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G C Mussa

Publications and source records attributed to G C Mussa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

[Pediatrics in Turin at the end of the 19th century].

The end of the 19th century represents a period of major innovation in the history of pediatrics. As early as 1888, at the first Congress of Medicine field in Brescia, the need was felt for a pediatric association in Italy; after various attempts, the Italian Association of Pediatrics (SIP) was set up in 1898 during the 3rd Italian Congress of Pediatrics held in Turin. On this occasion it was decided that the association should meet every 2 years in the largest Italian cities and, moreover, the first Status was put to the vote and approved. In this study the authors outline the evolution of pediatric studies in Turin over the years, focusing on the history of all the city's hospitals and the various publications used by doctors during the 19th century. In conclusion, the authors recall that pediatric science became a speciality during the last century, but remained within the framework of general medicine.

History, 19th Century↗
PubMed1991

[Neonatal hepatic cholestasis with particular regard for the use of radioisotopes in its diagnosis].

The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of hepatobiliary scintigraphy using a 99mTc-HIDA compound to differentiate intrahepatic cholestasis from extrahepatic forms during the first months of life. The tracer used was acid N-(2,6)-diethylacetanylido-iminodiacetic (diethyl-HIDA) with almost exclusively biliary excretion and a high concentration of radioactivity in the bile. Each neonate was injected with 0.5 mg/kg i.v. of the compound marked with a dose of 99mTc equivalent to 80-100 microCi/kg. Scintigraphic recordings were carried out every 10' for the first hour and further controls were performed at 2, 3, 4, 8 and 24 hours. Scintiphotos were obtained using a Polaroid scintillation camera, PHO Gamma V. Fifty-four patients were included in the study (34 males and 20 females) aged between 4 days and 3 months old. All patients were clinically suspected of pathologies involving the hepatobiliary tract. All cases were affected by persistent jaundice (total bilirubin between 1.8 and 39.6 mg%) with predominantly direct bilirubin (range 1.5-26.2 mg%), acholic feces and hyperchromic urine. Hepato-biliary scintigraphy revealed an intestinal excretion of tracer in 31 out of the 54 neonates examined, excluding the presence of an extrahepatic obstruction of the biliary tract. On the other hand, only 13 out of 23 cases in which no enteric excretion of the tracer was observed, was the final diagnosis one extrahepatic cholestasis. Scintigraphic tests therefore showed a 100% sensitivity associated with a specificity of only 56.52%. This demonstrates that the finding of tracer in the intestine is pathognomonic of the permeability of extrahepatic biliary ducts and that biliary atresia can be ruled out. On the contrary, the absence of the intestinal excretion of the tracer is nor constantly associated with biliary atresia. This study has confirmed this finding in 10 cases of intrahepatic cholestasis (4 hypoplasias of the intrahepatic biliary tract, 3 thick bile syndromes, 3 cases of hepatitis due to cytomegalovirus). In conclusion, the Authors state that hepato-biliary scintigraphy represents a straightforward and non-invasive diagnostic method which enables the permeability of the biliary tract to be assessed in subjects with jaundice.

Biliary Tract↗
PubMed1990

[Thyroid hormones and the development of the nervous system].

The growth and differentiation of the central nervous system are closely related to the presence of iodine and thyroid hormones. During the first trimester of human pregnancy the development of the nervous system depends entirely on the availability of iodine; after 12 week of pregnancy it depends on the initial secretion of iodothyronine by the fetal thyroid gland. During the early stages of the development of the nervous system a thyroid hormone deficit may provoke alterations in the maturation of both noble nervous cells (cortical pyramidal cells, Purkinje cells) and glial cells. Hypothyroidism may lead to cellular hypoplasia and reduced dendritic ramification, gemmules and interneuronal connections. Experimental studies in hypothyroid rats have also shown alterations in the content and organization of neuronal intracytoplasmatic microtubules, the biochemical maturation of synaptosomes and the maturation of nuclear and cytoplasmatic T3 receptors. Excess thyroid hormones during the early stages of development may also cause permanent damage to the central nervous system. Hyperthyroidism may initially induce an acceleration of the maturation processes, including the migration and differentiation of cells, the extension of the dendritic processes and synaptogenesis. An excess of thyroid hormones therefore causes neuronal proliferation to end precociously leading to a reduction of the total number of gemmules. Experimental research and clinical studies have partially clarified the correlation between the maturation of the nervous system and thyroid function during the early stages of development; both a deficit and excess of thyroid hormones may lead to permanent anatomo-functional damage to the central nervous system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Brain↗
PubMed1989

Thyroid and growth: thyroid hormones and development of the nervous system.

Growth and differentiation of nervous system are closely influenced by the presence of iodine and thyroid hormones during the first stages of development. The deficiency of thyroid hormones causes alterations of the maturation of the upper nervous cells (pyramidal cortical, Purkinje's cells) and of the glial cells with cell hypoplasia and reduction of dendritic branching, of synaptic spines and interneuronal connections. Experimental studies in hypothyroid rats evidenced impairments in the content and organization of intra-cytoplasmic microtubulin, in the biochemical maturation in synaptosomes and in the maturation of the nuclear and cytoplasmic receptors for T3.

Cell Differentiation↗
PubMed1987

[Child abuse].

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Battered Child Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine treatment in neuroblastoma: report of two cases.

Poor results with 131I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) therapy have been obtained in two children with stage IV neuroblastoma treated after partial surgery and unsatisfactory combination chemotherapy. Both patients' response to treatment (four and three 1-month-spaced courses, respectively; cumulative administration of 11.9 and 9.2 GBq) has been characterized by a low isotope concentration in the primary tumor and in the multiple bone metastases and by bone marrow uptake with final severe hematological toxicity. A slight decrease in the primary tumor's volume was observed in one patient at a cumulative dose of 85 Gy; there was no change in the other's at 42 Gy. At an initial, greater isotope concentration delivering 103 Gy, some bone metastases displayed a sharp decrease in uptake that persisted in the successive courses. For both patients a progressive spreading of new tumor localisation in the bones and finally in the soft tissues was observed.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗