Biomedical subjects

A Lattanzi

Publications and source records attributed to A Lattanzi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Surgical treatment of frontoethmoidal encephalocele: a case report.

This study reports a patient affected by congenital frontoethmoidal encephalocele. The cause of this malformation is unknown. A preoperative selective diagnosis evaluation is necessary. The workup should include an accurate clinical examination associated with radiological study (two- and three-dimensional computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, etc). The aim of the surgical treatment is to restore the functional brain tissue in the cranial cavity, perform dural repair, correct bone lack and other associated facial malformations (hypertelorism, orbital dystopia, etc.). A multidisciplinary team approach is necessary to resolve the brain herniation and to correct splanchnocranium malformations frequently associated with encephalocele. Cranial flap with orbital osteotomies has been performed; this operation permits correction of the hypertelorism and of the orbital dystopia associated with this malformation. In bone reconstructions, miniplates have been used as fixation devices. In adults we generally use titanium, but resorbable devices are required in children because of growing tissues. A restoration of craniofacial malformations with good aesthetic and functional results is achieved with early surgery.

Absorbable Implants↗

PubMed1993

[Note on glycosaminoglycans].

Having briefly recalled the chemical structure of glycosamine glycans (GAG) and the therapeutic use of standard heparin at conventional doses (anticoagulant action) and at low dosage (antithrombotic action), the properties and therapeutic employment of low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) are illustrated, and their advantages and disadvantages compared to standard heparin are discussed. Subsequently, the characteristics of heparan sulfates and other GAGs of the vascular endothelium and their therapeutic properties are described. Finally, GAGs found in articular structures are also mentioned.

Anticoagulants↗

PubMed1993

[Anesthesia in thymectomy. Experience with 115 cases].

The authors have conducted a retrospective study on 115 patients with myasthenia gravis undergoing transsternal or transcervical thymectomy at the Policlinico A. Gemelli of Rome in the period June 1984- to June 1991. A prolonged postoperative mechanical ventilation immediately and a few days following surgery was required respectively in 7 and 3 patients, while atelectasia and broncopneumonia have developed in 10 patients. No relationship could be established between the incidence of respiratory complications and factors such as preoperative symptomatology and treatment anesthetic agents, the surgical approach to the thymus and thymic pathology. However a significantly greater postoperative morbidity has been observed in the group of patients receiving suxametonium as compared to the patients receiving non-depolarizing muscle relaxants. Vecuronium and atracurium very frequently allowed ad adequate resumption of spontaneous respiration after anesthesia and made possible a safe early extubation of patients before leaving the operating room. The authors also stressed that all patients, irrespective of their clinical conditions, must be transferred after thymectomy. Oto the surgical ICU where anticholinesterase therapy can be safely restarted and cardiorespiratory status carefully monitored.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

[Oncogenes: a ray of light on the genesis and therapy of cancer?].

The criteria that have led to the hypothesis according to which oncogenes play a role in the pathogenesis of cancer are briefly reviewed: "Certain genes normally present in cells in which they exert physiologic functions may become altered so as to induce cancer. Before acquiring carcinogenic properties, i.e. while they still exert their physiological function, these genes are referred to as proto-oncogenes; once they acquire their carcinogenic properties, they are called oncogenes". The importance modern techniques of molecular biology (genetic engineering and recombinant DNA) have had for the formulation of this hypothesis is stressed, as well as the involuntary contribution of retroviruses. The prospects are examined for therapeutic application that might derive from the oncogene hypothesis.

Chromosome Aberrations↗

PubMed1985

[Sociobiology and psychobiology: in the pantheon of science or in the basement of failures?].

The term sociobiology, coined by Wilson to describe the concept that human behaviour has a biological basis rooted in the genes, has aroused considerable controversy. The present report not only Wilson's hypothesis but takes it even further by putting forward the hypothesis that every human personality trait and resultant behavioural pattern is brought about by certain protein molecules, coded by the genes which activate special closed brain neuron circuits. The term "psychobiology" is suggested for this hypothesis, and "molecular personality code" for the whole complex of molecules mentioned above.

Behavior↗

PubMed1982