No evidence of association between frontotemporal dementia and major European mtDNA haplogroups.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) inherited variability (haplogroup/sub-haplogroup) is currently emerging as not being neutral with respect to several complex traits like neurodegenerative diseases. Here we investigated the association of European mtDNA haplogroups/sub-haplogroups with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). METHOD AND RESULTS: A case-control study was carried out on 114 patients with FTD (68 sporadic and 46 familial) and 180 controls, matched for age, gender and ethnicity. No association was found. CONCLUSIONS: European mtDNA haplogroups/sub-haplogroups are unlikely to play a major role in the risk of developing the disease.

The association between abdominal aortic aneurysms and chronic leg ischaemia. Prevalence in 125 consecutive patients.

A study was carried out to see if in patients with atherosclerotic lesions of the lower limbs the percentage of abdominal aneurysms is higher than in the general population. One hundred twenty five consecutive patients were studied in two different hospitals and compared with a control group. In the two groups with peripheral vascular diseases the patients had a prevalence of aneurysms of 12%, while in the control group the prevalence was of 3%. All patients were operated on successfully except two of them who are now in follow up with regular ultrasound assessment, one with an aortic aneurysm of 3.2 cm and the other with an aortic diameter of 4 cm and moderate liver failure.

Anatomical concepts to be observed when performing a vascular junction.

An anatomical study shows that the vascular junctions are always very well rounded in accordance with the direction of the blood flow. When performing an anastomosis, the further one departs from this configuration, which we can define as perfect, the more flow disturbances are likely to arise. This may jeopardize the satisfactory outcome of surgery.

Acute ischemia of the lower limb in a case of persistence of the primitive sciatic artery.

A rare case of persistent primitive sciatic artery with a small aneurysm in its proximal part is reported. The occlusion of this artery caused extensive lower limb ischemia which called for amputation. The diagnostic difficulties are stressed out.

Haemodynamics at rest and under effort in chronic arteriovenous fistulae (AVFs).

Latero-lateral femoro-femoral arteriovenous fistulae (AVFs) were surgically created in mongrel dogs. After 7-9 months during which the dogs were trained on a treadmill, devices suitable for recording arterial pressure and aortic and coronary flow were chronically implanted. Haemodynamic parameters of the dogs were controlled either at rest or after effort, keeping AVFs open or manually closed. The results, when statistically processed, showed that haemodynamic changes induced by occlusion of AVFs at rest and under effort are similar from a qualitative point of view, but considerably more marked after muscular exercise. Under effort the shunt index calculated rose to a higher extent than cardiac output. The decrease in heart rate after AVFs occlusion was significantly correlated with flow in the fistulae. However, the Nicoladoni-Branham phenomenon ought to be used for indirect evaluation of the shunt flow.

Atherosclerotic aortic-bisiliac aneurysms in two monocorial twins.

Two cases of aorto-bisiliac aneurysms in monocorial twins in their sixties were observed. We report experimental and clinical data from the literature about genetic involvement in the formation of aneurysms, especially when associated with other risk factors. In addition to the genetic factors in the twins we studied, we also found other risk factors, such as hypertension and smoking, which took a long time to affect the patients before the aneurysms were detected.

The behavior of the Nicoladoni-Branham sign at rest and under effort.

The Nicoladoni-Branham sign may change because of exercise. Both dogs with femoral AVF and patients with lower-extremity AVF showed an increase in the Nicoladoni-Branham reaction after exercise as compared with its magnitude at rest. In both groups the AVFs were located near active muscles. We did not find this behavior in 3 patients with AVFs at points distant from the muscles used in exercise.

Hemodynamic factors changing blood flow velocity waveform and profile in normal human brachial artery.

We have investigated the influence of changes of perfusion pressure and local peripheral resistance on blood flow velocity waveform and profile in normal human peripheral arteries. Blood flow velocity and profile were recorded from the distal end of the left brachial artery in ten normal subjects by means of an ultrasonic device. The records were obtained in basal conditions and after blood pressure in the brachial artery and local peripheral vascular resistance were changed, separately or together, by progressive inflation of two arm cuffs, one encircling the proximal half of the left arm and the other the middle part of the left forearm. Both blood flow velocity waveform and profile were shown to be markedly modified by changes in perfusion pressure and local peripheral vascular resistance. Reduction of perfusion pressure decreased both forward and reverse peak velocities, but had the largest effect upon reverse velocity. The upslope and the downslope of the forward velocity wave were left unchanged. Increase in local peripheral vascular resistance markedly augmented reverse peak velocity, whether perfusion pressure was normal or reduced. Increased resistance only slightly influenced peak forward velocity.

In vivo recording of blood velocity profiles and studies in vitro of profile alterations induced by known stenoses.

Recordings of blood velocity profiles and their behavior in the time domain in some peripheral human vessels (carotid arteries and limb vessels) are reported. Measurements have been obtained with a pulsed ultrasonic instrument based on the analysis of the cross-correlation function of blood-diffused echoes. The alterations of blood velocity profiles and of the velocity in the time domain, induced by known stenosis, have been studied in vitro as a function of the distance between stenosis and measuring point, and the position of the sample volume along the diameter. These studies may be useful for a better comprehension of blood velocity measurements made with ultrasound equipment for clinical noninvasive diagnostic purposes.

[Diagnostic algorithms. Analysis of the factors conditioning their definition. An illustrative case (bilio-pancreatic pathology)]. / Algoritmi diagnostici. Analisi dei fattori condizionanti la loro definizione. Caso esemplificativo (patologia bilio-pancreatica).

A case of biliopancreatic pathology studied with traditional (the old algorithm) and the latest (new algorithm) diagnostic techniques is examined. A comparative analysis reveals the second to be simpler, less expensive and less dangerous to the patient. The hope is expressed that doctors will become better informed of the diagnostic criteria to employ for the purpose of cost reduction.

[Peritoneal reactions caused by starch used regularly for lubricating surgical gloves. Review of the literature]. / Reazioni peritoneali provocate dall'amido correntemente impiegato per la lubrificazione dei guanti chirurgici. Revisione della letteratura.

The contamination of the operating field by a number of substances including the starch used to lubricate surgical gloves is one of the causes of foreign body granuloma formation. The role of starch is particularly clearly documented in the peritoneal cavity where it may provide the basis of a well defined nosological phenomenon, "starch peritonitis", but it has also been reported in most other anatomical districts. The most logical solution to this problem is to use starch-free surgical gloves prepared using another type of lubricant without the aforesaid drawbacks. This paper analyses international clinical and experimental literature focusing on the damaging effects resulting from the introduction of starch into the peritoneal cavity.

[Glycolic acid/polymer as suture material]. / Il polimero dell'acido glicolico quale materiale di sutura

Tissue reactions to polyglycol acid and plain catgut threads were compared. The second part of the paper deals with changes in the mechanical properties of the polymer. Their reduction after insertion in tissues was proportionally equal for threads of different sizes. This finding is explicable histologically, since it can be shown that cell and humoral attack of the single filaments is homogenous throughout the entire cross-section of the thread.

[Porto-systemic anastomosis in the treatment of portal hypertension due to intrahepatic block. Advanced surgical technics]. / Anastomosi porto-sistemiche nella terapia della ipertensione portale da blocco intraepatico. Tecniche chirurgiche di avanguardia.

A physiopathological interpretation is offered of the possibilities given by recent selective or portally regulated reduction of pressure in achieving a balance between reduction of pressure and diversion. Classic demonstrations, in fact, prove effective in the prevention of haemorrhage due to rupture of oesophageal varices. On the other hand, by over-diversion of the portal flow from the liver, they may cause a further deterioration in liver performance and more imposing the greater the flow of portal blood through the liver preoperatively. Procedures aimed at de-tension of the portal system, particularly the gastro-oesophageal segment, and at ensuring an intrahepatic venous flow sufficient to obviate steal syndrome damage, are described. Some of these procedures are still at the experimental stage. The techniques involved are explained, along with the underlying principles achieved by or prospected for each of them.

[Heterotopia of the gastric fundus wall in bilobate gallbladder associated with dilatation of the main bile duct. Description of a case]. / Eterotopia di parete gastrica fundica in colecisti bilobata associata a dilatazione della via biliare principale. Descrizione di un caso.

On the basis of a recent case of fundic gastric heterotopia in the gallbladder, the principal, possible embryogenetic hypotheses of the malformation are described and discussed. The possibility that acid secretion of the gastric glands contained in the ectopic fundic mucosa determined part of the symptomatological and clinical picture accompanying signs of lithiasic cholecystopathy is also evaluated.

[Importance of Staphylococcus epidermidis in the bacterial colonization of abdominal drains in surgical patients]. / Rilevanza dello Staphylococcus epidermidis nella colonizzazione batterica dei drenaggi addominali in pazienti chirurgici.

Bacterial adherence to biomaterials as an element of clinical relevance is a well-known factor in the pathogenesis of sepsis. Drainages, intravascular catheters, surgical prostheses and other devices are susceptible to bacterial colonization with clinical consequences. In the last few years attention has been paid to coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (S. epidermidis), mainly to some strains able to produce a highly adhesive polysaccharide substance, called glycocalix or slime. This promotes adherence either interbacterial either between bacteria and biologic tissues or synthetic materials acting as a pathogenetic factor in sepsis being able to increase bacterial resistance to phagocytes and antibiotics. Bacterial contamination of 40 abdominal drainage tubes in patients operated in elective and in emergency surgery for various pathology has been evaluated. Sonication of the tip of the drainage was utilized in order to promote the detachment of adherent colonies and its effectiveness was compared to that of microcentrifugation. Culture of 25 drainages (62.5%) showed no bacterial contamination; 7 drainages (17.5%) have proved to be colonized by S. epidermidis, in 4 cases the isolated strains were also methicillin-resistant, 2 of which slime-producing. Out of the 7 drainages colonized by S. epidermidis, 4 were removed from patients operated in emergency: none of the isolated strains was slime-producing. Six drainages (15%) were colonized by Gram+ bacteria (S. fecalis, P-sensible cocci, rods), 1 (2.5%) by E. coli and 1 (2.5%) by P. aeruginosa, S. epidermidis appears to be the chief contaminant of abdominal drainages, especially in emergency surgery; slime production has always been observed in methicillin-resistant strains: this confirms the hypothesis that slime production is typical of specialized, virulent strains.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)