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Biomedical subjects

M Basile

Publications and source records attributed to M Basile.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Factors influencing hospital infection control policies in Italian hospitals.

A study was undertaken to determine the resources available in Italian hospitals for the control of nosocomial infections and the factors favouring a successful approach. During January-May 2000 a questionnaire about infection control was sent to the hospital health director of all Italian National Health System hospitals treating acute patients and with more than 3500 admissions in 1999. An active programme was defined as a hospital infection control committee (HICC) meeting at least four times in 1999, the presence of a doctor with infection control responsibilities, a nurse employed in infection control and at least one surveillance activity and one infection control guideline issued or updated in the past two years. There was a response rate of 87.5% (463/529). Almost fifteen percent (69/463) of hospitals had an active programme for Infection Control and 76.2% (353/463) had a HICC. Seventy-one percent (330/463) of the hospitals had a hospital infection control physician and 53% (250/463) had infection control nurses. Fifty-two percent (242/463) reported at least one surveillance activity and 70.8% (328/463) had issued or updated at least one guidance document in the last two years. The presence of regional policies [odds ratio (OR) 8.7], operative groups (OR 4.2), at least one full-time nurse (OR 4.6) and a hospital annual plan which specified infection control (OR 2.1) were statistically associated with an active programme in the multivariate analysis.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed2003

Preliminary report on nitric oxide-mediated oxidative damage in adolescent varicocele.

BACKGROUND: The current study was designed to characterize the process of nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite generation through the determination of nitrotyrosine concentration in the dilated veins of varicoceles in adolescents. METHODS: Ten adolescents with a median age of 13 years (range 12-17) affected by a left idiopathic varicocele (grade II and III) were studied. Whole blood samples were withdrawn from a peripheral vein at time of induction of anaesthesia, and from a dilated spermatic vein before ligation. Peripheral blood samples from five adolescents undergoing minor surgical procedures were used as controls. The nitrotyrosine concentration was evaluated by a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using a monoclonal anti-nitrotyrosine antibody and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Plasma nitrotyrosine concentrations were significantly greater in the spermatic vein when compared with the peripheral vein (P = 0.031). Nitrotyrosine in plasma of controls did not show any significant difference in comparison with peripheral samples from varicocele patients. Western blot analysis confirmed the above data. CONCLUSIONS: In adolescents with a varicocele, there is an increase in nitrotyrosine concentration within the spermatic vein that can cause protein nitration and cytotoxicity via its reaction with various molecular targets. This could have repercussions on both sperm and testis function. We conclude that an oxidative stress status is present and should be considered as an indication for varicocele treatment in the adolescent.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Monocyte and neutrophil activity after minor surgical stress.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Surgical stress produces changes in the immune status of patients. In adults, major surgery causes immunosuppression, whereas minor operations stimulate immune responses. In children, the immunologic response to surgery has not been elucidated completely. The authors investigated the effects of minor surgery on immune response by analyzing neutrophil and monocyte phagocytosis and oxidative burst activity. METHODS: Sixteen children undergoing elective minor surgery were enrolled. Blood samples were collected before the operation (at time of induction of anesthesia), at the end of operation, and 72 hours after surgery. Neutrophil and monocyte phagocytosis and oxidative burst activity were studied using a flow cytometric method. RESULTS: Phagocytosis and oxidative burst increased significantly at the end of the operation, both in neutrophils (7.4% and 14.3%, respectively) and monocytes (11.6% and 27%, respectively). The increase was only significant for monocytes (17.5%) 72 hours after surgery. White cell count did not show any significant changes. There was no significant correlation between phagocytosis, oxidative burst activity, and white cell count or neutrophil and monocyte count. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that minor surgery in children induces immune activation by increasing neutrophil and monocyte phagocytosis and oxidative burst activity. Further studies are required to understand the molecular basis of these findings.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Utility of a scoring system in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in pediatric age. A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Acute appendicitis is the most frequent cause of surgical emergency in pediatric age. The aim of this study has been to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a scoring system, retrospectively applied, to the clinical and laboratory parameters in patients with acute appendicitis. METHODS: A group of 156 patients admitted for acute abdominal pain and operated for appendectomy, in the last 3 years, has been included in the study. The mean age was 8.4 years. The modified Alvarado score has been used as scoring system: white count, neutrophil count, fibrinogen level, body temperature, resistance in the right iliac fossa, length of symptoms, nausea/vomiting. The score has been calculated for each patient. They were subdivided into 3 groups. Group I (score 1-4), no admission; Group II (5-6), admission and observation; Group III (7-10), surgery. This subdivision was then compared with the intraoperative notes. RESULTS: Patients were divided into 3 groups. Group I, 24 patients (15%); Group II, 34 patients (22%); Group III, 98 patients (63%). On the basis of the intraoperative notes 61 patients had acute appendicitis and 95 complicated acute appendicitis. In this last subgroup the score gave a percentage of patients to operate of 90.5%. CONCLUSIONS: With the present work we confirm the utility of a scoring system in the preoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis and in our opinion it is a useful system for a first, rapid and economic evaluation in the pediatric emergency department.

Abdomen, Acute↗
PubMed2001

Parenteral troxerutin and carbazochrome combination in the treatment of post-hemorrhoidectomy status: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase IV study.

Flavonoids, such as troxerutin, have been shown to be safe and effective agents for the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. The fixed combination between troxerutin 150 mg and carbazochrome 1.5 mg (Fleboside ampoules) was previously shown to have a good efficacy and safety profile in non-surgical patients with acute uncomplicated hemorrhoids. The purpose of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of the active combination in the treatment of post-hemorrhoidectomy patients. 30 patients were randomized to receive one of two treatments: troxerutin 150 mg and carbazochrome 1.5 mg, or placebo, i.m. 3 ml ampoules twice a day for five consecutive days after the surgical procedure, starting from the day of surgery. Efficacy parameters were assessed as follows: at baseline (T1), after the first administration (T2; day of surgery), the second day after the surgical procedure (T3), and the fifth day after the surgical procedure (T4); hemorrhoidal symptoms based on a visual analogue scale (VAS): pain, discharge, bleeding, inflammation, and pruritus; analgesic intake, if any; time to restore a physiological defecation; edema evaluation (based on a four-point scale: 0 = absent; 1 = mild; 2 = moderate; 3 = severe); camera pictures taken at T1 and T4 (in selected patients); and blood coagulation tests. Analysis between treatment groups revealed a highly significant difference at T3 and T4 for the total VAS score (p = 0.007 and p = 0.001, respectively) in favor of the active combination treatment. A statistically significant difference was also observed for bleeding and pruritus at T3 and for these two parameters and both inflammation and edema at T4 (p < 0.001) in favor of the active combination group. No adverse events were reported. Neither the active combination nor placebo affected blood coagulation tests. We conclude that intramuscular administration of the fixed combination of troxerutin 150 mg and carbazochrome 1.5 mg is effective, well tolerated and superior to placebo in improving hemorrhoidal and post-surgical symptoms during the five days following surgery.

Adrenochrome↗
PubMed2000

Galanin receptor plasticity within the nucleus basalis in early and late Alzheimer's disease: an in vitro autoradiographic analysis.

Hypertrophy of fibers containing galanin (GAL), the inhibitory neurotransmitter of acetylcholine, occur on remaining cholinergic nucleus basalis neurons in late stage Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present investigation evaluated whether changes in the number of GAL receptors (GALR) were detectable within the nucleus basalis in the early or late stage of AD when compared to age-matched controls. Postmortem neuropathological specimens were obtained at autopsy from three groups: late AD, early (possible) AD, and normal (age-matched controls) human subjects. Autoradiography of GALR binding was performed on human brain sections from each of the three groups. Analysis of autoradiographic images show no change in the distribution of ([125])hGAL binding sites in early AD cases throughout the nucleus basalis. In contrast, the number of ([125])hGAL binding sites was increased over the anterior nucleus basalis subfield in late stage AD. A region-of-interest densitometric analysis of the anterior nucleus basalis in the late stage AD cases depict an increase in the number of ([125])hGAL binding sites by approximately two-three-fold when compared to normal (age-matched controls). Quantitative measures of ([125])hGAL binding densities were not significantly different in the anterolateral, intermediate or posterior nucleus basalis subsectors of early or late stage AD when compared to age-matched controls. These observations show that the occurrence of overexpression of GALRs coincide with earlier reports showing galaninergic fibers hyperinnervating surviving cholinergic basal forebrain neurons in late stage AD.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Serotonin transporters upregulate with chronic cocaine use.

Cocaine potently inhibits serotonin (5-HT) reuptake in cell bodies and at nerve terminals and 5-HT has been implicated as a modulator of dopaminergic neurotransmission. Chronic use of cocaine may lead to a "serotonin-deficit" form of 5-HT dysregulation. We have examined the status of the 5-HT transporter (SERT) using ligand binding and autoradiographic methods in subgroups of cocaine overdose deaths. Quantitative autoradiography of [125I]RTI-55 was used to map and measure the effect of chronic cocaine use on SERT densities in the striatum, substantia nigra, amygdala, and adjacent paralimbic cortical areas of cocaine overdose (CO) victims with and without preterminal evidence of excited delirium (ED). SERT densities were elevated in the nucleus accumbens and throughout the anterior and posterior sectors of striatum in CO victims compared with age-matched and drug-free control subjects. In contrast, SERT densities were increased significantly in the anterior striatum, but not the posterior sectors in ED victims. Significant elevations in SERT were measured in the orbitofrontal gyrus (Brodmann area 11), the anterior portion of the insular cortex and the cingulate gyrus (Brodmann area 24) in CO and ED victims. Saturation binding site analysis demonstrated an increase in the density of RTI-55 binding sites with no change in the affinity of the radioligand for the SERT. Chronic cocaine exposure upregulated SERT densities in the substantia nigra of the CO, but not ED victims. The lack of SERT upregulation in the substania nigra and posterior striatum suggests the possibility of a distinct phenotype for fatal ED victims that exhibited an acute onset of bizarre and violent behavior prior to death. Adaptive changes in the SERT densities may contribute to depressed mood and drug craving associated with acute cocaine abstinence.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

The neonatal management and surgical correction of urinary hydrometrocolpos caused by a persistent urogenital sinus.

OBJECTIVE: To define the neonatal management and ultimate surgical correction via the anterior sagittal transanorectal approach (ASTRA) in cases of neonatal urinary hydrometrocolpos associated with a persistent urogenital sinus (UGS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report three patients with UGS (with no ambiguous genitalia) and urinary hydrometrocolpos in whom prenatal ultrasonography showed cystic dilatation of the pelvis. Two patients were temporarily treated with intermittent vaginal catheterization and antibiotic prophylaxis, and in one a cystostomy was necessary to temporarily drain the urine. At the age of 6-8 months the patients underwent reconstructive surgery of the UGS via the ASTRA, under a previous protective colostomy. RESULTS: The mean (range) age of the patients at the last follow-up was 18.7 (8-32) months. A good cosmetic result was obtained in all patients. The vagina was dilated briefly with no anaesthesia in each patient. Patients had normal faecal control after the colostomy was closed and none had urinary incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: When possible, intermittent vaginal catheterization permits sufficient temporary drainage of the urinary hydrometrocolpos associated with a persistent UGS. Subsequent ASTRA allows good exposure of the UGS, assuring the preservation of the anorectal innervation and of the sphincteric mechanism.

Colostomy↗
PubMed1997

An alternative method for direct custom tray construction using a visible light-cured resin.

The use of a properly made tray is highly desirable for impression making. To avoid the extra time required for tray fabrication, the alternative techniques of the putty wash or "reline" technique and intraoral fabrication of a custom tray by relining a stock tray with self-curing resin are proposed. This article illustrates a new technique of direct custom tray fabrication used for impression making for fixed prosthodontics. The proposed technique allows the direct fabrication of custom trays with light-cured resin and is time-saving, efficient, and inexpensive.

Acrylic Resins↗
PubMed1997

rhGM-CSF vs placebo following rhGM-CSF-mobilized PBPC transplantation: a phase III double-blind randomized trial.

In this placebo-controlled randomized trial we evaluated the hematological and clinical effects of r-Hu GM-CSF after high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) followed by GM-CSF-mobilized PBPC transplantation. Fifty patients with poor prognosis malignancies were randomized in a double-blind study to receive either GM-CSF or placebo after HDC followed by PBPC rescue. For all patients, PBPCs were recruited using a combination of VP-16 (300 mg/m2 on days 1 and 2), cytoxan (3 g/m2 on days 3 and 4) and GM-CSF (5 micrograms/kg from day 5). No differences were demonstrated between the two groups in median time to neutrophil or platelet recoveries. There was no significant difference between the GM-CSF group and the placebo group in the median duration of post-transplant hospitalization, in the number of days of antibiotic treatment, in the number of infections and in red blood cell or platelet transfusion requirements. There was a significant difference with an advantage for the placebo group in the mean duration of febrile days (P = 0.01). We conclude that the administration of GM-CSF in patients transplanted with GM-CSF-mobilized PBPC is not associated with a clinical benefit in term of tempo of engraftment, numbers of documented infections, transfusion requirements and mucositis grading.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Perineal surgical approach in the treatment of some disorders of the rectoanal function (fecal incontinence and obstructive constipation)].

A global experience in the surgical perineal approach to the treatment of alterations of recto-anal function (fecal incontinence and obstructed defection) is reported. Surgical techniques and results in four cases of fecal incontinence operated and surgical treatment of 14 patients suffering from obstructed defecation, due to organic obstacles (4 cases) or functional abnormalities (rectocele 10 cases) are discussed. Indications, surgical techniques as well as the obtained results are described.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Ceftazidime kinetics of diffusion in inoculated agar plates.

The ceftazidime concentration in agar plates inoculated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography at fixed points (3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 mm) from the disk center and at fixed times (2, 4, 6, 16, and 24 h) to study the antibiotic kinetics of diffusion. A statistical difference between the concentrations determined in the presence of microorganisms and in uninoculated plates after 16 and 24 h was evidenced and was probably ascribable to the drug hydrolysis carried out by the induced beta-lactamase.

Agar↗
PubMed1996

[Rubber band ligation of hemorrhoids. A four-year experience].

The non-surgical approach to hemorrhoidal disease was considered, particularly in relation to the rubber band ligation technique. On the basis of a four-year experience collected on 60 treated patients among 75 observed, cases, indications, results and advantages of the method were outlined. Besides the classic method's applications, two cases were presented in which the technique was applied on the grounds of non typical indications. From the final results the rubber band method represents a good therapeutic option for early degrees of hemorrhoidal disease. Moreover, on the basis of the author's experience, this method is also suitable in appropriately selected cases of advanced hemorrhoidal disease intra-anal mucosal prolapse.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

New method for stem cell quantification: applications to the management of peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

A dramatic increase in peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) is observed after high-dose chemotherapy followed by haematopoietic growth factors. The degree of mobilisation of PBSC is quantified by the level of clonogenic cells detected by CFU assays (CFU-GM or CFU-GEMM) or CD34+ cell determination. Working under the hypothesis that, in peripheral blood, mononuclear cells in DNA synthesis (MCDS) are proliferating stem cells, we decided to detect these cells by flow cytometric measurement of their DNA content. The relations between the number of MCDS and well-known haematopoietic progenitor indicators such as CFU-GM or CD34+ cells were analysed. We studied the kinetics of recruitment of PBSC in cancer patients, treated with rmeHuG-CSF following VP-16 cytoxan chemotherapy, until the first day of leukapheresis. For the 31 patients studied the individual curves of peripheral MCDS and CFU-GM reconstitutions showed identical profiles and a good correlation was noted between the numbers of peripheral MCDS and CFU-GM (r = 0.73). In the leukapheresis product, the predictive value of MCDS was equivalent to CFU-GM for PBSC quantification (r = 0.70). In conclusion, MCDS analysis by flow cytometry provides reliable results and appears to be an alternative to CFU-GM assay or CD34+ cell determination for PBSC quantification.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Nodular peritoneal mesothelioma: apropos of an occasional report].

The complicated post-operative course of a patient who underwent an inguinal herniotomy, has allowed the diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma during laparotomy. This highlight the alternatives of an aggressive procedure, such as laparotomy, or a less invasive one, such as laparoscopy. The diagnostic criterion, should be when the clinical course suggests a peritoneal neoplasia; our more invasive technique allowed to perform an operation on the patient's internal organs which should be performed after laparoscopy anyway.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Visualizing dopamine and serotonin transporters in the human brain with the potent cocaine analogue [125I]RTI-55: in vitro binding and autoradiographic characterization.

The cocaine analogue RTI-55 was evaluated as a probe for in vitro labeling and localization of dopamine and serotonin transporters after death in the human brain. Kinetic, saturation, and competition binding experiments indicated complex interactions of the radioligand with the identification of multiple recognition sites. In membrane binding assays, the association of [125I]RTI-55 at 25 degrees C to putamen membranes was monophasic. In contrast, dissociation of [125I]RTI-55 occurred in two phases with t1/2 values of 9.4 and 36.5 min, respectively. Saturation analysis of [125I]RTI-55 binding demonstrated two binding sites in the human putamen with KD values of 0.10 +/- 0.02 and 1.81 +/- 0.46 nM. The binding of [125I]RTI-55 was displaced by a wide range of cocaine analogues and monoamine uptake inhibitors. The rank order of potency demonstrated in competition assays with human putamen membranes indicates that the radioligand labels cocaine recognition sites on the dopamine transporter (mazindol > GBR 12909 > GBR 12935 > paroxetine > nisoxetine > desipramine > or = fluoxetine > citalopram). In the human occipital cortex, [125I]RTI-55 recognized multiple binding sites with KD values of 0.02 +/- 0.01 and 4.18 +/- 0.46 nM. The rank order of potency for inhibition of [125I]RTI-55 binding to cerebral cortex membranes (paroxetine > citalopram > GBR 12909 > or = mazindol > or = nisoxetine > benztropine) suggests that [125I]RTI-55 labels the serotonin transporter in the human occipital cortex. Autoradiographic mapping of [125I]RTI-55 revealed very high densities of cocaine recognition sites over areas known to be rich in dopaminergic innervation, including the caudate, putamen, and nucleus accumbens.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Complications in a patient with a jejuno-peritoneal shunt by the Le Veen technique].

The case of a patient, who, 3 months after application of a Le Veen shunt for a refractory ascites, underwent the pleural effusion of ascitic fluid is reported. The adoption of a scintigraphic diagnostic technique allowed the demonstration of a direct ascitic fluid passage from the peritoneal to the pleural cavity and the subsequent successful pleurodesis, performed using an application of local tetracycline.

Ascites↗