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Biomedical subjects

M Mosconi

Publications and source records attributed to M Mosconi.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Neutron capture cross section measurement of 151Sm at the CERN neutron time of flight facility (n_TOF).

The151Sm(n,gamma)152Sm cross section has been measured at the spallation neutron facility n_TOF at CERN in the energy range from 1 eV to 1 MeV. The new facility combines excellent resolution in neutron time-of-flight, low repetition rates, and an unsurpassed instantaneous luminosity, resulting in rather favorable signal/background ratios. The 151Sm cross section is of importance for characterizing neutron capture nucleosynthesis in asymptotic giant branch stars. At a thermal energy of kT=30 keV the Maxwellian averaged cross section of this unstable isotope (t(1/2)=93 yr) was determined to be 3100+/-160 mb, significantly larger than theoretical predictions.

Journal Article↗

Muscle transplant in the rabbit's Achilles tendon.

UNLABELLED: Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is a degenerative disorder resulting from functional overload, especially during running and jumping, with some inflammatory features at the insertions, bursae, and paratenon. The Achilles tendon is poorly vascularized, especially in the middle third, and the consequent slow metabolic rate allows it to work at very low oxygen tensions but prevents on the other hand a rapid healing. PURPOSE: To create an animal model to study a novel surgical technique employed in AT: transplanting some fibers of the soleus muscle into the tendon in order to improve its vascularization and healing and to study the histological appearance of the soleus graft incorporated in the tendon. METHODS: We operated on 10 white New Zealand rabbits (eight rabbits underwent the procedure, two rabbits the sham operation with incision of the tendon without graft). Two animals were euthanized at 1 wk, 1, 2, and 3 months. RESULTS: Histology showed that after 3 months the muscle fibers were still viable within the tendons, interspersed within connective tissue fibers. Tendon and muscle tissues were intimately fused. CONCLUSIONS: The persistence of the soleus muscle pedicle graft within the Achilles tendon tissue is an index of sound blood supply. This surgical model is suitable for application in further studies on tendon healing.

Achilles Tendon↗

[Fibrocartilaginous dysplasia and tibia vara in young children: presentation of 3 new cases with spontaneous resolution and review of the literature].

Focal fibrocartilaginous dysplasia is a rare and benign condition associated with unilateral tibia vara in toddlers. Three additional cases are reported in children aged 17, 18 and 26 months with spontaneous resolution. The authors discuss, based on a meta-analysis, the natural history of the disorder and review the diagnostic and pathophysiological problems. Since spontaneous remodeling of varus angulation and healing of the bony defect can be expected, biopsy and surgical intervention should be avoided.

Bone Remodeling↗

Use of capacitive coupled electric fields in stress fractures in athletes.

The authors report the results of an open study on the treatment of stress fracture in athletes by capacitive coupling, a bone healing stimulation method promoting bone formation by application of alternating current in the form of a sinusoidal wave. Twenty-five lower-limb (navicular, 2nd and 5th metatarsal, tibia, fibula, and talus) stress fractures in 21 athletes (mean age, 21.8 years old) were treated. The mean stimulation time was 52 days (navicular fractures, 60 days). Twenty-two fractures were healed, 1 was not healed, and 2 were improved. This preliminary report shows that capacitive coupling can be used safely in the treatment of these stress fractures.

Adolescent↗

New anxiolytics in development.

Benzodiazepines (BDZ), the most popular drug of choice for treating anxiety disorders, present side-effects such as sedation, muscular disorders, abuse liability and synergistic effect with alcohol and CNS depressant drugs. At present, pharmacological research is focusing to find anxiolytic drugs as efficacious as benzodiazepines but without side-effects. This review reports the status of the pharmaceutical research and development on novel drugs for the treatment of anxiety disorders. A close analysis of the items selected by the N5C "Pharmaprojects" search (anxiolytic class) yielded the following classification: A) Drugs interacting with the GABA-A receptor complex, which includes BDZ-like drugs, partial BDZ agonists (beta-carbolines) and drugs interacting with the GABA-A complex through an as yet unidentified mechanism (15 compounds), B) Drugs acting as CCK-B antagonists (5 compounds), C) Drugs interacting with serotonergic function (30 compounds) subdivided into: (i) agonists at the 5-HT1A receptor, (ii) antagonists at the 5-HT2 receptor, and (iii) antagonists at the 5-HT3 receptor; D) Drugs with other mechanisms (22 compounds). Based on these results, it is not possible to identify a common mechanism through which the selected drugs under development exert their anxiolytic effect. Therefore, it appears that different biological mechanisms are specifically involved in the different anxiety disorders.

Anti-Anxiety Agents↗

Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis in an HIV-negative patient.

We report a case of primary cutaneous cryptococcosis in an HIV-negative patient, who presented with painless, ulcerated lesions involving the right forearm (fingers and elbow), which developed over 45 days. On the basis of the clinical appearance, serological and cultural examinations were performed to confirm the diagnosis; the histological evaluation of a skin biopsy showed an acute inflammatory infiltrate containing several PAS + Cryptococci. Subsequently, the patient was treated with fluconazole (400 mg/day for 10 days, then a maintenance therapy of 200 mg/day); after one month, the cutaneous lesions were remarkably improved, but, although a series of further laboratory and clinical examinations was scheduled, the patient repeatedly refused any other re-evaluation, and he was lost from follow-up.

Aged↗