Search results for "Normal"
showing 10 items of 2571 documents
Genetic, andrological and clinical characteristics of patients with congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens
2001
Summary The possibility of retrieving spermatozoa from the epididymis allows patients with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD) to father a child by means of assisted reproduction techniques. This has, however, increased the chance of transmitting a mutated allele of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene which increases the risk of generating offspring with cystic fibrosis (CF). Because of the increased heterogeneity of the CFTR locus, the study of a discrete number of mutations, as usually carried out in a diagnostic work-up, is unable to ascertain the presence of a mutation in a relatively high proportion of the patients screened. In an at…
Assessing audiological, pathophysiological and psychological variables in tinnitus patients with or without hearing loss
2010
The aim of this work is to study the characteristics of tinnitus both in normal hearing subjects and in patients with hearing loss. The study considered tinnitus sufferers, ranging from 21 to 83 years of age, who were referred to the Audiology Section of Palermo University in the years 2006–2008. The following parameters were considered: age, sex, hearing threshold, tinnitus laterality, tinnitus duration, tinnitus measurements and subjective disturbance caused by tinnitus. The sample was divided into Group1 (G1), 115 subjects with normal hearing, and Group2 (G2), 197 subjects with hearing loss. Especially for G2, there was a predominance of males compared to females (P = 0.011); the highest…
Lack of genetic association of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
2010
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a condition that is characterized by severe pain and exaggerated neurogenic inflammation, which may develop after injury or surgery. Neurogenic inflammation is mediated by neuropeptides, such as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) that are released from nociceptors. Genetic factors may play a role in CRPS as was suggested by the occurrence of familial cases and several genetic association studies investigating mainly the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system. Here we investigated the role of neutral endopeptidase (NEP), a key enzyme in neuropeptide catabolism. NEP dysfunction resulting in reduced inactivation of neuropeptides m…
Is ERCP manometry useful in the choice of treatment of stones of the common bile duct?
1988
To verify the appropriateness of sphincterotomy as the treatment of choice of choledocholithiasis, since 1980 we have been using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographic (ERCP) manometry of the sphincter of Oddi (SO). This method allows direct investigation of SO motor activity and provides useful information regarding the presence of benign papillary stenosis (BPS). Thirty-four patients were investigated because the radiological examination indicated BPS might be present. Of these, 20 had common bile duct (CBD) stones, while the remaining 14 presented with biliarylike pain and one or more of the following: CBD dilation (larger than 12 mm); emptying of the ERCP contrast medium took l…
Assessment of various factors influencing esophageal pressure measurement. II. Significance of physiological factors in intraluminal manometry.
1980
In the second part of this study the effect of age, sex, body size, body weight and timing of the manometric examination (morning vs. noon) on esophageal pressure measurement was investigated in a total of 119 healthy subjects, using an electromagnetic microtransducer. Additionally intraindividual variation of pressures was studied over a period of 6 months. Of these parameters only age influenced upper esophageal sphincter (UES) pressure significantly: The mean UES pressure of younger subjects (20-49 years) was significantly higher (144.4 +/- 8.6 mmHg) compared to that of older subjects (50-80 years) where a mean pressure of 103.4 +/- 7.2 mmHg was recorded (p less than 0.0005). Intraindivi…
Masseter reflex and blink reflex abnormalities in Chiari II malformation.
2001
Masseter reflex and blink reflex were evaluated in 64 patients with a myelomeningocele and Chiari II malformation. In 46 patients, no brainstem signs or symptoms were present. Brainstem dysfunction related to Chiari II malformation occurred in 18 patients. The masseter reflex was more frequently abnormal in the symptomatic than asymptomatic patients (P = 0.02). Although the blink reflex was similarly affected in the two groups of patients (P > 0.1), it was very sensitive, being abnormal in 83% of symptomatic and 65% of asymptomatic patients. Concomitant abnormality of masseter reflex and the late contralateral blink reflex component (R2c) was almost exclusively found in symptomatic patients…
Abduction nystagmus in internuclear ophthalmoplegia
1992
Direct current electro-oculography revealed abduction nystagmus with hypermetric abduction saccades in 35 of 64 patients with unilateral and 55 of 66 patients with bilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia. Slowing of abduction saccades occurred in 27 unilateral cases, mainly ipsilateral to the paretic eye, and in 36 bilateral cases. Abduction nystagmus with hypermetric abduction saccades of normal velocity is explained by an increased phasic innervation adjusted to adduction paresis. Slowed abduction saccades are attributed to impaired inhibition of the medial rectus muscle. Superposition of impaired medial rectus inhibition and increased phasic innervation best explains abduction nystagmus w…
Electrophysiological patterns of oropharyngeal swallowing in multiple sclerosis.
2012
Abstract Objective We performed an electrophysiological study of swallowing (EPSS) in multiple sclerosis (MS) to describe oropharyngeal swallowing abnormalities and to analyze their correlations with dysphagia and with overall neurological impairment. Methods Neurological examinations were quantified using the Kurtzke Functional Systems and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Dysphagia was evaluated using the Dysphagia in Multiple Sclerosis (DYMUS) questionnaire, while fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) was used to establish the degree of aspiration and penetration, graded using the penetration–aspiration scale (PAS). The EPSS measured the duration of suprahyoid/…
Different interference effects in musicians and a control group.
2006
In the present study musicians and normal control subjects performed an S1-S2 pitch comparison task, which included the presentation of intervening tones during the retention interval. The time for encoding and storing the pitch of S1 was varied between 200 and 1,500 ms by changing the pause between the S1 offset and the onset of the intervening tones. Although musicians outperformed the control group with longer pauses after the S1 offset, this advantage was relatively small with shorter pauses. These results suggest that the advantage of musicians in storing auditory information is not solely due to their superior encoding of information but also to improved working memory operations.
Ultrasound detection of abdominal lymphadenomegaly in subjects with hepatitis C virus infection and persistently normal transaminases: a predictive i…
1998
The indications for liver biopsy in anti-HCV-positive patients with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase levels are not clearly established. Recent studies have correlated the presence of abdominal lymphoadenomegaly with disease severity in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Our study aimed to evaluate the frequency of abdominal lymphoadenomegaly in an anti-HCV positive blood donor population with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase and the relationship of abdominal lymphoadenomegaly with the severity of liver changes.Eighty-six anti-HCV positive blood donors (58 M, 28 F) with normal alanine aminotransferase were followed up for a median of 31 months (range 12-50). To evalu…