Biomedical subjects

E Costantini

Publications and source records attributed to E Costantini.

42 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Salmonella mycotic aneurysms: traditional and "alternative" surgical repair with arterial homograft.

Salmonella infection of the abdominal aorta with formation of mycotic aneurysm is rare, but associated with a high mortality and morbidity. Prompt surgical treatment and selective and prolonged antibiotic therapy are required because of its rapid and impredictable evolution in a short period of time, even if an infectivous etiology is only suspected. Methods of revascularization can be different: the traditional two are in situ or extraanatomic bypass using synthetic graft. Both these solutions are subject to complications. An "alternative" method of revascularization with low risk of infection and good patency is the use of arterial homograft in situ. We report two cases of Salmonella mycotic aortic aneurysms successfully treated with revascularization respectively by extraanatomic bypass using synthetic graft and in situ arterial homograft. The reasons for our choice are also discussed.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Perforation of the esophagus during pneumatic dilatation in achalasia].

Esophageal perforation is a serious complication of pneumatic dilatation. We studied the cases of 4 patients (2 men and 2 women, mean age 58 years, range 56-62) who had surgical treatment for achalasia, two of which had had previous dilatation. The main symptoms were pain and dyspnea. Pneumomediastinum was present in all patients, pleural effusion in 2 and cervical emphysema in 1. Esophagographic results showed evidence of perforation in all four cases and gastric patches were surgically placed on the esophageal tear within 12 hours. Three patients received enteral nutrition for an average of 13 days. Mean hospital stay was 14 days. No post-operative complications were exhibited although one patient did develop gastroesophageal reflux 3 months later and underwent surgery to repair a hernia in the thorax 5 years later. Early and aggressive treatment is considered the best therapy and the gastric patch, in our opinion, is an effective and reliable technique for esophageal perforation repair in achalasia patients.

Dilatation↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Endocrine-gynecological problems in female adolescents].

Adolescence is usually defined as the period of rapid physical and psychological growth and development occurring during the second decade of life. After the introduction about the physiology of puberty and menstrual cycle, the major problems in female adolescents are discussed: delayed puberty, hypo and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, causes of primary and secondary amenorrhea, menstrual irregularity, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, dysmenorrhea, breast disorders, hirsutism, acne. Finally, adolescent pregnancy prevention and contraception are discussed. The Authors want to stress the importance of the endocrinological and gynaecological disorders in female adolescents and their impact on the psychological and emotional development at this very delicate age.

Acne Vulgaris↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Thymopentin increases the survival of mice after allogeneic blood transfusion, bacterial gavage, and burn injury.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of blood transfusion on mortality and the incidence of bacterial translocation in mice subjected to thermal burn or bacterial gavage, or both, and to assess the influence of thymopentin on mortality. DESIGN: Randomly controlled experiments. SETTING: University departments of surgery, immunology and nuclear medicine. MATERIAL: 235 Balb/c (H-2d) and C3H/HeJ (H-2k) mice. INTERVENTIONS: 8 groups of 20 mice each received: saline infusion (controls), blood transfusion (BT) alone, 20% burn alone, gavage with 1 x 10(10) Escherichia coli alone, BT and gavage, BT and burn, burn and gavage, or BT, burn, and gavage. A further 3 groups of 10 mice were all gavaged with 111In-biotin labelled E coli and randomised to additional BT and burn, BT alone, or burn alone. 98 mice that had had BT, burn, and gavage, were then randomised to receive thymopentin 0, 0.1, 1, or 5 mg/kg/day for 15 days. The impact of the pretreatment with thymopentin on PGE2 concentration was also evaluated in a separate group of 45 mice that received BT, burn, and gavage; or burn and gavage. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Survival, degree of translocation. RESULTS: The highest mortality (75%) was in the BT, burn, and gavage group. BT alone significantly reduced survival in burned mice, whereas BT alone or associated with gavage had no effect. Thermal injury had the most influence on bacterial translocation, whereas BT did not increase it. Thymopentin significantly improved survival, particularly in the higher doses. The pretreatment with thymopentin significantly reduced PGE2 concentration after BT, burn and gavage. CONCLUSION: Burn injury significantly increased mortality in the presence of immune deficiency caused by BT. Thymopentin reduced mortality, possibly by immunomodulation.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Endocrino-gynecologic problems of the female adolescent].

Acne Vulgaris↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Carotid endarterectomy using direct suturing].

The authors report the surgical technique and their experience in direct suture of arterial wall during carotid endarterectomies, comparing their results with reported data from literature. Selective or routinely utilization of direct suture or patch angioplasty are still a matter of discussion and reports from literature are controversial. In the Vascular Surgery Division of Busto Arsizio Hospital from January 1982 to December 1995, 870 carotid endarterectomies have been performed; direct arterial wall suture has been done in the 95.5% of these. The mean follow-up is 72 months, the restenosis rate is 6.6%, but only the 0.7% of the cases required a new surgical intervention with a patch angioplasty. From these data and according to the reports of international literature, we can assume that the use of a patch or direct arterial wall reconstruction, is a factor of less influence on restenosis rate than systemic or local factors (intimal flaps, surgical mistakes). Carotid endarterectomy has to be performed with great accuracy, in order to avoid surgical mismanagements which could negatively influence on early and late results.

Adult↗