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Biomedical subjects

R Dionigi

Publications and source records attributed to R Dionigi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Prognostic value of CT in head-injury coma.

The brain CT findings in 54 patients in coma 1-5 (Bozza-Marrubini scale) following craniocerebral trauma are analysed retrospectively. Attention is focused on those of the CT features that constitute indirect signs of brainstem involvement: obliteration of the suprasellar cisterns, distortion of the perimesencephalic and quadrigeminal cisterns, dilatation of the temporal horn and widening of the cerebellopontine angle cistern on the lesion side, considered anatomically and clinically responsible for coma. The patients fell into three groups: 7 with negative CT, 31 with intracranial lesions not affecting the brainstem and 16 with CT evidence of descending transtentorial herniation. The CT signs correlated significantly with coma level and survival. These CT signs can be used alongside the clinical and other instrumental data -- EEG, VEP and intracranial pressure -- as a further criterion of severity in head-injury coma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Effects of malnutrition on the acute phase response of plasma proteins in patients undergoing total gastrectomy.

The serum level of six acute phase proteins (APP) has been evaluated preoperatively and for a few days in the postoperative period. Thirty patients undergoing total gastrectomy for gastric cancer have been studied in two subgroups according to their nutritional status. Those with gastric cancer had significantly higher baseline serum levels of alpha 1 acid glycoprotein (alpha1AGP) and C-reactive protein (CRP) than a control group. Malnourished patients also had reduced acute phase response for alpha1AGP and alpha 1 antitrypsin (alpha1AT) a higher increase of CRP and fibrinogen, and a lower decrease for transferrin and retinol binding protein (RBP).

Journal Article↗
PubMed1982

Preoperative prediction and quantification of septic risk caused by malnutrition.

Evaluation of the nutritional status of surgical patients was carried out by means of cluster analysis of several indicators to identify different nutritional conditions that could be considered frames of reference for the prediction of postoperative infections. Seventy-one surgical patients entered into the first phase of the study that identified four nutritional situations with a different incidence of postoperative sepsis; cluster 1 showed the lowest incidence of infectious episodes, and clusters 2 to 4 were characterized by a higher incidence of sepsis and other complications. In the second phase of the study, 28 patients were examined and compared with the four reference states by means of the determinations of the euclidean distance between the nutritional assessment of the patient and the barycenter of each of the reference states. The incidence of sepsis was similar in the two series of patients, indicating that the characterization of patients in one of the four reference states allows one to predict the risk of postoperative septic complications.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

[Adhesivity and chemotaxis of leukocytes during infusion of Intralipid].

The effect of an intravenously administered lipid emulsion (Intralipid) on granulocyte functions has been studied. The study has been carried out in 20 healthy individuals, divided into two groups: 10 individuals have been infused with Intralipid 10% i.v.; the other 10 individuals (controls) have not been infused with any pharmacologically active solution. In all the subjects the following parameters have been studied: blood granulocyte count, granulocyte adherence and leucocyte chemotaxis. The results showed a transient fall of granulocyte adherence during the intralipid infusion; no alterations of granulocyte count and leucocyte chemotaxis were found.

Adhesiveness↗
PubMed1982

[Leukocyte adhesiveness and chemotaxis during infusion of Intralipid].

The effect of an intravenously administered lipid emulsion (Intralipid) on granulocyte functions has been studied. The study has been carried out in 20 healthy individuals, divided into two groups: 10 individuals have been infused with Intralipid 10% i.v.; the other 10 individuals (controls) have not been infused with any pharmacologically active solution. In all the subjects the following parameters have been studied: blood granulocyte count, granulocyte and leucocyte chemotaxis. The results showed a transient fall of granulocyte adherence during the intralipid infusion; no alterations of granulocyte count and leucocyte chemotaxis were found.

Adhesiveness↗
PubMed1982

Effects of experimental atherosclerosis on cerebral blood flow in rabbits. Reversal by sorbinicate.

The present investigations were performed in conscious rabbits with the aim of determining the effects of an atherogenic diet (AD) on the cerebral blood flow (CBF) and of a nicotinic acid derivative (SN) on the CBF alterations induced by the diet. Experimental atherosclerosis reduces the blood flow in the rapidly exchanging cerebrovascular compartment; SN largely counteracts this effect. The experimental data suggest that the effect of this antiatherogenic drug is not due to vasoactive properties.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

[Glucose-1-phosphate associated with total parenteral feeding. Study of various metabolic effects and leukocyte functions].

The effects of glucose-1-phosphate (250-500 ml given by i.v. infusion over a period of 3-4 h for 3-5 days) on the quantity of exogenous insulin administered and on leukocyte adhesion and chemotaxis were studied in 4 groups of post-operative patients submitted to TPN (total parenteral nutrition), TPN + glucose-1-phosphate, standard infusion therapy and standard infusion therapy + glucose-1-phosphate respectively. With the use of glucose-1-phosphate the quantity of insulin administered could be significantly reduced (P less than 0.01) thereby an increased utilization of glucose, induced by the phosphorylated saccharide, was confirmed. Moreover, glucose-1-phosphate, through its action on intracellular sugar metabolism, increased leukocyte adhesion during TPN. This phenomenon might have a favourable effect on some of the functions carried out by these cells on the inflammatory response.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1981

[Possible causal factors in postoperative immunodepression].

The relationships between postoperative immunodepression and duration of general anesthesia, volume of blood transfusions, cortico-steroid administrations and amount of surgical trauma have ben studied, in cancer patients undergoing radical operations. Postoperative depression of cellular immunity, assayed by the lymphocyte blastogenic response to phytohemagglutinin, was significantly correlated with the amount of surgical trauma and did not correlate with blood transfusions and corticosteroid administrations, nor with the duration of anesthesia.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

[Controlled study of unspecific cellular immunity in cancer patients].

Cellular immunity has been studied in 92 patients with solid tumors undergoing surgery, in order to evaluate immunocompetence at the time of diagnosis and to assess the prognostic value of parameters of cellular immunity. The results show that total lymphocyte counts, T-lymphocyte counts and lymphocyte blastogenic responses are moderately depressed at diagnosis in the cancer patients as compared to age matched controls. These parameters of cell mediated immunity "in vitro" seem to be of limited prognostic value, since no correlation was found with the clinical course during the first 6 postoperative months. Depression of delayed hypersensitivity response to cutaneous antigens appeared to be an index of poor prognosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

[Immunological monitoring of patients operated on for epidermoid bronchogenic carcinoma].

Sequential monitoring of non specific immunity has been carried out in 16 patients with squamous cell bronchogenic carcinoma undergoing radical surgery. At the time of diagnosis total lymphocyte counts, T-lymphocyte counts and the blastogenic response of lymphocytes to PHA were only slightly depressed; on the contrary C3c and C4 serum levels were significantly increased (P less than 0.01). Sequential determinations of the immunologic profile at monthly intervals up to the 12th postoperative month showed a transient increase of total lymphocyte and T-lymphocyte levels; the lymphocyte blastogenic response to PHA and also C3c and C4 serum levels progressively decreased. Delayed hypersensitivity response to cutaneous antigens, neutrophil chemotaxis, serum levels of IgG, IgA, IgM and B-lymphocyte counts were constantly found within normal range.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

[Sequential evaluation of lymphocytic blastogenesis in cancer patients after surgical treatment].

Sequential evaluation of lymphocyte blastogenic response (LBR) to PHA was performed in 10 melanoma patients and in 10 gastric cancer patients undergoing radical operations. Preoperative determinations showed a significant depression of LBR in both patient groups as compared to healthy controls. In patients operated for melanoma the average duration of anesthesia was 101 minutes and in patients who underwent gastric resection it was 192 minutes. In both patient groups a further significant depression of LBR was observed in the early postoperative period; however the LBR returned to preoperative levels more promptly in patients who underwent melanoma excision than in those who underwent gastric resection.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed1980

Postoperative infections and variations of complement components in cancer patients.

Sequential determinations of C4 and factor B serum levels were performed pre- and postoperatively in 56 cancer patients. Patients who underwent radical mastectomy and excision of melanoma had an incidence of surgical infections of 7% and 15%, respectively, and showed a significant postoperative acute-phase increase of C4 and factor B serum levels. A higher incidence of postoperative infections, mostly Gram negative, was recorded in patients who underwent gastric resection (35%) and colorectal resection (73%); these failed to show an early acute-phase response of complement postoperatively. The results of this study confirm the high susceptibility of cancer patients to postoperative infections. Moreover, the lack of postoperative acute-phase increase of C4 and factor B observed in cancer patients who developed postoperative infections suggests an active role of complement in host defense mechanisms against surgical infections.

Adult↗