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Biomedical subjects

A Grassi

Publications and source records attributed to A Grassi.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

CCNU-chemotherapy of hemispheric supratentorial glioblastoma multiforme.

One hundred and three patients with hemispheric supratentorial glioblastoma multiforme were studied. All patients were operated on and a histologic diagnosis of glioblastoma multiforme was made. Patients were randomly placed in one of three treatment schedules within 3 weeks of surgery: Group A: combined radiation therapy and drug (CCNU) therapy (26 cases); Group B: CCNU given orally every 6-8 weeks (27 cases); Group C: standard radiation therapy alone (50 cases). All patients were periodically controlled by clinical and instrumental (EEG, scan, EMG, CAT) evaluations; laboratory data examinations were also frequently performed. The treatment results have been evaluated according to length of survival, social quality of life, and positive or negative response to chemotherapy. In our opinion the clinical findings are interesting but the statistical results are somewhat negative, especially when the groups of patients are not homogeneous.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Two-compartment gentamicin pharmacokinetics in premature neonates: a comparison to adults with decreased glomerular filtration rates.

Eleven premature neonates received gentamicin sulfate for treatment of suspected gram-negative sepsis with accompanying respiratory distress syndrome. Serum gentamicin concentrations were measured during and after treatment to monitor therapy and to determine the two-compartment distribution and elimination characteristics of the drug. The measured pharmacolinetic parameters were compared to those of 14 adult patients with similar glomerular filtration rates. Neonates, like adults and children, had a prolonged persistence of gentamicin in the serum after treatment was stopped. Although there were marked differences between neonates and adults in administered dose, clearance, and distribution volume when the data were expressed on the basis of body weight, these differences were no longer apparent when the data were expressed relative to body surface area. Differences in gentamicin disposition cannot explain the apparent lack of aminoglycoside nephrotoxicity among premature neonates.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Role of adrenergic blocking agents and glucocorticoids on the regulation of pituitary opioid peptides levels.

Pituitary opioid peptides levels, measured by guinea-pig ileum bioassay, have been evaluated in rats given single intracerebroventricular injections of alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (4 mg/rat) or phentolamine (40 microgram/kg). Phentolamine produces an immediate rise in corticosteroid levels and an increase in pituitary endorphin content after 20 min. alpha-Methyl-p-tyrosine does not affect the pituitary endorphin levels, even if its effectiveness as a stressing agent is demonstrated by serum corticosterone increase and by reduced hypothalamic norepinephrine concentration. Repeated steroid treatment results in a decrease of serum corticosterone levels and of pituitary opioid activity. Such a decrease is mainly due to the reduction of beta-endorphin content, as shown by gel filtration analysis of pituitary extracts. It is suggested that the pituitary endorphin system, like ACTH, is under negative direct or indirect regulatory control of glucocorticoids. The adrenergic inhibitory tonus on pituitary opioid peptides, however, requires further confirmation.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Oesophageal lesions in northern Iran: a premalignant condition?

An endoscopic survey was undertaken in northern Iran to identify and determine the prevalence of possible precancerous lesions of the oesophagus. 218 men and 212 women, aged between 15 and 70 years, were included in the study. Oesophagoscopies were done on all 430 subjects and biopsies on 418. A chronic oesophagitis, involving mainly the middle and lower thirds of the oesophagus, was found in 80% of the subjects, and the frequency was very high even in the younger age-groups. Clinically and histologically the oesophagitis in this rural population was different from that observed in the low-risk areas of Europe and the United States, where oesophagitis is often associated with reflux. Dysplasia was diagnosed in 16 subjects and invasive carcinoma in 11. The very high prevalence of chronic oesophagitis in northern Iran, where a high incidence of oesophageal cancer has also been reported, suggests that these two lesions are associated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

"Plunging biopsy": a new aimed bioptic technique.

A new technique for aimed bioptic sampling is described, by which it is possible to obtain satisfactory tissue fragments also with front view instruments and normal forceps in those areas, such as the esophagus and gastric prepyloric lesser curvature, where the bioptic material obtained is often unsuitable for histologic diagnosis.

Biopsy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Developmental expression of protein kinase C immunoreactivity in rod bipolar cells of the rabbit retina.

Rod bipolar cells constitute the second-order neuron in the rod pathway. Previous investigations of the rabbit retina have evaluated the development of other components of the rod pathway, namely the dopaminergic and AII amacrine cell populations. To gain further insights into the maturation of this retinal circuitry, we studied the development of rod bipolar cells, identified with antibodies directed to the alpha isoform of protein kinase C (PKC), in the rabbit retina. Lightly immunostained PKC-immunoreactive (IR) somata are first observed at postnatal day (PND) 6 in the distal inner nuclear layer (INI.). Immunostaining is also observed in the outer plexiform layer (OPL), indicating the presence of PKC-IR dendrites. PKC-IR axons are present in the INL oriented toward the inner plexiform layer (IPL). Several of them terminate with enlarged structures resembling growth cones. At PND 8, some immunostained terminal bulbs, characteristic of rod bipolar cells, are detected in the proximal IPL. PKC-IR cells at PND 11 (cye opening) display stronger immunostaining and more mature characteristics than at earlier ages. The dendritic arborizations of these cells in the OPL and their axon terminals in the IPL attain mature morphology at later ages (PND 30 or older). The density of PKC-IR cells shows a peak at PND 11 followed by a drastic decrease up to adulthood. The total number of PKC-IR cells increases from PND 6 to PND 11 and then it remains almost unchanged until adulthood. The mosaic of PKC-IR cells is nonrandom in some retinal locations at PND 6, but the overall regularity index at PND 6 is lower than at older ages. The present data provide a comprehensive evaluation of the development of rod bipolar cells in the postnatal rabbit retina and are consistent with those previously reported for dopaminergic and AII amacrine cell populations, indicating that different components of the rod pathway follow a similar pattern of maturation, presumably allowing the rod pathway to be functional at eye opening.

Aging↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Analysis and comparative evaluations of the costs of supports and treatments of schizophrenia, affective psychosis, paranoia and neurosis].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to show, trough the calculation of the direct costs of supports and treatments actually provided by a NHS Mental Health Department, the presence of associations between four diagnostic groups (schizophrenia, affective psychosis, paranoia and neurotic disorders) and their overall and items (community care, rehabilitation facilities and in-patients services) costs. SETTING: Mental Health Department and CSM "Scalo" (NHS Mental Centre), AUSL "Città di Bologna", Emilia-Romagna Region. DESIGN: Yearly direct costs were calculated for a sample (n = 75) of all patients (N = 745) who during 365 days had more than four contacts with CSM and also for four randomised diagnostic groups (n = 30 per group). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We calculated unit costs of 15 types of services provided by CSM, selected according to the yearly number of services provided and the time spent by each health professional, and the in patient-cost per all days spent in a public or private sector hospital for psychiatric care. RESULTS: The statistic analysis, performed with the help of the Kruskal-Wallis test, showed significantly higher overall costs for the schizophrenic patients than the sample-group and the neurotic disorders-group; besides a significant difference in the item costs for rehabilitation facilities was found between the schizophrenic group and the paranoia, neurotic disorders groups and the sample one, whereas no significant differences in costs of inpatients services and drugs administration were tested between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study allow to demonstrate that there are cost differences between the diagnosis (direct costs are highest for schizophrenic patients and lowest for those with neurotic disorders) and that the costs evaluation can be used to ensure appropriate provisions to Mental Health Department for support and treatment of a wide range of psychiatric disorders.

Cost of Illness↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Perianal cutaneous larva migrans in a child.

Cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) is a dermatosis characterized by the presence of parasites which migrate into the skin, forming linear or serpiginous lesions. We report a child with cutaneous larva migrans of interest because of the involvement of an unusual site and the patient's age. We confirm the efficacy of therapy consisting of administration of albendazole by mouth.

Anal Canal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Study of cell kinetics in the normal colorectal mucosa of subjects at risk of developing colorectal carcinoma.

This report examines the 3H-thymidine-labeling index (LI), the flow cytometric S-phase cell fraction, and DNA ploidy in the normal colorectal mucosa of three groups of subjects: normal subjects (group A), patients with adenomas (group B) and patients with cancer (group C). The total LI and the LI for crypt compartment were investigated. The former LI was similar in the three groups while that for crypt compartment was significantly higher in the patients with adenomas (compartment 3), and in those with cancer (compartments 3 and 4). All of the mucosas were diploid and no significant relationship was found between the LI and the flow cytometric S-phase values, considered for each group. These data suggest that an upwards expansion of the proliferative compartment seems to be an indicator of cancer risk. In contrast, the variations of the ploidy and S-phase fraction do not appear to be important risk factors in the three groups of subjects studied.

Adenoma↗