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Biomedical subjects

R Cioni

Publications and source records attributed to R Cioni.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Arachnoid cysts of the middle cranial fossa: a clinical, radiological and follow-up study.

Twenty-seven patients with CT-scan-diagnosed arachnoid cysts in the middle cranial fossa were studied. Five (18%) presented with progressive symptoms related to raised intracranial pressure which had developed after minor trauma and secondary bleeding, 12 (44%) presented with non-progressive symptoms, and 10 (37%) exhibited neurological syndromes not referable to the cyst. Among those with non-progressive symptoms, epilepsy was the most common presentation (67%). More than 60% of the cysts were small and limited to the anterior temporal region or to the Sylvian fissure, the remaining cysts involved both the anterior temporal region and the Sylvian fissure, and expanded to the adjacent fronto-temporal or fronto-parietal regions. The volume measurements of the brain tissue performed on CT scan revealed that between the volume of the two hemispheres there was no significant difference suggesting any evidence of agenesis or hypoplasia of the affected temporal lobe.

Adolescent↗

Diagnostic specificity of sensory and motor nerve conduction variables in early detection of carpal tunnel syndrome.

In the carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) sensory nerve conduction is more sensitive than motor conduction. However, 8%-25% of the sensory distal latencies in symptomatic hands may still be normal. A systematic study was made of the median, ulnar and radial orthodromic nerve conduction velocities (SNCV) stimulating each of the fingers separately. Four SNCVs from the median nerve, two SNCVs from the ulnar nerve and one from the radial nerve were obtained, and the ratio of the median to radial SNCV and the ratios of the median and ulnar SNCVs were estimated. The significance of these parameters in the diagnosis of the CTS was studied, and a rapid technique for the screening of nerve entrapment in the initial stages of the disease is proposed. Three hundred and seventy-five symptomatic hands were examined. Seventy-five hands showed normal distal latency, in which cases, however, the SNCV of the ring finger was always outside the normal range, while the SNCVs of the thumb, index and middle fingers were abnormal in 64%, 80% and 92% of cases respectively. The amplitudes of the sensory responses were the least sensitive of the parameters studied. Our results suggest that a study of the median nerve digital branch to the ring finger may be of value in providing an easily performed and rapid technique for screening an early median nerve entrapment at the wrist.

Adolescent↗

Differences between surface EMG in male and female subjects evidenced by automatic analysis.

40 healthy volunteers (20 males and 20 females) have been studied by an automatic analysis of their surface EMG. The power density spectrum (PDS) of the electromyographic signal, derived from the tibialis anterior muscle, was used to evaluate the RMS values of the EMG developed during maximal voluntary (Vc) and evoked (Vm) contractions. The ratios between Vc, calculated over each of 5 frequency bands (5-15, 20-40, 45-70, 75-110, 115-160 Hz), and the total Vc have also been calculated. No significant differences emerge in the Vm values for males and females, whereas the Vc values for female subjects are found to be significantly reduced (P less than 0.001) with respect to the corresponding values for males. Significant differences have also been found concerning the percentage distribution of power in the above mentioned frequency bands for men and women (P less than 0.001). It can thus, be hypothesized that there are two different modalities of motor unit recruitment and that different sociological and cultural traditions may be more important in producing these differences than sexually determined physiological differences.

Adult↗

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: study of a large kinship with an intermediate form.

A clinical, genetic, electrophysiological and ultrastructural study of a large kinship with peroneal muscular atrophy is reported. There was a noteworthy homogeneity in the phenotype as well as in the electrophysiological characteristics encountered in 15 affected members aged between 7 and 72 years. The symptoms appeared first in the second decade of life and stabilized by the fourth decade. There was no evidence of linkage of the neuropathy gene to the Duffy blood group locus on chromosome 1. The electrophysiological data in this family as well as the ultrastructural findings confirm that there is heterogeneity in hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type I, and support the concept of an intermediate form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Adolescent↗

Automatic analysis of surface EMG (preliminary findings in healthy subjects and in patients with neurogenic motor diseases).

Supramaximal electrical stimulation of a motor nerve produces a full contraction of a muscle and the corresponding compound action potential can be recorded. Recent studies appear to support the view that all the motor units are activated during voluntary maximal contraction, at least in the tibialis anterior muscle. The compound action potential and the EMG interference pattern in the tibialis anterior are regarded as two different manifestations of the activation of all the motor units. A method has been developed which compares these EMG activities, by automatic analysis, in order to obtain useful parameters for clinical applications.

Adolescent↗

Toxic polyneuropathy of shoe workers in Italy. A clinical, neurophysiological and follow-up study.

Cases of polyneuropathy due to exposure to industrial solvents have been studied at several shoe factories in the province of Siena. After the screening of 654 employees 98 verified cases were detected. Of these, 16 were rated as moderate to severe, 45 as mild, and 37 were minimally involved but with characteristic electrodiagnostic abnormalities. Follow-up study in 53 patients showed that neurological signs and symptoms as well as electrodiagnostic abnormalities continued for years in several patients. In addition, after a year's observation, some patients showed signs of central nervous system dysfunction such as spasticity of the lower limbs and increased deep tendon reflexes. High percentages of commercial n-hexane were found in all the samples of glues and solvents collected from home-workers and from factories where cases of polyneuropathy occurred.

Adhesives↗

Impairment of nervous system in workers exposed to inorganic mercury.

Impairment of nervous functions has been investigated by clinical and neurophysiological methods in 55 workers exposed to inorganic mercury intoxication and 27 controls living in the same area. A polyneuropathy, mainly of sensory type, has been found in 6 exposed workers (10,9%) and 2 control (7,4%); a mono or multineuropathy of sensory or motor type was present in 15 exposed (27%) and 10 control (29,6%) subjects. Central N.S. involvement has been found in 7 out of 12 exposed workers examined and in 1 out of 7 controls by electronystagmography. Neurological examination demonstrated minor signs of cerebellar type in 3 instances.

Humans↗

[Diagnostic significance of assaying glycoproteins, immunoglobulins, complement fractions and carcinoembryonic antigen in pleural and peritoneal exudates and transudates].

The Authors have determinated the concentration of some glicoproteins, IgG, IgA and IgM, C3 and C4 and CEA in 61 peritoneal and pleuric effusions, of various aethiology. Results obtained for glicoproteins and C3 appear to have a diagnostic value in distinguishing inflammatory and neoplastic effusions from non-inflammatory and non-neoplastic forms. A greater diagnostic value can be attributed to the results of the CEA which is constantly and almost exclusively increased in neoplastic effusions.

Ascitic Fluid↗