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Biomedical subjects

A Napoli

Publications and source records attributed to A Napoli.

68 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

Personality correlates of successful biofeedback training.

This study was designed to examine the role of personality in effectiveness of biofeedback training. The Edwards Personal Preference Schedule was administered to 37 subjects assigned to Accurate Information and Misinformation groups in a heart-rate conditioning experiment. The treatment effect was not significant, but personality variables of exhibition, succorance, deference, and aggression were reliable predictors of success in biofeedback training. Post boc analyses for treatment x high-low score classification on the Edwards variables indicated that accurately informed subjects high in succorance or exhibition demonstrated significantly greater heart-rate reduction than subjects given other treatment.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Incidence of hepatitis A virus infection among an Italian military population.

In 1990, a prospective serological survey to estimate the rate of clinical and inapparent infection with hepatitis A virus (HAV) was performed in a cohort of 1,268 soldiers, 18-24 years old, during an 8 month period in the Campania region in Italy. At the time of enrollment 318 (25%) of the 1,268 soldiers were positive for total antibodies to HAV (anti-HAV). None of them was positive for IgM anti-HAV. Among the 950 susceptible subjects who were followed up for 8 months, eight (0.8%) later seroconverted to anti-HAV positivity. This figure corresponds to an incidence of 1.3/100 person/years (eight seroconversions during 633.3 years of observation). There were two clinical (with presence of IgM-anti-HAV) and six inapparent infections. The clinical/subclinical HAV ratio was 1:3. These findings indicate that the risk of HAV infection among soldiers residing in this area is not negligible.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Impaired alpha cell function in conditions with cortisol deficiency.

Plasma immunoreactive glucagon (IRG), insulin (IRI) and blood glucose (BG) were evaluated in the fasting state and during an arginine test (ATT) in 6 subjects with untreated hypopituitarism (H), in 2 hypopituitary subjects with normal cortisol production (H + C), in 3 subjects with Addison's disease (A) and in 14 normal volunteers (N). No increase in BG was observed in H and A after arginine, mean values being significantly lower than in N. Mean fasting and arginine-stimulated IRI levels were lower in H and A than in N; postabsorptive arginine-induced IRG levels were significantly reduced when compared to N. In contrast IRG levels in the two H + C patients were within the normal range. The impaired IRG production in A and in H (but not in H + C) suggests a close relationship between alpha pancreatic function and cortisol levels.

Addison Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

High-resolution CT angiography of the abdomen.

Multislice computed tomographic angiography (MSCTA) is a versatile technique that combines speed, excellent contrast, superb spatial resolution, and extreme simplicity. It has a wide range of applications in the abdomen including all vascular pathologies, occlusive or dilative, with excellent demonstration of atherosclerotic plaques in large or smaller branches. MSCTA is the method of choice in the follow-up of patients undergoing endovascular procedures for aneurysms. It provides excellent results in assessing vascular involvement by neoplasms arising from the liver, biliary tract, pancreas, kidneys, and all other abdominal organs. MSCTA can be used successfully in potential living donors and in the follow-up of recipients. Although MSCTA is a brand new technique, several developments are under investigation, which should allow further advancements in speed and spatial resolution.

Abdomen↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The selective elimination of anionic immunoglobulins as a parameter of kidney damage in diabetes and diabetic pregnancy.

IgG1 and IgG4 have similar molecular weights but differ in pH (about 9 and 4.6, respectively). Their different rates of excretion in the urine of diabetic patients may indicate an impairment of charge selectivity in the kidney filter. Working on this hypothesis, a sensitive new ELISA for the detection of urinary IgG4 has been developed. This method can detect less than 1 ng/ml of this immunoglobulin; total IgG was detected by a RIA method developed by our laboratory. Twenty-eight Type I diabetic patients with or without clinical nephropathy were included in a cross-sectional study. An additional seven diabetic patients were followed over time, and eight diabetic pregnant women were studied during the different trimesters of pregnancy. Whereas both IgG4 and total IgG values were increased in clinically nephropathic patients, levels of IgG4, but not IgG1-3, were enhanced in patients without clinical nephropathy. In the latter group as well, IgG4-positive patients were microalbuminuric; all but one of the remaining patients were IgG4 and albumin negative. There was no significant variation in IgG4 values with time on repeated samples. The increased glomerular filtration rate in diabetic pregnancy did not significantly modify the levels of IgG4 in the urine. These results are in accordance with a selective excretion of this medium to large sized anionic protein (IgG4) in incipient (or stage III) diabetic nephropathy. Urinary IgG4 could be an additional useful marker when studying diabetic patients with early and pre-clinical stages of diabetic nephropathy.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Synthesis of isoxazolidino analogues of 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides.

The complete set of the 4'-aza analogues of 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides was synthesized by cycloaddition of N-tetrahydropiranyl or N-trityl methylene nitrones on suitably protected vinyl nucleobases. The convertible nucleoside approach was used in the preparation of cytosine and 5-methyl cytosine analogues.

Dideoxynucleosides↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Reactivity models of 1-N-vinyluracil and synthesis of a new class of potential antiviral agents by the use of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions.

By the use of a convergent approach based on 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions between N-protected formylnitrones generated in situ and 1-N-vinyluracil, a new class of 4'-aza-analogues of 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides is synthesized. Competitive reaction for the endocyclic bond of uracil also brings to a new isoxazolidine derivative fused with the pyrimidine nucleus.

Antiviral Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Magnetic resonance angiography with contrast media in the study of carotid arteries].

PURPOSE: Purpose of our study was to determine the feasibility and accuracy of contrast enhanced Turbo-MRA (CE-MRA) in the evaluation of patients with carotid artery stenosis, using a dynamic technique with multiple acquisitions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 37 patients with suspected carotid artery stenosis were studied with a 1.5 T magnet (Siemens Vision Plus) using, with a neck phased array coil, a dynamic tridimensional T1 weighted spoiled GRE (TR/TE/NEX: 3.8/1.4/1; Matrix = 110 x 160; FOV = 163 x 260 mm TA = 10 seconds for each sequence); 4 consecutive sequences were performed during the same breath hold, acquired after i.v. bolus injection with a power injector (Spectris, Medrad) of 15 ml of Gd-DTPA followed by 10 ml of saline solution (flow rate 2 ml/s). The beginning of the sequence coincided with the injection of Gd-DTPA. Images were reconstructed using a standard MIP algorithm, by selecting which of the sequences provided the highest enhancement. In all patients a DSA was also performed. Images were separately evaluated using conventional angiography as the gold standard and assessed for degree of stenosis by using NASCET criteria, and morphology of the plaque. RESULTS: CE-MRA correctly evaluated the degree of stenosis in 71 of the 74 patients, while overestimated the remaining 3 cases correctly evaluated by DSA. In 12 cases ulcerations were adequately demonstrated by one of the radiologist, while 11 on 12 were depicted by the other one. CE MRA allowed to detect tandem lesions of the internal carotid arteries (by both radiologists) in 13 of 74 carotids studied. Stenosis at the origin of the common carotid arteries were correctly detected in 9 cases. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were respectively of 98, 97 and 99%. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: In order to perform an optimal CE-MRA a dynamic technique must be performed to avoid venous filling. The possibility to use ultrafast imaging allows to selectively image the carotid arteries without jugular filling. The well known tendency to overestimate the degree of stenosis has not been found in this group of patients. CE-MRA is a rapid, reliable method to evaluate patients with suspected carotid artery stenosis. These results allow to consider dynamic CE-MRA as a valid method for direct imaging of the carotid arteries.

Carotid Stenosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Analysis of the chaotic component of the sinusal R-R intervals as a tool for detecting a silent cardiac dysautonomia in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

This study explores the heart rate (HR) variability (V) in order to detect whether the chaotic component of the sinusal R-R intervals (SRRI) can be interpreted as an early indicator of a silent cardiac neurovegetative dysautonomia in apparently uncomplicated Type 2 diabetic patients (DP). The SRRI were provided by the 24-h Holter ECG of 10 Type 2 DP (5 M and 5 F, mean age = 41 +/- 5 years). Control data were obtained by the 24-h Holter ECG of 10 clinically healthy subjects (CHS, 5 M and 5 F, mean age = 38 +/- 6 years). The chaotic component of HRV was investigated via the correlation dimension (CD) analysis (A) of the SRRI, performed per each hour of the ECG recording. The hourly-qualified series of SRRI, HR and CD index (I) were, in turn, analyzed via methods of conventional statistics and chronobiology, the latter ones for assessing the circadian rhythm (CR). The CDI CR was found to peak during the night in CHS, and to be unphysiologically rotated to the diurnal hours of the day in Type 2 DP. The diurnal inversion of the CDI CR in Type 2 DP suggests that the chaotic component of HRV shows an abnormal rhythnic pattern over the day-night period. Considering that the investigated Type 2 DP were lacking of documentable signs of cardiac neuropathy, it is hypothesized that the diurnal phase of shift CDI CR might be a potential indicator of a silent autonomic cardiac dysfunction in Type 2 DP. Such a hypothesis waits for further confirmations.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The changing epidemiology of hepatitis A in Italy.

In 1990, the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis A virus infection (anti-HAV) was assayed by the ELISA method on a national sample of 1000 recruits aged 18-24 years. The overall prevalence was 29.4% (22.4% in the northern and central regions, 32.2% in the south and islands; p < 0.01). Compared with a similar study conducted in 1981, the results show a marked reduction in anti-HAV prevalence (from 66.3% to 29.4%; p < 0.01). These findings reflect the improved sanitation standards in Italy and indicate that the proportion of non-immune adults is increasing, with a higher risk of symptomatic infection in the near future.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Schwannomas of the digestive tract. Observations on a case localizing in the ileum].

The schwannomas are rare tumors taking origin from Schwann's cells; even rarer is their location at a peripheral level. Even if they show the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of a benign tumor, it is possible that they engage malignant course, with possibility of recurrency and of distant metastasis. In the alimentary tract the schwannomas reveal with repeated episodes of digestive hemorrhage which could engage, according to the location, the characters of enterorrhagia or melena. Arteriography has the higher diagnostic sensibility, in course of bleeding. The CT could demonstrate a submucosal neoplasia. The diagnosis of schwannomas is based on the immunohistochemical search of the protein S100, that allows to differentiate them from the tumors of muscular origin, having such tumors common histological and cytological aspects. The schwannomas are today set in the widest chapter of the so-called "stromal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract" (GISTs) with an indefinite malignancy which need surgical excision and an attentive follow-up. The authors report a case of schwannoma located at the first jejunal loop, having had repeated episodes of digestive hemorrhage. The diagnosis was based on the selective arteriography of the upper mesenteric artery and the immunohistochemical search of the protein S100. The surgical treatment consisted of the resection of the jejunal loop, after having sought for eventual multiple locations of the neoplasia.

Female↗