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R Scarpa

Publications and source records attributed to R Scarpa.

108 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

The human bulbo-urethral glands. A transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy study.

This paper investigates the ultrastructure of human bulbo-urethral glands using specimens obtained at surgery. The tubulo-alveolar endpieces of these glands are lined by typical mucous cells in different stages of the secretory cycle. The most interesting features of their cytoplasm are membrane-bounded bodies with a filamentous texture that usually fuse with the mucous droplets before they discharge into the lumen. Cells with apical dark granules are sometimes encountered in the ductal portions of the gland, which are probably ductal cells endowed with a scanty synthetic and secretory activity. Myoepithelial cells are not very numerous and are observed around mucous cells only.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Infliximab in the treatment of extra-intestinal manifestations of Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: Crohn's disease (CD) is frequently associated with extra-intestinal manifestations (EIMs) and infliximab has been recently proposed for the treatment of CD with EIMs. Our aim was to evaluate the short-term efficacy of infliximab in this treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty CD patients were treated with infliximab. Fifteen patients (50%) showed EIMs before starting therapy. Ten patients presented an arthritis (five sacroiliitis, five spondylitis), with six also reporting peripheral arthralgias. Four patients presented cutaneous EIMs while three patients had an ocular EIM. RESULTS: At week 10, all patients reported an improvement in EIMs. Regarding arthritis, ASAS20 and ASAS40 improvement was observed in 80% and 60% of patients, respectively. In the four patients with cutaneous EIMs and in the three with ocular EIMs, complete healing was observed. Recurrence was observed in 10 out of 15 patients (66%) and a second course of treatment with infliximab was required. This proved to be effective in all cases except for one patient who stopped treatment because of a severe adverse reaction. CONCLUSIONS: Infliximab is an effective drug in the short-term treatment of EIMs complicating CD. Although relapse of EIMs occurs frequently, retreatment ensures effective control of the symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Diagnosis of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma by chromosomal analysis.

Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma may pose a differential diagnostic problem by routine histologic examination because it may be misdiagnosed as another type of renal cancer with a totally different clinical behavior. A low DNA content as well as hypodiploidy seem to be associated with this renal tumor subtype. We report a case in which the cytogenetic report was of great value for a correct histologic diagnosis.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Attitudes of nurses toward computerization: a replication.

To assess the attitudes of nurses toward computerization, Stronge and Brodt's questionnaire, Assessment of Nurses' Attitudes Toward Computerization was used to survey head nurses, staff registered nurses, and licensed practical nurses in a 500-bed hospital. Nurses' attitudes were generally favorable toward computers and there were no significant differences in attitudes by nurses' job title, level of education, age, or years of nursing experience. Previous experience with computers was the only variable significantly related to total mean score with those nurses who had previously used computers having significantly (p less than 0.001) more favorable attitudes toward computers than those who reported no previous computer use. A factor analysis was obtained; five factors emerged. Although the factors are similar to the categories identified by Stronge and Brodt, results of the factor analysis suggest response bias.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Recommendations of the Italian Society for Rheumatology for the use of biologic (TNF-alpha blocking) agents in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis.

AIM: To propose recommendations for the use of biologic (TNF-alpha blocking) agents in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). METHODS: We developed these recommendations by reviewing the evidence published in medical journals and in abstracts of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and of the European League against Rheumatism. A draft of the recommendations was circulated to a group of Italian Rheumatologists with a special interest in PsA and in therapy with biologic agents, and their suggestions were incorporated in the final version. RESULTS: A consensus was achieved regarding the initiation and the monitoring of anti-TNF-alpha agents in PsA. More specifically, we propose that anti-TNF-alphaagents be considered in active PsA resistant to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, to at least two local steroid injections and at least 2 conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic agents (in cases of oligo/monoarthritis and/or enthesitis), and to at least two conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic agents (in patients with peripheral joints synovitis). Disease activity monitoring should be based on a variety of outcome measures including the ACR response criteria modified for use in PsA, the Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), and the Maastricht ankylosing spondylitis enthesis score (MASES). A favorable Expert opinion, based on evaluation of clinical symptoms and signs, of laboratory investigations (particularly acute phase reactants), and of imaging studies (whenever appropriate) should also be obtained. CONCLUSION: These recommendations may be used for guidance in deciding which patients with PsA should receive biologic therapy. Regular updates of these recommendations will be implemented on the basis of the results of new clinical studies and of data from post-marketing surveillance.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Frequency of musculoskeletal conditions among patients referred to Italian tertiary rheumatological centers.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the occurrence of different rheumatic diseases and to examine the characteristics of patients referred to six Italian rheumatological units. To compare these data with those from other countries. METHODS: Six Italian rheumatological tertiary referral centers participated in the study. Diagnoses of in- and outpatients aged over 16 years were classified according to the International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision. RESULTS: Three thousand, five hundred and thirty-seven patients with mean age 56 +/- 14.8 years, of which 2604 (73.6%) were women, were studied. Inflammatory joint and spine diseases were diagnosed in 40.4%, connective tissue diseases in 14.4%, degenerative joint and spine diseases in 21.4%, soft tissue rheumatisms in 18.5%, and metabolic bone diseases in 5.3%. There was a significant difference among centers in the frequency of most diagnoses: non-academic centers cared for more patients with arthritis and connective tissue diseases and for less patients with degenerative diseases, soft tissue rheumatisms and metabolic bone diseases. Connective tissue diseases were constantly seen more often in Italian centers, whereas soft tissue rheumatisms were seen more often abroad. CONCLUSION: Our data emphasize the great variability of the diagnostic case-mix in different centers from the same country, an observation that raises some concerns of the results of descriptive multicenter studies. Studies on the breakdown of diagnoses made in rheumatological centers could be helpful to determine the burden of rheumatic diseases on the health system, and for the planning of health interventions by both the national rheumatological societies and health authorities.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The extremely low incidence of proximal femoral fractures due to osteoporosis in the population on the island of Ischia].

We present the raw data from a study done on the incidence of osteoporotic hip fractures on Ischia, an island facing the Bay of Naples. Its 43,975 inhabitants form a well-defined, stable and homogeneous population. Since no air transportation to the mainland is available for residents, acute health care is provided by the sole local hospital. We carried out a discharge data survey by reviewing the hospital medical records from 1980-1989. During that decade, 148 residents (111 women, 37 men) had new hip fractures. The age-sex adjusted incidence for the population aged 50 years or more was 170.3 cases/100,000/year [95% confidence interval (CI) = 144.8-195.9] (women = 241.4 with 95% CI = 211.0-271.9; men = 79.4 with 95% CI = 62.0-96.9). Age-specific rates increased with age and were higher among women only over 60 years old. On the basis of the 1981 census and comparison of age-adjusted rates, we determined that incidence rates of these fractures for men and women on Ischia are among the lowest in the world: Ischian men have a hip fracture incidence second only to that of South African Bantu males. The female/male ratio on the island, one of the highest reported, is 3.05:1. Our data suggest that further studies on Ischia may provide important clues regarding risk and/or protective factors for hip fracture.

Age Distribution↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The prognostic indices of cancer mortality in the elderly].

Although cardiovascular disease is still the main cause of mortality and morbidity in the elderly, numerous epidemiological studies have disclosed an increased incidence of neoplastic disease in this age group over the past few years. A population of 3282 > or = 65-year-old subjects taking part in the Cardiovascular Study in the Elderly was monitored to discern whether a number of variables, already recognized as predictive factors of overall and cardiovascular mortality, could also affect neoplastic mortality. Apart from age, which was the chief risk factor for neoplastic mortality, sex, cigarette smoking, the presence of respiratory symptoms and the blood levels of some enzymes were predictors of cancer mortality. These results must nevertheless be regarded with caution as a number of non-neoplastic diseases typical of the elderly may mimic the signs and symptoms of cancer.

Age Distribution↗