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At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Interictal and ictal phase study with Tc 99m HMPAO brain SPECT in juvenile migraine with aura.

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was performed on 30 juvenile patients suffering from different types of migraine with aura. SPECT was carried out only during the pain-free interval in 11 patients. The other 19 patients underwent SPECT ictally and 9 of them also interictally. During the pain-free interval, the investigation was normal in 16 of 20 cases and revealed hypoperfused areas in 4 of 20 cases. Ictally, regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) abnormalities were found in 14 of 19 cases; hypoperfusion in 11 patients and hyperperfusion in 3 patients. In most cases, rCBF abnormalities corresponded to the topography of neurologic symptoms. Our interictal period results do not agree with the previous studies in juvenile migraineurs, while during the ictal phase we demonstrated, for the first time, significant rCBF abnormalities in juvenile patients suffering from migraine with aura.

Adolescent↗

Computed tomographic colonography without cathartic preparation for the detection of colorectal polyps.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We prospectively compared the performance of low-dose multidetector computed tomographic colonography (CTC) without cathartic preparation with that of colonoscopy for the detection of colorectal polyps. METHODS: A total of 203 patients underwent low-dose CTC without cathartic preparation followed by colonoscopy. Before CTC, fecal tagging was achieved by adding diatrizoate meglumine and diatrizoate sodium to regular meals. No subtraction of tagged feces was performed. Colonoscopy was performed 3-7 days after CTC. Three readers interpreted the CTC examinations separately and independently using a primary 2-dimensional approach using multiplanar reconstructions and 3-dimensional images for further characterization. Colonoscopy with segmental unblinding was used as reference standard. The sensitivity of CTC was calculated both on a per-polyp and a per-patient basis. For the latter, specificity, positive predictive values, and negative predictive values were also calculated. RESULTS: CTC had an average sensitivity of 95.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 92.1%-99%) for the identification of colorectal polyps > or =8 mm. With regard to per-patient analysis, CTC yielded an average sensitivity of 89.9% (95% CI, 86%-93.7%), an average specificity of 92.2% (95% CI, 89.5%-94.9%), an average positive predictive value of 88% (95% CI, 83.3%-91.5%), and an average negative predictive value of 93.5% (95% CI, 90.9%-96%). Interobserver agreement was high on a per-polyp basis (kappa statistic range, .61-.74) and high to excellent on a per-patient basis (kappa statistic range, .79-.91). CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose multidetector CTC without cathartic preparation compares favorably with colonoscopy for the detection of colorectal polyps.

Adult↗

A comparison of transhiatal and transthoracic resection for oesophageal carcinoma.

We compared the results of 327 transthoracic (TT) resections and 82 transhiatal (TH) resections for carcinoma of the oesophagus operated on between July 1982 and June 1991. Significantly more patients with carcinoma of the lower third of the oesophagus (54% versus 28%) and with increased pulmonary risks for surgery (61% versus 22%) were selected for the TH approach as compared with the TT approach. Results showed comparable intraoperative complications between the two groups. 5% of patients in the TH group required a thoracotomy for control of haemorrhage (3 patients) and repair of bronchial tear (1 patient) which occurred during the transmediastinal dissection. Postoperatively, mechanical ventilation requirement and complications involving the cardio-pulmonary systems were similar between the two groups. Anastomotic leakage occurred in 3% and 4%, respectively for the TH and TT patients (p = NS), whereas hoarseness occurred in 16% and 5%, respectively (p = 0.001). The 30-day mortality rates and hospital mortality rates were comparable between the two groups as were the overall survival rates. Our results suggested that while TH resection did not diminish the operative morbidity and mortality rates overall, it is appropriate for patients with increased pulmonary risks to be preferentially selected for this approach, and for tumours located in the upper and lower portion of the thoracic oesophagus where dissection of the tumour can be carried out mostly under vision.

Aged↗

Exaggerated glucagon secretion in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects with surgical porto-caval anastomosis.

Pancreatic glucagon (IRG) levels in the postabsorptive (fasting) state and in response to arginine test (ATT), have been investigated in 17 subjects with porto-caval anastomosis (PCA). Out of these, seven subjects were insulin-treated diabetics, 5 were untreated diabetics, and 5 had no evidence of clinical diabetes. Basal and stimulated IRG values in the overall group of PCA subjects were significantly increased in comparison to 14 normal controls. No significant difference was found between the three groups of patients in respect to IRG values. The mean fasting IRG levels, grouped in relation to the age of shunt, were significantly raised six months after surgery. In addition no significant difference in IRG values (fasting or stimulated) was observed in relation to the entity of the liver disease (child degree) or to the type of surgical shunt. Finally, when PCA patients with or without encephalopathy were considered, fasting and peak IRG values were significantly increased in those patients with encephalopathy.

Arginine↗

Diagnosis of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome: the role of duplex scanning.

The authors present a new diagnostic procedure to quickly and noninvasively diagnose the popliteal artery entrapment syndrome. A large personal experience on the surgical treatment of such a disease (29 cases in 22 patients) allowed us to focus on the optimal diagnostic procedure useful to detect this problem at an early stage. The technique is based on continuous-wave Doppler and duplex scanning studies done both in the resting state and during active contraction of the calf muscles. If compression of the popliteal artery occurs with contraction of the calf muscles, it will be detected by a decrease in flow. This finding will also direct the radiologist to obtain films when the maneuver is repeated. This makes it unlikely that the diagnosis will be missed. Since July 1988 a total of 1212 patients were evaluated with continuous-wave Doppler for suspected chronic ischemia. From this group 41 patients were selected to be studied again with the combined continuous-wave Doppler and duplex scanning method for possible popliteal artery entrapment syndrome. Two cases were discovered and verified by dynamic angiography guided by continuous-wave Doppler and treated surgically.

Adult↗

Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava: analysis and search of world literature on 141 patients and report of three new cases.

Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava is a rare and potentially curable tumor. Uncertainty about the results of treatment derives from lack of a large series in the same center and of a long-term follow-up of the published cases. A review of the world literature from 1871 to 1989 allowed us to collect information on 141 patients with inferior vena cava leiomyosarcoma to which our three cases have to be added. The tumor arose from the lower segment of the inferior vena cava (infrarenal portion) in 49 patients, from the middle segment (from the renal veins to the hepatic veins) in 59, and from the upper segment (from the hepatic veins to the right atrium) in 34 patients. Complete clinical, pathologic, and therapeutic data and up-to-date follow-up have been obtained through personal correspondence with several authors. All data have been examined with both univariate and multivariate analyses as predictive factors for outcome. Variables, associated with an increased risk of death from disease, included the involvement of inferior vena cava upper segment and a high-grade tumor. Patients who underwent a radical resection of the tumor (82 patients, 56.9%) had a significantly better survival (27.9% and 14.2%, 5- and 10-year survival rates, respectively). Of these patients, those with tumor of the inferior vena cava middle segment fared better than those with lower segment tumor (5- and 10-year survival rates were 48.3% and 34.4%, respectively, for middle segment tumor and 9.3% and 0.0% for lower segment tumor). Variables associated with a good outcome and longer survival were the presence of abdominal pain and the absence of a palpable abdominal mass. Despite the high rate of recurrence (52.4% of patients undergoing radical operation; median time, 25 months), radical resection of inferior vena cava leiomyosarcoma is the only chance for a long-term cure. An earlier and more accurate preoperative diagnosis, by means of modern diagnostic techniques (echography, CT scanning, magnetic resonance imaging) will allow a higher rate of radical resection to be performed with an increase in patient survival.

Adult↗

Reactivity of ubiquinones and ubiquinols with free radicals.

The reactivity of quinones 1-4 and of the corresponding quinols 5-8 towards carbon- and oxygen-centred radicals were studied. All quinones bearing at least one nuclear position free, readily react with alkyl and phenyl radicals to afford the alkylated quinones 12-24; however, quinones 1 and 3 reacted with 2-cyano-2-propyl radical to yield products (the mono- and di-ethers 9-11) derived from the attack on the carbonylic oxygen. The reactions carried out on quinones with the benzoyloxy radical led to no reaction products and in the case of Q10, the isoprenic chain also remained unchanged. Quinols 5-8 reacted only with oxygen-centred radicals (benzoyloxy and 2-cyano-2-propyl-peroxy radicals) to give the corresponding quinones. The isoprenic chain of Q10 did not undergo attack even with peroxy radicals. Carbon-centred radicals resulted unable to abstract hydrogen from the studied quinols.

Free Radicals↗

Reactivity of an indolinonic aminoxyl with superoxide anion and hydroxyl radicals.

The increasing knowledge on the participation of free radicals in many diverse clinical and pathological conditions, has consequently expanded the search for new and versatile antioxidants aimed at combating oxidative stress. Our interest in this field concerns aromatic indolinonic aminoxyls (nitroxides) which efficiently react with alkoxyl, peroxyl, aminyl, arylthiyl and alkyl radicals to give non-paramagnetic species. This prompted us to test their antioxidant activity on different biological systems exposed to free radical-induced oxidative stress and the results obtained so far have been very promising. However little is known about their behaviour towards superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. Here, we report on the reactivity of an indolinonic aminoxyl, with the two above mentioned radicals using hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase and potassium superoxide for generating the former and the Fenton reagent for the latter. Besides performing the deoxyribose assay for studying the reaction of the aminoxyl with hydroxyl radical and monitoring spectral changes of the aminoxyl in the presence of superoxide radical, macroscale reactions were performed in both cases and the products of the reactions isolated and identified. The EPR technique was used in this study to help elucidate the data obtained. The results show that this compound efficiently reacts with both hydroxyl and superoxide radicals and furthermore, it is capable of maintaining iron ions in its oxidized form. The results thus contribute to increasing the knowledge on the reactivity of indolinonic aminoxyls towards free radical species and as a consequence, these compounds and/or other aminoxyl derivatives, may be considered as complementary, and sometimes alternative sources for combating oxidative damage.

Cyclic N-Oxides↗

Basic fibroblast growth factor and myointimal hyperplasia after experimental polytetrafluoroethylene arterial grafting.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of polyclonal antibodies to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in inhibiting myointimal hyperplasia after insertion of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts in rats. DESIGN: Experimental study. SETTING: University laboratory, Italy. ANIMALS: 24 inbred Lewis rats. INTERVENTIONS: A segment of PTFE I cm long was interposed in the abdominal aorta. The animals were randomised in two groups, n = 12 in each. The first were given polyclonal antibodies to bFGF at the time of operation, and for the first two postoperative days; and the second were given non-specific IgG at the same time periods. MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES: Two animals died during the immediate postoperative period of anaesthetic complications. 12 animals (6 in each group) were killed 7 days postoperatively (24 hours after injection of 5-bromo-deoxyuridine BrdU) to assess smooth muscle cell proliferation. The remaining 10 animals (5 in each group) were killed after 1 month to assess the degree of anastomotic myointimal hyperplasia. RESULTS: Antibodies to bFGF resulted in less smooth muscle cell proliferation at the anastomoses as well as anastomotic myointimal hyperplasia. Smooth muscle cell proliferation was reduced to about half in animals treated with anti-bFGF antibodies. Neointimal thickness was reduced in treated animals. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that after PTFE arterial grafting there is increased production of bFGF at the anastomotic regions that leads to smooth muscle cell proliferation and formation of myointimal hyperplasia. Agents that reduce the production of bFGF may also reduce the development of myointimal hyperplasia after PTFE arterial grafting.

Analysis of Variance↗

Assessment of non-acid esophageal reflux: comparison between long-term reflux aspiration test and fiberoptic bilirubin monitoring.

Reflux esophagitis may result from the action of both acid and non-acid agents. The aim of this study was to test a new system able to measure the quantity of the bilirubin contained in the esophageal lumen. The analysis of esophageal reflux composition was conducted in two phases. In the first bile and pancreatic enzyme, concentration of 136 fluid samples obtained with ambulatory esophageal long-term reflux aspiration test were measured. For the second, the total bilirubin content of each sample was measured in vitro with a fiberoptic probe (Bilitec 2000, Synetics Medical Inc., Sweden). Studies were performed on 48 subjects: 43 patients with esophageal reflux and five healthy volunteers. The results of both techniques were then compared. Higher concentration of bile and pancreatic enzymes were found in esophageal fluid samples of patients with endoscopic esophagitis. Bile and pancreatic enzyme concentrations of esophageal fluid samples were higher in patients after gastrectomy compared to patients with intact stomachs. There was a significant correlation between the total bilirubin concentration of fluid specimens and the fiberoptic probe reading of bilirubin (r = 0.72, P < 0.001). The presence of bilirubin and bile acids within the esophageal refluxate can be determined reliably with continuous fiberoptic measurement. The correlation between total bilirubin content and the concentrations of pancreatic enzymes contained in the esophageal refluxate suggests that bilirubin is a good tracer for non-acid, duodenal or intestinal reflux in the esophagus.

Adolescent↗

Long-term observation of patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis treated with rituximab.

OBJECTIVE: Rituximab, a chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, has been shown to be quite effective in the treatment of immune disorders resulting from autoantibodies. We prospectively studied the long-term effects of rituximab in 10 patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-positive vasculitis refractory to conventional therapy (n=3) or in second or subsequent relapse (n=7). METHODS: The median age of patients was 53 yrs (range 38-70 yrs). Eight were classified as Wegener's granulomatosis, and two as microscopic polyangiitis. Clinical activity was assessed using the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score modification for Wegener's granulomatosis. Treatment consisted of intravenous infusions of rituximab given at the dose of 375 mg/m2 weekly for four consecutive weeks. RESULTS: All patients experienced a rapid clinical improvement following the administration of rituximab, with nine complete responses and one partial response at 6 months. With a median follow-up of 33.5 months (range 26-45 months), three patients have thus far relapsed. Retreatment with the monoclonal antibody at the same dose and schedule resulted in a new sustained response in all these patients. Rituximab therapy resulted in prolonged B-cell depletion. The ANCA titres decreased significantly in all patients, with eight out of 10 becoming ANCA-negative and three remaining ANCA-negative even after B-cell recovery. Infusion-related side effects were observed in one patient, but were of mild intensity and did not require discontinuation of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Rituximab is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis and should be strongly considered in severely affected patients who do not respond to standard therapy or in those in whom cytotoxic therapy bears a high risk of morbidity.

Adult↗

Belsey and Nissen operations for gastroesophageal reflux.

From 1972 to 1985, 37 consecutive patients underwent primary Belsey repair and 40 consecutive patients underwent primary Nissen fundoplication because of reflux disease. The operative procedures were performed by a single surgeon in each group. For the purpose of comparison, both groups were divided into two subsets: (1) patients with proved reflux, and (2) patients with different indications. The first subset consisted of 30 patients in the Belsey series and 32 in the Nissen series. The remaining patients were included in the second subset. One death occurred in the Belsey series; morbidity consisted of minor pulmonary complications in the Belsey series (10.8%) and spleen injuries requiring splenectomy (5%) in the Nissen series. In patients with proved reflux good-to-excellent results were achieved in 89.3% of subjects of the Belsey series and 86.6% of patients of the Nissen group. The failures rates were 7.1% and 10%, respectively. Inability to vomit and/or belch was reported in 7.1% of patients with proved reflux of the Belsey group and 10% of patients with proved reflux of the Nissen group. In patients with different indications there were no failures after either operation. Finally 82.2% of subjects in the Belsey group and 73.3% of patients in the Nissen group declared that they were satisfied with the operative results. In conclusion the Belsey and the Nissen procedures are equally able to achieve long-term control of reflux disease in comparable groups of patients. Failures and gastrointestinal symptoms are equally frequent after either procedure and do not affect the overall patient acceptance of antireflux surgery.

Adult↗

Early MR follow-up of partial hepatectomy.

Twenty-seven patients were studied with MRI between 3 and 40 days following partial liver resection. Twenty-four patients had undergone major hepatectomy (three to six segments) and three had undergone minor hepatectomy (tumorectomy, one; bisegmentectomy, two). Indications for surgery were as follows: metastases (n = 16), hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 5), hemangioma (n = 3), focal nodular hyperplasia (n = 2), and cholangiocarcinoma (n = 1). A total of 36 MR examinations were performed using a 1.5 T superconducting unit. Three patients were studied three times and three patients were studied twice. The MR images were evaluated to detect and to characterize liver parenchymal abnormalities and intraabdominal fluid or blood collections as well as to assess vascular and/or graft patency. The MR images showed hepatic ischemia in two cases and allowed differentiation between intraabdominal hemorrhagic (n = 30 and nonhemorrhagic (n = 4) fluid collections. Gradient echo images allowed assessment of polytetrafluoroethylene graft patency as well as demonstration of iliac vein (one case) and portal vein (one case) thrombosis. The presence of surgical clips at the resection margins did not affect image quality.

Adult↗

The value of angiography and selective hepatic artery embolization for continuous bleeding after surgery in liver trauma: case reports.

Two cases of continuous bleeding after primary surgical treatment of severe hepatic injury are reported. Superselective hepatic artery embolization is an alternative procedure that can be very useful, as in one of our cases, to control bleeding and avoid reoperation. It should always be considered by trauma surgeons for the treatment of patients with hepatic trauma and postoperative continuous bleeding or early rebleeding.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Bleeding pseudocyst of the pancreatic head. The role of omentoplasty and local hemostasis.

Treatment of bleeding psedoaneurysms and pseudocysts of the pancreas is controversial. Surgical treatment with pancreatic resection or trancystic arterial ligation is not always satisfactory since postoperative mortality rate is high, especially for lesions located in the pancreatic head and rebleeding is not unusual. Two patients with bleeding pseudoaneurysms (one post traumatic, one spontaneous) and one with a hemorrhagic pseudocyst of the pancreatic head were treated surgically with arterial suture and omentoplasty. Bleeding was controlled in all, without any postoperative mortality or morbidity. No rebleeding occurred with a follow up of 33, 26 and 12 months. Trancystic ligation of bleeding vessels with omentoplasty may be a useful approach, which should be compared to arterial embolization in the future.

Adult↗

[Bronchopulmonary carcinoma: influence of type of resection on long term survival].

A statistical comparison between survival and type of resection: Lobectomy and pneumonectomy was made out of 108 patients who had undergone curative resection for lung cancer (with a minimum 3 years follow-up). Analysis was first made on the whole series, then the patients were classified according to histological type (W-PL) or staging (TNM) and finally stratified in 2 control levels (stage and histological type). There was a better prognosis for lobectomy than for pneumonectomy, referring to a single subgroup, but not in a statistically significant way. There was a better prognosis for patients who had been operated for lobectomy S(2) 2 LOB with a 36 months survival for 85%. There were better results for squamous cell carcinoma stage I and II S(2) 1 PNE, for those patients who had been operated for pneumonectomy with a median survival of 32 months and over 3 years survival for 41.7%.

Follow-Up Studies↗