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Biomedical subjects

P Vico

Publications and source records attributed to P Vico.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Is fractal geometry useful in medicine and biomedical sciences?

Fractal geometry has become very useful in the understanding of many phenomena in various fields such as astrophysics, economy or agriculture and recently in medicine. After a brief intuitive introduction to the basis of fractal geometry, the clue is made about the correlation between Df and the complexity or the irregularity of a structure. However, fractal analysis must be applied with certain caution in natural objects such as bio-medical ones. The cardio-vascular system remains one of the most important fields of application of these kinds of approach. Spectral analysis of the R-R interval, morphology of the distal coronary arteries constitute two examples. Other very interesting applications are founded in bacteriology, medical imaging or ophthalmology. In our institution, we apply fractal analysis in order to quantitate angiogenesis and other vascular processes.

Biology↗
PubMed1997

Pilomatrix carcinoma.

A 43-year-old man presented with a tumour of the medial part of the right eyebrow. A biopsy was performed and histological examination revealed a malignant transformation of a 'calcifying epithelioma of Malherbe'. A secondary wide excision was performed. Clinical and pathological findings of this extremely rare tumour are reviewed. Factors influencing the prognosis are proposed, based on a compilation of the literature.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Aggressive basal cell carcinoma of head and neck areas.

Among skin cancers, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is considered as a relatively indolent disease. Sometimes, these carcinomas have an unusual clinical behaviour, with extreme aggressiveness. Based on reports of eight cases of aggressive BCC of the head and neck areas, and after a review of the literature, we define three criteria of aggressiveness: (1) initial diameter greater than 1 cm, (2) more than two recurrences despite all tentative conclusions of adequate treatment, or (3) extension into any extracutaneous structure.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Lipoma of the fingers].

Benign tumours of the hand are a common disease, usually corresponding to nodes. Other etiologies are less common. Lipomas of the hand are a rare feature, especially in the fingers. We present four cases of digital lipomas and a review of surgery of lipomas over the past ten years, and of the literature.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Clinical experience with the reverse lateral arm flap in soft-tissue coverage of the elbow.

Coverage of soft-tissue defects of the posterior aspect of the elbow is a difficult problem. Many techniques have been published, mostly case reports. The radial recurrent fasciocutaneous flap as described by Maruyama and Takeuchi represents one of the best solutions for medium-sized defects. We used it successfully in five clinical cases. The anatomy of this flap, based on the radial recurrent artery, has been confirmed by our cadaver studies, and a technique to raise this flap safely will be described.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Treatment of tissue defects of the posterior aspect of the elbow].

Coverage of soft tissue defects of the posterior region of the elbow can be a difficult problem. The different techniques described are reviewed, focusing on the lateral arm flap of Maruyama. Ten cadaver studies were performed to confirm the reliability of this flap, a first choice for the authors. It was used successfully in 5 clinical cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Factors involved in burn mortality: a multivariate statistical approach based on discriminant analysis.

This article suggests an alternative statistical model for studying the mortality of burned patients: discriminant analysis. This model was applied to our population of 532 patients among whom 71 died. It is not the first time that this model has been applied to assess burn mortality, although it is not frequently used for that application. We found four factors that are statistically significant: age, TBSA, inhalation injury and sex (female). Discriminant analysis allowed us to demonstrate an impressive correlation between death, age and TBSA; inhalation injury by itself and sex, the two other significant factors in our study, seem to have a minor influence on the final outcome of the burned patients and their predictive value is virtually nil. The advantages of this statistical model are compared with logistic regression, the commonly chosen statistical method.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy and thyroid cancer.

We describe a case of aggressive undifferentiated thyroid cancer associated with rapidly evolving hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HOA) that developed at the time of pulmonary dissemination of the thyroid neoplasm. The syndrome appeared to be paraneoplastic, possibly due to a substance normally cleared by the lungs.

Bone and Bones↗
PubMed1989

Locoregional recurrences after 649 modified radical mastectomies: incidence and significance.

A continuous series of 649 patients, treated by modified radical mastectomy for primary breast carcinoma, is analyzed after a median follow-up of 92 months. 'True isolated' locoregional recurrences (LR), defined as LR not preceded or followed by distant metastases within 6 weeks, appeared with a cumulative actuarial incidence rate of 6%, 14% and 19% after 1, 5 and 7 years respectively, whereas the respective figures for distant metastases (M1) were 10%, 37% and 48%. The main initial parameters, predicting both the LR-free and the M1-free interval, are presented by statistical analyses in the following order of importance: number of invaded lymph nodes in the axilla, tumor size (T) and histological grading of differentiation. The same factors also predicted the imminence of M1 once LR had occurred, as well as survival after LR. A higher incidence of M1 after LR was also correlated with estrogen-receptor negative tumors and with those LR occurring within one year after mastectomy. LR occurred at the chest wall (65%), in the sub-clavicular fossa (16%) and the axilla (6%); the remaining 13% occurred in two of the sites. There was a trend towards longer survival after chest wall recurrence than after LR recurrence at another site. Axillothoracic irradiations postmastectomy gave a lower rate of LR in 227 patients than did a regimen of 12 months adjuvant chemotherapy with irradiation restricted to the internal mammary lymph nodes in 120 subsequent patients: 17 vs 25% at 5 years (P = 0.03 when adjusted by initial nodal involvement and T-size). Total excision of LR (repeated if new LR occurred) gave better rates of local ultimate control and survival than other kinds of treatments, with or without adjuvant local or systemic therapy. LR is not always a sign of imminent generalized disease. Actuarial 5-year survival after LR is 26.2% overall whereas, if only 'true isolated' LR are considered, the survival is 37%.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1989

Human medullary thyroid carcinoma: cell cultures and xenotransplants in nude mice. Immunocytochemistry and calcitonin secretion.

Occult primary and recurrent medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTC) detected only by elevated calcitonin levels in the peripheral blood, generally after pentagastrin-test stimulation, are difficult to localize. Some new imaging procedures with radionuclide tracers or radiolabelled monoclonal antibodies against carcinoembryonic antigen seem to bring some potentially therapeutic benefits. We report our results with cell cultures and xenotransplants of human MTC with the intention of establishing reproducible models in vitro and in vivo. Cell cultures secrete calcitonin at up to 1200 pg/ml for periods ranging from 3 to 13 weeks. Immunocytochemistry detects cytoplasmic granules positive for calcitonin in polygonal epithelioid cells with dendritic processes. Xenotransplants in nude mice fare better in the subcutaneous axilla than in the subrenal capsule assay. In the former location the tumor-take is good and calcitonin is detected in the blood of the tumor-bearing animals, at levels ranging from 286 to more than 20,000 pg/ml. These models would be potentially usable as targets for radionuclide tracers and/or radiolabelled monoclonal antibodies.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Fracture-dislocation of the tarso-metatarsal joint].

Tarsometatarsal fracture-dislocations are considered a rare entity. In fact, that kind of trauma is not easy to diagnose, and a lot of those cases are overlooked. We present here the conclusions of a review of the world literature available.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Surgical training in Belgium: evaluation by residents.

A survey has been made among the residents in order to assess the quality of the training in surgery in Belgium. The results of the answers to the questionnaire are presented. Suggestions are made with the aim of enhancing the quality of the training programs.

Belgium↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Training in surgery: our constructive propositions.

Several suggestions are presented in order to achieve or to maintain a level of excellence in surgical training, i.e. 1. Interuniversity theoretical teaching; 2. National evaluation; 3. Effective limitation of the number of residents; 4. Residents must be represented in critical organs; 5. A yearly evaluation of the quality of training. These requirements are fulfilled in the USA and Canada.

Belgium↗