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Biomedical subjects

E Ferrari

Publications and source records attributed to E Ferrari.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in patients with ischemic stroke.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) is a non-invasive technique which has proved to be useful for monitoring various brain metabolites (N-acetyl-aspartate, choline, creatine-phosphocreatine, lactate). A total of 18 patients underwent a combined magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/1H-MRS protocol in order to evaluate the distribution of the metabolites in the various stages of cerebral ischemia. Our results show a marked decrease of N-acetyl-aspartate and a large content of Lactate during the early phases, and a decrease in N-acetyl-aspartate, choline and creatine-phosphocreatine (Cr-PCr) during the chronic phase.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

The value of aspiration needle biopsy in evaluating thyroid nodules.

From 1980 to 1990 4,229 consecutive euthyroid patients with thyroid nodule (73% with single and 27% with multiple nodules) were examined by FNA cytology for preoperative selection. One thousand four hundred and eight of these patients (33%) had nodules also suitable for evaluation by large needle biopsy histology (Aspiration Needle Biopsy, ANB). No significant complications occurred following ANB. The proportion of inadequate specimens was 25% for ANB and 15% for FNA, however a definite diagnosis was obtained with ANB in 62 patients with inadequate FNA finding. Diagnostic sensitivity was higher (93%) for FNA than for ANB whereas specificity was better (82%) for ANB diagnoses. Nonetheless ANB contributed to the increase of overall sensitivity as four of all the malignant nodules diagnosed as benign by FNA were correctly identified by ANB. Analysis of the postoperative results of 102 nodules with FNA and ANB finding of benign nodule or of suspected cancer showed that the addition to the same FNA finding (benign nodule or suspected cancer) of a different ANB diagnosis (suspected cancer or benign nodule) greatly changed the probability of finding a malignant nodule at postoperative histology. ANB was also useful in showing a macrofollicular component in 52% of 150 nodules diagnosed by FNA as pure microfollicular nodules.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Severe pulmonary hypertension complicating a long treatment with dexfenfluramine].

The authors report a case of severe pulmonary hypertension after long-term dexfenfluramine treatment in a 48 year old man with no previous medical history. Dexfenfluramine, which has previously been reported to cause pulmonary hypertension, is an amphetamine-like anorexic agent, a pharmacological group known to predispose to this type of side effect. The possibility of this complication should be born in mind before prescribing the drug. In particular, it would seem to be particularly important not to exceed the recommended length of treatment especially as potential reversibility of pulmonary hypertension on withdrawal of the drug has been reported in one case.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗
PubMed1994

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy with carboplatin and recombinant interferon alpha in ovarian cancer.

Twenty-five patients with Stage III ovarian cancer were entered into a trial with intraperitoneal combinations of carboplatin (400 mg/cqm) and recombinant interferon alfa (50 MU). All patients had received prior intravenous platinum-based chemotherapy and underwent 2nd look laparotomy at study entry. Our study indicates that this combination chemotherapy is safely administered by the intraperitoneal route. Myelotoxicity was frequent, but rarely of grade 3. No major local toxicity was recorded by accessing the peritoneal cavity with a temporary catheter. The response to treatment was promising in the group of patients with less then 2 cm residual disease at study entry (15 patients); in this group, all patients had no clinical evidence of disease at the completion of the therapy. In 2 cases reexploration was performed and pCR was recorded. Only one patient of this group relapsed during a mean follow-up of 21 months. Two pCRS were also recorded in the group of patients with more than 2 cm at 2nd look (9 patients), although relapse occurred after 9 and 15 months respectively. In the remaining patients of this group, persistence of disease was observed after intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1994

Ischemia-reperfusion of human skeletal muscle during aortoiliac surgery: effects of acetylcarnitine.

Our previous study on human skeletal muscle undergoing ischemia and reperfusion has revealed that granulocytes, which infiltrate the muscle tissue in large numbers, play an important role in mediating fibre injuries by producing superoxide anion (O2-) which is responsible for membrane lipid peroxidation. In the current study, five patients undergoing aortic reconstructive surgery were given acetyl-carnitine (2 mg/kg i.v. plus 1 mg/kg/min for 30 min) prior to the induction of ischemia. Muscle biopsies and blood samples were examined: a) after anaesthesia; b) at the end of ischemia; and c) 30 min after reperfusion, with the aim of elucidating whether acetylcarnitine could prevent the infiltration and/or the activation of granulocytes and eventually skeletal muscle injuries. During ischemia and reperfusion complement activation recruited numerous granulocytes into the muscle tissue, but, contrary to the untreated samples, the ability for O2(-)-generation of these cells remained at low levels and was comparable to that of ischemia even when molecular O2 was reintroduced to the tissue. Accordingly, the morphological changes of the postischemic muscle fibers were substantially reduced when compared to the untreated samples; in fact, the mitochondrial swelling was only moderate and the intramitochondrial dense bodies were small and scarce. The current findings support a positive role of acetyl-carnitine in ameliorating the ischemia-reperfusion (I-R)-induced damage of human skeletal muscle.

Acetylcarnitine↗
PubMed1993

[Cardiac toxicity of anthracyclines. Clinical forms, incidence, surveillance].

Anthracyclines have greatly contributed to improvement in the prognosis of certain cancers, but their beneficial effect is impaired by an unquestionable toxicity affecting notably the heart. Changes in blood pressure or electrocardiograms, benign pericardial reactions and rare but severe myocarditis may occur at an early stage of treatment. The cumulative toxicity of anthracyclines limits their use. With a cumulative dose of 550 mg/m2 the mean incidence of toxicity varies from 5 to 10 percent. The occurrence of toxicity largely depends on the total dose, but other factors such as patient's age and general condition, and previous treatments with chemo- or radiotherapy must be taken into account. The best methods to monitor the cardiotoxicity of anthracyclines are echocardiography, radionuclide study of ejection fraction and myocardial biopsy for histological study. The rational use of these three types of examination must be adjusted to each individual patient. It should reduce the incidence of severe myocarditis which sometimes cancels all the beneficial effects of the anticancer treatment.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗
PubMed1993

Lymphoma developing in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis taking methotrexate.

We report one case of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in a patient, with a 30-year history of rheumatoid arthritis, taking low dose methotrexate weekly over a 10-month period. The mild immunosuppression that occurs with methotrexate therapy probably places patients with rheumatoid arthritis at added risk of developing lymphoproliferative diseases, but coincidence cannot be excluded.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

The combination of aspiration needle biopsy with fine needle aspiration in the preoperative evaluation of breast tumors.

During a period of 10 years, 2906 women (mostly asymptomatic) were referred to us for physical breast examination. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) was used to examine a nodule or a breast thickening in 860 of these patients. One hundred and ten of these patients also underwent a large needle biopsy (LNB) to add a pre-operative histological evaluation. LNB was performed with 18-20 gauge needles, without cutting the skin and without adding any significant pain or discomfort to that caused by FNA (aspiration needle biopsy, ANB). Diagnostic sensitivity for cancer was 89% for FNA and 100% for ANB. ANB allowed us to correctly identify two cancers with post-operative stage T1N0M-0, which were diagnosed pre-operatively as benign by FNA. The combination of the two needle aspiration techniques (FNA and ANB) allowed us to diagnose 51 of all the 54 cancers (95%). The predictive value of a diagnosis of definite malignancy was 100% for either FNA or ANB. The predictive value of a diagnosis of suspected malignancy showed a predictive value of 72% for FNA and 70% for ANB. Three benign nodules with pre-operative ANB findings of suspected cancer were correctly diagnosed by FNA. Of the 12 cancers with inadequate ANB findings, 11 were correctly diagnosed by FNA. Sixteen of the cancers correctly identified by ANB showed a post-operative size of 2 cm or less (ten cases) or no metastatic axillary lymph-nodes (nine cases).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed1993

Genetic contribution to idiopathic adult-onset blepharospasm and cranial-cervical dystonia.

A family study in 29 patients with idiopathic adult-onset blepharospasm (n = 16) and cranial-cervical dystonia (n = 13) was undertaken by examining 189 first-degree relatives. Six relatives with dystonia were identified in 6 families. A further 3 affected relatives, now deceased, were from 2 other families. All the secondary cases were parents or siblings. There was a tendency for affected relatives to have the same type of dystonia of index patients. To assess the significance of secondary cases we compare the incidence of affected siblings between probands and their spouses. Dystonia was found in 5 out of 120 proband siblings whereas none of the 142 spouse siblings was affected (p < 0.05). Segregation analysis suggested an autosomal-dominant transmission and reduced penetrance or, alternatively, polygenic inheritance.

Adult↗