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Biomedical subjects

G Renzi

Publications and source records attributed to G Renzi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Switzerland: first surveillance report.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an emerging community pathogen. Community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) has been associated with virulent strains producing Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) and a variety of other exotoxins. In Geneva, PVL-producing CA-MRSA was first reported in 2002 and a surveillance system based on voluntary reporting was set up. Each MRSA-positive culture result with an antibiotic resistance profile different from the endemic strain prevailing in the Geneva healthcare setting diagnosed in a patient without a history of hospital admission in the previous 12 months was notified to the local health department. A questionnaire was completed by the attending physician with demographic, clinical and exposure information. From January 2002 until December 2004, data on 58 cases were reported, including 26 cases grouped in 13 distinct transmission clusters. Most were family related and for two of them, colonisation persisted over a 12 month period despite treatment. Thirty three patients (57%) were male. Median age was 32 years, 22% being younger than 10 years. Forty one cases (71%) were infected and 17 (29%) colonised. Symptomatic skin lesions such as furunculosis, impetigo or abscess were present in 40 (97%) of the 41 infected cases. Most cases had no underlying disease. Thirty eight cases (65%) had travelled abroad. Forty (69%) of 58 isolates carried the PVL toxin. CA-MRSA infections in Geneva appear to be an emerging problem in the canton. Surveillance should continue and should possibly be extended to other parts of the country to better describe transmission patterns and the spread of this pathogen. Prevention and control of CA-MRSA infections represent a challenge for the future, requiring contact tracing, education and treatment of infected and colonised contacts.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Diagnosis of Bell palsy with gadolinium magnetic resonance imaging.

Bell palsy is a condition resulting from a peripheral edematous compression on the nervous fibers of the facial nerve. This pathological condition often has clinical characteristics of no importance and spontaneously disappears in a short time in a high percentage of cases. Facial palsy concerning cranial nerve VII can also be caused by other conditions such as mastoid fracture, acoustic neurinoma, tumor spread to the temporal lobe (e.g., cholesteatoma), neoformation of the parotid gland, Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome, and Ramsay-Hunt syndrome. Therefore, it is important to adopt an accurate diagnostic technique allowing the rapid detection of Bell palsy and the exclusion of causes of facial paralysis requiring surgical treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with medium contrast of the skull shows a marked increase in revealing lesions, even of small dimensions, inside the temporal bone and at the cerebellopontine angle. The authors present a clinical case to show the important role played by gadolinium MRI in reaching a diagnosis of Bell palsy in the differential diagnosis of the various conditions that determine paralysis of the facial nerve and in selecting the most suitable treatment or surgery to be adopted.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Ophthalmologic follow-up of premature twins and triplets.

PURPOSE: To assess the influence of multiple gestation on the visual apparatus and on the general state of health of premature infants and to investigate the condition of the twin or triplet with the lowest birth weight compared to multiple gestation siblings. METHODS: Seventy-seven premature twins or triplets (8 to 54 months of age) were monitored at the Verona University Ophthalmology Department from November 1995 to November 1999. In another 12 subjects (younger than 8 months), only the neonatal disease records were examined; these subjects were excluded from the ophthalmologic follow-up because they were too young to be tested reliably. The study sample was compared with 120 premature singletons monitored from January 1996 to March 1998. Visual acuity, ocular motility, strabismus, refraction defects, dioptric media, and fundus oculi were assessed. RESULTS: The incidence of retinopathy of prematurity, refraction defects, or strabismus was not significantly different between premature twins or triplets and premature singletons. The twin or triplet with the lowest birth weight was more frequently affected by eye morbidity and the diseases typical of prematurity. This difference, however, was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Premature infants are at a disadvantage compared to those born at term, irrespective of multiple birth status; multiple gestation adds no risk beyond that due to prematurity.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed2003

Eye injuries in childhood: a retrospective investigation of 88 cases from 1988 to 2000.

PURPOSE: To assess the frequency, causes, mechanisms, and functional outcomes of eye injuries in childhood. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the hospital files of patients younger than 12 years admitted to the Institute of Ophthalmology of Verona University for eye injuries from January 1, 1988, to December 31, 2000. RESULTS: Eighty-eight cases of eye injuries (69 [78%] boys, 19 [22%] girls) were identified. The mean age at admission was 7.2 years. The most frequent causes of eye injuries were domestic accidents in patients younger than 6 years (25%) and accidents at play in those older than 6 years (35%). Scissors were the most frequent causative agents in children under 6 and toys, stones, and ball injuries in those over 6. Diagnoses, therapies implemented, ocular complications, and outcomes are reported. CONCLUSIONS: The major causes of eye injuries in childhood are preventable; thus more adequate adult supervision and educational and legislative measures are necessary and useful in order to reduce prevalence and morbidity of these accidents.

Accidents, Home↗
PubMed2002

Evaluation of homologous bone graft versus biomaterials in the aesthetic restoration of the middle third of the face.

BACKGROUND: Bone deficits of the midface can be observed following tumor surgery, facial traumas or malformations, and can determine aesthetic deformities requiring surgical corrections. The goal of this study is to illustrate the 23 years experience of the Maxillo-Facial Department of the "La Sapienza" University of Rome, in surgical correction of middle third bone loss for aesthetic improvement, and to compare postsurgical results from the use of biomaterials and homologous bone grafts. METHODS: From January 1977 to January 2000, 18 patients were surgically treated with bone grafts for bone deficit of the midface requiring aesthetic improvements, and 23 received biomaterial placement in the same district. A retrospective analysis regarding aesthetic improvements following corrective (reconstructive) surgery was carried out in order to compare long-term results obtained with bone grafts and biomaterials. RESULTS: Of the 19 implants of the zygomatic bone, 1 patient suffered from infection, observ-ed on the 8th day, following iliac bone graft in the maxillary area. Of the 32 prostheses, 7 became infected and in 1 case the material became exposed: Proplast(R) became infected 2 times, Gore-tex(R) 3 times and 1 time became exposed; 2 of the 24 Medpor(R) implants resulted in infection. The employment of bone graft obtained a good short term aesthetic result. Medpor(R) employment, was evaluated as an optimal aesthetic improvement. We cannot evaluate the results obtained with Gore-tex(R) and Proplast(R) because of the few cases treated. Anyway we consider unsatisfactory the corrections obtained with these 2 materials. CONCLUSIONS: Homologous bone grafts are still considered as the best choice when a further fixture positioning is planned for prosthetic rehabilitation of the alveolar ridge of the upper jaw or mandible. At the present time, some biomaterials are the definitive solution for restoring facial harmony in the 3 spatial dimensions.

Biocompatible Materials↗
PubMed2002

Von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis with palatal localization. Diagnostic and surgical problems in two clinical cases.

This paper illustrates the clinical findings and aims at report surgical matters observed in 2 patients affected by neurofibromatosis type I with a rare palatal localization. By means of retrospective analysis 2 cases of neurofibromatosis type I with a palatal mass are selected. Both cases were surgically treated and underwent 12 months follow-up. Patients underwent surgical removal of the palatal neurofibroma. At 12 months follow-up a good local condition without any recurrence was observed. Malignant transformation was very rarely reported in oral neurofibromata and can follow incomplete removal. Surgical treatment of neurofibromata requires the sacrifice of the nerve trunk from where they originate, together with the complete removal of the mass with security margins. Therefore, risks and benefits from surgery should be carefully weighted in each patient and where surgery is not performed clinical and radiographic trials are advisable.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: topical sulfonamide antiglaucoma agents incorporating secondary amine moieties.

Reaction of aromatic/heterocyclic sulfonamides possessing free amino, imino or hydrazino moieties with 7-chloro-4-chloromethylcoumarin afforded a series of N-[(7-chloro-4-coumarinyl)-methyl]- derivatives which showed effective inhibition of three carbonic anhydrase (CA) isozymes. Topical application within the rabbit eye of some of these compounds led to effective intraocular pressure lowering due to CA inhibition within the ocular tissues, and reduced aqueous humor production.

Amines↗
PubMed2000

Craniofacial traumas: immediate and delayed treatment.

In 1998, 28 patients with craniofacial fractures have been under observation at the Emergency Room of the Policlinico Umberto I of Rome. Twenty-six patients have undergone reduction and contention surgery of the fractures. The diagnosis of the fractures has been achieved through CT axial scanning and coronal reconstruction as well as with three-dimensional CT. The CT spiral was used in those cases that required more rapid intervention, whereas the MRI was used to evaluate the condition of the eyeball. Twenty of such patients underwent surgical treatment a few hours after the trauma and, in such cases, excellent aesthetic and functional results were achieved. The general and neurological conditions of six patients did not permit prematurely proceeding with surgery. Two patients died a few hours after the trauma of the injuries sustained. Of the six patients who underwent delayed treatment, acceptable functional and aesthetic results were achieved in four, whereas the remaining two patients had inadequate results. The results we have obtained show that it is possible to achieve the best results, both aesthetic and functional, through immediate treatment. Delayed treatment is carried out at least 2 weeks after the trauma because of the patient's condition and presents reconstruction difficulties that do not guarantee a satisfactory aesthetic reconstruction as well as, in some cases, an effective functional restoration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Facial nerve functionality after parotid tumors surgery.

The purpose of this study is to show the connection among tumor histology, surgical treatments and facial nerve postoperative functionality. A retrospective review was conducted on 69 patients with benign and malignant parotid tumors: they underwent surgical treatment for benign and malignant parotid tumors at the Maxillofacial Division of Rome University "La Sapienza" from 1988 to 1997. In our series of patients, we performed conservative superficial parotidectomy, conservative total parotidectomy and radical parotidectomy. Tumor enucleation was reserved for those neoplasms with a limited and restricted mass. The surgical approach was based on mass extension and on histopathologic features. Our findings showed that a careful and a timely diagnosis is very important in order to select a conservative surgical treatment for benign and intermediate grade of malignancy tumors with limited dimensions. Most aggressive histological types, and large mass dimensions require a radical treatment with consequent facial nerve postoperative dysfunctions. Our experience demonstrates that this surgical approach provides a very high rate of success in the cure of tumors and a low rate of facial nerve postoperative dysfunctions.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1998

[Maxillofacial fractures in children].

BACKGROUND: Facial traumas in the younger population involve esthetic and functional matters. According to the international bibliography these problems are due to the fixation technique employed and to a delayed surgical treatment. METHODS: This article contains a list of 68 pediatric facial fractures treated at the Maxillofacial Department of the University of Rome "La Sapienza" including diagnosis and therapy over a period of 16 years (January 1981-October 1997). RESULTS: The results of this research show that the ability to treat such traumas is based on the early and careful identification of the fracture and on the choice of the best therapy to carry out according to the patient's age and with the fracture site pattern. RIF fixation is good to obtain healing in adults, but it may be responsible of disturbances in bone tissues growth. Hence, it was used in selected cases only, in order to avoid bone growth restriction as stressed in international bibliography. CONCLUSIONS: A delayed surgical repair of pediatric facial fractures does not guarantee the return to a correct functionally and to an appropriate esthetic feature.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Infectious diarrhea in the aged: controlled clinical trial of rifaximin.

The effectiveness and tolerance of a new non-absorbable antibiotic, was evaluated on 121 aged patients affected with severe bacterial diarrhea. A double-blind design vs placebo was followed. The drug (three 200 mg tablets/die for 7 days) proved effective in reducing the number of daily discharges and the seriousness and duration of symptoms, as compared to placebo. Its antibacterial activity was furthermore confirmed by coprocultures: only 16/75 bacterial strains were still detectable after therapy, against 33/70 in the placebo group. Tolerance to rifaximin, both local and systemic, proved to be excellent.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Breathing pattern in sarcoidosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

We measured the volume and time components of the breathing cycle together with the P.1 in 16 sarcoidosis and 9 IPF patients. Patients in the IPF group were older, and their lung functions revealed a more restrictive pattern with small TLC, VC, and higher elastance values. We observed that in the two groups of patients there was a significant correlation between VT, f, and P.1 and lung elastance, and that the stiffer IPF patients had higher drive parameters. Hence, the main factor affecting the breathing pattern in both groups is the influence of the elastic load on the control of breathing. A significant relationship was also found between %VD/VT and elastance. We then compared the f values of the 16 sarcoidosis and 9 IPF patients with those of elastically loaded normal subjects. At equivalent levels of elastance, even though the patients and the normals showed qualitatively similar changes, the patients tended to have higher frequencies for the equivalent elastic load. In conclusion, ventilatory and drive parameters in interstitial lung diseases increased as a function of the elastic load, this load being greater in IPF than in sarcoidosis. Inflammation may stimulate the vagal receptors to increase the frequency of breathing, but this requires further study.

Female↗
PubMed1985

In-vitro and in-vivo protection of acetylcholinesterase by eseroline against inactivation by diisopropyl fluorophosphate and carbamates.

The protective action of eseroline--(3aS,8aR)-1,2,3,3a,8,8a-hexahydro-1,3 a, 8-trimethyl-pyrrolo[2,3-b]indol-5-ol--salicylate against (DFP) diisopropyl fluorophosphate and carbamate poisoning of cholinesterases (ChEs) has been examined in-vitro with human erythrocytes and purified preparations of electric eel acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and of horse serum butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), and in-vivo using mice. Eseroline afforded 50% protection (ED 50) of erythrocyte AChE against inactivation by 1 microM DFP, physostigmine or neostigmine, at concentrations of 4.3, 22 and 23.5 microM, respectively, while for eel AChE protection against 10 and 30 microM DFP, 0.3 and 1 microM physostigmine and 1 microM neostigmine the eseroline ED 50 values were 0.3, 0.4, 0.7, 1.9 and 5.6 microM, respectively. On the other hand, up to 0.3 mM eseroline did not appreciably affect the inhibitory action of the same drugs on horse serum BuChE. Eseroline concentrations in the range 0.1-1 mM were able to reactivate 20-42% of erythrocyte AChE previously inhibited by 100 microM physostigmine, but failed to reactivate the DFP (10 microM)-pretreated enzyme to any extent. Finally, eseroline salicylate injected into mice (10 mg kg-1 s.c.) protected an average of 82 and 26% of the animals against lethal doses of DFP (7 mg kg-1 s.c.) and physostigmine sulphate (1 mg kg-1 i.p.) respectively, which were administered 15 min later. These results indicate that the protective activity of eseroline correlates well with its own anti-ChE profile, and that the effectiveness of the protection depends largely on the rate of AChE inhibition by the agents used to inactivate the enzyme.

Acetylcholinesterase↗