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Biomedical subjects

N De Candia

Publications and source records attributed to N De Candia.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

[Bilateral semicircular canal pathology].

The authors report 12 cases of bilateral cupulolithiasis found in 142 subjects diagnosed as having benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. A case history was taken for these patients (4 males, 8 females; average age 28 years) and 10 reported a previous cranial trauma while the remainder did not refer any previous condition of note. All patients had normal cochleovestibular test results and showed no signs of concomitant internal and/or central pathologies. The Hallpike maneuver was able to evoke an intense symmetrical paroxysmal vertigo and this was often accompanied by neurovegetative phenomena while paroxysmal nystagmus always appeared. The patients were treated with a rehabilitative technique: the Brandt-Daroff was preferred as it is better tolerated. Within 15 days all patients had full remission of symptoms and at 6 months after treatment there have been no signs of recurrence. The conclusion is, thus, drawn that while the technical characteristics of the Sémont maneuver make it suitable only for use as rehabilitation in unilateral benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, this experience indicates that the Brandt-Daroff technique is better suited for the bilateral forms of this disorder.

Adolescent↗

[Visual inhibition of the ampullar rotational-acceleratory excitation].

We have studied in normal subjects, the monocular and binocular influence on the nystagmus provoked by angular acceleration. The results show that the fixation determines a reduction of all quantitative parameters of the nystagmic response that, in the binocular fixation condition, is nearly 80% and halves with monocular fixation. The data shows activity conditions in a simple summation report of the values of visual input and demonstrate not only that the quality of the visual inhibition is, in normal subjects, perfectly equivalent between the two eyes but also that the stimulations evoked in the two labyrinths, convergent to the equilibrium centres, integrate in a perfectly complementary way. We have to study how this complex and harmonious polysensorial activity deteriorates with pathologic alterations of the visual and ampullar systems.

Acceleration↗

[Effect of physical exercise on nasal resistance in normal subjects and in patients with vasomotor rhinopathy].

The study has evaluated the behaviour of the nasal resistances, studied using Anterior Active Rhinomanometry, after physical exercise, in normal subjects and in allergic and non allergic vasomotor rhinopathics. The results, in accordance with the literature, show a reduction of nasal resistances in all subjects, particularly in the rhinopathics, immediately after the effort and a return to the starting values after a rest period of 30 minutes. Among vasomotor patients, only the non-allergic group has shown very significant variations in the resistances, because in these subjects there is almost always an exaltation of the neurovegetative system, which we did not observe in the allergic subjects in the intercritical phase. The effort test is therefore, among the aspecific tests of nasal reactivity useful, perhaps, more to therapy than to diagnostic aims.

Adolescent↗

[Muco-ciliary transport in chronic inflammatory pathology of the middle ear].

The Authors have studied the behaviour of nasal mucociliary transport (MCT) in the chronic phlogistic pathology of the middle ear, in subjects suffering from simple and cholesteatomatous otitis. In both groups the duration of MCT was longer than a control group of normal subjects; instead no significant difference was observed either between the two kind of pathologies nor between the two different phases of the otitis (quiescence and breakthrough). The Authors conclude therefore that, in the recurrent phlogistic pathology of the middle ear, the function of MCT must be carefully studied, possibly corrected if damaged, to prevent the evolution in the breakthrough.

Adolescent↗

[Interaction between vision and vestibular nystagmus].

In order to assess the visuo-vestibular interaction and its behaviour in connection with the age, we have submitted 20 healthy subjects from two age groups ranging between 21-30 and 65-75 years of age to two rotation tests (with closed eyes and with opened eyes with fixation of a light). The results show a variation of the nystagmic response with fixation of about 60% in the young people and of about 40% in the elderly. These results demonstrate that the extent of the inhibition is dependent upon age and is less effective in the elderly.

Adult↗

[Effect of aging on posture].

In order to assess the postural behaviour of the elderly, we have submitted twenty subjects of more than seventy years old to posturography. In all cases, compared to young people, significant variations of the posturographic parameters regarding in a particular way the total tracing length, the ellipse surface and the mean speed have been recorded. The conclusion is that the values obtained should always be compared with the standard values for each age group.

Aged↗

[Experimental research on sensitized posturography: importance of the neck reflexes].

In order to assess the influence of the cervical structures on the vestibulo-spinal reflex, and so on the posture, we have studied twenty subjects undergoing stimulation of the neck's proprioceptor structures. Each subject, by means of computerized stabilometric platform, has been submitted to the sensitized test with head retroflexed. In all cases significant variations of the posturographic parameters regarding in a particular way the total tracing length, the ellipse surface and the mean speed have been recorded. The results show that there are in man too stimulations of cervical origin which serve the purpose of maintaining posture; we can't exclude the possibility of the interference of an otolithic stimulation.

Adult↗

[Experimental research on vestibular compensation using posturography].

Vestibular compensation is a representation of nervous system plasticity which manifests as a gradual recovery of equilibrium function both in vestibulo-spinal system and vestibulo-oculomotor system. In order to assess whether the vestibular compensation is a homogeneous process among the different reflexes, the Authors have studied two groups of subjects affected by peripheral or central lesion. The development of the vestibular compensation has been evaluated by the rotation and posturographic tests. The results demonstrate a constant correlation between rotation and stabilometric parameters in the patients suffering from peripheral dizziness while there isn't any correlation between acceleratory and posturographic tests in patients affected by central vertigo. These results demonstrate that the compensation develops at the different levels of the balance function in a very different and independent way and that comparison of the rotation and posturographic patterns may be useful to establish the peripheral or central site of the lesions.

Adult↗

[Effect of the cervical reflex on the posture of normal subjects. Balance measurement study].

The little we know about the existence and the meaning of the cervical component on the vestibulo-spinal reflex, led us to carry out a study on normal subjects examined by computerized stabilometry with the head turned 75 degrees left and right, in order to check the postural alterations during the stimulation of the neck proprioceptors. The results show a significant increase of the values of the LTT, SE and Vm with the head turned to the left; the increases were not significant with the head turned to the right. The difference is difficult to explain. The results show that in man too the posture is affected by reflex of cervical origin.

Adult↗

[Herpetic vestibular neuronitis: a hypothesis].

Abundant experimental research has shown the potentially damaging effects that the herpes simplex virus (HSV) may have on peripheral or central nervous pathways. Fifty subjects (ages 20-45) with labial herpes virus (HSV-1) and 15 (ages 25-35) with genital herpes virus (HSV-2) were studied through recording spontaneous and optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) and using the eye-tracking-test (ETT) by means of electronystagmography (ENG). Recording was carried out during the first two days after vesicular eruption and seven days later, when cutaneous manifestations had disappeared. Thirty-five of the 50 subjects with HSV-1 showed spontaneous nystagmus, frequently with a vertical component, which in most cases had disappeared by the seventh control day. We recorded qualitative alterations of OKN as well as ETT in 19 patients while in 3 subjects only ETT was abnormal. All the subjects were normal on the seventh control day. At no time did any of the patients with HSV-2 show objective signs involving the peripheral or central vestibular system. Our research shows that HSV infection, especially HSV-1 infection, determines subclinical alterations of the vestibular function, probably due to the involvement of the brainstem. Therefore the virus is to be taken into account in establishing the etiology of "unknown" vertigo.

Adult↗