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Biomedical subjects

A Cavallini

Publications and source records attributed to A Cavallini.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Bilateral asymmetry of cerebral blood velocity in cluster headache.

In this study, 69 episodic cluster headache (CH) patients (40 in the active phase, 29 in remission period) underwent a complete TCD examination in order to verify the relationship between cerebral blood velocities (CBVs) and the clinical profile of the disease. Fifteen patients were examined during both phases, while 7 were monitored during a spontaneous attack. Sixty-three healthy sex and age-matched controls were also studied. We measured widespread, asymmetric CBV activation during the active phase, bilaterally in the anterior circulation and also in the posterior circulation. A relative reduction of CBV on the anterior cerebral artery pain side, also during remission, suggests a relationship between local vasodilation and the autonomic symptoms ipsilateral to pain during CH attacks.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Intracerebral vascular changes induced by cold pressor test: a model of sympathetic activation.

Cerebral vascular changes seem to play a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of various functional disturbances, (i.e. those suggested for migraine pathogenesis). However the exact role of single regulatory aspects (metabolic-neuronal-mechanic) are not completely understood and easily investigated in man. In particular, the role of autonomic nervous system is widely debated and recently the stimulation of tegmental noradrenergic nuclei (locus coeruleus in particular) has proved capable of inducing, in the animal, both the reduction and the increase of extracerebral blood flow. In order to evaluate the vascular effect of locus coeruleus stimulation in man, we investigated intracerebral vascular changes induced by the cold pressor test (CPT) (a well standardized method for activating both nociceptive and sympathetic pathways) by means of transcranial Doppler sonography. The examinations were performed in 14 healthy controls. CPT induced a constant and evident reduction in mean arterial velocity of the middle cerebral artery. The response was triggered during the first minute following hand immersion in ice water and reached its maximum level by the 3rd minute. Pretreatment with the alfa2-agonist clonidine caused a marked reduction of the cerebrovascular response. These data suggest that: a) intracerebral vascular response induced by CPT may be attributed to a central noradrenergic mechanism (possibly modulated at the locus coeruleus level) and b) transcranial Doppler monitoring of CPT effect is a potential tool for investigating peculiar patterns of functional disturbances of cerebral circulation.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Estrogen receptors and polyamine levels in human gastric carcinoma.

We evaluated polyamine (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) levels, estrogen receptor concentrations, and their relationship in neoplastic tissue and surrounding mucosa from 30 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. Cytosolic estrogen receptors were measured with an immunoenzymatic assay. Polyamine levels were evaluated with high-performance liquid chromatography. Estrogen receptor concentrations were statistically higher in surrounding mucosa than in neoplastic tissue (p = 0.023). Putrescine and spermidine levels and the spermidine to spermine ratio were statistically higher in neoplastic tissue than in surrounding mucosa (p < 0.004). Significant correlations were found between the levels of spermidine and total polyamines in neoplastic tissue and surrounding mucosa (r = 0.48, p = 0.014, and r = 0.45, p = 0.021, respectively). Polyamine levels were lower in estrogen-receptor-positive tumors than in estrogen-receptor-negative ones, although this decrease was statistically significant only in the case of spermine (p = 0.02). The significance of these findings is that the cellular activity of normal and neoplastic gastric mucosa may be partly controlled by estrogens.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1993

Imbalance of heart rate regulation in cluster headache as based on continuous 24-h recordings.

An altered autonomic balance is considered to be a pathogenetic factor in cluster headache syndrome, although there is varying data on sympathetic and/or parasympathetic activation during attacks and/or attack-free intervals. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the day/night pattern of heart rate during the active and remission phases of cluster headache. In addition, the relationship between heart rate changes and the site of pain was investigated to determine if an autonomic imbalance was related to the lateralization of pain. Thirty-nine patients (34 with primary episodic cluster headache and five with primary chronic cluster headache and 30 healthy controls underwent 24-h Holter ECG recording. Nine cluster headache patients were monitored during both phases of the disease. The data obtained confirmed the existence of a disordered chrono-organization in cluster headache (phase-shift of approximately 1 h of heart rate rhythm during the cluster period) together with a low heart rate variability and a higher occurrence of arrhythmias in cluster headache patients with right-sided pain. Differences were also observed in the cluster headache patients when headache free, excluding the pain itself as a reason for the abnormality. The chronobiological data point out a transient rhythmic dysfunction, while heart rate variability changes, mostly related either to the phase of the disease or to the site of pain, probably reflects a central, site-related, dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system in cluster headache.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Polyamines, diamine oxidase, and ornithine decarboxylase activity in colorectal cancer and in normal surrounding mucosa.

We investigated the polyamine levels [putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd), and spermine (Spm)] and their metabolism by simultaneously considering the ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and diamine oxidase (DAO) activities in human colorectal cancer and in normal surrounding tissue. Single and total polyamine levels were significantly higher in the neoplastic tissue than in the surrounding mucosa from the same patients. Furthermore, the ODC activity was significantly higher and the DAO activity significantly lower in the neoplastic tissue than in the surrounding mucosa. Polyamine levels and enzymatic activities did not correlate with the clinical and histologic characteristics of patients. In normal tissue samples, no correlation was found between single and total polyamine levels and enzymatic activities (both DAO and ODC). On the contrary, in colorectal neoplastic samples, significant and positive correlations were found between the levels of total polyamines, Spd, and Spm and the ODC activity. In the same specimens, DAO activity was related to Spd levels and the Spd/Spm ratio, but, in those cases, the correlation was negative. Thus, our findings suggest that, during the neoplastic growth of the colorectal mucosa, the balance between polyamine degradation and biosynthesis is disengaged from the control exerted by the two enzymes.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1993

Urinary levels of tumour associated antigens (CA 19-9, TPA and CEA) in patients with neoplastic and non-neoplastic urothelial abnormalities.

The urinary excretion of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was evaluated in 264 patients with bladder cancer. Cut-off levels were established using a pool of healthy blood donors. The combined determination of CA 19-9 and TPA had a sensitivity of 74% in pTa and 83% in pT1 tumours, and 62% in grade 1, well differentiated tumours. Absence of disease at follow-up was related to a significant decrease in CA 19-9 and TPA in 129 patients with superficial (pTa or pT1) bladder carcinoma, followed up for at least 3 years. Recurrences, defined as new tumours at the same site or elsewhere in the bladder, were associated with an increase in the mean values but this was not statistically significant. A poor prognosis was indicated in patients with infiltrating tumours and the following pre-operative levels: TPA > 1500 u/l or CA 19-9 > 300 u/ml or CEA > 50 ng/ml.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Endogenous sex hormones and cholesterol gallstones: a case-control study in an echographic survey of gallstones.

In a population survey of gallstones, the serum levels of hormones of the pituitary-gonadal axis and the sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were compared in subjects with cholesterol gallstones and in a control group. In 84 subjects who entered the survey, echographic gallstones that had been identified at the survey, turned out to be radiolucent or mixed (predominantly of cholesterol) at subsequent x-ray. The controls were without gallstones at echography, matched to the cases for potential confounders of the association sex hormones-cholelithiasis. Testosterone (T) 17-beta-estradiol (E2), 17-OH progesterone (P), and SHBG were dosed by radioimmunoassay; follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and prolactin (Prl) by dissociation-enhanced lanthanide fluoro immunoassay (DELFIA). Men with gallstones had lower LH than controls (n = 34, median difference = -0.62 mU/ml, 95% confidence interval (CI) -1.20 to -0.26 mU/ml, paired sign test, p = 0.003). Premenopausal women in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle with gallstones had higher E2 than controls (n = 7, median difference: +117, pg/ml, 95% CI: +10 to +218 pg/ml, p = 0.008). Postmenopausal women had lower LH than controls (n = 35, median difference = -4.57 mU/ml, 95% CI -9.5 to -1.0 mU/ml, p = 0.04). No other hormones showed statistically significant differences between cases and controls, in either males or females. The findings of this exploratory study in subjects with radiolucent and mixed gallstones suggest that men and postmenopausal women have lower LH, and premenopausal women in the luteal phase of the cycle have higher E2, than controls.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Sex steroid hormone receptors, epidermal growth factor receptor, and polyamines in human colorectal cancer.

We assayed the estrogen and progesterone cytosolic receptors by using the enzyme immunoassay method, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) cell surface receptors by using 125I-labeled hormone, and the levels of polyamines (putrescine, spermine, and spermidine) by using a high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedure in neoplastic and surrounding normal tissues of patients with colorectal cancer. Our findings show that mean polyamine levels in neoplastic tissue were approximately two-fold greater than the levels in normal colonic mucosa. Estrogen and progesterone receptorial content in normal mucosa were twofold greater than those in neoplastic tissue. No significant differences in EGF receptors were found between colonic cancer tissue and the surrounding normal tissues. The correlations we found between 1) estrogen and polyamine levels and 2) estrogen and EGF binding suggest the existence of a modulation of the estrogens on colonic mucosa cell proliferation. Furthermore, there was no significant dependency of polyamine and receptor concentrations from the tumor site, the histologic differentiation, or the age and sex of patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Accompanying symptoms of cluster attacks: their relevance to the diagnostic criteria.

Two-hundred-and-fifty-one consecutive cluster headache (CH) patients referred to the Pavia and Parma Headache Centers were evaluated in order to verify the presence and recurrence of one or more autonomic symptoms. Data obtained show that in 2.8% of patients cluster attacks were not accompanied by localized autonomic symptoms, thus confirming the report of Ekbom. We observed a high prevalence of photophobia, nausea and vomiting. The IHS diagnostic criteria for CH may need to be modified. The high frequency of "general" autonomic symptoms seems to suggest a component of "central" drive in the physiopathology of cluster headache.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Comparative evaluation of RAST and MAST-CLA for six allergens for the diagnosis of inhalant allergic disease in 232 patients.

The aim of this study was to compare a recent multiple allergosorbent chemiluminescent assay (MAST-CLA) with the RAST for the diagnosis of inhalant allergic disease in 232 patients with rhinitis and/or bronchial asthma. As judged by concordance of clinical history, skin prick tests to a range of six allergens common to our geographic area, and by nasal provocation tests, 70 patients were non-allergic and 162 allergic: 70 to grasses, 46 to mites, four to mugwort, eight to pellitory, and 34 were sensitive to several allergens. In our patient sample that, among other things, comprises subjects with fairly rare monoallergies, MAST-CLA testing gave results which closely corresponded to positive RAST for the allergens studied, and demonstrated a close correlation with the diagnosis of inhalant-specific allergy. Our results showed that, for overall allergens, MAST-CLA was lightly less sensitive and more specific than RAST (the two in vitro tests gave an identical overall efficiency).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Cholecystectomy and duodenogastric reflux].

With the aim of evaluating whether cholecystectomy causes an increase in duodenogastric reflux (DGR) 34 patient (12 males and 22 females, mean age 50 years) were examined before and 6 months after cholecystectomy. DGR was evaluated by assaying total and individual biliary acids in gastric juice and was expressed as fasting bile reflux (FBR) in mumol/h. The histology of gastric mucosa in endoscopic biopsies taken from the antrum and body was also analysed. FBR of total biliary acids rose from 2.4 mumol/h before surgery to 41.33 mumol/h after cholecystectomy (p = 0.000). A significant increase was observed for all the individual biliary acids. Histological tests of gastric mucosa revealed an increased percentage of chronic atrophic gastritis of the antrum following cholecystectomy. Histological conditions in the body were unaltered. The results of this study show that there is a significant increase in DGR (months after cholecystectomy together with increased histological damage to the mucosa of the antrum. Further studies are necessary in order to evaluate whether the two phenomena are related.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

A prospective study on duodenogastric reflux and on histological changes in gastric mucosa after cholecystectomy.

The authors carried out a prospective study to evaluate variations with time in postcholecystectomy duodenogastric reflux (expressed as "fasting bile reflux" in mumol/h) and in gastric mucosal damage. Ten patients underwent (before cholecystectomy, 6 months after surgery and after a median period of 4 years from surgery) a gastric drainage to assess total (enzymatic method) and single (high performance liquid chromatography) intragastric bile acids, and a gastroscopy with biopsies of the antrum and gastric body to assess histological damage to the mucosa. The results showed that there was a progressive increase in the fasting bile reflux of total bile acids with time (precholecystectomy median value 0.295 mumol/h; 6 months control median value 12.045 mumol/h; late control medial value 19.9 mumol/h; Friedman test, P = 0.0022). Examination of the gastric mucosa at the three moments of the study showed that histological damage worsened progressively. In fact chronic atrophic gastritis of the antrum was present in 10 percent of cases before surgery and in 50 percent 4 years after, and the prevalence of chronic superficial gastritis of the body progressed from 0 to 40 percent. Studies on larger groups of patients are necessary to evaluate whether these two phenomena are correlated.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Polyamines and estrogen-receptor concentrations in human colorectal carcinomas.

We assayed the estrogen receptors and polyamine levels (putrescine, spermidine and spermine) in the neoplastic and "normal" surrounding tissue of patients with colorectal cancer. Polyamine levels and the spermidine/spermine ratio were significantly higher in the neoplastic tissue than in the "normal" surrounding colonic mucosa of the same patients. Estrogen receptors were fewer in neoplastic mucosa than in the surrounding tissue, and polyamine levels were higher in estrogen-receptor negative tumours than in estrogen-receptor positive ones, although this was statistically significant only in the case of spermidine. Polyamine levels and estrogen receptor concentrations did not correlate with the tumour site, histological differentiation, or the age and sex of patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1991

Haemodynamic and neurohormonal responsiveness to different stress tests in mitral valve prolapse.

In this study the blood pressure, heart rate, plasma noradrenaline and plasma adrenaline responses to various forms of sympatho-neural stress were evaluated in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP). Sympathetic reactivity in different subgroups of MVP were related to the degree of ventricular arrhythmia. Thirty-eight patients with mitral valve prolapse and 17 healthy controls were studied. All underwent 24-h ECG recording, 2-D echocardiography, head-up tilt to 60 degrees, pressor tests (sustained handgrip, mental arithmetic, cold pressor) and psychological assessment. The blood pressure, noradrenaline and adrenaline response to stress in patients without premature ventricular contraction were similar to those of the controls. In patients with unifocal premature ventricular contraction (PVC) less than 300/h, responses were similar to normal but were associated with higher plasma noradrenaline levels in the basal state and a diminished response to isometric stress. In patients with more than 300/h unifocal premature ventricular contraction, pairs of premature ventricular contraction, or runs of ventricular tachycardia there were lower blood pressure values in the basal state with reduced blood pressure, heart rate and plasma noradrenaline and adrenaline responses to head-up tilt and sustained handgrip, but marked increases in blood pressure, heart rate and plasma noradrenaline levels during the cold pressor test. Our data suggest different degrees of autonomic involvement in mitral valve prolapse which may be related to the various degrees of arrhythmia which seem to contribute to their symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Cluster headache--course over ten years in 189 patients.

One-hundred-and-eighty-nine cluster headache patients, referred to Parma and Pavia Headache Centres between 1976 and 1986 with a disease duration of over 10 years, were interviewed about the course of cluster headache. They were classified as episodic (n = 140) or chronic (n = 49) cluster headache patients on the basis of course during the year of onset. Episodic patients showed the following outcome: maintenance of an episodic form (primary episodic form) in 80.7% of cases, shift towards a chronic form (secondary chronic form) in 12.9% and shift towards an intermediate pattern ("combined" form) in 6.4%. In chronic patients, cluster headache was still chronic (primary chronic form) at the moment of observation in 52.4% of cases, while it turned into an episodic form ("secondary" episodic form) in 32.6% and into a "combined" form in 14.3%. Nineteen patients (10%) had had no attacks for at least three years at the moment of examination. We can conclude from our data that: cluster headache is a disease of long duration, perhaps lifelong; episodic cluster headache tends to worsen; chronic cluster headache may easily turn into a better prognostic episodic form; prophylactic drugs are unable to induce recovery. The following factors seem related to a poor outcome: a later onset, the male gender and a disease duration of over 20 years for the episodic forms.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Cardiopressor effects of short-term treatment with cabergoline in L-dopa stable responder parkinsonian patients: relevance of postprandial hypotension.

The hemodynamic and biochemical effects of cabergoline, a new ergoline derivative with selective, potent, and long-lasting dopamine (DA) agonistic properties, were evaluated in 19 parkinsonian patients, all previously identified as stable responders to levodopa plus L-Dopa decarboxylase inhibitor. The purpose of the study was to find markers capable of predicting the development of cardiopressor side effects during DA-agonistic therapy. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate, and plasma catecholamine responses to a standard meal and a tilt table test were evaluated before and during cabergoline therapy. Cabergoline (1.0 mg/day x os) in this open study significantly reduced the BP response to standing exclusively in the subgroup of patients who exhibited marked postprandial hypotension in baseline conditions. The patients subsequently experienced a partial recovery at day 7 of treatment. This finding indicates that postprandial hypotension is an early marker of autonomic failure in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and suggests the usefulness of evaluating cardiopressor response to a standard meal before starting new DA-agonist therapy in PD.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Prevalence of pigment gallstones in sheep.

In a survey of 666 sheep at a slaughterhouse, gallstones (concretions with a diameter greater than or equal to 1 mm) were found in the gallbladder of 50 sheep (7.5%), sludge (concretions with a diameter less than 1 mm) was found in 9 sheep (1.4%), and sludge plus gallstones were found in 7 sheep (1.1%). Gallstones and sludge were associated, and were more frequent in lambs and females, compared with adults and males. Qualitative analysis of the stones revealed all to be pigment (bilirubin) stones. There was a statistically significant increase of biliary bilirubin (total and indirect quota) only in sheep with gallstones plus sludge, compared with control sheep without sludge or gallstones. Concentrations of bilirubin, cholesterol, phospholipids, total and single bile aids, and total and ionized calcium were similar in the bile of sheep with gallstones, sludge, or both and control sheep. Bacteriologic analysis of the bile in 10 sheep with gallstones and 10 controls revealed bacteria in 50% of the first group and in 75% of the second group (Escherichia coli in all sheep and Salmonella spp also in 1 sheep with gallstones). These findings confirm our earlier findings of a high prevalence of black pigment gallstones in sheep. On that basis, we suggest that gallstones are associated with high total bilirubin concentration in the bile, and deconjugating bacteria are common in the biliary tract of these animals.

Animals↗