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M Musicco

Publications and source records attributed to M Musicco.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Morphogenesis, evolution and prognostic significance of lymphatic tissue lesions in HIV infection.

Morphological changes in lymph node biopsies of HIV-infected patients can be classified in four stages, based upon the degree of damage to follicular structures: (1) follicular hyperplasia, (2) follicular lysis, (3) follicular atrophy and (4) follicular and lymphocytic depletion. To define the relative usefulness of morphological, clinical and immunological findings for prognostic purposes, we followed the clinical evolution of 86 biopsied HIV+ patients for a period ranging from 1 to 56 months. A relatively good correlation between histological and clinical findings, at the time of biopsy, was observed. Statistical analysis confirmed the prognostic value of the histological features for clinical deterioration, progression to AIDS and survival. Moreover, histological findings gave more reliable prognostic information than clinical values. Our data suggest that lymph node biopsy can be utilized for prognostic purposes in the evaluation of the progression of the disease and effectiveness of antiviral therapeutic trials.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

A case-control study of brain gliomas and occupational exposure to chemical carcinogens: the risk to farmers.

During 1983 and 1984, 240 newly diagnosed cases of brain glioma and 742 controls (465 non-glioma nervous system tumors and 277 patients with other neurologic diseases) were recruited and interviewed in the neurologic and neurosurgical departments of two hospitals in Milan, Italy. The occupational histories of cases and controls were compared, and relative risk estimates, adjusted for sex, age, residence, and socioeconomic status, were computed using the Mantel-Haenszel method. A statistically significant risk increase was found for farmers (relative risk (RR) = 1.6, p = 0.0025). This risk increase was attributable to those farmers who reported the use of chemicals (insecticides or fungicides, herbicides, and fertilizers). Among the three groups of investigated agrochemicals, only the use of insecticides or fungicides was associated with a significant increase in relative risk (RR = 2.0, p = 0.006). Many farmers exposed to fungicides reported the use of commercial compounds of copper sulfate. Some of these compounds contain methyl urea, which has a specific carcinogenic effect on the nervous system in animals. These data suggest that the occupational exposure of farmers to agrochemicals might be responsible for the observed excess risk of brain glioma in farmers.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Dementia and cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease.

The frequency of dementia, the clinical characteristics and the pattern of cognitive impairment were studied in 147 unselected Parkinsonian patients. Twenty-one patients (14.28%) were judged to be demented. They had a more severe and widespread cognitive deficit although they were affected particularly in those tests that already discriminated Parkinsonian patients from controls. A direct comparison of Parkinsonian dementia with other types of dementia is needed to validate the concept of subcortical dementia.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Distribution of risk factors in relation to the presence of cerebral angiographic lesions in TIA and minor stroke patients.

In a series of patients with TIA or minor stroke we have investigated the possibility of a different distribution of risk factors according to the presence or absence of angiographic lesions of the cerebral arterial circulation. The differences observed, though not statistically significant, argue for a more severe and widespread atherosclerotic process in patients with positive angiography. A significant proportion of these patients present associated insufficiency of the coronary circulation, demonstrated indirectly by exercise testing. The exercise test presents a positive predictive power of 41% for cerebral angiographic lesions.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Neuropsychological evaluation in transient ischaemic attack and minor stroke.

Two groups of patients with transient ischaemic attack and minor stroke without detectable haemodynamic stenotic lesions were evaluated by neuropsychological tests and compared with a control group. The mean values of the scores adjusted for age and educational background demonstrated that the patients with transient ischaemic attack did not have a worse performance than normal subjects in any of the tests, the patients with minor stroke had a worse performance than normals, particularly in Rey's figure-copying test (P less than 0.025), and the latter test was not affected by educational background or age of the subjects. The results are discussed with reference to other case series, and the importance of age and cerebral damage in causing intellectual impairment evaluated by neurophysiological tests is stressed.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Oculomotor disorders in cortical lesions in man: the role of unilateral neglect.

The saccades of 22 patients with lesions of the left (6) and right (16) hemisphere were analysed. Seven patients with a right hemispheric lesion presented a left unilateral neglect (UN) syndrome. In the first test session the saccades were performed in response to a predicted sequence of targets; in the second session the luminous stimuli were unpredicted and randomized. In patients with UN we observed the absence of saccadic response to 25% of the targets a lengthening of the reaction time and a staircase pattern in the left hemifield. In the predicted stimulus sequence the oculomotor performance was not significantly better. Hemianopia, a defect of arousal and an altered visuospatial orientation are the most important elements that account for the alterations of oculomotor strategy in the UN syndrome.

Brain Damage, Chronic↗
PubMed1982

Electrophysiologic changes in workers with "low" blood lead levels.

In spite of numerous studies, the minimum level of lead exposure at which "sub-clinical" electrophysiologic abnormalities appear is still under discussion. Furthermore, it has not been clarified whether the electrophysiologic changes are directly related to PbB levels or to duration of exposure. This study was conducted on a group of 62 subjects occupationally exposed to lead with average blood lead levels below 50 microgram/100 ml and durations of exposure of less than 10 years. A reduction of motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities and sensory action potential amplitude of the median nerve was found in the subjects exposed to lead, as compared with a control group. Such abnormalities were already present in workers with the lowest blood lead levels, but were more severe in workers whose blood lead levels had exceeded 70 microgram/100 ml, even if this occurred only once in the last two years. The electrophysiologic changes did not correlate with duration of exposure but occurred very soon after initial exposure to lead.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Gliomas and occupational exposure to carcinogens: case-control study.

Patients with gliomas of the central nervous system hospitalized during the period January 1979--March 1980 at the Neurological Institute C. Besta of Milan were compared with controls admitted to the Institute in the same period for nonneoplastic neurologic diseases or benign tumors. The comparison was based on occupational history, smoking habits, and alcohol consumption. Two analyses were carried out: the first by case-control pairs matched for age, sex, and residence; the second by age, sex, and residence stratification. Patients with glioma were more likely than controls to have worked in agricultural activities and showed a relative risk of 5.0 (p = 0.043) in the matched analysis and 1.9 (p = 0.113) in the analysis by stratification. This high risk was confined to those who performed agricultural work after 1960, suggesting a possible etiologic role of exposure to organic pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides, which have only recently been commonly used in Italy. No significant difference was observed between cases and controls in regard to other analyzed occupations and habits.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Electrophysiological study of subjects occupationally exposed to lead and with low levels of lead poisoning.

The relationship between the length of exposure to lead, blood lead level (PbB), and peripheral nerve damage in a population occupationally exposed to low lead levels was evaluated. Sixty-two foundry workers were studied whose length of exposure ranged from 5 months to 10 a; their mean PbB in the last 2 a had not exceeded 50 microgram/100 ml (2.4 mumol/l). The referents were 27 hospital employees, of comparable ages, not occupationally exposed to lead. The electrophysiological examination consisted of the determination of the motor conduction velocity (MCV) of the median, and peroneal nerves, sensory conduction velocity (SCV) of the median and sural nerves, and the latency of the T and H reflexes. The mean MCV, SCV and the amplitude of the sensory action potential (SAP) of the median nerve were significantly lower in the group of exposed workers than in the reference group. When the exposed subjects were divided into three groups according to length of exposure, no difference was observed between the three groups. When they were divided into different groups according to the maximum PbB (max PbB) value, the observed differences with respect to the reference groups were already present in those with a max PbB of less than 50 microgram/100 ml (less than 2.4 mumol/l), but were more evident in the subjects with a max PbB of greater than 70 microgram/100 ml (greater than 3.4 mumol/l). Within the group of subjects with a max PbB of 50-69 microgram/100 ml (2.4-3.3 mumol/l), the differences with respect to the reference values were more evident for subjects with a short length of exposure (less than 2 a). The MCV of the median nerve correlated with the time since the PbB exceeded 50 microgram/100 ml (2.4 mumol/l). In conclusion, the electrophysiological changes observed in lead-exposed subjects do not seem correlated with the length of exposure. Such alterations seem more evident in those subjects whose PbB has been greater than 70 microgram/100 ml (3.4 mumol/l) at least once during the preceding 2 a and in those subjects who, at the time of the neurophysiological examination, have a PbB greater than 50 microgram/100 ml (2.4 mumol/l). The apparently greater sensitivity to lead in new employees, compared to workers with a longer exposure time, remains to be clarified.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Multiple sclerosis and migration in Italy: a case/control study. Preliminary reports.

The present study was performed on Milan residents, in order to evaluate the risk of acquiring multiple sclerosis between patients born in Milan and patients born in Southern Italy. For this purpose, 216 consecutive subjects with definite or probable multiple sclerosis, inmates of the Neurological Institute C. Besta (Milan) from 1968-1976, were matched with 216 controls, uniform as regards age, sex, profession and residence, who were hospitalized at the same time for other neurological diseases. Comparing the case/control pairs of the migration, we observed that the North-Centre born had a relative risk of acquiring the disease significantly superior to one (RR = 1.9; P = 0.01) as compared to migrants from the Southern regions of Italy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Relationship between clinical and electrophysiological findings and indicators of heavy exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-dioxin.

In this study the prevalence rate of peripheral neuropathy in a population living in an area polluted with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-dioxin (dioxin-TCDD) was determined. Of the 723 subjects invited to the first screening in 1977, 470 (65%) attended. At the second screening in 1978, of the 710 invited subjects, 319 (45%) attended. Prevalence rate ratios for peripheral neuropathy and the associated 95% confidence limits were calculated for subgroups determined by the presence of (i) predisposing factors to neuropathy (alcoholism, diabetes, occupational exposure to neurotoxic agents, etc) or (ii) conditions thought to result from exposure to dioxin-TCDD such as chloracne or abnormal serum hepatic enzyme levels. The prevalence rate of peripheral neuropathy among those subjects with predisposing factors and among those with chloracne or abnormal serum hepatic enzyme levels was nearly three times greater than among those without these manifestations. The results derived from this study may be useful qualitative pointers for identifying subjects at risk in the neurological follow-up.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nerve cell loss in the progressive encephalopathy induced by aluminum powder. A morphologic and semiquantitative study of the Purkinje cells.

The injection of aluminum powder into the cerebrospinal fluid induces a slowly progressing encephalomyelopathy with cerebellar atrophy. We have studied the changes in the cerebellar cortex in order to establish whether Purkinje cell loss takes place. The rabbits were killed by perfusion with paraformaldehyde and glutaraldehyde at intervals from 3 to 85 days after injection of aluminum. Changes were observed in all animals killed between 12 and 85 days after the injection. Neurofibrillary degeneration with 10 nm neurofilaments was observed in the perikaryon of Purkinje cells. The neurofibrillary tangles extended into the proximal part of the dendrites and of the axons. A time-related deterioration of the Purkinje cells was observed. These cells appeared atrophic with eccentric and shrunken nuclei and with dark cytoplasm. By electron microscopy debris of Purkinje cell perikarya, dendrites and axons were found. The semiquantitative analysis revealed a time-related loss of Purkinje cells. Atrophy of the molecular and granule cell layers was observed. A marked proliferation of glial cells contrasted with the severe neuronal losses. Such findings may be relevant to several human diseases in which the central nervous system is exposed to aluminum over long periods of time.

Aluminum↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fuld's formula and WAIS subtests in differential diagnosis of dementia.

The Fuld formula and the linear discriminant function applied to WAIS subtest scores were tested for their ability to identify Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia of the Alzheimer type in a group of 101 demented subjects. The sensitivity and specificity of Fuld's formula for Alzheimer dementia against other dementias were 44.2% and 73.8% respectively; when compared with an age-matched normal control group specificity was 91.4%. When the linear discriminant function was applied only WAIS subtest scores in "similarities and digit span" and "object assembly" significantly differentiated Alzheimer from other dementias (sensitivity 61.5% and specificity 63.3%). Specificity increased to 97.1% when the function was applied to discriminate Alzheimer from normal controls. Discriminant analysis applied to other WAIS subtests for the two demented groups revealed "picture completion" as significantly differentiating the groups but it did not contribute to diagnostic accuracy. WAIS scores are of limited value in the differential diagnosis of dementias.

Aged↗