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Biomedical subjects

P Rampini

Publications and source records attributed to P Rampini.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Assessing hair shedding in children.

BACKGROUND: The wash test is currently used to assess hair shedding, though it lacks a cut-off point of normality and any evidence of being reliable. The aim of this study is to provide data to fulfil those needs. METHODS: The wash test was employed in a standardized way on 31 children aged 3-11 years. RESULTS: The test yielded 10.68 +/- 3.91 hairs, a figure which may be considered as 'normal' for children of that age. The chi(2) test granted the validity of the method. The number of shed hairs counted in the washing basin increased with the age of the subjects. COMMENT: The wash test proved to be reliable and to be a useful tool for monitoring hair shedding. The increasing trend with age may suggest a possible prepubertal onset of androgenetic alopecia.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1998

Stereotactically guided endoscopy for the treatment of arachnoid cysts.

Arachnoid cysts are well known to the neurosurgeon, and the evolution of their surgical treatment has followed technological advances in neurosurgical procedures and techniques. With the recent mastering of neuroendoscopy by the neurosurgeons, it is becoming the modality of choice for the treatment of arachnoid cysts. A neonate harboring a middle parasagittal arachnoid cyst benefited from stereotactically guided endoscopy. We report this case because of its peculiarities and introduce technical details about the procedure which are not found in the literature.

Arachnoid Cysts↗
PubMed1998

Localization accuracy of AC-PC line and functional pallidal target using BRW stereotactic implementation system and axial CT scanning. An experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Ventriculography is still considered an unavoidable step for functional target localization, even though this method is invasive and requires stereotactic rooms, orthogonal frames, and parallax-free X-ray equipment. In this experimental study, the authors investigated the feasibility of performing stereotactic lesions using a conventional, widely employed frame, such as the Brown-Roberts-Wells (BRW) apparatus, and computerized axial tomography (CAT) imaging. METHODS: Five ex vivo models consisting of cadaveric brains enclose in a plastic shell were fixed in a BRW frame. A simple BRW implementation was used to ensure more symmetrical placement of the basal ring. Two-millimeter plastic balls were inserted at the level of the anterior (AC) and posterior commissures (PC) and at the target in the pallidus. Their final position was measured on the anatomical specimens and compared with Schaltenbrand Atlas maps. RESULTS: The error in estimating the length of the intercommissural line ranged from 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm, with a maximum backward angulation of four degrees in predicting the AC-PC plane. Upon dissection, in four out of five cases, the balls were found within the area of the pallidus defined by Laitinen for posteroventral pallidotomy. CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that anatomical identification of the AC-PC line and the pallidus target, using the BRW stereotactic system and CAT axial images alone offers sufficient accuracy. They suggest that functional neurosurgery for movement disorders could be safely and successfully carried out without ventriculography if neurophysiological monitoring is also employed.

Cadaver↗
PubMed1995

Argon laser treatment of cutaneous multiple angiokeratomas.

BACKGROUND: Angiokeratomas are cutaneous vascular lesions with common clinical and histological features: dark red to black papules and ectasia of upper dermis vessels, respectively. Multiple angiokeratomas are difficult to treat because they are often too extensive for surgery and cautery, procedures frequently leading to hemorrhage and scarring. OBJECTIVE: Our report is designed to evaluate the efficacy of argon laser photocoagulation in the treatment of multiple angiokeratomas. METHODS: Two male patients affected by angiokeratoma circumscriptum and angiokeratoma of Fordyce, respectively, were treated using an argon laser under local anesthesia. The laser beam was used as a hemostyptic and to flatten vascular papules by photocoagulation. RESULTS: The cosmetic results of argon laser treatment were good. Posttreatment crusting lasted 2 weeks; 4 months later there was excellent healing without scarring. CONCLUSION: Angiokeratomas respond favorably to argon laser photocoagulation since vascular ectasias are localized in the papillary dermis. Thus, the argon laser offers significant advantages over traditional methods and produces no side effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Cerebral blood flow velocity and cerebrospinal fluid pressure after single bolus of propofol.

The effects of propofol on cerebral blood flow velocity, cerebrospinal fluid pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure and mean arterial pressure were studied during induction in 25 patients scheduled for elective craniotomy. Premedication consisted of only atropine sulphate 0.007 mg/kg (im) 45 min before induction. Measurements were made or derived at time zero and 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 min after an induction dose of propofol (2.5 mg/kg). Patients were retrospectively stratified into two groups, according to cerebrospinal pressure basal values: (i) lower than 10 mmHg (10 pts) and (ii) higher than 10 mmHg (15 pts). Cerebral blood flow velocity, measured by transcranial Doppler, fell in all the patients, but the reduction was significant at 1, 2, 3 and 4 min only in the group with high CSF pressure, while it never reached the critical value of 10 cm/s. Cerebrospinal fluid pressure and mean arterial pressure decreased in both groups of patients and the fall reached a statistical significance at 1 and 2 min in the group with higher baseline CSF pressure, only at 1 min: a parallel decrease of CPP was recorded, but it was not significant. Thus propofol decreases CSF pressure without hazardous effects on cerebral blood velocity and on cerebral perfusion pressure and seems to be a suitable anaesthetic agent in controlling high cerebrospinal fluid pressure in neuroanaesthesia.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Monitoring of brain function by means of evoked potentials in cerebral aneurysm surgery.

Deliberate arterial hypotension is currently used to operate upon cerebral aneurysms. However, it is not ascertained whether this practice is really safe for all patients, especially those presenting with preoperative vasospasm. 50 patients, requiring surgical treatment for cerebral aneurysm, have been submitted, during surgery, to the recording of Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SEPs) on median nerve stimulation. This technique allows the functional evaluation of neural pathways mediating the somatosensory stimuli and of primary somatosensory cortex; it is known that a decrease of cerebral perfusion may affect the SEP waveforms in terms of reduced subcortical conduction velocity (i.e., increased central conduction time, CCT) and of reduced cortical response amplitude. These changes may be apparent before a permanent neurological damage is produced. Preoperative SEP recording demonstrated a prolonged CCT, possibly related to vasospasm, in 9 patients, a normal clinical evaluation notwithstanding (grade I and II). During intraoperative deliberate hypotension, a SEP change has always been produced. No postoperative damage has been observed, however, as long as the CCT did not exceed 9 msec for 10 minutes (maximum normal CCT value is 6.7 msec) and as the cortical response had been visible throughout the whole surgical procedure. The critical value of CCT has been reached at a mean arterial pressure (MAP) lower than 60 Torr in patients with a normal preoperative SEP recording; at the opposite, in patients presenting with a prolonged preoperative CCT, the value of 9 msec was arrived at with a MAP value that is generally accepted as safe for all patients (75 Torr).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anesthesia↗
PubMed1987

Serum free thyroid hormones in different degrees of hypothyroidism and in euthyroid autoimmune thyroiditis.

Serum total and free T4 and T3, thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) and TSH, basal and 20, 30 and 60 min after TRH (200 micrograms, iv), were evaluated in 125 hypothyroid patients (38 with severe, 23 with mild, and 64 with subclinical hypothyroidism), in 35 euthyroid subjects with autoimmune thyroiditis, and in 51 healthy controls. T4/TBG and T3/TBG ratios were also calculated. A significant decrease in all indices of thyroid function except for T3 occurred simultaneously with a significant increase in basal and TRH-stimulated TSH levels from healthy subjects to subclinical hypothyroids, from subclinical to mild and from mild to severe hypothyroids; euthyroid patients with autoimmune thyroiditis did not differ from healthy subjects. All severe hypothyroid patients had low T4 as well as free T4 (FT4), free T3 (FT3), T4/TBG and T3/TBG ratios, but among mild and subclinical hypothyroids direct determination of FT4 and FT3 proved to be a better index of thyroid function than determination of T4 and T3 even after correction for TBG levels. FT4 was the most commonly abnormal index (19 of 23 subjects with mild and 14 of 64 with subclinical disease). Regression analysis showed that FT4, T4/TBG ratio, T4, and FT3 had a significant inverse correlation with TSH in hypothyroid patients. Discriminant analysis showed that among the thyroid parameters, FT4 is the variable which discriminates best between control subjects and the 3 groups of hypothyroid patients. These data extend previous reports and in a large series of patients confirm the biological meaning and the clinical value of direct measurement of serum free thyroid hormones in hypothyroidism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Humans↗
PubMed1985

Effect of dihydroergokryptine administration on serum prolactin and growth hormone levels in normal, hyperprolactinaemic and acromegalic subjects: evidence of potent and long-lasting pituitary dopamine receptor stimulation.

The endocrine effects of a relatively potent dopaminergic agent, dihydroergokryptine, have been studied in normal subjects, and in hyperprolactinaemic and acromegalic patients. A single 6 mg oral dose of the drug caused a marked, long lasting fall in prolactin (PRL) plasma levels in healthy subjects, in hyperprolactinaemic patients and in normoprolactinaemic acromegalics. Growth hormone (GH) levels decreased in 1-DOPA - responder, acromegalic patients, but dihydroergokryptine did not affect GH levels in normal volunteers or in 1-DOPA non-responder, acromegalic patients. The PRL- and GH- lowering activity of 6 mg dihydroergokryptine was significantly greater than that of 6 mg dihydroergocristine, and was similar to that of an oral dose of 500 mg 1-DOPA.

Acromegaly↗
PubMed1984

Serum prolactin and ovarian function after discontinuation of drug treatment for hyperprolactinaemia: a study with bromocriptine and metergoline.

Serum prolactin (PRL) was estimated for up to 2 months after discontinuation of therapy with either bromocriptine (n = 33; 15 with idiopathic disease, 12 with pituitary microadenoma, and six with macroadenoma) or metergoline (n = 23; 11 with idiopathic disease, and 12 with microadenoma) that had been administered for 8-30 months. Only five patients treated with bromocriptine and two treated with metergoline had PRL levels that remained normal or below 50% of pretreatment values. Among the patients followed-up for up to 12 months, four showed a fall in PRL at 3-4 months, but this was followed by a rise in one patient. Five patients showing persistently lower or normal PRL after drug withdrawal were retested with thyrotrophin-releasing hormone; the two responsive women also had a normal response before treatment. Of 10 patients followed for 9 months, three had persistently normal PRL levels. Amenorrhoea and anovulation recurred, with some delay, in all the patients showing PRL rebound except one. Medical treatment of hyperprolactinaemia only rarely results in permanent benefit.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1983

Serum free thyroid hormones in T3-toxicosis: a study of 35 patients.

Few data are available on serum free thyroid hormone concentration in patients with T3-toxicosis. In this study total and free T4 and T3 and TBG were evaluated in 35 subjects with T3-toxicosis, including 12 with untreated Graves' disease, 5 Graves' patients on methimazole treatment, 13 with autonomous adenoma, 3 with multinodular goiter, and 2 with subacute thyroiditis. T4, T3, free T4 (FT4), free T3 (FT3) as well as calculated T4/TBG and T3/TBG ratios were significantly higher in patients than in 37 healthy controls. Serum FT4 levels above the normal range were found in 19 subjects with T3-toxicosis (9 with untreated and one with methimazole-treated Graves' disease, 6 with autonomous adenoma, 1 with multinodular goiter and 2 with subacute thyroiditis). These data, together with the few previous reports, indicate that high FT4 levels are present in about half of the patients with so called T3-toxicosis, and that this occurs more frequently in diffuse than nodular goiter. It is suggested that the term T3-toxicosis be used only for those subjects with normal total and free T4.

Graves Disease↗
PubMed1983

Effects of ibopamine on serum prolactin and growth hormone levels in hyperprolactinemic and acromegalic subjects.

The effects of oral doses (100, 200, and 400 mg) of a dopamine derivative, ibopamine, on serum prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) levels were evaluated in hyperprolactinemic patients, some of whom also were acromegalic. There was dose-related lowering of PRL levels. The highest dose was as effective as 500 mg L-dopa, although the duration of action was shorter, with a decrease to below 50% of basal PRL values in all patients. Serum GH did not rise in nonacromegalic subjects, but it fell after 400 mg ibopamine in the L-dopa-sensitive acromegalic patients. These data suggest, but do not prove, that ibopamine is able to directly stimulate pituitary dopamine receptors.

Acromegaly↗