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Biomedical subjects

S Belcastro

Publications and source records attributed to S Belcastro.

41 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Effects of organic acids on corrosion of orthodontic appliances].

BACKGROUND: During the last years orthodontic practitioners and patients have developed an increasing interest on the possible undesired effects originated by the growing use of treatments in this field. Among the several undesirable effects, we have analyzed those due to allergic phenomena or cases of direct toxicity resulting from the emission of metallic ions contained in the metallic parts of the orthodontic equipment. One of the essential requirements of metals for orthodontic use is biocompatibility; international regulations (CE, ISO) value the biocompatibility of materials for orthodontics. The analysis of biocompatibility in orthodontic equipment cannot leave out of consideration the evaluation of ion emission. METHODS: In our research we have considered the release of metallic ions from orthodontic equipment in water solutions of organic acids kept at a constant temperature of 37 degrees C for 28 days. The evaluation has been possible by ionic absorption spectrophotometry. RESULTS: The results show that the release of metallic ions, low as an absolute value, has a particular trend in time. The nickel, chromium and copper concentrations have been higher during the first day than in the following 27 days. CONCLUSIONS: These data reassure about the use of orthodontic equipment, since the emission of ions is low, even if allergic problems not linked to the quantity of ions emitted cannot be excluded.

Acids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Angioplasty of the profunda femoris in revascularisation of the lower extremity.

Excellent results with respect to preservation of the limb and improvement of claudication were obtained with profundaplasty in 29 patients with Fontaine's stage III or IV chronic obliteration. The method is regarded as one of choice for saving the limb, but not as a replacement for other methods of direct revascularisation of the femoropopliteal axis in cases where complete functional recovery is also required. A comparison is made between the results of profundaplasty and reconstruction of the axis in a personal series.

Amputation, Surgical↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Unstable angina: early and late results of operative treatment.

Between January 1978 and May 1980 at King's College Hospital 68 patients of 300 patients treated consecutively by coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) had presented with unstable angina. There were 58 males and 10 females age range 26 to 69 years, mean 54 years. Thirty-one patients (45%) had definite evidence of previous myocardial infarction, 4 had diabetes mellitus and 7 had left main stem stenosis greater than 50%. Seven cases (9.7%) required pre or peri-operative intra-aortic balloon pump assistance. Two subsets within this group of 68 patients with unstable angina were recognised. Fifty seven patients had CABG alone without any additional surgical procedure and there were 2 peri-operative deaths (mortality 3.5%). In 11 patients who had CABG plus additional surgical procedures including valve replacement or left ventricular aneurysmectomy there were 3 peri-operative deaths (mortality 27%). The overall mortality of the 68 patients was 5 deaths (7.4%). These results indicate that the operative mortality in patients with unstable angina having CABG alone is not significantly higher than the overall mortality at that time for the patients who had CABG for stable angina (2.4%).

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Transduodenal sphincterotomy and type II Mirizzi syndrome].

This paper describes the clinical course of a 76-year-old woman surgically treated in our department (General Surgery) for obstructive jaundice in Mirizzi syndrome (II). Ultrasonography and ERCP failed to demonstrate the pathological situation at the level of the biliary tree. When laparotomy was decided because of the progressive worsening of the general clinical conditions of the patient, intraoperative cholangiography showed the presence of a cholecystocholedochal fistula with multiple residual stones eroded into the common bile duct. Surgical management consisted of partial cholecystectomy, removal of the stones, choledochoplasty and exploration of the distal part of the common bile duct by a transduodenal sphincteroplasty. The post-operative period was uneventful and the patient was discharged from our department nine days after surgery. Even though the surgical approach to Mirizzi syndrome generally includes procedures other than papillosphincteroplasty+partial cholecystectomy, our experience seems to substantiate the efficacy of the previously mentioned treatment under suitable conditions.

Aged↗