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Biomedical subjects

L Parisi

Publications and source records attributed to L Parisi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Electrophysiological assessment of visual function in newly-diagnosed IDDM patients.

Electrophysiological tests (electroretinogram, oscillatory potentials, visual evoked potentials, in the basal condition and after photostress) reveal an abnormal function of the visual system in insulin-dependent diabetic (IDDM) patients. The aim of our work was to assess whether electrophysiological abnormalities in visual function exist in newly-diagnosed diabetic patients free of any fluorangiographic signs of retinopathy. Ten control subjects (age 28.7 +/- 2.44 years) and then IDDM patients (age 25.2 +/- 6.78 years; disease duration 5.3 +/- 3.5 months) in stable metabolic control (HbA1C 7.5 +/- 1.1%) were evaluated. Flash-electroretinograms and oscillatory potentials were similar in both groups. Visual evoked potentials (VEP) recorded under basal conditions showed that P100 latency was significantly increased in the diabetic patients compared to control subjects (p < 0.01), while N75-P100 amplitude was similar in both groups. The recovery time of VEP after photostress was equivalent in diabetic patients and control subjects. The impaired basal VEPs suggest an early involvement of the nervous conduction in the optic nerve. However, the preserved flash-electroretinogram and the normal recovery time after photostress indicate that a short disease duration does not induce physiopathological changes in the outer retinal layers or in the macular function.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Body sway in diabetic neuropathy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of peripheral neuropathy on body sway assessed by posturography. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The age-matched study subjects included 10 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients with peripheral neuropathy (DN), 23 IDDM patients without peripheral neuropathy (D) according to the San Antonio Consensus Conference guidelines, and 21 control subjects (C). All subjects with symptoms and/or clinical signs of postural instability were excluded from the study. RESULTS: The trace surface was significantly larger in the DN than in the C and D groups (P < 0.05), and the trace length was longer in the DN than in the C and D groups (P < 0.01). Mean velocity was faster in the DN than in the other two groups (P < 0.001). A direct relationship was found between the parameters of posturography and some parameters of the nerve conduction velocity. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy demonstrate a relative deficit in their ability to maintain posture. Posturography allows an early disclosure of the failure of postural control.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Visual evoked potentials after photostress in insulin-dependent diabetic patients with or without retinopathy.

Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) were assessed under basal conditions and after photostress in normal control subjects, in insulin-dependent diabetic patients with retinopathy (IDDPWR) and in insulin-dependent diabetic patients without retinopathy (IDDP). The VEPs recorded under basal conditions showed a P100 latency significantly higher in IDDP and IDDP-WR eyes than in control eyes and in IDDPWR than in IDDP eyes (P < 0.01). N75-P100 amplitude was significantly lower in IDDP and IDDPWR eyes than in control eyes (P < 0.01). No difference was recorded in the N75-P100 amplitudes between IDDP and IDDPWR eyes. In all eyes, the VEPs recorded after photostress showed an increase in latency and a decrease in amplitude. In both IDDPWR eyes and IDDP eyes VEPs recorded at 20, 40 and 60 s after photostress showed higher mean increments in P100 latency than in C control eyes, and IDDPWR eyes showed higher mean increments in P100 latency than IDDP eyes (IDDP vs control P < 0.01, IDDPWR vs control P < 0.01, IDDPWR vs IDDP P < 0.017). The mean reductions in amplitude observed at 20, 40 and 60 s after photostress in IDDP and IDDPWR eyes were lower than in control eyes (IDDP vs control P = 0.01, IDDPWR vs control P < 0.01, IDDPWR vs IDDP P < 0.01). VEPs were superimposable on the basal VEP (recovery time) at 73.9 s in control eyes, at 88.17 s in IDDP eyes and at 113.3 s in IDDPWR eyes. VEPs after photostress in IDDP patients with normal visual acuity and no fluorangiographic signs of retinopathy may show multiple modifications. This may indicate the presence of an early functional deficiency of the central retinal layers.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Repetitive stimulation in myasthenia gravis: decrementing response revealed by anticholinesterase drugs.

In myasthenia gravis (MG) a typical decrementing response is frequently revealed with repetitive stimulation (RS) in clinically unaffected muscles. However, RS is unlikely to give normal results in weak muscles. In two of our patients we found a normal response in clinically affected muscles. However, a decrementing response surprisingly appeared after the administration of anticholinesterase drugs. A possible explanation for this apparently paradoxical effect is as follows: some junctions are already blocked at rest, whereas others function normally both at rest and during RS. As a consequence, the initial compound muscle action potential (CMAP) is reduced in amplitude and shows no further decrement on RS. Anticholinesterase drugs reverse some blocks, therefore causing the CMAP increase in amplitude. However, these labile junctions are more prone than normal to synaptic fatigue, so a decrementing response is produced on RS. This behavior, though not frequently encountered, can account for some negative results of RS in MG.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1990

On a case of early-onset post-traumatic facial hemispasm.

In a 49 year old woman an injury to the right frontotemporal region was quickly followed first by paresis and then by spasm of the right side of the face. The early onset of the spasm prompts a critical review of current views on the pathogenesis of facial spasm.

Brain Concussion↗
PubMed1986

In vitro activity of alpha, beta, gamma human interferons and Aspergillus terreus mycotoxins on cell proliferation.

The in vitro effect of different doses of alpha, beta and gamma human interferons and their interaction on the proliferation rate of human erythroleukemic cell line (K-562) and other cell lines has been evaluated. The results show that the stronger activity is exerted by beta HIF in comparison with alpha HIF. The action is selective and species-specific. beta HIF never elicited an "enhancing" effect on cell proliferation; on the contrary this phenomenon has been observed to occur with alpha and gamma HIF. In our cell system, the interaction between beta and gamma HIF gave a synergistic effect; on the contrary, no interaction has been observed to take place when beta HIF and directly cytotoxic mycotoxins extracted from A. terreus are associated.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1984

Polycystic ovarian disease: ultrasonic evaluation and correlations with clinical and hormonal data.

The size, shape, margins, and structure of the ovaries, as observed in 26 patients with polycystic ovarian disease were analyzed, and uterine/ovarian ratio (maximum antero-posterior diameter of uterine fundus divided for longitudinal diameter of ovary) was calculated. The maximum surface area of the organs ranged from 9.5 cm2 to 17.3 cm2 (average value 12.9 cm2). A "roundness index" (minimum diameter X 100/maximum diameter) was calculated in order to evaluate the shape: it ranged from a value of 100 in perfectly rounded ovaries to a value of 54 in ovaries of oval shape. The ovarian structure was characterized by many small cysts of the same dimensions in 19 cases; in two patients there was a predominant cyst; in five cases it appeared as many thick echoes arranged along parallel lines. The uterine/ovarian ratio was always equal to or less than 1. Correlation tests for size, shape of the ovaries, patient's age, and duration of symptoms were highly significant. This leads one to suppose that both of these ultrasonic findings are a function of the duration of the disease and that polycystic ovarian disease, once established, is the cause of progressive enlargement of these organs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

[Cystic dilatation of the bile ducts : value of various methods of diagnosis. Apropos of 3 cases].

Three cases of cystic dilatation of the biliary tract of 1st, 4th and 5th type are reported here according to the classification established by Longmire and Hadad amended. In two patients the diagnosis was carried out through ultrasound examination and confirmed, in one case, by intraveinous cholangiography associated to computed tomography (and by peroperatory cholangiogram in the other one). In the third patient suffering from Caroli's disease the diagnosis was carried out during peroperating cholangiography. The possibilities of the different methods in diagnosing cystic dilatations of the biliary tract are discussed and therapeutic problems are taken into consideration.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

The role of ultrasound in the study of polycystic ovarian disease.

Seventy-eight patients with clinical findings pointing to possible polycystic ovarian disease (POD) were studied by ultrasound examination. The endocrine status of each patient was evaluated by assay of blood progesterone levels and gonadotropin luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone (LH-FSH), both under basal conditions and after luteinizing hormone releasing factor (LH-RH) and androgen hormone stimulation (testosterone and 17-ketosteroids under basal conditions and after a suppression test with dexamethasone). POD was diagnosed in nine cases and confirmed in four at operation. Ultrasound examination as an aid to POD diagnosis is discussed and its value underlined as a precise method in determining ovarian size, shape, and structure, and as a follow-up for patients after surgery.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

[Suprapubic echography in the diagnosis of benign hyperplasia and cancer of the prostate. A controlled study of 108 cases].

One hundred and eight patients presenting clinical symptoms of prostatic disease have been studied by suprapubic echography, with comparison of clinical and echographical diagnoses with the results shown by histological examination. The authors found the diagnosis by echography to be quite precise, not significantly differing from the results given by histological examination, in contrast to those diagnoses based on clinical examination. Describing the echographic pictures found in benign hypertrophy of the prostate of which a previously uninterpreted nodular picture is resorted (intra- and extra-capsular neoplasms and chronic prostatis) the authors conclude by proposing suprapubic echography as an initial instrumental approach in the diagnosis of prostatic diseases.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1981

[Angiographic and echotomographic comparative evaluation of abdominal aortic aneurysm in 15 operated patients].

The authors report the principle data resulting from the study of 43 patients presenting pulsating abdominal masses: 21 aneurysms of the aorta have been documented, and the comparative results between echography and angiography compared with operatory findings in 15 patients. With echography, reliable diagnostic precision regarding the form and dimensions of the aneurysmatic cavity is possible, and above all, the exclusion or confirmation of the presence of blood clots is allowed. The vascular situation, especially of the principle collateral branches, is better defined by aortography. Echography offers advantages not only in the survey of patients with high operation risk aneurysms, and other pulsating abdominal masses as well, but brings into evidence retroperitoneal fibrosis circumscribing the aneurysm. Last, it is preferable in the follow up of vascular prosthesis after surgery.

Aged↗