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Biomedical subjects

M Basso

Publications and source records attributed to M Basso.

53 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

[Magnetic resonance tomography compared to computed tomography in the intracardiac spread of hepatocarcinoma].

A cirrhotic patient with inferior cava and right atrium-ventricular invasion by hepatic tumor was studied with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), computerized tomography (CT) before and after contrast agent bolus iv, ECG-gated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Obesity obstacled abdominal echotomographic study; esophageal varices were relative contraindication to transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The resolutive diagnosis was possible thanks to MRI which documented the spatial continuity among hepatic tumor, intracaval neoplastic thrombus and intracardiac mass. TTE can be considered the first step in case of suspected cardiac masses, but it is sometimes limited by the thorax conformation and not always discriminant. TEE is semi-invasive with important contraindications. CT is limited by the only axial or para-axial scans with low quality reconstructions, worsened in these cases by respiratory and cardiac movements. MRI can be considered the second step in the imaging of cardiac masses, immediately and directly after the echocardiographic techniques.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed1991

Use of DNA probes in the study of silage colonization by Lactobacillus and Pediococcus strains.

A technique to monitor lactic acid bacteria inoculants in silage, based on specific DNA probes, was developed and used to evaluate the colonization properties of two strains of Lactobacillus plantarum and one strain of Pediococcus pentosaceus which were used as maize silage inoculants in farm conditions. The results indicated that these three strains were able to dominate the natural microflora of the silage, representing more than the 95% of the bacterial biomass of the maize silage. These studies indicate that the colony hybridization with specific DNA probes may be an effective method for monitoring bacteria and evaluating the colonization properties of inoculants in maize silage.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[A graphic study of levers in the human body].

A graphical method is proposed which permits one to determine by a simple drawing procedure for any lever in the human body the intensity of the muscular force and of the force acting on the fulcrum (i.e. on the joint) and the direction of this latter. The method is compared with the conventional one, in which muscular force is first determined by a calculation in which the geometrical lever arms are measured, and then fulcrum force is obtained by means of a vector construction. The new graphic method permits one to simultaneously obtain the intensity and the direction of the forces acting on the lever, without measuring or computing torque values.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed1987

Immunoregulation and differentiation markers in monoclonal gammopathies.

Multiple myeloma and benign monoclonal gammopathies (BMG) are regarded as monoclonal B cell proliferations in which B lymphocyte maturation is blocked in the final stages of the differentiation cycle. Further studies with monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) of the FMC series and of the 791T/36 MoAb will perhaps provide a final subclassification of the B lymphocyte proliferation diseases and hopefully assist in their diagnosis and treatment.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1987

[Osteogenesis imperfecta treated during growth by intramedullary nailing by the Sofield method. Outcome in adults].

Since 1985 we have used the early surgical treatment of osteogenesis imperfecta described by Sofield, even in the most severe forms of the disease. Twenty-six patients who had reached adult age have been reviewed. Whilst the functional prognosis is relatively favourable in Sillence type I cases, it is not the same for severe type III cases. In these forms, the spine and chest deformities can affect the prognosis for life. The functional state of these patients in adult life is disappointing and many of them subside progressively into the comfort of a wheelchair. Nevertheless, this assessment at the end of growth has confirmed the principles of a surgical approach, even if, at the present time, our attitude is more reserved in severe cases. Very considerable progress in treatment has resulted from telescopic rods. The improvement in prognosis seems now to depend on taking account of the spinal problem in osteogenesis imperfecta. Early surgery on a spine that is, as yet, slightly deformed should be considered in severe forms of the disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

[Evaluation of non-conventional teaching methods].

The article compares the learning performances of dentistry students in participative theory classes and using self-teaching modules. The subjects were a group of third-year students in the School of Dentistry of the University of Buenos Aires, who were divided into two subgroups, one that attended the participative theory class and the other that used the self-teaching modules. The information imparted was exactly the same in both cases. A written test was administered and graded by the instructors. The process was repeated with another group of students using other subject matter. The findings of this study showed that there was no significant difference between the two methods in terms of student performance. The self-teaching modules improved the learning results of the group of students with the lower performance rating, which indicates that this teaching method is particularly effective for students conventionally rated as poor performers.

Education, Dental↗
PubMed1977

Effect of chlorpromazine on blood glucose and plasma insulin in man.

In three groups of normal subjects and in one group of patients with latent diabetes mellitus a study has been made of the effects of chlorpromazine (CPZ) on blood glucose and plasma insulin. CPZ 75 mg/day for 7 days did not alter the plasma insulin response after oral glucose; nor did CPZ 50 mg/day for 7 days affect the glucose assimilation rate or insulin response to glucose injection. Infusion of CPZ 50 mg in 60 min slightly increased the basal blood glucose level but had no significant effect on basal plasma insulin. The insulin/glucose ratio after the end of the infusion was significantly higher than during the period of infusion of the drug. In latent diabetic patients CPZ infusion significantly diminished the insulin/glucose ratio during an intravenous glucose tolerance test. These results suggest that, whereas prolonged treatment with low doses of CPZ did not modify glucose tolerance and glucose-stimulated pancreatic response, higher acute doses of the drug may induce hyperglycaemia and can inhibit insulin secretion both in normal man and in patients with latent diabetes mellitus.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

MRI in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a morphofunctional study.

OBJECTIVE: We compared MRI with two-dimensional echocardiography (2dE) and Doppler echocardiography to determine the diagnostic role of MRI in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients with 2dE diagnosis of HCM were examined with MRI; 12 of 23 patients were also studied by color (cDE) and continuous wave (cwDE) Doppler echocardiography. Morphologic information and diastolic heart wall thickness were obtained by SE sequences; functional study was performed by gradient echo sequences (cine MR). RESULTS: The correlation between MR, SE sequences and 2dE was better for septal (r = 0.930, p < 0.01) than for posterolateral (r = 0.739, p < 0.01) wall thickness. The assessment of the distribution of the hypertrophy was changed by MR in five cases. Cine MR functional study showed a systolic subaortic signal void (dynamic obstruction) in 12 of 22 patients and a systolic left atrial signal void (mitral regurgitation) in 17 of 22. Systolic wall thickening was studied by cine MR and 2dE in 11 patients: A good correlation was found for septum (0.01 < p < 0.05) and a poor one for posterolateral wall (p > 0.05). The cine MR and cDE turbulence duration in the left ventricle and atrium showed excellent correlation (p < 0.01). Good agreement was found between the duration of subaortic turbulence (cine MR or cDE) and the pressure gradient (cwDE) (p < 0.01 and 0.01 < p < 0.05, respectively) and between cine MR and cDE semiquantitative estimate of the mitral regurgitation (p < 0.01). In all patients with subaortic MR signal void studied with cwDE, a pressure gradient was present. CONCLUSION: Magnetic resonance imaging can play an important role in the diagnosis of HCM after 2dE-DE.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The evolution of walking-related outcomes over the first 12 weeks of rehabilitation for incomplete traumatic spinal cord injury: the multicenter randomized Spinal Cord Injury Locomotor Trial.

BACKGROUND: The Spinal Cord Injury Locomotor Trial (SCILT) compared 12 weeks of step training with body weight support on a treadmill (BWSTT) that included overground practice to a defined but more conventional overground mobility intervention (CONT) in patients with incomplete traumatic SCI within 8 weeks of onset. No previous studies have reported walking-related outcomes during rehabilitation. METHODS: This single-blinded, randomized trial entered 107 American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) C and D patients and 38 ASIA B patients with lesions between C5 and L3 who were unable to walk on admission for rehabilitation. The Functional Independence Measure (FIM-L) for walking, 15-m walking speed, and lower extremity motor score (LEMS) were collected every 2 weeks. RESULTS: No significant differences were found at entry and during the treatment phase (12-week mean FIM-L = 5, velocity = 0.8 m/s, LEMS = 35, distance walked in 6 min = 250 m). Combining the 2 arms, a FIM-L >or= 4 was achieved in < 10% of ASIA B patients, 92% of ASIA C patients, and all of ASIA D patients. Walking speed of >or= 0.6 m/s correlated with a LEMS near 40 or higher. CONCLUSIONS: Few ASIA B and most ASIA C and D patients achieved functional walking ability by the end of 12 weeks of BWSTT and CONT, consistent with the primary outcome data at 6 months. Walking-related measures assessed at 2-week intervals reveal that time after SCI is an important variable for entering patients into a trial with mobility outcomes. By about 6 weeks after entry, most patients who will recover have improved their FIM-L to >3 and are improving in walking speed. Future trials may reduce the number needed to treat by entering patients with FIM-L < 4 at > 8 weeks after onset if still graded ASIA B and at > 12 weeks if still ASIA C.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Nailfold videocapillaroscopy in systemic sclerosis: diagnostic and follow-up parameters and correlation with both specific serum autoantibodies and subsets of skin involvement].

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study was to demonstrate, by nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC), the existence of diagnostic and follow-up parameters of microvascular damage in systemic sclerosis (SS) (grouped in the "early", "active" and "late" NVC patterns). The presence of the different subsets of skin involvement (limSS and difSS), as well as the role of some specific serum autoantibodies in the expression of the NVC parameters were investigated. METHODS: 245 consecutive SS patients were recruited and clinical data assessed. Antinuclear (ANA), antitopoisomerase I (Scl70) and anticentromere (ACA) antibodies were investigated in all patients. RESULTS: Giant capillaries and hemorrhages were confirmed to be the earliest NVC finding in SS (diagnostic parameters). The loss of capillaries, along with ramified capillaries and vascular architectural disorganization were validated as parameters of progression of SS microangiopathy. Really, both Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and SS duration were detected longer in patients with the "late" than in those with the "active" or the "early" NVC pattern. Patients affected by limSS were found to have shorter disease duration, as well as showed more frequently the "early" or the "active" NVC patterns. Conversely, patients affected by the difSS showed longer disease duration and mostly the presence of the "active" or "late" NVC pattern. The Scl70 positivity was lower in the patients showing the "early" than in those with the "active" and the "late" NVC patterns, whereas no significant correlation was found between the Scl70 presence and both RP and SS duration. The ACA positivity was higher in patients showing the "early" NVC pattern, as well as in patients with longer disease duration. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that the identification of distinct NVC patterns may be useful to evaluate the severity and the stage of the SS microvascular damage. The presence of the Scl70 antibodies seems related to a more rapid progression of the SS microangiopathy. On the contrary, the presence of the ACA seems to be related to a slower progression of the SS microvascular damage. The SS peripheral microangiopathy is similar as in patients with limSS, as in those affected by difSS.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Long-term treatment of patients affected by systemic sclerosis with cyclosporin A.

The aims of the present study were: 1) to verify the tolerability of long-term, low-dose treatment of patients affected by systemic sclerosis with cyclosporin A; 2) to analyze the clinical outcome of treated patients in relationship to skin, esophageal, lung, kidney and microvascular organ involvement. Nine patients affected by diffuse systemic sclerosis were treated for periods ranging from 3 to 5 years with cyclosporin A at a dosage of 2.5 mg/kg/day. Cyclosporin A treatment was variably associated or not with treatments for Raynaud's phenomenon (pentoxiphylline, defibrotide, low-dose heparin, prostacyclin analogues) in relationship to the needs of single patients. We report on patient clinical evaluations performed every year and including plicometry, esophageal pH-manometry, pulmonary spirometry, renal duplex Doppler sonography, echocardiography as well as nailfold videocapillaroscopy. The results of single tests were converted into scores. The existence of statistically significant differences between baseline mean scores and mean scores after 1, 2 and 3 years of therapy was analyzed. All patients tolerated cyclosporin A well, and no definitive withdrawals from the study were observed. Hypertricosis appeared in 3 patients, and 1 patient interrupted treatment for 6 months because of the onset of pneumonitis. No alterations of blood pressure and renal functionality were detected. Statistically significant reduction of all analyzed mean scores was observed after 2 and/or 3 years of cyclosporin A treatment with respect to baseline. The overall results suggest an encouraging clinical effect for low-dose, long-term cyclosporin A treatment in systemic sclerosis. Satisfactory tolerability and clinical improvement were observed in all the patients consecutively treated for at least 3 years.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The extent of mandibular bone resorption in edentulous subjects in relation to their psychological profile].

The resorption of edentulous alveolar crests has been correlated to a variety of factors which may be briefly summarised as anatomic, metabolic, functional and prosthetic factors. With regard to functional factors, some researchers have found that some psychological aspects in edentulous subjects may be indicative of a parafunctional damaging habit leading to consequent alterations of the physical characteristics of forces applied to the bone. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether alveolar crest resorption in edentulous subjects was correlated to aspects of their psychological status, such as trait anxiety and the presence of psychosomatic symptoms. A group of 70 totally edentulous subjects were examined and trait anxiety and the presence of psychosomatic symptoms were evaluated. The orthopantomographies of the 70 subjects were then analysed in order to assess the degree of edentulous crest resorption. The present study showed the absence of statistically significant correlations between edentulous crest resorption and trait anxiety and between edentulous crest resorption and the presence of psychosomatic symptoms. These results appear to indicate that "anxious" subjects might not have parafunctional habits or that the latter play a minor role in the process of edentulous mandibular crest resorption.

Adult↗