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Biomedical subjects

G Farina

Publications and source records attributed to G Farina.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

[Prosthetic valve endocarditis].

The Authors report their experience of the surgical treatment of cardiac prosthetic endocarditis. Between September 1974 and December 1988, 2,796 cardiac prostheses were implanted. An endocarditis in the follow-up of 23 patients involving 27 prostheses was diagnosed. The operative mortality was high in patients with mitral prosthetic endocarditis; in patients with infected aortic prosthesis operative mortality was low, but there was a high incidence of recurrence. The Authors emphasize the difficulty of diagnosis and the importance of the surgical treatment for eradication of the infection and for resolution of the haemodynamic defect.

Aortic Valve↗
PubMed1990

[Intermediate echocardiographic follow-up of a new model of pericardial prosthesis (Pericarbon)].

The paper deals with the echocardiographic medium-term follow-up of 11 patients fitted with a Sorin Pericarbon bioprosthesis. Four hundred and ninety-seven biological prostheses were implanted during the period January 1975 to December 1988, of which 22 (4.42%) were Pericarbon. The first 11 patients (mean age 55.3 years) who underwent isolated mitral or aortic valve replacement were included in the study. In 5 patients the bioprosthesis was implanted in mitral site, and in 6 in aortic. Post-operative 2D-Doppler echocardiographic tests revealed good hemodynamic performance indices, even in small calibre vessels, and the absence of early malfunctions. Although the number of patients studied is small, the absence of early malfunctions and the technical innovations of the bioprosthesis make it preferable to other pericardiac prostheses.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Clinico-pathological correlations in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction in the elderly.

A series of 200 consecutive patients with autopsy-proven acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was retrospectively studied in order to assess the degree of clinico-pathological agreement and to detect the reasons for disagreement. A correct clinical diagnosis of AMI was made in 86 cases (Group A = 43%) and was missed in 114 cases (Group B = 57%). Atypical presentation and concealed history were more common in group B. The AMI qualified to be the main disease in 83 patients of group A and in 81 of group B and was considered a contributory cause of death in three of group A and in 33 of group B (P less than 0.01). The mean number of diseases coexisting with the main disease for each patient was significantly lower in group A than in group B (P less than 0.01). The mean age was 65.2 +/- 12 years for group A patients and 69.1 +/- 12 years for group B patients (P less than 0.02). With the patients grouped according to age (group I: less than 60 years = 46 cases; group II: greater than or equal to 60 years = 154 cases), the diagnostic accuracy was 61% in group I and 38% in group II (P less than 0.01). Groups I and II did not differ in clinical presentation, ECG and enzyme diagnostic accuracy, while the number of diseases coexisting with the AMI was significantly higher in group II (P less than 0.001). Ageing, the atypical presentation and the coexistence of several diseases seem to account for most of the unrecognized AMI.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

Autopsy rate in younger and older hospitalized patients.

A retrospective study of the autopsy rate of the clinico-pathological correlations was made in a group of inpatients. The trend of autopsy rate was observed in all inpatients died in a university hospital during a nine year period (from 1975 to 1983). The agreement between the clinical and pathological death diagnosis was retrospectively controlled in 294 consecutive patients died and submitted to autopsy in the same hospital during a 6 month period (from January to June 1983). The results show that: In the oldest (greater than 60 yrs) patients, the autopsy rate trend was significantly reduced from 1975 to 1983, whereas the hospital admissions and the mortality rate increased. In the youngest subjects (less than 60 yrs), the autopsy rate trend, the hospital admissions and the mortality rate did not significantly change from 1975 to 1983. In all the years considered, the autopsy rate was significantly reduced in the oldest class (p less than 0.001). The agreement between the clinical and pathological diagnosis was observed in 83% of cases in the less than 60 years class and in 63% of cases in the greater than 60 yrs class (p less than 0.001). The association of main disease with other diseases was significantly more frequent in the greater than 60 yrs class with respect to the less than 60 yrs class (p less than 0.01). It has been concluded that the autopsy, especially in the elderly, is absolutely necessary for a better quality control of the clinical diagnosis and of the medical care.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1979

[Effect of actinomycin D on purified DNA-dependent RNA polymerases from normal and neoplastic tissues].

The effect of low concentrations of actinomycin D was investigated, using two forms of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (A and B) purified from normal tissues and experimental tumours, in the presence either of Mn2+ or Mg2+, and homologous DNA. The A enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by the antibiotic in presence of Mg2+ and much less in presence of Mn2+. The B enzyme activity was almost suppressed in presence of both cations. The results here reported provide support that the actinomycin D induce a cellular damage of the same extent in normal and tumour tissues.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of erythroid marrow response to recombinant human erythropoietin in patients with cancer anaemia.

BACKGROUND: Anaemia is a frequent finding in patients with cancer and may be due to different causes, including blunted erythropoietin production. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a pilot study, we administered recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) to twelve patients with solid tumours and secondary anaemia. rHuEPO was given subcutaneously 5 d per week at escalating doses (75 to 150 U/kg per day): the aim of treatment was a Hb level > or = 10 g/dl without blood transfusion. We evaluated endogenous EPO production through serum EPO levels and erythroid marrow activity by means of serum transferrin receptor (TfR). RESULTS: Six out of 12 subjects had defective endogenous EPO production. All patients but two responded to treatment with steady increases in Hb levels above 10 g/dl, and the median dose of rHuEPO required for correction of anaemia was 75 U/kg. Response was associated with an early increase in serum TfR. Six patients developed functional iron deficiency and required iron supplementation to obtain response. Treatment improved functional ability in 4/10 responders. CONCLUSIONS: Subcutaneous rHuEPO can stimulate erythroid marrow activity in cancer anaemia, even in patients with advanced disease, and marrow response can be adequately monitored by serum TfR. Functional iron deficiency as a cause of nonresponse to rHuEPO is frequent in these patients and may require parenteral iron administration. Although erythropoietin can improve the anaemia of cancer, the decision to treat should be individualised for each patient, looking more at the quality of life and cost-effectiveness than at cosmetic increases in the haemoglobin level.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparative prescription practices of family practice, internal medicine, and pediatrics residents.

The purpose of this study was to compare the prescribing practices among family practice, pediatric, and internal medicine third-year residents in an inner city ambulatory care setting. A four-month chart audit was made for the prescriptions provided for asthma, osteoarthritis, congestive heart failure, and upper respiratory infection patients by these residents. In general, family physicians prescribed medications that were not different from those used by internists and pediatricians. However, there were significant (p less than 0.01) differences in the number of visits and prescriptions among the specialties. The prescribing practices of the study group differed from a national survey of private practitioners in several drug categories.

Drug Prescriptions↗