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Biomedical subjects

S Mancini

Publications and source records attributed to S Mancini.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

[Endoscopic laser therapy in the palliative treatment of cancer of the esophagus].

Frequently when dysphagia first becomes manifest, esophageal carcinoma is already unresectable. Endoscopic laser therapy is a recently introduced method which can be used for the palliative treatment of esophageal cancer. By using the method the tumour is destroyed and the esophagus is recanalized, there is low incidence of complications, and the patient can be fed naturally thus improving quality of life. The method has been perfected over the past years and now offers excellent results.

Esophageal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1992

Double-blind randomized phase I study on the clinical tolerance and biological effects of natural and recombinant interferon-beta.

The clinical tolerance of and the effects recombinant human interferon-beta (rHuIFN-beta) obtained from mammalian cells (Chinese hamster ovary cells) exerts on 2',5'-oligoadenyl (2-5A) synthetase activity, human-Mx protein, neopterin, beta 2-microglobulin, interleukin-1 (IL-1) alpha and beta synthesis were compared to those of natural IFN-beta in 12 healthy volunteers. Each subject received a single i.m. injection of 6 x 10(6) IU rHuIFN-beta and natural IFN-beta according to a randomized double-blind cross-over study design. Both were well tolerated and provoked similar changes in clinical indices. Moreover, rHuIFN-beta and natural IFN-beta induced significant and similar increases in 2'-5' adenylates, human Mx protein, and neopterin levels, but neither modulated beta 2-microglobulin, IL-1 alpha or beta synthesis. The sum of these findings indicates that rHuIFN-beta and natural IFN-beta are biologically equivalent. In view of these results, we are of the opinion that these two types of IFN are probably also therapeutically equivalent and, in consequence, that trials to evaluate the response of viral and neoplastic disease patients to rHuIFN-beta are fully justified.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗
PubMed1992

Automated measurement of red blood cell microcytosis and hypochromia in iron deficiency and beta-thalassemia trait.

Some routine red blood cell (RBC) measurements and indexes (count, mean volume, volume dispersion, and mean hemoglobin [HGB] concentration) can be used to differentiate iron deficiency from heterozygous beta-thalassemia. A number of formulas that incorporate two or more of these measurements have been described to amplify such differences. The H*1 hematology analyzer directly measures volume and HGB concentration of individual RBCs. We have assessed the diagnostic usefulness of conventional and new RBC measurements provided by the H*1 on a learning data set that comprised 119 patients with iron deficiency and 172 patients with beta-thalassemia trait, both untreated and uncomplicated. The most striking finding was the inverse behavior of percentages of microcytes (volume, less than 60 fL) and hypochromic RBCs (HGB concentration, less than 280 g/L) in the two conditions. In 162 of 172 patients with beta-thalassemia trait, the percentage of microcytes (mean, 33.1%; central 95th percentile range, 9.2% to 54.5%) was higher than the percentage of hypochromic RBCs (mean, 13.9%; central 95th percentile range, 1.7% to 24.7%). In 105 of 119 patients with iron deficiency, on the contrary, the percentage of hypochromic cells (mean, 34.6%; central 95th percentile range, 9.7% to 73.1%) was higher than the percentage of microcytes (mean, 12.8%; central 95th percentile range, 1.7% to 29.6%). The ratio between the percentage of microcytes and the percentage of hypochromic cells provided by the H*1 (microcytic-hypochromic ratio) was useful in differentiating the two types of microcytic anemia: with the use of a discriminant value of 0.9, the discriminant efficiency of the microcytic-hypochromic ratio was 92.4% (95% confidence interval, 88.8% to 95.2%), higher than that of the five previously described discriminant formulas and simple RBC measurements. When assessed on a test data set that comprised 149 unselected cases of microcytic anemia, a microcytic-hypochromic ratio lower than 0.9 demonstrated high sensitivity (94.0%), specificity (92.3%), and predictive value (94.0%) for the presence of iron-deficient erythropoiesis in patients with isolated iron deficiency, polycythemia vera treated by phlebotomy, and iron deficiency complicating heterozygous thalassemia. In conclusion, our results showed that iron-deficient erythropoiesis is characterized by the production of RBCs with a severely decreased HGB concentration, while microcytes of beta-thalassemia trait are generally smaller, with a more preserved HGB concentration. Such properties, as assessed by the H*1 hematology analyzer, are very useful in distinguishing these two common types of microcytic anemia.

Anemia, Hypochromic↗
PubMed1991

[Blocking antibodies during specific hyposensitization immunotherapy in respiratory allergies in children].

A group of 35 children affected by bronchial asthma, rhinitis and/or allergic conjunctivitis was examined; the children selected for the study had never undergone ITS before; all patients had received preventive drug and nondrug therapy for several months but none had succeeded in significantly reducing allergic clinical symptoms. Subcutaneous ITS Lofarma was prescribed for all patients (for various allergens) and blocking antibodies (IgG1 + IgG4) were assayed using a RAST system (Kit-Pharmacia) before the start of the study, and after 3, 9 and 12 months of therapy; 25 nonatopic children represented the control group. Although a certain number of allergen-specific blocking antibodies were present in all patients before the start of ITS, a significant increase in IgG1 + IgG4 specific allergens was observed after 9 months (especially for pollenosis). Compatible results were also obtained for blocking antibodies for children affected by dermatophagoides following 12 months of ITS. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the extent of the appearance of blocking antibodies in the circulation following ITS and to discover whether or not there was a correlation between their increased titre and improvement of the disease assessed by the use of clinical scores.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Gastric and duodenal villous tumor: new diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities].

With reference to recent data reported in the literature, the authors stress the importance of new techniques for the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal villous adenoma. This is a comparatively infrequent tumor which usually occurs in adults above the age of 50 and has no familial incidence. The tumor is apt to evolve towards malignancy. Radiology, and more recently endoscopy permit to ascertain the diagnosis. Endoscopic resection is the treatment of choice while surgical ablation is indicated in sessile or extensive forms.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1990

Evolution of neuropsychological changes after partial callosotomy in intractable epilepsy.

Early neuropsychological changes following partial anterior callosotomy were evaluated in 15 patients with epilepsy (10 secondary generalized and 5 Lennox-Gastaut syndromes) by comparing their performances 1 month before surgery and then 15-20 and 90-100 days postoperatively without modifying the anticonvulsant treatment. The following neuropsychological and motor functions were tested: memory, attention, visuo-motor ability, posture, motor dexterity, language, praxis and gnosis. Social behaviour was also investigated. The main results are as follows: (i) most cognitive functions showed no significant variation; (ii) motor organization was still slightly impaired at the second check-up after the surgery; (iii) improvements in social behaviour and posture were frequently observed at the final evaluation. The analysis of individual cases highlights the influence of the extent of commissurotomy, lesions related to the surgical procedure and preoperative brain damage in determining the post-surgical profile. On this basis, the short-term neuropsychological cost of partial callosotomy appears to be low and seems to depend mostly on surgical parameters and brain conditions before the operation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Spleen autotransplant. Natural history and description of a case].

After considering the natural history of spleen auto-transplant, a clinical case followed up for seven months with instrumental (echography, scintigraphy) and humoral (Jolly bodies, Heinz bodies, reticulocytes, platelets, complement, immune globulin) examinations has been considered so as to verify "take" and function. One months after reimplantation the patient was again operated on for the onset of an intestinal occlusion due to adherences. On that occasion it was possible to control that the implant had taken. It is concluded that personally used parameters proved to be well correlated and that scintigraphy and echography are two complementary, effective techniques for monitoring auto-transplants.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Tubercular enteral fistulas].

Personal experience in the treatment of two cases of postoperative tubercular enterocutaneous fistula is reported. This complication of abdominal tuberculosis is rather rare and may be a consequence of tubercular enteritis or of an extraintestinal localisation.

Cecal Diseases↗
PubMed1989

Arterial blood supply of the mesocolic areas. An anatomical and radiological study.

The authors report on first observations on the vascularization of the areae mesocolicae which resulted from radioanatomical studies made in collaboration with the Institute of General Clinical Surgery of the University of Siena. Three areae can be distinguished: colocolica (Treitz), sigmoidea or intersigmoidea, and intercolica. The investigations were carried out using selective preoperative angiography and the injection of anatomical preparations.

Angiography↗
PubMed1989

[Infections caused by central venous catheter used in surgery].

The central venous catheters, now usually adopted in surgical patients, present some potential septic risks, and the longer the catheter is in place, the more dangerous it is. The authors report their experience on 130 central venous catheters, out of which 96 were used for TPN administration and 34 for monitoring purposes. The catheters were introduced through subclavian, internal jugular or basilic veins, in accordance with a standardized technique. The observed infection percentage, caused by the catheters, was 7.7%; the infection was easily controlled by the catheter removal and a proper antibiotic therapy. The only death, surely due to sepsis, was caused by Candida fungus in an immunosuppressed female patient. Therefore the authors stress the importance to prevent septic complications in order to avoid fatal ones.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1989

[Clinical trial in a child population with bronchial asthma].

A review of 104 children affected with respiratory tract allergies and or rhinoconjunctivitis in hyposensitizing therapy against gramineae pollens or moulds or house dust or Mix dermatophagoides is presented. Clinical evaluations were carried out in order to evaluate the clinical improvement after 1 year and after 4 years therapy (TIS). The best results were detected after 4 years obviously and in some allergic diseases more improvement were found from the authors. The most important results were obtained in bronchial asthma; the worse benefits were detected in allergic conjunctivitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Functions of the corpus callosum: observations from callosotomy performed for intractable epilepsy.

The effects of complete and partial corpus callosotomy in 6 patients are reported. Only the 2 cases undergoing total callosotomy showed evidence of impaired interhemispheric sensory transfer, related to sectioning of the splenium. Only mild long-lasting neuropsychological deficits were detected. Post-commissurotomy mutism and akinesia appeared in 4 cases, 2 with total, and 2 with partial anterior callosotomy. The short-and long-term effects of corpus callosotomy appear to be related to the extent of the section the creation of lesions during the surgical procedure, and a peculiar organization of cognitive functions in chronic epileptic patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Neuropsychological changes after callosotomy in drug-resistant epilepsy: a study of the short-term evolution.

With the increasing interest in callosotomy as treatment for intractable epilepsy, it seems to be important to define the neuropsychological consequences of the related surgical operation. 8 patients suffering from drug-resistant seizures underwent section of the corpus callosum, 6 in the anterior part only and 2 undergoing complete two-stage commissurotomy including the posterior part. Before the callosotomy the patients were studied using a cognitive, affective and behavioural battery which was repeated 15 and 90-100 days after the operation. The patients with sufficient I.Q. were described in more detail using the cognitive parameters; the social and motor behaviour of Lennox-Gastaut subjects are accurately reported. No disconnection syndrome was ever observed after the partial commissurotomy while it occurred in one of the two complete callosotomies. The patients showed longer reaction times and a mild impairment of linguistic, praxic, memory and motor functions in the former evaluation (15 days), but there was consistent improvement in the latter check up. At the 90-100 day follow-up the Lennox-Gastaut patients responded more readily to the environmental stimulations and their postural, motor and behavioural functions were unchanged or improved, with respect to presurgical performances. The social and emotional behaviour of all the patients had always improved by the time the long-term evaluation (90 days) was performed. Finally, by limiting the callosotomy to the anterior part only, the neurological and psychological consequences seem to be limited.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗