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Biomedical subjects

S Mondini

Publications and source records attributed to S Mondini.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Lexical representation and processing of morphologically complex words: evidence from the reading performance of an Italian agrammatic patient.

The study of patients with acquired language disorders has provided crucial evidence for contemporary theories on mental lexical representation. This is particularly true for the representation of morphologically complex words. In this paper we analyzed the performance of a patient (M.B.) affected by agrammatism and dyslexia. M.B. was required to read aloud simple and morphologically complex words. The patient's pattern of errors was interpreted as the result of a predominant use of the lexical routine (phonological dyslexia). Three reading tasks were developed which allowed us to test M.B.'s ability to read morphologically complex words (reading of regular and irregular plurals; reading of high- and low-frequency singular and plural nouns; reading of evaluative suffixes). Errors were determined by frequency effect rather than by type of suffix (i.e., inflectional or derivational). High-frequency morphologically complex items seemed to meet stored representations, thus avoiding the parsing procedures that are required for less frequent items. These results are in keeping with dual route models of lexical representation of morphologically complex words.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Unreliability of automatic scoring of MESAM 4 in assessing patients with complicated obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Portable devices are used for unattended recording of patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). The MESAM 4 (MAP; Martinsried, Germany) is a computerized ambulatory polysomnographic system that records four parameters: breathing noise, heart rate, arterial oxygen saturation (SaO(2)), and body position. DESIGN AND METHOD: We evaluated the reliability of the oxygen desaturation index (ODI) automatically calculated by the MESAM 4 device in evaluating patients with "complicated" OSAS. These patients present SaO(2) drops due to apneas associated with a fall in baseline SaO(2) during sleep, as occurs in the "overlap syndrome." Ten patients with complicated OSAS underwent nocturnal MESAM 4 recordings, and we compared the visual and automatic scorings of the ODI. RESULTS: The ODI obtained with visual scoring was significantly higher than ODI automatically calculated by the MESAM 4 in all patients. In some patients, this difference was so significant that it could bias clinical judgment of OSAS severity. We demonstrated that the system did not identify those desaturation events that were superimposed on a fall in baseline SaO(2). The error depends on the algorithm by which the device recognizes the desaturation events and calculates the baseline SaO(2). CONCLUSION: Automatic analysis of MESAM 4 recordings may be misleading in evaluating OSAS patients who have a fall in baseline SaO(2) during sleep. In this case, visual scoring performed by a trained polysomnographer is recommended.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Wernicke-korsakoff encephalopathy and polyneuropathy after gastroplasty for morbid obesity: report of a case.

BACKGROUND: Gastric partitioning is a surgical procedure for the treatment of morbid obesity that may engender neurological complications, such as Wernicke encephalopathy and polyneuropathy. SETTING: A specialist hospital. PATIENT: A 36-year-old woman developed Wernicke-Korsakoff encephalopathy and polyneuropathy 3 months after gastroplasty for morbid obesity. A magnetic resonance scan documented the diagnosis, and a clear improvement occurred after parenteral thiamine treatment. In our patient and in previously described cases of the literature, postsurgical vomiting is a constant finding that seems to be the precipitating factor of neurological complications of gastric partitioning. CONCLUSION: Persistent vomiting after gastroplasty for morbid obesity should be considered an alarming symptom to treat immediately with appropriate measures.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

The grammatical properties of mass nouns: an aphasia case study.

A patient (F.A.) is described who, as a consequence of brain damage, shows an isolated deficit concerning the use, across a series of tasks, of the grammatical properties of mass/non-countable nouns. Her use of grammar is otherwise perfect. This behaviour dissociates from that of other patients who have severe grammatical difficulties, but do not show any impairment in the mass nouns tasks that F.A. fails. This case is thought to demonstrate how specific grammatical rules, that are said to be stored at the lemma level of lexical retrieval, are indeed independently represented and accessible.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Central alveolar hypoventilation (Ondine's curse) treated with negative pressure ventilation.

A 22 year old woman with central alveolar hypoventilation (CAH) underwent repeated nocturnal polysomnographic recordings to assess the efficacy of negative pressure ventilation (NPV) administered by pneumowrap. The NPV successfully prevented hypoxia during most of the recording time; however, a sudden severe hypoxic episode not related to an apnoea occurred during a recording night with NPV. This made home use advisable together with an ear oximeter fitted with an alarm.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Generating visual mental images: deficit after brain damage.

This is the first non-retrospective neuropsychological group study using a componential task analysis for the study of imagery. Seventy unilaterally brain damaged patients were tested on a series of tasks with the intent of isolating genuine deficits of the image generation process. The main finding is that the image generation seems to be more frequently disturbed after a left posterior damage. Suggestions are provided for further investigations.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Breathing disorders during sleep in chest wall diseases.

Chest wall deformity due to kyphoscoliosis may present with two altered breathing patterns during sleep; 1) progressive O2 desaturation particularly during REM sleep and 2) central apnoea also during REM sleep but rarely accompanied by O2 desaturation. No typical breathing pattern abnormality is seen in the rigid spine syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Treatment of obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS): effect of weight loss and interference of otorhinolaryngoiatric pathology.

The role of weight loss in the therapy of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) was investigated in 23 affected patients with various degrees of obesity (body mass index range 26.6-61.0) free of cranio-facial malformations. Weight loss resulted 18.5 +/- 14.7 (s.d.) kg and was significantly correlated with baseline BMI value (r = 0.94; P less than 0.0001). Weight loss significantly reduced the number of apneas + hypopneas per hour of sleep ((A + H)I) from 66.5 +/- 23.0 to 33.0 +/- 26.2 (P less than 0.0001) and improved the mean of oxygen desaturation peaks during apneas (mSaO2) from 81.9 +/- 6.9 to 87.6 +/- 3.9; P less than 0.001). A significant correlation was found between weight loss and changes in the (A + H)I (r = -0.55; P less than 0.01) and the mSaO2 (r = 0.46; P less than 0.05). The (A + H)I significantly improved in both patients who lost more than 10 kg (basal BMI: 42.3 +/- 10.0) and in those who lost less than 10 kg (basal BMI: 30.2 +/- 2.3), whereas the mSaO2 improved only in the former. Obese patients with moderate to heavy ORL pathological findings had worse pretreatment and final OSAS parameters than those with absent or mild ORL lesions. However, both groups showed a significant, although quantitatively different, improvement of the (A + H)I and mSaO2 after weight loss. Compared to those who were cured or improved after the treatment, patients who failed to obtain significant effects on OSAS clinical presentation also had a significantly higher prevalence of ORL pathology. It is concluded that: (1) weight loss improves parameters and clinical presentation of OSAS in the majority of affected obese patients; (2) a relationship exists between the entity of weight loss and that of improvement of the syndrome; (3) weight loss must be encouraged even in patients with mild to moderate overweight; (4) the presence of ORL pathology may represent a confusing factor in the interpretation of the results obtained after weight loss.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Cerebral anoxic attacks in sleep apnea syndrome.

In a 52-year-old man who presented with an obstructive sleep apnea (OSAS) syndrome, we observed cerebral anoxic attacks during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Polysomnography showed that the attacks were due to severe hypoxia provoked by apneas lasting up to 220 s. Electroencephalogram (EEG) and clinical features clearly differentiate cerebral anoxic attacks from epileptic seizures. The length of apneas in our patient is very unusual, indicating an impairment of the mechanism terminating apneas. The cause of this impairment is unknown. However, this case report documents a possible pathogenetic mechanism other than heart arrhythmias responsible for sudden death or coma arising during sleep.

Arousal↗
PubMed1988

Zolpidem-polysomnographic study of the effect of a new hypnotic drug in sleep apnea syndrome.

Clinical studies have shown that zolpidem, an original imidazopyridine derivative, induces and maintains sleep and does not have daytime side-effects. Polysomnography has revealed that this drug has several interesting qualities that benzodiazepines do not possess: stages 3-4 increase, stage 2 is unchanged or slightly reduced and no abnormal changes are detected on the EEG tracing. Like benzodiazepines, zolpidem slightly reduces REM sleep. The Multiple Sleep Latency Test confirmed that the drug does not cause daytime drowsiness. All the hypnotic drugs studied up to now worsen heavy snoring and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. A controlled double blind cross-over trial assessed the effects of a single dose of zolpidem 20 mg on nocturnal breathing in patients with mild forms of sleep apnea syndrome. The results indicate that, at this dose, the drug does not overcome the existing contraindications to the use of hypnotics in this syndrome.

Humans↗
PubMed1987

Sleep-related breathing impairment in myotonic dystrophy.

Respiratory failure has been described in myotonic dystrophy; it worsens during sleep but its central or peripheral origin has yet to be determined. Moreover, patients may present severely disturbed sleep and daytime somnolence. Eight patients with mild to moderate myotonic dystrophy were studied to assess breathing function while awake and during sleep by means of the pulmonary function tests, nocturnal polysomnographic examination and the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT). Three patients had restrictive respiratory defects; none had signs of airway obstruction. All patients had very disrupted nocturnal sleep. Of six patients who underwent the MSLT only two showed a mild tendency to sleep during the day. Six patients had pathological apnoea plus hypopnoea index [(A+H)I] and there was a prevalence of central apnoeas. The apnoeas occurred while resting but awake and throughout all sleep stages. Only two patients (the ones with the least vital capacity) had episodes of progressive oxygen desaturation during rapid eye movement sleep, similar to those found in other restrictive disorders and in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is concluded that the breathing pattern characteristic of our myotonic dystrophy patients was the occurrence of central apnoeas both at rest while awake and during sleep.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Writing epilepsy.

Two patients complained of myoclonic jerks precipitated by writing. They had suffered only sporadic seizures triggered by reading. Laboratory assessment demonstrated that typing was the most powerful stimulus in triggering spike-wave discharges associated with myoclonic seizures. Sodium Valproate (20 mg/Kg/die) led to a complete remission of seizures in both cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Respiratory flutter during carbon dioxide rebreathing in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

In order to detect the dysfunction of the upper airway muscles in awake patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), we examined the effect of a chemical stimulus (CO2) on flow-volume loops obtained during tidal breathing. Six flow-volume curves during forced maneuvers and six flow-volume tracings during rebreathing of CO2 were recorded in 20 patients with OSAS. All patients had numerous obstructive apneas (mean apnea index 61 +/- SD 33, percentage of obstructive apneas 76 +/- 29) associated with moderate to severe degrees of arterial oxygen desaturation. Of the 18 patients in whom at least six flow-volume loops could be obtained during CO2 rebreathing, 13 exhibited respiratory flutter (range: grade 1 to 6) during tidal breathing in the flow-volume tracing (RF VtCO2). The greater the degree of RF VtCO2 during wakefulness, the less was the lowest oxygen saturation (LSaO2) during sleep. In fact, all four patients with RF VtCO2 score 6 had LSaO2 below 30%.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Mononucleosis and chronic daytime sleepiness. A long-term follow-up study.

Twelve patients between 14 and 26 years of age, ten with infectious mononucleosis and two with Guillain-Barré syndrome, all of whom were suspected of having had Epstein-Barr viral infection, developed daytime sleepiness. The daytime somnolence was confirmed objectively by polygraphic monitoring seven weeks to 4 1/2 months after the onset of clinical symptoms. The patients have been followed up for three to 12 years. None has had any other neurologic sequelae, but all have disabling daytime sleepiness. Treatment brings only mild relief. A retrospective chart study of 35 patients with infectious mononucleosis did not identify, on the basis of initial clinical symptoms, those patients who developed chronic impairment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Abnormal breathing patterns during sleep in diabetes.

Nineteen diabetic patients, 12 type I (insulin-dependent) and 7 type II (late-onset, non-insulin-dependent), underwent nocturnal polygraphic monitoring after a daytime medical evaluation that included tests of vagal responses and, in 6 patients, pulmonary function and hypercapnic and hypoxic responses. Five lean type I patients had abnormal sleep-related breathing patterns with central or obstructive sleep apnea and brief breathing irregularities during stages 3 to 4 non-rapid-eye-movement sleep, compared with only 1 overweight type II diabetic with moderate obstructive sleep apnea. There was no correlation between daytime ventilatory study findings and abnormal breathing patterns during sleep, but there was a clear relationship between neuropathy and sleep-related breathing abnormalities in type I insulin-dependent diabetics.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Diabetic autonomic dysfunction, blood pressure, and sleep.

We measured serially the blood pressure of 7 normal controls and 11 Type I insulin-dependent and 6 Type II non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients during sleep. All subjects underwent 2 or 3 nights of monitoring during which blood pressure was measured with an arteriosonde, a Doppler-type system with a cuff that automatically inflates every 15 minutes. All 7 normal controls, 3 of 11 Type I, and all 6 Type II diabetic patients had normal results from bedside tests of autonomic function. The Type I patients had abnormal systolic blood pressure measurements throughout the night. Unlike normal controls and Type II diabetics, their blood pressure did not rise progressively in the early morning hours. During rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, their blood pressure measurements were significantly higher and lower than values measured during non-REM sleep, in sharp contrast to those in the other two groups, whose REM sleep-related blood pressure values were slightly above the preceding non-REM sleep measurements.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Sleep-related respiratory disorders.

Neurologists are becoming increasingly aware of the frequency and clinical importance of sleep-related respiratory impairment. Sleep-induced narrowing of the upper airways underlies the widespread and supposedly trivial complaint of snoring, which may not only constitute a risk factor for the cardiocirculatory system, but in predisposed individuals, may lead to a sleep apnea syndrome, with its array of serious disturbances, including hypersomnia, systemic and pulmonary hypertension and ultimately heart failure. Idiopathic chronic alveolar hypoventilation, or Ondine's curse, is a fairly stereotyped clinical syndrome: sleep-related respiratory insufficiency in the absence of airways stenosis. Finally, sleep, and REM sleep in particular, significantly aggravates hypoventilation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), kyphoscoliosis or chest musculoskeletal disorders.

Cardiovascular System↗