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Biomedical subjects

D Malara

Publications and source records attributed to D Malara.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Abnormal uterine bleeding during climacteric. Correlation between transvaginal ultrasonography, hysteroscopy and histology].

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The authors evaluated the accuracy of ultrasonographic findings compared to hysteroscopic and histological results in the diagnosis of anomalous uterine bleeding in menopause. METHODS: Forty-eight women suffering from the above pathology and attending the Preventive Gynecology outpatient clinic of Department C of the Gynecology and Obstetrics faculty at Turin University during the period between September 1996 and July 1997, underwent first ultasonography using a transvaginal probe and then outpatient hysteroscopy with endometrial biopsy. RESULTS: A total overlap between the ultrasonographic image, hysteroscopic results and histological diagnosis was only obtained in the group of menopausal patients. CONCLUSIONS: In line with the data reported in the literature, the authors imposed a cut-off endometrial thickness of 4 mm above which further diagnostic tests were performed using hysteroscopy with targeted biopsy.

Aged↗

[Anomalous uterine hemorrhages in the climacteric. Their etiopathogenesis].

Anomalous uterine bleeding accounts for approximately two-thirds of the causes of outpatient gynecological check-ups for women in menopause. The high incidence of this pathology raises considerable problems from a clinical and social point of view. In this paper the authors outline the main causes of both organic and functional bleeding.

Climacteric↗

[Abnormal uterine hemorrhage in the climacteric. Diagnostic approach].

Having made a detailed list of the invasive and non-invasive diagnostic techniques used to evaluate anomalous uterine bleeding in menopause, the authors conclude by affirming that hysteroscopy undoubtedly represents the most reliable diagnostic technique and that echography should be the preferred first diagnostic step since it allows the adnexa to be examined and is less invasive and cheaper.

Adult↗

[Abnormal uterine hemorrhage in climacteric. Medical management].

Following a review of the literature, the authors examine the drugs which are currently used to treat anomalous uterine bleeding during menopause, illustrating their aims and justifying the rationale underlying their use. They conclude by stating that a satisfactory treatment often does not exist, but it is the task of the specialist to gauge the level and sequence of treatments in order to achieve the hoped-for result.

Adult↗

Effect of pleurotomy on pulmonary function after coronary artery bypass grafting with internal mammary artery.

Coronary artery by-pass grafting with internal mammary artery (IMA) has become the graft conduit of choice, due to improved survival and its long term patency rate. However, some studies have shown that, in comparison with saphenous vein grafts, after IMA grafting, there is increased postoperative impairment of pulmonary function, possibly due to the frequent performance of pleurotomy. In 57 consecutive patients, admitted for elective CABG with IMA, we prospectively evaluated the early (2nd and 6th day) postoperative chest X-ray complications and the late (2 months) respiratory function tests changes. Thirty-two patients had been subjected to pleurotomy (group 1) and 25 not (group 2). The incidence of pulmonary atelectasis and pleural effusion in 2nd and in 6th postoperative days was not different in the two groups: 22 vs. 19%, 74 vs. 52% in 2nd, and 29 vs. 19%, 48 vs. 38% in 6th postoperative day respectively. The incidence of elevated hemidiaphragm in 6th postoperative day was not different in the two groups (18.5 vs. 14%). Two months after surgery the mean values of spirometric tests were significantly lower than the preoperative values: VC from 88.5 +/- 1.26 to 80 +/- 1.65% of predicted, P < 0.001, FEV1 from 96.1 +/- 1.27 to 84.7 +/- 1.73% of predicted, P < 0.001, MEF50 from 84.9 +/- 3.14 to 69.2 +/- 3.18% of predicted, P < 0.001. No significant changes were detected in RV and in AaPO2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Coronary Artery Bypass↗

[Angiographic criteria in the diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy].

AIM: To evaluate the commonly adopted ventriculographic and coronarographic criteria of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. POPULATION: Eleven cases of obstructive cardiomyopathy, 14 non-obstructive cardiomyopathies, 15 discrete subaortic stenoses, 10 valvular aortic stenoses, and 12 cases of hypertensive heart disease. The diagnosis had been arrived at by independent clinical, electrocardiographic, echocardiographic and haemodynamic methods, as appropriate. METHODS: Retrospective "blind" examination of biplane left ventriculography (30 degrees right anterior oblique, 60 degrees left anterior oblique, with cranial tilt) and coronary arteriography. We looked for the following features: subaortic chamber, asymmetric septal hypertrophy, peculiar left ventricular shape and systolic obliteration, systolic anterior movement of the mitral leaflets, systolic narrowing or compression of epicardial coronary arteries and septal perforators. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The following left ventricular features were significantly more frequent in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, than in other forms: subaortic chamber, "banana" configuration in systole, subaortic conus, asymmetric hypertrophy, systolic anterior movement of the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve, and mitral regurgitation. A subaortic chamber was seen both in the obstructive form and in the discrete subaortic stenosis, but the cranial left anterior oblique projection could easily discriminate between them. If non-obstructive cardiomyopathy is defined with the current criteria (provocable pressure gradient of < or = 30 mm Hg in a patient with left ventricular hypertrophy of no known cause), no distinctive angiographic features can distinguish it from other forms of secondary left ventricular hypertrophy.

Angiography↗

Bronchodilating effect of ipratropium bromide in heart failure.

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that lung oedema causes an obstructive airway impairment, due to an increase in cholinergic bronchial tone in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Ten patients with CHF were tested by inhalation of ipratropium bromide and placebo, given in sequential randomized order, in double-blind fashion, after assessment of baseline lung function, both during acute cardiac decompensation and after 8-10 days of adequate treatment. The decrease in lung oedema was associated with a significant increase in vital capacity (VC) (from 70 +/- 4.4 to 83 +/- 5.4% pred), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (from 59 +/- 3.6 to 72 +/- 4.6% pred), FEV1/VC (from 61 +/- 2.8 to 64 +/- 2.3%) and residual volume (RV) (from 94 +/- 7.9 to 99 +/- 6.8% pred). Ipratropium bromide produced a far better bronchodilatation during acute decompensation when FEV1 increased from 59 +/- 3.6 to 70 +/- 3.7% pred, than after intensive treatment for heart failure, when FEV1 increased from 72 +/- 4.6 to 76 +/- 4.8% pred. The maximum absolute increase in FEV1 induced by ipratropium bromide was 286 +/- 32 ml at admission and only 111 +/- 15 ml after treatment. In conclusion, in chronic heart failure, airway obstruction is partially reversible after inhalation of an anti-muscarinic drug, when lung oedema is present, supporting the hypothesis that lung oedema increases cholinergic bronchial tone.

Aged↗

[Aortic dissection after aortic valve replacement: clinical and anatomic features].

BACKGROUND: Cardiac surgery has become a possible cause of ascending aortic dissection, particularly in patients who have undergone aortic valve replacement. METHODS: From January 1979 to December 1989, 134 patients with angiographic evidence of aortic dissection, were studied in the Haemodinamic Laboratory of the University of Turin. Twelve of these patients (7 men and 5 women), mean age 51.6 years, had been previously operated for aortic valve replacement. We evaluated incidence, clinical and anatomic features of ascending aortic dissection in this group. RESULTS: A dilated ascending aorta with a mean diameter of 4.92 cm. was noted in all these patients. The interval between valve replacement and diagnosis of aortic dissection was 57 months (range 1 day to 9 years). Reoperation was performed in 11 patients. Four intraoperative deaths occurred and 2 other patients died in the early post-operative period. Survival rate at 12 months was 50%. Our incidence of ascending aortic dissection after aortic valve replacement was 0.66% (10 patients out of 1499 operated for aortic valve replacement) and it is in agreement with reports from other Authors in literature. CONCLUSIONS: Replacement of the ascending aorta must be considered if an important dilatation of aortic root is found at time of aortic valve surgery. New efforts must be undertaken to identify patients at high risk for this complication because an elevated mortality rate is observed in reoperation for aortic dissection.

Adult↗

[Cysts of the choroid plexus: personal experience].

Twenty-six cases of fetal choroid plexus cysts were diagnosed using ultrasonography at the Ultrasound Out-patients clinic of the University of Turin during the period 1989-1991. In 21 of these cases fetal karyotype was ascertained since, as has been reported in the literature, cysts of the choroid plexus may be associated with an anomalous karyotype (trisome 18 or 21). One of the 21 cases had an altered karyotype (trisome 21) (4.2%). The Authors stress the importance of a detailed ultrasound study of fetal morphology since, in the presence of structural anomalies, the incidence of trisome 18 is much higher. On the basis of these data, prenatal diagnosis in the event of the echographic presence of choroid plexus cysts appears to be valid since the risk of chromosome anomalies is much higher than in 35-year-old women.

Adult↗

Bronchial responsiveness, oscillations of peak flow rate and symptoms in patients with mitral stenosis.

To better characterize airway hyperresponsiveness reported in cardiac patients questionnaire-recorded symptoms, bronchial responsiveness to methacholine (Mch) and to ultrasonically nebulized distilled water (UNDW), diurnal oscillations of peak expiratory flow (PEF) rate were evaluated in 32 patients with moderate mitral stenosis. Twenty patients were responsive to Mch (defined as provocative dose producing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (PD20 FEV1) less than 3.2 mg) (geometric mean PD20 FEV1 851 +/- 154 micrograms SE). Only two patients showed a fall in FEV1 greater than 20% after UNDW challenge. Patients responsive to Mch challenge had lower FEV1 as percentage of vital capacity (FEV1/VC) (80 +/- 4.8 vs 83 +/- 3.8%, p less than 0.05), higher coefficient of variation of PEF (CV-PEF) (7.1 +/- 2.8 vs 5 +/- 2.4, p less than 0.05) and higher prevalence of wheeze (70 vs 25%, p less than 0.05) in comparison with patients non-responsive to Mch challenge. CV-PEF was significantly related to FEV1 (r = 0.347, p less than 0.05) and maximal expiratory flow at 50% expired volume (MEF50) (r = 0.405, p less than 0.05). The probability of responding to Mch bronchial challenge increased proportionally with the increase in CV-PEF and the decrease in FEV1, FEV1/VC and MEF50. Airway hyperresponsiveness of patients with mitral stenosis seems to be more similar to that reported in bronchitic than in asthmatic patients.

Adult↗

[Rapid onset aortic stenosis and clinical course in adults. Clinico-hemodynamic correlations].

In 8 patients aged 41-66 years, a second left heart catheterisation done 27-98 months after the first study, demonstrated a pressure gradient across the aortic valve, that had not previously existed, or had been trivial. No significant change of the cardiac output had occurred. All but 1 patient were hypertensive. The etiology was rheumatic in 4, degenerative in 4. Electrocardiographic, radiographic, and echocardiographic evolution could not separate the patients with a gradient greater than or equal to 70 mmHg from those whose gradient was less than or equal to 40 mmHg. The intensity of the aortic component of the second heart sound, however, decreased in all former patients, and in only 1 of the latter. Aortic valvular stenosis can arise and rapidly develop in adult patients. Concomitant rheumatic mitral valve disease, coronary artery disease and hypertension can mask and/or modify symptoms, signs and laboratory findings. Changes of the aortic component of the second sound may suggest its occurrence.

Adult↗