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S Scotti

Publications and source records attributed to S Scotti.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Cognitive impairment and carotid atherosclerosis in a general Italian midlife and old population.

The authors describe the design and the general, ultrasonographic, neuropsychological methodology of an observational epidemiological population survey, named REMEMBER (Registry Evaluation Memory in Buttrio e Remanzacco) conducted in the northeast of Italy in a randomized stratified sample of 1,026 subjects (554 F and 472 M) aged 55-98 years. The study was planned as cross-sectional and longitudinal survey of cognitive impairment, cardiovascular risk factors, carotid atherosclerosis in a midlife and older Italian population sample. The objectives of the first phase are to assess the prevalence of the different types of dementia, the cognitive impairment non-dementia, the cardiovascular risk factors, the carotid intima-media thickness and arterial distensibility, and of depression. The conclusions of this study will make it possible to organize preventive and interventional strategies for these epidemic conditions.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Italian neuropsychological instruments to assess memory, attention and frontal functions for developmental age.

In this study, a series of tests exploring long-term verbal memory (the Short Story Test), attention (a modified version of Attentional Matrices and the Trail Making Test) and frontal functions (a modified version of the Frontal Assessment Battery) have been standardised on an Italian population of 283 children aged 5-14. Raw scores for each test have been adjusted for a series of variables (child's age, years of parents' education, handedness, gender) and transformed in equivalent scores enabling direct comparison across measures. This study was promoted by LICE (the Italian League Against Epilepsy) in order to provide Italian instruments standardised on the developmental age population and to study some of the most frequently impaired cognitive functions in epilepsy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Rectovaginal fistula following colectomy with an end-to-end anastomosis stapler for a colorectal adenocarcinoma.

An 11-year-old, female neutered Labrador retriever was presented with a micro-invasive differentiated papillar adenocarcinoma at the colorectal junction. A colorectal end-to-end anastomosis stapler device was used to perform resection and anastomosis using a transanal technique. A rectovaginal fistula was diagnosed two days later. An exploratory laparotomy was conducted and the fistula was identified and closed. Early dehiscence of the colon was also suspected and another colorectal anastomosis was performed using a manual technique. Comparison to a conventional manual technique of intestinal surgery showed that the use of an automatic staple device was quicker and easier. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a rectovaginal fistula occurring after end-to-end anastomosis stapler colorectal resection-anastomosis in the dog. To minimise the risk of this potential complication associated with the limited surgical visibility, adequate tissue retraction and inspection of the anastomosis site are essential.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2000

Reduced proliferation and cell adhesion in endometriosis.

Endometriosis is defined as endometriotic tissues growing outside the uterine cavity. The cell biological processes responsible for the pathogenesis of this disease are not well understood. In order to detect differences in proliferative activity between endometria and endometriotic lesions, Ki67 staining was analysed. In addition, expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor was examined using immunohistochemistry. For dedifferentiation processes pointing to invasive properties of the uterine epithelium, the presence of the adhesion complex E-cadherin with the associated alpha- and beta-catenin was investigated. Specimens of endometrium in the proliferative phase of 36 patients without, and 79 patients with, endometriosis together with endometriotic lesions were studied. The study revealed a significantly reduced proliferation activity in uterine epithelium within the ectopic lesions but no differences between eutopic endometria of non-affected and affected patients. Furthermore, a lower expression of both EGF and its receptor in the epithelial cells of the ectopic glands was observed. The adhesion complex E-cadherin, together with alpha-, and beta-catenin, was slightly reduced in uterine epithelial cells of women with endometriosis and less expressed in endometriotic lesions. The results indicate that epithelial cells of endometriotic lesions are not hyperproliferative, but do appear to dedifferentiate, displaying an invasive character.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

E- and P-selectin expression in endometriotic tissues and the corresponding endometria.

Endometriosis is one of the most frequent diseases in gynecology. It is histologically defined as a non-malignant pathology in which endometrial-like tissue is found outside the uterus. The pathogenesis and mechanisms involved in the development of endometriosis-associated pain symptoms are still under investigation. A local peritoneal inflammation seems to play an important role in the origin of these symptoms. Selectins belong to a group of cell adhesion molecules that mediate the localization of circulating leukocytes on the endothelium at the sites of inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of E- and P-selectins in endometriotic tissues and the corresponding endometria. Thirty endometriotic samples, 13 corresponding endometria and six endometria of patients without endometriosis were analyzed using an immunohistochemical technique. Just two endometriotic tissues expressed E-selectin, while five samples were positive for P-selectin. The selectin expression of the corresponding endometria was also very weak. No correlations between the revised American Fertility Society (rAFS) score or the hormonal situation of the patients at the time of biopsy and the selectin expression could be found. In conclusion, the selectin expression in endometriotic glands does not play an important role in the initiation of inflammatory processes caused by endometriosis. This inflammation must be considered as a secondary reaction after the implantation of the endometriotic glands, so that endometriotic tissues are not able to induce, by the expression of selectins, a direct inflammation.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1999

Phenotypic characteristics of early-onset autosomal-dominant type 2 diabetes unlinked to known maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) genes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether there are forms of early-onset autosomal-dominant type 2 diabetes that are distinct from typical maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) and to characterize their phenotypic characteristics. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The study included 220 affected subjects from 29 families in which early-onset type 2 diabetes occurred in multiple generations and was not linked to known MODY genes (MODY gene-negative families). All individuals underwent an oral glucose tolerance test and other clinical measurements aimed at investigating the underlying metabolic defect and the presence of diabetic complications. For comparison, 79 affected carriers of MODY3 (hepatocyte nuclear factor [HNF]-1 alpha) mutations were similarly examined. RESULTS: Subjects from MODY gene-negative pedigrees were diagnosed with diabetes at an older age (36 +/- 17 vs. 21 +/- 10 years, P = 0.0001) and were more frequently obese (52 vs. 18%, P = 0.0001) than MODY3 individuals. MODY gene-negative patients who were insulin treated required more exogenous insulin than did MODY3 subjects (0.7 +/- 0.4 vs. 0.45 +/- 0.2 U.kg-1.day-1, P = 0.04), despite similar C-peptide levels. Among subjects not treated with insulin, MODY gene-negative subjects had significantly higher serum insulin levels, both fasting (16.5 +/- 15 vs. 6.5 +/- 5 microU/ml, P = 0.027) and 2 h after a glucose load (53 +/- 44 vs. 11 +/- 10, P = 0.002). They also had higher serum triglycerides (P = 0.02), higher cholesterol levels (P = 0.02), more hypertension (P = 0.0001), and more nephropathy (P = 0.001). Differences persisted when families were matched for age at diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate the existence of forms of early-onset autosomal-dominant type 2 diabetes that are distinct from MODY and are frequently characterized by insulin resistance, similar to later-onset type 2 diabetes. Because of the Mendelian pattern of inheritance, the goal of identifying the genes involved in these forms of diabetes appears to be particularly feasible.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Treatment of visceral leishmaniasis in children with liposomal amphotericin B.

We used liposomal amphotericin B as first-choice treatment of visceral leishmaniasis in 106 immunocompetent children who acquired the infection in a temperate region of southern Europe (Italy) where Leishmania infantum visceral leishmaniasis is endemic. The aim of the study was to identify the minimum total dose of liposomal amphotericin B needed to cure the infection in children and reduce the period of hospitalization. We conclude that the optimal regimen in immunocompetent children with L. infantum visceral leishmaniasis to be a total dose of 18 mg/kg of liposomal amphotericin B (3 mg/kg per day for 5 days, followed by 3 mg/kg administered as an outpatient regimen on day 10).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

A case of hyperodontia with twenty-two supernumeraries: its surgical-orthodontic treatment.

A 10.1-year-old boy showed no permanent teeth, with the exception of the lower central incisors. An x-ray examination revealed that eruption of the permanent dentition was obstructed by 1 deciduous supernumerary and 22 permanent supernumeraries ectopically. Treatment consisted of the following steps: (1) extracting all deciduous and supernumerary teeth; (2) waiting for the roots of the permanent teeth to develop and fitting two temporary partial prostheses; (3) assisting eruption of the permanent teeth by removing the bone that covers the remaining teeth and applying crowns to stimulate the eruption; and (4) bringing the permanent teeth into occlusion with orthodontic treatment. The problem of limiting treatment time was made more difficult by the amount of repositioning needed to bring the teeth into occlusion and by delayed root formation. Therefore the orthodontist decided to use extreme caution in applying forces; as a result, treatment time was lengthened. Success was due to good teamwork between the surgeon with an orthodontic background and the orthodontist, who was familiar with surgical procedures.

Child↗
PubMed1997

Novel mutations and a mutational hotspot in the MODY3 gene.

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young 3 (MODY3) is a type of NIDDM caused by mutations in the transcription factor hepatocyte nuclear factor-1alpha (HNF-1alpha) located on chromosome 12q. We have identified four novel HNF-1alpha missense mutations in MODY3 families. In four additional and unrelated families, we observed an identical insertion mutation that had occurred in a polycytidine tract in exon 4. Among those families, one exhibited a de novo mutation at this location. We propose that instability of this sequence represents a general mutational mechanism in MODY3. We observed no HNF-1alpha mutations among 86 unrelated late-onset diabetic patients with relative insulin deficiency. Hence mutations in this gene appear to be most strongly associated with early-onset diabetes.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12↗
PubMed1996

Short-course treatment of visceral leishmaniasis with liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome).

We evaluated liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome; Vestar, San Dimas, CA) administered to 88 immunocompetent patients (56 children) with visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by Leishmania infantum. Thirteen patients received 4 mg/kg on days 1-5 and 10 (total dose, 24 mg/kg), and all were cured; 42 received 3 mg/kg on days 1-5 and 10 (18 mg/kg), and 41 were cured; 32 received 3 mg/kg on days 1-4 and 10 (15 mg/kg), and 29 were cured (amastigotes were not cleared from 1 child, and 2 relapsed). One adult was cured with a total dose of 12mg/kg. The four children who were not cured received 3 mg/kg for 10 days; none had further relapses. There were no significant adverse events. For VL due to L. infantum, we recommended a total dose of AmBisome of > or = 20 mg/kg, given in > or = 5 doses of 3-4 mg/kg over > or = 10 days.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Giardia duodenalis infections in pediatrics: our series].

5000 pediatric patients presenting gastrointestinal disturbance (diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain or stypsis) coming from different urban and rural area of Naples (Italy) were evaluated for possible intestinal Giardiasis at the Department of Pediatrician, University of Naples, Italy. The mean age of the patients was 6.4 years and range 0.5-15 years. Giardia duodenalis was searched in 3 different specimens of stools collected every other day, by a microscopic examination by Stoll method. The presence of Giardia duodenalis was correlated with different parameters: life-style, social environment, social level, season, geographic area and subjective symptoms. Statistical differences in the different groups of patients were evaluated by the chi square test. Giardia duodenalis was found in 237/5000 patients (4.7%) of the patients. In nine of them the protozoa was associated with E. vermicularis and in 8 with T. thichiuria e the highest monthly prevalence was observed in November an December. The most frequent symptom was diarrhoea (61.1%). According to these data the Authors can conclude that Giardiasis is a frequent gastrointestinal infection even in children living in temperate areas. This infection is frequently asymptomatic, but can lead to malabsorption and/or to malnutrition, and can be cause of orticaria.

English Abstract↗
PubMed1995

Asymptomatic carriage of intestinal Cryptosporidium in immunocompetent and immunodeficient children: a prospective study.

Little information is available on asymptomatic carriage of Cryptosporidium in immunocompetent and immunodeficient children. We prospectively studied a group of asymptomatic children, 78 immunocompetent and 50 immunodeficient, to document the incidence of asymptomatic carriage of cryptosporidiosis in such a population. We also investigated whether the treatment of children who carried asymptomatic cryptosporidiosis could help in reducing their risk of gastrointestinal symptoms as well as the shedding of infectious oocysts. The occurrence of multiple infections with common intestinal pathogens including Giardia lamblia was also investigated. Asymptomatic cryptosporidiosis was documented in 6.4% of immunocompetent and 22% of immunodeficient children. In a control symptomatic population Cryptosporidium was found in 4.4% of immunocompetent and 4.8% of immunodeficient children. Asymptomatic carriage of Cryptosporidium was documented in 2 human immunodeficiency virus-infected children, one of whom also carried Giardia asymptomatically. Treatment with spiramycin (100 mg/kg daily for 14 days) reduced significantly the duration of the shedding of potentially infectious oocysts. Finally no gastrointestinal symptoms developed in children treated for asymptomatic infection with Cryptosporidium, whereas children who were not treated developed gastrointestinal symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Visceral leishmaniasis in Italy. Its epidemiology, clinical picture and therapy].

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a public health problem in most countries bordering the Mediterranean sea. The disease has been found in central and southern Italy, Sicily, Sardinia; some pockets are present in Liguria. Dogs are the reservoirs and the vectors are some species of sandfly (Phlebotomus species). The incubation period is usually between 2 and 8 months; children and adults may become infected; lethality may be high and depends upon a correct diagnosis and treatment. The diagnosis should be suspected on the basis of the epidemiological data and clinical picture and confirmed by the detection of specific antibodies by appropriate techniques. Leishmaniasis can be detected in splenic or bone marrow aspirates. Patients with HIV infection and VL may lack specific antibodies; parasitological diagnosis is mandatory for these patients. Antimonials are the classic therapeutic agents for VL. Recently liposomal amphotericin B (Ambisome) has been successfully used, with negligible toxicity.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

The epidemiology and surveillance of visceral leishmaniasis in the Campania region of Italy. The value of zymodeme typing.

Although human visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a notifiable disease in Italy, there is evidence that the actual number of cases is far higher than that notified. A programme for active surveillance of VL in the 14 Italian endemic regions was launched by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità. We report data collected during a 3-year period of active surveillance in Campania, a south Tyrrhenian region covering 4.5% of the Italian territory. Out of 120 clinically suspected cases referred to medical and diagnostic references centres, there were 52 confirmed VL cases (17.3/year), i.e. 10-fold more than previously notified. Most of the infection sites were in rural areas or peripheral districts of towns in hilly parts of Naples province. An epidemic cluster of 10 cases was identified in a microfocus of Caserta province. The biochemical analysis of 23 Leishmania stocks showed a zymodeme composition indicating Campania as an old and well-established focus of VL. The data obtained emphasize that the present notification system for VL in Italy is inadequate.

Adolescent↗