract infection in Argentinian children under 5 years of age.

During a 3-year survey of 805 children with acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI) who were admitted to three hospitals in Buenos Aires, 31 fatal cases were recorded--a fatality rate of 3.8%. Of the 31 children who died, 77% were less than 1 year of age, 48% were boys, 58% were malnourished, 29% had previous respiratory disease, and 22% had previous congenital disease. All children who died had clinical diagnoses of pneumonia (71%) or bronchiolitis (29%). Autopsies were performed in 14 of the cases. Viral etiology was determined by both cell culture and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) assay of either nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) or lung tissue and bacterial etiology was determined by isolation of organisms from blood, lung tissue, and/or pleural fluid. NPA was examined for Bordetella pertussis by IIF. Pathogens were identified in 65% of fatal cases. Seven cases were bacterial; seven cases were viral; and six cases resulted from mixed infections. Lung tissue yielded positive etiologic results in 10 of 13 cases. Histopathologic examination performed on specimens from the 14 autopsied children revealed necrotizing bronchiolitis with intranuclear inclusions (n = 5) and multifocal pneumonia (n = 9).

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Etiologic and clinical evaluation of acute lower respiratory tract infections in young Argentinian children: an overview.

This paper summarizes the first study on clinical, etiologic, and epidemiologic features of acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI) in children in Argentina. A total of 1,003 children less than 5 years of age (805 inpatients and 198 outpatients) presenting with ALRI were studied during a 40-month period. Nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA), blood, urine, and throat-swab samples were collected when each child was first seen for care. Virologic studies were performed on the NPA by means of indirect immunofluorescence and isolation of virus in cell culture. Bacteriologic studies primarily were done by means of culture of blood or pleural fluid (when available); Bordetella pertussis and Mycoplasma pneumoniae, however, were searched for by the use of immunofluorescence and complement-fixation testing, respectively, in paired sera. Respiratory syncytial virus was the most commonly isolated virus, followed by adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, and influenza virus. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most frequently isolated bacterium, followed by B. pertussis and Haemophilus influenzae type b. Overall, the patient fatality rate was 3.8% among inpatients with pneumonia or bronchiolitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison between parental report and results of microbiologic agar assay for presence of antibiotic in urine of Argentinian children with acute lower respiratory tract infection.

This study compares two sources of information on prior use of antibiotics in children with acute lower respiratory tract infection. The presence of antibiotics in respiratory specimens complicates recovery of bacterial pathogens and the selection of appropriate antibiotic treatment. The first source of information is the parents, who are asked about recent use of antibiotics by their child. The second source is an agar diffusion assay that detects antibiotics in urine specimens. In Argentina, where antibiotics are readily available without prescription, parental information about a child's recent antibiotic therapy was found to be relatively reliable only when their answer was affirmative.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of fluvoxamine and citalopram in maintaining abstinence in a sample of Italian detoxified alcoholics.

A 16-week, randomized study was performed to test the efficacy of two selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) fluvoxamine and citalopram, in decreasing relapse and craving in alcoholics, and to investigate possible differences in their clinical profile. After detoxification, each of the 81 patients (55 males and 26 females) was randomly assigned to one of three groups: 23 subjects did not receive any pharmacological treatment, 25 were treated with fluvoxamine, 150mg/day, and 33 with citalopram, 20 mg/day. All patients received standard cognitive-behavioural therapy. Craving was assessed twice a month using a 10-step scale. Every intake of alcohol was considered a relapse and the subject was taken out of the study. At the end of the study, both the fluvoxamine and citalopram groups showed a statistically higher rate of continuous abstinence (63.6 and 60.7%, respectively) compared to the group without pharmacological treatment (30.4%). Relapse severity did not differ among the three groups. Only citalopram showed a significant effect on craving throughout the study period. This study confirmed the efficacy of SSRIs as an adjunct to psychotherapy to prevent relapse in alcoholics. The relationship between the effects of these SSRIs on abstinence and craving, as well as the differences between their profiles, are discussed.

Adolescent↗