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Biomedical subjects

A Rotondo

Publications and source records attributed to A Rotondo.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

[Lung interstitial disease in systemic sclerosis: semiologic characteristics with high-resolution computerized tomography and comparison with other methods].

In 28 patients with systemic sclerosis interstitial lung involvement was investigated with high-resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) in comparison with other diagnostic methods (respiratory function tests, lung scintigraphy and conventional radiography of the chest). The most frequent CT signs were: interlobular septal thickening, intralobular interstitial thickening, and ground-glass density. Their distribution was generally basal and posterior and high correlation was observed between the extent of lung disease and the cutaneous pattern of scleroderma. Pathological findings were present in 93% of cases: HRCT can must be considered more effective than the other methods in the evaluation of systemic sclerosis and should therefore be a fundamental diagnostic tool in the study and follow-up of interstitial diseases in the patients with systemic sclerosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Errors of magnetic resonance in the diagnosis of small renal tumors].

MR examinations were performed on 16 patients with small (< 35 mm diameter) solid renal tumors previously diagnosed with US and/or CT. The study was aimed at assessing MR accuracy in the identification and characterization of this type of lesion. The studies were performed with a 0.5 T GE MR Max Plus unit, with no paramagnetic contrast medium administration. MRI detected the lesion in 15 cases (93.7%). In 3/15 patients (18.7%) the tumors had signal patterns similar to those of simple renal cysts--i.e., homogeneously hypointense on T1 and markedly hyperintense on T2-weighted images. In one patient (6.2%) MRI failed to detect the lesion. In the extant 12 cases the tumors were correctly demonstrated but had different signal patterns. On T1-weighted images 6 lesions were hypointense, 2 hyperintense because of hemorrhagic content, and 4 exhibited poor contrast with the surrounding renal parenchyma. On T2-weighted images 4 lesions were inhomogeneously hyperintense, 3 were hypointense because of fibrosis or old blood content, and in 5 cases contrast between the tumor and the renal parenchyma was poor. The authors conclude that T1-weighted MR images, in a midfield MR unit, are more sensitive than T2-weighted images in identifying small renal tumors. MRI is less accurate in the evaluation of these lesions than CT and US. In particular, since small renal lesions may be misdiagnosed as simple cysts, the use of other imaging modalities--e.g., US and CT--is recommended if a renal cyst is first identified on MR images.

Diagnostic Errors↗
PubMed1993

[Radiology of chronic intestinal insufficiency].

Impaired intestinal function, negatively affecting food digestion and absorption, is called chronic intestinal failure (CIF). The clinical conditions leading to CIF are: fistulas, wide resections and severe damage to small bowel, and chronic intestinal stasis. In the etiology of CIF, the most frequent conditions are: Crohn's disease, postoperative peptic ulcer, mesenteric arteriopathy, radiation enteropathy, acute pancreatitis, jejunoileal diverticulosis and intestinal pseudo-obstruction. The radiologic approach to CIF can aim at: 1) diagnosing the disease and the clinical conditions causing it; 2) morphometric analysis: lesion spread, length of the extant normal small bowel and adaptive changes. Digestive tube radiology has always been considered a fundamental investigation technique to study malabsorption. Double contrast enema has increased the diagnostic capabilities of radiology. Moreover, double contrast enema allows the extraoperative evaluation, in vivo, of a new anatomic feature--i.e., intestinal length--which is a valuable sign for an exhaustive interpretation of CIF, especially of the short bowel syndrome. Thanks to double contrast enema, the changes in the length of mesenteric small bowel can be calculated in vivo (range: 150-430 cm; mean: 291 cm, SD 59). Intestinal length < 150 cm was observed only in resected patients. In 25% of cases, short small bowels were associated with CIF. Such morphometric studies, if applied to clinical practice, may yield valuable information for both diagnosis and prognosis.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1993

[Meigs syndrome with bilateral hydrothorax].

The co-existence of pelvic tumor, hydrothorax and ascites has been known since the last century. The features of this disease were described by Meigs and Cass in 1937; in the same year Roads named it Meigs syndrome. According to the original description this syndrome only included, as pelvic involvement, an ovarian neoplasm; at present it is accepted that hydrothorax and the ascites can also be associated with a uterine tumor, like a fibroma. The existence of either an ovarian or a uterine neoplasm distinguishes the typical Meigs syndrome from a pseudo-Meigs syndrome. The most likely pathogenesis of Meigs syndrome ascribes the formation of the peritoneal and pleural effusion to the filtration of interstitial fluid in the peritoneum through the tumor capsule, and the diffusion to the pleural space, generally at the right side, through the diaphragm lymphatic vessels and the foramen of Bochdalek. Dockerty reported that at least 40% of ovarian tumors had a diameter of more than 6 cm when associated with hydrothorax and ascites. The entity of pleural and peritoneal effusion can be moderate or massive. The effusions generally derive from a transudative process, but they can occasionally contain blood cells. The connection between the pelvic tumor and the effusion is demonstrated by the regression of the latter when the neoplasm is excised. When the pelvic tumor has an ovarian location it derives from the connective tissue of the hilus, it appears during fertile age and has a slow growth, the clinical signs becoming evident in elder age.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Personality features and platelet 3H-imipramine binding.

In an attempt to provide further information on the functions of the serotonergic system in humans, we investigated the possible correlation between a peripheral serotonergic marker, such as platelet 3H-imipramine binding, and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) items and scales in a group of 20 healthy subjects. The results showed the presence of significant positive correlation between the maximum binding capacity, a measure of the number of 3H-imipramine sites, and 17 MMPI items suggestive of personality features of self-certainty, feeling of well-being and sense of reality.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Analgesia by nefopam: does it act through serotonin?

In an attempt to clarify the possible mode of action of nefopam, a new analgesic compound, the authors tested its effects on imipramine (IMI) binding to platelet membranes. The results showed that nefopam exerted a concentration-dependent inhibition of IMI binding, with a potency comparable to that of tricyclic antidepressants. This finding suggests a possible intervention of serotonergic mechanisms in nefopam-related analgesia.

Analgesia↗
PubMed1990

[Surgically treated Zenker diverticulum: a double-contrast radiologic study and videorecording].

Sixteen patients who had undergone the surgical resection of pharyngoesophageal diverticula were investigated with combined double-contrast radiology and video-recording. In 11 patients morphological or functional anomalies were identified. The authors report their results and stress the high incidence of postoperative stenoses (18%) and recurrences (43%). The combined use of double-contrast examination and video-recording is suggested to detect such functional disorders as those which were identified in 68% of the patients in this series of cases.

Contrast Media↗
PubMed1989

Age-related differences in human platelet 5-HT uptake.

Platelet 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) uptake was measured in a group of young healthy volunteers and a group of aged healthy volunteers. Our results show a significant increase in the maximal velocity of uptake (Vmax) in the platelets of aged subjects. This could result in a decreased concentration of extracellular 5-HT in old age. Such reduced levels of 5-HT, if they occurred at 5-HT synapses in the brain, could result in susceptibility to the development of neurological or psychiatric illness.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Involvement of serotonin system in bulimia.

Platelet 3H-imipramine binding was investigated in 8 patients affected by bulimia according to DSM III criteria, and in 7 healthy volunteers. The Bmax +/- SD (fmol/mg protein) was 356 +/- 53 in patients, and 1144 +/- 134 in controls. The Kd +/- SD (nM) was 1.35 +/- 0.44 in patients, and 1.90 +/- 0.72 in controls. There was a significant difference (p less than 0.0001) in Bmax values in the two groups, whereas no significant difference was observed in Kd values. This study suggests the possible involvement of the indoleamine system in bulimia.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMed1988

Imipramine binding in platelets of patients with panic disorder.

Tritiated imipramine (3H-IMI) binding was investigated in platelets obtained from nine patients suffering from panic disorder (PD), and from nine healthy controls (HC). IMI binding was studied according to a protocol provided by the WHO. Binding parameters, the maximum binding capacity (Bmax) and the dissociation constant (Kd), were measured after construction of the Scatchard plot. When the samples of the two groups were compared, significant differences between the Bmax of HC and PD were found. No significant difference was observed for the Kd. The investigation shows that panic disorder may influence 3H-IMI binding in platelets, suggesting an involvement of the serotoninergic system in this disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Binding of imipramine to platelet membranes is reduced in panic attacks.

The binding of imipramine (IMI) to platelet membranes was investigated in 13 patients suffering from panic attacks (PA), in 5 patients affected by schizophrenic disorder (S), and in 11 healthy volunteers (V). From 6 volunteers, from 5 patients with panic attacks, and from all the schizophrenic patients, blood samples were collected in the spring, whereas from the others the samples were collected in the autumn. IMI binding was studied according to a protocol provided by the WHO. Binding parameters, the maximum binding capacity (Bmax), and the dissociation constant (Kd) were measured after construction of the Scatchard plot. The differences between V and PA and between V and S were tested by analysis of variance followed by a t-test. Overall and intragroup relationships between Bmax or Kd and diagnosis and season were assessed by a 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Bmax (mean +/- SD) was 947 +/- 269 (V), 742 +/- 160 (PA), and 712 +/- 254 (S) fmol/mg protein. V was different from PA (P less than 0.04) and from S (P less than 0.01). Kd (mean +/- SD) was 1.41 +/- 0.6 (V), 1.15 +/- 0.6 (PA), and 0.79 +/- 0.20 (S) nM. V was different from S only (P less than 0.01). Our results show that panic attacks and schizophrenia decrease the binding capacity of IMI in platelets. In addition, we found a significant difference between patients and controls only for the samples taken in the spring. No statistically significant difference was detectable between the 2 groups in the autumn samples.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Imipramine receptors in human platelets: effect of age.

Imipramine receptors were studied in platelets from six healthy young subjects (age between 24 and 38 years), five newborns, and six healthy elderly persons (age between 70 and 81 years). Binding parameters, the maximum binding capacity (Bmax) and the apparent dissociation constant (Kd), were determined by Scatchard's analysis. Level of differences between young subjects and the other groups was determined by Student's t-test. Bmax (mean +/- SD) was 1162 +/- 138 (young persons), 564 +/- 65 (newborn), and 508 +/- 98 (elderly persons) fmol/mg protein. The figure for the young was different from that of the newborn (p less than 0.001) and the elderly (p less than 0.01). Kd (means +/- SD) was 1.78 +/- .69 (young persons), 0.68 +/- 0.13 (newborn), and 0.80 +/- 0.27 nM in the elderly. Kd in the volunteers was different from that in the newborn or the elderly subjects (p less than 0.01). Imipramine receptors in platelets appear to be influenced by development and aging.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Intrarectal ultrasound and computed tomography in the pre- and postoperative assessment of patients with rectal cancer.

The ability of intrarectal ultrasound to recognize the local extent of disease was investigated in 23 patients with histologically proven adenocarcinoma of the lower two-thirds of the rectum before operation. Two probes, 12 cm long, working at a frequency of 3.5 and 7.5 MHz, were used. The results were compared with those of pre-operative computed tomography (CT) and with the pathological report of the resected specimens. Sonography correctly staged 20 of 23 tumours with two false negatives and one false positive, while CT correctly staged 19 of 23 tumours with two false negatives and two false positives. The results of ultrasound were found to be as accurate as those of CT; the low cost and simple use of ultrasound makes it preferable in the pre-operative assessment of the depth of invasion of rectal cancer. In addition, intrarectal ultrasound was routinely performed in 42 patients, operated on for rectal cancer by means of sphincter-saving procedures, at variable intervals in the first 2 years postoperatively. Eight local recurrences were recognized and confirmed by CT. Based on the low cost, reliability and simple use, intrarectal ultrasound is proposed as first examination for local recurrence detection in the follow-up of patients with low anterior resection for rectal cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1981

[Fogging effect in the ischemic cerebral infarction to computerized tomography (author's transl)].

We have examined, with systematic serial computerized tomography (CT) studies, 6 patients with persistent ischemic cerebral infarction. The CT of the ischemic cerebral infarction shows, during the third week, an isodense area. We have called this phenomenon "fogging effect" because at this effect and the CT report could be negative. The possibility of a false negative can be avoided by a control study with contrast medium: the infarction has an intensive contrast enhancement.

Adolescent↗