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Biomedical subjects

V Nicolardi

Publications and source records attributed to V Nicolardi.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Lichen biomonitoring of ammonia emission and nitrogen deposition around a pig stockfarm.

Effects of high ammonia emissions and nitrogen deposition were investigated on lichens around a pig stockfarm (ca. 7,000 animals) in central Italy. Four sites were selected along a transect at 200, 400, 1000 and 2500 m from the stockfarm, the diversity of epiphytic lichens was measured and transplanted thalli of Xanthoria parietina and Flavoparmelia caperata exposed, together with passive NH3 (diffusion tubes) samplers. Ammonia dramatically decreased from the centre of the stockfarm to the sampled sites, where it was correlated with bark pH. Total lichen diversity was not associated with either NH3 concentrations or bark pH, but the diversity of strictly nitrophytic species was highly correlated with both parameters. Physconia grisea was the best indicator species for NH3 pollution. Total N accumulated in X. parietina and F. caperata was correlated with NH3 concentrations.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2002

Clinical and endocrinological effects of 6 months of metformin treatment in young hyperinsulinemic patients affected by polycystic ovary syndrome.

Most patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have hyperinsulinemia; thus it has been postulated that insulin-lowering drugs, such as metformin, might be a useful long-term choice. We evaluated the effects of 6 months' administration of metformin on clinical and endocrine indices in PCOS patients. Forty-two hyperinsulinemic women with PCOS were continuously treated with metformin for 6 months. Gonadotropins, androgens (testosterone and androstenedione), insulin, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), lipid profile and clinical indices (menstrual length, body mass index (BMI), Ferriman-Gallwey score and waist/hip ratio (WHR)) were studied before and after metformin treatment. All women experienced a normalization of menstrual cycle length (reduction rate, 36.9%), a significant decrease in luteinizing hormone, insulin and androgen levels and an increase in SHBG plasma concentrations, with a concomitant decrease in cycle length and WHR. Significant changes were observed in the lipid profile. According to baseline androgen levels, patients were divided into two groups: 20 normoandrogenic and 17 hyperandrogenic women. The greatest decline of androgens, BMI and Ferriman-Gallwey score was observed in hyperandrogenic patients. Lowering of androgenicity was independent of BMI. Significant changes in lipid profile were observed in both groups after metformin treatment. These results suggest that metformin is effective in decreasing hyperandrogenism, mainly by reducing insulin levels. This leads to an improvement of clinical manifestations of PCOS and, in particular, of hyperandrogenism.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Treatment of chronic pilonidal sinus with local anaesthesia: a randomized trial of closed compared with open technique.

OBJECTIVE: To compare open with closed treatment of chronic pilonidal sinus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1993 to 1996, 100 patients were submitted to excision of chronic pilonidal sinus, with local anaesthesia and were randomized in two groups: group A in which open treatment and group B in which direct suture were performed. The follow-up, ranging from 37 to 89 months, was performed by outpatient visits or by phone. RESULTS: Short-term results showed 6 (12.0%) post-operative complications in group A vs 10 (20.0%) in group B. Long-term results showed 9 (18.0%) complications in group A vs 7 (14.0%) in group B. Mean wound healing was 58 days (range: 29-93) in group A vs 12 (range: 9-61) in group B. The return to normal activity was 25.7 (range: 11-77) vs 10.4 (range: 5-32). Wound healing and the return to normal activity were the only statistically significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: Regarding morbidity neither technique has particular advantages over the other. The closed technique produced quicker wound healing and a quicker return to normal activity.

Clinical Trial↗
PubMed2001

Maternal complications associated with cesarean section.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of cesarean section (CS) related maternal complications and to evaluate post-CS complications in relationship with relative risk factors. METHOD: 3010 patients who had a CS in the University Hospital of Bari during the period 1988-98 were retrospectively included into the study and 1007 women delivered vaginally at the same institution and in the same period of time, were randomly selected as the control group. For each single patient delivered by CS, the following risk factors were taken into account: age, parity, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), and any disease antedating pregnancy or diagnosed during pregnancy. Additionally, therapeutic procedures such as blood transfusion, number of days in hospital, and admission into intensive care were followed. The prevalence of puerperal complications was assessed for vaginal deliveries and CS by Student's t-test and a correlation of CS complications with risk factors was performed by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: In the cohort of abdominal delivery, puerperal complications were significantly more frequent compared with those following vaginal delivery (p < 0.05). In the group of CS, obese women have higher prevalence of maternal complications, particularly hypertension and intestinal complications (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with vaginal delivery, CS delivery carries a higher number of postpartum complications, and the higher rate is mainly related to obesity.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Transvaginal sonography and hysteroscopy in postmenopausal uterine bleeding.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of transvaginal ultrasound and hysteroscopy in the detection of endometrial pathologies in women with postmenopausal bleeding not using hormonal replacement therapy (HRT). METHODS: Between January 1997 and April 1998, 106 postmenopausal women with uterine bleeding not using HRT underwent a diagnostic work-up including pelvic examination, transvaginal ultrasound, hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy. Sonographic measurement of endometrial thickness and hysteroscopic findings were compared with histological results. The 'classification tree' method was used to identify cut-off values of sonographic endometrial thickness that could be indicative of a class of uterine pathology. Statistical analysis was performed with the McNemar test. RESULTS: No case of endometrial cancer was found with a cut-off point of 5 mm of endometrial thickness evaluated by ultrasound, whereas all patients with endometrial thickness > or = 15 mm at sonography had an endometrial carcinoma. In the group of patients with endometrial thickness between 6 and 14 mm, we found normal atrophic endometria, benign and malignant pathology. On the other hand, the McNemar test showed a very good correspondence between hysteroscopy and histology (sensitivity 97.5% and specificity 100%), confirming its usefulness in diagnosis of postmenopausal uterine bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Transvaginal ultrasound has revealed some limitations, mainly in the group of patients with endometrial thickness between 6 and 14 mm. The absence of endometrial malignancy in women with endometrial thickness < or = 5 mm and the high possibility of cancer in those with endometrial thickness > or = 15 mm should be confirmed in larger series. Hysteroscopy proved to be a simple and safe outpatient procedure with a high diagnostic accuracy, and in our opinion it should be considered in all women with postmenopausal uterine bleeding.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Comparison of oxidative phosphorylation in the anastomosis of the small and large bowel. An experimental study in the rabbit.

Dehiscence of anastomosis in the large bowel (LB) is more frequent compared with that in the small bowel (SB). The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the phenomenon are well known. The goal of this study is to demonstrate the different oxidative phosphorylation roles in the response of the anastomosed SB and LB. In 45 male rabbits under general anaesthesia, the ileum and colon were transected always on the same side and an end-to-end anastomosis was constructed using single-layer inverting interrupted 5-0 Ethilon sutures. Tracts containing bowel anastomoses were collected at 3, 12 and 24 h and 3, 7 and 21 days after the operation and compared with non-anastomosed bowel. Respiratory rates with different substrates, enzymatic activities, respiratory complex structures and cytochrome contents were measured in smooth muscle purified mitochondria. Mitochondrial respiration showed significant differences in the LB versus anastomosed SB: respiratory rates were markedly reduced in the LB (residual activity: 25 vs. 95% of the SB). Detailed analysis of other mitochondrial parameters confirmed a better tolerance of the ileum to anastomosis. From these preliminary studies we can consider two different aerobic thresholds for either the large or the small rabbit intestine, the latter being oxygen dependent. This can explain the mitochondrial sufferance of anastomosis in the LB whose prevalent aerobic metabolism can be more easily affected by different noxae if compared with the tendency to glycolytic metabolism of the small intestine.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMed1996

Diagnostic accuracy of hysteroscopy in endometrial hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of hysteroscopy in the diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia in women with abnormal uterine bleeding. METHODS: From 1993 through 1995, 980 women referred to our institution for abnormal uterine bleeding underwent diagnostic hysteroscopy with eye direct biopsy of the endometrium in case of macroscopic abnormalities. Hysteroscopic features were compared with pathologic findings in order to detect the reliability of the endoscopic procedure. Statistical analysis was performed with the McNemar test. RESULTS: Positive predictive value of hysteroscopy in the diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia accounted for 63%. In fact hysteroscopic diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia was confirmed at pathologic examination in 81 out of 128 patients. Sensitivity and specificity of the endoscopic procedure accounted for 98% and 95%, respectively. Negative predictive value accounted for 99%, as only two cases of atypical hyperplasia were missed at hysteroscopy. Positive predictive value was higher in postmenopausal patients compared to women in the fertile age (72 vs. 58%). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, results appear encouraging, since no case of endometrial hyperplasia was missed by hysteroscopy. The high diagnostic accuracy, associated with a minimal trauma, renders hysteroscopy the ideal procedure for both diagnosis and follow-up of conservative management of endometrial hyperplasia.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Bassini's technique versus Trabucco's technique in the treatment of inguinal hernia: randomized comparative study].

The authors have carried out a perspective randomized trial between two homogeneous groups, each one of 30 pts., consisting of 50 males and 10 females with an average age of 42 (18-65) affected by an uncomplicated inguinal hernia. Group A underwent a Bassini repair technique and group B underwent a Trabucco's operation. The early results in terms of clinical conditions and days of post-operative course and period of return to work were analysed with Shapiro-Wilk and t tests. The group B patients had a significant reduction of the post-operative period (2.3 days vs 3.46), a significant reduction of post-operative pain (present in all group A patients vs 6.6%) with rapid return to normal functions and to work. All these conditions reduce the costs of the operation for society and the health service. There were no statistically significant differences in terms of morbidity and long-term follow-up (about 9 months).

Adolescent↗