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Biomedical subjects

A Zoli

Publications and source records attributed to A Zoli.

84 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Changes in esophageal motility in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: an esophago-manometric study].

Impairment of esophageal motor function is well recognized in connective tissue disease. We have investigated esophageal function, by manometric studies, presence of symptoms of esophageal involvement and antibodies pattern, in 18 female patients affected by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Esophageal manometry showed motor abnormalities in 72.3% of the patients, especially hypokinetic abnormalities (hypotony of lower esophageal sphincter pressure, low amplitude or alterations of peristaltic waves) or, rarely, an increase of amplitude of peristaltic contractions. No significant correlation were found between antinuclear antibodies, esophageal symptoms and manometric findings. Hypoperistalsis or aperistalsis, may be due to an inflammatory reaction in the esophageal muscles or to an ischemic vasculitic damage of Auerbach plexus. High amplitude of peristaltic esophageal waves may be due to an early stage of reflux esophagitis: we have found gastro-esophageal reflux symptoms in more than half of our patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Sulglicotide in the prevention of gastric disease induced by NSAID. Double-blind controlled study versus placebo].

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, essential for the treatment of rheumatic diseases, are frequently associated with significant adverse effects on the integrity of the gastrointestinal mucosa. Sulglicotide (S), a natural product, has been found to possess gastromucosal protective properties. Aim of the present study was to evaluate whether (S) 200 mg t.i.d prevented or reduced the severity of gastric and/or duodenal mucosal injury induced by Diclofenac. A total of 30 patients with either rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or osteoarthritis (OA) who required NSAID therapy for at least 8 weeks were enrolled into a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study. The main criteria for entry into the trial was the absence of gastrointestinal symptoms, and gastric/duodenal lesions assessed by endoscopy. At the end of the treatment endoscopy and relative symptoms were assessed. Six out of 15 patients, in both groups of treatment developed mucosal injury, but only in the placebo group the gastric damage was important (ulcer and petechiae) while in the group (S) we observed only hyperemia of the gastric mucosa. These preliminary data indicate the usefulness of Sulglicotide in preventing or reducing mucosal injury from NSAID treatment.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of diabetes mellitus in common rheumatic diseases.

Association between diabetes and some rheumatic diseases have been proposed. The aim of our work is the evaluation of the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in a population of patients affected by some common rheumatic disease. We evaluated 356 consecutive out-patients [205 (71.66%) women and 101 (28.34%) men] attending the Rheumatology Unit of the Dept. of Internal Medicine of the Catholic University of Rome. The control group consisted of 200 out-patients, age and sex matched, who were examined in the Dept. of Surgery. The diagnosis of rheumatic patients were osteoarthritis (OA) (45.5%), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (34%) and periarthritis (PA) (20.5%). The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in our rheumatic population was 5.78% in RA, 6.17% in OA, 10.9% in PA. The prevalence of DM in the control group was 4%. Our data suggest that the prevalence of DM in OA and RA patients is similar to that of general population, while it is significantly higher in PA patients probably for an active role of microangiopathy and hyperglycemia in the genesis of such disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Asymptomatic and symptomatic gastroduodenal patients affected by rheumatic disease treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

It is becoming more apparent that the common gastritis and ulcer complications associated with non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID's) are distinct from classic peptic ulcer disease. To assess the incidence of gastrointestinal lesions and the existence of correlation with gastrointestinal symptoms, patients affected by rheumatic diseases treated with NSAIDs were carefully questioned to evaluate gastrointestinal symptoms and then underwent an esophagogastroduodenoscopic examination. The study demonstrates a relevant absence of gastrointestinal symptoms with an high incidence of gastric mucosal lesions in this patients. Asymptomatic lesions seem to be a characteristic feature of NSAID gastropathy. The blockade of synthesis of prostaglandins, due to the inhibition of cyclooxygenase by NSAIDs, may create an environment conducive to gastritis or ulcer disease and may be responsible of the absence of gastrointestinal symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Posture in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a connective autoimmune disease that may involve many organ systems and neural function impairment. Postural apparatus dysfunction in SLE may develop in the case of central and peripheral neural involvement. We studied the presence of postural abnormalities in SLE patients with different degrees of disease activity. Twenty-eight subjects (18 SLE patients and 10 normal controls) underwent postural evaluation by means of Static Computerised Posturography. Disease severity or specific clinical problems did not form selection criteria. Lupus activity was assessed using the Systemic Lupus Activity Measure (SLAM). A statistically significant (p < 0.05) increase in the parameters of trace length, trace surface, trace velocity, standard deviation in velocity, and Fast Fourier trX and Y (FET), were found in both the closed and opened eyes tests, when lupus patients were compared to controls subjects. No significant pattern variation in posture was observed between more active and less active SLE patients. Postural control alterations in SLE may be considered a complication of the chronic autoimmune inflammatory process, independent of disease activity as evaluated by the SLAM index. The site of the neuropathy remains uncertain, although we believe it to be peripheral rather than central in origin due to the absence of symptoms or clinical signs of CNS involvement or vascular degeneration.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Keratoconjunctivitis sicca in rheumatoid arthritis: correlation with the autoantibody pattern].

In order to evaluate the autoantibody pattern of subjects affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with clinical features of keratoconjunctivitis, we studied 32 out- and in-patients (26 women, 6 men, average age 52 years, average disease duration 5.5 years) at the Division of Rheumatology, Catholic University of Rome. We found keratoconjunctivitis sicca and xerostomia in 22 (68.75%) patients with RA. Rheumatoid factor was present in 17 (53.1%) patients, antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were observed in 15 (48.4%) patients, and anti-rheumatoid arthritis nuclear antigens (RANA) in 22 (68.7%) patients; anti-SSA antibodies were confirmed in 3 (9.4%) patients and anti-SSB antibodies in 2 (6.2%) patients. None of the patients evidenced anti-U1RNP. Although keratoconjunctivitis sicca and xerostomia correlated significantly with the presence of rheumatoid factor, we found no relationship between these two conditions and ANA or anti-RANA antibodies. The high frequency of keratoconjunctivitis sicca and xerostomia in our RA patients is the expression of extra-articular involvement in this disease and is correlated with the presence of rheumatoid factor. ANA and anti-RANA antibodies may represent aspecific polyclonal activation in RA.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Microvascular capillaroscopic abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Microvascular circulation was investigated by nailfold capillaroscopy in 32 patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In all the patients elongated and tiny capillaries as well as tortuousity were the main shape abnormalities of the capillary loops. Higher subpapilar venous plexus (SPVP) visibility was evidentiated in patients presenting antinuclear and anti-RANA antibodies. No differences in the capillaroscopic pattern were found between rheumatoid factor positive and rheumatoid factor negative patients. In conclusion, elongated and tortuous capillaries seem to be the main alterations in RA, although they are not specific to the disease and are not correlated with the presence of rheumatoid factor. Higher SPVP visibility may be an expression of the endothelial damage induced by antinuclear antibodies in vessel walls.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Antiphospholipid antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus: study of a caseload of 120 patients].

In order to evaluate the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we measured IgG and IgM anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) in a group of out- and in-patients of the Rheumatology Division at the Catholic University of Rome. Lupus anticoagulant and VDRL were also measured in 30 patients. One hundred thirteen women and 7 men (mean age 38.5 years, mean disease duration 4.27 years) were studied. The control group consisted of 60 age and sex matched healthy subjects. aCL IgG and IgM were positive in 48 (40%) and 49 (40.8%) patients respectively. aCL IgG correlated positively with the activated partial thromboplastin time. aCL IgM correlated positively with immunoglobulins of the G and M classes and with circulating immune complexes, and negatively with the C4 fraction. aCL antibodies did not correlate with spontaneous abortion or neurologic and psychiatric disturbances, although in women with a history of abortion, aCL IgG concentration was correlated with the number of spontaneous abortions. The presence of aPL does not seem to indicate a subgroup of SLE patients. The occurrence of abortion and/or neurologic and psychiatric disturbances in SLE seems to point to a complex pathogenesis with aPL as one of the causative agents.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Quantitative ultrasonography in the evaluation of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Comparison with dual energy x-ray absorptiometry].

In order to compare the capacities of quantitative ultrasonography and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry to measure bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women, 45 postmenopausal patients were studied. They were divided into two groups on the basis of the results of absorptiometry: Group A (20 patients) had BMD values within normal limits, and Group B (25 patients) had BMD values lower than 1 standard deviation (SD) of the average for an age and sex matched population. Ultrasonography of the non-dominant heel was carried out on both groups to determine broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), speed of sound (SOS) and bone velocity (BV). A negative correlation between age and BMD, BV, SOS, and BUA was observed in all subjects. A positive correlation between BMD and BV and between BMD and SOS was found. In Group A, age correlated negatively with BMD, BUA, SOS and BV, and BMD correlated positively with BV. In Group B, age correlated negatively with BMD, and BMD correlated positively with BV and SOS. BV values were significantly elevated in Group B. The study evidenced a relationship between ultrasonography and absorptiometry in determining bone density in postmenopausal women. As ultrasonography and absorptiometry provided comparable information on bone density, we point out that ultrasonography can be used as a simple and sensitive indicator for postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗