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Biomedical subjects

G Spinella

Publications and source records attributed to G Spinella.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Research on screening and diagnosis in autism: a work in progress.

In June 1998, the National Institutes of Health Autism Coordinating Committee (NIH/ACC) invited representatives of 13 major medical and other professional academies and associations and six national autism parent research organizations to review research data on screening and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders. Ten review papers and more than 4,000 publications were consulted in this effort. This paper highlights some promising areas for research identified in this process. One of the highest priorities is the search for the ultimate diagnostic indicator, a biological marker(s), for example, genetic, metabolic, immunologic, neurologic, that will distinguish autism unequivocally from other developmental disabilities. In the interim, research on infant screening and diagnosis might lower the threshold age for diagnosis to 8-12 months. The role of sensory-motor disorders in early diagnosis needs further research. Earlier and better diagnosis of co-occurring, potentially treatable disorders, including epileptic and epileptiform disorders, has implications both for diagnosis and treatment. Pharmacogenetic and pharmacogenomic research strategies could help diagnose subtypes and responders versus nonresponders to potential treatments. Better endpoints and outcome measures are needed, including improved procedures for cognitive and neuropsychological testing, more knowledge about verbal and nonverbal communication milestones, and less invasive and more sensitive neuroimaging measures. Critical questions remain regarding regression after apparently normal development, and about possible environmental precipitants. Finally, field trials of the reliability and validity of screening and diagnosis using the newly developed practice guidelines are needed.

Autistic Disorder↗
PubMed1990

Delayed hearing loss after neurovascular decompression.

We report two unusual cases of delayed hearing loss after neurovascular decompression of structures within the cerebellopontine angle. In the first case, the patient noted a unilateral hearing loss 3 weeks after undergoing vascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve for tic douloureux. This gradually improved over an 18-month period. In the second case, the patient awoke on the 4th day after vascular decompression of the facial nerve for hemifacial spasm with a bilateral hearing loss that has remained unchanged after the onset. These are examples of delayed acoustic dysfunction occurring with a shift in surgically freed vessels and may have been induced by newly directed neurovascular compression or distortion.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Headache as a postoperative symptom of patients subjected to saphenectomy using subarachnoid analgesia].

Having confirmed the development of cephalea in a large number of patients undergoing saphenectomy under subarachnoidal anasthetic, the authors wanted to research its probable causes. With this in mind, they observed a group of patients who had varices of the lower limbs which they had operated. They present their study methodology, and then examine and discuss the results. The conclude that many factors are responsible for the aetiology of the symptoms of cephalea. The sex, age, and conditions of venous hypertension in the posterior tibial vein are particularly determining factors.

Adolescent↗