PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Serafini

Publications and source records attributed to G Serafini.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Location of central venous catheters in children by endocavitary ECG: A new technique.

A new technique to establish the position of a central venous catheter (CVC) by endocavitary ECGraphy is described. The principle is based on the fact that the catheter itself may be considered as an electrical conductor by means of its liquid content (saline solution), therefore acting as an exploring electrode. The intrinsic deflection of the P wave shows the proper position of the CVC tip at the sinus node level. The technique has been successfully utilised in 52 children needing antineoplastic chemotherapy and/or total parenteral nutrition, thus avoiding chest X-ray control, which is troublesome and potentially harmful in neonates and infants.

Journal Article↗

[Echographic study of the embryonal and fetal hand].

The morphological aspects of the limbs as well as several details in the forearm and in the hand were observed from the seventh week of gestation on by routine sonographic examination of the embryo and the fetus. This examination was performed once a week beginning in the first months of life. The authors emphasize the value of sonography in the detection of fetal and embryonic malformations of the upper limb. The method has its limits however and remains to be perfected but it has already proved to be efficient for future studies, essentially because of its innocuousness. The images obtained between the 9th and 33d weeks of gestation are presented.

Embryo, Mammalian↗

[Purification and properties of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial hexokinase from the rabbit brain].

The soluble Hexokinase from rabbit brain was purified 4,700-fold to near homogeneity by a combination of ion-exchange chromatography, dye-ligand chromatography and affinity chromatography. The purified enzyme showed a specific activity of 110 units/mg of protein and was obtained in 70% yield. The properties of the purified cytoplasmic hexokinase were compared with those of the solubilized mitochondrial enzyme. No significant differences were found in M.W., pI and electrophoretic mobility. However, the temperature dependence of activity and specificity for several hexose substrates were markedly different.

Animals↗

[Epidemiology of multiresistant S. aureus in a burn center].

Multi-resistant S. aureus, have been isolated from wounds of patients in the burn unit of the University of Parma. The strains were resistant to penicillin (85%), methicillin (30%), gentamycin (63%), rifampicin (41%), cotrimoxazole (38%), lincomycin (39%), tetracycline (73%), erythromycin (66%) and cephaloridine (11%). The spread of these strains has been monitored by the analysis of the antibiograms and the lysotypes and in few cases some strains were also found in other wards of the Hospital. All of these had some correlation with the burns unit. Medical and technical staff of this ward was found to be carrier of multi-resistant S. aureus in 46% of the cases and that feature is supposed to be the most important in the epidemiology of S. aureus in this Hospital.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

[Ketamine hydrochloride by continuous drip intravenous infusion in thoracic surgery].

The Authors report an open trial on 50 patients anaesthetized with Ketamine hydrochloride, by continuous drip infusion progressively slowed, with the aid of Fentanil, in thoracic surgery. The proposed anaesthetic technique proved to be excellent as for as analgesia during and after operation as well cardiovascular stability and lackness of side effects is concerned. Recovery from anaesthesia was quick and extremely quite and free from side effects which are common in Ketamine anaesthesia.

Adult↗

Transvaginal ultrasonography of nongynecologic pelvic lesions.

Transvaginal ultrasonography (TVUS) is one of the preferred imaging modalities in patients with gynecologic problems because of its high diagnostic accuracy, noninvasiveness, and wide availability. In endovaginal scanning, the problem of sonic attenuation is much less significant than with the transabdominal approach in the evaluation of the viscera in the true pelvis. Placement of high-frequency, high-resolution probes within the vagina allows accurate assessment of all anatomic structures of the female reproductive tract within the pelvis, and, incidentally, a variety of pathologic conditions affecting the intestinal tract, the urinary system, the pelvic walls, vessels, lymph nodes, and peritoneum can be assessed by this technique. In this article, we show the appearances of nongynecologic lesions of the female pelvis as imaged with TVUS and discuss the clinical indications to this kind of study and the role of TVUS in guiding interventional maneuvers through the vaginal vault. All endovaginal scans were taken with transducers at frequencies of 5.0-7.5 MHz.

Crohn Disease↗

Primary and secondary malignancies of the penis: ultrasound features.

Cancer of the penis is a rare neoplasm in developed countries but worldwide represents a significant health problem. In this study, the ultrasonographic features of primary and secondary malignant lesions of the penis are described. Squamous cell carcinoma usually presents as a hypoechoic lesion with heterogeneous appearance. Invasions of the corpora cavernosa and the corpus spongiosum are appreciable. B-cell lymphoma presents as well-vascularized mass, a plaque, or ulcers in the penile skin. Penile metastases results from hematogenous or lymphatic spreading of distant tumors or, more frequently, as penile infiltration by tumors from adjacent organs. Diffuse corporeal or nodular involvement can result.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

[Unusual case of kidney rupture].

The Authors report a case of renal rupture in a patient 36 years with acute abdominal pain and progressive anaemia. The history of the patient shows no past signs and symptoms of either renal pathology or traumatic event. Radiological examinations demonstrates dislocation of the kidney through presence of large retroperitoneal formation interpretable as haematoma. Progressing bloodless, they proceeded to embolization of renal artery and successive nephrectomy. Only histological examination of the removed kidney demonstrates the presence of a renal clear cells adenocarcinoma.

Adult↗

[Endoscopic treatment combined with adrenaline injection and coagulation with argon plasma in gastroduodenal peptic ulcer bleeding].

Although endoscopic injection therapy is an effective method for bleeding peptic ulcers, it is associated with significant re-bleeding rate; whether the addition of thermal method improves the outcome is still unclear. Our previous experience showed that Argon Plasma Coagulation (APC) alone is not sufficient in stopping spurting haemorrhage, and potentially dangerous for large non bleeding visible vessels (NBVV). Our hypothesis was that combination of adrenaline injection (AI) and thermal therapy could be more efficient than thermal therapy alone for permanent haemostasis of active bleeding peptic ulcers, and particularly appropriate for NBVV treatment. From October 1998 to February 2000 we examined two hundred patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Fifty-three patients with major peptic ulcer haemorrhages received combined injection therapy with adrenaline 1:10.000 and Argon plasma coagulation; there were 34 male and 19 female with a mean age of 63.2 +/- 1.2 years (range 22-93). The bleeding site was duodenal in 30 patients, gastric in 17 patients, anastomotic in 5 patients and esophageal in 1 patient. Endoscopic findings were the following: active bleeding in 23 patients (6 spurting, 17 oozing), non bleeding visible vessels in 12 patients and fresh adherent clots in 18 patients. Initial haemostasis was achieved in 52/53 patients (98.1%). Re-bleeding was observed in 5/52 cases (9.6%). Surgery was necessary in 3/53 patients (5.6%). Mortality was 7.5% (4 cases). No major complications resulted from this treatment. Primary adrenaline injection provided initial bleeding arrest, facilitating the following application of APC, because of a more precise definition of the active bleeding site. Rates of initial hemostasis were significantly higher with combined therapy (injection + APC) compared to APC treatment alone. We believe that Adrenaline and APC combined therapy is an effective and safe method for treatment of non-variceal gastrointestinal bleeding.

Adult↗

[Intraoperative use of radiofrequency thermoablation of liver tumors: considerations on indications and related therapeutic aspects].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of intraoperative radiofrequency thermoablation of liver tumours in association or not with hepatic resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 21 patients were treated between January 1998 and December 2001, there were 4 hepatocellular carcinoma and 17 metastasis. In 13 cases radiofrequency was associated to hepatectomy, in 3 cases to resection of extraepatic disease and in 5 cases were performed alone. 23 lesions were treated by radiofrequency (range 1-3); the mean dimension was 26 millimetres (range 8-70). A clamping of the liver pedicle was always done. RESULTS: There were no operative deaths, 3 (14.3%) patients developed complications related to radiofrequency (2 biliary leakages, 1 hepatic abscess). 14 (66.7%) patients were alive after a mean follow up of 14.5 months, 2 of all (9.5%) had a recurrence in the site previously treated with thermoablation. Association between hepatectomy and radiofrequency increased the number of curative liver resections from 10.1% to 16.3% (in case of colorectal metastasis). DISCUSSION: Intraoperative radiofrequency is useful to increase the number of curative hepatectomies, to treat liver masses which demonstrate unresectable or found by ultrasonography at the operating time and even to reach tumours difficult to manage by percutaneous approach. In any case the aim is to obtain the absence of macroscopic neoplastic disease (RO status). It is a safe and effective therapeutic strategy, anyway all procedures and indications are still not completely cleared. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative thermoablation of liver tumour is safe and effective and increases therapeutic the number of curative hepatectomies. Further progresses may improve the efficacy and extend the indications of this strategy.

Adult↗

Humoral immune response against hepatitis C virus.

Antibodies are in several instances a reliable marker indicating vigorous immune response against infectious agents and in several viral diseases presence in the blood of specific anti-viral antibodies indicates an effective protection. However, this is not always true. For example, in the case of hepatitis C virus (HCV) an important human pathogen considered the causative agent of the nonA- nonB hepatitis, in spite of an intense antibody response there is no protection against a new infection and in the majority of infected individuals the virus overcomes host defences establishing a persistent infection. Here we describe how the dissection of the humoral immune response against HCV glycoprotein E2 of infected patients was useful for a better comprehension of the virus-host interplay. Cross-reactive antibodies directed against E2 are produced by the HCV-infected patient, but not all of them are protective, and some could even result to be detrimental for the patient. The cross-reactive anti-HCV/E2 humoral antibody response is complex and not necessarily completely beneficial to the host.

Antibody Formation↗

Heterogeneity of the humoral anti-HCV/E2 response in persistently infected patients as demonstrated by divergent patterns of inhibition of the binding of anti-HCV/E2 human monoclonal antibodies.

A complete understanding of the molecular features of humoral immune response could be of pivotal importance in the management of persistent viruses as HCV. In this study, 24 HCV-positive samples, characterized by classical virological parameters, are evaluated using a new assay for the quantitation of antibody subpopulations directed against discrete epitopes on surface glycoprotein E2, a key viral protein. The results, besides confirming the usefulness of this new approach, highlight the extreme heterogeneity of anti-HCV/E2 response as far as single epitopes are concerned. The specific epitopes under study are also demonstrated to be widely shared among different genotypes.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Radiofrequency ablation of liver tumours with transpleurodiaphragmatic access.

Radiofrequency thermoablation (RFA) is used to treat unresectable liver tumours. RFA is performed using an abdominal access (laparotomic, laparoscopic and percutaneous). A transpleurodiaphragmatic approach has recently been proposed, particularly for the treatment of tumours which are placed near to inferior vein cava and hepatic veins and which are difficult to reach for an abdominal access. A patient with a liver metastasis of the segment VIII underwent RFA with an associated wedge resection of the segment VII, both were performed with a transthoracic access. Peri- and postoperative complications did not occurred. The patient was discharged on fifth postoperative day, and she is disease free after a follow up of 6 months. A transpleurodiaphragmatic access can be considered a safe and efficacy procedure to perform an RFA of a liver tumour in selected cases.

Catheter Ablation↗

Quantitation of electrophoretic eluted proteins.

Quantitation of stained, electroeluted proteins by the classical Lowry and Bradford protein assay is not possible because of some different interferences. In particular we have found that the substance interfering in the Lowry method cannot be removed by trichloroacetic acid precipitation nor can be compensated for by the appropriate blank. Interferences in the Bradford protein assay are due to detergents and pH of the protein buffer as well as to Coomassie brilliant blue R250 electroeluted with the protein sample. However, while these interferences can be compensated for by appropriate blank and standard curves, others (probably due to acrylamide fines) cannot be corrected. All these problems can be overcome by concentration and dialysis of electroeluted samples which permit the removal of interfering substances and the use of Bradford and Lowry protein assay in the 1-20 micrograms range, respectively. Successful applications are described for electroeluted bovine serum albumin, human hexokinase and phosphoglucomutase.

Animals↗