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Biomedical subjects

E Mevio

Publications and source records attributed to E Mevio.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Phasic changes in human nasal and skin blood flow: relationship with autonomic tone.

To assess the autonomic control of the microcirculation in human skin and nasal mucosa, the spontaneous fluctuations of a laser Doppler signal recorded on forearm skin and nasal mucosa were compared with heart rate fluctuations and the respiratory signal in 11 healthy subjects by means of spectral analysis. Possible direct mechanical-thermal effects of airflow on the nasal mucosa were evaluated by comparing recordings obtained when the subjects were breathing through either the nose or the mouth. Comparison of the spectral analysis of the signal obtained for skin and nasal mucosa blood flow allowed us to define the characteristics of the autonomic tone of the microcirculation in these two areas. The skin is mainly influenced by sympathetic activity, and the nasal blood flow is regulated by both sympathetic and parasympathetic activity.

Adult↗

Correlations between the olfacto-respiratory reflex and nasal mucosa blood flow: comparative evaluation through rhinomanometry and laser-Doppler flowmeter testing.

The authors compared the reliability of the olfacto-respiratory test with the vasomotor response evoked by the olfactory stimulation of nasal mucosa, as detected by laser-Doppler flowmetry. The aim was to investigate the possible advantages offered by laser-Doppler flowmeter testing, since this machine has a great capacity for detecting even very small variations in blood flow. The authors, however, can affirm that laser-Doppler flowmetry is only able to detect reflex reactions evoked by stimuli affecting trigeminal innervation. No reaction could be detected following trial with purely olfactory odorants and, in any case, even the reaction to olfacto-trigeminal or gusto-olfacto-trigeminal stimuli could be detected only in response to stimulation that was quantitatively stronger than that necessary to trigger the corresponding respiratory reflex.

Adult↗

HLA haplotype segregation and ultrastructural study in familial immotile-cilia syndrome.

The immotile-cilia syndrome (ICS) is a congenital disorder characterized by dysmotility or even complete immotility of the cilia in the ciliated epithelia. The most frequent consequences include recurrent airway infections from early childhood. Neonatal asphyxia often occurs. Males are usually sterile, whereas females may be fertile or infertile. The disease is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, but previous attempts to localize the ICS susceptibility gene have so far been unsuccessful. Here, we present the case of two sib pairs affected by ICS from two unrelated families. The electron microscopic investigation of nasal biopsies showed structural anomalies of the cilia, characterized by single microtubules or doublets, arranged randomly in the axoneme. Histocompatibility antigen (HLA)-genotyping of all family members revealed: 1) a significant association of ICS with the HLA-DR7; DQW2 haplotype, which is shared by all the affected sibs (P = 0.0099; RR = 25.94); 2) a possible linkage of the ICS susceptibility gene with HLA, both the affected sibs being HLA-identical, the healthy brother in family B being HLA-different (sib-pair analysis: P less than 0.001).

Child, Preschool↗

[Evaluation of the fluidifying effect on nasal mucus of physiologic solution combined with increasing concentrations of polysorbates].

Nasal decongestants are widely used in the treatment of rhinitis. Decongestant drugs are one of the main components, but numerous reports gave been made concerning side, local and general effects. The problem is particularly important in the treatment of infantile rhinitis for which the use of saline solution alone is often preferred. The paper evaluates the fluidifying action of a saline solution and polysorbate 20, a tensioactive molecule, on nasal mucous. Changes in mucous viscosity were assessed using a "filancemeter" and thromboelastograph. At the same time a clinical study on the efficacy of treatment and the possible presence of side effects was carried out in a population of rhinitic subjects. The study highlighted the fluidifying effect of the preparation on nasal mucous and the complete absence of side effects.

Administration, Intranasal↗

Use of serum markers in the diagnosis and management of laryngeal cancer.

Many neoplastic diseases are reported to be accompanied by the presence or associated with an increase in biological substances identified as tumour markers. The most common markers implicated in head and neck cancers are CEA, TPA, LASA, SCC, CA 19-9, and ferritin. These markers (except SCC) were evaluated in 50 patients with a laryngeal carcinoma, in 20 patients with benign lesions, and in 20 healthy subjects. The results show for each marker assayed the following sensitivity values (true positives): CEA, 10%; CA 19-9, 30%; TPA, 30%; LASA, 90%; ferritin, 60%. Specificity (true negatives) was as follows: CEA, 85%; CA 19-9, 99.4%; TPA, 98%; LASA, 99.8%; ferritin, 97%. LASA and ferritin seem to be the most suitable markers for patient monitoring because of their higher sensitivity in all phases of cancer disease.

Aged↗

Modifications of the nasal cycle in patients with hypothalamic disorders: Kallmann's syndrome.

The nasal cycle is a phenomenon characterized by cyclic changes in the airflow resistance of each nasal fossa from congestion or constriction of the nasal erectile tissue. This phenomenon is caused by alterations in the influence exerted by the autonomic nervous system and is believed to be regulated by a hypothalamic center. In order to verify this hypothesis on the hypothalamic regulation of the nasal cycle, the authors studied a group of subjects with Kallmann's syndrome. This disorder is characterized by coexisting hypothalamic hypogonadism and hyposmia or anosmia due to hypothalamic and olfactory center hypoplasia. An anomalous nasal cycle was found in all the subjects with Kallmann's syndrome. This disorder might be related to hypothalamus atrophy.

Adolescent↗

Autonomic nervous system and microcirculation in diabetes.

In order to evaluate the occurrence of sympathetic impairment of skin microvascular control in diabetes, we evaluated the spectral analysis of forearm skin laser-Doppler fluctuations in nine insulin-dependent diabetic subjects and in 21 controls of similar age. Low-frequency oscillations (around 0.1 Hz) were significantly lower in diabetics than in controls (2.333 +/- 0.340 (mean +/- SEM) units vs. 3.486 +/- 0.093 units, P less than 0.001), whereas no significant differences were found between the two groups regarding high-frequency respiration-related oscillations. These results suggest that the loss of rhythmicity in diabetic subjects is selectively related to low-frequency oscillations, mostly under sympathetic control, and is likely to be dependent on autonomic abnormality.

Adult↗

Neurofibroma of vocal cord: case report.

A case of neurofibroma of the vocal cord is presented. Such an occurrence is quite rare, because of the unusual involvement site and because the lesion was not related to Von Recklinghausen disease. The pertinent literature is reviewed.

Adult↗

Relationship between phasic changes in human skin blood flow and autonomic tone.

Heart rate beat-to-beat oscillations synchronous with respiration and blood pressure waves, have been found to be a marker of sympathovagal interaction in man and animals. Oscillations of heart rate, respiration, and cutaneous blood flow were simultaneously recorded to assess the relationship between autonomic nervous control and cutaneous circulation in a group of 21 healthy subjects and in a group of 6 healthy patients after brachial plexus anesthesia and consequent sympathetic blockade. In the first group, changes in posture were employed to modify autonomic tone. Relative changes in cutaneous blood flow were recorded by laser-Doppler flowmetry. Spectral analysis techniques (cross-correlation) were used to quantify the relationship between oscillations common to the recorded signals. A standing maneuver induced a significant decrease of the cross-correlation between respiratory and heart rate fluctuations (from 4.93 +/- 0.16 to 4.44 +/- 0.16 a.u.; P less than 0.001), and a significant increase of the cross-correlation between heart rate and skin blood flow fluctuations (from 0.64 +/- 0.31 to 1.33 +/- 0.21 a.u.; P less than 0.001), but did not modify the cross-correlation between respiratory and skin blood flow fluctuations (from 2.87 +/- 0.15 to 3.04 +/- 0.14 a.u.; NS). After the standing maneuver the maximum correlation between heart rate and skin blood flow was always due to oscillations in the range of 0.1 Hz (or 10-sec period), similar to the oscillations described in large arteries. Sympathetic blockade reduced significantly the cross-correlation between heart rate and skin blood flow (P less than 0.001). These results suggest that the cross-correlation between skin blood flow and heart rate at 10-sec period fluctuations can be used as an index of the influence of the autonomic tone on skin blood circulation.

Adolescent↗

[A study using laser-Doppler velocimetry of modifications of the labyrinthine microcirculation induced by chemical and physical stimuli].

Vasomotor activity induced by physical and chemical stimuli in the cochlear microcirculation was evaluated by laser-doppler flowmetry. Cochlear flow changes were studied after pharmacological administration and noise exposure. The reaction of cochlear microcirculation after drug administration is similar to that observed in the brain. After phenylephrine injection the authors observed an increase of cochlear blood flow, contrary to that observed in the peripheral vessels. The authors studied the difference in time-activity and quantitative effect of several drugs commonly used in cochlear vascular diseases. Cochlear flow decrease after exposure to noise is proportional to the stimulus intensity and the exposure time.

Animals↗

Concentrations of flurithromycin in serum and tonsils.

The concentrations of flurithromycin in serum and palatine tonsils of eleven adult male patients undergoing tonsillectomy were determined. Each patient received 500 mg t.i.d., in all ten doses, before tonsillectomy. Flurithromycin concentrations were measured by a microbiological method. Mean serum levels (+/- SE) were 0.72 microgram/ml (+/- 0.19) after 8 h from the 9th dose and 0.67 microgram/ml (+/- 0.13) after 4 h from the 10th dose. Average concentrations (+/- SE) in tonsils were: 1.43 +/- 0.20 microgram/g (right) and 1.32 +/- 0.21 (left) 4 h after the last administration. Therefore, the mean tissue/serum ratio was about 2:1. These results indicate a good diffusion of flurithromycin from serum to tonsillar tissue.

Adult↗

Roxithromycin disposition in tonsils after single and repeated administrations.

Levels of roxithromycin in serum and tissue were investigated in 29 subjects undergoing tonsillectomy. A total of 13 subjects received a single oral dose of 300 mg, and 16 received four oral doses 12 h apart as follows: a 300-mg loading dose followed by three 150-mg doses. Measurable levels of roxithromycin were present in tonsil samples of 11 of 13 subjects in the first group. The mean levels in tonsils and serum were 0.8 microgram/g and 6.7 micrograms/ml, resulting in a mean tissue/serum ratio of 0.16. In the multiple-dose group, roxithromycin was found in 14 of 16 subjects at mean levels in tonsils and serum of 1.6 micrograms/g and 8.7 micrograms/ml, and the tissue/serum ratio was 0.23.

Adolescent↗

Bacterial adherence and upper respiratory tract disease: a correlation between S. pyogenes attachment and recurrent throat infections.

The attachment of bacteria to mucosal surfaces is the initial event in the pathogenesis of infectious diseases. The authors present a study about the adherence of strain of S. pyogenes isolated in subjects with recurrent tonsillitis. A correlation was found between the adherence ability of the bacterium and the number of episodes per year. The study about the SIgA, the infection development and the bacterium adherence showed a direct correlation between SIgA levels and the number of phlogistic episodes. The importance of the role assumed by bacterial adherence in the genesis of the phlogistic process is to be emphasized yet again.

Bacterial Adhesion↗

Prognostic parameters in metastatic spread of laryngeal cancer: clinico-histopathological correlations.

The authors present a series of 130 patients with laryngeal tumours submitted to total or horizontal laryngectomy and to neck dissection. The possible correlations between the staging and histology of the primary lesion, tumour marker (LASA) and the incidence of lymph node metastases are examined. The information provided by clinical and histopathological parameters is no doubt useful, but the margin of clinical error is high. On the contrary, the tumour marker concentration (LASA) was significantly higher in the patients whose lymph nodes were found to be histologically invaded, than in those without metastatic spread. Consequently, the LASA test may assume clinical importance before surgical therapy and in the follow-up of treated patients.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

[Determination of sialic acid in cancer of the upper aero-digestive tract].

The determination of serum lipid sialic acid (LSA) in subjects with laryngeal and oral cavity carcinomas demonstrated an important correlation between the presence of carcinoma and tumor marker elevation. 90% of positivity has been found in 60 cases of laryngeal carcinoma; 100%, on the contrary in 19 cases of oral cavity. The authors affirm the importance of LSA as a tumor marker, in particularly in monitoring patients submitted to surgical excision.

Humans↗