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Biomedical subjects

R Nessi

Publications and source records attributed to R Nessi.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Acute renal failure after rifampicin: a case report and survey of the literature.

A new case of acute renal failure after rifampicin is presented, together with a review of the 36 similar cases published up to date in the literature. Evidence is provided that irregularities in drug intake, either as true intermittent treatment or as discontinuation of continuous therapy, play an important role in the pathogenesis of such reactions. Renal failure appeared after a rather long uneventful interval from the beginning of rifampicin therapy, ranging from 1 month to more than 1 year. Its clinical course was favourable in all but one case; the histological picture was mainly of tubulo-interstitial type. The controversial immunological data reported in the literature are reviewed; an increase of histamine release by rat mast cells has been found in presence of rifampicin plus the serum of our patient: the implications of this finding are discussed, suggesting a possible immunological factor in the pathogenesis of acute renal failure after rifampicin.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Xeroradiographic evaluation of murine osteosarcoma.

Xeroradiography, a method of X-ray imaging based upon selenium photoconductivity, was used for the study of experimental osteosarcoma induced by MSV-M virus in rats. Due to the peculiar features of xeroradiographic image (enhancement of details and lowering of the overall contrast) good pictures of osseous structures together with soft tissues were obtained even in very young animals. Serially perfomred xeroradiographies gave a permanent representation of tumor evolution with time. Advantages and drawbacks of this method are discussed, particularly with respect to radiation dosage. Xeroradiography is proposed for the study of the response to antiblastic chemotherapy of experimental bone tumors.

Animals↗

Ultrasonography of the hand in rheumatoid arthritis.

High resolution ultrasonography of the hand and wrist was performed on 20 patients with definite or probable rheumatoid arthritis (ARA standard criteria) in its early stage. In all the patients, swelling of the soft tissues of the fingers corresponded to an enlargement of the joint capsule containing a hypoechoic exudate. The rheumatoid nodules appeared as fluid-filled rounded cavities with sharp borders. Rheumatoid tenosynovitis was observed in 18/20 patients. This corresponded to oval or spindle-shaped cavities with a hypoechoic (10/18 cases) or anechoic content (8/18 cases) and with the tendon ribbon inside. Rupture of a tendon was diagnosed in 8/20 cases and it was always confirmed at surgery. Tenosynovitis of the flexor carpi ulnaris at the wrist level was observed in 10/20 patients. Ultrasonography is proposed as an effective first-line approach and as a periodical follow-up survey in early stage rheumatoid arthritis, in combination with standard radiography.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

Cholangiographically-enhanced CT of the pancreas and biliary tree.

Cholangiographically-enhanced CT scans were performed on nine patients with biliary obstruction or suspected pancreatic masses. The opacification of the biliary tree was obtained by slow infusion of 25 ml of cholangiographic contrast medium diluted in 75 ml of saline and administered 45 mins before the CT examination. Two separate CT sequences were obtained, one with cholangiographic contrast alone, the other with associated parenchymal enhancement. The tolerability of the overall procedure was very good. The measurement of the HU values of the biliary ducts showed a marked increase in bile density. These structures could easily be appreciated within the liver and in the porta hepatis; the pancreatic head and its relationships with the main bile duct were evident. The densitometric measurement of the liver parenchyma before and after contrast enhancement did not show any variation with respect to the standard HU values. Cholangiographically-enhanced CT proved to be useful for the diagnosis of biliary obstruction; it may also be a promising diagnostic tool for the evaluation of pancreatic masses.

Biliary Tract↗

The osteosarcoma amputation stump: a clinico-radiographical correlation.

The radiological picture of the amputation stump after osteosarcoma was reviewed in 75 cases, in which postoperative follow-up ranged from a minimum four months, to a maximum of over 12 years. In 67/75 cases (89%) no recurrence was observed; in 8/75 cases (11%) a local neoplastic recurrency was confirmed on clinical and histopathological grounds. The usual aspects of late modifications induced by surgery include osteoporosis of the residual bone, which may assume a geographical pattern, with thinning of the stump apex and formation of a periosteal spur directed towards the soft tissues. The typical pattern of locally recurrent osteosarcoma is that of an infiltrating soft tissue mass with bone erosion and irregular flake-like calcifications. All these signs are presented and discussed in order to give a practical guideline to the differential diagnosis between surgery-induced modifications and local neoplastic recurrences.

Adolescent↗

[Radiographic evaluation of the amputation stump in osteosarcoma].

The radiological picture of the amputation stump for osteosarcoma was revised on 57 cases, in which a follow-up after surgery was possible for at least 4 months, with a maximum of over 12 years. In 51/57 cases (89%) no recurrency was observed; in 6/57 cases (11%) a local neoplastic recurrency was confirmed on clinical and histopathological grounds. The usual aspects of late modifications induced by surgery is osteoporosis of the residual bone, which may assume a geographical pattern, with thinning of the stump apex and formation of a periosteal spur directed towards to soft tissues. The typical pattern of the locally recurrent osteosarcoma is that of an infiltrating soft tissue mass with bone erosion and irregular flake-like calcifications. All these signs are evaluated and discussed in order to give a practical guideline to the differential diagnosis between surgery-induced modifications and local neoplastic recurrencies.

Adolescent↗

[Direct radiographic magnification: a contribution to the study of bone pathology].

Direct magnification radiography was evaluated on 46 patients with skeletal disorders. The equipment employed was based on a microfocus tube and it gave a magnification factor of 3 X. This technique was judged to be more useful than standard X-ray films in 35/46 cases (76%). The size of the part examined played an important role in the effectiveness of this technique, since the most useful and impressive results were obtained in thin anatomic sites, like the extremities. The highest value of direct magnification radiography was found to be in uraemic osteodistrophy, in particular for the study of the hands. This technique appeared to be very useful also in bone tumours, since it allowed a detailed evaluation of the trabecular structure and of the cortical outline.

Adolescent↗

[Vascular tumors of somatic soft tissues: a xerographic evaluation].

The xeroradiographic features of 34 soft tissue vascular tumors, either benign and malignant, were retrospectively evaluated and analyzed. The incidence of the main semeiologic landmarks in benign and malignant lesions was submitted to statistical evaluation. Benign vascular tumors (hemangiomas, lymphangiomas and mixed forms) often appear as irregular nodes with granular or worm-like structure due to the dilatation of small vessels. Lymphangiomas may contain also rounded or ovoid opacities due to the presence of lymphatic cysts. Vascular malignancies (angiosarcomas) are always radiopaque masses, with irregular borders and infiltration of the surrounding structures. Xeroradiography is proposed as a first-line technique for the diagnosis of soft tissue vascular tumors, before more complex and expensive procedures, like CT or arteriography, are undertaken.

Adult↗

[Digital orthopantomography with memory phosphorus in the study of periodontal pathology].

Digital images can improve the quality of panoramic radiography also because they can be magnified by the computer in the post-processing phase. In this study, 100 patients with periodontal disease were examined with digital panoramic radiography. The degree of alveolar bone resorption was assessed by measuring the depth of infraosseous pouches. The distance between the amelodental junction and the alveolar ridge was considered abnormal when it exceeded 1-1.5 mm. Our results confirm the high quality of digital panoramic radiographs which were always rich in details and allowed the clear depiction of the alveolar edge. The incidence and depth of infraosseous pouches are higher in older patients (mean distance between the amelodentinal junction and the alveolar ridge > 4 mm in patients over 40). The measurements made on digital panoramic radiographs and on intraoral films were compared and high agreement was observed (+/- 1 mm disagreement in 80% of measurements). In our experience, digital panoramic radiography can be considered a valuable diagnostic alternative to intraoral films to study periodontal disease and to measure bone resorption.

Adult↗

[Ultrasonography assessment of ossification foci of the wrist and pubertal growth spurt].

High-resolution ultrasound (US) of the hand and wrist was compared with radiography in 26 young patients (mean age: 11.4 years) to be submitted to orthodontic therapy. US scans were targeted on the ossification centers critical for the growth spurt, namely the pisiform and adductor sesamoid bones of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb and the cartilage of the distal phalanx of the third finger. All images were retrospectively reviewed on a double-blind basis by two independent observers who gave a conspicuity score to each structure of interest. All the scores were submitted to statistical analysis with the Wilcoxon test. US images clearly demonstrated the initial appearance of the ossification centers of the pisiform and sesamoid bones. These structures appeared as hyperechoic spots causing marked acoustic shadowing. The persistence of the phalangeal cartilage was depicted as a thin rim interrupting the hyperechoic cortical profile of the bone. US results were statistically equivalent to radiographic findings in the pisiform [p (op1) = .3105; p (op2) = .8886] and sesamoid bones of the thumb [p (op1) = .1386; p (op2) = .354]. A statistically significant difference between the two techniques was found in the third finger cartilage (p (op1) = .0277; p (op2) = .0759) because its profile was poorly depicted on some US images. To conclude, wrist US is proposed as a simple and valuable radiation-free support examination for the follow-up of skeletal maturation in adolescents to be submitted to orthodontic therapy.

Adolescent↗