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L Rasero

Publications and source records attributed to L Rasero.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1978

GLC determination of warfarin in human plasma.

A specific and quantitative GLC method for warfarin in human plasma is described. The procedure uses papaverine as the internal standard and involves a dichloroethane extraction of the acidified specimen. The organic extract is evaporated, and the evaporated extract is dissolved in 50 microliter of chloroform. Aliquots of 2-3 microliter are injected into a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame-ionization detector. The sensitivity of the method is such that 0.3 microgram of intact warfarin can be detected in 1 ml of plasma. Statistical analyses indicate a recovery of 97.26 +/- 1.89% SD. The procedure was successfully applied to plasma drug level studies in humans.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Analysis of homatropine methylbromide dosage forms.

A stability-indicating method of analysis of homatropine methylbromide in pharmaceutical formulations was developed. This method is based on the formation of a picric acid-quaternary ammonium complex, which is adsorbed on acid-washed diatomaceous earth in alkaline media followed by on-column chloroform extraction. The picrate complex is measured spectrophotometrically at 365 nm. The method was selective for homatropine methylbromide in that there was no interference from its major hydrolytic decomposition products, tropinium methylbromide and mandelic acid.

Methods↗
PubMed1976

Automated analysis of warfarin sodium tablets.

An automated procedure was developed for the determination of warfarin sodium by following the steps of the manual USP procedure. The automated procedure is applicable to single tablets and composites of 20 tablets at different tablet concentrations. Sensitivity, precision, accuracy, and reproducibility are equivalent to the manual USP procedure. Sensitivity was approximately 15 mug/ml, with a coefficient of variation of 0.711%.

Autoanalysis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[First aid for multiple trauma patients: investigative survey in the Firenze-Bologna area].

Overall mortality ascribable to multiple traumas, that in Italy is responsible for about 8,000 death/year, is strictly dependent on the function of the so called Trauma Care System. This study reports on an epidemiological survey conducted in the urban area of Florence along a 23-month period (from Jan 97 to Nov 99), with the aim to identify the typology of traumas and the first aid care delivered to the person until hospital admission. These data were compared to those collected in the urban area of Bologna because the composition of the first-aid team is different, being nurses, in Bologna, an integral component of the first aid system. On a total of 118 multiple traumas, 17% was represented by isolated head trauma, while in 72% involvement of other organs was present in addition to the head; 11% of cases were abdominal or thoracic traumas, 1% of lower extremities. In 46% the cause of trauma was a car accident. The complexity of care delivered to the person with trauma was less in the Florence survey, as indicated by the immobilization of patients, performed in only 11% of cases as compared to 47% in Bologna, by the application of the cervical collar, applied in 12% versus 62% of traumas. Although the two samples are not strictly comparable, these data suggest that the presence of nurses in the Trauma Care System can be one of the elements of improvement of the quality of delivered care.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Survey of measures for the prevention of infections in bone marrow transplantation centers].

This paper reports on the results of a survey conducted on the organization of bone marrow transplant (BMT) centers in Italy, with particular attention to the measures routinely adopted for the prevention of infectious complications in BMT patients. In 1997, a questionnaire containing 53 questions with multiple-answers and 15 with single-answer was sent to the 65 Italian BMT centers. The topics addressed in the questionnaire were the following: general structural organization of the BMT center; personnel organization; type of transplants (autologous, allogenic, both); type of protective environment; hygiene measures and food; management of central venous catheters; microbiological surveillance. Fifty questionnaires out of 65 (77%) were available. The analysis of data indicated that most centers (more than 60%) use complex and multiple measures for the prevention of infections. These are mainly represented by careful personal hygiene of the patient, protective isolation of the patient from other patients and relatives; careful washing of personnels' hands before entering patients room; extensive microbiological surveillance. Furthermore, 52% of BMT centers adopt additional measures, such as filtered air, while 22% of centers, on the contrary, lack any air-conditioning apparatus. Overall, the results of the survey indicate that there is a substantial variability in the adoption and evaluation of the impact of such different measures on the incidence of infectious complications after BMT.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Medicated intravascular catheters. Review of the literature].

Central Venous Catheters (CVC) are widely used in the setting of intensive care units, but they are associated with an increased risk of CVC-related infections. To prevent infections originated from CVC, a number of devices have been more recently produced, that are characterized by the presence of antiseptic/antibiotic substances in the matrix of the CVC itself ("impregnated" CVC). In this brief review, more recent studies on the topic are discussed, especially in the light of guidelines from the CDC. Although from these studies many suggestions about the efficacy of impregnated CVC in the prevention of CVC-related infections can be derived, notwithstanding the critical role of preventive measures during CVC procedures must be recognized as the principal factor in reducing CVC infections.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Comparison of two different protocols on change of medication in central venous catheterization in patients with bone marrow transplantation: results of a randomized multicenter study].

Care of central venous catheter (CVC) in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation (BMT) raises significant problems related to the high risk of local infections, to the immunodeficient status, which in itself is a predisposing factor for systematic blood stream infections. Although frequent changes of CVC dressing might theoretically reduce the incidence of infections, they are also accompanied by significant skin toxicity and patient discomfort. No study has yet addressed these points. The objective of this study was to compare two different time interval protocols for CVC dressing, in order to assess the effects on local infections and toxicity. In a multicentre study, 339 bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients with a tunnelled CVC (group A, 230 pts) or a non tunnelled one (Group B, 169 patients) were randomly allocated to receive CVC dressing changes every 5 or 10 days if belonging to group A or 2 or 5 days if in group B. Transparent impermeable polyurethane dressings were used for all patients. The rate of local infection at the site of CVC insertion was assessed by microbiological assay every 10 days, while severity of skin toxicity was measured according to the ECOG scale. Sixty-five per cent of enrolled patients were finally evaluable. Patients (in both groups) receiving CVC dressing changes at longer intervals did not show a significant increase in the rate of local infections, while those who received dressing every two days had a significant increase in local skin toxicity. Longer intervals were accompanied by a reduction in costs. The results of this study demonstrate that the increase in time interval between CVC dressing changes in BMT patients did not increment the risk of local infections, while significantly reducing patients discomfort and costs.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The role of measures of personal hygiene in the prevention of infections in autologous bone marrow transplantation. Results of a randomized prospective study].

The paper reports on the results of a prospective, randomized trial in which two different regimens of personal hygiene procedures have been compared in 30 patients undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation. The main aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of infectious episodes in patients enrolled in the trial arm with the simplified hygiene protocol as compared to the standard one, used in our Unit for patients undergoing allogenic transplant. No significant differences between the two study groups in the incidence of infectious episodes or of positive skin cultures were found. Therefore, we suggest that a simplified hygiene protocol is as effective as the standard one in preventing infectious complications in patients undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Measures for the prevention of infections in patients with bone marrow transplantations].

One of the most frequent complications in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is represented by severe infectious episodes, neutropenia being the most important factor. Among preventive measures, those represented by careful hygenic and environmental procedures are of pivotal importance. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the infectious episodes in 295 patients subjected to BMT who have been treated with the same caring protocol. In 21.8% of patients an infectious event was recorded during the post-BMT period; in patients subjected to BMT from an unrelated donor the incidence of positive haemocultures was as high as 33.3%. Sixty-five per cent of isolated agents in haemocultures were Gram-positive, 33% Gram-negative and only 2% fungi. In 35% of patients with positive haemocultures, the same infectious agent had previously been isolated in a skin sample. Overall, the incidence of documented infections was lower than in other studies, suggesting that careful protocols of personal and environmental hygene may be very important for the prevention of infectious episodes in BMT patients.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Handling a central venous catheter in a bone marrow transplantation center: retrospective analysis on 203 patients. Experiences at the Florence Transplantation Center].

The insertion of a central venous catheter (CVC) is a compulsory invasive technique for bone marrow transplant patients. CVC are in fact used for the administration of treatments (chemotherapy, Total Parenteral Nutrition) and patients monitoring (blood samplings). The study reports on the results of a retrospective analysis on 213 CVCs implanted on 203 patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation in the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit (BMT) in Florence, from 1992 to 1996. Sixty-one per cent of implanted catheters were maintained in situ until the completion of the treatments, while 5% patients needed the CVC replacement. The major cause of CVC loss was spontaneous deiscence (7% of all implanted CVCs). The 80% of implanted CVCs had a satisfactory performance; in 14% a local infusion of urokinase was required to re-establish patency and in 6% of patients a peripheral venous line had to be started. Only 2% catheters had to be removed due to an infection.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗