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A Baroni

Publications and source records attributed to A Baroni.

89 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
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Assessment of depression in Alzheimer's disease: symptoms, syndrome, and computed tomography findings.

The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and DSM-III-R criteria were simultaneously employed to assess the prevalence of depression in 26 outpatients with dementia of the Alzheimer type and 26 age-matched normal control subjects. Both assessment methods evidenced a higher frequency of depression during the severe stages of Alzheimer's disease. Among the Alzheimer patients, the prevalence rate of depression produced by the HAM-D (38%) was higher than the rate produced by DSM-III-R criteria (23%). Such a difference was due to the weight given by the HAM-D to the vegetative symptoms reported by the Alzheimer patients with more severe dementia. In a subgroup of 14 Alzheimer patients who underwent computed tomography, the volumetric measurement of CSF spaces did not reveal any difference between the depressed and nondepressed patients. On the basis of these results, the clinical problems related to the assessment of depression in Alzheimer's disease are discussed.

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A modified bladder washout test to improve diagnostic results in chronic urinary tract infections.

Bladder washout (BWO) and antibody-coated bacteria (ACB) tests were performed on 25 patients with radiological and/or clinical evidence of chronic upper urinary tract infection (UTI) and 12 patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria. Using a traditional single-washout procedure, the BWO test gave equivocal results in many cases of chronic pyelonephritis; this seemed mainly due to the lack of complete bladder sterilization. A modified procedure, including double sterilization and irrigation, biochemical typing of isolated bacteria, and evaluation of temporal pattern of bacteriuria recurrence, was then introduced. Although preliminary results of the modified BWO test demonstrated a general improvement in the diagnosis of the infection site, it seemed rather difficult, at least in chronic UTI, to establish localizing criteria based on definite numeric changes in bacterial counts after washout.

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[The Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS): results of the Italian cohort].

BACKGROUND: The Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS) is an international prospective, longitudinal, observational study examining the relationship between dialysis unit practices and outcomes for hemodialysis (HD) patients in seven developed countries France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Japan and the United States. Results of the DOPPS in Italy are the subject of this report. METHODS: A national representative sample of 20 dialysis units (21 in Germany) was randomly selected in each of the European DOPPS countries (Euro-DOPPS). In these units, the HD in-center patients were included on a facility census, and their survival rates continuously monitored. A representative sample of incident (269 in Italy, 1553 in the Euro-DOPPS) and prevalent (600 in Italy, 3038 in the Euro-DOPPS) patients was randomly selected from the census for more detailed longitudinal investigation with regard to medical history, laboratory values and hospital admission. RESULTS: Comparing the Italian and Euro-DOPPS cohorts we found comparable mean age for prevalent patients (61.4 vs. 59.5 yrs), but incident patients were older in Italy. Italian prevalent patients had less cardiovascular disease, more satisfactory nutritional status and more frequent use of native vascular access. These data were associated with a comparable mortality (15.7 vs. 16.3 deaths/100 patient yrs), but morbidity was lower in Italy. Kt/V levels were comparable in the two cohorts (1.32 vs. 1.37), but 35% of Italian patients showed a Kt/V below the recommended target. Moreover, hemoglobin levels were below 11 g/dL in 60% of Italian patients. CONCLUSIONS: The DOPPS results bring to light several positive aspects and the opportunity for further possible improvements for Italian patients, but at the same time highlight some critical points that could represent a risk for dialysis quality.

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[Variability of the response to recombinant human erythropoietin in patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment].

The paper assesses the existence of possible interference between dialysis and the response to human recombinant erythropoietin administered i.v. in a group of patients undergoing regular dialysis. The results obtained show that the time taken to reach the set hemoglobin target (Hb 10 g%) was shorter in hemodiafiltered (HDF) patients compared to those receiving bicarbonate dialysis (BD). A plausible explantation may be the different depurative characteristics and the greater degree of biocompatibility of alternative dialysis which is able to achieve a more rapid cellular response to pharmacological stimulation.

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[High-efficiency membranes and the dialysis solution].

During this work through the total bacterial count and of the pseudomonas and the determination of the positive substances to Limulus Amebocyte Lysate test, bacterial pollution of the liquid bicarbonate concentrate has been determined together with the influence that preparation conditions and the entity of interval between the said preparation and utilization of concentrates have on it. Through the evaluation of the cardiac rate and the systemic arterial pressure, we have studied the influence of the bacterial pollution on the clinical of the patient. Analysing the obtained data we can point out that the liquid bicarbonate concentrate present an elevated degree of contamination which feels the effects of the production and storage procedures. The remark of inverse correlation between systemic arterial pressure and endotoxin level of the dialysate seems to reconfirm the importance of the bacterial contamination on the clinical of the patient.

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[Drugs and health. 1. An experience with health education in a scholastic environment].

The paper describes the aim and the realization of a health education project on "Drugs and Health". The scheme was undertaken by the Hygiene Institute of the University of Padua, at the request of the ULSS (Local Health Unit) n. 31, of Adria (Rovigo), and it was directed to the teachers of the local "Grammar School" and indirectly also to the pupils and their families. At the end of the training programme, the teachers did not only learn the fundamental concepts on drugs and their correct use, but were also able in their turn to spread the acquired knowledge. During the six sessions, in which the project was divided, various aspects of the problems were studied. An active methodology was used: at the beginning a questionnaire was distributed, then the main subject was treated and finally the answers to the questionnaires were discussed. The meetings with the teachers and the pupils were organized in the same way. The subjects of the meetings were the following: 1st meeting: "What do I know about drugs?" 2nd meeting: "How do I use drugs?" 3rd meeting: "Do I use drugs correctly?" 4th meeting: "Why don't I use drugs properly?" 5th meeting: "Consequences of improper use of drugs" 6th meeting: "How can I improve my approach to the use of drugs?" Ten teachers of different disciplines, each responsible for a class of about 25 pupils, attended the meetings. All the teachers agreed to apply the proposed methodology to their classes. This methodology enabled both teachers and pupils to identify wrong concepts, or incorrect usage, autonomously. An important number of pupils have benefited from the educational project. Moreover, as part of health education scheme, a questionnaire on the domestic presence, use, conservation, and disposal of drugs was distributed to a number of pupils to involve their families. The results of this survey will be described in another paper.

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[Drugs and health. 2. Study on the presence, use, storage and disposal of drugs in a sample of families in Adria (Rovigo) Local Health Unit 31, Venetian region].

As part of a health education scheme for the schools on "Drugs and Health", a questionnaire was distributed to a number of pupils in order to ascertain the domestic presence, use, conservation, and disposal of drugs. The questionnaire proved a very effective system for the extension of the educational project to the families of the pupils, but the information thus gathered was only of limited value. On the average, in the family 12.8 different type of drugs were present, mainly ethical drugs (76.6%). Most drugs were Articulars, Analgesics-antipyretics and Bronchopulmonary drugs. Only 30.2% of the drugs kept at home were currently used. Self-treatment (14.9%) and self-prescription (8.1%) were noted, as well as improper use of the drugs (5.9%). No answer to the questionnaire mentioned the presence of expired drugs: probably they were disposed of during the survey at home. Although these facts showed the positive effects of the educational project, nonetheless it was not possible to establish the real number of drugs kept at home. The way the answers to the questionnaire were biased and the fact that it was meant to be part of the project, have reduced the objectivity of the information thus obtained, underlining, however, its educational value.

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