PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Comi

Publications and source records attributed to R Comi.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

IVM--the first choice for IVF in Italy.

In March 2004, a new law was introduced in Italy to regulate assisted reproduction; at present it is impossible to use more than a maximum of three oocytes per IVF cycle, nor can embryos or prezygotes (2PN cells) be selected or cryopreserved. The prohibitions introduced by the new law have, on the one hand, reduced the expectations of success of current techniques and, on the other hand, stimulated clinicians and embryologists to work on new therapeutic strategies so as to offer the highest chances of success with the lowest risks. In-vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes fits very well with these new requirements: ovarian stimulation is avoided and the handling of spare oocytes is facilitated. The IVM protocol is an intriguing alternative to conventional IVF techniques, since it removes the side-effects of drug stimulation, especially ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, and it also reduces the costs of the entire procedure, both in terms of 'time consumption' and 'patient/society costs for drugs'. In the authors' IVF centre the IVM technique has been used for more than a year, with significant success in terms of maturation and fertilization rates, percentage of embryo transfers, number of pregnancies and, finally, healthy babies born.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

EPR spectrometer for clinical applications.

This article describes an EPR spectrometer specifically designed and constructed for EPR spectroscopy in humans. The spectrometer is based on a permanent magnet, suitable for measurements at 1200 MHz. The magnet has a full 50 cm gap between the poles, which facilitates accurate and comfortable placement of the subject for the EPR measurement at any location on the human body. The bridge includes features to facilitate clinical operations, including an indicator for phasing of the reference arm and a 2 level RF amplifier. Resonators with holders for each type and site of measurement have been developed that comfortably position the resonator and the patient and prevent artifacts due to motion. The initial applications for which the spectrometer has been designed are for oximetry using loops on the surface, oximetry using implanted resonators for measuring deep sites, and measurements in the teeth for determination of exposures to clinically significant doses of ionizing radiation.

Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy↗
PubMed1990

[The food poisoning problem in communal restaurant facilities].

In view of the considerable development during the last few years of communal feeding facilities (factory, school, and university canteens, hospital kitchens, self service, fast food, and restaurants) in our country as well as elsewhere, the authors wish to supply detailed information on the incidence of food poisoning in Italy from 1979 to 1988 in such facilities. They report the findings of an epidemiological study they carried out in Rome and Lazio [correction of Latium] covering this period and which by and large confirmed the trend observed at the national level. As to prevention, the most recent techniques for food conservation are described.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1988

Intraoperative ultrasonographic localization of islet cell tumors. A prospective comparison to palpation.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate prospectively the value of intraoperative ultrasound scanning (IOUS) in localizing islet cell tumors by comparing results of IOUS to those of palpation during 44 consecutive laparotomies for gastrinoma (36) or insulinoma (8). All patients had preoperative radiographic imaging studies and selective venous sampling for hormones, which guided the subsequent laparotomy. Any suspicious finding by palpation and/or IOUS was resected. Pathologic evidence of islet cell neoplasm served as the reference standard. Five patients were excluded from analysis because neither palpation nor IOUS had suspicious findings and no islet cell tumor was found. Seven pancreatic insulinomas were found in seven patients. IOUS was as sensitive as palpation at localizing insulinomas. Twenty-three pancreatic gastrinomas were found in 19 patients. IOUS was equal to palpation in the ability to localize gastrinomas. Gastrinomas that were successfully imaged by IOUS were significantly larger than gastrinomas that were not imaged. Twelve extrapancreatic gastrinomas were found in nine patients, and palpation was more sensitive than IOUS at localizing these small duodenal wall tumors. Five patients (11%) had their surgical management changed by IOUS. Two patients had pancreatic tumors (one gastrinoma and insulinoma) enucleated that would not have been found without IOUS, and three patients had resections of pathologically proven malignant islet cell tumors based on sonographic findings. All five patients were cured with short follow-up. The present results demonstrate that palpation and IOUS are complementary because IOUS can image tumors that are not palpable and IOUS can provide additional information concerning malignant potential not detected by palpation.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗
PubMed1988

Expression of peptide hormone genes in human islet cell tumors.

The embryogenesis of the pancreas suggests the existence of a common stem cell progenitor of the four islet cell types (insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, and pancreatic polypeptide). We investigated whether neoplastic islet tumors express multiple hormone-specific cellular phenotypes of the islets. By analyses of RNA transcripts and immunoreactive peptides in four human insulinomas and one glucagonoma, we found that the insulin, somatostatin, and glucagon genes were coexpressed in all tumors. The expression of the three hormone genes in a lymph node metastasis of a glucagonoma reduced the possibility that contamination of tumor tissue by normal islets occurred. These observations lend further support to the hypothesis of the multipotentiality of neoplastic islet cells for the expression of genes encoding several different islet hormones.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Noise and communal dining facilities].

Noise is a sound which is unwanted, either because of its effect on humans, its effect on fatigue or multifunctions of physical equipment, or its interference with the perception or detection of other sounds. It is a part of environmental pollution which can, in certain circumstances, reach worrying levels for the population (130 dB cause pain). Unsuitable exposure to noise for even short periods of time is responsible for symptomology involving the hearing organs (hypoacusis) and other parts of the body such as the cardiovascular, muscular and digestive systems via the connection between the central and the autonomous nervous systems. Noise in communal eating areas can be classed as coming from 3 sources: 1) operation of cooking machinery; 2) banging of pans and equipment; 3) voices of both staff and diners. The intensity of noise on these premises varies generally between 60 and 80 dB (discomfort threshold). The Regulations governing this subject are D.Lgs n.277 of 15/8/1991 regarding the protection of employees, D.P.C.M. of 1/3/1991 which establishes the maximum levels of noise both in the home and outside, and the more recent D.P.C.M. of 21/5/1999 referring to noise in public places, which includes restaurants. To contain the exposure to noise in public eating places, we believe that action should be taken at legal levels with stricter limits than the recently passed level of 105 dB, in the building planning departments and also with technological intervention in order to reduce the effects that noise has on the auditive and extra-auditive organs and thus limit possible sublimal messages which certainly do not benefit the psycho-physical well-being of the diners.

Cooking↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Ocular diseases in public health].

The renewed sensibility towards the quality of life of disability has moved the authors to undertake a review to assess the low vision-blindness phenomenon as a public health problem. Particular attention has been paid to the aetiology and to the geographic distribution worldwide and in Italy. The prevention aspects of the main ocular diseases widespread in the industrialized countries, including the interventions focused on the patient and on the rehabilitation, have been analysed.

Blindness↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Minor salmonellosis in childhood: epidemiological and preventive considerations].

The diffusion of so-called minor salmonellosis in Italy, 18,135 isolates in 1985 -and the serious illness that they may induce in correlation to age and state of health have moved the Authors to consider their epidemiology and discuss their prevention. The morbidity per 100,000 population, from about 10 in the early '70s, has grown to a peak of 22.22 in 1976 and, after having irregularly reduced to a value of 16.76 in 1984, has grown again to 22.23 in 1986. Travelling abroad, modern breeding technologies, animals and raw food trade among States are frequently indicated as the most important factors in spreading salmonellas. The rise of morbidity in Italy has indeed occurred in concomitance with the renewal of breeding activity realized by means of animals imported from abroad, and moreover, presence of strains of S. typhimurium identical to those which caused serious epidemic outbreaks in bovine and humans in Great Britain and other Countries of North Europe is now ascertained. Recently, cooked ham prepared with raw meat contaminated with two serotypes uncommon in Italy (S. corvallis and S. mbandaka), imported from Rumania and Holland, has been the cause of two foodborne outbreaks each showing both of the above contaminants. At present, salmonellosis is quite common in large urban areas and is supported by person-to-person spread; more than 50% of the yearly isolates occurs in childhood Number of cases, their ages, sex distribution, and relative morbidity, have been calculated in Tab. 1, 2, 3, 4. From 1976 to 1986 the withdraw of S. wien, the research of excretors, and the improvement of quality of life, are all factors that may have favoured the lowering of morbidity at age zero, while the increasing of the same index at the ages 1-5 and 6-10 may correlate to the high number of serotypes of Salmonella now endemic in Italy. The diffusion of fast-food and the habit, recently acquired in our Country, to buy at shop cooked foods ready to eat, may be involved too. Age distribution shows a highest number of isolates at age zero and a still high number at ages 1, 2, and 3. Throughout childhood morbidity is lower in females. From 1975 on, the percentage increase of number of children admitted for minor salmonellosis is also indicated by surveys held at many Hospitals in Italy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Carrier State↗