Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to G D'Alessandro.
Four cases of so-called primary tumour of the spleen are discussed, stress being laid on their rarity and clinical course. The importance of splenectomy for precise histological diagnosis and assessment of the stage of the disease, factors which are indispensable for the oncologist when planning therapy, is also emphasized.
Vascularization of the first 60 cm of the jejunum is considered on the basis of a necroptic study of 100 cases. Attention is called to the possibility that surgical failure in ansa transposition techniques may be due to anatomical variations in the first jejunal branches of the superior mesenteric.
A series of 624 cases of breast pain examined over a period of 5 years is reviewed in the light of age, fecundity, side affected, and occupation. The gynaecological evidence made it clear that most cases where attributable to hormone disorders. In particular, there were no instances in which initial cancer was detected as a result of the pain symptom. The findings are discussed in the light of the literature.
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The new cryosurgical method of treating haemorrhoids is examined. Stress is laid on the importance of proper operation technique and correct evaluation of candidates. Infection, fistulae, abscesses, and stenosis are absolute contraindications.
In view of the larger number of operations on the bottom third of the oesophagus recently necessary in the destructive surgical therapy for tumours, the Authors re-examine 50 cases of oesophago-gastric and oesophago-jejunal anastomoses and stress the importance of accurate anastomoses, preferably single-layer in order to avoid early and delayed complications.
The Authors re-examined 50 cases of various ages and both sexes subjected to total gastrectomy for neoplasia, without any other chemotherapic or radiant collateral treatmente, and analyse the sequelae following total removal of the stomach. On the basis of the data collected, they conclude on the importance of an adequate reconstructive technique, in particular stressing the utility of preservation of the duodenal transit and the need for suitable dietetic-pharmacological conduct in the years following the operation.
A case of intestinal occlusion due to jejunal leiomyosarcoma is reported. Attention is drawn to the unusualness of the picture and the absence of an indicative symptomatology. Early diagnosis is desirable if surgery is to be successful.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Inhibitory local interneurons (LNs) play a critical role in shaping the output of olfactory glomeruli in both the olfactory bulb of vertebrates and the antennal lobe of insects and other invertebrates. In order to examine how the complex geometry of LNs may affect signaling in the antennal lobe, we constructed detailed multi-compartmental models of single LNs from the sphinx moth, Manduca sexta, using morphometric data from confocal-microscopic images. Simulations clearly revealed a directionality in LNs that impeded the propagation of injected currents from the sub-micron-diameter glomerular dendrites toward the much larger-diameter integrating segment (IS) in the coarse neuropil. Furthermore, the addition of randomly-firing synapses distributed across the LN dendrites (simulating the noisy baseline activity of afferent input recorded from LNs in the odor-free state) led to a significant depolarization of the LN. Thus the background activity typically recorded from LNs in vivo could influence synaptic integration and spike transformation in LNs through voltage-dependent mechanisms. Other model manipulations showed that active currents inserted into the IS can help synchronize the activation of inhibitory synapses in glomeruli across the antennal lobe. These data, therefore, support experimental findings suggesting that spiking inhibitory LNs can operate as multifunctional units under different ambient odor conditions. At low odor intensities, (i.e. subthreshold for IS spiking), they participate in local, mostly intra-glomerular processing. When activated by elevated odor concentrations, however, the same neurons will fire overshooting action potentials, resulting in the spread of inhibition more globally across the antennal lobe. Modulation of the passive and active properties of LNs may, therefore, be a deciding factor in defining the multi-glomerular representations of odors in the brain.
Somatosensory evoked potentials from median nerve stimulation were recorded in 12 patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy, before and after 1 year of treatment with carbamazepine. The plasma concentrations of the drug were consistently within therapeutic range. We assessed the latencies of the early components at the level of the cervical spine (N9 and N13) and on the parietal scalp (P14, N20, P25) and the interpeak latencies (N9-N13, N13-N20, P14-N20). None of the patients presented anomalies in any of the parameters, and there was no significant difference between the patient and control means or between the patient means before and after 1 year of treatment.
The aim was to confirm the influence of HLA Class II antigens on the progression of HCV infection and to assess the relationship between these antigens and histological damage, HCV viral load and HCV genotype. 143 patients were enrolled and divided into three groups. Group A included 34 anti-HCV positive, HCV-RNA negative patients with ALT persistently normal; group B included 39 patients with HCV-RNA positive and abnormal ALT level; group C included 70 normal subjects. Serological HCL typing was performed with lymphocytotoxicity test by Terasaky and McClelland, using lymphobeads HLC class II. The frequency of HLA DR11 (5) was significantly higher in the control group (52.9%) and in group A (64.7%), than in group B (28.2%). Allele HLA DR6 was demonstrated in a similar proportion (26%) among control group and group B, while HLA DR14 (6) was less frequent among controls (18% vs 1.4%). In group A the frequency of HLA DR14 (6) was 3% compared to group B, HLA DR17 (3) was prevalent (15.4%) in group B. Liver damage was associated with the detection of HLA DR14 (6) and HLD DR17 (3) antigens. Significantly lower levels of HCV-RNA were measured in subjects with HLA DR11 (5) than in these with either DR6 or DR17 (3). HLA class II antigens appear crucial for resolution or progression of HCV hepatitis. The punctual identification of these genetic factors may, therefore, prove to be useful in predicting disease evolution, in guiding the appropriate therapy for patients with poor prognosis, and in encouraging the development of now therapeutic strategies.
Parasympathetic function in 7 Huntington's chorea patients with a duration of the disease ranging from 1 to 20 years, was evaluated by studying R-R intervals during quiet and deep breathing and Valsalva manoeuvre. All 7 patients were free of neuropathy, orthostatic hypotension, heart or lung disease and had had no medication for at least 15 days prior to hospitalization. Seven normal subjects served as controls. On the whole, the responses of the Huntington's chorea patients were not significantly different from those of the controls. Abnormal responses to all the tests were received in only one patient and a low R-R variability during deep breathing in the youngest patients. Unlike other Central Nervous System degenerative disorders, in Huntington's disease parasympathetic autonomy seems to be sufficiently preserved.
The motor and sensory conduction velocities were measured, and the somatosensory evoked potentials were recorded on median nerve stimulation in 20 epileptics on long-term carbamazepine therapy. The plasma drug levels were monitored and found to be consistently within therapeutic range. The electrophysiological study showed that the motor and sensory conduction velocities in the lower limbs were significantly lower than in age-and sex-matched controls, while no significant variation was found in the somato-sensory evoked potentials. There was no correlation between the neurophysiological data and any of the pharmacological data, such as duration of treatment, plasma levels and dose of drug per Kg of bodyweight per day.