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Biomedical subjects

M Romeo

Publications and source records attributed to M Romeo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

FTIR microspectroscopic study of cell types and potential confounding variables in screening for cervical malignancies.

FTIR microscopy was applied to the analysis of cell types and other variables present in Pap smears to ascertain the limitations of infrared spectroscopy in the diagnosis of cervical cancer and dysplasia. It was found that leukocytes, and in particular lymphocytes, have spectral features in the phosphodiester region (1300-900 cm[-1]) suggestive of what has previously been described as changes indicative of malignancy. Endocervical cells and fibroblasts have similar spectral features to HeLa cells and consequently could also confound diagnosis. The use of ethanol as a fixative and dehydrating agent results in retention of glycogen in cervical cell types and thus minimizes spectral changes in the glycogen region due to sampling technique. Spectra of seminal fluids exhibit strong bands in the phosphodiester/carbohydrate region; however, sperm contamination should be easily detectable by the presence of a distinctive doublet at 981/968 cm(-1). Erythrocyte spectra exhibit a reduction in glycogen band intensity, but can be discerned by a relatively low-intensity nu(s) PO2- band. Endocervical mucin spectra exhibit a reduction in glycogen bands and a very pronounced nu(s) PO2- band, which is similar in intensity to the corresponding band in HeLa cells. Thrombocytes have strong bands in the phosphodiester region, but thrombocytes can be discerned from other cell types by the presence of two small broad bands at 980 and 935 cm(-1). Candida albicans is characterized by strong bands in the polysaccharide region which could potentially obscure diagnostic bands if C. albicans is present in large numbers. Spectra of bacteria common to the female genital tract, in general, also have strong absorptions in the polysaccharide region; however, bacterial contamination is usually minimal and would not be expected to obscure cervical cell spectra. Nylon threads and bristles from cervical sampling implements produce characteristic IR profiles which allow for easy identification. Given the number of potential confounding variables associated with cervical cytology, a multivariate statistical or neural network analysis would appear to be necessary before the implementation of FTIR technology in clinical laboratories.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1998

Infrared microspectroscopy and artificial neural networks in the diagnosis of cervical cancer.

Infrared spectra of 88 normal and 32 abnormal (mild to severe dysplasia) cervical smear samples were used as a databank to investigate the usefulness of artificial neural networks (ANN) in the diagnosis of cervical smears. The spectra were first reduced, using principal component analysis (PCA), to seven wavenumber components that are the major contributors to the variance. A number of different ANN architectures were investigated that could differentiate between normal and abnormal cervical smears. Although the ANNs were trained to differentiate only normal from abnormal smears, the results using an independent test data set indicated that within the abnormal category mild dysplasia could be distinguished from severe dysplasia. The results using this restricted data set indicate that neural networks coupled to infrared microspectroscopy could provide an alternative automated means of screening for cervical cancer.

Female↗
PubMed1996

Molecular typing of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from a neonatal intensive care unit.

The epidemiological features of 60 multiresistant K. pneumoniae strains isolated from 1991 to 1995 in a neonatal ward are described. Antibiotic. Susceptibility testing and plasmid profile analysis were used as subtyping procedures. Antibiotic susceptibility typing was not informative enough since discrimination among isolates was typically poor. Plasmid profile analysis demonstrated that 58 out of 60 strains harboured one or more plasmid DNA bands, of different molecular weights ranging between 1.8 and 150 Mda. Small plasmids were best visualized after the alkaline lysis procedure, while large plasmids by the Kado and Liu method. A combination of plasmid patterns obtained by the two extraction procedures was used to define the final plasmid profile for each strain. Thirteen different plasmid profiles were identified among the collection of K. pneumoniae isolates from newborn patients of the same intensive care unit. The investigation showed that the strains were not responsible for a single outbreak.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed1996

["Carious" and "noncarious" lesions of the hard dental tissues. Ultrastructural (SEM) and microanalytical (EDS) analyses of teeth from the 3rd century B.C].

The study was carried out on 80 teeth (70 of permanent dentition and 10 of primary one) of mandibular and maxillary bones. The teeth owned to subjects lived in the III c.b.C. in Sicily, and they were found in Naxos necropolis. The teeth were examined as far as carious and non carious lesions, then they were prepared for instrumental analyses by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy dispersed X ray spectrometry (EDS). To an objective examination of the sample no caries were detected in the teeth sample apart one tooth, on the other hand there was an extensive occlusal abrasion, from a macroscopic point of view there were no difference as far teeth morphology. SEM examination pointed out all around dentinal tubules a circle of sclerotic dentin as reaction to occlusal wear. The amelocemental junction showed from a ultramicroscopic point of view an overlap of cementum onto enamel. EDS analysis pointed out a higher P concentration on the crown versus the root in all the teeth of the sample.

Dental Caries↗
PubMed1993

Banking of environmental samples for short-term biochemical and chemical monitoring of organic contamination in coastal marine environments: the GICBEM experience (1986-1990). Groupe Interface Chimie Biologie des Ecosystèmes, Marins.

The GICBEM (Groupe Interface Chimie Biologie des Ecosystèmes Marins) program consists of an evaluation of the ecosystem health status in the Mediterranean Sea mainly based on chemical and biochemical approaches. Specific chemical contaminants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polychlorobiphenyls (PCB), heavy metals) in waters, sediments, and related biotransformation indicators in target organisms (mussels, fish) have been selected for a complete survey of the coastal waters. In order to provide an appropriate sampling program for standardization for each sampling cruise, various aspects have been studied: (a) parameters for the choice of the sample sites; (b) ways of collection the samples (waters, sediments, marine organisms); and (c) preparation of the samples for a short term storage on board ship and for further analyses in the ground laboratory. Methods of preparation and storage of the samples are described and could be used to initiate an environmental banking program including both possible retrospective analyses of chemical pollutants and biochemical indicators. Moreover, the correlation between chemicals (PAH) and biochemical (mixed function oxygenase activities) parameters has been studied and this demonstrates the capability of the enzyme activities as reliable pollution biomarkers.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

The case of the wrong tooth.

As can be seen from this report, multifactorial considerations are often present in an orthodontic case. Office policy considerations regarding interoffice communications should be reviewed periodically as to their sufficiency. Interpersonal communications are vitally important from both a risk management standpoint and also from the perspective of maintaining a good doctor-patient relationship. Practitioners today need to keep a wary eye open regarding all possible treatment alternatives, even bizarre ones, should the clinical situation dictate the need for them. Good recordkeeping and documentation are omnipotent should one have the need to defend one's actions. This applies not only to radiographs, photographs, and treatment charts but to records of third-party conversations as well. The doctrine of informed consent should act as a guideline to what information need be transmitted to the patient, both at the beginning and throughout treatment, as it can often help calm potentially troubled waters. Finally, a little luck never hurt anybody.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Short and medium term evaluation of captopril-ketanserin combination in mild to moderate arterial hypertension].

Forty patients with mild-to-moderate arterial hypertension were randomized for double-blind treatment with ketanserin (20 mg b.i.d.) vs. captopril (25 mg b.i.d.) for fifteen days. Diastolic pressure was normalized (less than 90 mmHg) in 11 out of 20 patients of both groups. Of the 18 patients not responding to monotherapy, 17 were treated for 45 days with a combination of both drugs at the same dosages. Diastolic blood pressure was normalized in 15 out of these 17, and in one patient it was reduced by more than 10%. Thus the success rate of therapy was 94%.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Ketanserin, hypertension, and chronic alcoholism: double-blind study in forty patients.

In a randomized double-blind trial involving 40 alcoholic hypertensive patients, the antihypertensive activity of ketanserin, a serotonin antagonist with high affinity for S2 serotonergic receptors, was compared with a placebo. Patients in both groups were matched for age, body weight, blood pressure, alcoholic consumption, and length of alcoholism. The administration of ketanserin significantly reduced (p less than 0.001) mean supine blood pressure from 167/106 mmHg (22.3/14.1 kPa) at baseline to 145/87 mmHg (19.3/11.6 kPa) after 90 days of treatment versus a slight non-significant reduction with the placebo. No significant changes in heart rate, body weight, or laboratory parameters occurred. The incidence of side-effects was low in both groups. The results of this study suggest the possible role of serotonin in the pathogenesis of alcohol-related hypertension and the potential treatment of the disease using S2-receptor antagonists such as ketanserin.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Calcium-induced serum bone Gla protein variations in preterm newborns.

The effect of calcium infusion on osteocalcin(Bone Gla Protein, BGP) serum levels were studied in a group of preterm newborns with bw appropriate for gestational age. Results showed that basal BGP serum levels in preterm newborns are higher than those reported at birth in normal infants. Moreover, calcium infusion induced a significant decrease in BGP values, inversely correlated with serum calcium. Since calcium loading increases both Ca availability for bone formation and BGP affinity for mineral surfaces, reduction of osteocalcin serum levels might reflect a shift of the protein from bloodstream to bone, suggesting an intervention in regulating an effective calcium uptake.

Calcium↗
PubMed1986

Ketanserin (S2-receptor blocking agents), hypertension and chronic alcoholism.

Ketanserin is a pure antagonist of serotonin S2-receptors, in blood vessels, platelets and bronchial tissue. Ketanserin has been suggested as hypotensive drug in man, but it shows as well a specific activity on platelet aggregation. An increased incidence of hypertension, of unknown origin, has been found in patients with chronic alcoholism: hypotheses have been made upon an increased incretion of catecholamines and a greater sensitivity of blood vessels' receptors to their action. The data from the present study of eleven patients show that these subjects had an increased platelet activity and ketanserin administration was effective in allowing both the blood pressure levels and platelet activity to resume their normal range. This drug is thus suggested, for its pharmacological properties, as an elective medication for hypertensive patients with chronic alcoholism.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Inability of caliper measurement to enhance observer agreement in the interpretation of coronary cineangiograms.

Important clinical decisions are made on the basis of the interpretation of the degree of stenosis in the coronary cineangiogram. Thus, minimization of observer variation (both intra and inter) is crucial. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if measurement of stenotic lesions by caliper (CM) as compared with the usual eyeball method (EM) would reduce observer variation. Five observers, using the AHA scoring system, estimated maximal luminal narrowing in 14 segments on 10 films providing 2 reports on each film by EM and 2 by CM, thus making observations on 2800 segments. This allowed analysis of intraobserver variation for each reporter for method EM and CM, and for interobserver variation by each method. Since chance agreement is an important component in an observational study, a correction for this was made using the Kappa statistic. The results revealed that the mean Kappa by EM was 0.71 compared to 0.63 by CM (1 being perfect agreement and 0 no agreement). Agreement was much greater in proximal rather than distal segments. Interobserver agreement was consistently higher by EM K = 0.62 than CM K = 0.53 (p = 0.0007). A delineation of the types of disagreement and their clinical significance are important considerations in the evaluation of observer variation. It is concluded that the use of a caliper does not enhance either intra or interobserver agreement.

Cineangiography↗
PubMed1984

[Systolic ejection murmur in the differential diagnosis of isolated aortic insufficiency and its association with stenosis].

As assessment of the value of systolic ejection murmur in the differentiation of valvular insufficiency with and without stenosis was carried out by means of ECG, polycardiography and M-mode echocardiography in 60 patients with aortic valve disease divided into 35 subjects with and 25 without stenosis. Attention was directed to the configuration of the murmur, with particular reference to the proto-, meso- or telesystolic location of its acme and the Q-acme distance. It was found that the acme was meso or telesystolic in all cases where stenosis was present, whereas it was proto- or very initially mesosystolic in its absence.

Aortic Valve Insufficiency↗