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C Meloni

Publications and source records attributed to C Meloni.

90 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of cognitive functions in patients with chronic renal insufficiency].

Fifteen undialyzed and thirteen dialyzed patients affected by chronic renal failure were studied by means of an extensive neuropsychological battery with the aim of assessing the incidence of a deterioration of cognitive functions. Mean performances scores obtained by the two groups of patients were compared with analogous scores obtained by a group of control subjects similar as for literacy and age. The comparisons among the three groups did not reveal any difference as for performance scores obtained to various tasks nor for the global assessment derived for the entire battery. Furthermore our data do not point out any significative correlation between global performances on neuropsychological battery and blood levels of creatinine and urea nitrogen or duration of dialytic treatment of renal subjects. In conclusion, the results of our study do not show evidence of cognitive impairment in subjects affected by chronic renal failure and do not confirm the hypothesis of a detrimental effect of prolonged periods of dialytic treatment on cognitive functions.

Blood Urea Nitrogen↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Haematological changes induced by direct contact over a coated activated charcoal: in vivo and in vitro study.

In evaluating biocompatibility, haematological changes induced by ACCM in vivo and in vitro were studied. Twenty minutes after the start of haemoperfusion a significant fall in white blood cell number was found. After 60 minutes the leucopenia still occurred. In a previous work we suggested that complement activation is at least one of the possible mechanisms responsible for these phenomena. Moreover, our data showed a significant decrease in platelet number after 60 minutes of haemoperfusion. During the in vitro study, we found, using citrated blood, a significant correlation between aggregation response to ADP and collagen, either at different ACCM doses or at various periods of incubation. Our results suggest that the fall in platelets is due to platelet aggregation. The haemocoagulation study may have clinical importance in high-risk patients when haemoperfusion is required.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The treatment of severe forms of myasthenia gravis.

In this study we introduced and tested the clinical efficacy of a combined treatment based on the association of plasma exchange (PE) with high daily doses of prednisone in 18 patients with severe forms of myasthenia gravis (MG). A myasthenic score based on strength and resistance was evaluated in each patient in basal condition and during the treatment. The study design included 5 sessions of PE, performed within a period of 15 days, 1 session every 3 days, associated with administration of oral prednisone (1 mg/kg of body weight), which began at the same time as the first session and was continued following a daily schedule for at least three months. A significant improvement was obtained from the start of the therapy, with a reduction of the myasthenic score from 26.56 to 11.44 by day 10 and with further reduction after PE interruption. An early improvement, recorded within 24-48 hours of the beginning of the study design, was observed in 11/18. The administration of steroid therapy was never followed by a worsening of myasthenic symptoms (as reported when it is administered in the absence of concomitant PE). No recurrence of symptoms was reported after 29 months' follow-up. This type of therapeutic association was generally well tolerated and no unwanted side effects were observed. According to our results we can conclude that medium-high doses of oral prednisone in simultaneous association with PE lead to a successful control of severe forms of MG and may be considered a valid therapeutic strategy.

Adolescent↗