Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Gherardi

Publications and source records attributed to S Gherardi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Lightwand intubation using the Trachlight: a brief review of current knowledge.

PURPOSE: About 1% to 3% of laryngoscopic intubations can be difficult or impossible. Light-guided intubation has been proven to be an effective, safe, and simple technique. This article reviews current knowledge about the newer version lightwand: the Trachlight (TL). SOURCE: To determine its clinical utility and limitations, we reviewed the current literature (book and journal articles) on the TL since its introduction in 1995. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: TL has been shown to be useful both in oral and nasal intubation for patients with difficult airways. It may also be useful in "emergency" situations or when direct laryngoscopy or fiberoptic endoscopy is not effective, such as with patients who have copious secretions or blood in the oropharynx. TL can also be used for tracheal intubation in conjunction with other devices (laryngeal mask airway -LMA-, intubating LMA, direct laryngoscopy). However, TL should be avoided in patients with tumours, infections, trauma or foreign bodies in the upper airway. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the clinical reports available, the TL has proven to be a useful option for tracheal intubation. In addition, the device can also be used together with other intubating devices, such as the intubating LMA and the laryngoscope, to improve intubating success rates. A clear understanding of the principle of transillumination of the TL, and an appreciation of its indications, contraindications, and limitations, will improve the effectiveness of the device as well as reducing the likelihood of complications. Finally, regular practice with the TL with routine surgical patients requiring tracheal intubation will further improve intubation success rates.

Anesthesia, Inhalation↗
PubMed1999

Pulse oximetry with the laryngeal mask airway.

This study evaluated the accuracy of pulse oximetry measured by a modified laryngeal mask airway (LMA). Ten anaesthetized patients (ASA I-II, aged 18-45) undergoing elective knee arthroscopies (mean-duration 40 min) were studied. A transmission pulse oximeter probe/sound OHMEDA was attached on the back of LMA (sizes 4 and 5) in an area in contact with the floor of the laryngeal part of the pharynx. Pharyngeal pulse oximetry as well as LMA cuff pressure were monitored and recorded every 5 min from the time of insertion (T0) to removal (T8) and were compared to simultaneous finger pulse oximeter readings. At T2 the cuff was over-inflated to obtain a 100 cm H2O intracuff pressure. At T3 the cuff pressure was decreased at 60 cm H2O. Pharyngeal pulse oximetry correlated with finger pulse oximetry throughout the study and was not effected by over-inflation of the LMA. This modification of the LMA provides an accurate method of measuring pulse oximetry which may be of use in a variety of circumstances.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Use of ion chromatography for monitoring microbial spoilage in the fruit juice industry.

Fruit juices and purees are defined as fermentable, but unfermented, products obtained by mechanical processing of fresh fruits. The presence of undesired metabolites derived from microbial growth can arise from the use of unsuitable fruit or from defects in the production line or subsequent contamination. This involves a loss in the overall quality that cannot be resolved by thermal treatment following the start of fermentation. With these considerations, together with microbiological control, the analysis of different metabolites, which can be considered as microbial growth markers, such as alcohols (i.e. ethanol, etc.), acids (i.e. acetic, fumaric, lactic, etc.) is fundamental in order to achieve a better evaluation of product quality. Enzymatic determination and other single-component analytical techniques are often used for the determination of these metabolites. When the microbial spoilage is not well known, this results in a long and cumbersome procedure. A versatile technique that is capable of determining many metabolites in one analysis could be helpful in improving routine quality control. For this purpose, an ion chromatographic technique, such as ion exclusion, for separation, and diode array spectrophotometry and conductivity, for detection, were evaluated. Both different industrial samples and inoculated samples were analyzed.

Acetic Acid↗
PubMed1996

DSM-III mental disorders in general medical sector: predictors of outcome.

In 1987, a multicentric research was carried out in Emilia-Romagna, an administrative area in northern Italy. Nine hundred and forty one people in the general medical sector were contacted to enter a two-stage procedure to identify DSM-III cases. Cases were recontacted for 3-month, 1-year and 2-year follow-ups. Eighty cases completing at least the one-year follow-up were analysed. The sample was split into "still-cases" and "no longer-cases" depending on the persistence of a DSM-III diagnosis at the last follow-up. Both clinical and social features proved to be predictors of the outcome. A disorder lasting one year or longer, past recurrences, Axis I comorbidity, older age, being married and having children were the features which at the first assessment predicted an unfavourable outcome. Having children and past episodes proved to be the best predictors of remaining a case in a stratified logistic regression model. The persistence of major difficulties during the follow-up period was also correlated to a "still-case" status.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

DSM-III mental disorders in general medical sector: a follow-up and incidence study over a two-year period.

In three general medical settings (general practice, hospital medical wards and emergency rooms) about 20% of the adult attenders had a DSM-III mental disorder, mainly in the area of affective and anxious disorders. Some of these disorders were quite severe. Of those cases reassessed 1 year and 2 years after the first interview, less than a quarter reached a "no-diagnosis status". The chronicity of most cases dependent on the interplay not only of either relapse or duration of the main disorder but also of comorbidity and incidence of new disorders. A high incidence of more transient disorders in subjects who were well at first assessment was also found.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Isolated HLA-B27 associated Achilles tendinitis.

The case of a 37 year old man with a longstanding HLA-B27 associated bilateral Achilles tendinitis without seronegative spondyloarthropathy is reported. This case suggests that heel enthesopathy may for a long time be the only clinical manifestation of the HLA-B27 associated disease process.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMed1986

A double-blind controlled study to compare the efficacy of an antacid plus oxethazaine with that of an antacid alone in the treatment of pain due to gastric or duodenal ulceration.

A double-blind study was carried out in 40 patients with typical ulcer pain and suffering from gastric or duodenal ulcer to compare the pain-relieving efficacy of oxethazaine/magnesium and aluminium hydroxide mixture with that of the antacid combination alone. Patients took 8 ml doses of either treatment when necessary over a period of 4 weeks. Both treatment regimens were equally effective in reducing the painful symptoms of peptic ulceration, but the total volume of medication required to achieve adequate symptomatic relief was less in patients taking antacid plus oxethazaine than in patients taking antacid alone. It is suggested that the combination of oxethazaine plus antacids, therefore, is to be preferred, because, by allowing a reduction in the intake of antacid, the risk of side-effects due to antacid therapy is thereby reduced.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Double-blind evaluation of the safety and hypnotic efficacy of lormetazepam in general practice.

The efficacy and safety of lormetazepam (LMZ) and placebo were compared in 30 patients with sleep difficulties who were treated by general practitioners. During the three weeks of the study, each patient received placebo during either the first or last week and 1 mg/night of LMZ during the other two weeks. Neither patients nor physicians knew which week's medication was active drug and which was placebo. Twenty-three of the 30 patients completed the three-week trial. Both the quantity and the quality of sleep were significantly better during the weeks patients were given LMZ than during the week they used placebo. Physicians also rated the hypnotic performance as significantly better than that of placebo. Adverse reactions were evenly distributed among the LMZ and placebo treatment periods and were usually minor. Vital signs and laboratory values were unchanged during either treatment period. It is thus concluded that LMZ is a safe and effective hypnotic for use in general practice.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Indoramin as second step therapy in the management of benign essential hypertension.

An open study was carried out to assess the efficacy of indoramin used as second step therapy in 30 patients with moderate to severe hypertension who had failed to respond adequately to monotherapy with a thiazide or beta-blocker. After a 1-week washout period, patients started treatment with 25 mg indoramin twice daily plus hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg twice daily) or propranolol (40 mg once daily). Indoramin dosage was subsequently adjusted in 25 mg steps (to maximum 150 mg daily), if necessary, at follow-up control visits every 14 days. Analysis of the results from the 22 patients who completed the 75-day study period showed that there were progressive, statistically significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (supine and erect) to clinically acceptable levels. Heart rate also decreased significantly and this was more evident in the 7 patients treated with the combination of indoramin, thiazide plus beta-blocker. No patient had orthostatic hypotension and few side-effects were reported, although 7 patients withdrew for this reason.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1980

[Vectorcardiographic evolution after a valve replacement operation].

The vectorcardiograms of 35 patients with valvular heart disease were recorded before and after prosthetic valve replacement. The spatial magnitude of the 40 msec and maximum QRS vectors were decreased postoperatively in patients with mitral insufficiency aortic stenosis and aortic insufficiency. 9 patients were studied postoperatively by right heart catheterization.

Cardiac Catheterization↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Steady-state pharmacokinetics of idebenone in healthy volunteers.

An open study was conducted with 12 healthy male Caucasian volunteers to determine the single dose and steady-state pharmacokinetics in plasma after a total daily dose of 90 mg of idebenone administered as 45 mg twice daily for 10 consecutive days. In the dose regimen investigated, multiple daily doses of 90 mg of idebenone were well tolerated by healthy male volunteers and were not associated with any clinically relevant changes in ECG or clinical laboratory parameters. The results of the physical examinations after study termination revealed normal findings in all volunteers. To evaluate the single dose and steady-state pharmacokinetic profile, blood samples were collected at predetermined time points during the study. In those subjects examined, generally good systemic exposure with rapid absorption of idebenone was obtained throughout the entire dosing period. Exposures to idebenone and its metabolites after both single and repeated oral doses of idebenone were comparable in magnitude. Further, the exposures attained were generally consistent with those observed in a previous study after 30 mg three times daily. All pharmacokinetic assessments were associated with a low to moderate degree of inter-subject variability.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Portal hypertension and enterostomy: a dangerous combination. Colostomy-induced varices as a rare cause of gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Report of a case and review of the literature].

Variceal bleeding from enterostomy in an unusual complication of portal hypertension. The hemorrhage can be managed in most patients with local measures, but if these manouvres fail, surgical procedures may be required. Treatment options include pressure dressings, stomal revision or disconnection, suture or ligation of stomal varices, bowel resection, and porto-systemic shunting. Recently sclerotherapy and percutaneous transhepatic embolization have been reported. A case of ectopic varices in the site of colostomy complicated by recurrent hemorrhage is described and the therapeutic option utilized is discussed with review of Literature to assess the efficacy of the various treatment options.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A pharmacological study of the cardiovascular effects of TRH-T in haemorrhagic shock in rats.

An extremely severe hypovolemic shock was produced in urethane-anesthetized rats by massive bleeding. In such preterminal conditions (mean arterial pressure = 19-25 mmHg; pulse pressure = 10-18 mmHg; death of all saline-treated animals in 26.16 +/- 3.18 min) the i.v. injection of protirelin tartrate (TRH-T) within 5 min after shock induction promptly and dose-dependently improved arterial pressure, pulse pressure and respiration, the dose of 4 mg/kg ensuring survival for 402.01 +/- 39.45 min without the need for the restoration of blood volume. The injection of TRH-T 20 min after shock induction, on the other hand, was ineffective. The concurrent administration of morphine (2.5 mg/kg i.v.) partially antagonized the effect of TRH-T; however, if the dose of the peptide was increased, its effect was restored. The effect of TRH-T in haemorrhagic shock was associated with a significant increase in the volume of residual circulating blood. The present data (i) confirm that TRH-T improves cardiovascular function and greatly prolongs survival in an otherwise irreversible model of haemorrhagic shock; (ii) show that this effect is associated with mobilization of residual blood and that respiratory function is greatly improved as well; (iii) indicate that the anti-shock effect of TRH-T is partially antagonized by morphine in a surmountable way. Finally, on the basis of our results, it appears that TRH-T has to be given rapidly after shock induction to be effective.

Animals↗