PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Russo

Publications and source records attributed to R Russo.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Recurrent thrombosis of Omniscience prostheses in the mitral position: a case report.

We report a patient who experienced thrombotic obstruction of an Omniscience prosthesis three years after mitral valve replacement. At reoperation another Omniscience prosthesis was inserted which became thrombosed after eight months. Recurrent thrombosis of the same prosthesis in the same patient is unusual and raises the problem of which device to use when replacing a thrombosed valve. In our patient another mechanical prosthesis was inserted at second reoperation because of her young age and in the hope of reducing the risk of further thrombosis by using a valve with better flow characteristics such as a bileaflet prosthesis.

Female↗
PubMed1994

Blood levels of erythropoietin in congestive heart failure and correlation with clinical, hemodynamic, and hormonal profiles.

Plasma levels of erythropoietin (mU/ml) were measured in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) (n = 108) and in a control group of normal subjects (n = 45). In normal subjects, plasma levels of erythropoietin were 1.9 +/- 0.2. In patients with CHF, plasma levels of erythropoietin increased progressively according to New York Heart Association (NYHA) class (I: 1.4 +/- 0.2, n = 28; II: 5.4 +/- 0.8, n = 27; III: 9.6 +/- 2, n = 32; IV: 34 +/- 8, n = 21; F = 57.7, p < 0.001) and were significantly higher in NYHA classes II, III, and IV than in normal subjects. Plasma erythropoietin significantly decreased (from 43 +/- 14 to 12 +/- 3 mU/ml, p < 0.01) in patients with severe CHF (n = 9) when enalapril (20 mg/day administered orally) was added to long-term treatment for 3 weeks. Finally, in a subgroup of patients with NYHA class IV CHF (n = 9) and high plasma erythropoietin levels (37 +/- 9 mU/ml), packed red blood cell volume, assessed by the iodine-125-albumin dilution method, was higher than that in normal subjects (n = 11) (2,616 +/- 235 vs 2,028 +/- 119 ml, p < 0.05). The present study demonstrates that plasma erythropoietin levels are elevated in a large cohort of patients with CHF of varying etiology, and that this increase is related to the progression of the disease. The increase in circulating erythropoietin is associated with augmented packed red blood cell volume in patients with severe CHF. These results suggest a participation of erythropoietin in the complex neurohormonal response that occurs in CHF.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Laparocholecystectomy. 6,865 cases from Italian institutions.

Data concerning 6,865 laparocholecystectomies have been collected retrospectively from 19 Italian groups. Only 5% of all patients were chosen for open cholecystectomy (OC). Acute cholecystitis was present in 5.6% of laparocholecystectomies (LC). Conversion to laparotomy occurred in 3.1% of patients. Mortality was 0.06%, morbidity 2.53% (general anesthesia complications 0.07%; general complications 0.07%; omphalitis 0.7%; abdominal complications 1.69%). Main duct lesions occurred in 0.26% of the patients, biliary leaks in 0.48%, bleedings in 0.75%, perforations in 0.2%. Data from literature concerning OC are compared to ours: mortality and morbidity have been lowered by LC; general and abdominal-wall complications have been drastically reduced; main duct lesions are not different.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed1994

Expression of homeobox-containing genes in the sea urchin (Parancentrotus lividus) embryo.

Two homeobox-containing genes that belong to different homeodomain classes have been isolated from a sea urchin genomic library. One, PlHbox11, is the sea urchin homologue of the human and mouse Hox B3 gene, the other, PlHbox12, shows about 55% identity with paired class genes. Expression profile analysis of the two sea urchin Hbox genes suggests that they play different roles during embryogenesis. In fact, PlHbox11 transcripts are rare and are detected only in the pluteus larva and in the Aristotle's lantern and intestine of the adult. The PlHbox12 gene is, on the contrary, transiently expressed in the very early embryo already at the four cell stage; it accumulates at the 64 cell stage and disappears at later stages of development. In situ hybridization experiments to 16 and 32 cell stage whole mount embryos showed localization of the PlHbox12 mRNA to part of the mesomere-macromere region of the early cleavage embryo. These observations suggest a possible role of this gene in early events of cell specification.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Implicit verbal memory in Alzheimer's disease.

Word stem completion and word identification were used in two repetition priming experiments to evaluate the implicit memory performance of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. This issue was also approached using various meta-analyses combining and contrasting previously reported data. While the experimental results suggested that AD patients present preserved repetition priming in both tasks, the meta-analytic approach showed an impairment in stem completion in comparison to word identification. Converging evidence cautiously suggested to accept the results of the meta-analysis. The above dissociation has been interpreted as showing differences in the specific contribution of data- and conceptually-driven processes in the two implicit tasks. A further meta-analysis on the effect of reduced perceptual availability of the study material on the same two tasks indicated that this variable affected repetition priming in word identification more heavily than in stem completion. The impact of such a dissociation on theories of implicit memory is discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Skeletal muscle protein synthesis and degradation in patients with chronic renal failure.

Muscle protein turnover and amino acid (AA) exchange across the forearm were studied in nine postabsorptive patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) under unrestricted calorie-protein diets and eight controls by using the arterio-venous difference technique associated with the 3H-phenylalanine kinetics. In patients with CRF: (1) the rate of appearance (Ra) of phenylalanine (Phe) from the forearm, reflecting proteolysis, was 27% increased in comparison with controls (P < 0.01). Also the rate of disposal (Rd) of Phe, reflecting protein synthesis, was increased in patients (P < 0.01). As a consequence of these counterbalanced alterations, net balance of Phe across the forearm, that is, net proteolysis, was not changed. (2) The release of total AA from the forearm was not different from controls. Valine and ketoisocaproate release was reduced (P < 0.05). Serine uptake was not detectable. (3) Net proteolysis and the Rd/Ra ratio were inversely and directly, respectively, related to arterial [HCO3-] (P < 0.02 and P < 0.03, respectively). (4) Moreover, net proteolysis and Phe Rd/Ra ratio were directly and inversely, respectively, correlated with plasma cortisol (P < 0.01 and < 0.005, respectively). Plasma cortisol was in the normal range and inversely related to arterial [HCO3-] (P < 0.02). (5) While in controls phenylalanine appearance from the forearm was inversely related to insulin levels, no correlation was found in patients. In conclusion, in patient with CRF, forearm Phe kinetics indicate the existence of an increased muscle protein turnover. Changes in protein synthesis and degradation are well balanced and net proteolysis is not augmented.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism at a large teaching hospital.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common clinical entity, although the signs and symptoms that accompany it are nonspecific. This has led to the development of several diagnostic algorithms for diagnosis of PE. These approaches combine noninvasive tests such as ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) lung scanning, impedance plethysmography, and ultrasound, with invasive techniques such as venography and pulmonary angiography. To investigate the manner in which clinicians select and use these various diagnostic strategies, we retrospectively reviewed 316 consecutive cases of suspected PE to determine the sequence and type of diagnostic strategy employed by clinicians. We found that in the majority of cases, physicians chose not to further pursue a diagnosis of PE if the V/Q scan was nondiagnostic. These results suggest that physician behavior is often at variance with published clinical recommendations and that the implementation of clinical practice guidelines needs to be further examined.

Angiography↗
PubMed1994

Seroprevalence, risk factors and attitude to HIV-1 in a representative sample of lesbians in Turin.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the HIV-1 seroprevalence, behavioural risks and attitude to HIV-1 infection among lesbians. SETTING: Institute of Infectious Diseases, University of Turin, Italy. SUBJECTS: From March 1992 to May 1993, 181 lesbians were tested for HIV-1 and included in the study. METHODS: Sociodemographic details, nonsexual risks for HIV-1, sexual behaviour, STD history and attitude to HIV-1 were obtained from an anonymous, standardised, self-administered, 30-item questionnaire. Snow-ball techniques were used to recruit the largest possible number of participants. RESULTS: 11 lesbians (6.1%) were found to be HIV-1 antibody positive. Of them, 10 were intravenous (i.v.) drug users. STD episodes were higher among lesbians with HIV-1 than without (p = 0.04), increasing in both groups over time. Syphilis, genital herpes and viral hepatitis were highly associated with HIV-1 (p = 0.000). In univariate analysis, i.v. drug use, bisexual behaviour, history of STDs, sex during menses and vaginal/anal manipulation were significantly linked to HIV-1 (p = 0.000). In multivariate analysis only history of i.v. drug use (p = 0.04) and bisexual behaviour (p = 0.06) remained independently associated with HIV-1. Seventy-one participants (39.3%) had already undergone AIDS testing. Only 3.5% admitted to be at risk for HIV-1 and 11% changed their sex habits after first hearing of AIDS. No lesbian had ever practised safe-sex. Television was the most important source of information on HIV-1 (84%). CONCLUSION: I.v. drug use was the most likely means of HIV-1 infecting the lesbians of Turin. The high rate of STDs and the low perceived risk to HIV-1 require programmes of STD prevention and AIDS information to be targeted at the lesbian community.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1994

Enhanced adrenal renin and aldosterone biosynthesis during sodium restriction in TGR (mREN2)27.

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationships between tissue renin and the steroid production in the adrenal cortex during dietary sodium restriction in the transgenic rat (TGR) (mREN2)27. Thus the effects of a 1-wk low-sodium intake (0.04% NaCl) were studied in 5-wk-old male TGR (n = 33, systolic blood pressure = 151 +/- 3 mmHg) and in 24 age- and sex-matched outbred normotensive Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Measurements of plasma and tissue hormones were obtained at 0, 4, and 7 days of a low-sodium diet. Sodium restriction caused sustained increases of adrenal renin activity (from 28.5 +/- 3.5 to 87.5 +/- 4.5 ng.mg protein-1.h-1 on day 7) and of adrenal renin mRNA (+63 +/- 13 and +43 +/- 7% on days 4 and 7, respectively), whereas plasma renin activity (from 3.3 +/- 0.3 to 4.4 +/- 0.6 ng.ml-1.h-1) and renal renin activity (from 0.85 +/- 0.25 to 0.7 +/- 0.4 microgram.mg protein-1.h-1) did not change. The stimulation of the adrenal renin-angiotensin system was associated with a large increase of the aldosterone synthase cytochrome P-450 mRNA (+165 +/- 35 and +184 +/- 44%, on days 4 and 7) and of plasma aldosterone levels (from 125 +/- 32 to 338 +/- 59 pg/ml, P < 0.01). In SD rats, in spite of a more consistent increase in renal and circulating renin, mineralocorticoid production did not increase significantly. These results demonstrate that the exaggerated biosynthesis of aldosterone in TGR during sodium restriction is associated with an activation of renin in the adrenal cortex but not in the kidney.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1994

Subcutaneous growth hormone administration in growth-hormone-deficient children. Continuous plus pulsatile overnight versus single daily injection: effects on growth rate velocity.

The aim of this study, performed in 10 children, was to verify if a treatment schedule, better reproducing the growth hormone (GH) physiological pattern, could achieve a greater growth response than daily s.c. administration in previously successfully treated children with an isolated idiopathic GH deficiency. A 1-month washout period was observed between the previous regimen and this study. GH (0.6 U/kg/week, the same as given previously) was administered weekly in 6 equal doses. Three children received the daily dose by a single s.c. administration (at 20.00 h) and the other 7 through a 27-gauge infusion needle inserted s.c., using a mini infusion pump permitting a constant delivery of 50% of the daily dose (20.00-08.00 h) and the administration of the other 50% through 3 equal pulses (at 20.00, 24.00, and 04.00 h). After 6 months each child changed regimen undergoing the other one with a 1-month washout interval. During the 12 months of therapy, the mean height increased from -3.2 (SE 0.45) to -2.8 (SE 0.37) SDS. When evaluating the circulating insulin-like growth factor-I pattern as well as the growth velocity and the ratio bone age increase/height age increase, no differences were noted between the two treatment regimens.

Body Height↗
PubMed1994

Trandolapril in patients with essential hypertension: effects on vascular and cardiac structural changes.

Elevated arterial pressure levels increase the hemodynamic load on heart and vessels, thus leading to functional and structural abnormalities. Because cardiac and vascular changes increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, their reversal is an important target of antihypertensive therapy, even though the prognostic value of this regression has not been fully established. In patients with untreated mild-to-moderate essential hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy, trandolapril, a new angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, reduces blood pressure by decreasing total peripheral resistance and improves both systolic and diastolic ventricular function. The latter effect is not only functional in nature because, after long-term antihypertensive treatment, the improvement in diastolic ventricular function is detectable also after 1-month withdrawal of trandolapril. The concurrent reversal of left ventricular hypertrophy may contribute to the improved left ventricular diastolic function. However, plethysmographic studies suggest that long-term antihypertensive treatment with trandolapril is also able to reverse structural vascular changes in the forearm vascular bed, because after 1-month washout forearm peripheral resistance also is lower than in control conditions. Finally, in hypertensive patients, trandolapril induces significant increases in brachial artery compliance and diameter that persist after 1 month of withdrawal from treatment. The latter observation suggests that trandolapril also is able to reverse the structural changes of the large artery wall.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗
PubMed1994

[Cardiovascular risk in arterial hypertension: role of family history].

This is a short and non-comprehensive review of clinical, epidemiological and experimental observations that support the importance of the genetic background in the susceptibility to vascular injury and acute cardiovascular accidents in hypertension. In particular, previous observations suggesting the predictive role of positive family history are discussed. In addition, we introduce data obtained in our laboratory through an experiment based on rat strain crossing. This novel approach may provide a well characterized phenotype that allows gene dissection in hypertension with specific regard to cosegregation with vascular accidents.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Dopamine-induced variations in intrarenal resistance. Evaluation with Doppler ultrasound].

Low-dose dopamine is commonly used for the management of acute renal failure because of its exclusively renal vasodilator effect which is mediated through two specific receptors. However, the experimental background of this role is controversial in man. Indeed, the available data come mainly from animal trials and uncontrolled studies in patients with left ventricular dysfunction who need other drugs to improve cardiac output. This work was aimed at investigating Doppler value in assessing the effects of low-dose dopamine infusion in healthy subjects. Heart rate, arterial blood pressure and RI were measured before, during (at 10, 20 and 30 minutes) and after low-dose dopamine infusion in 4 healthy volunteers. In all subjects the RI reduced significantly, returning to the initial values after drug infusion. Indeed, the average RI (0.648 +/- 0.015 before drug administration) decreased to 0.595 +/- 0.026 within 10 min of infusion and remained almost the same during the infusion (0.596 +/- 0.024 within 20 min of infusion, 0.585 +/- 0.032 within 30 min). Within 10 min of the end of infusion, the average RI returned to similar values to those measured before drug administration (0.643 +/- 0.02). Changes in heart rate and arterial blood pressure were not significant. Our results confirm the vasodilator role of low-dose dopamine to be free of systemic effects in healthy volunteers with no therapeutic support which would cause extrarenal decrease in peripheral vascular resistance.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Use of alpha interferon in microcondylomatosis of the female genitalia].

The Authors report the results of their research into the use of the alpha-interferon in the microcondylomatosis of the female genital apparatus. The therapy was successful in 18% of cases. Considering oncological risk connected with the permanency of the HPV in the uterine portio, the Authors consider they must continue the study on new diagnostic and therapeutic protocols.

Condylomata Acuminata↗
PubMed1994

[Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament with patellar tendon. Comparison between magnetic resonance and computerized tomography].

CT and MR potentials were compared in 30 patients submitted to anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using the patellar tendon. In each patient the clinical data were correlated with the following radiologic parameters: the course of the tibial and femoral tunnels, their intraarticular outlet sites and their shape, the shape of the intercondylar notch and of the medial wall of the lateral femoral condyle and, finally, the shape of the graft and of the synovia. The intraarticular outlet site of the tibial tunnel was studied on the sagittal or transverse planes. In the former case the distance from the anterior tibial edge was considered, together with its relationship to sagittal tibial depth. The intraarticular outlet site of the femoral tunnel which was studied on sagittal and coronal MR planes was determined at CT by calculating its distance, i.e., the number of scans, from the intercondylar notch and from the posterior edge of the femoral condyle. MRI yielded better results thanks to its multiplanarity, but CT proved superior in defining size and shape of the bone outlets, the presence of bone chips (sometimes responsible for synovial reaction), the shape of the intercondylar notch and of the medial wall of the lateral condyle. As regards graft visualization, both CT and MRI yielded satisfying results in most cases. Nevertheless, MR potentials appeared superior thanks to its capabilities in demonstrating the graft in its full length and in differentiating it from surrounding synovial reaction.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament↗