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Biomedical subjects

D Piazza

Publications and source records attributed to D Piazza.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Hope, self-esteem and social support in persons with multiple sclerosis.

A descriptive study was conducted to determine if a relationship among the variables of hope, self-esteem and social support existed in persons with multiple sclerosis. A demographic data sheet and three instruments were used: Miller Hope Scale (MHS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Part II of the Personal Resource Questionnaire (PRQ). Of 75 individuals contacted by mail asking them to participate, 40 sets of questionnaires were returned. The subjects' ages ranged from 32 to 70 with a mean of 48.2. The mean scores on the 3 instruments were: MHS--157.9 (40-200 possible range), self-esteem--29.68 (10-40 possible range), and PRQ Part II--141.13 (25-175 possible range). A statistically significant relationship was found between hope and self-esteem, hope and social support and social support and self-esteem. Additionally, findings were reported and conclusions and nursing implications identified.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Plasma beta-endorphin and caffeine consumption in chronic hemicrania].

Thanks to recent biochemical and neuroendocrine findings, migraine belonging to the group of primary headaches appears as a pathology of the antinociceptive system with evolutive character. It has been demonstrated, in fact, that right at the early stage of migraine, there is a significant reduction in liquoral concentrations of beta-endorphin (beta-E), endogenous opioid peptide followed by a similar change in the plasma opioid system. The opioid system deficiency is even more evident after stimulation tests that point to reduced reactivity of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal system with respect to stimuli that in normal subjects trigger hypophyseal beta-E incretion. Caffeine, a member of the methyl-xanthine group, is an interesting molecule in the study of migraine patients because the chronic intake of this substance, contained in numerous analgesics, has been related to the chronic nature of the pain. The purpose of the present study is to assess the relationship between caffeine consumption and plasma opioid system. With the administration of a single oral dose of caffeine, normal subjects present an increase in plasma concentrations of beta-E, while in patients with chronic migraine, the response is significantly lower. These data confirm the poor reactivity of the plasma opioid system to pharmacological stimuli in migraine. Average daily consumption of caffeine has also been determined. It was not possible to establish a correlation between consumption of caffeine and plasma concentrations of beta-E whether basal or after stimulus with caffeine.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1988

Tracheal reconstruction with jejunal loop autograft.

An experimental study on tracheal reconstruction using a jejunal loop autograft, is reported. Eight dogs divided into 2 groups have been used. In the first group the jejunal loop was prepared using a single vascular pedicle including both the artery and the vein and was revascularized with the superior thyroid artery and its collateral vein. In the second group the jejunal loop was prepared with two different vascular pedicles, revascularizing the artery with the superior thyroid artery and the vein with the jugular vein. In this group a sylastic T-tube was placed inside the loop. The procedure and preliminary results, are reported.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Significance of metastatic disease in subaortic lymph nodes.

Thirty-five patients underwent resection of primary bronchogenic carcinoma of the left upper lobe or left main bronchus in the presence of metastatic disease in subaortic lymph nodes. No patient had metastatic disease in other mediastinal node stations. There was 1 postoperative death. Complete follow-up is available on 34 patients. Three-year and five-year actuarial survival for the entire group is 44% and 28%, respectively. For 23 patients undergoing complete resection, five-year actuarial survival is 42%. Resection of primary bronchogenic carcinoma in the presence of subaortic nodal metastases is associated with improved survival relative to reports of survival following resection of metastatic disease in other mediastinal node stations. Resection should be undertaken in these patients especially when it is judged that the resection is likely to be complete.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Presence of zoonotic campylobacters in cattle and swine for consumption in Argentina.

The first isolation of zoonotic campylobacters in Argentina is described. Samples from intestinal contents and swabbing of carcasses of clinically healthy cattle and swine destined for consumption were analysed. In cattle, isolations of C. fetus subsp. jejuni and C. sputorum were made from intestinal content samples (1.7% and 6.9% respectively for each species), and only the former species was isolated from carcass swabbing samples (3.2%). Isolations in swine were made only from intestinal contents (6.9%). We discuss the significance of these isolations in relation to the role the animal species studied play in the epidemiological chain of this zoonosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Visual evoked potentials and brainstem auditory evoked potentials in migraine and transient ischemic attacks.

A study of brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) and pattern reversal visual evoked potentials (VEPs), recorded in intercritical phase, was carried out in 20 subjects (10 suffering from common migraine and 10 suffering from vertebrobasilar TIA) in order to obtain a comparative evaluation of cortical-subcortical functions. The data we obtained demonstrate the presence of BAEPs alterations in patients with previous vertebrobasilar TIA: no abnormalities were found in the migraine group. VEPs parameters are normal in both groups. Our data show that the study of the so-called "stimulus-related" potentials, such as BAEPs and pattern reversal VEPs, is useful in evaluating the damage produced by any noxa, while it cannot clearly emphasize individual factors predisposing to a specific pathology, as the absence of specific alterations in migraine patients demonstrates.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Antimigraine drugs in the management of daily chronic headaches: clinical profiles of responsive patients.

Flunarizine, a Ca-antagonist with demonstrated antimigraine properties, and indoprofen, an anti-inflammatory non-steroidal agent, were used in the treatment of daily chronic headache. Forty-two migraineurs with interval headache (MIH) were treated with flunarizine in a 6-month open trial, while indoprofen was administered to 23 patients with MIH and 7 with chronic tension headache (CTH) in a 2-month, double-blind, cross-over placebo-controlled study. Flunarizine was found effective in over 65% of the patients, while indoprofen was able to improve headache severity in only 30% of the subjects. In the responder patients, the effectiveness of both drugs is more pronounced in MIH, and seems to be ascribable to the ability of the treatments to reduce number and severity of attacks. A higher incidence of previous affective disturbances is found in non-responsive cases. The analysis of factors converting episodic into chronic headache shows slight but not significant differences between responders and non-responders. An impairment of plasma beta-endorphin levels, in the presence of normal ACTH, cortisol and nociceptive RIII threshold values, characterizes daily chronic headache (DCH) patients. Moreover, indoprofen does not significantly affect these biological and neurophysiological parameters independently of the therapeutic response.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Flunarizine: a wide spectrum prophylactic for migraine headache.

The effects of flunarizine in migraine headache were investigated in 40 patients treated with single 10 mg evening doses for 16 weeks. Standard criteria were adopted for patient admission and for the monitoring of clinical (headache index, consumption of analgesics, side-effects) and laboratory variables (platelet aggregation and red cells filterability). Significant positive effects were found in 31/40 cases irrespective of the clinical course of the disease (i.e., recurrent attacks or more or less chronic forms). Some baseline characteristics of the patients are discussed on the basis of the therapeutic response.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Roy's adaptation model: a guide for rehabilitation nursing practice.

Roy's Adaptation Model provides a framework for holistic rehabilitation nursing practice. In this article, the model is applied to a rehabilitation patient with a spinal cord injury for the assessment of behaviors and stimuli influencing the behaviors and also for planning and evaluating nursing care.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Variations of skin temperature in patients with craniofacial pain. A thermographic evaluation.

Thermography of craniofacial region was taken in 33 patients with different types of craniofacial pain. In 26 patients (78%) a thermal asymmetry was found which corresponded to the painful area in 19 patients (57%). It can be concluded that temperature alterations in different areas of the face are common in such patients and are probably the consequence of functional alterations of the sympathetic system.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A rare case of acute abdomen: perforated acute diverticulitis of the cecum].

The Authors report a rare case of perforated diverticulitis of the cecum. The patient was a 68-year-old man who was referred to the Authors attention with the classic symptoms of acute appendicitis. During laparotomy a perforated "omentum-sealed" diverticulum was found on the lateral wall of the cecum, whereas the appendix appeared to be completed unaffected. A right hemicolectomy was performed. The Authors analyse the similarities and peculiarity of the case. Special attention is drawn to the problems of differential diagnosis raised by this pathology. A preoperative diagnosis is arduous because the disease is difficult to distinguish from acute appendicitis and may be even difficult to distinguish it intraoperatively from a carcinoma of the cecum. There is no characteristic clinical pattern pointing to this diagnosis. Diagnostic maneuvers are usually unrewarding. Right hemicolectomy is a safe procedure when the diagnosis is doubtful.

Abdomen, Acute↗