PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Luzzati

Publications and source records attributed to A Luzzati.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Ultrasono-anatomy of the ankle ligaments.

The ligaments of the ankle are superficial and easily accessible at ultrasonography. Surprisingly, the reliability of this technique has never been proven. With this goal in mind, ten ankles were subjected to a ultrasono-anatomic comparison. The five principle ligamentous fascicles (three on the lateral side and two on the medial side) measured at ultrasonography and the values verified after dissection. This study shows that the ligaments of the ankle are analyzed with ultrasonography and that the measures done are valid and have a precision of 2 mm for the anterior fascicle and the lateral fascicle of the lateral ligamentous plane Due to its simplicity and its low price, ultrasonography appears to be an important method in evaluating the ligaments and the degree of seriousness of ankle sprains.

Ankle Joint↗

Serum reactivity against an immunoregulatory sequence of HIV p24 in HIV-1-infected subjects.

The aim of this study was to assess the antibody reactivity in HIV-infected subjects against an HIV-1 p24 sequence, p226 (aa226-237), including a seven amino acid epitope showing immunosuppressive activity in vitro and to evaluate the relationship between anti-peptide antibody levels and disease progression. Sera of HIV-infected subjects, at different stages of disease, were compared to control sera in a retrospective evaluation. Recombinant HIV-1 p24 and p24- and control-peptides were used in an enzyme immunoassay as targets for antibodies present in the sera. Antibodies directed against the whole p24 protein and its peptides were found in all the sera studied but at different levels. The anti-p226 reactivity was not significantly different at different clinical stages. Nevertheless, it was inversely correlated to the reactivity directed against the whole protein, that was lower in subjects characterized by low CD4 cell numbers.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Partial cervicosternotomy: a useful anterior surgical approach to the cervicothoracic junction.

Access to the cervicothoracic junction, whether by lower anterior cervical or transthoracic approach, is particularly difficult. The authors propose partial cervicosternotomy which allows the T3-T4 disk to be reached satisfactorily in 50% of cases and in the remaining 50% allows direct anterior control of the upper two thirds of T3. The advantage of this approach is that it provides direct access to the cervicothoracic junction without leading at the same time to the reconstruction problems caused by the uni- or bilateral sternoclaviculotomies proposed until now. A detailed anatomical study of the arrangement of the intercostal vessels shows that this strictly median approach presents no risk to the medullary vessels thanks to the abundant anastomoses in this region. However, the use of this method may be limited if the aortic vessels have an anomalous origin. Pre-operative angiography is therefore necessary each time T3 must be reached. This approach has already been successfully used in tumor surgery for excision and reconstruction of lesions involving the cervicothoracic region.

Humans↗

Staging of malignant tumours of the foot.

Tumours of the foot in general, and malignant tumours in particular, are extremely rare. In the absence of a large series it is necessary to resort to surgery based on "principles" and not on experience or on data drawn from retrospective clinical studies. Enneking's "Surgical Staging System" (S.S.S) is a method of staging musculo-skeletal tumours which has been universally adopted-for several years and which is based, as already known, on the concept of anatomo-surgical "compartments". In the particular case of the foot, the S.S.S. suggests the surgical criteria specific to each anatomical region. The authors illustrate the principles with some examples taken from their experience, evaluating the surgical, oncological and functional aspects.

Aged↗

Diaphyseal and metaphyseal hemiresection with autograft reconstruction in the treatment of lowgrade tumors of the long bones.

The authors discuss seven cases of parosteal tumors treated conservatively by diaphyseal and metaphyseal hemiresection with cortical autograft reconstruction. This treatment yielded excellent clinical and functional results without having to resort to resection and arthrodesis or prosthetic replacement. The slow growth and low malignancy of these tumors make the use of this technique possible even at the risk of local recurrence, which, if discovered early, can still be treated by further conservative procedures.

Adolescent↗

Clinical and statistical comparison between the Lord and Mittelmeier total hip prostheses.

After a five year experience with two models of uncemented total hip prosthesis (Lord model and Mittelmeier model), two surgical teams analysed and compared the results in 88 cases with a view to ascertaining if there were any advantages of one model over the other. This was a prospective survey recording the standard parameters of assessment commonly accepted, and was subjected to statistical analysis. The results showed no superiority of one model over the other but they have reinforced our conviction of the superiority of uncemented prostheses over the cemented type.

Adult↗

Complement-inactivating proteinase(s) from Clostridium histolyticum.

A proteinase fraction inhibiting the hemolytic activity of guinea pig complement was obtained from supernatant fluids of Clostridium histolyticum cultures and purified 150- to 350-fold by ammonium sulfate precipitation, Sephadex G-75 gel filtration, and diethylaminoethyl cellulose chromatography. An assay was developed based on the inactivation of hemolytic complement. Partially purified anticomplementary preparations were active against casein and were capable of "solubilizing" Escherichia coli endotoxin. Two components were found by differential heat inactivation, with complement and casein as substrates, but only one of these components was active against endotoxin. The more heat-stable activity, showing 50% inactivation at about 47 C, was characterized as to pH and ionic strength optima and sensitivity to reagents such as cysteine, beta-mercaptoethanol, ethylenediaminetetraacetate, and heavy metals.

Animals↗

Characterization of a human serum inhibitor of Clostridium histolyticum proteinase(s).

Normal animal sera inhibit at least one Clostridium histolyticum proteinase. An assay procedure based on immune hemolysis was developed for the estimation of this inhibition. This inhibitory activity occurs in various levels in the sera of different animal species. The highest titers have been obtained with rat sera. The inhibitory activity from human serum was isolated and purified 16- to 27-fold by Sephadex G-200 gel filtration and diethylaminoethyl cellulose or hydroxylapatite chromatography. The properties of the human serum inhibitor of the clostridial proteinase were compared with a trypsin inhibiting factor found in the partially purified preparations. Identical behavior of the two inhibitory factors was observed when measured by heat inactivation, beta-mercaptoethanol sensitivity, pH stability, and sucrose gradient centrifugation. The inhibitory factor has an approximate sedimentation coefficient (S(20,w)) of 17. Goat anti-alpha-2-macroglobulin specifically precipitated the clostridial proteinase inhibitor from a partially purified preparation.

Animals↗