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Biomedical subjects

F Marchetti

Publications and source records attributed to F Marchetti.

105 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Abnormalities of the leg lymphatics are not specific for bancroftian filariasis.

Studies using conventional angiography or non-invasive scintigraphy have revealed widespread abnormalities in the lymphatics of the legs of patients with bancroftian filariasis, regardless of whether clinical lymphoedema is present. To determine if the observed changes were specific for filarial infections, we imaged the lymphatics of both legs in native residents of an area in Brazil where filariasis is not endemic. Study participants were matched by age, socioeconomic status and physical activities to patients with filariasis in Recife, evaluated in parallel. Based on textbook criteria, only one of 15 study participants had a completely normal lymphoscintigram. Modest to severe pathology of the leg lymphatics was observed in the remaining 14 residents of the non-endemic area and in 49 of 50 patients with bancroftian filariasis. These results indicated that factors other than filarial worms are a common cause of subclinical pathology of the leg lymphatics in north-eastern Brazil, and that the latter is not specific for bancroftian filariasis.

Brazil↗
PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro activity of levofloxacin against gram-positive bacteria.

The in vitro activity of levofloxacin was investigated against 256 clinical strains of four gram-positive genera (Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, and Listeria). Ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were used as comparators. Uniform susceptibility to levofloxacin was recorded among methicillin-susceptible staphylococci, streptococci other than Streptococcus agalactiae, regardless of their being susceptible, intermediate, or resistant to penicillin (S. pneumoniae) or erythromycin (S. pyogenes and S. pneumoniae), in enterococci other than Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium, and in Listeria monocytogenes isolates. Moreover, 1 of 22 S. agalactiae isolates and 1 of 19 E. faecium isolates was resistant, and 2 of 19 were intermediate. Resistances to levofloxacin with MIC90s in the resistance range were only observed in methicillin-resistant staphylococci and E. faecalis isolates. In any case, the MICs of ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were usually 2-4 times higher than those of levofloxacin. In time-kill assays using three test strains (a methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus isolate, a penicillin-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae isolate, and an E. faecalis isolate), the bactericidal activity of levofloxacin was greater than that of ciprofloxacin.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro activity of ceftazidime, cefepime and imipenem on 1,005 Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates either susceptible or resistant to beta-lactams.

BACKGROUND: Recently, new 'fourth-generation' cephalosporins, such as cefepime and cefpirome, were introduced into antibacterial chemotherapy. METHODS: In order to explore whether these new cephalosporins offer real advantages against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, we matched the in vitro activity of cefepime with that of ceftazidime and imipenem as reference compounds. RESULTS: Among the 1,005 clinical isolates tested, 86.6% were susceptible to ceftazidime, whereas 80.7 and 76.9% were susceptible to imipenem and cefepime, respectively. Furthermore, the activity of the three compounds against a significant number of clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa expressing different resistance mechanisms to beta-lactam antibiotics was investigated. Among these isolates, 62.5% were still susceptible to ceftazidime, and 52.1 and 38.7% were inhibited by imipenem and cefepime, respectively. CONCLUSION: Ceftazidime and imipenem retained their activity against the majority of clinical P. aeruginosa isolates collected in Italy. Cefepime did not offer competitive advantages in terms of in vitro activity.

Cefepime↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Drugs and pregnancy].

The need for further information on drug utilization patterns during pregnancy in different countries was assessed by reviewing literature by hand and computer searches. The resulting profile, from 13 identified studies, was that pregnant women used an average of 4.7 drugs. The most commonly ingested medications were vitamins and iron preparations (almost all women), analgesics, antiemetics and antacids. However, important variables (such as date of surveillance; country; size of involved population; habits; physiopathological and demographic characteristics), differently taken into account in each selected study, made it impossible to construct a comprehensive, detailed, up-to-date picture about drug utilization during pregnancy. The evaluation confirmed the need for and value of systematic permanent surveillance of drug utilization in pregnancy, so as to avoid the use of data obtained in widely differing contexts, times, and methods, in a field where knowledge is often based on scanty information.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Harmonic dwarfism, lymphopenia, deficit of IgA and IgE in a 6-year old boy.

A six-year old boy who had suffered from the age of two with chronic diarrhea has been found to be severely retarded in statural growth. Examinations discovered marked lymphopenia with a T lymphocyte defect accompanied by absent IgA and IgE. In contrast with other cases described in literature, in this case the immunodeficiency was not accompanied by bone or cartilage alterations. The only factor apparently responsible for his lack of growth was the malabsorption.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Management of asthma in a context of ambulatory pediatrics: relevance and possibility to avoid the problems. Gruppo de lavoro pediatri dell'Abruzzo Basilicata e Puglia].

41 pediatricians agreed to register on a very simple form, all the cases of children affected by bronchial asthma visited in their clinic during october 1993. The data included basic information related to the therapy prescribed, its duration, a judgement on the efficacy of symptoms control and the main problems encountered with the children and their families. 237 cases were reported (mean age 4.6 year, range 2 months-13 years). 80% of children were monitored by the pediatrician; 47% had allergic reactions. The main drug used for profilaxis is ketotifen, a compound without documented efficacy; the main route for drug administration (especially during acute attacks) is by mouth, instead of by aerosol, evidencing problems in the health education on practical skills. In fact the main problems encountered by doctors are related to the communication with patients and families. This survey represents also a research model for involving health care providers and easily and quickly obtaining a useful, methodologically sound and interesting picture of everyday practice.

Ambulatory Care↗