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Biomedical subjects

M Grassi

Publications and source records attributed to M Grassi.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Nd-YAG laser pleurodesis via thoracoscopy. Endoscopic therapy in spontaneous pneumothorax Nd-YAG laser pleurodesis.

From January 1986 to February 1993, 85 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax were treated in our department by a new endoscopic procedure using an Nd-YAG laser beam via thoracoscopy to obtain permanent pleurodesis and to treat the lung lesion responsible for the air leak. The 55 men and 30 women ranged in age from 16 to 51 years (mean age 26 years). Under general anesthesia the thoracoscope was introduced through a 1-cm incision in the anterior axillary line of the fourth intercostal space. In 68 patients small blebs (less than 2 cm in diameter) were detected and successfully resected with low power Nd-YAG laser pulses. In two patients found at thoracoscopy to have lesions larger than 2 cm, the Nd-YAG laser failed to seal the air leak and thoracotomy was performed. Air leaks were not detected at endoscopy in the remaining patients. After treatment of the lung lesions, the parietal pleura was abraded by using the laser energy. There were no side effects. Eighty patients were treated successfully without recurrence (maximum follow-up 86 months). Three other patients developed recurrence of pneumothorax after 5, 6, and 24 weeks, and surgery was considered mandatory in 2 of them. At thoracotomy, in both patients, a small bleb was detected in the lower lobe and resected. The whole upper lobe was strongly adherent to the parietal pleura in the site of previous laser abrasion. The authors conclude that Nd-YAG laser via thoracoscopy should be considered as a viable therapeutic option in patients with spontaneous pneumothorax.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Chronic obstructive bronchopneumopathy. Epidemiologic aspects and balneotherapy potential].

The authors remember the epidemiological data of BPCO in Italy and in the world and stress the increasing incidence and prevalence of these disease, interesting above all industrial-urban areas, middle and old aged, males and smokers. The pathogenetic role of atmospheric pollution, caused by industries, heating system and motor vehicles, in exposed. At the end Auctors summarise the results of the inhalatory therapy by mineral waters in BPCO, especially of sulphureas and salso-jodic spas.

Balneology↗
PubMed1994

[Evaluation of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in cirrhotic patients,using the fecal chymotrypsin test].

In spite of having been the object of a number of studies, the association of morphologic and functional alterations of the pancreas with liver cirrhosis is as yet controversial. Therefore, the authors have studied exocrine pancreatic function in 40 patients: 8 with alcoholic cirrhosis, 18 with non-alcoholic cirrhosis, and 14 without evidence of hepatobiliary and pancreatic pathology. Pancreatic function was studied by the fecal chymotrypsin test which is sufficiently sensitive and specific and has been preferred in view of its practicability and non-invasiveness. Analysis of the results showed pathologic values to be significantly more frequent in subjects with alcoholic cirrhosis (50%, p < 0.05) compared to non-alcoholic cirrhotics (11.11%) and to controls (7.2%). These findings go to show that pancreatic exocrine deficit is frequently associated with alcoholic cirrhosis, thus confirming what has already been known about the pathogenetic role of alcohol which is apt to provoke both hepatic and pancreatic damage. Finally, it should be pointed out that pancreatic exocrine deficit is a purely functional alteration without clinical manifestations.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Duration of the immune response to MMR vaccine in children of two age-different groups.

A combined vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) was administered to both a group of children aged 10-12 months simultaneously with booster doses of compulsory diphtheria-tetanus toxoids and oral poliovirus vaccine and a group of children aged 15-24 months who had previously received booster doses of the compulsory vaccines. Apart from one subject belonging to the second group who was non responder and one from the same group who did not seroconvert against the mumps virus alone, 5 to 6 weeks after MMR vaccine administration we found protective levels of antibodies against measles, mumps and rubella viruses in all children. The follow up of both groups at 3 years did not reveal difference between the two groups. Protective levels of serum antibodies against measles and mumps were found in the two groups, although a significant decline of rubella antibodies was shown (p < 0.05). Since the immunogenicity of the vaccines in the two groups did not differ, we recommend that the scientific community reconsider the vaccination schedule until now recommended. In our opinion the MMR vaccine should be administered simultaneously with booster doses of diphtheria-tetanus toxoids and oral poliovirus vaccine at 10-12 months of age because this policy improves parents' compliance, markedly reduces community costs and simplifies routine immunization schedule.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1993

Development of a scoring system to assess disability in an Italian elderly population. Evaluation of a disability questionnaire.

Functional disability was evaluated in a cross-section sample of 671 persons, aged > or = 60 years attending the Local Health Care Unit of Borgo San Dalmazzo, Cuneo, Italy, by the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) questionnaire. The unidimensionality of the item set and grading order of severity were studied by Multiple Correspondence Analysis; cumulativeness was examined by Guttman scale-analysis. The OECD set measured two dimensions of disability, physical and sensorial. By excluding the six items that caused the greatest loss of homogeneity, a reduced set of ten items was obtained that was cumulative (Reproducibility coefficient = 0.934 and Scalability coefficient = 0.778) and also produced a simpler score (0-10 points scale). Based on this score, 40% of the subjects presented no disability in running 100 metres (the most difficult task), and males were less disabled than females (p = 0.001). The level of functional disability was slightly decreased in males, and nearly uniform in females up to 70-74 years, after which a clear decrease appeared (p = 0.001). The more disabled aged state a need for a higher number of health services (injection and physical therapy, nursing hospital, nursing home, physician), but knowledge and use of these services are not clearly related to physical function. Based on our results, the choice of scaling appears irrelevant if the homogeneity of the item set is checked; if the cumulative criterion is identified, the use of a simplified cumulative score can be proposed as a sensitive measure of disability, and indirectly, the amount of personal assistance needed.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1993

Effects of cytidine-diphosphocholine on acetylcholine-mediated behaviors in the rat.

The phosphatidylcholine precursor, cytidine-diphosphocholine (CDP-choline), was injected intraperitoneally (IP) at the dose of 10 or 20 mg/kg/day for 20 days to 24-month-old male rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain that showed cognitive and motor deficits. The drug was also injected in animals with behavioral alterations induced pharmacologically with a single injection of the cholinergic receptor antagonist, scopolamine, with prenatal exposure to methylazoxymethanol (MAM rats), or with bilateral injections of kainic acid into the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM). Learning and memory capacity of the animals, studied with tests of active and passive avoidance behavior, was improved after treatment with CDP-choline in all experimental groups. An improvement in motor performance and coordination in the rotorod and open field tests was also observed in aged rats. These results indicate that this drug affects central mechanisms involved in cognitive behaviors, probably through a cholinergic action.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1993

Effects of oxytocin on emotional stress and stress-induced gastric lesions.

The effect of oxytocin has been studied in gastric lesions induced by cold-plus-restraint stress or by subcutaneous (sc) administration of cysteamine. Intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of the peptide was followed by a reduction of the incidence of gastric lesions in both experimental models. This effect was comparable to that found after icv injection of prolactin, a peptide which is known to facilitate adaptation to stress and reduce the incidence of stress-induced gastric lesions. These results may be relevant in focusing on the general role of oxytocin as a protective factor against stress-induced biological modifications.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

"Occult" papillary carcinoma of the thyroid: a questionable entity.

A series of 72 cases of "occult" thyroid papillary cancer, i.e. tumours of less than 1.5 cm in diameter, was analysed. The patients--26 males and 46 females--were treated surgically, 25 by lobectomy and isthmusectomy and 47 by total thyroidectomy. In 51 cases nodal neck dissection was performed, bilateral in 2 cases. 9 thyroidectomised patients received radiometabolic therapy. Hormone therapy (T4) was continuously administered to 57 patients. The median duration of follow-up was 99 months (60-189). All the patients were alive (except one who died from other causes) and free of disease at last control. No relapses in the thyroid were observed in the conservatively treated patients. 2 patients of the 47 radically operated upon subsequently presented nodal metastasis and underwent neck dissection. The so-called "occult" thyroid papillary cancer does not differ from other papillary cancers with respect to morphological, clinical and prognostic factors--it differs only in size. Considering occult papillary tumours as an entity is questioned in this paper.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Neuromediators in aging and gastric mucosal injury.

The hypothesis that the improvement of neurochemical changes involving the brain dopaminergic and cholinergic systems in aged rats may be related to the their capacity of coping with stress has been investigated by testing the effect of various dopaminergic and cholinergic drugs on stress-induced gastric ulcer development. The model of cold-plus-restraint stress induced gastric lesions has been used in Sprague-Dawley rats aged 24 months, compared to young animals aged 2 months. An increased incidence of gastric ulcers was found in old animals. When these animals were treated with cholinergic or dopaminergic drugs, they showed a higher resistance to stress-induced biological modifications. The most potent drugs were found to be the cholinergic drug, physostigmine and the dopaminergic drug, deprenyl. Furthermore, the induction of hyperprolactinemia by pituitary homografts under the kidney capsule was also accompanied by a reduced incidence of cold-plus-restraint stress induced gastric lesions in aged rats. These results may suggest that the influence of neurotransmitter or hormonal factors on the brain may affect the response of aged rats to the application of physical stress.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1993

[Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia: personal experience with 3 cases and review of the literature].

OBJECTIVE: We report personal experience on 3 cases of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia (AILD). We stress the prognostic and therapeutic aspects of this rare disease, that remain still unclear in recent literature. DESIGN: We performed a retrospective study on 3 cases of AILD, with a mean follow-up of 32.6 months (range 30-36). SETTING: Internal Medicine Unit. PATIENTS: We observed three patients, 2 males and 1 female, with a mean age of 65 years (range 51-72), with AILD confirmed by histopathological exams and evidence of unfavorable prognostic features at the time of diagnosis. INTERVENTIONS: 2 patients received polychemotherapy with cyclophosphamide+prednisone; cyclophosphamide + vincristine + prednisone. One patient was treated with low doses of prednisone (25 mg/day). MEASUREMENTS: We evaluated the degree of response (absent, partial, complete) an the time of survival (< 18 months or > 24 months). RESULTS: Response to therapy was partial in all patients; 1 patient underwent a severe bone marrow depression. All patients were alive for more than 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical course was independent of therapy (intensive or symptomatic) and prognostic criteria in all 3 patients. At present AILD is considered as a potentially malignant disease. Polychemotherapy must be used as a first choice treatment.

Blood Protein Disorders↗
PubMed1993

[Alkalizing activity of a calcium-bicarbonate-containing water, evaluated for pH, in patients with gastroesophageal reflux].

Bicarbonate-calcic water Ferrarelle has been administered both in the fasting state and during meals to patients suffering from gastro-esophageal reflux disease submitted to computerized pHmetry. Marked and lasting increase of esophageal and gastric pH was observed with significant differences from the effect of tap water. In addition, patients reported improvement of heart burn and acidity after the administration of the bicarbonate-calcic water. The alkalizing effect of the mineral water employed is therefore fully confirmed.

Alkalies↗
PubMed1992

Effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide on extrapyramidal motor system.

The effects of central administration of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP, 1 or 100 ng/rat) on behavioral and biochemical parameters related to the extrapyramidal motor system were investigated in male rats. The peptide-induced catalepsy occurred only at the dose of 100 ng/rat and hypomotility at both doses used. Calcitonin gene-related peptide increased haloperidol-induced catalepsy and decreased apomorphine-induced hypermotility at the doses of 1 and 100 ng/rat. Although these behaviors are related to dopamine, no significant change of striatal DA or DOPAC concentration were observed after central administration of the peptide. Other neurotransmitters may be directly or indirectly involved in these behavioral effects of CGRP.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗
PubMed1992

Enalapril: a powerful in vitro non-thiol acantholytic agent.

Drugs containing sulfhydryl groups (thiol drugs) (e.g., penicillamine, captopril, thiopronine) can induce pemphigus in vivo and provoke acantholysis in vitro. Enalapril, like captopril, is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor largely used as an antihypertensive drug; it has recently been reported to induce pemphigus, though it is not a thiol drug. In this study we investigated the possible in vitro acantholytic effect of enalapril on normal human skin from donors. The drug induced severe acantholytic changes of keratinocytes and complete suprabasal splitting at one tenth the concentration required by thiol drugs in similar experiments, even after a shorter period of culture. All skin samples from different donors was highly susceptible to the acantholytic effect of enalapril. In our experience, enalapril is the most powerful acantholytic drug in vitro.

Acantholysis↗
PubMed1992

Reference values of maximal respiratory mouth pressures: a population-based study.

The aim of our study was to measure values of maximal inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory (MEP) mouth pressures in 625 (266 male, 359 female) clinically and functionally normal subjects drawn out of a sample representative of the general population. MEP (near TLC and FRC) was found to be significantly higher when compared with MIP (near RV and FRC), and pressures in male subjects were significantly higher than those in female subjects. MEP values at TLC and FRC were found to be closely related, as were values of MIP near RV and near FRC. Among the tested body-size variables, body surface area (BSA) for all parameters had the highest degree of correlation. Stepwise linear regression analysis was performed to define the equation of normality for all four parameters, employing BSA, sex, age, and relative interaction terms. R2 values, although the variables employed for the equations were highly significant, were relatively low and didn't fully explain the source of variability. The influence of age was smaller than the influence of BSA, although age did reduce the unexplained variance in MEP and MIP. These results confirm that the most useful employment of MIP and MEP is to monitor their changes in each patient, but they point out, however, the usefulness of reliable reference equations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Acute phase proteins in alcoholics with or without liver injury.

Acute phase proteins behaviour has been examined in chronic alcoholics to verify the hypothesis that chronic alcohol consumption stimulates the hepatic synthesis of acute phase proteins. Certain acute phase proteins were studied in two groups of alcoholics, one with and one without liver damage, and in a third group of healthy volunteers. The results show that the acute phase proteins were similar in the two groups of alcoholics, but differed when compared to the control group. The authors have concluded from these results, that chronic alcohol consumption causes a serum increase of: mucoproteins (p less than 0.001), alpha 1 acid glycoprotein (p less than 0.05), haptoglobin (p less than 0.05) and fibrinogen (p less than 0.02). Such increases are independent from the existence of liver damage.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗