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Biomedical subjects

F Vassella

Publications and source records attributed to F Vassella.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

Fundus photography in neonates, an approach to obtain indirect information on cerebral blood flow.

In view of the possibility to obtain indirect information on the interdependency between brain tissue metabolish and the diameter of the intraparenchymatous arterioles through measurement of systemic blood gases and blood pressure on one hand and the diameter of the central retinal artery on the other, we describe a modified method of fundus photography which is practical for neonatologists owing to the simplification brought about by the use of a special contact lens. In an appendix the relevant optical data are analyzed. Fundus photographs of neonates suffering from cardiac malformation or asphyxia are shown.

Cerebrovascular Circulation↗
PubMed1976

[Brain tumors in childhood. Clinical aspects].

The analysis of 76 case histories of children suffering from brain tumor revealed a majority in preschool age. The diagnosis at admission to the hospital was correct in 2/3 of the cases. The main causes for admission among unclear cases were headache, a history of head trauma, and epilepsy. An evaluation is made of the diagnostic value of symptoms, neurological signs, and of auxiliary investigations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

[Neurology of the so-called early-childhood, minimal, organic brain damage].

Infantile minimal brain damage is expressed through a wide range of behaviour disorders, learning disorders, speech disorders, short attention span and motor anomalies in combinations and degrees of intensity which vary with the individual. Neurologically it is frequently characterized by a delay in the development of sensomotor functions which is manifested, for example, by clumsiness, coordination disorders and motor restlessness. Special attention is drawn to the problems surrounding the so-called "soft" neurologic signs. Instead of generalizing, and therefore imprecise, diagnostic labels such as "minimal cerebral dysfunction", the physician should, if a more precise diagnosis is impossible, draw up a list of findings or problems as a basis for further diagnostic and therapeutic measures, if any.

Affective Symptoms↗
PubMed1975

Niemann-Pick's disease. Clinical, biochemical and ultrastructural findings in a case of the infantile form.

A diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease type A was made in a 6-month-old boy on the grounds of progressive psychomotor retardation, hepatosplenomegaly, typical foam cells in the bone marrow and a deficiency of sphingomyelinase in a liver biopsy. Typical ultrastructural changes in lysosomes were found in hepatocytes and in Schwann cells. In spite of the absence of gross morphological changes in the axons and in the myelin sheath of the peripheral nerve biopsy, the nerve conduction velocity in the patient was greatly reduced. The ultrastructural aspect of the lysosomal inclusion suggested the storage of a phospholipid. Biochemical analysis of the liver biopsy demonstrated an increased content of total phospholipid of which sphingomyelin made up for more than 60%. The significance of these data are discussed.

Cholesterol↗
PubMed1975

Late infantile metachromatic leucodystrophy (MLD). Clinical and diagnostic evaluation in a typical case.

A typical case of late infantile MLD is presented with all available clinical, morphological and biochemical results. The diagnostical value of the different parameters is evaluated and the pathogenesis of the disorder discussed. In spite of successful experimental enzyme substitution in cultured MLD fibroblasts with restitution of function by added Arylsulfatase, the therapeutic possibilities for the fatal disease in the patients are extremely limited.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1975

[Chemotherapy treatment of infectious diseases in infancy and early childhood].

Some specific pediatric aspects of therapy with antibiotics and other chemotherapeutic agents (dosage based on age, body weight and body surface area) are discussed. In early infancy problems such as the "immaturity" of enzyme systems and excretion mechanisms must be considered. Tetracycline staining is discussed as an example of age-dependent vulnerability of organs. A selection of antibiotics suitable for use in ambulatory pediatrics is proposed.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1975

Progressive neural muscular atrophy in a case of phenylketonuria.

Clinical, neurophysiological and nerve-biopsy findings are described in a 13-1/2-year-old boy with classical phenylketonuria who developed progressive muscular atrophy. Clinical examination revealed atrophy of the calf muscles and pes varus. Tendon jerks were brisk in the upper extremities but were absent in the right leg and weak in the left leg. Nerve conduction velocities of the median and peroneal nerve were strongly reduced. Light- and electronmicroscopic investigation of sural nerve biopsy revealed axonal dystrophy and 'onion-bulb' formation of the Schwann cells. It is assumed that the combination of phenylketonuria and progressive muscular atrophy in this patient is an accidental occurrence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Pyritinol hydrochloride and cognitive functions: influence on children in slow learner classes.

Pyritinol-HCl was tested for its impact on the cognitive functions of children with learning disabilities. This study is a contribution to scientific discussion on the complicated methodologic problems in evaluating the clinical efficacy of psychopharmacologic agents. Sixty-seven pupils of slow learner classes between the ages of 11 and 16 years were treated for 6 months with 300 mg pyritinol-HCl/24 hr or placebo under strict double-blind conditions. Drug intake was stimulated and controlled by means of intense psychosocial interaction with the mothers of the subjects. The dependence variables used to test medication effects were 22 parameters of cognitive performance measured in psychologic tests for perceptual and intellectual functions which were administered immediately before and after the medication phase. First the gainscores before and after treatment with pyritinol or placebo within the 22 cognitive parameters were statistically compared. In addition, an analysis of covariance on the corrected results of the second test (treating the results of first testing as covariates) and a two group discriminant analysis for overall differences were performed. None of the 22 parameters showed statistically significant treatment effects with respect to average performance (t (pyritinol - placebo) = 1.96 to 1.31), neither could the two groups be separated by discriminant analysis (Hotelling's T2 = 35.4, df - 22 and 43, P = 0.465). With respect to a variability of gainscores, however, in four parameters there was a significantly higher variance in the pyritinol group (F = 1.85-2.33, P less than 0.05, less than 0.02, respectively). This fact may signify that pyritinol-HCl had different effects on different subjects. By means of prognostic stratification we therefore attempted to define objective criteria for a selection of subjects with probable positive treatment effects. None of the 15 tested criteria, such as body weight, age, perceptual handicaps, or reduced short term memory, IQ range, proved, however, to be critical for a prognosis of pyritinol effects within the present test population.

Adolescent↗