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Biomedical subjects

U Pasquini

Publications and source records attributed to U Pasquini.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Transcranial Doppler sonographic monitoring during cerebral aneurysm embolization: a preliminary report.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The wide application of embolization in the treatment of aneurysms has created the need for an intraprocedural means to anticipate a poor outcome by monitoring hemodynamic changes in the brain. METHODS: Transcranial Doppler sonography was used to monitor flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in 23 patients undergoing embolization with Guglielmi detachable coils (GDCs) of either incidental or symptomatic intracranial aneurysms. Sonographic values were recorded from the ipsilateral MCA at the beginning, middle, and end of the interventional procedure and 24 hours afterward. RESULTS: No complications occurred in 15 patients. In these cases, sonography showed an average decrease in MCA flow velocity of 2.7% after GDC application, returning to baseline at the end of treatment and then increasing by about 17% 24 hours later. In four patients with vasospasm on posttreatment angiograms, MCA flow velocity increased to values higher than 120 cm/s after GDC application, returning to baseline after 24 hours. In four patients with ischemic complications (two transient ischemic attacks, one stroke, one vascular death), MCA flow velocity decreased more than 30% and did not return to preoperative values within 24 hours. CONCLUSION: The application of transcranial Doppler sonographic monitoring during endovascular treatment may help to identify patients at risk for posttreatment cerebral ischemia.

Adult↗

Electrophysiological and cognitive effects of lumbar myelography with iopamidol: comparison with diagnostic lumbar puncture.

To assess the influence of contrast medium on cortical function, we studied 20 patients undergoing lumbar myelography with iopamidol and 10 patients undergoing diagnostic lumbar puncture (controls). The examinations performed before and 6 and 24 h after myelography (or lumbar puncture) included a neuropsychological battery and an electrophysiological evaluation. In the patients cranial CT was performed thrice to assess passage of contrast medium from the cerebrospinal fluid into the brain. Neither patients nor controls had significantly different scores on neuropsychological testing after the diagnostic examinations. A transient slowing of basal EEG activity could be detected in 2 patients and 3 controls 6 h after the lumbar puncture. In 3 patients CT showed a transient increase in density of the brain. None of the parameters studied was significantly affected by myelography with iopamidol. CT findings support the hypothesis of early clearance of iopamidol from brain tissue, explaining its low neurotoxicity.

Adult↗

Reversible multifocal encephalopathy following tuberculous infection.

Tuberculous encephalic infection is commonly reported as confined to Asians or Africans or people living in poor hygienic conditions; very often it follows meningitis in patients with lung TB infection. We describe three western patients coming from good social environment and suffering from multifocal tuberculous encephalopathy. Two of them showed neither meningitis or lung TB when CNS involvement appeared. Complete recovery after therapy is described, together with the evolution of brain CT and, in 1 case, MRI features. The instrumental findings accompanying the complete recovery suggest that the lesions described in these cases are a localized form of encephalitis responsive to medical treatment, unlike tuberculomas, which often need surgical treatment. The occurrence of tuberculous encephalic infection in western, middle-class patients with or without meningitis emphasizes that tuberculous encephalopathy must be considered in the differential diagnosis of multifocal brain lesions.

Adult↗

Lumbar myelography with iopamidol: a methodological approach to the investigation of side effects.

Pathophysiology of adverse reactions occurring during myelography with non-ionic contrast agents, such as iopamidol, seem related to their direct action on the nervous system. The authors try a multivariate approach, involving neurophysiological, neuropsychological and neurochemical parameters on a pilot group of twelve subjects. Any possible change in the above examinations is thoroughly analyzed and correlated to the postulated neurotoxic properties of contrast media.

Central Nervous System Diseases↗

Onset of primary brain T-lymphoma simulating a progressive leukoencephalopathy.

We describe the clinical, CT and MRI evolution of a patient with a primary T-lymphoma of the brain showing features similar to those of leukoencephalopathy. We report the findings that led to the cerebral biopsy performed and we discuss the striking features of this case in the light of previous reports in the literature.

Brain Neoplasms↗

Ultrasound-computerized tomography in neonatal encephalic pathology.

The echoencephalographic examinations of 127 neonates were analysed to verify the role of US in the study of neonatal cerebral pathology, and to compare it with CT. US was of value in identifying the existence of a cerebral lesion and for follow-up. CT was more reliable for the characterization of the lesion and in establishing the surgical indications.

Brain Diseases↗

Immediate and late effects of ventricular shunting in infantile hydrocephalus.

This paper analyzes our findings in a series of 1900 CT examinations carried out on 950 children after ventricular drainage. Blood in the ventricles is a relatively frequent findings in the immediate postoperative course, and gliotic or poroencephalic phenomena are often found in the late course. Persistence of ventricular dilatation and periventricular lucency has been observed several times. Extracerebral collections and septic complications are not rare findings, but trapped fourth ventricle and choroidal-ependymal reactions are only rarely observed.

Brain↗

CT findings of atypical forms of phakomatosis.

Three cases with unusual manifestations of phakomatosis are reported. The first two had clinical symptoms of neurofibromatosis but CT disclosed nodular subependymal calcifications as in tuberous sclerosis. The third one presented with cerebral calcifications as found in both tuberous sclerosis and Sturge-Weber syndrome, though he had no clinical symptoms of phakomatosis.

Adult↗