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Biomedical subjects

L Genovese

Publications and source records attributed to L Genovese.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

The "VANAC team": establishing a cancer prevention team. VA Nurses Against Cancer.

Nurses recognize the increasing need to focus on primary and secondary prevention of cancer, yet the demands of current staffing prohibit many nurses from organizing and/or participating in cancer prevention and detection activities. This article describes an innovative program established at the Bronx Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VA). Funded by an American Cancer Society professional education grant, nurses at the Bronx VA formed the "VANAC" Team (VA Nurses Against Cancer). The camaraderie of a team approach invited generalist nurses to become involved with the program. The formation and activities of the team are described. After an intensive orientation, nurses participated in a wide range of educational activities, including patient education, staff seminars, and community presentations. The logistics of arranging such a program are discussed and recommendations for future direction are offered. It is hoped that nurses in other institutions can adapt the VANAC approach to their individual settings, thereby increasing the number of nurses involved in cancer prevention.

Health Education

Brain ascorbic acid and block of the catecholamine synthesis induced by alpha-methyl-tyrosine.

In brain medial-basal areas (midbrain, hypothalamus, striatum) ascorbic acid (AA) content is lower than in the rest of the brain. It has been hypothesized that AA may be involved in brain catecholamine metabolism. To test this hypothesis AA content in medial-basal areas and in the remaining brain areas was measured in rats pretreated with alpha-methyl-paratyrosine (alpha-MpT), a tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor. The AA content, in brain medial-basal areas, had slightly decreased, without statistically significant differences, in rats treated with alpha-MpT in comparison with untreated animals. Therefore the role of AA in brain metabolism is not clear to.

Animals

Surgery of the lumbar intervertebral disc. Results of a personal minimal technique.

Surgery of the intervertebral disc, despite its relative simplicity, has a high failure rate at the functional level. There is often severe residual pain which is a real problem because it is so difficult to treat either the symptom or its cause. We report the results of 122 procedures in 100 patients, some of whom had multiple lesions, using a technique (already described in a preliminary paper) consisting of an interlaminar approach modified to provide greater preservations of neural, bony and joint structures. The results were very good, both soon after operation and at later follow-up (between six months and five years). There were no cases of recurrence or pseudo-recurrence, one case of contralateral recurrence (cured by further operation) and a very low incidence of residual backache. These results confirm that, provided the patients have been well selected so that not every patient with lumbar backache is operated on but only those with proven disc lesions, operation does fundamentally influence the quality of the results.

Humans

[Glycosylated hemoglobin in experimental streptozotocin diabetes].

Streptozotocin (Stz) diabetes was induced in rats to study the changes in glycosylated hemoglobin. An increase of glycosylated hemoglobin had been found since the first days of the experiment. These results suggest that such a model may be used for the study of changes of glycosylated hemoglobin in diabetes.

Animals

[Glycosylated hemoglobin and raubasine in experimental streptozotocin diabetes].

Streptozotocin (Stz) diabetes was induced to study the changes of glycosylated hemoglobin in rats treated with raubasina (R), drug widely used in the vascular compliance of natural human diabetes. Raubasina reduced significantly the increase of glycosylated hemoglobin found in streptozotocin induced diabetes. These results support data obtained in clinical trials.

Animals

Dorsolumbosacral phlebography.

Two variations on the currently most commonly used technical method for phlebography are described. The first variation involves an original method for visualizing the dorsolumbosacral epidural plexus via the retrograde route from the azygos vein. If necessary this can be associated with catheterization and simultaneous injection into an ascending lumbar vein or into a lateral sacral vein. This method permits exploration from T7 to S1 and provides phlebograms of excellent quality, owing to the reduction in the flow caused by countercurrent injection. The second variation involves visualizing the epidural venous plexus by means of double percutaneous transfemoral catheterization of the hypogastric veins, using balloon catheters. This method is performed easily and rapidly. Preferential flow is obtained via the epidural plexus, and there is less diversion of the contrast medium through anastomoses and less filling of the vena cava. The specific indications for these methods are described. The availability of alternative methods beyond the traditional one renders epidural phlebography more reliable and more manageable, and it ensures certainty of diagnosis.

Azygos Vein

The empty sella.

The data from 55 patients with empty sellae seen during the past five years are examined. The clinical and radiological features most helpful in defining and classifying each case are identified. The most frequent and most serious complications and the warning signs useful in diagnosis are discussed. The indications for and the results of surgical treatment are reviewed.

Adolescent

Phlebography of the cavernous and intercavernous sinuses.

The study of pituitary diseases is described, with visualization of the cavernous and intercavernous sinuses accomplished through percutaneous, transfemoral catheterization, using special methods to ensure its reliability. The most characteristic normal and pathological findings are described. The value of this method and the indications for its use in diagnosis are discussed. The possibility of combining morphological investigations with regional functional studies of pituitary hormones by selective blood sampling is suggested. This technical development opens new prospects for the future and further broadens the indications for use of this procedure.

Adenoma