PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Bianchini

Publications and source records attributed to G Bianchini.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2026

Navigating uncertainties and evidence gaps in adjuvant therapy for premenopausal women with HR+/HER2- breast cancer.

Premenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/HER2-negative early breast cancer represent a clinically distinct population, characterized by more aggressive tumor biology, unique survivorship concerns, and complex treatment decision-making. Although evidence from dedicated trials and subgroup analyses is available, management remains challenging because data are heterogeneous, evolving, and often extrapolated from broader populations that include predominantly postmenopausal women. Adjuvant endocrine therapy, with the addition of CDK4/6 inhibitors in selected higher-risk patients, remains the cornerstone of treatment; however major uncertainties persist regarding the optimal use of ovarian function suppression, the interpretation of genomic assays to inform chemotherapy decisions, the selection of candidates for extended endocrine therapy, and the management of adherence, treatment-related toxicities, pregnancy-related issues, and survivorship concerns. Here, we synthesize current evidence across these domains and propose a pragmatic clinical framework to support individualized treatment strategies and optimize care for this population in the contemporary therapeutic landscape.

HR+/HER2- early breast cancer↗
PubMed2006

Infrared balloon experiment: improved instrumental configuration and assessment of instrument performance.

During the 2002 environmental satellite Envisat mid-latitude validation campaign, a new upgraded configuration of the Infrared Balloon Experiment (IBEX) Fourier transform spectrometer, which had its first flight in 1978, performed a stratospheric balloon flight across the Mediterranean Sea. Among the substantial upgrades made to the instrument, the use of photon-noise-limited detectors permitted us to reach the theoretical limits in terms of signal-to-noise ratio. Also, important modifications were made to the interferometric system and electronics, such as the installation of a solid-state laser reference source and an onboard data recording system. During the flight, measurement of volume-mixing-ratio vertical profiles of O3, HNO3, N2O, and ClO from an altitude of approximately 38 km were performed with a vertical resolution of approximately 1.5 km.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

S.A.M., the Italian Martian simulation chamber.

The Martian Environment Simulator (SAM "Simulatore di Ambiente Marziano") is a interdisciplinary project of Astrobiology done at University of Padua. The research is aimed to the study of the survival of the microorganisms exposed to the "extreme" planetary environment. The facility has been designed in order to simulate Mars' environmental conditions in terms of atmospheric pressure, temperature cycles and UV radiation dose. The bacterial cells, contained into dedicated capsules, will be exposed to thermal cycles simulating diurnal and seasonal Martian cycles. The metabolism of the different biological samples will be analysed at different phases of the experiment, to study their survival and eventual activity of protein synthesis (mortality, mutations and capability of DNA repairing). We describe the experimental facility and provide the perspectives of the biological experiments we will perform in order to provide hints on the possibility of life on Mars either autochthonous or imported from Earth.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2005

In situ measurements of the physical characteristics of Titan's environment.

On the basis of previous ground-based and fly-by information, we knew that Titan's atmosphere was mainly nitrogen, with some methane, but its temperature and pressure profiles were poorly constrained because of uncertainties in the detailed composition. The extent of atmospheric electricity ('lightning') was also hitherto unknown. Here we report the temperature and density profiles, as determined by the Huygens Atmospheric Structure Instrument (HASI), from an altitude of 1,400 km down to the surface. In the upper part of the atmosphere, the temperature and density were both higher than expected. There is a lower ionospheric layer between 140 km and 40 km, with electrical conductivity peaking near 60 km. We may also have seen the signature of lightning. At the surface, the temperature was 93.65 +/- 0.25 K, and the pressure was 1,467 +/- 1 hPa.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Clinical, genetic, and cellular analysis of 49 osteopetrotic patients: implications for diagnosis and treatment.

BACKGROUND: Osteopetrosis, a genetic disease characterised by osteoclast failure, is classified into three forms: infantile malignant autosomal recessive osteopetrosis (ARO), intermediate autosomal recessive osteopetrosis (IRO), and autosomal dominant osteopetrosis (ADO). METHODS: We studied 49 patients, 21 with ARO, one with IRO, and 27 with type II ADO (ADO II). RESULTS: Most ARO patients bore known or novel (one case) ATP6i (TCIRG1) gene mutations. Six ADO II patients had no mutations in ClCN7, the only so far recognised gene implicated, suggesting involvement of yet unknown genes. Identical ClCN7 mutations produced differing phenotypes with variable degrees of severity. In ADO II, serum tartrate resistant acid phosphatase was always elevated. Bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) was generally low, but osteocalcin was high, suggesting perturbed osteoblast differentiation or function. In contrast, BALP was high in ARO patients. Elevated osteoclast surface/bone surface was noted in biopsies from most ARO patients. Cases with high osteoclasts also showed increased osteoblast surface/bone surface. ARO osteoclasts were morphologically normal, with unaltered formation rates, intracellular pH handling, and response to acidification. Their resorption activity was greatly reduced, but not abolished. In control osteoclasts, all resorption activity was abolished by combined inhibition of proton pumping and sodium/proton antiport. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide a rationale for novel therapies targeting pH handling mechanisms in osteoclasts and their microenvironment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

'Neurographic' palmaris brevis sign in type II degrees ulnar neuropathy at wrist.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the source of an unusual and previously unreported volume conducted potential on motor nerve conduction studies. In a case of subacute ulnar neuropathy at wrist (UNW) selectively involving the deep motor branch, we recorded from the hypothenar eminence a large positive wave (2.5 ms-2 mV) preceding the negative takeoff of the delayed distal ulnar motor response. METHODS: We performed multiple channels motor and sensory ulnar nerve (UN) conduction studies; these included selective electrical stimulation and anaesthetic block of UN branches and also selective recording of motor responses by single fibre needles; data were confirmed by an intraoperative neurophysiological study and correlated with MRI and surgical findings. RESULTS: Detailed neurophysiological investigation demonstrated the generation of this waveform from the palmaris brevis (PB) muscle. MRI and surgical exploration documented a hypertrophy of this muscle. CONCLUSIONS: In type II degrees UNW, depolarization of a spared palmaris brevis muscle may be recorded as a positive wave preceding the delayed abductor digiti minimi motor response. SIGNIFICANCE: We underline the peculiar localizing value of this volume conducted 'meaningful artefact' in that particular setting. It actually represented an early neurographic analogue of what is known as the clinical 'Palmaris Brevis Sign' in long standing type II degrees UNW.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed2005

Recycling of construction and demolition waste materials: a chemical-mineralogical appraisal.

Building activity is currently demanding remarkable amounts of inert materials (such as gravel and sand) that are usually provided by alluvial sediments. The EU directives and Italian Legislation are encouraging the re-use of construction and demolition waste provided by continuous urban redevelopment. The re-utilisation of building waste is a relatively new issue for Italy: unfortunately the employment of recycled inert materials is still limited to general bulk and drainage fills, while a more complete re-evaluation is generally hampered by the lack of suitable recycling plants. In this paper, chemical-mineralogical characterization of recycled inert materials was carried out after preliminary crushing and grain-size sorting. XRF and XRD analysis of the different grain-size classes allowed us to recognise particular granulometric classes that can be re-utilised as first-order material in the building activity. Specifically, the presented chemical-mineralogical appraisal indicates that the recycled grain-size fraction 0.6-0.125 mm could be directly re-employed in the preparation of new mortar and concrete, while finer fractions could be considered as components for industrial processing in the preparation of cements and bricks/tiles.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗
PubMed2001

Local delivery of human tissue kallikrein gene accelerates spontaneous angiogenesis in mouse model of hindlimb ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Human tissue kallikrein (HK) releases kinins from kininogen. We investigated whether adenovirus-mediated HK gene delivery is angiogenic in the context of ischemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: Hindlimb ischemia, caused by femoral artery excision, increased muscular capillary density (P:<0.001) and induced the expression of kinin B(1) receptor gene (P:<0.05). Pharmacological blockade of B(1) receptors blunted ischemia-induced angiogenesis (P:<0.01), whereas kinin B(2) receptor antagonism was ineffective. Intramuscular delivery of adenovirus containing the HK gene (Ad. CMV-cHK) enhanced the increase in capillary density caused by ischemia (969+/-32 versus 541+/-18 capillaries/mm(2) for control, P:<0.001), accelerated blood flow recovery (P:<0.01), and preserved energetic charge of ischemic muscle (P:<0.01). Chronic blockade of kinin B(1) or B(2) receptors prevented HK-induced angiogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: HK gene delivery enhances the native angiogenic response to ischemia. Angiogenesis gene therapy with HK might be applicable to peripheral occlusive vascular disease.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1998

Ischemic nephropathy in an elderly nephrologic and hypertensive population.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerotic renovascular disease is a frequent cause of end-stage renal failure leading to dialysis in the elderly population. Its prevalence is known from autopsy or retrospective arteriographic investigations. This prospective study was conducted in 133 subjects with the inclusion criteria of hypertension and/or chronic renal failure starting after 50 years of age. Renal failure was unrelated to other known causes of renal disease. METHODS: The patients were subjected to echo-color doppler ultrasonography of renal arteries (104) and/or to renal scintigraphy (112). Thirteen of 27 patients with positivity using one or both noninvasive techniques were subjected to digital selective angiography. RESULTS: All the patients with positivity of echo-color doppler technique were true positives, with a consequent predictive value reaching 100%. Renal scintigraphy was of markedly lower predictive value. Based on the echo-color doppler investigation, percentage positivity for hemodynamically significant stenosis (> 50%) was 3.2 (16.3% had mild nonsignificant stenosis of renal arteries) in the 50- to 59-year-old group, 20% (plus 12.5% with nonsignificant stenosis) in the 60- to 69-year-old group and 25% (plus 17.8% nonsignificant stenosis) in the > 70-year age group. Patients with significant stenosis also had a significantly higher degree of renal insufficiency and received a higher number of hypotensive drugs (p < 0.013). The percentage of hypertensive patients was not different in the stenotic and nonstenotic groups. CONCLUSIONS: A large percentage of the elderly population is affected by renal vascular obstructive disease and is at risk of developing end-stage renal failure. Considering the wide number of cases with foreseeable renal arterial stenosis in the vast population meeting the selection criteria, it is possible to conclude that not all cases evolve to renal failure due to different rates of progression or to untimely nonrenal death.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

External banding valvuloplasty of the superficial femoral vein in the treatment of recurrent varicose veins.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of reconstructive surgery of primary deep venous insufficiency in preventing recurrent varicose veins. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of patients affected by recurrent varicose veins submitted to external banding valvuloplasty of the superficial femoral vein. SETTING: A division of vascular surgery in a hospital/scientific institute. MATERIALS: Nineteen limbs (19 patients) with recurrent varicose veins, severe chronic venous insufficiency and 3rd or 4th grade reflux in the superficial femoral vein and competence of the profunda femoris vein were selected for surgical reconstructive treatment after a complete diagnostic study by continuous wave Doppler duplex scanning and descending phlebography. INTERVENTIONS: External banding valvuloplasty of the superficial femoral vein was performed in all cases: A Dacron sleeve was used in nine patients and Venocuff in 10. RESULTS: In one case a deep venous thrombosis of the calf occurred in the first postoperative period; in three cases the correction of the deep reflux was incomplete and a recurrence of the varices was observed. After a mean follow-up of 50 months, abolition of reflux and relief of symptomatology were obtained in 15 cases (78%). CONCLUSIONS: Primary deep venous insufficiency, unknown at the time of the initial operation, may be the cause of recurrent varicose veins. External banding valvuloplasty of the superficial femoral vein may abolish the reflux and correct venous hypertension, preventing recurrences.

Femoral Vein↗
PubMed1998

[Role of magnetic resonance in hemodialysis patients with amyloid shoulder arthropathy].

PURPOSE: Amyloid shoulder arthropathy is a frequent finding in long-term hemodialysis patients. Assessing the symptoms is fundamental in the approach to these patients but their long life expectancy means that the correct imaging quantification of scapulohumeral joint impairment is just as important. We investigated the role of MRI in amyloid shoulder arthropathy in long-term hemodialysis patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From January, 1995, to December, 1996, twelve long-term (mean: 13 years) hemodialysis patients with amyloid shoulder arthropathy were examined with MRI. All of them had undergone physical examination to detect the most involved scapulohumeral joint. MRI was carried out with a 1.0 T Magnetom Impact unit (Siemens, Germany) using T1-weighted Turbo SE sequences at high resolution on coronal and sagittal planes, respectively parallel and perpendicular to the supraspinatus tendon, and FLASH sequences on the axial plane. Six patients were then submitted to surgery. RESULTS: MRI had identified 3/12 rotator cuff tears (always involving the supraspinatus tendon and other tendons), 7/12 rotator cuff tears from supraspinatus tendon injury, and 1/12 thickening and structural dishomogeneity of the supraspinatus tendon. Finally, no structural changes were shown in 1/12 cases. In addition, most MR examinations (11/12) showed some inhomogeneous material characterized by intermediate-to-low signal intensity on T1-weighted sequences; such changes were found in subacromial and subdeltoid bursas in part of the articular capsule and were always associated with hypointense nodular images in all sequences. Surgery was carried out in 6 patients and confirmed both the structural changes of the rotator cuff and the presence of amorphous material which appeared to be amyloid deposits at subsequent histology. MRI proved to be a very reliable tool even in the study of skeletal structural changes, permitting both the identification of periarticular calcifications and the accurate analysis and quantification of subchondral erosions. CONCLUSIONS: MRI was a very reliable tool not only in the study of rotator cuff tears due to amyloid deposition but also in the analysis of bone changes. Thus MRI could play a growing role in treatment planning.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Magnetic resonance in the study of the painful shoulder. The surgical comparison in 30 consecutive cases].

Eighty patients complaining of shoulder pain were examined with MRI from January, 1993, through December, 1994. Thirty of them were submitted to surgery, with an exhaustive inspection of shoulder structures and the treatment of abnormal findings. In this subgroup of surgical patients, MRI had depicted 16 complete tears of the rotator cuff, 4 partial tears, 8 cases of subacromial impingement, I humeral head osteochondritis and, finally, I humeral head osteochondritis with complete rotator cuff tear. Surgical findings confirmed MR diagnosis in 97% of cases. MR findings were then compared with literature data and some atypical features were observed in our series. MRI was totally reliable in complete cuff tears (16/30 patients), always showing the involvement of supraspinatus tendons and, in some cases, of other cuff tendons. In partial cuff tears (4/30 patients), besides the classic pattern of a fissure in the deep/superficial supraspinatus tendon, we observed intra- and peritendinous changes, with no tendon interruption, due to diffuse microlesions. When impingement due to subacromial space narrowing, with no cuff tear, was present (8/30 patients), MRI depicted different causes--e.g., acromioclavear arthrosis, coracoacromial ligament hypertrophy and posttraumatic changes. MRI showed tendinosis in all patients but overestimated it in one case where partial cuff tear was not confirmed surgically--the only false positive in our series. At surgery, all these cases were classified as stage I-II impingement (according to Neer's classification). Finally, MRI was very reliable in the study of bone conditions (osteochondritis), both isolated and associated with cuff tears. The diagnostic accuracy of MRI in the study of the painful shoulder was very high (97%), in agreement with literature data. This is very important because many different causes of shoulder conditions (abnormal tendons, bones and mechanics) may present with similar clinical symptoms. MRI appears as the only imaging method yielding complete and accurate pieces of information in the patients with a painful shoulder.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Evaluation of a competitive enzyme immunoassay in screening for syphilis.

A competitive immunoenzymatic method has been developed and evaluated for the serological screening of syphilis. The method detects both anti-Treponema Pallidum IgG and IgM. The kit, commercially known as "Syphilis Screen", is produced by DIESSE Diagnostica Senese (Siena, Italy); all the required reagents are included and are ready for use. The test is performed on undiluted serum and a single incubation step is necessary. The method can be easily automated, and the results do not require a subjective interpretation. A good correlation was found with the Treponema Pallidum Haemagglutination (TPHA) technique: only 14 out of 2350 samples tested (2090 non reactive and 260 reactive) were found to be in disagreement. This test can be considered an alternative to the TPHA method in screening for syphilis.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1996

[The role of spinal cord electric stimulation in critical ischemia of the extremity].

The aim of this study is to evaluate, through a retrospective analysis of our experience, the effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in conservative treatment of critical limb ischaemia. During a 7-year period, at our Institution, SCS has been performed in 35 patients affected by severe lower limb ischaemia with angiographic multilevel distal lesions; femoro-distal bypass was not advisable or had failed due to poor outflow conditions. Basing upon clinical criteria (regression of rest pain, claudicatio and ischaemic lesions, limb salvage and need of amputation) the results of therapy were distinguished in "good,", "satisfactory" and "poor". Mean follow-up was 25 months (range 2-80). A good result has been achieved in 17 patients (48.5%) satisfactory in 11 (28.8%) and poor in 7 (20%), with a 80% limb salvage rate. No significative differences were observed in subgroups of patients with diabetes, hypertension or both. Appropriate management of critical limb ischaemia depends on a well-thought-out plan. Although femoro-distal vein bypass has been widely advocated as the treatment of choice, the good result of revascularization is related to adequate outflow conditions (adequate run-off). SCS has been reported to reduce ischaemic pain and improve ulcer healing and microcirculation in ischaemic limbs. Our experience and recent studies have provided strong evidence that SCS reduces tissue loss and improves limb salvage rate in inoperable patients. A prospective randomised study will be helpful in defining if SCS should represent an efficacious and alternative procedure to bypass in the treatment planning of critical leg ischaemia.

Aged↗