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Biomedical subjects

G Arnulfo

Publications and source records attributed to G Arnulfo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[The computerized outpatient management of subjects at neoplastic risk].

The authors reviewed literature data regarding risk factors of cancer in order to produce a software that could identify asymptomatic subjects at "neoplastic risk" by means of the analysis of the relative risk (RR) of each factor of his/her life-style. More in detail, the relationship between diet and cancer, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, sexual behaviour, parity and other obstetric-gynecologic aspects, medications, occupational hazards, environmental pollution and genetic susceptibility were reviewed. A complex multi-parametric evaluation system was realized to calculate risk of cancers through computerized elaboration. The program operates on anamnestic, objective and instrumental data derived from a clinical data-base.

Environmental Monitoring

[A retrospective study on the efficacy of the treatment of functional dyspepsia. An evaluation of 166 cases].

A retrospective study is reported carried out on a group of 166 patients affected by dyspeptic syndrome who presented at least 3 of the 9 symptoms which characterise this pathology. One hundred and twenty-eight patients underwent prokinetic drug therapy and 38 received placebo. Clinical parameters were evaluated following one month of therapy all patients in order to compare them to basal values. The results obtained confirm a satisfactory efficacy of the prokinetic treatment in improving dyspeptic symptoms. Although administered to a smaller number of patients, placebo was also found to play an important role in the multifactorial etiopathogenesis of the dyspeptic syndrome on a functional basis.

Adult

[Computerized dynamic endothermography of the gastrointestinal mucosa as an indirect index of the state of vascularization of the abdominal organs. A preliminary note].

Computerized Dynamic Endothermy (CDE) has been applied to the evaluation of the gastroenteric microcirculation. This new method enables mucosal temperature changes to be detected in a dynamic and functional way. With preventive induction of a temperature change (cold stimulus), the instrument measures the time required for the establishment of previous mucosal temperature. Computerized data are displayed in the form of a time/temperature curve. Results obtained on rabbits showed, during ischaemic conditions, a greater reduction of gastric layer temperature during cold stimulus than in basal conditions, followed by a slower return to basal temperature during the recovery time.

Animals

Colon motility and colo-anal reflexes in chronic idiopathic constipation. Effects of a novel enterokinetic agent cisapride.

Motor activity of the colon and reflex behaviour of the anal sphincters in normal subjects and in patients with idiopathic constipation were studied using a novel probe with 5 open-end tips to measure pressures, and 3 balloons for stimulation of the distal colon. Constipation appeared to be associated with an increased threshold of the inhibitory relaxation reflex of the internal anal sphincter (41.7 in normals and 65.7 in patients), and in particular with a blunted sensation of the defaecation urge (51.0 in normals and 112.8 in patients). Single-blind comparison with a placebo showed that cisapride, a new gastrointestinal prokinetic substance, had a significant effect on the sensation threshold, which normalized or improved in 15 out of the 16 patients studied.

Adult

Immunosuppressive effect of surgery evaluated by the multitest cell-mediated immunity system.

The immunosuppressive effect of surgery in a series of 100 elective laparotomies was determined by analysing the delayed skin hypersensitivity, the most sensitive in-vivo reflection of cell-mediated immunity. For this purpose, a new method (Multitest cell-mediated immunity system) for simultaneous, multiple, intradermal skin tests was used. This system uses a plastic disposable device for simultaneous intradermal injection of seven immunologically standardized recall antigens, offering the possibility of assessing a patient's immunologic capability in a manner that is painless, rapid, safe, reproducible and quantifiable. Patients were tested preoperatively and on days 1, 3 and 7 after operation. Twenty healthy volunteers, the control group, were similarly tested. Immunosuppression was observed in all patients, reaching a peak on postoperative day 3. Recovery occurred between 7 and 10 days after operation. Immunosuppression was more severe and prolonged in patients with neoplastic disease. By continued immunologic monitoring using the Multitest system, the authors could confirm the suggested immunosuppressive effect of operation and establish that the phenomenon is temporary.

Adolescent

[Evaluation of the functional modifications of the lower esophageal sphincter after use of the Angelchik prosthesis].

The manometric recording of Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) has been made in 8 patients who have undergone surgical apposition of Angelchik prosthesis for hiatal hernia. The patients underwent an esophageal manometric study in the preoperative period, one month and one year after the intervention. In the preoperative patients, the mean LES pressure was 10,3 +/- 0,5 mmHg and there was sphincterial incoordination to peristaltic waves after swallow. In one month postoperative patients the LESP was 20,1 +/- 1,0 mmHg (p less than 0,001), and one year after the LESP was 17,0 +/- 0,3 (p less than 0,001) with an ameliorated coordination of the LES activity in response to swallow. Therefore, during postoperative manometric controls the Authors identified a high pressure subdiaphragmatic zone unmodified by deglutitory acts which was not present in the preoperative investigation. Probably the presence of this zone would been explained as a consequence of mechanical action of the prosthesis and the postsurgical fibrino-reaction around the prosthesis. The Authors discussed the results obtained and their importance to Angelchik prosthesis employment for surgical correction of hiatal hernia.

Esophagogastric Junction

[Degree of parietal penetration of gastric cancer in relation to medium- and long-term survival].

The Authors analysed their experience about gastric carcinoma, with particular reference to short, middle and long time survival in relation to the degree of parietal penetration. In the patients without remote metastases, the survival till 5 years depends mainly on this factor, whereas the lymphonodal spreading plays a secundary rôle, especially in the cases where the tumour deeply infiltrated the gastric wall. Lymphoadenectomy, therefore, seems essential in cases of neoplasm with low degree of parietal penetration, whereas in those with high degree it does not seem determinant on the remote results.

Humans

Effect of pirenzepine on L--amino acids stimulated gastric acid secretion and serum gastrin levels in peptic ulcer disease in men.

This report tests in men the effect of Pirenzepine on L-Amino acids stimulated gastric secretion and serum gastrin levels in order to evaluate the true antimuscarinic selective properties of this drug. Since L-Amino acids given intravenously stimulate gastric acid secretion by a mechanism of action selective on the cholinergic receptors of the gastric parietal cells, not mediated through the vagus nerve, gastrin or other gut hormones. Pirenzepine should be an L-Amino acids antagonist as far as the gastric acid secretion is concerned. By confirming this presumed antagonism between Pirenzepine and L-Amino acids given intravenously, this report points out in men the selective antimuscarinic effect of this anti ulcer drug on the high affinity muscarinic receptors of the gastric parietal cells. Finally a decrease in gastrin serum levels was observed after the i.v. administration of Pirenzepine and this could be explained by a possible effect of blockade of this drug on the cholinergic receptors of the antral G cells, but these data need further experimental confirm. Attention is then paid to the different mechanism of action between Pirenzepine, H2 receptors antagonist drugs and other anti ulcer drugs on healing gastric or duodenal peptic ulcers.

Amino Acids

Treatment of esophageal anastomotic leakages after cancer resection. The role of total parenteral nutrition.

A series of 16 cases of esophageal anastomotic leakages after cancer resection observed from 1978 to 1982 is analyzed in a retrospective manner. Eight patients related to the period 1978 to 1980 (series A) were treated with emergency surgery while the remaining eight patients observed from 1980 to 1982 (series B) were treated conservatively with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and complete fasting. Seven patients from series A eventually died postoperatively and one patient had a good recovery after emergency reintervention. In the series B six patients left the hospital with complete healing of the anastomotic leaks after 27.2 +/- 13.5 days of TPN and complete fasting, while failure of the treatment was observed in two patients who died from septic mediastinitis and acute respiratory failure. Different incidence of positive clinical results in Series A and B was statistically significant (p less than 0.01). The role of TPN and complete fasting will be discussed as the primary approach for the management of this severe complication, taking in consideration the suture line drainage and the control of infection.

Esophageal Neoplasms

[A comparative evaluation of computerized diagnostic decisional support in gastroenterology in relation to typical clinical pictures].

On the basis of the results obtained in a previous perspective comparative study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of a computerized diagnostic decisional support in gastroenterology with that of non-specialist physicians, the Authors have carried out a retrospective study, based on the same series and on the same results, but disaggregating the global comparisons according to the feature of the clinical presentations. The latter were therefore classified by independent gastroenterologists as "typical", "atypical", or "borderline", and for each group the difference of diagnostic accuracy between program and physicians was again evaluated. Even if the program proved more accurate in all groups, the greatest difference was observed in the "borderline" group which the Authors claim to include the kind of presentation which more than any other needs a decisional aid. This should suggest a possible useful implementation of the system in daily clinical practice.

Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted