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Biomedical subjects

M Romano

Publications and source records attributed to M Romano.

At least 523 records · Page 29Linked to original sources

[Treatment plants: viruses in aerosols].

A survey was carried out on the animal virus occurrence in wastewater and aerosols, in 2 treatment plants. Forty-five samples of sewage (10 litres) and 118 aerosol (2.3 m3) were examined. Forty out of forty-five (88.9%) of sewage and four out of one hundred and eighteen of aerosol (3.4%) samples were positive for viruses. Thirty-three reovirus and nine enterovirus strains were recovered from the sewage, two reovirus and two enterovirus strains from aerosol. Among enterovirus strains 6 resulted coxsackievirus B5, 3 coxsackievirus B4, 1 poliovirus, 1 strains remained unidentified.

Aerosols↗

Roles for transforming growth factor-alpha in gastric physiology and pathophysiology.

Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) is a 5.6 kd single-chain polypeptide that acts through binding to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). TGF alpha is produced in a wide range of normal as well as embryonic and neoplastic cells and tissues. TGF alpha and EGFR, but not EGF, are expressed in normal gastric mucosa. We have identified the following biological roles for TGF alpha in the stomach, using a variety of primate and rodent models: inhibition of acid secretion; stimulation of mucous cell growth; protection against ethanol- and aspirin-induced injury. This last effect is associated with a time- and dose-dependent increase in levels of insoluble gastric mucin. Based on these known biological actions of TGF alpha, we have examined TGF alpha production in Ménétrier's disease, a disorder characterized by foveolar hyperplasia, hypochlorhydria, and increased gastric mucin content. In four patients with Ménétrier's disease, there was enhanced TGF alpha immunostaining throughout the gastric mucosa. Furthermore, metallothionein (MT)-TGF alpha transgenic mice which overproduce TGF alpha in the stomach exhibit histopathological and biochemical features characteristic of and consistent with the diagnosis of Ménétrier's disease. Thus locally produced TGF alpha may mediate a number of biological processes in the stomach, and its altered production may participate in the pathogenesis of selected pathological states.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Coronary disease: early intervention saves lives. Treatment of acute myocardial infarction in Mantova: results of thirty months of work after the implementation of a province network].

BACKGROUND: Since June 2001, in the province of Mantova, we have undertaken a program for the management of acute myocardial infarction based on the early assessment of patient risk profiles, concerning telematic connections among care centers and on the optimization of in-hospital and out of hospital critical pathways for access to care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our network provides connections among the following centers: advanced life support ambulances, seven hospitals, three coronary care units, one cath lab on call 24 h a day for primary angioplasty, and one thoracic surgery division. This program, through its strong telematic platform, allows the early assessment of myocardial infarction and provides primary angioplasty to all high-risk patients, as fibrinolytic treatment is reserved only for low-risk patients admitted in peripheral hospitals. RESULTS: Two hundred and eighty patients with acute myocardial infarction were treated with angioplasty; 224 patients (80%) underwent primary angioplasty, 36 patients (13%) facilitated angioplasty and 20 patients (7%) rescue angioplasty. One hundred and thirty-two patients (47%) were first admitted to Mantova Hospital; 78 patients (28%) were referred to Mantova from peripheral hospitals and 70 patients (25%) were directly transported to the cath lab by advanced life support ambulances. Procedural success was obtained in 98% of patients, with 0.4% intraprocedural mortality. In-hospital mortality was 5.7%, while mortality in cardiogenic shock patients was 36%. The recurrence of acute myocardial infarction occurred in 1% of patients and major bleeding occurred in 2.2% of patients. One patient with cardiogenic shock died during transport. Mean door to balloon time was 67 min with a 42% reduction in the 3rd recruitment period. CONCLUSIONS: This program, developed in the setting of a provincial network for the management of acute myocardial infarction, provided primary angioplasty to all high-risk patients, with a high procedural success rate. Within a few months, time to treatment was minimized by the use of telematic facilities.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

[Lumbago and work: contribution of rehabilitation. State of the art].

In the treatment of chronic low back pain the efficacy and specificity of rehabilitation has been scientifically demonstrated, as testified by the actual International Clinical Guidelines. The usable techniques include Back School and functional rehabilitation: the first one relate patients with low functional impairments, and usually no working disability, while the second one should be used when there is a disability in the activity of daily living and in the profession. Even if originally developed as an inpatient treatment, in these years some randomised controlled trials have shown the efficacy also of outpatient techniques for functional rehabilitation, as the DBC proposal.

Chronic Disease↗

[A new method of functional rehabilitation of patients with occupational disability caused by lumbar spine pathology].

Rehabilitation is reducing disability through an improvement of function, i.e. rehabilitation need always to be "functional". Nevertheless, like it happened in other fields where rehabilitation has not yet reached its maturity, in spinal pathologies it has usually been considered equal to conservative treatment, i.e. not surgical relief of pain. But relieving pain does not always mean to recover function: in fact, it has been proven that there are no long term good results treating symptomatically chronic low back pain (CLBP). In the Eighties in USA a new kind of treatment has been introduced for inpatient rehabilitation of CLBP, based on a full-time four-weeks training of physical abilities, together with a cognitive and educational approach to pain. This treatment, named "functional rehabilitation", proved its efficacy also in randomised controlled trials (RCT). In the Nineties in Finland the outpatient version of this treatment for CLBP has been developed by "Documentation Based Care" (DBC), whose efficacy have also been documented in RCT: the efficiency of this last kind of treatment should be higher. DBC treatment is spreading around the world, and it recently reached Italy in Don Gnocchi.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Recovery systolic blood pressure response after treadmill exercise procedures. Evidence against its usefulness in detecting coronary artery disease.

We compared the response of the systolic blood pressure (SBP) recovery ratio (obtained by dividing the SBP recovery values by the peak exercise values) during a treadmill exercise test in patients with chest pain and an angiographically normal coronary tree (n = 18) (C group), one or more greater than or equal to 70% stenosed major coronary vessel and normal resting ejection fraction (n = 26) (CAD group) or depressed left ventricular function (ejection fraction less than 40%) (n = 15) (CAD DYS group). The mean values of SBP recovery ratios were, in the three groups: 0.93 +/- 0.07, 0.97 +/- 0.07, 0.95 +/- 0.09, respectively, at the 1st min and 0.83 +/- 0.08, 0.88 +/- 0.09, 0.86 +/- 0.08, at the 3rd min. There are no significant differences in the CAD or CAD DYS group versus the C group, because of large overlapping of points in the plot. The post-exercise SBP response during treadmill procedures cannot provide the opportunity for differentiation of CAD patients with or without left ventricular dysfunction at rest from subjects with chest pain and normal coronary tree, while upright bicycle exercise, as we previously observed, can.

Blood Pressure↗

[Drugs and health. 1. An experience with health education in a scholastic environment].

The paper describes the aim and the realization of a health education project on "Drugs and Health". The scheme was undertaken by the Hygiene Institute of the University of Padua, at the request of the ULSS (Local Health Unit) n. 31, of Adria (Rovigo), and it was directed to the teachers of the local "Grammar School" and indirectly also to the pupils and their families. At the end of the training programme, the teachers did not only learn the fundamental concepts on drugs and their correct use, but were also able in their turn to spread the acquired knowledge. During the six sessions, in which the project was divided, various aspects of the problems were studied. An active methodology was used: at the beginning a questionnaire was distributed, then the main subject was treated and finally the answers to the questionnaires were discussed. The meetings with the teachers and the pupils were organized in the same way. The subjects of the meetings were the following: 1st meeting: "What do I know about drugs?" 2nd meeting: "How do I use drugs?" 3rd meeting: "Do I use drugs correctly?" 4th meeting: "Why don't I use drugs properly?" 5th meeting: "Consequences of improper use of drugs" 6th meeting: "How can I improve my approach to the use of drugs?" Ten teachers of different disciplines, each responsible for a class of about 25 pupils, attended the meetings. All the teachers agreed to apply the proposed methodology to their classes. This methodology enabled both teachers and pupils to identify wrong concepts, or incorrect usage, autonomously. An important number of pupils have benefited from the educational project. Moreover, as part of health education scheme, a questionnaire on the domestic presence, use, conservation, and disposal of drugs was distributed to a number of pupils to involve their families. The results of this survey will be described in another paper.

Adult↗

[Drugs and health. 2. Study on the presence, use, storage and disposal of drugs in a sample of families in Adria (Rovigo) Local Health Unit 31, Venetian region].

As part of a health education scheme for the schools on "Drugs and Health", a questionnaire was distributed to a number of pupils in order to ascertain the domestic presence, use, conservation, and disposal of drugs. The questionnaire proved a very effective system for the extension of the educational project to the families of the pupils, but the information thus gathered was only of limited value. On the average, in the family 12.8 different type of drugs were present, mainly ethical drugs (76.6%). Most drugs were Articulars, Analgesics-antipyretics and Bronchopulmonary drugs. Only 30.2% of the drugs kept at home were currently used. Self-treatment (14.9%) and self-prescription (8.1%) were noted, as well as improper use of the drugs (5.9%). No answer to the questionnaire mentioned the presence of expired drugs: probably they were disposed of during the survey at home. Although these facts showed the positive effects of the educational project, nonetheless it was not possible to establish the real number of drugs kept at home. The way the answers to the questionnaire were biased and the fact that it was meant to be part of the project, have reduced the objectivity of the information thus obtained, underlining, however, its educational value.

Adult↗

[Idiopathic scoliosis in a student population].

The etiology of idiopathic thoracic scoliosis is a relevant problem in the fields of scholastic medicine and orthopaedics. This disease affects a population of pre-adolescent between ten and fifteen years of age. This study is based on our observations within a population of junior high school students in a suburban town of central Italy. Our data are based on clinical examinations, and the analysis of biophysical and environmental factors evidentiate the genetic and hereditary factors that are of prime importance in the pathogenesis of thoracic idiopathic scoliosis. It's our goal, to inform the scholastic doctor, the orthopaedist, the pediatrician and the internist on the main clinical and evolutionary aspects of thoracic idiopathic scoliosis and other related vertebral pathology. We therefore believe, that a good diagnosis should be based on a thorough genetic and clinical examination; not to mention an examination of vertebral bone morphology in order to exclude other forms of thoracic scoliosis.

Adolescent↗

Bipedal verticality, social behaviour, environmental adaptation and human evolutionary development.

The author has planned this research utilizing two models theoretically supported through biomechanical and mathematical laws, as they were formulated by means of data selected from paleoanthropological literature and his own clinic-instrumental case studies, on patients who were stimulated through manual pressure. The hypothesis was: is the paradoxical advantage reasonable for attaining and validating the mode of habitual, vertically aligned posture among evolutionary human-like beings through a vertical load upon their spine, as it is possible clinically in the course of rehabilitation? For assessing this argument two models, one biomechanical and the other mathematical were made up. They test the above mentioned load, as it reaches the clinically ascertained threshold value for triggering a firm gravitational alignment which is in agreement with bipedal gait. The suitability of the biomechanical model derives from reliability of the successively advancing levels of evolution (Anagenesis) from monkeys, through apes, to humans. This model was selected among the postural behaviours that were roughly antecedent to Hominidae bipedalism. So it was possible to abstract an Ape-like anteriorly sloping being, who under the above described stimulation through a suitable load on his-her neck-trapezius muscle angle is submitted to the flow of vertical forces as they show a tendency to aligning vertically the gravitational centers of head, thorax, abdominal masses. So, the biomechanics of the Ape-like being becomes the biomechanics of a mere Man-like mode of functional firm vertical alignment. The suitability of the mathematical model is in agreement with the reliability of the body of a Man-like being which is likened to a cylinder progressing chiefly through rotational and translational torques. The detailed sequence of the mechanical laws of stationary and dynamic equilibrium of rigid bodies and of elasto-mechanical law leads us to an understanding of abstracted sites as they in the course of human evolution were centering the characteristic osseous changes of humans which became the adaptative changes such as they are shown in fossil remains. The vertical alignment should have been validating through the advantageous carrying of loads of suitable weight. This, in turn, should have contributed to evolution of functional erect posture and gait through minimization of the centralised force-tension by means of a stepwise widening about some muscular attachments. So the nuchal part of the occipital bone widened while the increased capacity of enlarging pelvis of the evolutionary woman became adapted to accepting a larger fetal skull.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adaptation, Physiological↗

[Early diagnosis (non-invasive and dynamic) of postural disequilibria in adolescent scoliosis].

This paper focuses on peri-adolescent, mild idiopathic scoliosis. The AA present an noninvasive, non hazardous, and dynamical method for photographically individualizing the subject's back discrepancies which manifest themselves between the first and second photos (interval-15 min). After a few minutes in the erect posture, under the subject's fatigue it may be possible to notice and record significant displacement of certain bone prominences. For measuring purposes, the AA utilize a plumb-line, the superior end being applied to the 7th cervical vertebra prominence and the inferior heavy and the level of the line extending between the two posterior--superior iliac spines as indicate by cutaneous landmarks. The subject adaptation and standardized photographic examination are very simple and not expensive. It deals with many medical requirements of pediatric, preventive, rehabilitative and sport medicine. The case is relevant in its postural distortion and orthopedic and rehabilitation specialists are involved. The entity of postural discrepancies was assessed by the AA by means of the case- studies of peri-adolescent subjects. The first case-study (1st group) represents subjects who were submitted to a regular program based on trunk brace and exercises, the second one (2nd group) who were not. The first group showed a better curvature evolution as the x-ray have confirmed in a 24 months follow up. By means of our dynamical study the subject's back postural discrepancies were considered of relevance being the dislocation of the plumb-line distal end with respect to the PSISs' line besides an arbitrarily chosen threshold value. This value is 1/5 of the distance between the two PSISs. The above described dislocation was assessed both in inferior and lateral direction. A relevant descent of the heavy plumb-line is characteristic of a vertebral axial failure (the spine shortens for increase of its curves both in the frontal and in the antero-posterior planes) with a major back trunk inherent distortion. A relevant tilting of the heavy end of the plumb-line means lateral entire subject imbalance (the spine tilts laterally). Of course, combinations of both unfavorable features were frequently possible. Summarizing, the postural imbalance becomes worse together with the curvature seriousness deterioration, i.e. chiefly in the non-compliant patients. Therefore it is to be noticed the entire spine tilting as relevant both in the 1st group and in the 2nd group of patients (24% versus 25%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Effects of aminothiols in 2-acetylaminofluorene-treated rats. II. Glutathione cycle and liver cytosolic activities.

Reduced glutathione, enzymes involved in its metabolism and other cytosolic activities were evaluated in liver preparations of Wistar rats fed with a diet supplemented with 2-acetylaminofluorene (0.05%) and/or with glutathione or N-acetyl-L-cysteine (0.1%). The treatment lasted 4 cycles, each composed of 3 weeks of special diet followed by 1 week of standard diet. The carcinogen produced a considerable increase in gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in liver homogenates at cycles III and IV, with an irreversible trend which was not discontinued even during the weeks of standard diet. Moreover, generally from cycle I, 2-acetylaminofluorene stimulated several enzyme activities in the liver cytosol, such as glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, NADH- and NADPH-dependent diaphorases. Administration of the two aminothiols to untreated rats resulted in a significant enhancement of glutathione peroxidase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and diaphorases. In 2-acetylaminofluorene-treated rats, both thiols further stimulated glutathione S-transferase during the last treatment cycles and attenuated gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity, which however was not sufficient to thoroughly counteract the liver lesions due to the massive feeding of the carcinogen. Hepatocellular glutathione was enhanced during the last cycle of treatment with 2-acetylaminofluorene, and was further increased by co-administration of exogenous glutathione.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗

Detoxifying activities in alveolar macrophages of rats treated with acetylcysteine, diethyl maleate and/or aroclor.

Single or sequential treatment of rats with the thiol N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), the glutathione depletor diethyl maleate (DEM) and the enzyme inducer Aroclor 1254 (AR) produced several significant variations on metabolic activities of pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM). Specifically, all three compounds elicited an increase in some oxidoreductase activities, including the two dehydrogenases involved in the hexose monophosphate shunt (G6PD and 6PGD) and NADH- or NADPH-dependent diaphorases. Diaphorase activities were especially increased by sequential treatments with AR and DEM or with DEM and NAC. Both NAC and AR also stimulated other detoxifying mechanisms, such as those related to GSH S-transferase activity and to the NADPH-dependent reduction of hexavalent chromium. Therefore, all the monitored parameters were significantly enhanced not only by the enzyme inducer, but also by the thiol, demonstrating its protective role in the biotransformation of mutagenic/carcinogenic compounds.

Acetylcysteine↗