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Biomedical subjects

L Marra

Publications and source records attributed to L Marra.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Role of dynamic sentinel node biopsy in penile cancer: our experience.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We report our initial experience with a relatively new technique, the so-called "dynamic sentinel node biopsy", in patients with penile cancer. METHODS: From January 2001 to February 2003, 17 consecutive patients with bilateral, clinically node negative penile cancer were enrolled. Dynamic sentinel node biopsy was followed by local excision of the primary lesion or penile amputation during the same session. Standard inguinal node dissection was performed 4 weeks after the first operation in all the patients. RESULTS: Pre-operative lymphoscintigraphy revealed no sentinel nodes in 1, unilateral sentinel nodes in 5, and bilateral in 11 patients. Metastases were noted in 5 out of 16 patients (31.25%), bilaterally in 3 of them. Among the five patients with sentinel node metastasis, this was the only tumor positive lymph node in one patient. In all cases with negative dynamic sentinel node biopsy, no metastatic nodes were found at the following inguinal node dissection. Therefore, the technique showed a 100% negative predictive value and an 88% sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that dynamic sentinel node biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure that can be easily performed. The goal is to offer the possibility of less extensive surgery for selected low risk patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

[Hepatic psittacosis: a case of liver abnormality diagnosed by ultrasonography].

Psittacosis marked by liver and spleen involvement and minimal pericarditis was observed in an 18-year-old patient hospitalized for fever of 1 month duration. At admission, there was no other clinical manifestation and the chest X-ray showed no sign of pulmonary involvement. Liver tests revealed cholestasis. Ultrasonography of the abdomen revealed multiple nodular formations in the liver and spleen, images confirmed on computed tomography. Liver biopsy showed granulomatous with hyperplasia of the Kupffer cells surrounded by healthy tissue. Complement fixation to psittacosis antigen was positive and increased significantly over a 15-day interval. Treatment with tetracycline led to rapid remission of the fever and normalization of the liver tests and hepatic images. Liver involvement in psittacosis is not uncommon, but this is apparently the first case reporting echographic anomalies. The absence of pulmonary involvement has been reported earlier in a few cases. The diagnosis is usually suggested on the basis of epidemiologic criteria and confirmed by complement fixation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

A comparative analysis of somatolactin-related immunoreactivity in the pituitaries of four neopterygian fishes and one chondrostean fish: an immunohistochemical study.

An antiserum to cod somatolactin (SL) was used for immunohistochemical screening for the pars intermedia of two teleosts (Oreochromis mossambicus and Gymothorax meleagris), two holostean fishes (Lepisosteus osseus and Amia calva), and a chondrostean fish (Acipenser fulvescens) for SL-immunopositive (SL-IR) cells. As expected, a subset of the epithelial cells in the pars intermedia of O. mossambicus (tilapia) was immunopositive for SL, and the remainder of the epithelial cells was immunopositive for alpha-MSH-specific antiserum (alpha-MSH-IR). SL-IR was not detected in any of the epithelial cells in the pars intermedia of the moray eel G. meleagris. To determine whether SL-IR could be detected in nonteleost fishes, immunohistochemical analyses were done on the pituitaries of two holostean fishes and one chondrostean fish. In the pars intermedia of the gar, L. osseus, a subset of cells was immunopositive for alpha-MSH only. However, in the pars intermedia of the bowfin, A. calva, all of the epithelial cells indicated the presence of both SL and alpha-MSH. Finally, no SL-positive cells were detected in the pars intermedia of the sturgeon, A. fulvescens.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[The physiopathological aspects of sudden cardiac death].

In this paper we have tried to clarify the pathophysiological aspects of sudden cardiac death. On a clinical basis, beside the arrhythmias and the coronaropathies, the other functional and/or organic alterations such as myocardiopathies, congenital malformations, myocarditis, primitive or secondary neoplasms and neurophysiological alterations are described as cause of sudden cardiac death.

Cardiomyopathies↗
PubMed1996

[Excess of histamine as a possible cause of cardiac arrhythmias].

In this paper we outline the importance or the histamine in the genesis of cardiac arrhythmias. Such an event can verify not only in patients with allergic diseases especially versus specific substances (antibiotics and anesthetics), but also after endoscopy of surgery which make free a large amount of histamine. For this reason, we outline the possible evenience anaphilaxis after coronarography or cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation. Therefore it is always very important to modulate the histamine tone to avoid arrhythmias which can be serious.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗
PubMed1996

[Aortic dissection: new diagnostic and therapeutic trends].

The aortic dissection is a relatively infrequent, but very serious event, that needs to be always considered when a thoracic pain with symptoms of ischemia belongs to the origin of the dissection without signs of myocardial infarction. The most simple and commonly accepted classification, includes two variants, according to the Stanford University (A and B). This aspect is very important in order to the treatment which must be preceded by a suitable pharmacological approach followed in any case by the surgery. We outline the importance of the fast diagnostic knowledge and of the therapeutic choice in order to reduce the mortality that is still very high.

Aortic Dissection↗
PubMed1994

Multicenter assessment of the QuietTrak ambulatory blood pressure recorder according to the 1992 AAMI guidelines.

To clinically evaluate the QuietTrak ambulatory blood pressure (BP) recorder (Tycos-Welch-Allyn, Arden, NC), we assessed the device according to the performance criteria set out by the 1992 Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) guidelines. The QuietTrak is a portable, noninvasive recorder that uses an auscultatory measuring system. As recommended in the 1992 AAMI guidelines, a large, heterogeneous population was recruited for the study using three clinic sites to assess accuracy and clinical performance. In addition, observer agreement and the effects of age, arm circumference, heart rate, posture, and blood pressure level on the observer-device differences were analyzed. There were 1098 simultaneous, same arm BP measurements performed in 122 subjects by the QuietTrak recorder versus two skilled clinicians per site using a teaching stethoscope and 24-h blood pressure recordings performed in 46 subjects to assess reliability of the monitor. The differences in observers for all sites were 0.7/-0.5 +/- 3.8/3.5 mm Hg with 89% of the BPs within 5 mm Hg. The mean difference between observer average and the device (all positions) was 0.3/-1.5 +/- 5.0/7.5 mm Hg. The agreement between the QuietTrak and mercury column determinations was within 10 mm Hg for 92 to 94% of systolic readings and 91 to 93% of diastolic readings, depending on the posture. The limits of agreement (2 standard deviations about the mean difference) between observers and the device for systolic BP tended to be lower for the sitting position (-11 to 10 mm Hg) compared to supine (-14 to 13 mm Hg) and standing (-14 to 14 mm Hg) positions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Coronary atherosclerosis: a long natural history].

In this paper we have tried to explain the natural history of atherosclerosis as a condition marked by intimal vessel expansion tending to the endoluminal proliferation until to the obliteration of the lumen because of the presence of atheroma with fixed stenosis. During the course of the life, the various histologic alterations are responsible of the different ischaemic syndromes, ranging from instable vasospastic angina, to chronic ischaemia caused by fixed stenosis, until to myocardial infarction. Besides, we have outlined that in the young (< 40 years old), the most frequent and important event is the vasospasm owed by the fibromuscular proliferation that could cause an infarction with "intact" coronary arteries. On the other side, in the elderly, are observed specially degenerative atherosclerotic lesions with fixed stenosis and consequent thrombosis, cracking of the plaque as cause of acute myocardial infarction.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Role of Helicobacter pylori in digestive disease in AIDS].

The frequent combination of chronic antral gastritis with the presence of Helicobacter pylori has been known for ten years. On the basis of studies carried out so far, Helicobacter gastritis is very infrequent in patients suffering from AIDS with digestive pathology. Our study of 317 patients with AIDS confirms the low incidence of this disorder which leads to the conclusion that the treatments intended to combat HIV are apt to modify the physico-chemical conditions of the stomach thus impeding Helicobacter colonization.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1993

[Physiopathologic aspects of non-ulcerous dyspepsia. Considerations of a new diagnostic method].

The above study is an analysis of different dyspeptic syndromes outlining their pathophysiology and clinical features. On this basis, the authors suggest a diagnostic strategy, stressing the importance of certain elements such as age at onset, duration and variability of symptoms. This allows to evaluate the indications for endoscopy or biopsy, or to decide that it is sufficient to continue observation while reassuring the patient that the dyspeptic condition is benign.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1993

[Prokinetic drugs in digestive disorders].

In this paper the authors review the main prokinetic drugs analyzing their pharmacological properties, therapeutic indications and adverse effects. In addition, some more recently introduced substances are taken into consideration which, although they were not initially used for digestive tract dyskinesias, can nevertheless be used in certain conditions. From this point of view, calcium blocking agents employed in spastic conditions of the esophagus and the new antiserotoninergic drugs for treatment of anticancer chemotherapy-induced vomiting are of particular interest.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1993

[The importance of follow-up of colorectal polyps].

In this paper, we have considered the indications for coloscopy for the screening of colon polyposis. On the basis of its sensitivity in detection and follow-up of colo-rectal cancer, we tried to determine the exact procedure to be followed subsequent to the discovery and ablation of a polyp. We have outlined the following parameters to be observed during the period of follow-up: dimension, number, histologic features of the polyp, age, general conditions and familiarity of the patient for colorectal cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1989

Long-term prognostic value of serum bile acids in liver cirrhosis: a prospective study.

The long-term prognostic significance of serum bile acid (SBA) levels in liver cirrhosis was prospectively evaluated in a 3-year follow-up of 111 patients. The predictive value of SBA levels, of Child classification, and of some commonly used clinical and laboratory parameters were compared analyzing the survivorship functions by means of Life-table method and chi-square Logrank test. SBA determinations showed a high prognostic significance, comparable with the one of the multiparameteric Child classification and significantly higher than the ones of any considered single clinical or laboratory parameter. SBA levels by themselves seem therefore to be of some value in establishing an approximate survivorship prediction in liver cirrhosis, thus representing a possible alternative to multiparametric predictive models in routinary clinical practice.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Serum bile-acids in liver cirrhosis: prognostic significance evidenced by a multivariate statistical model.

In order to evaluate the prognostic value of serum bile acids (SBA) in liver cirrhosis, we compared SBA levels with a theoretical expected survival length (ESL), computed on the ground of a previously proposed and validated multivariate statistical model. We demonstrated a strict correlation between SBA levels and ESL in subjects with liver cirrhosis by means of both standard linear correlation analysis and Logrank test. Our results account for a high predictive significance of SBA levels in liver cirrhosis, even in long term prognosis.

Adult↗