Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Buzzi

Publications and source records attributed to R Buzzi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Correction of valgus knee deformity with a supracondylar V osteotomy.

Valgus deformities at the knee can be successfully corrected with V-shaped supracondylar osteotomy. The advantages of this relatively simple technique are low morbidity, good stability with early weight-bearing, no need for internal fixation, and ability to adjust alignment with postoperative cast. Healing is relatively rapid (two months), and the range of motion returns (two months after cast removal) to preoperative values. This technique proved useful for deformities in both young and old patients with osteoarthritis. This is a preliminary report of the surgical technique, postoperative management, and short-term results of a prospectively evaluated series of 14 consecutive cases.

Casts, Surgical↗
PubMed1986

Psychophysiological reactivity in type A and B women during a rapid information processing task.

Type A and Type B women assessed by a newly developed German questionnaire 'need for control' (NC) were compared with respect to time-pressured information processing performance and to simultaneously recorded psychophysiological reactivity. The task was computer controlled, monetarily reinforced and subject paced. The physiological measurements included the cardiovascular parameters, ECG and finger plethysmographic amplitudes and the noncardiovascular parameters, EMG (frontal muscle), skin conductance reactivity, and respiration. NC-Type A and Type B women did not differ in performance, but the Type As showed stronger vasoconstrictive responses to the task than did the Type Bs. Other physiological intergroup differences were not seen. In addition, the Type As scored significantly higher in nervousness and irritability and marginally higher in depression, reactive aggressivity and neuroticism than did the Type Bs. This particular pattern of NC-Type A/B differences is discussed with regard to relevant differences observed by other studies between SI and JAS Type As and Bs.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Psychophysiological reactivity in relation to type A behavior].

This relationship was examined in 77 healthy men. Stress reactivity in the 26 Type A was not more increased than in the 12 Type B men for the cardiovascular variables (heart rate, pulse transit time, finger vasoconstriction and blood pressure), but for body movement, EMG, respiration frequency. Body movement and EMG were the best predictable physiological variables for the Type A behavior pattern, and this mainly in the two speech tests.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Effects of different cigarette smoke yields on puffing and inhalation: is the measurement of inhalation volumes relevant for smoke absorption?

Puffing patterns (number of puffs, puff volume, puff duration, puff interval, peak pressure, peak flow, peak latency), respiratory smoke inhalation (postpuff inspiratory latency, volume and time and postpuff expiratory volume and time), and the pre- to postsmoking boost of tidal air CO concentration were analyzed in 117 regular smokers. They smoked both a cigarette of the habitual brand and a second cigarette of a brand with about 40 to 50% lower machine standard smoke yields and the most similar taste quality. The pre- to postsmoking CO boost remained unrelated to the smoke deliveries of the cigarettes in both comparisons (interindividual and switching). Estimated mouth intake of nicotine was strongly dependent on the smoke yield variables of the cigarettes but remained uncorrelated with CO absorption. The discrepancy between mouth smoke intake and alveolar smoke absorption could not be explained by the volumes or durations of the postpuff respiratory cycle. Multiple regression analyses suggested differential modes of control for the daily number of cigarettes smoked, for the patterns of puffing, for respiratory inhalation, and finally for alveolar CO absorption. The results are discussed in relation to the dynamics of puffing and inhalation and their possible relevance for tobacco-related diseases.

Absorption↗
PubMed1986

Effect of coffee on the speed of subject-paced information processing.

A continuously subject-paced and monetarily reinforced information-processing task was used to test whether caffeine might stimulate performance beyond the ceiling imposed by fatigue. A 3 X 2 design was adopted with the three doses 0, 150, and 450 mg caffeine and with decaffeinated coffee and fruit juice as vehicles. Two groups of 10 subjects selected to represent extremes on the extraversion-introversion scale participated in the experiment. The results revealed no differences between the two groups nor between the two drug vehicles, but caffeine at both dose levels improved performance significantly. Fatigue-induced performance decrements across the sessions reached significance, but no interaction was obtained between fatigue and drug action, supporting the view that caffeine can improve performance beyond a mere restoration of fatigue.

Caffeine↗
PubMed1986

Total condylar knee prosthesis with posterior stability. A mid-term follow-up of 74 cases with severe deformity.

The midterm results of 74 posterior stability total condylar prostheses were studied (average follow-up 3 1/2 years). The average age of the patients was 65 years with a predilection for females (73%). The most frequent diagnosis was osteoarthritis (70%) followed by rheumatoid arthritis (28%): in 20% of the cases previous operations had been performed. Most of the patients had severe deformity which was not susceptible to other surgical treatment. The most frequent deformity was varus (average 13 degrees), followed by valgus (average 25 degrees), and flexion contracture (average 37 degrees). Bone defect in the tibia requiring surgical treatment were present in 18% of the cases. The most frequent general complication was pulmonary embolism (5%), which was never fatal; minor complications related to wound healing were observed in 17.5% of the cases. The results, evaluated with a numerical recording form devised by the Hospital for Special Surgery (New York) were: excellent 72%, good 21%, fair 4%, poor 3%. Of the 4 fair results, one had lateral laxity following lysis for valgus knee, one had loosening of the tibial component, and one had painful patellar clicks. Painless, small patellar clicks were observed in 4 other patients. The two poor results were due to low-grade infection and detachment of both components. Seventy per cent of the knees had normal or almost normal function with maximum flexion averaging 100 degrees. In 78% of the cases a study of the cement-bone interface revealed either no radiotranslucent line or present in only one area of the tibia. Radiotranslucent lines around the femoral or patellar component was rare and of no clinical significance.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Results of arthroscopic meniscectomy.

The results of 100 arthroscopic partial meniscectomies are reported. Hospitalisation was on average 1.5 days; return to work 3 weeks and to sports activities 7 weeks. This is particularly rewarding for the patient. The results were excellent or good in 87% of cases. In 10 of the 13 unsatisfactory results there was associated chronic anterior laxity. Its prior evaluation by dynamic tests is therefore particularly important. The duration of symptoms and site and type of lesion had no bearing on the final result. Less satisfactory results were recorded in subjects with quadriceps wasting exceeding 2 On the basis of this and other reported series arthroscopic partial meniscectomy has proved effective in the mid-term assessment. It is still too early to draw definitive conclusions on the long-term results, but the conservative nature of this technique leads us to predict better long-term results than those obtained with traditional total meniscectomy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Development of puffing behavior along burning time of a cigarette--no relation to alveolar inhalation or nicotine delivery of the cigarettes?

The curves of the cumulative smoke volumes (CSV), as determined by the number of puffs, the puff intervals, the single puff durations, and puff volumes, of 108 nondeprived smokers who smoked two personal brand cigarettes revealed statistically distinct clusters. Pronounced nonlinear increases in the puff intervals and modest decreases in the puff volumes were seen generally, but they varied in extent between clusters as did the number of puffs and estimated mouth intake of nicotine. Most clusters (representing 80% of the smokers) did not deviate significantly from a linear development of the CSV curves, and those that did were characterized by particularly short puff intervals. Most of the subjects moved from the first to the second cigarette into clusters of similar shapes. However, none of these conclusions showed any relation either to the nicotine yield of the cigarettes or to the pre-to postsmoking delta tidal CO. It was therefore concluded that the sensory consequences of the physicochemical changes in smoke composition between the first and last puff or other as yet unknown psychological factors are more likely candidates than nicotine satiation for explaining the typical changes in puffing behavior along burning time of a cigarette.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

The results of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy.

Partial arthroscopic meniscectomy has been performed in the First Orthopedic Clinic of the University of Florence since 1981. We have reviewed the first 100 cases with an average follow-up of 18 months. The results were graded according to a numerical rating system and were satisfactory in 85% of the cases. The main advantage of this difficult technique is the fast recovery rate. Other advantages are the low morbidity and short hospital stay. When meniscectomy was performed in the ACL unstable knee, the results were inferior but still acceptable in terms of reduction of the mechanical symptoms. The influence of age, sex, medial or lateral meniscectomy, and type of tear was not statistically significant. Thigh atrophy or chondromalacia significantly decreased the knee score. We believe that the single most important technical factor is to make sure that a stable, well balanced and healthy rim is left in the knee.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

The effects of caffeine on physiological functions and mental performance.

Polygraphic monitoring of several physiological variables was done throughout an experiment investigating the effects of caffeine on mental performance. The experiment started with a mental maze learning task. Then the subjects were given the test beverages according to the group design (CC group (N = 16): 300 mg caffeine in decaffeinated coffee, DC group (N = 16): decaffeinated coffee, WW group (N = 8): warm water, and NB group (N = 8): no beverage). The experiment continued with a letter cancellation task which was followed by a second mental maze learning task. The caffeine treated subjects differed from the other groups by increased regularity of letter cancellation performance, as indicated by decreases in intraindividual variance. They also differed from the other groups by a slight but significant acrodermal vasoconstriction. No intergroup differences were obtained for mental maze learning, heart rate, respiration, muscle tension, and skin conductance. The results suggest therefore that the drug at this dose level improves behavioral routine and speed rather than cognitive functions and that the vegetative side effects are minimal.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Effects of single doses of alcohol and caffeine on cigarette smoke puffing behavior.

Puffing behavior (number of puffs, puff duration, puff volume, peak pressure, peak flow, peak latency, and puff interval) and pre- to postsmoking delta tidal CO difference were measured in female subjects in order to assess separate and combined effects of ethanol and caffeine. The subjects smoked two cigarettes of their habitual brand in a preliminary familiarizing session and in each of the subsequent four test sessions. The treatments administered after smoking the first cigarette in the test sessions were: alcohol placebo and caffeine placebo; alcohol placebo and caffeine; alcohol and caffeine placebo; alcohol and caffeine. Test-retest reliability across the first cigarette of each session (which was not smoked under the influence of the treatments) was remarkably high for all the puffing parameters. Ethanol in the dose of 0.7 g/kg intensified cigarette smoking of the second cigarette by increasing delta tidal CO, average puff volume, and total puff volume per cigarette, whereas 0.5 g/kg ethanol and 5 mg/kg caffeine given alone or combined with ethanol failed to influence puffing behavior consistently.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Idiopathic osteonecrosis of the knee.

Idiopathic osteonecrosis of the knee is typically a disease of elderly patients characterised by acute localised pain of sudden onset. Radiography in the early stages is negative, but scintigraphy is positive in the first few weeks, showing a localised "hot spot". At a later stage radiography becomes positive, showing subchondral rarefaction, collapse, osteochondral sequestration and reactive perifocal sclerosis. The subchondral bone is clearly necrotic but covered by intact cartilage which subsequently fractures at the edges of the crater to form a separated fragment. At the same time, resorption phenomena appear in the necrotic bone together with the production of immature new bone. Conservative treatment is effective in the majority of cases in which the affected area is small. Larger areas demand surgical intervention, the most effective being corrective tibial osteotomy. In very severe cases, however, total prosthetic replacement is necessary.

Aged↗