Biomedical subjects

G Brigato

Publications and source records attributed to G Brigato.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1998

[Premature membrane rupture. Comparison of diagnostic tests].

BACKGROUND: Objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the vaginal pH-test, the Fern-test, the research of foetal cells and of foetal fibronectin in vaginal discharge, which are used to diagnose premature rupture of membranes. METHODS: To this aim 40 pregnant patients between 24th and 37th weeks gestation have been examined, considered at risk for sub-clinic loss of aminiotic fluid: 23 were affected by preterm labour and 17 by suspected rupture of membranes. RESULTS: Subsequently amniotic sac was confirmed to be ripped in 10 cases (25%): 2 (8.7%) in the 23 patients with preterm labour, and 8 (47%) in the 17 patients with suspected PROM. Sensibility, specificity and accuracy were respectively: 70, 97 and 90% for pH-test; 70, 100 and 93% for Fern-test; 50, 93 and 82% for foetal cells; 100, 90 and 93% for fibronectin test. CONCLUSIONS: In personal experience fibronectin test appeared to be the most sensible and accurate marker. Fern-test was the most specific, while the research of foetal cells appeared to be the least reliable.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Surgical second look in ovarian cancer: a randomized study in patients with laparoscopic complete remission--a Northeastern Oncology Cooperative Group-Ovarian Cancer Cooperative Group Study.

PURPOSE: The usefulness of extensive and repetitive surgery for patients with ovarian cancer still remains unproven (at least for some conditions). We planned an accurate prospective test of the hypothesis that patients with advanced-stage disease, after they had reached a clinical complete remission (CR), may benefit from surgical second look (SSL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred two patients in CR (as assessed by clinical findings, markers, and visualization by computed tomographic [CT] scan and laparoscopy), after initial debulking and first-line chemotherapy, were randomized to two arms, which were well balanced for predictive criteria such as age, stage at presentation, histology, grading, date of randomization, and residua after first surgery. Forty-eight patients were randomly assigned to receive follow-up evaluation only, while 54 were assigned to receive second surgery (eight of them refused). Of 46 surgical patients, 35 had negative and 11 positive surgical findings (24% clinically false-negative). RESULTS: Despite the microscopic residua found at open surgery, and the fact that the patients were then treated with second-line chemotherapy, SSL did not increase the probability of survival in this setting. In an analysis of the results according to the intention-to-treat criteria, after a 60-month follow-up period, the overall survival rates in the two groups of patients (SSL v no SSL) were 65% and 78%, respectively (P = .14). Multivariate analysis according to predictive criteria confirmed there was no significant difference between the two groups (P = .39). CONCLUSION: Our study shows the following: (1) our second-line treatment is scarcely effective; (2) SSL accurately defines complete responders to first-line chemotherapy; (3) SSL per se does not prolong survival; and (4) if confirmed, a less invasive procedure could replace SSL as a valuable method in new first-line regimens in ovarian cancer patients with clinical CR confirmed by laparoscopy.

Female↗

PubMed1987

Pelvic and mammary Burkitt-like lymphoma with simultaneous development of leukemia.

The authors report the case of a young nun who came to their attention because of the simultaneous development of mammary and pelvic lymphoblastic lymphoma and acute leukemia showing aspects typical of nonendemic Burkitt's lymphoma. The rapid tumoral growth and the equally rapid spontaneous cell lysis led to severe renal insufficiency and metabolic acidosis which were ultimately the cause of death. Given the rareness of the clinical situation and the diagnostic problems involved, the authors examined the literature dealing with this subject.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

Toxoplasmosis. Two observations and a specification.

On the basis of two interesting observations of toxoplasmic disease the Authors attempt to interpret the various pathological pictures, comparing two different formulations of toxoplasmic disease: that of Sabin and that of more modern AA.

Abortion, Habitual↗

PubMed1982