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M Vignolo

Publications and source records attributed to M Vignolo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Longitudinal assessment of bone quality by quantitative ultrasonography in children and adolescents.

Among the techniques available to assess bone quality, quantitative ultrasonography of the proximal phalanges of the hand (QUS) has emerged as particularly attractive. In this study, amplitude-dependent speed of sound (AD-SoS) and bone transmission time (BTT) were obtained by the sonographic device DBM Sonic BP IGEA in two sessions at two years' interval, in a school-age population (589 subjects, 290 mol/L and 299F, aged 3 to 16 y) with the aim to determine accuracy of QUS measurements, evaluate QUS variable changes during growth, relate these values with age and growth variables. Mean AD-SoS and BTT at age classes from 5 to 12 y as determined at the first and second measurement sessions were not significantly different. A significant increment (p < 0.0001) between the first and the second measurement was observed for both QUS variables. AD-SoS and BTT showed significantly different variations in the various age groups (ANOVA). Correlations were found of AD-SoS and BTT increments with age, height, weight, pubertal stage and with height growth velocity (p < 0.05). AD-SoS and BTT increment curves presented a very similar trend decreasing from 4 to 7 y of age. Thereafter a plateau was reached up to the age of 10 to 11 y in girls and 11 to 12 y in boys, when an increase was observed corresponding to pubertal growth rate acceleration. In conclusion, the present study would confirm that QUS measurements are accurate. Ad-SoS and BTT increment models are similar to most growth velocity curves and follow a strongly age- and growth-dependent pattern.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Fetal spine ossification: the gender and individual differences illustrated by ultrasonography.

The spatial and temporal pattern of manifestation of ossification nuclei of the spinal column in fetal life have been well established by histologic and radiologic studies. Sonographic evaluation of the fetal spine depends on visualization of the ossification centers, but the sequence of development of ossification centers in the vertebral column obtained by embryologists and sonographers and radiology are conflicting. We carried out a longitudinal study to establish the ultrasonographic appearance and timing of development of primary ossification centers of the fetal spine in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. A total of 80 mothers were evaluated during their pregnancy with two echographic controls; in the first trimester, the spine length was measured and, in the second trimester of pregnancy, the timing of ossification of the bodies and neural arches of sacral vertebrae and the difference in appearance between the female and male genders were evaluated. Spinal length measurements obtained in the first trimester and percentage of detection of sacral vertebral structures increased progressively with a regular pattern in relation to gestational age. Spinal length at first ultrasound examination was slightly correlated with time of appearance of sacral bodies and arches. Ossification timing was significantly earlier in females than in males. The study has attempted to improve our understanding of the sonographic detection of the spinal ossification. Data presented give some further information on the stages of appearance of sacral vertebrae body centers during intrauterine development. Differences between genders and interindividual variations in ossification timing were observed at a very early stage of development. This could be of value when fetal growth is evaluated. Moreover, further knowledge of spinal development may be useful for early diagnosis of spinal abnormalities and for fetal biometrics.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Bone quality in perinatally HIV-infected children: role of age, sex, growth, HIV infection, and antiretroviral therapy.

Appropriate supportive care and identification of long-term sequels of therapy are of paramount importance in HIV-infected pediatric patients. As low bone mineral quality (BMQ) in patients can be considered a marker of possible degeneration in osteopenia and osteoporosis in adulthood, we evaluated bone features in a pediatric population. Forty-four patients (23 females, 21 males; aged 3-17 years) were compared with a control population (1227 healthy children: 568 females, 641 males; aged 3-18 years). Seven patients were CDC stage C, 18 B, and 18 A. All patients were vertically infected; four were naive to any antiretroviral treatment, seven were taking two NRTIs, and 32 were on HAART. BMQ was assessed by a quantitative ultrasound (QUS) technique. It measures the amplitude-dependent speed of sound (AD-SoS, m/sec) and the bone transmission time (BTT, microsec). QUS values were significantly lower in cases than in controls, even after adjustment for age and body size (AD-SoS: 1924.7 +/- 64.9 and BTT: 0.97 +/- 0.3 in controls; AD-SoS: 1879.7 +/- 57.2 and BTT: 0.80 +/- 0.32 in cases; p < or = 0.001). The associations of AD-SoS and BTT with gender, type of therapy, and CDC stages were not significant. AD-SoS and BTT were significantly associated with age (r = 0.59, p < 0.0001), skeletal age SDS (r = 0.46, p = 0.002), height (r = 0.66, p < 0.0001), and therapy duration (r = 0.31, p = 0.04). Both AD-SoS and BTT values in patients fell below mean values of controls. Follow-up of bone mineral density is important in patients to prevent long-term problems of skeletal status.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Self-assembled monolayers of organosulphur molecules bearing calix[4]arene moieties.

We investigate the self-assembly of modified calix[4]arene on gold surfaces. Calix[4]arene was modified through a reaction sequence which led to assembling of the crown-5 moiety and to the insertion of two thioether groups into the starting molecule. The so-obtained calix[4]arene-crown-5 bis(7-thiatridecyloxy) (hereafter called calix[4]arene) was in the stable 1,3-alternate conformation. The calix[4]arene/gold interface was investigated by means of spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). SE data indicate a layer thickness compatible with the formation of a monomolecular layer. This result is confirmed by STM imaging which shows the formation of a high density of small pits, one gold layer deep, a typical feature of self-assembled organosulphur monolayers on gold. CV measurements performed in presence of the [Ru(NH(3))(6)(2+/3+)] redox couple indicate a passivation of the metal electrode, resulting in a reduction of the redox current, after the layer deposition. CV has also been used to investigate the selectivity properties of calix[4]arene-covered gold electrodes by measuring the redox current decrease in the presence of different salt solutions. It is found that calix[4]arene-covered electrodes are able to complex K(+) and Ba(2+), while no complexation is observed in the case of Li(+), Na(+), Cs(+), Mg(2+) and Ca(2+).

Adsorption↗
PubMed2003

Ossification timing of sacral vertebrae by ultrasound in the mid-second trimester of pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to establish the ossification timing of sacral vertebrae by ultrasonography in the second trimester of pregnancy, for the diagnosis of caudal regression syndrome with isolated sacral agenesis. METHODS: The study was carried out on 77 normal single pregnancies, at gestational ages ranging from 15 to 21 weeks, using high-resolution transabdominal echography. The sacral region was visualized in a coronal plane, when the fetus was in anterodorsal position. The level of ossification of sacral vertebrae (S1 to S5) at each gestational age was recorded. Each sacral region was examined three times by the same observer and the nucleus was considered as present when it was visualized at least two times out of three. Blind assessment was performed three times by a second observer, who was not present at the previous examination, for interobserver and intraobserver error analysis. RESULTS: Interobserver and intraobserver error calculation demonstrated the reproducibility of the method. Concordance between the two observers as evaluated by Cohen Kappa index was 0.77 (C.I. 95%, 0.69-0.85).S1 ossification nuclei were visualized in all fetuses at 15 weeks and S2 nucleus was found in all fetuses within 17 weeks. S3 nucleus was detected in 45% of fetuses by the beginning of the 16th week. S4 was visualized in 55% of the cases at 18 weeks and progressively in a higher percentage of cases during the following weeks of gestation. CONCLUSION: The data obtained showed that the sequence of development of sacral region ossification was related to gestational age. This observation allows clinicians to accurately exclude isolated sacral agenesis at 16 to 17 weeks of gestation, when the S1-S2 ossification nuclei are visualized. This opportunity may be of particular value in the offspring of diabetic mothers.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Influence of age, sex, and growth variables on phalangeal quantitative ultrasound measures: a study in healthy children and adolescents.

Skeletal status by phalangeal quantitative osteosonography (DBM Sonic BP-IGEA) was examined in 1227 healthy children (641 boys and 586 girls) aged 3-16 years. Aims of the study were to evaluate some physical parameters pertaining to the ultrasound transmission crossing the phalanx in a school-age population and to relate these values to age, sex, and growth variables. A correlation was found between AD-SoS (amplitude-dependent speed of sound) and BTT (bone transmission time) and, age, height, weight, and pubertal stage, respectively. No correlation existed between FWA (fast wave amplitude) and SDy (dynamics of the ultrasound signal) and age, height, weight, pubertal stage, and BMI, respectively. AD-SoS increased in boys until 7-8 years of age. Thereafter a plateau was reached up to age 12-13 years, when a rapid increase was observed corresponding to pubertal growth rate acceleration. In girls, AD-SoS increased with age up to 10-11 years with a steeper increase at the time of puberty starting about 2 years earlier than in boys. BTT presented a similar trend. Mean AD-SoS values increased from Tanner pubertal stages 1 to 2 and from stage 3 to 4 in both sexes. Significantly higher mean AD-SoS values in stages 2, 3, and 4 were observed in girls as compared to boys. Mean BTT values increased significantly from stage 1 to 5 in girls and from 1 to 4 in boys. QUS technology showed the ability to assess bone changes in the growing bone.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Spine length measurement in the first trimester of pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate spine length as an indicator of skeletal growth in the first trimester of pregnancy and to provide a nomogram of spine length at the end of the first trimester of pregnancy. METHODS: The study was carried out on 420 single pregnancies, at gestational ages ranging from 11 to 14 weeks, using high-resolution transabdominal echography. Biparietal diameter and crown-rump length (CRL) were measured to date the pregnancy. Using the same scanning plane used to measure CRL, the whole spine length in antero-dorsal position can be visualized as a double hyperechoic line from 10 weeks of gestation onwards. Spine length was measured three times by one observer and the mean of the three measurements was considered as definitive. Forty fetuses had multiple measurements for interobserver and intraobserver error analysis. RESULTS: Linear relationship between spine length, and gestational age, biparietal diameter and CRL were demonstrated. Spine length (millimetres) as a function of gestational age (days) was expressed by the regression equation: spine length = 1.09 x (gestational age in days) -60.56, with a determination coefficient of R(2) = 0.744. Spine length ranged from 21.5 mm at 11 weeks to 41.9 mm at 14 weeks. CONCLUSION: The data obtained showed that spine length increased progressively from the end of the first trimester to the beginning of the second. A high correlation between spine length, gestational age, biparietal diameter, and CRL was observed. Spine length measurement could therefore be considered a good indicator of fetal growth.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Linear growth and skeletal maturation in subjects with treated celiac disease.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to report on the long-term growth and development in a group of treated patients with celiac disease. METHODS: The study includes 26 patients (11 boys and 15 girls) with typical celiac disease who were younger than 2.5 at diagnosis and were followed by means of a growth longitudinal monitoring from the introduction of a gluten-free diet (mean age, 1.7 +/- 0.5 years) until adulthood, over a median period of 15.3 years. Growth indicators used were: height, skeletal age, weight and BMI. RESULTS: At the time of admission, the patients had a general tendency to short stature, underweight and retarded skeletal maturation. They did not catch up completely in height and skeletal age after a dietary treatment period of 3 years. Most of them were seen to be slightly below average height for age during childhood and adolescence with skeletal maturity retardation, even if a fairly large interindividual variation of height profiles was evident. CONCLUSIONS: Notwithstanding the early treatment, the careful follow-up, and the good adhesion to the dietary rules of the patients under study, slight negative effects of the disease on growth were not avoided.

Body Height↗
PubMed1999

Use of the new US90 standards for TW-RUS skeletal maturity scores in youths from the Italian population.

Recently, 1997, Tanner and co-workers provided a new scale converting TW-RUS standard maturity scores to skeletal age for European North American youths (US90). The aim of the present study was to test if the accuracy of TW-RUS bone age assessments in the Italian population could be improved by evaluating the estimates obtained with this new scale in comparison with other standards (UK60: original British series, B70: Belgian series and S80: Spanish series). 1,831 hand-wrist radiographs (Italian healthy subjects aged from 8 to 16.8 years) were evaluated. The US90 reference values are resulted the most suitable TW-RUS standards. Therefore, it seems useful to update the reference values of TW-RUS SMS in Italian youths, using this new scale.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Trichorhinophalangeal syndrome type I in monozygotic twins discordant for hip pathology. Report on the morphological evolution of cone-shaped epiphyses and the unusual pattern of skeletal maturation.

A pair of monozygotic twin girls with trichorhinophalangeal syndrome type I (TRPS I), followed from 8.3 to 16.1 years of age, is described. Both showed typical dysmorphic features and severe short stature, but only one had Perthes-like changes in the right capital femoral epiphysis. The radiographic findings and evolutionary changes of phalangeal cone-shaped epiphyses (PCSE) of the hands are illustrated in this report. The unusual bone maturation and growth of the twins are also described. Both presented poor growth and delayed bone age until about 13 years, followed by marked acceleration of bone age and stunted pubertal height spurt.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Long-term follow-up of skeletal dysplasia in thalassaemia major.

We report skeletal changes due to deferoxamine (DF) in 15/29 patients with transfusion-dependent thalassaemia major (TM), followed longitudinally for growth assessment. Clinically the earliest signs were decline in height and/or sitting height growth rate, leg and back pain with restricted movement and limb deformity. Radiologically metaphyseal and spinal changes were seen in 5 subjects and vertebral lesions alone in 10. The metaphyseal changes were mild, moderate or severe and affected all long bones, but were most pronounced at wrists and knees. They progressed from widening of the growth plate and defects of metaphyseal margins to appearance of radiolucent pseudocystic areas and, in severe cases, of cupped, rickets-like metaphyses. The spinal changes proceeded from osseous defects of ventral upper and lower edges of vertebrae and biconvex contours of end-plates to platyspondyly with decreased vertebral body height. After DF dose reduction, metaphyseal changes regressed in 2 patients, while they progressed in 3, requiring corrective surgery for severe valgus knee. Spinal abnormalities either remained unchanged or progressed. Final height was very short in patients with spondylometaphyseal lesions, short and disproportionate in patients with only spinal involvement.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Ectodermal abnormalities in Kabuki syndrome.

We describe a girl with Niikawa-Kuroki (Kabuki) syndrome (NKS) with conical incisors, hypodontia, hypoplastic nails, and brittle hair. Abnormal teeth are common in NKS and support a hypothesis of autosomal dominant inheritance of the syndrome [Halal et al., 1989; Silengo et al., 1996]. Hair abnormalities have never been investigated in NKS. The ectodermal involvement in NKS could represent an important clue for the understanding of the pathogenesis of this syndrome.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1993

Dose-dependent effects of deflazacort and prednisone on growth and skeletal maturation.

Deflazacort (DFZ), a new glucocorticoid which has recently become available, is expected to have less negative effects on growth and skeletal maturation than conventional steroids, in children treated long term. To verify this hypothesis, a multicentre trial was organized to evaluate the effects of DFZ vs prednisone (PDN) on statural growth and skeletal maturation in a group of prepubertal children requiring glucocorticoid therapy for at least 6 months/year. The results of an analysis of 55 children (aged 3-12 years, 24 with connective tissue disease and 31 with kidney glomerular disorders) treated randomly with either DFZ (31 patients) or PDN (24 patients) and followed for a mean period of about 22 months (16 months under steroid therapy) are presented. The observation period was split up into the following phases according to dose and administration regimen: daily, high-dose therapy; alternate-day, high-dose therapy; low-dose therapy; suspension of treatment. The height, statural age, skeletal age and body weight velocities (i.e. the increase/year) were considered. In spite of large intra-individual and inter-individual variability, the results suggest that DFZ has a lower negative impact on indicators of growth. During high-dose daily administration, the height velocity tended to be lower in the PDN group and the impairment of skeletal maturity was significantly less for DFZ than for PDN. During an alternate-day regimen, height velocity was slightly higher in the PDN group and skeletal age velocity was higher in the DFZ group. It seems that steroid effects on statural growth and bone maturation occur in parallel.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Determination by Skeleton↗
PubMed1991

Comparison of growth retarding effects induced by two different glucocorticoids in prepubertal sick children: an interim long-term analysis.

The low interference with growth expected in child for a cortisol analogue, deflazacort (DFZ), prompted us to verify if DFZ could affect growth less than prednisone (PDN). An interim analysis relative to 27 girls and 38 boys (out of 100 expected) aged 3-12 yrs, after a median period of 14 mo.s is reported. Children with connective tissues (CTD) and glomerular disorders (KD) were randomly allocated to DFZ or PDN. Anthropometric measurements and maturity ratings were performed. Mean daily doses of PDN (or DFZ equivalent), from 0.57 to 0.64 mg/kg (DFZ 0.92 to 0.94 mg/kg) to induce control and from 0.19 to 0.39 mg/kg (DFZ 0.34 to 0.36 mg/kg) to maintain disease under control were given in CTD and KD, respectively. The increase in bone age delay over time was significantly greater than for PDN (-4.0 mo/yr) than DFZ (-1.8 mo/yr) in the overall group. The increases in statural age delay and loss over time were significantly greater than for PDN (-5.9 and -5.9 mo/yr) than DFZ (-2.4 and -2.4 mo/yr), only in children with "taller" midparents. Although doses of DFZ 1.1-1.8 times those of PDN were given, growth retardation in PDN-treated children was nevertheless 2.3-2.5 times that in DFZ-ones.

Age Determination by Skeleton↗
PubMed1991

Insulin receptor gene expression is reduced in cells from a progeric patient.

We have studied a 15-year-old girl (P1) suffering from the Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome (progeria) associated with a severe insulin resistance. Insulin binding activity to P1 erythrocytes was 85% reduced when compared to that measured in ten normal controls matched for sex and age. This finding was confirmed in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed lymphoblasts and depends on a reduction in insulin receptor number. Also the amount of total insulin receptors, [35S]methionine labeled and immunoprecipitated, was 90% reduced in P1 lymphoblasts when compared to controls. Next, we measured insulin receptor mRNA levels and we found undetectable levels of insulin receptor transcript in P1 EBV-transformed lymphoblasts, in the absence of any rearrangement of insulin receptor gene as evaluated by Southern blot analysis. The marked reduction in insulin receptor gene expression probably accounts for the severe insulin resistance presented by the patient. Despite extensive studies, the molecular basis of progeria is still unknown. The near complete absence of a molecule crucial in the transduction of cell growth and differentiation signals could be involved in the accelerated aging of the patient.

Adolescent↗