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G Cardone

Publications and source records attributed to G Cardone.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Role of magnesium in pregnancy.

The importance of magnesium in pregnancy has been emphasised by several studies. Magnesium is considered a membrane-stabilizing ion and a permeability regulator acting at an intracellular level which intervenes in the oxidative phosphorylation and oxidation reduction processes as well as in enzymatic synthesis and activity. The authors performed a double-blind study in which 15 mmol of magnesium or placebo were administered to the treatment and control groups respectively. There were more cases admitted to hospital in the control group than in that treated with magnesium. Even if there is not a large body of data which supports improved fetus development as a result of magnesium supplementation during pregnancy, the authors suggest that pregnant women with a high risk of gestosis and premature labour should receive additional magnesium.

Adolescent↗

[Ovarian neoplasms and tumor markers].

This is an experience about the utility of CA125 in diagnosis, staging, prognosis, and therapeutic response of ovarian cancer. The patients were 21 (the ages range was 38-66). They had an epithelial cancer (10 serous, 3 mucinous, 2 endometrioid, 6 non specific). The quantitative test of CA125 was performed with purified monoclonal antibody OC125 pre and post antineoplastic treatment. The reduction of CA125 was in connection with the neoplastic regression. Perservering or increasing values were related to neoplastic stasis or to non-responsive neoplasia, respectively. Even if the method we used was specific its sensibility is lower in patients with smallest residue disease.

Adult↗

[Lymphoblastic lymphoma of the renal cavity associated with hemorrhagic pericarditis. Description of a case].

The authors describe a case of lymphoblastic lymphoma of the renal lodge complicated by hemorrhagic pericarditis, cardiac tamponade and quickly evolved in an unfavourable way. Lymphoblastic lymphoma is classified into lymphocytic lymphomas (or non-Hodgkin) with a higher grade of malignancy. These lymphomas have, in 40% of cases, an initially extra-lymph node localization: among these, the renal or perirenal localization is not very frequent. The concomitant presence of a pericarditis of hemorrhagic type is also less frequent. Unlike Hodgkin's lymphomas, lymphocytic lymphomas are frequently in an advanced stage at the moment of diagnosis, and their evolution is of acute-subacute, often fatal type. The case report is about a 70 year old male, who arrived at the clinical investigation for the subjective presence of asthenia, dyspnea, tachycardia and the objective evidence of jugular turgor, hepatomegaly and distal edemas, hypophonesis of right lung basis, according to a clinical picture of systemic venous congestion which instrumental examinations confirm to be of pericardial origin. The abdominal echographic examination showed an occupation of the perirenal space, so the CAT characterized as a 25 cm long formation (from the renal cavity to pelvis), with a dislocation of close structures. Unfortunately, the clinical picture had a quick evolution towards the exitus for cardiac tamponade, only permitting us a bioptic examination for the diagnosis of the case.

Aged↗

HPV and HIV: HPV-DNA identification of colpocytologic smears in HIV positive females through "in situ" hybridization technique.

Test statistics show a progressive increase of AIDS cases which can be attributed to heterosexual intercourse. Cervicovaginal withdrawals were carried out on 18 HIV positive women for identification of HPV-DNA through "In Situ" hybridization with three probes 6-11 (A); 16-18 (B); 31-33-51 (C). 61% of patients tested positive at DNA Probe as follows: A = 27.27%; B = 18.18%; C = 72.72%. HIV could act as cofactor in increasing HPV manifestations. In future, the number of AIDS cases in Italy will depend on its prevalence among the sexually active population. Therefore, the most useful intervention, will be the prevention of transmission through heterosexual intercourse.

Adolescent↗

Therapeutic prospects of natural alpha interferon from normal human leucocytes in the treatment of genital condylomata in HIV positive women.

Various Authors underline that HIV positive women have a higher CIN incidence and a higher prevalence of HPV. HIV could act as cofactor in the proliferation of HPV manifestation, because of a hypothetical deficit of local immunity. 5 HIV positive patients have been examined: 3 of them presenting vulvocondylomas and/or VIN were treated with 1.000.000 IU alpha IFNn three times a week for three weeks. 2 of them presenting CIN and/or HPV were treated with a two-phase therapy: A) Induction therapy: 3.000.000 IU 3 times a week for three cycles. B) Maintenance therapy: 1.000.000 IU 3 times a week for three months. IFN was the primary treatment for viral lesions, even though an improvement of prognostic indices (CD4, CD4/CDB, 2M), has shown its usefulness in association or in alternative to AZT.

Adolescent↗

[The role of intraoperative echography in laparoscopic cholecystectomy].

On the basis of recent technological improvements, the laparoscopic approach has become the method of choice during cholecystectomy. This surgical procedure, however, needs that cholangiography be performed simultaneously to better define the anatomy of the biliary ducts and the possible presence of choledochus stones. The use of intraoperative US during cholecystectomy is nowadays advocated for the unquestionable advantages offered by this technique--i.e., its non-invasiveness, high spatial resolution and no need of contrast agent administration. In this study, we examined 30 patients with cholelithiasis who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and were submitted to endolaparoscopic US besides routine intraoperative cholangiography. In all cases, both techniques allowed optimal visualization of the biliary tree, clearly demonstrating choledochus stones in 2 cases. Intraoperative US proved to be more accurate in two cases. In one case which was positive at intraoperative cholangiography, the method allowed the biliary duct filling defect to be referred to an artifact caused by the presence of an air bubble. In another case, the lack of opacification of the hepatic ducts at cholangiography was referred, after US, to extrinsic gallbladder compression. US also allowed the adjacent parenchymal organs, such as the liver and the head of pancreas, to be studied. A limitation of this technique was represented by the difficult assessment of the choledochus in the patients with anatomical abnormalities or adhesions of the intestinal loops of the upper abdomen. In conclusion, endolaparoscopic US proved to be a reliable technique in the intraoperative study of the biliary ducts and can be considered as a procedure complementary to intraoperative cholangiography.

Biliary Tract↗

[Current conservative surgery in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia].

5 years (1989-1993) experience of cervical conization including 57 cases, has been reviewed. The mean follow-up was 33 (6-60) months. Mean age was 34.6 (range 21-57) years. Mean height and diameter of the cones were 2.5 +/- 0.3 cm and 1.5 +/- 0.4 cm, respectively. In 55 cases there were free margins of the cones. Cytological diagnosis was CIN I for 8 patients, CIN II for 21 patients, CIN III for 22 patients, CIN+HPV for 6 patients. In 40 of the 57 patients suspected of having a cervical intraepithelial neoplasia on cytology and on colposcopy, the histology was confirmative. Bleeding (the most common pre and postoperative complication) was observed in 6 cases (11.7%). In three patients a new conization was necessary and in the other two patients hysterectomy was necessary. No significant differences were noted in the pregnancy outcome following either treatment in five patients.

Adult↗

Arteriography in diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma.

The diagnostic role of arteriography in the evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma is pointed out. In the identification of large lesions angiography achieves a sensitivity of 100%. However, when evaluating small lesions (under 5 or 3 cm in diameter), the sensitivity is reported to be 82-89%. To increase the sensitivity, different special techniques have been developed which require angiographic placement of a catheter. These include CT arteriography, CT arterial portography and CT after intraarterial injection of iodized oil. Particularly with the two latter techniques, the sensitivity in identification of small hepatocellular carcinoma reaches a value of 91-95%. Angiography can also be proposed for the characterization of neoplastic lesions in cirrhotic livers. Its specificity is 72% in the differential diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and adenomatous hyperplastic nodules. Small grade I hepatocellular carcinoma can simulate this benign lesion at angiography, as well as at histology. Finally, angiography may still play a role in the preoperative staging of hepatocellular carcinoma both for the diagnosis of satellite lesions and for the identification of vascular invasion.

Angiography↗

[Thr role of histiocytes in the cytodiagnosis of endometrial adenocarcinoma].

The Authors point out the importance of histiocytes in Papanicolaou smears. Histiocytes are associated with endometrial carcinoma on tissue sections and may be seen on cervicovaginal smears as well. Smears obtained from 120 women, with clinical signs of endometrial diseases, were evaluated to determine the correlation between the presence of histiocytes in the cervicovaginal smears and endometrial adenocarcinoma. Histiocytes were quantified as minimal [less than 5 per high-power field (hpf)], moderate (5-10 hpf) or heavy (greater than 10/hpf). The histiocytes were found in smears from 80 women. Five adenocarcinomas, 9 hyperplasias were detected in 20 patients with moderate or heavy smears. The Authors conclude that the presence of histiocytes among postmenopausal women who have cervicovaginal smears should not be ignored. The data indicate that, in the absence of endometrial cells, histiocytes on cervicovaginal smears of postmenopausal women are associated with more elevated relative risk for endometrial carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Therapeutic plans for the treatment of HPV infections by systemic administration of interferon-alpha. Experience with preneoplastic pathology of the uterine cervix associated with viral cytopathic effects].

The principal action of IFN is anti-viral, rather than antiproliferative and immunomodulatory. All three actions are required to resolve pre-neoplastic uterine cervix pathologies, above all if they are at an early stage or associated with viral cytopathic effects.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Intraarterial portography with gadopentetate dimeglumine: improved liver-to-lesion contrast in MR imaging.

Magnetic resonance imaging during arterial portography (MRAP) was performed by the authors in a selected group of 12 patients with hepatic lesions. A low dose of gadopentetate dimeglumine (4 mL of a 0.5-mol/L solution, corresponding to a dose of 0.05-0.07 mmol/kg) was injected into the superior mesenteric artery during acquisition of breath-holding gradient-echo or rapid acquisition spin-echo images. Images were always acquired during the first passage of gadopentetate dimeglumine through the liver parenchyma. An increase in liver-to-lesion contrast was obtained with MRAP imaging (contrast-to-noise ratio = 8 +/- 1.8 vs 19 +/- 2.7). Signal intensity enhancement of the liver was high (signal-to-noise ratio = 9.48 +/- 2.42), while the lesion presented no significant enhancement (signal-to-noise ratio = 0.55 +/- 0.22). Lobar portal vein thrombosis was detected in one patient owing to lack of enhancement of the left lobe of the liver. No side effects related to administration of iodinated and paramagnetic contrast agents were observed. This new technique provides specific enhancement of liver parenchyma with improved liver-to-lesion contrast.

Adult↗

[Pathologic conditions in pregnancy. Preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of magnetic resonance].

Some authors suggested that MR imaging could represent an effective diagnostic alternative in the study of pathologic conditions of mother and fetus during pregnancy. To verify the actual role of MR imaging, we examined 20 patients in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of gestation, after a preliminary US examination. Fifteen patients presented fetal or placental pathologies; in 4 patients the onset of the pathologic condition occurred during pregnancy; in 1 case of US diagnosis of fetal ascites, MR findings were normal and the newborn was healthy. As for placental pathologies, our series included a case of placental cyst, two hematomas between placenta and uterine wall, and two cases of partial placenta previa. As for fetal malformations, we evaluated a case of omphalocele, one of Prune-Belly syndrome, a case of femoral asymmetry, one of thanatophoric dwarfism, a case of thoracopagus twins with cardiovascular abnormalities, two fetal hydrocephali, and three cases of pyelo-ureteral stenosis. As for maternal pathologies during pregnancy, we observed a case of subserous uterine fibromyoma, one of right hydronephrosis, one of protrusion of lumbar intervertebral disk, and a large ovarian cyst. In our experience, MR imaging exhibited high sensitivity and a large field of view, which were both useful in the investigation of the different conditions occurring during pregnancy. In the evaluation of fetal and placental abnormalities, especially during the 3rd trimester, the diagnostic yield of MR imaging suggested it as a complementary technique to US for the evaluation of fetal malformations and of intrauterine growth retardation.

Adult↗

[A comparative study between Gd-BOPTA, a biliary excretion contrast medium, and Gd-DTPA in the magnetic resonance imaging of the rat liver].

A new lipophilic compound, Gd-BOPTA, presenting a high rate (38.6%) of biliary excretion was tested as an hepato-specific MR contrast agent. Its adequacy was compared to that of Gd-DTPA in laboratory animals. T1-weighted spin-echo sequences (TR 220 ms, TE 20 ms) both before and after the administration of the 2 contrast agents (doses: 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mmol/kg) showed better liver enhancement with Gd-BOPTA than with Gd-DTPA. Gd-BOPTA superiority was more evident at lower doses, while at 1.0 mmol/kg a comparable enhancement was achieved. Inversion recovery sequence at the T-null of liver parenchyma before contrast (TR 800 ms, TE 30 ms, TI 100 ms) was performed after the injection of 0.1 and 0.5 mmol/kg of Gd-DTPA and Gd-BOPTA. This sequence allowed the good and long-lasting liver enhancement achieved with Gd-BOPTA to be even better demonstrated, while Gd-DTPA provided only a slight and early enhancement with 0.1 mmol/kg and returned to baseline values 60' after the injection of the highest dose (0.5 mmol/kg). Gd-BOPTA proved to be a good contrast agent to obtain prolonged liver enhancement, thus providing the radiologist with the long time needed to acquire conventional T1-weighted pulse sequences.

Acetates↗