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Biomedical subjects

R Rossi

Publications and source records attributed to R Rossi.

At least 613 records · Page 34Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Clinical, multimodal electrophysiological study of a family with progressive cerebellar ataxia and late deafness and an autosomal recessive inheritance].

We described the clinical, electrophysiological (electromyography, sensory and motor nerve conduction study, somatosensory evoked potentials, brainstem auditory evoked potentials, visual evoked potentials) and neuroradiological (brain magnetic resonance) data in 3 siblings (2 males and 1 female, age range: 54-48 years) affected by autosomal recessive late onset cerebellar ataxia. The 3 patients showed at the electrophysiological examination: mild peripheral neuropathy, involvement of somatosensory pathways both on central and peripheral side. A mild cerebellar atrophy, most evident in the female more severely disabled, was found by magnetic resonance.

Atrophy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Urgent management of obstructing colo-rectal cancer: authors' experience].

PURPOSE: The aim of this retrospective study is to compare the different surgical approaches in obstructing colo-rectal cancer in terms of mortality, morbidity and quality of life. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We observed 379 patients with colorectal cancer, 354 of which underwent surgical treatment, 189 M (53.4%) and 165 F (46.6%), with a median age of 72.6 years. Complicated tumors were 150 (42.4%), with 126 obstructions (84%). For 95 obstructing left-sided colorectal cancers we performed: 9 defunctioning colostomies; 62 two-stages operations: 55 Hartmann's procedures, 5 primary anastomosis with colostomy; 2 primary anastomosis with on table wash-out and ileostomy; 24 single-stage operations: 17 primary anastomosis with on table wash-out and 7 colectomy. RESULTS: The overall operative mortality rate was 8.7% (11/126). The overall leak rate was 8% (5/62), 12.9% (4/31) in left colon and 3.2% (1/31) in right colon, all treated conservatively. The wound infection rate was 23.8% (30/126). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Obstructing colo-rectal cancer is associated with a high operative mortality and a worse prognosis. Defunctioning colostomy can be regarded as a valid option only in extreme circumstances. Hartmann's operation has indicated in case of metastatic disease, unsure anastomosis, simultaneous colonic perforation. The gold-standard is primary anastomosis, as colonic resection with on table wash-out or subtotal/total colectomy, in case of largely distended colon or synchronous lesions.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Injection-induced contractures of the quadriceps during childhood.

A total of 8 cases affected with injection-induced contractures of the quadriceps occurring in 7 patients were followed-up at the Division of Pediatric Orthopaedics at the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute. Mean age was 8 years (minimum 5, maximum 9). Surgery involved arthromyolysis according to Judet whether or not associated with distal reconstruction of the quadriceps. Mean follow-up was 9 years (3-17). Mean increase in passive flexion of the knee was 70 degrees, while deficit in active extension was observed in 50% of cases. The clinical aspects indispensable for diagnosis, the therapeutic choices, the surgical method reported in the literature and the results obtained using this method are all discussed.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Altered thiol pattern in plasma of subjects affected by rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease which involves the synovial membrane of multiple diarthroidal joints causing damage to cartilage and bones. The damage process seems to be related to an overproduction of oxygen reactive species inducing an oxidative perturbation. Since sulfhydryl groups are primary antioxidant factors, we were interested in investigating the balance of plasma sulfhydryl/disulfides in patients with active RA compared to healthy control subjects. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with RA and 15 age-matched controls were studied. Plasmatic sulfhydryl groups and their disulfide form concentrations were measured by spectrophotometry or HPLC. RESULTS: RA patients showed significantly lower levels of plasma protein sulfhydryls and cysteinyl-glycine compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). Conversely, cystine and homocystine, and protein-bound cysteine and homocysteine were significantly increased (p < 0.005 in disulfides forms and p < 0.05 in protein mixed disulfides forms). There was a significant correlation between some clinical data (ESR, number of tender/swollen joints) and some of the parameters studied. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate a biochemical disturbance of plasma sulfhydryl/disulfides balance in patients with RA compared to controls with an increase in some oxidised forms (disulfides and protein mixed disulfides) and a decrease in free thiols. The increase in total homocysteine, correlated to the higher risk of cardiovascular diseases in RA patients, is associated with higher levels of the oxidised forms, disulfides and protein-thiol mixed disulfides.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Stiff-skin syndrome.

It is the purpose of this paper to present the case of a patient who came to our observation because of the occurrence of non-elastic hardening of the skin (stone hard skin) and of the subcutaneous tissue that began during early childhood. The parents reported having observed the gradual functional limitation of numerous joints with asymmetrical distribution, more evident in the elbow and the right scapulohumeral joint. There were no signs of involvement of the internal organs; hematologic testing was normal. Described for the first time in 1971 by Esterly nd McKusik and called stiff skin syndrome (SSS), this is a rare genetic alteration characterized by hardening of the skin and subcutaneous tissue associated with gradual joint stiffness and, at times, hirsutism. Generally, there are no modifications in the internal organs or in the musculoskeletal structures; anomalies of the immune system are not described. Modifications are manifested during early childhood causing gradual functional limitation of the hips and knees, with consequent difficulty related to posture and walking. Deficit in the upper limbs is less important. The literature describes about 25 cases with little incidence of familiarity; etiopathogenesis is unknown.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Incidence and complications of the aspiration of gastric contents syndrome during cesarean section in general anesthesia].

Maternal mortality attributed to anaesthesia, decreased in the last twenty years, has in inhalation of gastric contents one of its principal causes. Pregnant women are considered "high risk". In this retrospective investigation we studied 12,380 patients undergoing caesarean section in general anaesthesia between January 1977 and December 1991. During this period of obstetric activity the frequency of aspiration syndrome is 1:1,547 general anaesthesias (0.064%), being the 61.5% of all anaesthetic complications. In the 8 patients we had no maternal and neonatal mortality. Aspiration pneumonitis occurred in three patients. All patients were admitted at our recovery room for less than 5 days. The emergency procedure (8 cases) and a difficult tracheal intubation (4 cases) are the more important risk factors. In our clinical practice we used prevention in few cases (3.1%). Our results suggest the utility in obstetric anaesthesia of high doses of thiopental (5-6 mg/kg); these doses didn't change the principal neonatal parameters, while give in pregnant woman a light anaesthesia.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Chronic pediatric pathology and sports].

The authors review several chronic diseases in the pediatric age often improperly considered by parents, but sometimes also by the family physician, as inadvisable physical activity for the affected children. They then outline the latest pediatric knowledge and that of sport medicine indicating for each pathology the sport most indicated, those to avoid and the various ways to approach physical activity.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A case of Merkel carcinoma with facial localization].

A case of Merkel carcinoma is reported. It concerns a 40-year-old lady, who had first noticed the lesion one year before she came to our observation. The authors point out the rarity of this tumour, whose not distinctive gross appearance (firm, sessile tumour with well circumscribed margins; hyperhemic overlaying skin; slowly increasing volume) may suggest other macroscopic diagnoses such as intradermal nevus or nodular basalioma. The authors also point out the usefulness of a prompt correct clinical diagnosis of this lesion, whose clinical behaviour may be highly aggressive.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The empty sella syndrome. Clinical, radiological and endocrinologic analysis in 20 cases].

Empty sella syndrome is an anatomical entity in which the pituitary fossa is enlarged and partially filled with cerebrospinal fluid owing to the arachnoid herniation, while the pituitary gland is compressed against the posterior rim of the fossa. This condition can be due to an inherent weakness of the diaphragm sella and/or to an increase in intracranial pressure which promote the herniation of the arachnoid membrane into the pituitary fossa (primary empty sella) or it can results following surgery, radiation or vascular and tumorous pituitary diseases (secondary empty sella). Empty sella can be associated with neuroradiological and endocrine symptoms. This study reports the clinical, endocrine, and roentgenographic features in 20 patients with primary empty sella syndrome. Disturbances of hypothalamic-pituitary function were detected in 6 patients (hyperprolactinemia, hypopituitarism, central diabetes insipidus, hypothalamic hypothyroidism). Three patients exhibited hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. This report supports the following conclusions: a) there is no correlation between size of pituitary fossa, type an extension of arachnoid herniation and the degree of hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction; b) endocrine alterations are frequent in the empty sella syndrome; c) the association of empty sella and primary diabetes insipidus is not a very rare event.

Adolescent↗