Biomedical subjects

A Colombo

Publications and source records attributed to A Colombo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

[Optimal dose of amino acids administered in total parenteral nutrition (TPN) of malnourished patients].

A plasmatic concentration for each aminoacid, between 1 and 1.5 times the normal value in fasting healthy subjects, is considered as an optimal target during total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in malnourished patients. We have analyzed the correlation between the aminoacid input and the aminoacid plasmatic concentration during TPN at different aminoacid composition. By exponential regression curves we then calculated the input required to keep each aminoacid plasma concentration in the optimal range.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1992

[A rare tumor: desmoid of the musculus rectus abdominis. Apropos a clinical case].

The authors report a case of left abdominal rectum muscle desmoid tumor which has been surgically treated. After some considerations of the particular pathogenetic, anatomopathological and clinical characteristics of this neoplasm, they state that a precise preoperative diagnosis is always difficult, in spite of modern diagnostic means. They conclude that, nowadays, surgical extirpation is the most reliable therapeutical method, although it is burdened by a consistent incidence of local recidives (over 30%).

Abdominal Muscles↗

PubMed1992

[Thymostimulin immunoprophylaxis in elective abdominal surgery].

The Authors report their experience of 121 patients who had undergone an elective abdominal operation and who had been previously considered under an immunological point of view and classified as anergic. The Authors have found a notable reduction of postoperative infection incidence in the 61 anergic operated patients who have been treated with Thymostimulin; they conclude by underlining the importance of careful consideration and eventual correction of immunological alterations of the patients of the patients who must undergo an operation.

Abdomen↗

PubMed1992

Cytoskeletal elements in mammalian spermiogenesis and spermatozoa.

Identification of the cytoskeletal elements and their role in the formation as well as the maintenance of head membrane compartmentalization is a much debated issue in mammalian spermatozoa. Data which have emerged during the last ten years are summarized. Those which have converged in a common opinion, such as the distribution of actin in mammalian spermiogenesis, are distinguished from those which have to be confirmed, such as the role of actin related proteins and actin in mature spermatozoa.

Actins↗

PubMed1992

Coronary stenting with a balloon-expandable stent after the recanalization of chronic total occlusions.

To diminish the restenosis rate after successful recanalization of chronic total coronary occlusion, we have implanted the Palmaz-Schatz stent in 6 patients. All procedures were successfully done without major complications. The angiographic follow-up at 6 months showed restenosis in one asymptomatic patient who had had 2 stents implanted. Five other patients had no evidence of restenosis.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Initial experience with the disarticulated (one-half) Palmaz-Schatz stent: a technical report.

We developed an alternative method to stent suitable lesions located in anatomical settings considered to be too complex for regular Palmaz-Schatz stent placement. This method consists of using a disarticulated (one-half) Palmaz-Schatz stent. Eight patients underwent stenting utilizing this method. The left anterior descending was stented in five patients, the right coronary artery in one patient, the proximal and mid shaft of a vein graft in one patient, and a protected left main coronary artery in one patient. In all patients the stents were placed in addition to full stents. In four patients, 1 1/2 stents were placed; two patients had 2 1/2 stents; one patient had 3 1/2 stents and the last patient had a total of 5 stents placed (1 full stent and 8 half stents). One patient had 8 disarticulated stents placed. All half stents prepared for delivery were successfully deployed to the pre-designated angiographic site without complication.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

PubMed1992

Coronary stenting: single institution experience with the initial 100 cases using the Palmaz-Schatz stent.

We studied 100 patients who had coronary implantation of Palmaz-Schatz stents in our institution from November 1989 until March 1991. A total of 126 standard and 6 short stents were implanted. The patients' mean age was 58 +/- 5 years, and 97 were males. The indications were lesions with high risk of restenosis (29 patients), restenosis (27 patients), suboptimal result of angioplasty (24 patients), dissection (16 patients), and recanalized chronic total occlusion (6 patients). In 17 patients a brachial cut-down approach was used. Stents were correctly placed in 98 patients. Stent related complications occurred in 9 patients: major ischemic complications in 7 patients (acute myocardial infarction in 2 patients, emergency bypass surgery in 3 patients and emergency angioplasty in 2 patients); in 3 of these patients there was a subacute closure of the stent and in 2 patients there were delivery problems. Vascular complications at the site of arterial puncture occurred in 3 patients (some patients had more than one complication). A learning curve was observed. There was a decrease in the complication rate with the higher number of patients treated: 28% for the first 50 patients and 6% for the last 50 patients. Clinical follow-up was available in all patients. Of the 92 patients eligible for follow-up (7 +/- 2 months), 69 patients were asymptomatic and 23 had recurrence of angina: 19 patients for stent restenosis and 4 patients for coronary artery disease progression. Follow-up angiogram was done in 79/92 (86%) patients: 21 had restenosis (27%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angina Pectoris↗

PubMed1992

Coronary angioplasty of chronic occlusions: factors predictive of procedural success.

In a retrospective study of 365 chronic total occlusions that were submitted for angioplasty, we studied the influence of 27 clinical, morphologic, and procedural variables as possible predictors of successful outcomes. Success rate was shown to be significantly influenced by the following variables: operator experience (41% in early patients, first 6 months; 73% in late patients, last 6 months of entire series; p less than 0.001), duration of occlusion (less than or equal to 1 month, 89%; 1 to 3 months 87%; greater than or equal to 3 months 45%; unknown 60%; p less than 0.001), morphology of occlusion (tapered, 83%; abrupt, 51%), length of occlusion (less than or equal to 15 mm, 71%; greater than 15 mm, 60%; p less than 0.001), and bridging collaterals (present, 29%; absent, 67%; p less than 0.001). None of the other clinical, angiographic, or procedural variables correlated with the success rate of coronary angioplasty. The calculated probability for an experienced operator (greater than 100 occlusions attempted) to successfully open an occlusion with favorable morphology (less than or equal to 1 month old, short, tapered, without bridging collaterals) is 99%. An attempt by the same operator to open an occlusion with unfavorable structure (greater than or equal to 3 months old, long, untapered) has only 47% probability of success. The probability increases to 84% when the occlusion is tapered. We concluded that in addition to the duration and the length of occlusion, tapered morphology, bridging collaterals, and operator experience can predict successful angioplasty in chronic total coronary occlusion.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

Mathematical definition of the curve of Spee in permanent healthy dentitions in man.

The intrinsic morphology of the mandibular curve of Spee (i.e. independent from reference planes) was studied in 50 men and 45 women with sound dentitions. Left and right curves were reconstructed by a second-order quadratic interpolation of buccal cusp tips. Gender differences were found in both sides, while side differences were found only in the male sample. Male and female curves had similar concavities, but the position of the interpolating second-order quadratic curve relative to the dental arch was significantly different. The right and left male sides showed different concavities, the right-hand side being flatter than the left. Male curves appeared larger than female ones, and the left-hand side was significantly larger than the right regardless of gender. The reported second-order quadratic curves could be used as reference for prosthetic and orthodontic reconstructions.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in patients aged 70 years and older: immediate and long-term results.

We analyzed all coronary angioplasty procedures performed in patients aged greater than 70 yr since 1987. There were a total of 92 patients with a mean age of 74 +/- 4 yr (range 70-82). The clinical diagnosis was unstable angina in 79%. Single-vessel disease was present in 41%, double-vessel in 29% and triple-vessel in 30% of patients. A left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 40% was present in 18 patients. Angioplasty was attempted on one vessel in 52 patients (56%), on two vessels in 29 patients (32%) and in three vessels in 10 patients (11%). Angiographic success was achieved in 96% of stenoses and in 53% of chronic total occlusions attempted. Complete revascularization was achieved in 56% of patients. Complications included three patients (3.2%) who underwent emergency coronary artery bypass grafting, 1 patient (1.1%) who sustained a myocardial infarction and 5 patients (5.4%) who died. During hospitalization, which averaged 3 +/- 2 days, 1 patients sustained reversible renal failure and 5 patients required blood transfusion for a large groin hematoma. Clinical success at discharge was 83%. At a mean follow-up of 13 months (range 3-45 months), symptomatic improvement was observed in 59 of the 76 patients who had achieved clinical success, with 42 of these patients (55%) being asymptomatic. The following clinical events occurred: myocardial infarction in 1 patient, new percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in 9 and 3 patients died of cardiac reasons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

PubMed1992

Comparative studies on the effects of doxorubicin and differentiation inducing agents on B16 melanoma cells.

The differentiation-inducing activity of doxorubicin on B16 melanoma cells grown in vitro was compared with that of other known differentiation inducers, such as theophylline, retinoic acid, and melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH). At drug concentrations resulting in cytostatic effects, doxorubicin and theophylline induced morphological changes (dendritic-like structures with a terminal melanin granule) with an enhancement of total melanin content and tyrosinase activity. Retinoic acid did not alter melanin content and cell morphology, although it affected cell growth. MSH enhanced total melanin content and tyrosinase activity, with no significant morphological changes. Flow cytometric analysis showed that MSH led to an accumulation of cells in G1 phase whereas doxorubicin induced an accumulation of cells in G2 + M. Studies on DNA content in doxorubicin-treated cells, selected on the basis of a morphologically differentiated pattern, showed a clustering of these cells in G2 + M, probably due to a cytokinesis block. Thus doxorubicin can induce cell differentiation comparable with other differentiation inducers.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

A model-based study of learning and memory following transient global amnesia attacks.

Verbal learning and forgetting were studied in patients one month after an episode of Transient Global Amnesia and in normal control subjects by means of a two-stage stochastic model, which allows independent measurements of encoding, storage and forgetting. We preliminarily ascertained both the necessity and the sufficiency of the model to account for several performance scores of the two experimental groups, and then compared the learning and forgetting functions between groups. In spite of the analytical power of the statistical method adopted. Transient Global Amnesia was not found to entail persistent impairment of encoding and storage, as well as of retaining memory traces and retrieval algorhythm.

Cerebral Cortex↗

PubMed1992

A comparison of secretory antibodies in breast-fed and formula-fed infants over the first six months of life.

In the present study salivary IgA, anti-Escherichia coli, anti-beta-lactoglobulin and anti-poliovirus type 1 IgA and IgM in serum and saliva were evaluated longitudinally in 13 breast-fed and 14 formula-fed infants over the first six months of life. Salivary IgA was quantified by electroimmunodiffusion; specific IgA and IgM antibodies were determined in serum and saliva by ELISA. Salivary IgA was significantly lower at age one month in breast-fed compared with formula-fed infants but in breast-fed infants salivary IgA increased with age and was significantly higher at six months than at one month. In both groups of infants, at the age of six months, salivary IgA levels were significantly lower than in adult controls. No significant differences in secretory anti-E. coli were observed between the two groups of infants. Salivary anti-poliovirus IgA and IgM antibodies increased transiently only to disappear in most babies at age six months, while anti-beta lactoglobulin IgA and IgM, present in saliva at all ages, showed a wide scatter. No important differences in specific serum IgA or IgM antibodies were observed either between the groups or at different times within the groups.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1992

Veralipride for hot flushes during gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment.

Hot flushes are the commonest symptom induced by gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa). We performed an open observational trial to evaluate the efficacy of veralipride, an antidopaminergic drug, in reducing hot flushes in 25 premenopausal women treated with a GnRHa for endometriosis (8 subjects) or menorrhagia (17 subjects). The patients received goserelin depot for 6 months and veralipride was added for the third month. Hot flushes, severe in all women at 2 months, improved in both frequency and intensity in 92% of the subjects during veralipride administration. The benefit obtained persisted until the end of the GnRHa treatment.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Results of coronary angioplasty in patients aged 75 years and older.

We studied a group of 47 patients greater than or equal to 75 years old. The mean age was 77 +/- 1.5 years and there were 28 (60 percent) male patients. Multivessel disease was present in 72 percent. Angioplasty was successful in 93 percent of 90 stenoses and in 30 percent of ten total occlusions. Single vessel angioplasty was done in 53 percent of patients, double vessel in 28 percent and triple vessel in 19 percent. Incomplete or absent revascularization was present in 47 percent and 9 percent, respectively. Primary clinical success was accomplished in all patients with single vessel disease; in 85 percent of patients with double vessel disease, and in only 52 percent of patients with triple vessel disease. Complications were highest in patients with triple vessel disease: 14 percent mortality and 5 percent emergency CABG. The follow-up at one year showed 91 percent survival. The PTCA is a valid alternative method of revascularization in elderly patients with single and double vessel disease. The results in triple vessel disease are less encouraging.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1992

Laparoscopic aspiration of ovarian endometriomas. Effect with postoperative gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist treatment.

In the period 1988-1990 this prospective study of 33 women with moderate or severe endometriosis who underwent laparoscopy for infertility and/or chronic pelvic pain, was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of aspirating endometriotic cysts followed by administration of a gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist in reducing the size of ovarian endometriomas. The cysts (mean diameter, 4.5 cm; range, 2-7; unilateral, 21 cases; bilateral, 12 cases) were punctured, aspirated, washed and emptied completely. After laparoscopy, 15 subjects received goserelin administered as a 28-day subcutaneous depot for three months, whereas 18 patients undergoing simple observation constituted internal controls. Ultrasound scans were performed before and at one, three and six months after laparoscopy. One case and three controls requested surgery between the four- and five-month follow-up scans and did not complete the study. All the other women had recurrent cysts at the six-month scan. There were no significant differences in mean endometrioma diameter between the two groups at any observation time nor between prelaparoscopic and six-month ultrasound examinations within each treatment group. We conclude that aspiration and washing of endometriotic cysts, combined with postoperative administration of GnRH agonists or not, is ineffective.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

[Angioplasty in total occlusion of the coronary arteries: the importance of the angiographic variables].

Total coronary occlusions can be treated by coronary angioplasty with a lower success rate when compared to the angioplasty success rate of stenoses. To evaluate factors associated with successful re-opening of total coronary occlusion we evaluated 128 occlusions attempted in 120 patients. We analyzed clinical and angiographic variables. Successful re-opening was obtained in 65% of total occlusions attempted; 1 patient (0.8%) had to undergo emergency coronary artery bypass surgery. Only the morphological characteristics of the occlusions were predictive of success. When total occlusions had a tapered morphology, success was achieved in 87% of the attempts versus 50% of success without tapered morphology (p < 0.001). The success, when the occlusion was associated with the presence of bridging collaterals, was very low (present: 30% success; absent: 71% success, p < 0.005). Success for occlusions longer than 1.5 cm was lower when compared to shorter occlusions (61% vs 78%; p < 0.005). The type of occlusion (absolute, functional), the presence of a branch originating at the level of the occlusion, the duration of the occlusion, the artery and its segment were not predictive of success. Multivariate analysis showed that tapered morphology was the only variable associated with successful re-opening of a total occlusion (87% probability of success when present). We conclude that it is possible to re-open a total coronary occlusion with low complication rate and high primary success rate when careful care is applied with particular attention paid to the morphology of the occlusion.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

The molecular architecture of an insect midgut brush border cytoskeleton.

The cytoskeletal apparatus of the vertebrate intestinal brush border (BB) has served as a model system for the actin-based cytoskeleton of nonmuscle cells. In this study, we examine the structural organization and molecular architecture of the BB cytoskeleton expressed in the midgut of lepidopteran larvae, Manduca sexta. Electron microscopy of the midgut of the 5th instar larvae revealed enterocytes with an apical BB surface comparable to that in the vertebrate intestine, with both microvillar (MV) and terminal web (TW) domains, the latter defined by a zone of organelle exclusion directly beneath the MV. As reported previously for the larval dragon fly, the MV contain a bundle of actin filaments, as determined by staining with rhodamine phalloidin (Kukulies, J., et al., Protoplasma 121, 157-162 (1984)) and heavy meromyosin decoration (Komnick, H., J. Kukulies, Zoomorphology 107, 241-253 (1987)). Two-dimensional gel analysis revealed the presence of multiple isoelectric variants of actin with the major isoform corresponding to the non-muscle actin isoform II, expressed in Drosophila. Like the vertebrate BB, the Manduca BB can be isolated intact from enterocytes by mechanical shear. Immunochemical analysis of isolated BB fractions or whole homogenates of midgut revealed proteins of appropriate molecular weight immunoreactive with antibodies to the MV core proteins: BB myosin I, villin and fimbrin, and the TW components: spectrin, myosin II and tropomyosin. Immunocytochemical localization of a subset of these proteins at the light microscopic (spectrin) and electron microscopic (actin, villin, spectrin, myosin II, and tropomyosin) level reveals that the molecular architecture of the Manduca BB cytoskeleton is homologous to that found in vertebrates.

Animals↗