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Biomedical subjects

A Bosco

Publications and source records attributed to A Bosco.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Effect of fat distribution on the pharmacokinetics of cortisol in obesity.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with predominantly upper body obesity are at greater risk for developing diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Little is known about the mechanisms involved in the regulation of regional body distribution. It has been accepted that the accumulation of fat into adipose tissue depends on regional metabolic regulation of adipocytes and that glucocorticoids play a role in this mechanism. The aim of the present study is to investigate how the pharmacokinetics of cortisol correlate to intraabdominal and subcutaneous fat distribution in obese patients. METHODS: A group of 24 obese patients (13 males and 11 females) were submitted to a CT scan for intraabdominal and subcutaneous fat area evaluation. A 30-min cortisol infusion (0.25 mg/kg) was administered and plasma cortisol was measured over 6 hours. RESULTS: Patients with larger intraabdominal fat areas were found to have a higher cortisol clearance than those with lower intraabdominal fat areas. Cortisol clearance (both, absolute and body-weight corrected) showed a statistically significant correlation with intraabdominal fat area, either expressed by waist-hip ratio or obtained by computerized tomography. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate a more effective clearance capability for cortisol in patients with central obesity resulting in lowered cortisol plasma levels despite an increased cortisol secretion observed in this patient group.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1998

[Pneumoretroperitoneum due to pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis. An etiopathogenetic and clinico-diagnostic assessment. A clinical case report].

A case of pneumoretroperitoneum which came out to be caused by pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis, after careful and proper diagnostic evaluation, is described. Physiopathology, etiopathogenesis and clinical peculiarities of this infrequent pathology are examined; most useful tests to be performed in diagnostic differential evaluation, and clinical and surgical therapeutic approaches are also described, especially facing rare complications of PCI, such as pneumoperitoneum and pneumoretroperitoneum.

Abdomen, Acute↗
PubMed1997

Relationship between hardiness and risk of burnout in a sample of 92 nurses working in oncology and AIDS wards.

BACKGROUND: The present study tested the hypothesis that particular personality dispositions act as resistance resources in the encounter with stressful life events. METHODS: The sample consisted of 100 student nurses working in critical areas (oncology and AIDS). At the beginning of the 2nd year course subjects were administered the Kobasa Hardiness Scale and at the end of the year the Maslach Burnout Inventory. RESULTS: Higher hardiness levels at the beginning of the course were associated with lower emotional exhaustion and higher personal achievement scores at the end. As predicted, findings show hardiness scores to be predictive of the risk of burnout. CONCLUSIONS: A screening of personality traits could be useful in preventing the risk of burnout in nurses working in critical areas.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1997

Risk factors in obese women, with particular reference to visceral fat component.

Possible associations between increased visceral fat component and serum lipid concentrations, glucose tolerance and insulinaemia (specific radioimmunoassay) were studied as risk factors for cardiovascular disease in 50 adult obese women without known diabetes and 11 lean normal women. Visceral abdominal fat areas were evaluated by computed tomography and "true" insulin concentrations. Diabetes was observed in 6 obese women (12%) and impaired glucose tolerance in 13 (26%). In obese women, visceral fat area correlated significantly with VLDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, whereas subcutaneous area correlated negatively with cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. Insulinaemia was not increased in visceral obesity nor correlated with other risk factors. An association between increased visceral fat accumulation, dyslipidaemia and increased diastolic blood pressure was observed, but no significant correlations were noted between fasting "true" insulin or insulin response on an oral glucose tolerance test and intra-abdominal fat areas or dyslipidemia. The gender of the patients could have been an important factor in these last observations.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1996

Reactivity of rolandic spikes.

Factors influencing the frequency of rolandic spikes are rarely reported. We examined the influence of movement, tactile stimulation and cognitive test on the discharge rate of rolandic spikes. We studied 35 children with EEG rolandic spikes. Eighteen children had nonfebrile convulsions. Benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes was diagnosed in 12 cases. Testing during the EEG included hand and tongue movements, cognitive tasks and tactile stimulation of face and hands. Rolandic spikes were counted by visual analysis in each phase of the test and the frequency expressed as mean number per min. During tongue movements there was a significantly lower discharge rate when compared to previous and subsequent rest phases. For the left hemisphere there was reduction in discharge rate during right hand movements and looking at colored spots but only when compared with the previous rest phase. The reduction in mean number of spikes/min by tongue movements occurred in patients with and without epilepsy. For patients with cerebral lesion the decrease in discharge rate during tongue movements was not significant whereas for those without cerebral lesion a significant reduction was evident. A decrease in the mean number of spikes/min of 50% or more was significantly more frequent among 29 patients without than among 6 patients with cerebral lesion. Our study showed the inhibition of rolandic spikes by tongue movements confirming the hypothesis that the localization of discharges is an important factor in determining its reactivity. The presence or not of cerebral lesion may be an important factor in the degree of reactivity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

AIDS and suicide issues in Spain.

Current suicidality and other characteristics were assessed in 442 HIV-infected patients, independent of clinical stage, who had been referred to the Consultation Liaison Psychiatrist from an Infectious Disease Unit of a General Hospital in Spain. The referrals were made over a period of 7 years (1988-1994). Suicidality was categorized as suicidal thoughts (5 patients), suicidal equivalents (5 patients) and suicidal attempts (17 cases). Of a total of 27 cases, two died as a result of suicide. The number of known suicide deaths was lower than expected. However, these results may show an underestimate due to the difficulty of differentiating between accidental overdose and actual suicidal attempt in intravenous drug-using patients. Health care professionals must be aware of the potential for suicidal thoughts and suicidal behaviours in HIV-positive patients to enable them to provide the necessary support.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1995

Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover trial of high-dose methylprednisolone in patients with chronic progressive form of multiple sclerosis.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized crossover trial of high-dose methylprednisolone (MP) was performed in 35 patients with a primarily chronic progressive form of multiple sclerosis as defined clinically according to Poser's criteria. At time 0 of every course of treatment (1 g MP administered i.v. daily for 5 days followed by oral prednisone tapering over 4 days, or placebo) and at 10, 30 and 90 days thereafter, each patient underwent psychometric tests and was clinically tested according to Kurtzke's Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). The disability pattern of most patients who were treated with placebo either worsened or did not change. A statistically significant improvement (p < 0.001) of EDSS in MP-treated patients was recorded. The improvement mainly concerned the pyramidal, cerebellar and sensitive disorders; it was already evident at the first clinical follow-up and lasted for 3 months from the beginning of the treatment. No frequent and/or important side effects were detected throughout the trial.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Estimation of body fat and lean tissue distribution by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and abdominal body fat evaluation by computed tomography in Cushing's disease.

Body composition determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and the abdominal visceral fat component determined by computed tomographic scanning were examined in women with Cushing's disease and compared with those in obese women with the same anthropometric parameters and those in nonobese women. Patients with Cushing's had no increase in total body fat or the trunk region (android) component, but had a higher intraabdominal fat area compared to the obese subjects. The total lean tissue mass was slightly reduced in Cushing's compared to that in the obese subjects due to a significant decrease in the muscle of the legs and arms; the reduced amounts of fat and lean tissue masses in the arms were the most significant findings in hypercortisolism. The body mineral and bone calcium contents were slightly reduced in Cushing's compared to those in the obese controls. Thus, although obese subjects had more fat and lean tissue and mineral masses than their normal weight counterparts, the Cushing's patients, with the same total fat mass and its components (except in the arms) as obese individuals, present total lean tissue and fractions, including body mineral and bone calcium contents, similar to those in nonobese subjects due to the depletion of the protein depots, as seen in hypercortisolism.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1993

Neuritogenesis of retinal ganglion cells is differentially promoted by target extract.

Labeled retinal ganglion cells from neonatal rats extended neurites in dissociated cell culture as a cell type-specific response to the influence of a superior collicular extract. The molecule responsible for this neuritogenic effect is soluble and non-dialysable (> 12 kDa). Nerve growth factor had a neuritogenic effect both on ganglion cells and other types of retinal cells.

Animals↗