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Biomedical subjects

E Cosentino

Publications and source records attributed to E Cosentino.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Utility of delayed spinal cord injury rehabilitation: an Italian study.

The objective was to examine the utility of delayed spinal cord injury rehabilitation. The design was a retrospective study in the spinal unit of a large rehabilitation hospital. The participants were 117 patients at their first rehabilitation admission with an event to admission time of 90 days or more. The main outcome measures were the Barthel Index, Rivermead Mobility Index, Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury and motor scores at admission and discharge; relative changes were examined. Patients showed a significant increase in all the outcome measures and achieved independence or assisted independence; significant neurological improvement and improvement in walking were recorded too; most of the patients were discharged home. The present data demonstrate the utility of delayed rehabilitation and highlight the importance of having rehabilitation in a specialised setting.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2004

Pressure sores and blood and serum dysmetabolism in spinal cord injury patients.

STUDY DESIGN: Spinal cord injury (SCI) patients with pressure sores were studied before and after surgical intervention for ulcer healing and compared with matched SCI patients without sores and with patients with pressure sores and other diseases. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the relationship between pressure sores and anaemia and serum protein alteration in SCI patients. To study the pathogenesis of these alterations and suggest appropriate therapy. SETTING: Spinal cord unit in Rome, Italy. SUBJECTS: A total of 13 SCI patients with pressure sores, 13 comparable patients without pressure sores and four patients with other diseases and pressure sores. MAIN MEASURES: Haematochemical parameters. RESULTS: Patients with pressure sore showed significant decreased red cells, decreased haemoglobin and haematocrit, increased white cells and ferritin and decreased transferrin and transferrin saturation; total hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia with increased Alfa-1 and gamma globulins increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein were also present. The alterations returned to normal after surgical intervention for pressure sore healing. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with pressure sores suffer from anaemia and serum protein alteration that fells within the range of metabolic alteration of chronic disorders and neoplastic diseases. The alterations depend on a decreased utilisation of iron stores in the reticuloendothelial system and on inhibition of the hepatic synthesis of albumin. With regard to treatment, iron treatment should be avoided because of the risk of haemochromatosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Changes in cerebrospinal fluid levels of malondialdehyde and glutathione reductase activity in multiple sclerosis.

The chemical composition of human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is considered to reflect brain metabolism. In this study we measured malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and the activity of enzymes involved in antioxidative processes, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase, in human cerebrospinal fluid of multiple-sclerosis (MS) patients and normal healthy volunteers. Our results indicated that the cerebrospinal fluid in MS showed significantly higher endogenous levels of MDA than the control, as well as a much greater resistance to in-vitro stimulation test. In addition, we found the activity of GSH reductase significantly increased, about twice the control values, whereas the activity of glutathione peroxidase was markedly decreased as compared to control values. Our findings suggest that in MS the activity of antioxidant enzymes is modified, and indicates the conceivable possibility of a pathogenic role of oxidative stress in the determinism of the disease.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed1992

Cerebral ischemia and livedo reticularis in a patient with impairment of coagulation factor VII and free protein S.

The association of ischemic cerebrovascular lesions with livedo reticularis is known as Sneddon syndrome. It affects young subjects, primarily women, and its neurological manifestations are TIAs, ischemic stroke, progressive dementia and epileptic seizures. Its etiopathogenesis has still to be clarified. Some authors have associated it with an antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Recently it has been assumed that a defect in blood coagulation may be involved in its pathogenesis. Here we report a case in which both an increase in coagulation factor VII activity and a deficiency in free protein S were documented.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Effects of TRH-T on spinal motoneurones in man.

The effect of thyrotropin-releasing hormone tartrate (TRH-T) on the decrease in H Max/M Max ratio, an index of the spinal motoneurone pool, induced by haloperidol, was studied in 15 healthy volunteers. In all subjects, the H response was examined by an electromyographic apparatus. The values were expressed as H Max/M Max ratio, that gives an index of excitability of the spinal motoneurone pool. It was found that the mean H Max/M Max ratio value significantly decreased after haloperidol administration, but this effect was completely reversed by the injection of TRH-T. This finding suggests that the peptide may modulate motoneurone functions.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Modification of the blink reflex in hemidystonia].

With the aim of evaluating the excitability of the brain stem reflex centers, we studied the side-to-side differences in the EMG activity of the early and late components of the blink reflex, in subjects with unilateral dystonia without demonstrable brain lesions. We observed that both early and late responses of direct blink reflex were significantly higher in the affected side than in the contralateral one.

Blinking↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Correlations of heart rate and arterial pressure in the orthoclinostatic test. Study of 3500 subjects].

The study deals with the data resulting from the analysis of 3497 passive orthoclinostatic tests performed in the neurological Clinic of Pisa during the last 10 years. Blood pressure and heart rate values both in supine and upright positions have been analyzed, particularly focusing the orthostatic hypotension, which were 184 over 3497 tests. The results show that in young subjects only hypersympatheticotonic hypotension are present, due to a dysfunction of the regulating hypothalamic centres, while at more advanced age there is a prevalence of orthostatic hypotension with low differential values of heart rate. Differential values of heart rate as a function of age have been the calculated.

Adolescent↗