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C De Dominicis

Publications and source records attributed to C De Dominicis.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Replica field theory and renormalization group for the Ising spin glass in an external magnetic field.

We use the generic replica symmetric cubic field theory to study the transition of short-range Ising spin glasses in a magnetic field around the upper critical dimension. A novel fixed point is found from the application of the renormalization group. In the spin-glass limit, this fixed point governs the critical behavior of a class of systems characterized by a single cubic parameter. For this universality class, the spin-glass susceptibility diverges at criticality, whereas the longitudinal mode remains massive. The third mode, however, behaves unusually. The physical consequences of this unusual behavior are discussed, and a comparison with the conventional de Almeida-Thouless scenario is presented.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Role of 5-aminolevulinic acid in the diagnosis and treatment of superficial bladder cancer: improvement in diagnostic sensitivity.

OBJECTIVES: To use 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) in diagnostic cystoscopy and during transurethral resection of the bladder (TURB) to treat transitional cell carcinoma. The efficacy of this new technique was compared with standard cystoscopy. METHODS: The 5-ALA, instilled in the bladder 2 hours before cystoscopy, makes the pathologic tissue fluorescent when illuminated with blue light (375 to 400 nm). This allows a better recognition of the neoplastic forms for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes during TURB. This method has been used since May 1997 on 49 patients in whom bladder tumor was diagnosed either immediately or during postchemotherapy follow-up. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-nine biopsies were taken of fluorescent and nonfluorescent areas (3.5 per patient) to check the effectiveness of the new method compared with standard cystoscopy. A good correlation was found between 5-ALA cystoscopy and the histopathologic diagnosis, with a good sensitivity (87%). The 5-ALA cystoscopy allowed the diagnosis of a tumor in 24 patients with negative standard cystoscopic findings. Furthermore, 5-ALA cystoscopy detected 7 cases of carcinoma in situ. Neither local nor systemic (because of endovesical instillation) side effects were noted. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that 5-ALA could be routinely used in the diagnosis of superficial bladder tumors, as it was shown to improve the diagnostic sensitivity for carcinoma in situ and to reduce the risk of recurrence related to missed cancerous lesions or incomplete TURB.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Superficial bladder tumors in patients under 40 years of age: clinical, prognostic and cytogenetic aspects.

Bladder carcinoma with transitional cells is the most frequent neoplasia in the urinary system, but it is quite rare in patients under 40 years of age (0.4-2%). An analysis of 21 patients under 40 and a review of other reports show that tumors in patients under 20 years old have little tendency to recur and to progress, while tumors in patients aged between 21 and 40 have a behavior pattern similar to older age groups regarding recurrence and disease progression. Preliminary results of a study using fluorescent in situ hybridization with probes for the centromere of chromosomes 7 and 17 showed a high incidence of aneusomy with regard to these chromosomes and a genetic difference between superficial tumors in the young and in adults. Using probes from chromosomes already described in bladder carcinogenesis, we obtained higher sensitivity and specificity in detecting aneuploid events.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Percutaneous sclerotization of simple renal cysts with 95% ethanol followed by 24-48 h drainage with nephrostomy tube.

AIM OF THE STUDY: We propose some technique devices for treating simple renal cysts with percutaneous puncture (PCN) to reduce recurrences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1995 and December 1998, a series of 42 patients, 13 females and 29 males, ranging in age between 49 and 73 were treated for symptomatic kidney cystic disease. The cysts varied between 7.4 and 13.6 cm in diameter and from 100 to 570 cm(3) in volume. This technique consists of echo-guided emptying of the cyst, and slowly inserting a quantity of pure 95% ethanol, equivalent to about 1/3 of the cyst volume, into the cavity. This acts as a sclerosant agent on the cyst walls. The protocol of this technique also includes positioning a curled drainage catheter, for 24-48 h, in suction, to ensure a correct collapse of the cyst walls and to avoid cyst recurrence. RESULTS: Of the 42 patients treated, only 4 did not complete the protocol. In 3 cases, the patients were not able to stand the procedure because of intense pain during cyst filling with alcohol. The other patient had intracystic hemorrhage. The results were evaluated by ultrasonography at 7 days post-operatively and then at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months later. There was a further follow-up lasting from 12 to 36 months. Of 38 patients treated, 29 (76%) did not have any recurrence. 8 patients (21%) developed a small liquid layer of 3-4 cm, which did not enlarge in subsequent check-ups. We observed a recurrence, which spontaneously reduced in volume, only in 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS: This procedure was simple to apply in an out-patient setting and used low-cost materials which are easily obtained. Moreover, the results appear to confirm the validity of this technique.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

[Role of urinary cytology in the study of bladder cancer. Comparison with the BTA test].

Early diagnosis of bladder neoplasia at the moment makes use of urinary cytology and cystoscopy. The authors describe the results of a study on 62 patients (56 men and 6 women) with bladder neoplasia, and compare the results of urinary cytology to the BTA test (Bladder Tumor Antigen test), ones, after considering histological results of TURB (Trans Urethral Resection Bladder) or cystectomy. Sensibility of urinary cytology was quite better than BTA test sensibility (80.6% vs 48%). Finally it's described a study on 450 cases of istologically controlled bladder carcinomas, on which had been executed a cytological analysis before surgical treatment. The outcome of cytological diagnosis on 414 cases (92%) was neoplasia. On the basis of their experience, the authors regard cytology as a fundamental method in diagnostic iter and in follow-up of patients with bladder neoplasia.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Scrotoscopy: a promising future? Our preliminary experience.

Scrotoscopy is a new endourologic technique for the exploration of the scrotum. After distention of the tunica vaginalis space with saline, a standard arthroscope was employed in 20 cadavers and subsequently in 5 patients before full surgical exploration for hydrocele (1 case), testicular biopsy (3 cases), or orchidectomy (1 case). There was a clear view of the testis and epididymis. The procedure was easy, and there were no major complications. Scrotoscopy could potentially be performed on an outpatient basis. Its indications in infertility appear to be particularly promising.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Abnormalities of colonic mucin secretion and metabolic changes after internal urinary diversion for bladder exstrophy. A prospective study.

Ten patients with different types of internal urinary diversion for bladder exstrophy were studied prospectively in order to assess metabolic abnormalities and morphological, histochemical and lectin binding changes in the colorectal mucosa. The histochemical and/or lectin binding changes which were found in the majority of patients were identical to those observed in premalignant and malignant conditions of the colon. In some cases they were detectable 3 years after the initial examination but were completely absent from the colorectal mucosa of normal subjects. Metabolic disturbances (metabolic acidosis, increased anion gap, hyperchloraemia) were observed in a substantial number of asymptomatic patients. These findings stress the need for regular endoscopic, histological and metabolic follow-up in these patients and for life-long treatment with bicarbonate or citrate.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

The incidence of post-operative urinary tract infection in patients with ureteric stents.

Despite the many advantages provided by the ureteric stent, it produces a foreign body reaction and increases the risk of infection. We undertook a study on the rate of infection in a group of paediatric patients with ureteric stents; 40 ureteric stents, 6 to 9 F, were used in 36 children undergoing the following procedures: 18 pyeloplasties, 20 antireflux ureteric reimplantation and 2 uretero-rectal anastomoses. Only patients with sterile urine pre-operatively were included in the study. All received antibiotic cover in the post-operative period. Positive urine cultures were found in only 3 patients (7.5%). In spite of this low incidence, the urine specimens collected from all children 1 month after removal of the stent showed a much higher incidence of infection. It was concluded that ureteric stenting is a safe procedure with a low rate of infection provided that antibiotic cover is given.

Child↗
PubMed1989

[Unilateral primary vesico-ureteral reflux: uni- or bilateral reimplantation?].

The need of bilateral reimplantation in unilateral reflux is still stressed by some authors. The following represents the rationale for this surgical management. 1. correction of unilateral reflux may increase bladder pressure and in this way induce a contralateral reflux; 2. the operation on one side may lead to changes in the muscles and cause reflux on the opposite one; 3. reflux, though unilateral, is the result of a malformation involving the whole trigone. Nevertheless, the authors regard as unjustified the reimplantation of a normal ureterovesical junction being in-acceptable the risk, even if low, of operative failure on a ureter without reflux. Literature data show an incidence of contralateral reflux after unilateral reimplantation of 11-32%. Such incidence, however, tends to decrease (1.9-20%) one year after the operation due to the spontaneous resolution of reflux in most of the cases. The grade of reflux was low (I-II grade) in the majority of cases. The authors report on 38 cases of unilateral primitive vesico-ureteral reflux who underwent unilateral ureteral reimplantation between 1981 and 1982. Minimum follow-up was 2 years. After surgery, contralateral reflux occurred in 4 cases (10.5%) but it spontaneously subsided within 3 years in all of them. Contralateral reflux was asymptomatic in 3 cases and in no cases caused renal scars. The authors conclude that unilateral ureteral reimplantation is the procedure of choice in children with unilateral reflux. Bilateral reimplantation, however, will be performed in patients with bilateral reflux who showed disappearance of reflux on one side before the operation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

[Significance and prognosis of idiopathic macrohematuria in childhood. Long-term surveillance of 45 patients].

Idiopathic macrohematuria represents 14 to 15% of all macroscopic hematurias in children, being more frequent than in adults (5 to 8%). Of 45 children admitted with this affection between 1968 and 1982, 45 were followed up regularly over 2 to 16 years (mean 9 years). Initial investigations included urine cytobacteriology, blood tests, urography and mictional cysto-urethrography, cystoscopy, immunology and renal ultrasound imaging (since 1978). Review examinations were comprised of blood and urine biologic tests, a standard abdominal radiograph, renal and bladder ultrasound imaging and urography (in 19 cases with persistent macro- or micro-hematuria). Of these 45 cases, macrohematuria was no longer present after 1 year in 31 cases (69%), and persisted for a maximum of 8 years until finally disappearing in 10 cases (22%): it persisted without change in 4 cases (8.8%). During follow up surveillance, 37 children (82.2%) failed to present any urinary affection, but 8 children (17.8%) were found to have urologic or nephrologic disease possibly responsible for the hematurial (including 5 cases of lithiasis). Analysis of findings showed associated urinary affections in 6% of cases when hematuria ceased before the 1st year and in 36% when it persisted. At the present time all 45 children have normal renal function, and idiopathic macrohematuria in children can be considered to be a benign lesion when the diagnosis is confirmed by very complete investigations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

[Medical treatment of cystine lithiasis in children].

Prophylactic measures or dissolution by medical therapy was used to treat bladder cystine stones in 14 children over about a 10-year period. All patients received alpha-MPG (alpha-mercaptopropionylglycine) except one child allergic to alpha-MPG who was treated with DNP (D-penicillamine). In 10 patients the treatment was administered 11 times to dissolve the stones, with resulting total dissolution in 6 cases, partial removal in one case. Two patients are still under treatment and 2 cases failed to respond. Among the 12 patients receiving preventive therapy, only 2 cases were reported as developing recurrences, due in fact to irregular taking of medication. Lytic treatment proceeded without any particular problems, and results were more than satisfactory, but for preventive therapy the difficulty resides in its application and duration when confronted with the serious and frequent danger of a relapse.

Amino Acids, Sulfur↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Encrusted cystitis in an immunocompromised patient: possible coinfection by Corynebacterium urealyticum and E. coli.

Encrusted cystitis is a severe chronic inflammatory disease of the bladder characterized by excessively alkaline urine and calcifications within the bladder wall. A case of a 60 year-old man affected by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which developed encrusted cystitis due to Corynebacterium urealyticum with E. coli co-infection, shows that the treatment of encrusted cystitis with a endoscopic debulking of the encrusted stones and an antimicrobial therapy specific for C. urealyticum often is not sufficient for the complete resolution of symptoms.

Corynebacterium↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Specular crossed renal ectopia and balanic hypospadias in monozygotic twins].

The observation of a balanic hypospadia with chordee associated with a renal malformation in both of identical twins is reported. Monozygosity of twins was demonstrated with the study of ABO, MNS, HLA and RH factor systems. Urography, performed in both twins, showed a specular crossed renal ectopia with fusion. Abdominal ultrasounds, Chest-X-ray and barium meal showed no other abnormalities. After an analysis of the embryogenetic mechanisms of twinning, the Authors elaborate a hypothesis to explain the development of this specular renal malformation, never reported up to date in identical twins.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗