PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Di Paolo

Publications and source records attributed to M Di Paolo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Extracorporeal blood oxygenation and ozonation (EBOO): a controlled trial in patients with peripheral artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Since 1990 our group has been using extracorporeal circulation to ozonate blood by an original method, known as extracorporeal blood oxygenation and ozonation (EBOO), with the aim of amplifying the results observed with ozone autohemotherapy. OBJECTIVE: To verify the hypothesis that EBOO improves the skin lesions typical of peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with PAD were randomized to receive EBOO or intravenous prostacyclin in a controlled clinical trial. The primary efficacy parameters were regression of skin lesions and pain,and improvement in quality of life and vascularisation. RESULTS: Patients treated with EBOO showed highly significant regression of skin lesions with respect to patients treated with prostacyclin. Other parameters that were significantly different in the two groups of patients were pain,pruritus, heavy legs and well-being. No significant differences in vascularisation of the lower limbs before and after treatment were found in either group. No side effects or complications were recorded during the 210 EBOO treatments. CONCLUSION: EBOO was much more effective than prostacyclin for treating skin lesions in PAD patients and also had a positive effect on patient general condition without any apparent change in arterial circulation. This suggests other mechanisms of action of EBOO.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

A syndrome of bilateral hemorrhage of the thalamus and myocarditis with fatal course.

We report the case of a 41-year-old patient with bilateral hemorrhage of the thalamus, leading to death. Post-mortem examination showed acute myocarditis. Neuropathological study showed perivascular infiltrates in affected thalamic regions. Laboratory investigation failed to find any causal agent. We hypothesize an infective agent, affecting the heart and thalamus, as the cause of this syndrome. Diaschisis due to the strategic anatomical position of the thalamus may have been responsible for coma state and death.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Accidental death due to erroneous intravenous infusion of hypertonic saline solution for hemodialysis.

The case of a continuous hemodialysis patient who died shortly after erroneous infusion with undiluted hypertonic solution is reported. Autopsy showed small parenchymal hemorrhages in all organs. Although producers take measures to prevent such errors by hospital staff, further steps are suggested for types of dialysis requiring reinfusion of large quantities of reinfusion hemodialysis solution.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Neuropathological findings associated with retained lead shot pellets in a man surviving two months after a suicide attempt.

We describe the neuropathological findings in a 30-year-old man who died two months after attempting suicide with a shotgun. We focused our study on lesions associated with retained lead shot pellets and distant therefrom, as well as lesions distant from the principal site of injury. At the sites of the retained lead shot pellets, we found macrophage proliferation and astrocyte activation, together with axonal spheroids and signs of neuronal damage. In the remaining white matter we observed axonal swellings, astrocyte activation and rarefaction of the neuropil; regressive phenomena of the neurons were also present. All axonal spheroids immunoreacted with antibodies against APP, alphaB-crystallin, NF subunits and ubiquitin. Most reactive astrocytes were positive for GFAP and alphaB-crystallin immunostaining. Some neurons immunoreacting with alphaB-crystallin were also found. These data indicated that an important local reaction developed at the sites of lead shot retention, and mild signs of diffuse axonal damage were found throughout the brain.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Pulmonary protostrongyliasis in a mountain hare from Italy.

An adult male mountain hare (Lepus timidus), shot during the hunting season on the slopes of Mt. Civetta (eastern Alps, Veneto, northeastern Italy), was eviscerated and diffuse nodular lesions of verminous pneumonia were observed. Adult helminths were collected and male specimens were identified as Protostrongylus pulmonalis. Histologically, a non-purulent interstitial pneumonia and a desquamative bronchiolitis and alveolitis, along with thickening of alveolar septa, were apparent in the nodules. In several enlarged alveoli, a large number of eggs and larvae of nematodes were found. This is the first recorded case of protostrongyliasis in mountain hares from Italy and from an alpine population.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Acarological studies in two protected areas of Central Italy.

In the present note are reported the results of preliminary studies on tick distribution in two wildlife areas of Abruzzo (National Park of Abruzzo, a mountainous area, approximately 40,000 ha, in Central Apennines, interesting Abruzzo, Latium and Molise regions) and Latium (Capocotta-Castel Porziano Presidential reserve, on the Tyrrhenian coast, 30 km from Rome). Sampling of ticks from domestic and wild mammals as well as from vegetation, was performed in three different areas of the National Park in 1995. Tick species identified include Rhipicephalus bursa, R. sanguineus, Hyalomma marginatum, Haemaphysalis punctata, Dermacentor marginatus, Ixodes ricinus, I. hexagonus. The presence of I. ricinus was discontinuous and sporadic. In Capocotta estate, samplings were performed bimonthly from March to November 1997 in an restricted area (1 ha) with typical Mediterranean flora and fauna. The following species were collected: I. ricinus, Haemaphysalis concinna, D. marginatus, R. bursa, Hy. marginatum. There was a high dominance of I. ricinus and H. concinna.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Risk of inflammatory bowel disease attributable to smoking, oral contraception and breastfeeding in Italy: a nationwide case-control study. Cooperative Investigators of the Italian Group for the Study of the Colon and the Rectum (GISC).

BACKGROUND: Using data from a case-control study carried out in Italy 1989-1992, we estimated the odds ratios (OR) and the population attributable risks (AR) for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in relation to smoking, oral contraception and breastfeeding in infancy. METHODS: The study focused on 819 cases of IBD (594 ulcerative colitis: UC; 225 Crohn's disease: CD) originating from populations resident in 10 Italian areas, and age-sex matched paired controls. RESULTS: Compared with non-smokers, former smokers were at increased risk of UC (OR = 3.0; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.1-4.3), whereas current smokers were at increased risk of CD (OR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.1-2.6). Females who reported use of oral contraceptives for at least one month before onset of symptoms had a higher risk of CD (OR = 3.4; 95% CI: 1.0-11.9), whereas no significant risk was observed for UC. Lack of breastfeeding was associated with an increased risk of UC (OR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1-2.1) and CD (OR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.1-3.3). Being a 'former smoker' was the factor with the highest attributable risk of UC both in males (AR = 28%; 95% CI: 20-35 %) and in females (AR = 12%; 95% CI: 5-18%). Smoking was the factor with the highest attributable risk for CD in males (AR = 31%; 95% CI: 11-50%). Lack of breastfeeding accounted for the highest proportion of CD in females (AR = 11%; 95% CI: 1-22%). Oral contraceptive use accounted for 7% of cases of UC and for 11% of cases of CD. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, the considered factors were responsible for a proportion of IBD ranging from 26% (CD females) to 36% (CD males). It is concluded that other environmental and genetic factors may be involved in the aetiology of IBD.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Typical homicide ritual of the Italian Mafia (incaprettamento)

Certain methods of homicide used by the Italian Mafia are intended to have an admonitory significance. One such method is the so-called "incaprettamento." This study analyzes 18 cases of homicidal ligature strangulation in which the body was found in this typical position. The circumstances of the crime and the macroscopic and microscopic evidence were evaluated to determine whether or not the ligatures on the wrists and ankles were placed antemortem or postmortem.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Myocardial necrosis and cocaine. A quantitative morphologic study in 26 cocaine-associated deaths.

A quantification of different forms of acute myocardial necrosis, myocardial leukocytic infiltrates and myocardial fibrosis was accomplished in 26 chronic cocaine abusers who died of cocaine intoxication and compared to 45 normal subjects who died from head trauma and 38 who died of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The findings were: absence of infarct necrosis, a similar frequency and extent of coagulative myocytolysis (contraction band necrosis) and leukocytic infiltrates in cocaine abusers and normal controls, and an absence of myocardial fibrosis in cocaine abusers. These findings question both the acute and chronic cardiotoxicity of cocaine. The infarct-like pattern in some predisposed subjects may be due to an excess of catecholamine release induced by the drug resulting in coagulative myocytolysis and platelet thrombi.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1997

Kidney vascular damage and cocaine.

Cardiovascular damage is common in young cocaine addicts, and similar atherosclerotic lesions seem likely in the kidneys. To confirm this hypothesis, we performed histological examination of 40 kidney autopsy specimens classified as "cocaine-related deaths"; as controls, kidney specimens of 40 road accident victims were examined. Semiquantitative analysis showed that the ratio of the number of glomeruli affected by hyalinosis to the total number of glomeruli was 0.09 +/- 0.13 in addicts and 0.005 +/- 0.01 in controls; the difference was highly significant. The degree of periglomerular fibrosis was significantly higher in cocaine addicts than in accident victims. The ratio of glomeruli to tubular casts was 0.15 +/- 0.17 in cocaine addicts and 0.17 +/- 0.18 in controls (not significant). The degree of interstitial cellular infiltration was significantly higher in addicts than controls. A monunuclear cell infiltrate was observed prevalently in the medullary region. Arteriolar sclerosis was significantly higher in addicts than controls. Medial thickening, luminal narrowing and vessel obstruction were absent in the control group. Quantitative morphometric analysis of arterial structure showed significantly greater lumen circumference, intima circumference, media circumference, intima area, media area, intima thickness and media thickness in cocaine addicts than in controls.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Uremia, dialysis and aluminium.

Few studies have dealt with assaying aluminium levels in different tissues of uremic patients; so far a comparison has never been made between its accumulation in the various tissues of uremic patients and controls. Aluminium levels were determined in the following biological samples: 1) 111 serum samples from hemodialysis patients and 55 serum samples from normal subjects; 2) 47 urine samples from the same dialysis patients and 45 from the controls; autopsy tissue specimens (blood, bile, brain, rib, cartilage, cranium, lung, spleen, kidney, aorta, vena cava, liver, muscle) from 12 deceased dialysis patients undergoing post-mortem diagnosis and 10 autopsy cases in which death was not associated with uremia. In living subjects, both serum and urinary levels of aluminium are significantly higher in hemodialysis patients than in controls; a significant positive correlation was found between serum and urinary levels of aluminium. In autopsy specimens, aluminium levels were higher in the dialysis group than controls for all tissues; the differences were statistically significant except in heart and urine. Tissue concentrations of aluminium in the two groups were then analysed separately both in uremic patients and controls. The highest values found in dialysis cases were in the bile, followed by blood, urine and lung; levels in the other tissues were considerably lower. In controls, the distribution was somewhat different, due to much lower levels in the liver and bile with respect to dialysis cases. Again we found surprisingly high levels in the lung. The results show that aluminium storage in uremic patients occurs in all organs and tissues, albeit to different degrees.

Aluminum↗
PubMed1996

Histological criteria for diagnosis of amanita phalloides poisoning.

Five fatal cases of poisoning from ingestion of Amanita phalloides, a very common mushroom in central Italy, are reported. The fact that four of the cases occurred simultaneously enabled uniform collection of clinical, pathology and toxicology data, which is presented with particular emphasis on the histological aspects. The fifth case involved a six-year-old girl, and is discussed with reference to differential diagnosis with respect to Reye's syndrome, which was the initial diagnosis, demonstrated incorrect by the histology, pathology and toxicology findings. The typical liver and kidney alterations of Amanita phalloides poisoning, consisting of massive hepatic central lobular cell necrosis and acute tubular necrosis of the kidney are described. Outside the liver, there was often general hemorrhagic diathesis and severe brain edema. Although poisoning by Amanita phalloides is rare, these cases confirm the requirement for as complete a comparison as possible between circumstantial histopathological and toxicological data for the purposes of forensic diagnosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Inhaled mycotoxins lead to acute renal failure.

Mysterious deaths of archeologists after opening Egyptian tombs have been suspected, but never proved, to be secondary to inhalation of mycotoxin. We observed a case of acute renal failure (ARF) due to inhalation of ochratoxin A produced by a mould of the species Aspergillus ochraceus. After working 8 h in a granary closed for several months, a farmer and his wife suffered respiratory distress; the woman developed non-oliguric ARF and biopsy revealed tubulonecrosis. A strain of Aspergillus ochraceus producing ochratoxin was isolated from the wheat.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1993

Acute renal failure from inhalation of mycotoxins.

Mysterious deaths of archeologists after opening Egyptian tombs have been suspected to be secondary to inhalation of mycotoxin, however, the hypothesis has never been verified. Recently, we observed a case of acute renal failure (ARF) undeniably due to inhalation of ochratoxin of Aspergillus ochraceus. After spending 8 h in a granary which had been closed for several months, a farmer and his wife suffered temporary respiratory distress; 24 h later, the woman developed nonoliguric ARF and biopsy revealed tubulonecrosis which healed in 24 days. Toxic substances were not found, but a strain of A. ochraceus producing ochratoxin was isolated from the wheat.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1990

[Value of scalene lymph node biopsy in the treatment plan of advanced cervix cancer].

112 patients with carcinoma of the cervix had a scalene lymph nodes biopsy. In 22 cases (20%) metastases to the scalene lymph nodes were detected. In these cases, systemic spread of the disease beyond curative surgical or radiation therapy possibilities had to be considered. In our findings, patients with positive scalene lymph nodes had a mean survival time of 10 months after detection of the metastases in the scalene lymph nodes. Considering the systemic dissemination of the disease, patients with positive scalene lymph nodes may be treated only by palliative methods and can be spared further high-risk noncurative treatment.

Biopsy↗