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Biomedical subjects

M Zannoni

Publications and source records attributed to M Zannoni.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Early bronchopulmonary involvement in Crohn disease: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Bronchopulmonary manifestations of Crohn disease have been rarely described in children, including both subclinical pulmonary involvement and severe lung disease. CASE PRESENTATION: A 6.5-year-old girl is described with early recurrent bronchopulmonary symptoms both at presentation and in the quiescent phase of Crohn disease. Pulmonary function tests (lung volumes and flows, bronchial reactivity and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity) were normal. Bronchoalveolar cytology showed increased (30%) lymphocyte counts and bronchial biopsy revealed thickening of basal membrane and active chronic inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical and histological findings in our young patient suggest involvement of both distal and central airways in an early phase of lung disease. The pathogenesis of Crohn disease-associated lung disorders is discussed with reference to the available literature. A low threshold for pulmonary evaluation seems to be advisable in all children with CD.

Biopsy↗
PubMed2000

Activity of cardiopulmonary baroreceptors, peripheral resistance and cutaneous microcirculation in patients with peripheral obstructive arterial disease.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of cardiopulmonary baroreceptors on the haemodynamics of the humeral and common carotid arteries in patients suffering from peripheral artery disease (PAD) and to discover whether the stimulation of these receptors modifies the cutaneous microcirculation in the forearm. DESIGN: We studied a group of patients suffering from peripheral artery disease and two groups as controls. SETTING: Patients were examined at the ambulatory for Vascular Research, Division of Vascular Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Verona. PATIENTS: We studied 15 patients with peripheral artery disease of the lower limbs at Fontaine stage II (group C), 10 free of arterial pathologies (group B) and 10 young people (group A). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We subjected the patients to passive elevation of the legs and the trunk in a horizontal position with pressure monitoring and measurement of the calibre and flow in the brachial and common carotid arteries using a colourDoppler ultrasound. We also studied the cutaneous microcirculation with laserDoppler flowmetry. RESULTS: During the test, arterial pressure and cardiac frequency remained constant in group A, systolic pressure values showed a slight, but statistically significant increase in group B, whilst the increase in systolic pressure values at this stage was marked in group C. Diastolic pressure values and cardiac frequency remained unchanged in all groups. The calibre of the humeral artery increased in the control groups. Carotid resistance was unchanged in the three groups. Humeral resistance during the test decreased in the two control groups whilst it increased in group C. The number of perfusion units felt in the control groups; no variations in group C. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates, in patients with peripheral artery disease, a reduction in the activity of the cardiopulmonary baroreceptors with an increase in the humeral resistance during the test and impairment of the mechanisms of cutaneous microcirculatory vasoregulation in the forearm.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

[Medullary carcinoma of the thyroid gland].

We report the experience of the Institute of Surgical Pathology of the University of Parma on three patients with sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). MTC is a tumor of parafollicolor cells origin (C cells). The surgical excision of the thyroid tumor and cervical node metastases is potentially curative. The other therapeutic options are limited. Considerable emphasis has been placed on early diagnosis and surgery for multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) related MTC. Genetic screening promises earlier and accurate diagnosis (RET gene mutations are found in MEN).

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Increased endogenous nitric oxide production induced by physical exercise in peripheral arterial occlusive disease patients.

The effects of 14-day physical exercise or iloprost treatment (0.5-2 ng/Kg/min) on endogenous nitric oxide production and neutrophil adhesion were evaluated in 20 patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (Fontaine Stage II). Peripheral venous blood samples and 4-h urine samples were collected before, immediately after 14 days of therapy and 7-10 days after therapy in order to evaluate neutrophil adhesion, nitrite/nitrate and cGMP excretion rates. A longer pain free walking distance was observed after exercise, compared to iloprost (>500 m in 3/10 subjects). Urinary nitrite/nitrate, as well as cGMP concentrations, significantly increased after exercise. Nitrite/nitrate excretion rate inversely correlated to neutrophil adhesion. No variations were observed in these parameters in iloprost treated patients. The improvement in claudication and the transient increase in urinary nitrite/nitrate suggest a possible nitric oxide-dependent mechanism for the clinical efficacy of physical exercise. The results from the present and previous observations indicate that, besides pharmacological treatments, a regular aerobic exercise improves peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Clinical validation of an automatic device measuring blood pressure in the fingers.

BACKGROUND: To assess the agreement between a new automatic device (FS-20D) using a cuff-oscillometric method to measure arterial blood pressure (BP) in the fingers and a standard mercury sphygmomanometer. METHODS: The blood pressure measurements were taken in a sequential order, in a sample of both normotensive subjects (n. 57) and slight to moderate hypertensive patients (n. 28) without vascular complications. RESULTS: The mean sphygmomanometer-monitor difference was 0.52 +/- 4.57 mmHg for systolic and 0.25 +/- 4.41 mmHg for diastolic values; the agreement limits were: SBP -8.6 divided by 9.6 mmHg, 95% CI: -0.5 divided by 1.5; DBP: -8.6 divided by 9.1 mmHg, 95% CI: -0.7 divided by 1.2. The grade of agreement between the monitor and the sphygmomanometer was "A" (British Hypertension Society) for both systolic and diastolic values (difference of readings < 5 mmHg: 82%; < 10 mmHg: 97% for systolic blood pressure, 98% of diastolic blood pressure). CONCLUSIONS: The monitor was proved to be reliable with a good level of precision and accuracy. The FS-20D monitor may be used in self-monitoring of blood pressure of patients with slight to moderate hypertension.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Endobronchial extramedullary plasmacytoma. Report of one case.

A patient underwent a subtotal resection of the tracheobronchial carina for an obstructing endobronchial lesion. Preoperative biopsies of the lesion were not diagnostic. After resection, the histological examination of the specimen removed demonstrated an extramedullary plasmacytoma infiltrating the bronchial wall. Immunohistochemical studies showed monoclonality for kappa light chains. The postoperative course was uneventful and the screening for multiple myeloma was negative. No adjuvant treatment was given and the patient is currently alive and free of disease 63 months after the resection. Primary endobronchial plasmacytoma is a very rare disease: it is unclear which is the best treatment for endobronchial plasmacytoma. However, complete surgical resection has allowed a long-term survival, free of disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Micro- and macrocirculatory, and biohumoral changes after a month of physical exercise in patients with intermittent claudication.

We studied 15 subjects with intermittent claudication, classed as stage II according to Leriche-Fontaine. The patients were subjected to laser Doppler flowmetry, strain gauge plethysmography, Doppler velocimetry, and blood sampling, in basal conditions and after one month of physical training. Symptom-free walking distance at the end of the training period showed a significant increase, while there was no major change in maximal walking distance or the Windsor index. Laser Doppler flowmetry showed no significant change in cutaneous blood flow at rest, after the month of physical training. On the other hand, strain gauge plethysmography showed a significant decrease in rest flow at the end of the training period, while peak flow of postischemic hyperemia did not change appreciably. Biohumoral evaluations showed a significant decrease of white blood cell count, triglycerides and uric acid. Platelet count, prothrombin time, aPTT and plasminogen were unchanged. On the other hand, we recorded a small, but significant, rise of fibrinogen. Our study confirmed the importance of scheduled physical activity in the patient with intermittent claudication, showing that clinical improvement is not accompanied by an increase in the circulatory reserve. The unchanged levels of plasminogen suggest that the fibrinolytic activity does not vary significantly after a course of physical exercise.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Changes induced by nicardipine slow release in forearm and myocardial hemodynamics of subjects with essential hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the modifications induced by chronic treatment with a new formulation of nicardipine (slow release) on the hemodynamic parameters in peripheral artery and left ventricle diastolic function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten mild to moderate essential hypertensive male patients (mean age 42 years, range 32-54 years) received nicardipine slow release (40 mg b.i.d.) for six months. Peripheral hemodynamic and cardiac parameters were evaluated by duplex scanner, coupled with a plethysmographic method, basally (T0) and after 1 (T1) and 6 months' treatment (T2). RESULTS: Blood pressure showed a significant reduction after 1 month (mean blood pressure 109 +/- 2 vs 124 +/- 3 mmHg, M +/- SE, p < 0.001), which was maintained after 6 months (mean blood pressure 112 +/- 3 mmHg, p < 0.001), while heart rate showed only a slight, non-significant increase. There were highly significant changes in distensibility (0.29 +/- 0.02 vs 0.16 +/- 0.01 s2.cm-2, T2 vs T0, p < 0.001), characteristic impedance (55 +/- 3 vs 78 +/- 3 dyn.s.cm-5.10(2), T2 vs T0, p < 0.001) and local resistances (71 +/- 5 vs 118 +/- 4 mmHg.ml-1. s, T2 vs T0, p < 0.001) in the brachial artery, and also in left ventricle posterior wall diastolic thickness (10.2 +/- 0.4 vs 11.5 +/- 0.3 mm, T2 vs T0, p < 0.05), end diastolic volume (127 +/- 3 vs 109 +/- 3 ml, T2 vs T0, p < 0.01) and mass/volume index (1.21 +/- 0.03 vs 1.35 +/- 0.03, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The antihypertensive efficacy of nicardipine slow release, with only two daily administrations, allows the restoration of the dumping function of the large arteries, and the regression of the functional modifications affecting the left ventricular diastole.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Platelet intracellular pH and glucose metabolism in hypertensive patients.

Intracellular platelet pH was studied by the BCECF fluorescent pH-sensitive intracellular indicator method in 52 patients with essential hypertension and 42 control subjects of similar age and sex. In 40 hypertensive patients studied by oral glucose tolerance test (standard OGTT) 23 presented with pathological blood glucose and plasma insulin values. Intracellular pH was on average higher in hypertensives (7.415 +/- 0.114, mean +/- SD) than in controls (7.348 +/- 0.109, P < 0.05), although there was a considerable overlap in values. In the group of hypertensive patients, no difference was observed between those with normal and those with pathological OGTT. There was also no significant correlation between intracellular pH and blood glucose, plasma insulin after OGTT, plasma cholesterol and triglycerides, age, BP or body mass index. These data are consistent with an anomaly of intraplatelet pH, perhaps owing to alteration of Na+/H+ exchange in essential hypertension, but do not indicate that this is related to a condition of hyper-insulinaemia or insulin resistance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Changes in the haemodynamics of large arteries induced by single doses of nicardipine, enalapril, atenolol and urapidil.

Haemodynamic changes in the carotid and brachial arteries produced by single doses of four anti-hypertensive drugs (nicardipine, enalapril, atenolol, and urapidil) have been studied in 12 patients with essential hypertension. Measurements were performed noninvasively using a mechanographic method and B-mode pulsed Doppler ultrasonography. Within 7 h all of the drugs had caused a significant reduction in blood pressure, whereas heart rate showed a significant change only after atenolol. All the drugs produced a marked reduction in brachial pulse-wave velocity. Only nicardipine caused a significant reduction in vessel wall tension both in the carotid and brachial arteries, while brachial peripheral resistance was significantly reduced by all the drugs except atenolol. Neither atenolol nor enalapril caused any significant reduction in carotid peripheral resistance. The results show that all four antihypertensive drugs led to a beneficial increase in arterial compliance despite their different effects on peripheral resistance.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Effect of picotamide on platelet aggregation and on thromboxane A2 production in vivo.

Effects of picotamide (900 mg in 3 oral administrations for 7 days) on ex vivo and in vivo platelet TxA2 production and on platelet aggregation were evaluated in 8 patients with peripheral arteriopathy and in 8 normal subjects. Picotamide significantly reduced ADP-induced platelet aggregation, but had no effect on that induced by arachidonic acid or the thromboxane analogue U46619. Though ex vivo platelet TxA2 production (TxB2 concentration after arachidonic-acid-induced aggregation) was reduced from 946 +/- 141 (mean +/- SD) to 285 +/- 91 ng/ml in controls and from 1515 +/- 673 to 732 +/- 420 ng/ml in patients with arteriopathy, there was no effect on urinary excretion of 2,3-dinor-TXB2 (in vivo indicator of platelet TxA2 production), or on in vivo PGI2 production (urinary excretion of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and 2,3-dinor-6-keto-PGF1 alpha). In the same subjects, single-dose aspirin reduced ex vivo TxB2 production by at least 98% and 2,3-dinor-TxB2 excretion from 116.7 +/- 61.4 to 32.6 +/- 17.0 ng/g creatinine in control subjects, and from 156.3 +/- 66.1 to 59.1 +/- 19.2 ng/g creatinine in patients with peripheral arteriopathy. Our data suggest that inhibition of platelet TxA2 production in vivo may not be picotamide's main mechanism of action.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Efficacy of ketanserin in the therapy of Raynaud's phenomenon: thermometric data.

After a two-week washout (WO) period with placebo 1 capsule/bid, 12 patients suffering from stable Raynaud's phenomenon were treated with ketanserin (K) 40 mg/bid for fifteen days. Blood pressure, heart rate, and laboratory parameters were evaluated at the end of each period. Patients used diary cards to record the number, duration, and intensity of attacks. Computerized thermometry of the fingers was evaluated at basal temperature after acclimatization, 23 degrees C for thirty minutes; after cold test, 10 degrees C for five minutes; and after thermal recovery, 23 degrees C for eighteen minutes. Results were analyzed statistically by use of Student's t-test for paired data (p less than 0.05). No marked changes were observed in the symptoms of the attacks, but K proved effective in significantly reducing the number and duration of daily attacks and in promoting their spontaneous regression. Thermometry revealed a parallel increase in temperatures, particularly basal and recovery values. The data suggest increased flow and decreased vasospasm following 5-HT2 receptor blockade.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Benign multicystic mesothelial proliferation of the peritoneum: immunohistochemical and electron microscopical study of a case and review of the literature.

We report a case of benign multicystic mesothelial proliferation (the so-called multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma) arising multifocally in the abdomen of a 46-year-old white man. His anamnesis showed an 8-year history of intermittent pain in the right lower abdominal quadrant. Mucin stains, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy confirmed the mesothelial origin of the lesion. Review of the available literature allowed us to find another 85 reported cases of benign multicystic mesothelial proliferations of the peritoneum. Out of these cases, eighteen only occurred in men, the majority being reported in middle-aged women mostly with complaints of abdominal pain. Electron microscopy or immunohistochemistry are needed to make a differential diagnosis towards other multicystic lesions, such as peritoneal cystic lymphangioma. Although multicystic mesothelial proliferations of the peritoneum have often been regarded as benign neoplasms, the true nature--neoplastic or hyperplastic--of these lesions still remains greatly elusive. Therefore, we believe that the unbinding term benign multicystic mesothelial proliferation (first used with regard to the unique hitherto reported case arisen in the pleural cavity) should be considered at present more appropriate to indicate even these peritoneal lesions.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed1991

A primitive lymphoma of the uterine cervix. Case report.

A case of primitive lymphoma of the uterine cervix is discussed. After two years of vaginal post-coital bleeding, the echography showed the presence of a supraisthmic mass. The patient underwent a total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. The histology was consistent with a B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), follicular centre derived. The patient was staged as IIE and treated with six cycles of chemotherapy (CHOP), achieving a complete remission. The paper stresses the value of histology in the diagnosis of lymphoma of the uterine cervix and the effectiveness of the treatment, and reviews the relevant literature.

Adult↗