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Biomedical subjects

M Cirrincione

Publications and source records attributed to M Cirrincione.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Long-term outcome of children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa: study of comorbidity.

Eighty-seven children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa, admitted to the Gaslini Department of Child Neurology and Psychiatry between 1976 and 1990, were followed up after a mean of 9.6 years. Outcome measures included the Morgan Russell Outcome Schedule as modified by Jeammet. Outcome was good in 43 (53%) cases, intermediate in 27 (34%) cases, and negative in 11 (14%) cases. No deaths occurred. Based on the Jeammet assessment schedule, the most significant items predicting outcome were insight; sexual, familial, and social relationships; and mental state. Gender of patients and early disease onset did not seem to be predictive measures. Poor outcome was associated with a severe initial clinical picture and length of in-patient treatment. In regard to comorbidity, mood and personality disorders seemed to be negative prognostic indicators, whereas anxiety disorders did not show prognostic value.

Adolescent↗

[The motility of the biliary tract studied with 99mTc-Br-IDA in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus].

Autonomic neuropathy in diabetes mellitus can cause alterations of the motor function of various segments of the gastroenteric apparatus. With hepatocholangio-cholecystiscintigraphy-HIDA we have studied the motility of the biliary system in patients with diabetes mellitus type II. The research has been carried out in 29 patients with diabetic autonomic neuropathy; 12 healthy volunteers have been studied to compare the results obtained. The results showed a delay in the appearance of radionucleotide in the small intestine of diabetic subjects compared to controls with statistical significance. Moreover the diabetic subjects with a serious neuropathic injury showed increased intestinal transit time. These results match those obtained by other authors that have studied the cholecystic emptying in diabetic subjects with other methods. Consequently the biliary system is also affected by the diabetic autonomic neuropathy that can be in its turn the cause of other pathologies such as biliary lithiasis.

Aged↗

[Suicidal behavior among adolescents].

Some data from the literature on adolescent suicidal behaviour are reported: incidence, employed methods, warning signs, risk factors, some psychodynamic aspects. The purpose of this work is to contribute to the study on this matter by a research on 33 adolescents (12 males, 21 females: mean age 14 years, range 11.2-17 years) examined because of suicidal behaviour. The study method includes: anamnesis, psychodiagnostic inquiry, family and environmental investigation, psychiatric evaluation. Suicidal behaviour is characterized by low levels of determined self-elimination intent ("suicidal gestures") in 36% of cases (1 male, 11 females). Relapses are found in 35% of cases, with death in 1 case. The most frequently used methods is drug poisoning (65%). Most common place where suicidal behaviour takes place is at home (82%). Most show warning signs especially verbal threats. Some problem in the family situation (conflicts in the parental couple or between parents and children, psychopathologic disturbances in the parents) and frequent difficulties in school and social adjustment are evident. In 45% a depressed state was noted, in the other cases several psychopathologic disturbances have been found: hysteric neurosis, borderline personality, psychosis. In 30% of cases symptoms coexist with a self-injuring meanings (nervous anorexia, pseudo-epileptic seizures). Prevalent psychodynamic characteristics are: vulnerability in facing frustrating situations and research of support from inadequate parental figures: displacement from hetero-direct aggressive drives to an expiratory or revengeful self wounding behaviour. Some criteria for an emergency care and for a middle to long term treatment are mentioned, and the opportunity for collaboration between pediatricians and psychotherapists is suggested.

Adolescent↗

[Effects of fenoverine on biliary kinetics evaluated by hepatobiliary scintigraphy with 99mTc-Br-IDA].

Hepatobiliary scintigraphy was used to evaluate the action of fenoverine in 16 patients suffering from dyskinesia of the biliary tract; the drug was administered in doses of 300 mg per day per os for 20 days, the patients being subjected to hepatobiliary scintigraphy before and after treatment. The following parameters--accurate indicators of the motor coordination of the biliary tract--were evaluated: tracer appearance time in the gallbladder (Tc) and in the intestine (Ti). After treatment there was a normalization of these two parameters which initially were extended. Statistical analysis showed a highly significant reduction in these times. Stress is laid on the importance of hepatobiliary scintigraphy in the diagnosis of biliary dyskinesia and on the effectiveness of fenoverine in the treatment of this conditions.

Administration, Oral↗

[Children and adolescents with epilepsy. Cognitive abilities, learning disorders and depression].

The authors studied some psychological and psychopathological problems in epileptic children and adolescents. 47 cases (range 6.6-16 ys), with well controlled seizures and learning difficulties, have been examined and compared with 80 children and adolescents with learning disorders. The analysis of anamnestic data about early minimal brain damage (MBD) differentiated 4 groups: with an without epilepsy, with and without MBD. Psychodiagnostic evaluation showed: normal cognitive abilities and sectorial neuropsychological dysfunction connected with MBD, more evident if epilepsy is associated with MBD. Depression is frequently noticed: 74% of epileptic patients, 52% of non-epileptic patients. The depression symptoms are similar in these 2 groups and above all sustained by psychogenic pathogenesis. The authors conclude with a critical reflection on prejudices regarding children and adolescents with epilepsy.

Adolescent↗

[Effect of clebopride on gastric emptying studied using a physiologic meal marked with Tc 99m colloid in subjects with non-ulcer dyspepsia].

The authors studied the action of clebopride on gastric emptying in subjects with non-ulcer dyspepsia by using radioactive isotopes. Eighteen subjects complaining of dyspeptic symptoms were studied in whom the tests undertaken had not shown organic lesions of the digestive tract. Tests with radioactive isotopes were performed before and after administration of clebopride (0.5 mg, three times daily for 15 days). In all patients gastric emptying time was normalized and gastric peristalsis became regular. In addition, in 85% of the patients, symptoms disappeared or were markedly reduced. Side effects requiring withdrawal of the drug were not observed. The above study, therefore, showed clebopride to be a useful drug for the treatment of non-ulcer dyspepsia, thus confirming data found in the literature.

Adult↗

[Anorexia nervosa in adolescents. Clinical aspects of the diagnosis and a follow-up].

In a brief review of the literature, the diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic criteria of anorexia nervosa in adolescence are considered. An interdisciplinary approach (child neuropsychiatrists, clinical psychologists, auxological pediatricians) was adopted in 52 cases with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa (46 females, 6 males; mean age 14). The results of the analysis of somatic disturbances (weight loss, anomalous sexual maturation), psychological aspects (cognitive level, organization of the personality), environmental implications (familial, social and school adjustment; mother-child relationship; pedagogic modalities; social and economic factors) are reported. The data from a follow-up of 29 patients (26 females, 3 males; mean age 19) are reported, and the degree of recovery assessed as follows: 1) clinical recovery at somatic-adjustment level (79% complete, 17% with atypical characteristics); 2) achievement of a harmonic organization of the personality (48%). The paper concludes with some remarks on the treatment, prognosis and prospects for prevention of the condition.

Adolescent↗

[Study of esophageal transit with radioisotopes in the diagnosis of achalasia].

The investigations employed in the diagnosis of oesophageal achalasia have been assessed critically. Although electromanometry contributes most to diagnosis and pinpoints with absolute precision the physiopathological elements that characterise the disease, radioisotopic study of oesophageal transit is an important diagnostic aid. More readily than any other, this technique permits morphofunctional evaluation in selected patients; it also represents the most physiological investigation and the best tolerated and, second only to manometry, the most reliable. Oesophagography with baritate meal and oesophagoscopy also play a diagnostic role in oesophageal achalasia. The former makes it possible to document the cardial stop and the presence or otherwise of mega-oesophagus, the second excludes the presence of organic dysphagias and also has a therapeutic use because cycles of dilatation of the oesophago-cardial junction can be carried out.

Esophageal Achalasia↗

[Protirelin in the treatment of cerebrovascular disorders].

Effects of protirelin tartrate, administered for 14 days (2 mg/day, i.m.) to 15 patients with acute cerebrovascular disease have been investigated. The evaluation was performed by means of SPECT, at enrollment and at the end of treatment. This evaluation was aimed at the early detection of ischemic damage and assessment of the size of the hypoperfusion area. Treatment with protirelin tartrate was well tolerated and led to definite improvement of the scintigraphic findings in about 74% of the patients.

Acute Disease↗

[The epilepsy aphasia syndrome in children (author's transl)].

The clinical entity epilepsy-aphasia in children begins from an analytical study of cases published in the literature and from the study of eight cases personally observed. This condition is not an univocal syndrome but it must be differentiated into at least three different conditions even if, very often, they are superimposed: 1) a first condition in which the aphasia is critical and transient; 2) a second condition where it acts rather as a serious congenital dysphasia, and 3) a third condition in which it acts as an acquired aphasia, in the strict sense, even though very atypical. The relation between aphasia and epilepsy are discussed especially for what concerns the dynamic of the diffusive forms of epilepsy in the child and psychiatric aspects. Both the pharmacological and reeducative problems of therapy are discussed.

Age Factors↗