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Biomedical subjects

P Costa

Publications and source records attributed to P Costa.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

[Penile extensibility and erectile function. Preliminary results].

Extensibility, one of the main biomechanical functions of the penis, has been studied in 422 subjects. Preliminary results showed that a) the flaccid penis was extensible; b) this extensibility was significantly correlated with both age and erectile function. Thus, the more penile extensibility decreased, the more erectile function became impaired. This loss of extensibility is caused by fibrosis of the penis, that mainly affects the corpus cavernosa and, by reducing distensibility, impairs the vascular events involved in erection. Evaluation of the extensibility of the flaccid penis is a new, simple, no-invasive and reproducible clinical test. It contributes to the etiologic diagnosis of impotence by detecting tissular anomalies of the erectile corpora.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Aging effects on brainstem auditory evoked potentials.

Since age effects on central conduction time in the acoustic pathway are still debated, we recorded brainstem auditory evoked potentials in 154 normoacoustic subjects, with no history of neurologic or otologic pathology. Linear regression has been used for statistical analysis. Data obtained show an age-related prolongation of latency values which is particularly marked for wave I, while other waves (particularly wave III) do not show a significant change. Thus, interpeak latency (IPL) values do not increase with increasing age: in particular IPLs I-II and I-III decrease, showing a negative "r" value, and IPLs I-V and II-V (which is to be considered the true "central conduction time" through the acoustic pathway) do not show a significant change. Our data seem to demonstrate that the aging process is essentially a peripheral phenomenon which does not involve the central part of the acoustic pathway.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1989

Prevention of the transient adverse effects of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (buserelin) in metastatic prostatic carcinoma by administration of an antiandrogen (nilutamide).

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues administered for the treatment of advanced prostatic cancer induce a transient increase in plasma testosterone levels during the first week of treatment, often with a secondary rise in plasma levels of prostatic acid phosphatase and a flareup of disease. To determine whether the antiandrogen nilutamide (Anandron) blocks these effects, we carried out a multicenter, placebo-controlled study of nilutamide in men with prostatic cancer treated with the GnRH analogue buserelin. Thirty-six men with disseminated prostatic cancer and elevated plasma levels of prostatic acid phosphatase were randomly assigned to two groups. Group 1 included 17 men who received buserelin (500 micrograms daily subcutaneously) and nilutamide (300 mg daily by mouth); group 2 included 19 men treated with buserelin and placebo. Symptoms were assessed, and plasma was collected before treatment, daily for 14 days, and on days 18, 22, and 29 after the initiation of treatment. Bone pain appeared or worsened in 5 of the 17 men in group 1 and in 12 of the 19 men in group 2 (P less than 0.05). Acute urinary obstruction occurred in one man in group 2. Despite similar changes in the plasma testosterone levels in both groups, the median concentration of plasma prostatic acid phosphatase decreased almost immediately in group 1, but increased transiently, then decreased on day 14 in group 2. Median levels of prostate-specific antigen decreased immediately in group 1 and decreased on day 8 in group 2. We conclude that nilutamide can prevent the adverse consequences of the buserelin-induced transient rise in plasma testosterone levels in men with advanced prostate cancer treated with a GnRH analogue.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1989

Successful treatment of acute postoperative right heart failure with low-dose prostaglandin e(1) and assisted circulation.

Immediately after undergoing emergency mitral valve replacement, a 60-year-old woman suffered acute postoperative right heart failure and could not be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass, despite treatment with multiple drugs. Circulatory assistance was instituted by means of femoro-femoral bypass with a roller pump and a hollow-fiber oxygenator; inotropic drugs and drugs aimed at reducing pulmonary vascular resistance (nitroprusside, moxaverine, and isoproterenol) were also given. The patient's systolic pulmonary pressure underwent a progressive decrease, but her systolic systemic pressure remained below 60 mmHg until 8.5 hours after aortic clamp release, when we were able to begin an infusion of prostaglandin E(1), a drug not readily available in our hospital. Fifteen minutes after the infusion was started, at 5 ng/kg/min, the patient's systolic systemic pressure reached 85 mmHg and her systolic pulmonary pressure decreased to 55 mmHg. During the next 2 hours, epinephrine treatment was discontinued, and the assisted circulatory flow was reduced to 0.5 L/min/m(2), while the PGE(1) infusion was increased to 10 ng/kg/min. Assisted circulation was soon discontinued, and the patient's hemodynamic condition remained stable.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1989

[Acute epididymitis and antibiotherapy. Measurement of the epididymal diffusion of pefloxacin].

Acute epididymitis is a common infection in the young sexually active adult. Etiologically, the organisms most frequently found are Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhea and gram negative bacilli. Pefloxacin is a novel quinolone whose antibacterial spectrum and bactericidal activity allow it to be considered for use in the treatment of orchitis and epididymitis Prior to clinical study the authors investigated the degree of epididymal diffusion of Pefloxacin. Ten subjects underwent extraction of an epididymal sample by direct access to the epididymis through a transverse scrotal incision under peridural anesthesia. Three days before surgery, Pefloxacin was administrated at the rate of 400 mg every 12 hours by the oral route. On the day of the operation, the subject receive a 400 mg infusion over one hour, 2 hours before epididymal biopsy. Blood specimens were also extracted. Pefloxacin assays were performed by HPLC following a method derived from that of Montay. The trough concentration of Pefloxacin inhibiting 90% of sensitive strains (MIC 90) is less than or equal to 2 micro-g/ml. The majority of sensitive organisms have minimum bactericidal concentrations equal to twice the MIC 90. The epididymal concentrations that the authors measured are situated at values of 8.15 to 21.80 miro-g/g tissue (mean 13.44). These data allow the use of Pefloxacin to be considered an option in the treatment of epididymitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1988

Diazepam binding inhibitor-like immunoreactivity (DBI-LI) in human CSF. Correlations with neurological disorders.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of the anxiogenic neuropeptide diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI) were determined by radioimmunoassay in 281 patients who underwent evaluation for neurological problems. Serial dilution curves and reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography showed that the immunoreactive material in CSF behaved just as authentic DBI extracted from human brain. Furthermore in the assay there was no evidence of interference from CSF samples deprived of DBI by immunoaffinity. In 82 patients with no evidence of major lesions in the central nervous system, who acted as controls, the CSF DBI content was shown to be age- and sex-related. No correlation was observed with the CSF protein concentration. In patients with different types of dementia, the levels of CSF DBI were significantly increased in a group with normal pressure hydrocephalus. No significant differences were found between Alzheimer's disease, multi-infarct dementia, or dementia with Parkinson's disease and controls. In non-demented patients with Parkinson's disease the levels of DBI were increased in a subgroup with depressive disturbances whereas no differences was observed in the non-depressed cases. The content of DBI was markedly reduced in 5 cases with olivopontocerebellar atrophy and in 4 with spinocerebellar ataxia. In all the other disorders studied the levels of DBI were similar to or slightly lower (multiple sclerosis) than those of the controls. The origin of DBI in cerebrospinal fluid is uncertain; a number of various possibilities are discussed concerning the proposed role of DBI as modulator of brain GABAergic transmission.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Bioaccumulation of Hg in the mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus.

The possibility of utilizing industrial, urban, and other wastes for the growth of a product which is directly edible by humans is fascinating. However, it is possible that many wastes containing toxic substances, for example, heavy metals, could reach the food chain and produce adverse effects on human health. To this end, we studied the possibility of bioaccumulation of Hg by a mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus, grown on an artificial compost containing this element. Concentrations of 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 mg/kg of Hg as Hg(NO3)2.H2O were added to three groups of the same compost, successively inoculated with the mycelia of the mushroom. Higher concentrations strongly reduced the growth of the mycelia and therefore were not utilized. The concentrations of Hg in the substrate and in the mushroom were evaluated by AAS. The range of the accumulation factor was found to be 65-140, i.e., very marked. This finding suggests that the cultivation of P. ostreatus on substrates containing Hg from industrial and urban wastes could involve possible risks to human health.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1988

[Dog bite wounds: characteristics and therapeutic principles].

Dog bite wounds are a common problem and children are the age group at highest risk. Wounds are often multiple and generally involve the face or the limbs. Injuries include punctures, crushes, lacerations and avulsions of flaps. The well-know prevalence of facial injuries can pose some difficult reconstructive problems. Infections are not rare even in well-treated cases. The Authors report the last ten cases which they have treated and on the basis of their experience and of the literature suggest guidelines for effective treatment. A prophylactic antibiotic therapy and tetanus immunization are the basis of rational medical therapy. Wounds should be immediately sutured after careful debridement and through irrigation, unless they are heavily contaminated or located on the hand.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Intercondyloid fractures of the humerus in the adult: surgical treatment and results.

The authors reviewed 14 cases of intercondyloid fracture of the humerus in the adult treated surgically between 1979 and 1989. After critically analysing the results, the surgical procedures, principal complications and their sequelae are discussed. They found a close relationship between the quality of the osteosynthesis and the quality of the results. However, despite the high percentage of favourable results, the authors emphasize the frequency of incomplete recovery of movement in the elbow joint.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Total P.C.A. knee arthroprosthesis.

Between 1983 and 1986 the authors implanted 36 porous-coated P.C.A. total knee prostheses in 34 patients. Complications included two fatal cases of pulmonary embolism and one deep infection which healed within five months following removal of the prosthesis and arthrodesis. The results obtained in 23 patients after an average follow-up of 18 months were excellent in 87% and fair in 13% (according to the Hungerford evaluation system). Radiographic evaluation showed excellent prosthetic positioning in 70% of the cases, the presence of radiolucent lines in areas 5-6-7-8-11-15-19 (according to Hungerford) in 21% of the cases, and zonal bone resorption in areas 1-2-3-4 in 43% of the cases. The authors report their conclusions with reference to complications, the preservation of the posterior cruciate ligament, and problems related to positioning the prosthesis.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

The locked Grosse-Kempf intramedullary nail in the treatment of diaphyseal and metaphyseal fractures of the femur and tibia.

The Gross-Kempf locked intramedullary nail widens the indications for the traditional Küntscher nail in the treatment of diaphyseal and metaphyseal fractures of the lower limbs. The study includes 87 patients with a total of 93 closed fractures treated between 1981 and 1987. Osteosynthesis was carried out in 85 closed fractures and in 8 Grade 1 or 2 open fractures. Possible assemblies in relation to the level and type of fracture and the protocol for weightbearing are illustrated, with emphasis on the fact that dynamization of static assemblies is not always essential. The high percentage of positive results (86%) and the relatively small incidence of complications confirm the validity of this method. The only drawback is the fairly high dose of radiation absorbed by the surgeon during the operation.

Adult↗