The importance of mountains for plant diversity and richness is underestimated, particularly when transition zones between different bioclimates are present along altitudinal gradients. Here we present the first floristic data for a mountain area in the island of Sardinia (Italy), which exhibits Mediterranean bioclimates at the bottom and temperate bioclimate at the top. We discovered a very high floristic richness, despite the fact that the number of endemic taxa is not high and the number of exclusive taxa is very low.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCritically ill patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) are highly susceptible to healthcare-associated infections caused by fungi. A prospective sequential survey of invasive fungal infections was conducted from May 2006 to April 2008 in 38 ICUs of 27 Italian hospitals. A total of 384 fungal infections (318 invasive Candida infections, three cryptococcosis and 63 mould infections) were notified.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: The surgical approach on the colon and rectum represents a wide slice of the surgical procedures carry out in election or emergency in a general surgery unit. The literature reports prospective and retrospective studies evidencing emergency surgery, advanced age, comorbidity and other factors can determinate a worsening of short-term outcome (postoperative mortality, morbidity and hospital stay). The aim of the study was to verify, through a statistical analysis on a group of patients operated on the colon and the rectum, which are the factors weighting on the short-term outcome.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of hydroxyethyl starch, (130/0.4) 6%, compared to Ringer's acetate and modified gelatin on hypoxemia, inflammatory response, and oxidative stress in an experimental model of acute lung injury (ALI). The ALI/Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) experimental model was produced by a bronchoalveolar saline lavage.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMeasurement of skin temperature can be used as an indicator of sympathetic blockade induced by neuraxial anaesthesia. The aim of the study was to test the skin temperature response to epidural administration of bupivacaine and different concentrations of ropivacaine. Forty-eight ASA class I-II patients undergoing herniorraphy were enrolled into a prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Control Release
April 2002
Oral absorption of the antihyperglycaemic agent metformin (MF x HCl) is confined to the upper part of the intestine, therefore controlled-release oral formulations of this drug should ensure a complete release during transit from stomach to jejunum. Compressed matrix tablets based on pH-sensitive poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-Eudragit L100 (EUD L) compounds have shown in vitro a compliance with the above requirement. The polymer compounds were prepared by a coevaporation process.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The so called stop-flow operation is based on locoregional perfusion with an antiblastic hypoxic solution of the region invaded by malignant tissue. Cardiocirculatory complications are common, mainly consisting of reduction of cardiac index, increase of arterial pulmonary pressure, systemic vascular resistance and heart rate. Sevoflurane has been used for its stable hemodynamic profile to reduce cardiocirculatory troubles.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The aim of this study was to assess mid-term results of aortic reconstruction.
Methods: According to Dr. David's technique, 20 patients (17 males, 3 females, median age 63 years) were examined, who underwent surgery between September 1996 and August 1999.
The present study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of a new procedure for eliciting informed consent by patients undergoing minor surgical procedures, in which the choice between general anaesthesia (GA) and regional anaesthesia (RA) was possible. In this prospective study, two randomly selected groups of patients were compared: study group (SG), 52 patients, received from the nurse before the preoperative interview, a list of seven questions, which they were invited to ask the anaesthetist; while the control group (CG), 73 patients, did not receive any suggested questions. There were two end points: the proportion that chose RA and the number of questions actually addressed to the doctor at the preanaesthetic interview.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA method of posterior mitral annulus remodeling is presented. The posterior annulus is divided into three segments, each segment encircled by a suture that is passed in a tourniquet. Coaptation of the leaflets can be achieved by tightening the tourniquets while the ventricle is being filled.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMinerva Anestesiol
July 1997
Objective: To compare the cardiovascular effects and recovery characteristics of sevoflurane and propofol anesthesia in 80 ASA I and II patients undergoing elective extracavity surgery expected to last at least one hour.
Design: A prospective randomized clinical trial.
Methods: After meperidine and atropine premedication, the patients were randomly allocated into two groups: in the sevoflurane group thiopentone was administered for induction of anesthesia and sevoflurane for maintenance; the propofol group received propofol either for induction of anesthesia or maintenance.
Stentless porcine xenografts (SPXs) implanted in the aortic position have potential hemodynamic advantages over traditional valve prostheses because of the lack of a rigid stent. Twenty-four patients (mean age 59 years) who underwent aortic valve replacement with SPXs were studied by echocardiography early after and 26 +/- 10 months (range 8 to 40) after operation. Peak and mean gradients, as well as aortic valve area, did not change significantly from baseline (16.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMinerva Anestesiol
February 1997
Objective: To evaluate whether volume replacement with gelatine infusion with 3.5% urea bridges during normovolemic intentional hemodilution manages to stabilize hemodynamic parameters.
Experimental Design: Randomized prospective study.
Two cases of dextran-induced anaphylactoid reaction (grade II and III according to Ring e Messmer) are reported. Metabolic acidosis was an early symptom that must be considered on planning immediate therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was used to monitor the removal of intracardiac masses in 17 patients. Prebypass TEE was used to confirm the preoperative diagnosis. It gave a clear image and anatomical definition of the mass in 16 cases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNormovolemic hemodilution at two different hematocrit values was performed in ten patients undergoing major surgery to evaluate changes of DO2, VO2 and CI. A Hct of 38% (low hemodilution) was reached by plasma replacement with ringer lactate infusion. A further hemodilution, a Hct of 30% (high hemodilution), was obtained by hydroxyethyl starch plus ringer lactate (1:2 ratio) infusion.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study was conducted on 10 patients with primitive or metastatic liver tumors, scheduled for massive liver resections, in order to search for evidence of the existence of intraoperative prognostic indexes having a bearing upon postoperative survival. The following parameters were measured in every patient: HR, MAP, CVP, MPAP, WP, SVR, PVR, CI, DO2, VO2, BE, before the anhepatic period (A), during anhepatic period (B), 30' (C), and 60' (D) after liver reperfusion, holding constant Hct, body temperature, ETCO2, FiO2, anesthetic depth, and the degree of muscular relaxation. The patients were later divided into two groups: 1, nonsurvivors in the postoperative period (4 patients) due to MOF; 2, survivors (6 patients).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMinerva Anestesiol
September 1991