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A Robecchi

Publications and source records attributed to A Robecchi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Post-thyroidectomy cervical hematoma].

AIM: Postoperative hematoma is a complications of thyroid surgery uncommon but potentially life threatening. It has implications for the trend toward outpatient procedures. METHODS: Retrospective review of 1.221 thyroidectomies performed at our institution over a 6-years period, to identify patients with hematomas requiring reoperation. Symptoms, treatment and findings at reoperation were evaluated. A control group (n=120) was compared for perioperative risk factors and outcome. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (1.5%) developed a postoperative hematoma. Symptoms included neck pain/pressure in 10 patients, respiratory distress in 9, wound drainage in 2, dysphagia in 1, agitation and sweating in 1. Mean time to symptom onset was 12 hours (range: 1.3-40 hours). Six hematomas presented between 7 and 24 hours, and 3 beyond 24 hours. Six patients required bedside hematoma evacuation. The bleeding source was identified in 15 patients. All patients recovered well, but one required a temporary tracheostomy. Case/controls comparison yielded in the study group a higher prevalence of hyperthyroidism (55.6% vs 25.8%, P=0.022) and intrathoracic goiter (50% vs 22.5%, P=0.029), and a longer mean hospital stay (5.22 vs 4.1, P=0.012); morbidity was not increased. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative hematoma is an uncommon complication of thyroid surgery. If treated promptly, serious consequences can be avoided. The relatively long interval between the initial operation and the hematoma development needs to be considered when establishing outpatient practice guidelines.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Tumor-associated transforming growth factor-beta and interleukin-10 contribute to a systemic Th2 immune phenotype in pancreatic carcinoma patients.

In this study, we report coexpression of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in pancreatic carcinoma tissue associated with significantly elevated levels of both cytokines in the sera of pancreatic carcinoma patients. Using conditioned media (CM) of pancreatic carcinoma cells, we further demonstrate that tumor cell-derived TGF-beta and IL-10 inhibited in an additive fashion both proliferation and the development of Th1-like responses in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) preparations derived from normal donors. The antiproliferative and Th1-suppressive activities contained in CM of pancreatic carcinoma cells were due primarily to IL-10 and/or TGF-beta, as shown by the capacity of cytokine-specific neutralizing antibodies to reverse these effects. Finally, as compared to normal controls, PBMC derived from pancreatic carcinoma patients displayed a Th2-like cytokine expression pattern upon activation with either anti-CD3 antibody or Staphylococcus aureus strain Cowan I. Taken together, these results suggest that aberrant production of TGF-beta and IL-10 in pancreatic tumor patients skews T-cell cytokine production patterns in favor of a Th2 immunophenotype.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1997

Oxidative damage and transforming growth factor beta 1 expression in pretumoral and tumoral lesions of human intestine.

The aim of this study was to evaluate a possible relationship between oxidative stress and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) expression in human colon adenocarcinoma. Crohn's disease, an inflammatory pathology of the intestine often regarded to as precancerous, was also examined. Indices of impaired redox balance were monitored in blood and in bioptic samples from 10 adult patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon and from five patients with Crohn's disease. On tissue samples TGF beta 1 mRNA expression was also determined. Ten healthy adults provided normal reference values for plasma indices of oxidative stress, and normal tissue distant from the lesions was used for comparative analysis. Fluorescent adducts with plasma proteins of malonaldehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) were significantly lower than controls in the plasma from cancer patients and significantly higher in the plasma from Crohn's patients. In adenocarcinoma biopsies, susceptibility to lipid peroxidation processes and TGF beta 1 expression were below the relative control; in Crohn's disease, lipid peroxidation and cytokine expression were both above the relative control. The findings obtained suggest the existence of an association between oxidative damage and fibrogenic cytokine expression in the human intestine. Further studies are needed to conclusively prove the correlation between the two events.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1995

Ectopic aldosteronoma associated to another adrenocortical adenoma in the adrenal gland of the same side.

The occurrence of tumors originating from aberrant adrenocortical tissue in ectopic site is very rare. Up to now only two cases of ectopic aldosterone-producing adenoma have been described. We have observed another case of ectopic aldosteronoma, located in the retrocaval region, laterally to the body of the 12th thoracic vertebra. This ectopic tumor was associated to another adrenocortical adenoma, in the adrenal gland of the same side. The diagnostic implications of this observation are discussed.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1995

[The surgical approach to adrenal incidentaloma].

In this paper the Authors analyse the indications for treatment of adrenal incidentaloma by making a retrospective review of this series. These indications are compared with recent trends which have emerged in the literature.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1995

[Current role of abdomino-perineal amputation].

In Italy 6.5% of cancer deaths can be attributed to localized colorectal cancer of which rectal cancer alone accounts for 33%. The introduction of mechanical staplers and new techniques (colo-anal anastomosis) into colon surgery has led to a drastic reduction in indications for Miles' operation in favour of techniques which aim to conserve the sphincter. From October 1987 to March 1991 the Surgical Clinical of the Ospedale Maggiore in Novara operated 75 patients with rectal cancer. Twenty-eight patients underwent APA (abdominoperineal amputation) whereas 47 underwent conservative surgery, referred to as SSR (sphincter-saving resection). Of the 28 APA patients, 19 revealed a localisation in the lower rectum (0-5), 7 in the mid rectum (6-8) and 2 in the upper rectum (9-15). In the latter two cases the considerable size of the tumour mass and the extraparietal diffusion of the tumour led the authors to prefer APA rather than SSR. In SSR the minimum distal safety margin from the tumour was 2 cm, whereas the mean distance of the tumour from the anal margin in APP patients was 4 cm, and that in SSR patients 11 cm. The stage of cancer was not taken into consideration when choosing the type of surgery. Postoperative mortality was 3.5% for APA and 2% for SSR. The overall incidence of recidivation was 20%, equivalent to 11 patients. Recidivation was found to be more frequent in the lower rectum (6 cases) compared to the upper rectum (1 case).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abdomen↗
PubMed1991

[Transverse mesocolon herniation. Description of a clinical case].

A case of herniation of small bowel through a defect of the transverse meso-colon with secondary herniation through the gastrocolic ligament and re-entry into the greater peritoneal cavity is reported. This form of lesser sac hernia is rare and only one hundred half cases have been reported in literature.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

[The autologous splenic reimplant in the rat].

In order to evaluate the clinical utility of autologous splenic transplantation in the omental pouch, a pneumococcal challenge was performed in 3 groups of rats, after demonstration of vitality of the intraperitoneal inoculum: Group A: splenectomized rats; Group B: reimplanted rats; Group C: sham operation. No statistically significant difference was found between the first two groups regarding resistance against infection (p less than 0.982), while normal rats proved more resistant (p less than 0.031). Between group A and B significant differences (p less than 0.001) exists only for a more precocious mortality in the first group. The poor clinical utility of the technique is demonstrated.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Gastric surgery in morbid obesity. Apropos of 101 cases].

The authors analyze the complications and the results of gastric surgery for morbid obesity, on the basis of their personal experience. After abandoning up jejunoileal by-pass because of its severe complications, they started to perform gastric by-pass and vertical banded gastroplasty according to Mason. The number of severe complications was low and the results on the weight loss were good, without any disturbance of metabolic and nutritional tests. Gastric by-passes and gastroplasties had similar results. The authors suggest that gastroplasty could be the technique of choice as it is a simple and quick operation, without anastomosis, which ensures a better respect of gastroduodenal physiology and the possibility of exploration of the distal gastric pouch.

Adult↗