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Biomedical subjects

L Grimaldi

Publications and source records attributed to L Grimaldi.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

Comparative characterisation of a commercial human chorionic gonadotrophin extracted from human urine with a commercial recombinant human chorionic gonadotrophin.

BACKGROUND: A commercial preparation of recombinant human chorionic gonadotrophin (r-hCG, Ovitrelle) was launched in 2001. Generally, hCG is available in two formats: human chorionic gonadotrophin (u-hCG), derived from the urine of pregnant females, and r-hCG produced by DNA based biotechnology. METHOD: The analytical characteristics of a highly purified u-hCG (Gonasi HP) were assessed and compared, for the first time, with the recombinant derived r-hCG (Ovitrelle). Gonasi HP is produced by extracting and purifying hCG from urine to obtain a specific bioactivity of 5000 IU/mg protein. Ovitrelle is produced via a recombinant derived mammalian cell line and purified to obtain a specific activity of 26 000 IU/mg. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: It has been documented that commercially available u-hCG preparations can contain a number of urine derived protein contaminants as well as hCG related metabolites. This is also the case for Gonasi HP, where hCG related molecules and other proteins were found to be present, including epidermal growth factor (EGF) and eosinophil derived neurotoxin (EDN). It was also demonstrated that this preparation contained high levels of oxidised hCG. r-hCG was confirmed to be essentially intact hCG, free from contaminant proteins and with very low levels of oxidised hCG.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗

[Surgical management of incidental Meckel's diverticulum: the necessity to obtain the informed consent].

Surgical approach to the incidentally found Meckel's diverticulum (MD) is still source of debate: some support the systematic search and the surgical resection, others suggest to leave in situ the asymptomatic diverticulum. A wide literature review and some claims for malpractice referred to resection of diverticular formations (2 cases are described herein) allow us to deem that the removal of an asymptomatic MD may be an excess of surgical indication regarding an entity that cannot be defined as pathological for itself; anyway, the informed consent must be obtained before the incidental resection. The consent to the removal of MD must always be requested for laparotomies in which the surgeon forecasts the possibility to remove a diverticulum eventually found. Finally, an easy informed consent form about an incidentally found MD to be submitted to the patient is proposed.

Child↗

Mandibular intrabony lesion as first sign of sarcoidosis: case report.

A 33-year-old woman with intra-bony sarcoidosis of the mandible is reported. This presentation of sarcoidosis was the first sign of the disease in this patient, and was treated surgically because of an inaccurate biopsy report. Medical therapy was instituted once the diagnosis was made, and the disease was well controlled (including the mandibular localization) at 2 years follow-up.

Adult↗

Segmental phenolization for the treatment of ingrowing toenails: a review of 6 years experience.

BACKGROUND: Ingrowing toenails are a common problem causing significant morbidity. Many of the procedures used for treating this painful condition cause considerable discomfort and have high failure rates. In recent years, phenol cauterization of the nail bed has been used increasingly. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out of all patients treated by this method in the authors' clinic during the period January 1996 to December 2001. In this study, phenol cauterization is the standard form of treatment and 948 phenol cauterizations were carried out in 764 patients. RESULTS: There was no significant morbidity and the procedure was tolerated well by all patients. Overall recurrence was 4.3% (33 patients) after 18 months. All symptomatic recurrences were successfully treated by repeating phenol cauterization. CONCLUSIONS: Phenol cauterization compares favourably with other surgical ablation techniques for ingrowing toenails and may be the ablation procedure of choice of an ingrowing toenail.

Adolescent↗

Experimental dosimetry of a 32P catheter-based endovascular brachytherapy source.

The experimental dosimetry in a water phantom of a 32P linear source, 20 mm in length, used for the brachytherapy of coronary vessels is reported. The source content activity, A, was determined by means of a calibrated well ion-chamber and the value was compared with the contained activity reported in the manufacturer's certification. In this field of brachytherapy dosimetry, radiochromic film supplies a high enough spatial resolution. A highly sensitive radiochromic film, that presents only one active layer, was used in this work for the source dosimetry in a water phantom. The radiochromic film was characterized by electron beams produced by a clinical linac. A Monte Carlo calculation of beta spectra in water at different distances along the source transverse bisector axis allowed to take into account the low dependence of film response from the electron beam energy. The adopted experimental set-up, with the source in its catheter positioned on the film plane inside the water phantom, supplies accurate dosimetric information. The measured dose rate to water per unit of source activity at reference distance, D(r0, theta0)/A, in units of cGy s(-1) GBq(-1), was in agreement with the value reported in the manufacturer's certification within the experimental uncertainty. The radial dose function, g(r), is in good agreement with the literature data. The anisotropy function F(r, theta) is also reported. The analysis of the dose profile obtained at 2 mm from the source longitudinal axis shows that the uniformity is within 10% along 75% of the 20 mm treatment length. The adopted experimental set-up seems to be adequate for the quality control procedure of the dose homogeneity distribution in the water medium.

Algorithms↗

Cutaneous metastasis from small cell lung carcinoma. Case report.

We report a rare case of cutaneous metastatic small cell lung carcinoma of the upper lip in a 73-year-old man, which was excised and the defect repaired with a single advancement flap from the cheek. The prognosis of such lesions is poor, and the incidence of other metastases elsewhere is high. The aim of treatment was to give him optimal quality of life for the short time left. The patient died of his primary disease four months later.

Aged↗

Cosmetic results in 242 patients treated by conservative surgery for breast cancer.

The surgery of breast cancer has changed lately in favour of breast conserving treatment, the main purpose of which is to provide good cosmetic results together with radical resection of the tumour. In this paper we describe the cosmetic results obtained in 242 patients treated by conservative surgery (226 quadrantectomies, 93%, and 16 lumpectomies, 7%) for low risk breast cancer. Several of these resections were combined with plastic surgical techniques for residual breast reshaping. The technique chosen depended on the site of tumour, width of resection, and breast volume. The cosmetic assessment was made by the patient and the physician. Our data suggest that better cosmetic results may be obtained when plastic surgical procedures are combined with conservative surgery for breast cancer.

Adult↗

Time to counsel.

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Counseling↗

Mitochondrial transcription and processing of transcripts during release from glucose repression in 'resting cells' of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Mitochondrial transcription and processing of transcripts have been investigated at different stages of release from glucose repression in resting cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Transcripts were identified by hybridization with nick-translated or terminally labelled gene-specific probes. This allowed the determination of the steady-state levels of individual transcripts in the mitochondrial RNA population. Results showed different gene-specific patterns of response to respiratory induction: no increase in the level of transcripts (oxi2); a rapid increase in the steady-state levels of all transcripts (cob); a very strong increase in the processing of the high-molecular-mass precursors (oxi3 and oli2); an increase in the level of stable circular transcripts (oxi3). As a whole the results indicate specific and differentiated effects of release from glucose repression on the expression of the different mitochondrial genes and demonstrate the importance of processing events in mitochondrial regulation.

Autoradiography↗

[Cranial acupuncture in the treatment of spasticity. Clinical results].

Hospitals in communist China perfected a new acupuncture technique about 3 yrs ago, whereby needles are placed in the scalp to stimulate the cortical centres below. This method is particularly indicated in subjects with neurological damage. Results observed in 45 subjects with cerebral vasculopathy at the neurological clinic of Pisa University and the reflexotherapy service of the University of Turin were encouraging and suggest that clinical experimentation should be attempted on a wider scale.

Acupuncture Therapy↗

Carbon dioxide therapy in the treatment of localized adiposities: clinical study and histopathological correlations.

The authors report their experience using carbon dioxide (CO2) therapy for the treatment of 48 female patients presenting adipose accumulations, located on the thighs, knees, and/or abdomen; a Carbomed Programmable Automatic Carbon Dioxide Therapy apparatus was used. In light of the effects of CO2 on the microcirculation recently described in the literature, we expected this gas, which we administered subcutaneously, to positively affect the physiological oxidative lipolytic process. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of this therapy on localized adiposities. As such, we describe the method we used and report the results observed in the areas treated (in terms of reduction in maximum circumference) as well as side effects. Furthermore, we assessed the effect of subcutaneous administration of CO2 on the microcirculation by showing changes in the Laser Doppler signal and in the concentration of transcutaneous oxygen tension (tcPO2). Pre- and posttreatment biopsies of tissues were performed in seven patients in order to study the changes induced by the use of CO2 on both adipose and connective tissues. All data obtained were statistically analyzed; values of P < 0.05 were considered significant.

Abdomen↗