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Biomedical subjects

D Monzani

Publications and source records attributed to D Monzani.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Clinical examination of labyrinthine-defective patients out of the vertigo attack: sensitivity and specificity of three low-cost methods.

Many reports have appeared in the medical literature concerning the clinical examination at the bedside of patients with vertigo and, even if few controversial opinions exist, the observation of one or more kinds of nystagmus is generally regarded as suggesting an organic aetiology. So far, the presence of nystagmus has been generally considered to be crucially important for clinicians who are daily asked to differentiate between an "organic" cause of vertigo (for example, a labyrinthine dysfunction) and a "non-organic" cause of vertigo, such as a panic disorder. Albeit, it should not be forgotten that the central nervous system is able to resolve the asymmetry of vestibulo-ocular reflexes, due to a peripheral vestibular failure, by means of compensatory mechanisms so that nystagmus is rapidly abolished after the acute attack of vertigo. In addition, visual fixation elicits sub-cortical inhibitory pathways to the vestibular nuclei so that spontaneous nystagmus is remarkably reduced by light. In order to more easily detect nystagmus, attempts have been made to minimize the interference of visual fixation by means of positive lenses (Frenzel's glasses) and light occluding masks with infrared cameras (videonystagmoscopy) which have in part replaced direct observation of the patient's eyes, albeit no systematic validation of the advantages has been reported yet. To investigate the usefulness of these 3 low-cost methods to detect nystagmus, 528 outpatients presenting peripheral vestibular hypofunction, diagnosed by a complete audiological and vestibular examination, including caloric tests, were enrolled in the present study, while 133 subjects with normal vestibular function acted as a control group. All patients and control subjects underwent a standardized clinical examination based on search for spontaneous, positioning and head-shaking nystagmus detected by direct observation of patient's eyes, Frenzel's glasses and videonystagmoscopy. Specificity of the three techniques were 35.6, 43.7 and 91.6, whilst sensitivity was 88.7, 88.7 and 84.2, respectively. Finally, discriminant analysis based on the presence/absence of at least one kind of nystagmus was computed for each technique and showed that videonystagmoscopy allowed the examiner to correctly classify both pathological and normal subjects more frequently (> 77% of cases) than the other two methods (about 50%). It is concluded that only videonystagmoscopy is an acceptable technique for screening a labyrinth defect in a population of outpatients with vertigo.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Repeated visually-guided saccades improves postural control in patients with vestibular disorders.

One of the most recent and promising theoretical hypotheses for compensation of persistent asymmetry of dynamic vestibulo-ocular gain is sensory substitution. As a switch between oculomotor and vestibulo-ocular systems, saccadic eye movements are engaged in humans to compensate the angular displacement of the head towards the labyrinthine defective side thus preserving the foveal fixation of the target. This study focused on the possibility that saccadic eye movements might also compensate for the impaired vestibulo-spinal reflexes and force the postural system to a more effective control on upright stance and verified whether this sway-stabilizing effect could be applied to patients with vestibular disorders and balance dysfunction. In the first experiment, 27 patients with unilateral labyrinthine hypofunction, 24 patients with central vestibular disorders and 24 healthy volunteers were evaluated by static posturography in 3 different visual conditions: (a) eye open with fixation of a steady target, (b) eye closed, and (c) while performing horizontal visually-guided saccades. The percentage of individuals with a decreased body sway area during the oculomotor task was found to be higher in labyrinthine-defective patients as compared to those with central vestibular disorders and controls. In the second experiment, 46 patients with vestibular disorders both of central and peripheral origin, whose postural control improved by eye-tracking, as assessed by posturography, were later submitted to 12 consecutive training sessions based on repeated visually-guided saccades. Both the saccadic performances and postural control improved in all patients but a more pronounced effect was observed in those with peripheral vestibular disorders. Outcome of this rehabilitation technique was also corroborated by a general reduction of the perceived overall impairment from balance disorders as tested by a specific questionnaire.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Nicergoline in the treatment of dizziness in elderly patients. A review.

In elderly patients, dizziness occurs very frequently with significant effects on the patient's life. Its frequency increases with age, and may arise from a variety of causes. Chronic dysequilibrium in elderly patients is most probably related to disturbances within the central nervous system, due either to altered neuronal functions or to an underlying vascular disease. Nicergoline, a drug used in the treatment of cognitive disturbances in geriatric patients, improves dizziness in elderly demented and non-demented patients. In a double blind,placebo controlled trial the drug improved (i) the severity of symptoms, measured by the dizziness assessment rating scale (DARS), (ii) the overall clinical conditions revealed by global impression scale, and (iii) the perceived quality of life estimated by the dizziness handicap inventory (DHI). These results indicate a possible positive effect also on posturographic measures. Moreover, the improvement occurred at no expense of the established strategy of postural control suggesting that the effect is mediated by a substitute compensatory mechanism allowing the patient to preserve consolidated postural strategies. The results of previous open clinical studies in about 3000 patients are in agreement with those findings. Overall, severity of symptoms decreased by 68 % (57 % in the control study). Globally, the results indicate a beneficial effect of nicergoline on symptoms related to balance disorders of central origin. Animal studies show that the drug displays a broad spectrum of actions on cellular and molecular mechanisms. Moreover, animal research specifically aimed at vestibular pathophysiology has revealed that nicergoline improves vestibular compensation in models of vestibular lesion. Chronic treatment with nicergoline improved the time-course of behavioral recovery in old rats after hemi-labyrinthectomy and counteracted the regulation of cholinergic receptors observed after lesion in old rats. Nicergoline interacts at several levels by various mechanisms, from the molecular level to cognitive function, probably enhancing spontaneous plasticity phenomena underlying the central vestibular compensation. This effect is not dependent from the interaction with a single-transmitter-identified neural pathway, but from anatomical, functional and neurochemical synergistic adjustments in several brain areas.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Breast carcinoma metastases in paranasal sinuses, a rare occurrence mimicking a primary nasal malignancy. case report.

Metastatic tumours to the paranasal sinuses are an exceedingly rare event, the large majority being of renal origin. Herein, a case of metastatic breast carcinoma to the right maxilla is described which occurred 4 years after radical mastectomy, clinically and radiologically presenting as a primary sinonasal mass. Only the histopathologic examination together with a broad spectrum of immunohistochemical antibodies were useful in confirming the origin of the neoplasm.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Anxiety affects vestibulospinal function of labyrinthine-defective patients during horizontal optokinetic stimulation.

Comorbidity of vestibular and anxiety disorders was suggested by epidemiological studies and, recently, new insights into potential neural circuits which subserve both balance control and emotions, appear to support this hypothesis. In particular, disorienting visual surroundings, such as those generated by full-field moving scenes, equally disrupt postural control of patients with vestibular or panic disorders. In the present study, behaviour of body sway was assessed in response to an optokinetic stimulation by means of static posturography in 20 patients with vestibular neuritis (10 patients with normal affect and 10 with generalized anxiety disorders, as diagnosed according to the American Psychiatric Association criteria), and 20 normal subjects who served as controls. Optokinetic responses and vestibulo-spinal function during a full-field, bi-directional horizontal optokinetic stimulation, were recorded simultaneously. Labyrinthine-defective patients with low and high level of anxiety showed a common pattern of asymmetric optokinetic reflexes. On the contrary, body sway was found to be increased more by eye closure and optokinetic stimulation towards the defective labyrinth in patients affected by high level of anxiety as compared to those with normal affect and controls. These data confirm the combined effect of anxiety and labyrinthine dysfunction on vestibulo-spinal function which is disclosed by both visual suppression and disorienting visual contexts.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Combined effect of vestibular and craniomandibular disorders on postural behaviour.

A correlation has been reported in the dental literature between temporomandibular disorders and musculoskeletal abnormalities, however, the question whether they modify body postural sway remains controversial. In the present investigation, the Craniomandibular Index was used to evaluate the clinical extension of temporomandibular joint dysfunction and related problems in 40 patients with normal vestibular function and in 42 patients with peripheral vestibular disorders. Balance function was assessed by static posturography and body sway area was measured in two conditions: i) eye open, and g) eye closed. Data were compared to those of 40 healthy subjects. Postural control showed a significantly different behaviour between groups with an increase in average body sway in patients with craniomandibular disorders as opposed to controls (p < 0.005). Although the involvement of the stomatognathic apparatus was not quantitatively different in the two groups of patients, those also presenting a peripheral vestibular disorder exhibited greater average body sway than patients with only craniomandibular disorders (p < 0.005). The latter showed a greater average body sway than controls only in the trial with eyes closed (p < 0.05). The results demonstrated that craniomandibular alterations could produce moderate postural instability in patients with a normal vestibular function. Conversely, their association with peripheral vestibular disorders becomes a real challenge to the upright quiet stance probably due to a negative effect of somatosensory origin on the vestibulo-spinal reflex impairment.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Head shaking nystagmus in the follow-up of patients with vestibular diseases.

We examined 420 patients with vestibular diseases of different origin; 273 with peripheral vestibular disease and 147 with both peripheral and central vestibular disease. Recurrent vestibulopathy like Menière's disease, or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, were not included. Patients were evaluated initially and 6 months after pharmacological and/or rehabilitation therapy. At the initial assessment, the head-shaking test was specific for the side of the lesion in both groups, even if spontaneous nystagmus was no longer present. Thus, head-shaking nystagmus is a physical sign that can be easily evoked and gives useful information about the presence of vestibulo-ocular reflex asymmetry. At the follow-up at 6 months, many changes in the head-shaking nystagmus were noted: in some cases it appeared, in some others it changed direction and more often it disappeared. There is actually no acceptable explanation for the disappearance of the head-shaking nystagmus, despite some evidence that vestibular compensation could play a role. It is definitely proved that sensitivity of the head-shaking test is really poor, especially in the course of time and, therefore, it should not be used alone in the follow-up of patients with vestibular disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Atypical (bizarre) leiomyoma of the nasal cavity with prominent myxoid change.

A 72 year old woman presented complaining of nasal obstruction, rhinorrea, and epistaxis. At examination, a polypoid mass on the right posterior choana was revealed and subsequently removed. Light microscopic findings consisted of a diffuse proliferation of spindle shaped, pleomorphic cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm and blunt ended nuclei in a prominent myxoid background. The presence of numerous plurinucleate, bizarre cells made it very difficult to determine the malignant potential. Immunohistochemical evidence for leiomyogenic markers coupled with the low mitotic rate, the lack of an infiltrating growth pattern, and the indolent clinical course led to the diagnosis of atypical leiomyoma with prominent myxoid change. A literature survey confirmed that such a tumour is extremely rare at this site, but the biological behaviour seems to be similar to its uterine counterpart. Clinicians should be aware of this occurrence to prevent misdiagnosis because a conservative therapeutic approach is necessary in this disease.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Psychological distress and disability in patients with vertigo.

OBJECTIVE: Vertigo is an extremely debilitating experience for the patient, especially during attacks; it is neither easy to identify nor control. The importance of psychosomatic factors has already been widely studied and discussed. In particular, it has been shown that stress factors are relevant in setting off episodes of dizziness, but there is no agreement if the presence of distress might influence the vestibular disability. METHODS: This study is concerned with evaluating the quality of life (QOL) in a group of 206 patients suffering from vertigo and 86 control patients, using the UCLA-Dizziness Questionnaire (UCLA-DQ) scale. The results were correlated with those achieved using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) psychometric test. RESULTS: What is clear is that, in patients suffering from vertigo as regards those who are not, there is a significant amount of anxiety and depression distress, especially in female subjects. There appears to be no relationship between psychological change and the various forms of clinical vertigo. In terms of the QOL parameter, what emerges is that, from a statistical point of view, fear of becoming dizzy is most closely correlated with the perception of disability. CONCLUSIONS: There is a also a need for psycho-education here in collaboration with the E.N.T. specialist so that the patient can learn to recognise his/her medical condition and be aware of the factors that primarily contribute to the deterioration of their QOL.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Head shaking test and low-frequency rotation-acceleration test: comparison of sensitivity and specificity].

In studying the vestibular-oculomotor reflex (VOR) in patients with equilibrium disorders, both active and passive methods are used and at different stimulation frequencies, particularly to evaluate vestibular compensation. The present study compares the sensitivity and specificity of the low-frequency pendular test and the HST in normal subjects and in subjects suffering from various vestibular pathologies but showing no signs of spontaneous nystagmus, even under optimal evaluation conditions (infrared videonystagmoscopy). These spontaneous nystagmus-free subjects underwent a routine study including: case history, infrared videonystagmoscopy (HST with 2 Hz stimulation) and ENG recording (saccadic movement, smooth pursuit, OKN, VOR, VOR-fix during pendular stimulation at 0.05 Hz and VOR after Fitzgerald-Hallpike heat stimulation). On the basis of the results the subjects were classified as follows: normal (N): case history free of any equilibrium disorders and all tests negative (122 cases; 8.1%); peripheral vestibular pathology (P): case history of equilibrium disorders and labyrinthine predominance (LP) in excess of 20% upon caloric testing (716 cases; 47.6%); central pathology (C): case history of equilibrium disorders and at least 3 pathological results from among the following tests: saccadic movement, smooth pursuit, OKN, VOR-fix (226 cases; 15.0%); mixed pathology (M): with both signs of P and C (440 cases; 29.3%). The pendular test showed signs of directional dominance (DP) higher than 10% (normal limit) in 7 cases of N (5.7%), 308 P (43.0%), 33 C (14.6%) and 162 M (36.8%). DP was higher than 10% in 55.2% of the P and M cases with onset less than 1 month before, in 42.8% of those with onset within the year and in 37.2% of those with onset more than a year before. A pathological response to the HST was observed (characterized by a series of at least 3 nystagmus shakes after a maximum latency of 15 seconds) in 0 N (0.0%), 378 P (52.8%), 4 C (1.8%) and 247 M (56.1%). The nystagmus seen was nearly always monophasic (92.5%), biphasic nystagmus was only seen in only a few cases (7.5%); moreover it was predominantly horizontal in nature (94.9%) while it was vertical in only a few of the C cases (5.1%). The HST proved pathological in 46.5% of those pathologies with onset less than 1 month before, in 55.8% of those with onset within the year and in 54.4% of those with onset more than a year before. In 213 of the cases presenting pathological response to the HST there was agreement between VOR DP at the pendular test and the direction of the nystagmus evoked by the HST: 138 P (74.6%), 0 C (0.0%), 75 M (68.2%): moreover there was no agreement in 83 cases. When the DP was lower than 10% at the pendular test, the HST proved pathological in 213 P (52.2%), 3 C (1.6%), 150 M (53.9%). Both tests gave negative results in 112 N (91.8%), 163 P (22.8%), 186 C (82.3%), 123 M (27.9%). In cases of peripheral vestibular deficit (P and M) the sensitivity of the rotoacceleration test was 40.7%, specificity 88.5%. The sensitivity of the HST was 54.1%, specificity 98.8%. The sensitivity of the association using both tests was 75.2%, specificity 85.7%.

Biophysical Phenomena↗
PubMed1989

[The therapy of cervical adenopathies in tumors of the lip and oropharynx].

The authors, after some notes of topographic anatomy about the lymph nodes of the cervical area, examine the different therapeutic managements of lymph node metastasis of lip and oropharynx carcinoma. From these data, the authors put in evidence that almost all the surgeons and the radiotherapists do agree about the inclusion of radiotherapy, polychemotherapy and, more often, surgery in the treatment of cervical lymph node metastasis. The authors experience suggests no treatment of the cervical region in case of N0 lower lip cancer, especially if the neck is thin, and easy to examine, but it is necessary a careful follow-up in order to discover as soon as possible a clinic metastasis. They do not exclude that this behaviour could be suggested also in other neoplastic disorders, but the decision should be based on the histologic kind and grading, on the extension and on the possibility to exclude any cervical involvement. Beside this, the authors come to the conclusion that, in case of N1, N2, N3, the treatment of the cervical regions can not be avoided. The surgical treatment is the neck dissection, functional or radical, alone or together with radiotherapy and polychemotherapy. They finally report that the postoperative radiotherapy for cervical metastasis must be properly used when the capsular rupture is histologically proved.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗