Biomedical subjects

L Sciuto

Publications and source records attributed to L Sciuto.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Functional status of adults with cerebral palsy and implications for treatment of children.

This study examined the evolution of individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) from childhood to adulthood. Seventy-two adults with a diagnosis of CP born between 1934 and 1980 were studied. Individuals were recruited and data comprehensively collected using case notes and through direct assessments of the majority of participants from three rehabilitation units in Bologna, Padua, and Rovigo in Italy. The main findings can be summarized as follows: contact with health and rehabilitation services was radically reduced once individuals reached adulthood; more individuals who were integrated into mainstream schools achieved and maintained literacy than those who had attended special schools; in a high number of participants, motor performance deteriorated once into adulthood. Independent walking or other forms of supported locomotion were lost in many on reaching adulthood. Of those who continued to walk, walking deteriorated in terms of distance. It was concluded that even though CP has been considered as predominantly a childhood pathological condition, the evolution of the effects of CP do not stop at 16 or 18 years of age. For this reason, the traditional child- (or infant-) oriented approach concentrating mainly or exclusively on the achievement of independent walking, may not be an ideal approach to children with CP. Instead a more independence-oriented therapeutic approach would be appropriate.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2001

Powered wheelchairs and independence in young children with tetraplegia.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of early provision (< or = 8 years) of a powered wheelchair (PWC) in children with tetraplegia. Twenty-nine children (15 males, 14 females; mean age 6 years 3 months, age range 3 to 8 years) with spastic or dystonic tetraplegia were studied. All participants had severe motor impairment. Treatment outcomes were investigated in several dimensions of disablement: Impairment, Functional Limitation/Activity, Disability/Participation. It was found that the level of independence improved significantly after PWC provision, while motor impairment, IQ, and quality of life did not. The majority of children (21 of 27) reached a level of driving competence which allowed them to move around with or without minimal (i.e. verbal) adult support. Achievement of this competence was not statistically related to IQ or motor impairment but correlated to the time spent in the PWC. The majority of parents (21 of 25) were not in favour of the PWC when the study started but after PWC provision, 23 of 25 parents expressed positive feelings about it. Reactions of the majority of children (23 of 25) were positive from the beginning of the study and did not change over time. The authors concluded that PWCs can aid independence and socialization and the majority of children can achieve a good-enough driving competence, even those with severe learning disability or motor deficit. PWCs should not be viewed as a last resort but as a means of providing efficient self-locomotion in children with a severe motor deficit.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1990

Respiratory function and liver cirrhosis.

Respiratory function was studied in 27 patients with liver cirrhosis and in a control group of 36 subjects. A significant difference in the overall comparison of the cirrhotic patients vs the control group was found only for average values of PEFR and FEF 25% (p less than 0.05); the significant reduction of PEFR was still present in ascitic subgroup. Considering other subgroups created vs control group, a restrictive alteration was observed in patients in Child's class C, with lower albumin levels and in presence of hyperbilirubinemia. An obstructive dysfunction was present in alcoholic cirrhotic patients. A significant decrease (p less than 0.05) of FEF 25-75% and FEF 75% (a specific small airways function index) was observed in patients with esophageal varices vs patients without varices, not related to ascites. The small airway functional alteration seems related to hemodynamic features of portal hypertension.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Gilbert's syndrome: consideration of several diagnostic aspects].

Gilbert's syndrome is a frequent clinical condition with indirect hyperbilirubinemia, with controversial pathogenesis, nosography, and diagnostic criteria. Reliability of diagnostic test (caloric intake restriction and phenobarbital induction), as well as bilirubin modifications after physical exercise, were assessed in 7 patients with the disease. Phenobarbital induction appears to be the most suitable and reliable test for clinical non-invasive diagnosis of Gilbert's syndrome.

Adolescent↗