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Biomedical subjects

M Mollo

Publications and source records attributed to M Mollo.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

'Pole test' measurements in critical leg ischaemia.

BACKGROUND: For the quantification of critical limb ischaemia (CLI) most vascular surgery units use sphygmo-manometric and transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2) measurements. However, measurements obtained by cuff-manometry can be overestimated especially in diabetic patients because of medial calcification that makes leg arteries less compressible. TcPO2 measurements present a considerable overlap in the values obtained for patients with different degrees of ischaemia and its reproducibility has been questioned. Arterial wall stiffness has less influence on the pole test, based on hydrostatic pressure derived by leg elevation, and this test seems to provide a reliable index of CLI. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the pole pressure test for detection of critical lower limb ischaemia, correlating results with cuff-manometry and transcutaneous oxygen pressure. DESIGN: University hospital-prospective study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-four patients (83 legs) with rest pain or gangrene were evaluated by four methods: pole test, cuff-manometry, TcPO2 and arteriography. CLI was present if the following criteria were met: (a) important arteriographic lesions+rest pain with an ankle systolic pressure (ASP) < or = 40 mmHg and/or a TcPO2 < or = 30 mmHg, or (b) important arteriographic lesions+tissue loss with an ASP < or = 60 mmHg and/or a TcPO2 < or = 40 mmHg. Fifty-seven lower limbs met the criteria for CLI. RESULTS: Measurements obtained by cuff-manometry were significantly higher to those obtained by pole test (mean pressure difference: 40 mmHg, p<0.001). The difference between the two methods remained statistically significant for both diabetics (50.73, p<0.001) and non-diabetics (31.46, p<0.001). Mean TcPO2 value was 15.51 mmHg and there was no important difference between patients with and without diabetes. Overall, there was a correlation between sphygmomanometry and pole test (r = 0.481). The correlation persisted for patients without diabetes (r = 0.581), but was not evident in patients with diabetes. Correlation between pole test and TcPO2 was observed only for patients with diabetes (r = 0.444). There was no correlation between cuff-manometry and TcPO2. The pole test offered an accuracy of 88% for the detection of CLI. The sensitivity of this test was 95% and the specificity 73%.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Hyperprocalcitonemia is related to noninfectious postoperative severe systemic inflammatory response syndrome associated with cardiovascular dysfunction after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of 3 inflammatory parameters as early markers of severe systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) induced by coronary artery bypass graft surgery. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (n = 63) undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The American College of Chest Physicians/Society of Critical Care Medicine classification was used to diagnose SIRS. Organ system failures were used to define severe SIRS. Serum concentrations of the inflammatory parameters (procalcitonin [PCT], C-reactive protein, leukocyte count) were determined before, during, and after surgery. SIRS occurred in 30 (47%) patients after surgery. Seven patients (11%) showed SIRS with greater-than-or-equal1 organ dysfunction (severe SIRS), whereas patients without SIRS had no organ dysfunction. Significantly higher serum levels of PCT were found in patients with severe SIRS from the 6th postoperative hour until the 3rd postoperative day with a peak level of 10.7 plus minus 13.2 ng/mL. No significant difference was detected between serum PCT of patients with SIRS but without any organ dysfunction and patients without SIRS. PCT levels of these patients remained lower than 1.7 ng/mL. Compared with PCT, plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein peaked later on the 2nd postoperative day and were not able to confirm the severity of SIRS. Leukocyte counts were not significantly modified. CONCLUSIONS: PCT seems to be an appropriate marker to identify the early development of noninfectious postoperative severe SIRS after coronary artery bypass graft surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Evaluation of colour duplex ultrasound scanning in diagnosis of renal artery stenosis, compared to angiography: a prospective study on 53 patients.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the accuracy of colour Duplex ultrasound scanning compared to angiography in the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis. DESIGN: A prospective study. MATERIALS: A selected series of 53 unselected patients, who had both sonography and angiography. METHODS: Sonographic examinations were performed by the same operator, who was unaware of angiographic results. Angiography was interpreted without knowledge of the sonographic findings. Peak systolic velocity and acceleration time were sonographic criteria. In contrast to the other studies, inadequate examinations were not repeated, nor drawn out from analysis. RESULTS: On 112 arteries visualised by angiography, 103 were detected by sonography. Feasibility was 78.6% for complete examinations. On 16 stenoses identified by angiography, 12 were detected by sonography, leading to a 75.0% sensitivity and a 100% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: This study was elaborated with a pragmatic attitude similar to clinical practice, and the results achieved were equal to those of other series. Accessory arteries are poorly visualised; limits of this technique are due to the operator's training and patient's poor condition for undergoing sonographic examination. These limiting factors mean a loss of sensitivity, which precludes a diagnostic decision, when the result is negative.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Boxing and the eyes: morphological aspects of the ocular system in boxers.

Among all sports, the so-called "contact sports" are those in which the athlete's eye is particularly at risk. In boxing, where the face is the main target, the eye is clearly one of the most exposed parts. To assess the eye risks in this sport a study was carried out between 1992 and 1994 at the Ophthalmological Clinic of the university of Turin, Italy, involving 75 active and ex-boxers (amateurs and professionals) aged 15 to 70 years. Biomicroscopic examinations, refraction and acuity tests, tonometry, exophthalmometry, gonioscopy, ocular fundus examination with Goldmann three-mirror lens) were done. The results of the survey confirm the existence of alterations, generally asymptomatic, both in amateur and professional boxers. The eye examination showed alterations of structures such as the orbital arch, conjunctiva, iris, lens, retina. Four boxers had retinal detachment, three of them due to boxing. The opthalmologist has an important part to play in preventing serious damage to the eye and in checking alterations which might be an expression of subtle neural damage (pupillary alterations).

Adolescent↗