Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Andreoli

Publications and source records attributed to A Andreoli.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Fat-free mass by bioelectrical impedance vs dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

Body composition (BC) assessment is a useful tool for a careful evaluation of nutrition status. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a safe, low-cost and reliable method for BC assessment. For epidemiological and clinical research in children, paediatric-age specific formula for fat-free mass (FFM) prediction from BIA is needed. Thus, in 35 children (age 7.7-13.0 years) with different levels of body fatness (relative weight for age 70.6-133.8%), FFM was calculated from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). A regression equation from BIA and DXA data was elaborated. The impedance index (ZI = height2/bioelectrical impedance) was the strongest predictor of FFM, explaining 89% of its variance. However, the variance increased to 96% when body weight was added with ZI in the regression model. No variable, including sex and age, contributed to the prediction of FFM in the presence of ZI and body weight. The regression formula [FFM = 2.330 + 0.588 ZI (cm2/omega) + 0.211 Weight (kg) (r = 0.96, SEE = 1.0 kg)], allows a reliable prediction of FFM in children from body impedance values.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Assessment of total body potassium in healthy Italian men.

BACKGROUND: Whole-body (40)K counting is a valuable tool for assessing cellular changes in body composition with ageing. AIM: The objectives of this study were to assess total body potassium (TBK) and body cell mass (BCM) differences with age, and to compare TBK and BCM between individuals with a body mass index (BMI) < 25 kg m(-2) versus > 25 kg m(-2). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Body composition of 840 healthy Italian men, 18-70 years of age, was measured by whole-body counting of (40)K. BCM (kg) was calculated as 0.00833 x TBK (mmol). RESULTS: Body weight did not differ among groups. TBK, TBK/height, TBK/body weight, and BCM were significantly lower for the 51-70-year-old group compared with all other groups. The 51-70-year-old group with a BMI < 25 kg m(-2) had significantly lower TBK, TBK/height, and BCM than all other decades with a BMI < 25 kg m(-2); whereas TBK/body weight was significantly lower than the 18-30 and 31-40-year-old groups. The 51-70-year-old group with a BMI > 25 kg m(-2) had significantly lower TBK, TBK/height, TBK/body weight, and BCM than all other decades with a BMI > 25 kg m(-2). CONCLUSION: TBK and BCM decrease significantly with ageing, which could result in decreased functional capacity in older adults.

Adolescent↗

Multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance: a comparison between the Cole-Cole modelling and Hanai equations with the classical impedance index approach.

Total body water and extracellular water were measured by deuterium oxide and bromide dilution respectively in 23 healthy males and 25 healthy females. In addition, total body impedance was measured at 17 frequencies, ranging from 1 kHz to 1350 kHz. Modelling programs were used to extrapolate impedance values to frequency zero (extracellular resistance) and frequency infinity (total body water resistance). Impedance indexes (height2/Zf) were computed at all 17 frequencies. The estimation errors of extracellular resistance and total body water resistance were 1% and 3%, respectively. Impedance and impedance index at low frequency were correlated with extracellular water, independent of the amount of total body water. Total body water showed the greatest correlation with impedance and impedance index at high frequencies. Extrapolated impedance values did not show a higher correlation compared to measured values. Prediction formulas from the literature applied to fixed frequencies showed the best mean and individual predictions for both extracellular water and total body water. It is concluded that, at least in healthy individuals with normal body water distribution, modelling impedance data has no advantage over impedance values measured at fixed frequencies, probably due to estimation errors in the modelled data.

Adult↗

Assessment of body hydration in subjects with schistosomiasis.

Total body water (TBW) was measured by deuterium oxide dilution (D2O) and predicted by bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) (Deurenberg, Schouten, Andreoli and De Lorenzo 1993) in 21 subjects with Schistosoma mansoni infection and 17 healthy controls of similar age (32.8 +/- 13.7 years, n=38). Patients were selected to have no visible fluid retention and no cardiac or renal abnormalities. Body hydration (TBW per kg of body weight) was significantly higher in patients with schistosomiasis than in controls (62.9 +/- 3.6 vs 57.4 +/- 4.3%, p < 0.0005). A significant correlation was found between albumin levels and TBW% on the pooled sample (n=38; r=0.660, p < 0.0001). This relationship was not influenced by the presence of disease, as determined by ANCOVA. Values of TBW predicted by BIA were highly correlated and not significantly different (p=n.s., ANOVA) from those measured by D2O in both controls and patients (r=0.854, p < 0.001, SEE = 2.3 1, CV=5.9% and r=0.848, p < 0.001, SEE=4.0 1, CV=9.3%, respectively). The bias (TBW by BIA - TBW by D2O) was of 0.9 +/- 3.7 in controls and of -1.3 +/- 4.2 1 in patients. This bias was significantly correlated to TBW% in patients (r=0.575, p < 0.05) but not in controls (p=n.s.). It is concluded that subjects with schistosomiasis show an apparent subclinical increase in body hydration which could affect the prediction of TBW from BIA.

Adult↗

Multifrequency impedance in the assessment of body water losses during dialysis.

Multifrequency bioelectrical impedance was used to predict changes in body water compartments during renal dialysis. Weight loss during dialysis was assumed to be water loss. Predicted total body water (TBW) from impedance after dialysis did not differ significantly from TBW determined by deuterium oxide dilution. However, the predicted change in TBW from bioelectrical impedance largely exceeded the observed weight (water) loss. The predicted change in extracellular water was slightly but significantly lower compared to the observed weight loss. The ratio of impedance at 1-100 kHz increased in all subjects during dialysis, and may be a simple tool to assess body water distribution.

Adult↗

Cerebral ischemia and asymptomatic coronary artery disease: a prospective study of 83 patients.

A prospective cardiologic evaluation was performed in 83 consecutive patients with transient cerebral ischemia or mild stroke and without symptoms or electrocardiographic signs of ischemic heart disease. Patients were studied with an electrocardiographic exercise test; a positive test was followed by exercise Thallium-201 myocardial scintigraphy. Results were compared to those obtained in a group of 83 age and sex-matched healthy subjects submitted to the same study protocol. Asymptomatic coronary artery disease was detected in 28% of cerebrovascular patients with adequate electrocardiographic exercise test. A scintigraphic perfusion defect of variable extension was found in 19 of them. In the control group the electrocardiographic exercise test was positive in only 6% (p less than 0.01). Our results support the concept that: asymptomatic ischemic heart disease is often associated with cerebrovascular disease; therefore cerebral ischemic attacks may be a marker of coronary artery disease, an active investigation of the heart should be considered in cerebrovascular patients in order to plan optimal, comprehensive management.

Adult↗

Subarachnoid hemorrhage: frequency and severity of cardiac arrhythmias. A survey of 70 cases studied in the acute phase.

The frequency and severity of cardiac arrhythmias were studied in 70 patients with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage investigated prospectively with 24-hour Holter monitoring. Patients were less than 70 years old and without clinical and/or ECG signs of previous heart disease; Holter monitoring was initiated within 48 hours of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Arrhythmias were detected in 64 of the 70 patients (91%). Twenty-nine of the 70 patients (41%) showed serious cardiac arrhythmias; malignant ventricular arrhythmias, i.e., torsade de pointe and ventricular flutter or fibrillation, occurred in 3 cases. Serious ventricular arrhythmias were associated with QTc prolongation and hypokalemia. No correlation was found between the frequency and severity of cardiac arrhythmias and the neurologic condition, the site and extent of intracranial blood on computed tomography scan, or the location of ruptured malformation. The extremely high incidence of cardiac arrhythmias, sometimes serious, in the acute period after subarachnoid hemorrhage and the absence of clinical and radiologic predictors make systematic continuous ECG monitoring compulsory to improve the overall results of subarachnoid hemorrhage, irrespective of early or delayed surgical treatment.

Acute Disease↗

[Nursing education today].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Education, Nursing, Diploma Programs↗

[Changes in body composition caused by intense physical training].

PURPOSE: To show the importance of the study of body composition in functional capacity evaluation of athletes who play professional football, during periods of very hard training (before the beginning of the championship), in order to appreciate every kind of adaptation to the training itself more precisely. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 18 semiprofessional football players, ages 18-32 yr., weight 75.2 +/- 8.1 kg, height 180.8 +/- 5.5 cm have been subjected to body composition evaluation, using Biolectrical Impedance Analysis (B.I.A) and antropometrics measurements, the day before the beginning of the trainings and at the end of them (just before the beginning of the championship). RESULTS: The athletes at end the training period (15 day) showed significant loss of weight (1.6 kg; p < 0.001). This reduction was attributed to a loss of the fat mass (2.8 kg; p < 0.001). Fat free mass increased 1.2 kg (p < 0.05); at the same time total body water increased too (1.0 l; p < 0.05) proving that, in spite of hard training, the athletes mateined a good hydratation. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that is very important to analyse body composition in the football players, since otherwise we couldn't attained the variation of weight in a quantitative and qualitative way.

Adolescent↗

[Determination of the blood ascorbic acid level after administration of slow-release vitamin C].

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to test the effects of a slow releasing form of vitamin C in smokers, because the single high dose previously proposed for smokers gave a transient increase of plasma ascorbate, being rapidly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and is rapidly excreted with urine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a double-blind placebo-controlled study 18 subjects received both Vitamin C (C-test) and placebo (P-test) in two different periods. During the test-day the subject followed a controlled diet and food Intake was assessed by semiquantitative questionnaire. Peripheral blood sample were collected in fasting conditions, in the morning, before and after 4, 8, 12 and 24 hours from the treatment. Blood sample was collected into EDTA-containing tubes, immediately centrifuged and treated for ascorbate determination, and stored at -70 degrees C until chromatographic analysis. RESULTS: Smokers and nonsmokers were similar for age, height, weight, BMI and for vegetable and fruit consumption. Ascorbic acid level was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than the references level in all subjects, however there were no differences between smokers and non smokers plasma ascorbate concentration increased significantly at T1, T2 and T3 respect to T0 during C test (p < 0.005), whenever remaining higher than T0 was not still significant in T4. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that a slow releasing form of Vitamin C could be useful in clinical pharmacology to increase and to maintain to a constant rate ascorbate level, both in smokers and non smokers with a single daily administration.

Adult↗

Hypersomnolence in fibromyalgia syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate hypersomnolence in patients affected by fibromyalgia syndrome. METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients affected by fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) (28 F) completed a sleep questionnaire and underwent the following evaluations: lung function tests; polysomnography; the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), which measures sleep complaints and daytime hypersomnolence; and the visual analogical scale (VAS) to detect subjective pain, fatigue, anxiety and depression. RESULTS: The FMS patients were divided into two groups based on their ESS score. Patients complaining of daytime hypersomnolence had a higher number of tender points (15 +/- 2 vs. 12 +/- 1, p < 0.01), a higher subjective pain score (72 +/- 15 vs. 52 +/- 13, p < 0.05), and more fatigue (p < 0.05). The diffusing capacity of the lung (Tlco) was more impaired and the occurrence of periodic breathing was higher. FMS patients complaining of daytime somnolence had significantly less efficient sleep than the FMS patients with no daytime somnolence (p < 0.05), i.e. a lower proportion of stage 3 sleep (5 +/- 2% vs. 12 +/- 3%; p < 0.001), stage 4 sleep (1 +/- 0.5% vs. 4 +/- 1%; p < 0.001), and twice as many arousals per hour of sleep (p < 0.01). The respiratory pattern of FMS patients with hypersomnolence showed a higher occurrence of periodic breathing (p < 0.05). The short length of apneas and hypopnoeas did not affect the apnea/hypopnea index (5.1 +/- 3 vs. 7 +/- 4; ns), but FMS patients with daytime hypersomnolence had a greater number of desaturations per hour of sleep (11 +/- 6 vs. 6 +/- 5; p < 0.05). Pulmonary volumes did not differ between the two groups. The EES score was significantly correlated in FMS patients, and even more markedly in the FMS patients with hypersomnolence, TLco, A/I, and disease duration. The ESS score was correlated significantly with the number of tender points only in FMS patients with daytime hypersomnolence. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of daytime hypersomnolence in FMS patients is linked to a greater severity of fibromyalgia symptoms and to more severe polysomnographic alterations.

Adult↗

Effect of acute and chronic branched-chain amino acids on energy metabolism and muscle performance.

The aim of this study was to report the effects of acute and chronic branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) administration on energy metabolism and muscle performance. In the acute study which was double-blind, cross-over and placebo-controlled, 12 healthy male volunteers were administered orally on two consecutive days either BCAA (14.4 g/day) or isocaloric placebo; this was followed by measurement of oxygen consumption (VO2) and carbon dioxide production (VCO2) for 180 min by indirect calorimetry. In the chronic study, 10 healthy male volunteers were supplemented with BCAA (14.4 g/day) for 30 days. Before (T0) and after (T1) chronic BCAA administration, VO2, arm muscle area (AMA) and maximal voluntary contraction of forearm muscles (grip strength, GS) were evaluated. Acute study: Both meals increased mean respiratory quotient (RQ) from baseline: in the placebo group, this increase was short-term only (between 15 and 60 min), while this effect on RQ lasted for 120 min in the BCAA group. Moreover, between 30 and 90 min, mean RQ was significantly higher in the BCAA group than in the placebo group. Chronic study: GS increased significantly following chronic BCAA administration without significant changes in the AMA. At T0, VO2 increased significantly during the GS test, whereas at T1 no significant increase was observed. In conclusion, no excess thermogenesis could be detected as compared with placebo following acute BCAA administration, indirectly suggesting a relevant contribution of peripheral catabolic (bypassing liver) pathway to BCAA metabolism; furthermore, chronic BCAA supplementation improved the physical fitness of untrained healthy subjects, as demonstrated by the lack of 02 uptake increase during sustained hand grip test.

Administration, Oral↗

[Spondylo-epiphyseal dysplasia. Description of a family].

The authors describe a family, father and two sisters, suffering from spondylo-epiphyseal dysplasia. The disease is an autosomal dominant; genetic counseling depends on an exact diagnosis. The two sisters show some atypical features, which confirm the disease heterogeneity.

Adult↗

[Recurrent meningitis. Description of a case in a girl with dermal sinus].

The authors describe a case of recurrent meningitis in a child with a dermal sinus. All the conditions causing this severe pathology are considered, particularly those in the pediatric age. The surgical treatment of the congenital malformation gave a complete resolution of the recurrent infections.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Hemorheologic changes in patients with a history of stroke or cerebral remittent ischemic attacks.

Hemorheologic parameters were measured in cerebrovascular patients with a history of stroke or recurrent ischemic attacks in a quiescent phase of the disease. All patients were submitted to aortic arch angiography and then classified according to the presence or absence of detectable arterial lesions. In comparison with a group of control subjects, cerebrovascular patients had significantly elevated levels of blood and plasma viscosity, fibrinogen, factors VIII:C and VIIIR:Ag and lowered values of erythrocyte filtration. Blood viscosity was increased and erythrocyte filtration reduced only in male patients. Elderly patients had higher blood viscosity and fibrinogen levels, and those with a history of stroke also showed the highest hematocrit and plasma viscosity values. Patients with a stroke history compared with those affected by remittent ischemic attacks, and patients with positive in comparison with those with negative angiograms were characterized only by higher fibrinogen (and sometimes factor VIII) levels, but not by other differences in hemorheologic values. It is concluded that changes in hemorheologic values consistent with hyperviscosity are a feature of cerebrovascular patients also in the quiescent phase of the disease and not only as a result of acute ischemic attacks. These changes are however most frequent in males and in elderly subjects, while they seem to be almost evenly distributed in patients with or without evidence of arterial disease.

Aging↗

Radical resection and reconstruction in spheno-ethmoidal-orbital tumors. Report of 3 cases.

Three cases of radical exenteration of spheno-ethmoidal-orbital tumors followed by plastic reconstruction of the cranial basis are described. The technique utilized has recently been developed and described by Derôme and is particularly satisfactory for benign and slow-growing malignant tumors of this region. The indications, preparation and collaborations are described, as well as the advantages and drawbacks to the procedure.

Adolescent↗