Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Lodi

Publications and source records attributed to R Lodi.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Vasoactive intestinal peptide enhances lung preservation.

The outcome of lung transplantation is often dependent on the quality of the donor lungs. To explore a way to improve lung preservation, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) was added to pneumoplegic solutions. The 4 solutions tested were Krebs solution, Krebs solution with VIP, University of Wisconsin solution, and the University of Wisconsin solution with VIP. The lungs of 8 male Sprague-Dawley rats were flushed and stored in these solutions for 24 hr. At regular intervals, tissue was sampled and examined by light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. Casts of the vasculature were made after 4 hr and viewed by a scanning electron microscope. Lungs appeared well preserved by light microscopy at all intervals. Although inflammatory cells around arteries, arterial constriction, bronchiolar epithelial detachment, peribronchiolar edema, and alveolar size inhomogeneity were greater with time, there was no significant difference among the 4 groups by light microscopy. Scanning microscopy of tissue at 24 hr confirmed the information found on light microscopy but did not allow separation of the groups. The vascular casts showed that edema around large vessels was less in the lungs treated with VIP (P < 0.01). Transmission electron microscopy showed that lungs stored in the solutions with VIP had significantly more normal-shaped mitochondria, less mitochondrial edema, less distortion of mitochondrial cristae, thinner basal lamina, and less aggregation of nuclear chromatin at most intervals sampled after 4 hr. We conclude that VIP added to certain pneumoplegic solutions improves the ultrastructure of rat lung stored in the cold for up to 24 hr. VIP may be an important additive to pneumoplegic solutions to improve preservation of lung before transplantation.

Adenosine↗

Brain energy metabolism studied by 31P-MR spectroscopy in a case of migraine with prolonged aura.

The brain and skeletal muscle oxidative metabolism of a patient with prolonged aura was studied by phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We found that the phosphocreatine to ATP ratio in brain was reduced, while the inorganic phosphate to phosphocreatine ratio and the calculated ADP concentration were increased. The phosphorylation potential and percentage of maximal rate of ATP synthesis were also altered. Intracellular pH and inorganic phosphate concentration were normal. In muscle we found a low post-exercise recovery of phosphocreatine. These data indicate an impairment of energy oxidative metabolism both in brain and muscle.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Extrapleural takedown of the internal mammary artery as a pedicle.

Four hundred thirty-three patients underwent coronary bypass grafting using both internal mammary artery (IMA) and saphenous vein graft. In 233 patients the IMA was exposed with a conventional technique (group 1), whereas in the remaining patients the IMA was harvested leaving the pleura intact and performing an associated lysis of the endothoracic fascia (group 2). Postoperative course and complications of these groups were studied and compared in a period of time ranging from 8 to 28 months. Postoperatively, the blood transfused was significantly less in group 2 patients than in group 1; group 2 also had a reduction of surgical reexploration. Pleural effusion and hemidiaphragm impairment were infrequent or absent in group 2 patients, whereas pericarditis, severe postoperative chest pain, and respiratory insufficiency were noted only in group 1 patients. Our data suggest that extrapleural access without pleurotomy may be preferred owing to its low rate of chest wall complications.

Adult↗

Tricuspid valve incompetence caused by nonpenetrating thoracic trauma.

Tricuspid valve incompetence from ruptured papillary muscle or chordae as a result of nonpenetrating trauma is uncommon. Blunt trauma causing partial detachment of a leaflet from the annulus is very rare. We report the case of a young adult involved in a car accident who had these findings. Operative repair with resuture of the leaflet to the annulus and annuloplasty using a Carpentier ring resulted in complete recovery.

Adult↗

Neuroophthalmological implications of the radiological finding of the transverse sinus.

Visualization of transverse intracranial sinuses by means of standard radiograms of the skill is a rather unusual finding. In order to detect the radiological evidence of this important intracranial venous collector, the authors examined 5.638 radiograms, collected since January 1982 until December 1986 at the Neuroradiological Ophtalmic Centre of the University of Bologna. 87 cases (1.54%) resulted positive, with a prevalence of young (mean age 23 years) and female (88%) patients. Among these, an involvement of the optic nerve was the most consistent finding. In fact, it was observed in 47 cases (54%) suffering from: retrobulbar optic neuritis (25 cases), papillitis (13 cases), optic disk edema (6 cases), optic chiasma syndrome (2 cases) and stasis papilla (1 case). Moreover, the report of headache in 20 further cases may have significative implications with respect to the pathogenetic hypothesis about the accentuation of the transverse sinus. Our data suggest that a primitive inflammatory disorder, such as asymptomatic meningitis or meningoencephalitis--early developed in the life--, can induce a persistent local damage also with the radiological alteration. Thus, we presumed that this sign may represent a significant marker of a compromised anatomofunctional condition predisposing to relapsing inflammatory processes. A very interesting possible clinical correlation with demyelinating disorders is also discussed for its pathogenetic implications.

Adult↗

[Microscopic analysis of saphenous veins used for aortocoronary bypass].

The Authors describe a study performed on a sample of 88 saphenous veins used as aorto-coronary bypass grafts. The patients underwent surgery in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Ancona from Jan. 1981 to Dec. 1984. The morphological analysis (light and electron microscope) was conducted with a comparative method between two surgical techniques (ST). The first refers (Group I) to 1981-82, the second (Group II) to 1983-84. In Group I the veins were taken with a conventional surgical technique. In Group II the ST was performed using an atraumatic procedure, topic vasodilators, distension of the vein with autologous blood and driving pressure less than 150 mmHg, and storage of the vein in blood at room temperature. The results show that in Group II there is better preservation of the endothelial venous layer. The distending pressure of the venous graft (less than 150 mmHg) and prevention of venous spasm were statistically relevant (p less than 0.05). The AA. conclude that vein graft damage during surgery can be avoided by means of the following procedures: dissection of the vein with atraumatic technique; prevention of venous spasm with topic vasodilators; distension of the vein at pressure less than 150 mmHg.

Coronary Artery Bypass↗

Fatty acid composition of single brain structures following different alpha linolenate dietary supplementations.

Weanling female rats randomly divided into three groups were fed a basal alipidic diet added with 10% (w/w) corn oil, soybean oil or linseed oil. After thirty and ninety days of dietary treatment the rats were killed and the fatty acid composition of brain, optic nerve and visual cortex was determined. The results demonstrate a different sensitivity to the diet of the different structures examined and, for the linseed oil treated rats, a strong decrease in the proportions of the total (n-6 + n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids in all the structures examined.

Animals↗

Noise and "pedagogic efficiency" in school activities.

A group of 8 pupils born in 1962 and a group of 8 future teachers between 25 and 40 years of age, were submitted in 1975 to two types of tests in the presence of environment noises at various levels (45 to 75 dBa), in order to assess the influence of this nuisance on the pedagogic efficiency. The results show a nocivity threshold for the pupils at around 55 dBA and for the teachers at aroung 65 dBA. Furthermore, backward pupils suffer more in this context from the interference of noise than the advanced ones.

Adolescent↗