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B Colombo

Publications and source records attributed to B Colombo.

208 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Current trends in the treatment of varicocele].

A varicocele first develops in early adolescence and it can negatively affect testicular growth, histology and function. The use of early varicocelectomy to prevent severe testicular damage and sub-infertility in adulthood seems to be incontrovertible. However there is a difference of opinion as to the proper surgical procedure of varicocele ablation. To date, the inguinal and high retroperitoneal approaches are the most commonly accepted methods. However significant postoperative morbidity is common, with a recurrence rate ranging from 1 to 25% and return to normal activity often is prolonged. This considerations have prompted many to search for alternative techniques. The Authors performed laparoscopic clipping and division of the internal spermatic vein or the internal spermatic vessels in 55 adolescents to treat varicocele. Indications for the operation were third degree varicocele and second degree with testicular hypotrophy. At a mean 6 months follow-up, they did not observe either relapses or complications; no hydrocele was noted and testicular size did not decrease in any patient. In the Authors' experience and opinion, laparoscopic varicocelectomy is a simple, safe, effective and minimally invasive surgical procedure and it can be proposed as a viable alternative to open traditional surgical methods.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Medullary sponge kidney with severe renal function impairment: a case report].

The term medullary sponge kidney refers as a renal parenchymal malformation characterized by cystic dilatation of the collecting ducts. Although medullary sponge kidney is a congenital disease, it is rarely identified in childhood and is usually discovered in adulthood. We report a child with bilateral medullary sponge kidney who, in addition to typical urographic findings, presented an unfavorable evolution that ended in renal chronic insufficiency. This outlook is uncommon and is described in only 10% of affected subjects.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Celiac disease and the evolution of its diagnosis. Comparison and experience at a hospital pediatric department (1975-1993). (Second part)].

In a period of over 18 years the prominent medical bibliographic marks with regard to definition, diagnosis and examinations of coeliac disease (CD) have been compared and as far as possible reproduced. The results confirm the remarks derivating from wider statistics. From the beginning of 1975 to the first six months of 1993 in Merate Hospital Pediatric Division, 323 patients were submitted to a first jejunal peroral biopsy in 133 cases (41.2%) CD was diagnosed. Since 34 children (25.6%) concluded the ESPGAN diagnostic iter with 3 consecutive biopsies, the reasons why the other patients didn't finish or respect the programs are here examined. Since 1987 a specific anti-gliadin (IgA and IgG) antibodies titrimetry has been available either in the investigation of suspect symptomatology or like control mark during the assessment or after a sure CD diagnosis. Since october 1992 antiendomysium antibodies (EMA or AEA IgA) have been determined only in selected patients. From the examination of 24 subjects now checked with AGA IgA/IgG and EMA and with a first positive biopsy, it is possible to point out that only one jejunal biopsy (or at the most a second one as a control during the gluten challenge) with the guarantee of haematologic patterns doesn't raise doubts about a CD diagnosis. Analogous considerations mainly refer to the atypical CD "late onset" when a constant lack of AGA and EMA during gluten free diet (GFD) or their changes in a non compliance or in gluten challenge, can exclude a following hystological confirmation. By this experience it follows that a specific antigliadin and antiendomysium antibodies investigation is indispensable to the shortening of diagnostic times, to the reduction of an often unwelcome invasive diagnostic method and to the discovery of the "CD iceberg".

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Multicenter study of the safety/efficacy of misoprostol in the prevention and treatment of NSAID-induced gastroduodenal lesions.

Gastrointestinal symptoms and lesions are often associated with the clinical use of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). An open-label, single arm multicenter Italian study evaluated if misoprostol, a prostaglandin E1 analogue with gastroduodenal mucosal protective activity, was effective in the prevention and treatment of NSAID-induced gastroduodenal lesions. Patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or osteoarthritis (OA), in treatment with NSAIDs and suffering from gastric symptoms or gastroduodenal lesions related to NSAID use, were admitted to the study. Gastrointestinal and arthritic symptoms were assessed before and after 4 weeks co-administration of an NSAID (the most frequent was diclofenac, used in 35% of the RA and in 22% of the OA patients, followed by piroxicam and tenoxicam respectively) + misoprostol (200 mcg two times daily in 58% of the cases, 200 mcg three times daily in 39%, 200 mcg four times daily in 3%). On admission and after 4 weeks of therapy a gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed to evaluate the condition of the gastroduodenal mucosa. Final results showed that: (i) NSAID-related gastric lesions were more frequent than duodenal lesions; (ii) when patients were given misoprostol and NSAIDs, 96% of them did not develop gastric lesions and 97% did not develop duodenal lesions; (iii) even when NSAID therapy was continued, gastric or duodenal lesions induced by NSAIDs healed or in any case did not worsen in 92% and 91% respectively of the cases; (iv) during the period of coadministration of NSAIDs+misoprostol, NSAID-related UGI symptoms disappeared or improved in 77% of the cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Varicocele: epidemiologic study and indications for its treatment].

The varicocele is still the most common correctable cause of male infertility. The epidemiologic studies revealed a gradually increasing incidence of varicocele in patients 10 to 18 years old, as height at the end of puberty as that of the adult male population. The pediatric varicocele is often associated with smaller and hypotrophic testis which presents also histological and progressive changes. Surgical correction of a varicocele in the adult usually produces poor results. In order to improve the fertility rate in adulthood an early varicocelectomy has been suggested. On the basis of our own studies and after a review of the literature, we conclude that all grade III varicoceles and grade II associated with testicular hypotrophy must be early operated on. This hearing provides a higher fertility rate and can prevent the reduced fertility associated with delayed varicocelectomy.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Modern trends in the treatment of varicocele].

A varicocele first develops in early adolescence and it can negatively affect testicular growth, histology and function. The use of early varicocelectomy to prevent severe testicular damage and sub-infertility in adulthood seems to be incontrovertible. However there is a difference of opinion as to the proper surgical procedure of varicocele ablation. To date, the inguinal and high retroperitoneal approaches are the most commonly accepted methods. However significant postoperative morbidity is common, with a recurrence rate ranging from 1 to 25% and return to normal activity often is prolonged. This considerations have prompted many to search for alternative techniques. The Authors performed laparoscopic clipping and division of the internal spermatic vein or the internal spermatic vessels in 55 adolescents to treat varicocele. Indications for the operation were third degree varicocele and second degree with testicular hypotrophy. At a mean 6 months follow-up, they did not observe either relapses or complications; no hydrocele was noted and testicular size did not decrease in any patient. In the Authors' experience and opinion, laparoscopic varicocelectomy is a simple, safe, effective and minimally invasive surgical procedure and it can be proposed as a viable alternative to open traditional surgical methods.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Colonization by group B hemolytic streptococcus in pregnancy. Note of prevention and therapy of the materno-neonatal infection. Casuistics].

As several international studies show, the knowledge of the wide clinical spectrum of perinatal group B streptococcal infection, particularly of the early and of the late-onset neonatal diseases in GBS carrier mothers, is basically important for medical diagnosis. Risk factors analysis further determines both the diagnosis and the maternal intrapartum chemoprophylaxis. The considerable rate of neonatal disease without risk factors and its possible serious and fatal consequences bring to tendentially non selective prevention approaches that must consider the local background. At Merate Hospital, in a 3 years time, vaginal and rectal specimens for GBS cultures were obtained from 1766 pregnant women either at the 32nd or at the 36th week of gestation and regularly at the labor. 376 women (21.29 percent) resulted GBS carriers; the maternal-fetal contamination rate was 15.42 percent (58/376) i.e. 32.6 per 1000 live births (58/1769). Intrapartum chemoprophylaxis was carried out with i.v. erytromycin, i.v. or i.m. cephalosporins, i.v. ampicillin and per os amoxicillin (which gave the most interesting results). In infants born to mothers who received an antibiotic therapy at labor as compared with those who received no treatment, GBS neonatal colonization was present in 31 of 286 (10.8 percent) versus 27 of 90 (30 percent; P < 0.001); heavy colonization was observed in 10 of 286 (3.4 percent) versus 15 of 90 (16.6 percent; P < 0.001) and early-onset neonatal disease (both symptomatic and asymptomatic) occurred in none of 286 versus 4 of 90 (4.44 percent; P = 0.0031). Perinatal risk factors (no-screened mothers, labor at 36th week of gestation, prolonged membrane rupture) were present only in 1 of 4 GBS infected infants (25 percent). Intrapartum therapy both in carriers and in no-screened women significantly reduced GBS neonatal colonization, particularly the heavy one and, consequently, the early-onset neonatal group B streptococcal disease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Quality of life assessment during six months of NSAID treatment [Gonarthrosis and Quality of Life (GOAL) Study].

OBJECTIVE: To identify the time point of the greatest degree of improvement in daily living activities, pain and depression in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee during 6 months of treatment with NSAIDs, in order to define compliance and drop-out rate. METHODS: 107 patients were recruited into a multicentre, prospective, randomized, controlled trial comparing two treatments, piroxicam-beta-cyclodextrin (PBCD) and slow release diclofenac (DCL). RESULTS: The greatest improvement in quality of life occurred in both groups after 3 months, with a slight further gain observed by the end of treatment. The Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire score improved (p < 0.05 vs baseline) at 3 and 6 months with PBCD and at 6 months with DCL. The Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale score improved (p < 0.05 vs baseline) after 6 months in both groups. Significant (p < 0.05 vs baseline) improvement in other psychological and pain scores were recorded in both groups after 3 and 6 months. Compliance with treatment at 3 months was 73% for PBCD and 72% for DCL, and was 60% in both groups at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that the optimal length of time for an NSAID trial in OA patients is 3 months, when assessment of daily living activities is considered as the main outcome criterion.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prognostic significance of different biological markers (DNA index, PCNA index, apoptosis, p53, karyotype) in 126 adenocarcinoma gastric biopsies.

BACKGROUND: The different clinical evolution of gastric adenocarcinomas with the same clinico-pathologic characteristics prompted the authors to investigate the prognostic significance of different biological markers. METHODS: One hundred twenty-six preoperative cancer gastric biopsies, selected according the stage evaluated after following gastrectomy, were examined for DNA content by means the static cytometry, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), p53 mutation, apoptosis by immunohistochemistry and karyotype using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques. RESULTS: The gastric cancers, ail belonging at stage III, were adenocarcinomas histologically typed as: 26 well differentiated (G1), 45 moderately differentiated (G2), 43 poorly differentiated (G3) and 12 of undifferentiated type with signet-ring cells. The tumours showed a prevalence of diploidy (68%), a mean PCNA-LI of 4.8%, trisomy of chromosome 7 in 40% of the cases, low presence of apoptosis (30%) and p53 mutation (17%). Only apoptosis was significantly correlated to histological diagnosis (p = 0.009). A multivariate analysis showed that the DNA content and PCNA-LI were the only independent prognostic markers for survival (p = 0.005 and p = 0.0002 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation of these two biological variables, especially of the PCNA index, on gastric cancer biopsies may be useful in predicting the aggressiveness of each tumor and in identifying patients in need of additional perioperative therapies.

Adenocarcinoma↗