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Biomedical subjects

C Fersini

Publications and source records attributed to C Fersini.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

An improvement in digoxin bioavailability. Studies with soft gelatin capsules containing a solution of digoxin.

A study of relative bioavailability of two digoxin formulations was carried out on 28 healthy volunteer human subjects of both sexes. A commercial digoxin in tablet form was compared with a new commercial formulation which contains a solution of digoxin in soft gelatin capsules. The parameters investigated were: plasma levels, area under the plasma level-time curve, daily urinary excretion of digoxin and a series of polycardiographic measurements, all the parameters being evaluated in a steady-state condition (14 days of treatment). All the parameters investigated demonstrated better bioavailability in the capsules than in the tablets, the average improvement being 26.1%. The better bioavailability of digoxin capsules also resulted in more rapid and wider variations in the polycardiographic parameters.

Adult↗

[Evidence for circadian variability in the renin-angiotensin II system (author's transl)].

Circadian variations of P.R.A. and angiotensin II were studied in three normal subjects and nine hypertensive patients. All data were analysed by a mathematical-statistical method called "cosinor". Analysis of results has shown: 1) Circadian rhythm of P.R.A. which in the normal subjects reaches its acrophase (maximum daily level) in the morning, while in the hypertensive patients the acrophase recurs in the afternoon; 2) Circadian rhythm of angiotensin II in the normal subjects, which is not detected in the hypertensive patients. Angiotensin I does not exhibit rhythm in both groups.

Angiotensin II↗

Circadian variation in the time of onset of acute gastrointestinal bleeding.

The increased attention to biologic rhythms and clinical manifestations of several diseases has recently led to the identification of "chronorisks" for certain pathologic events. To evaluate whether a temporal pattern exists for acute gastrointestinal bleeding, 369 consecutive patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding observed at the emergency department (ED) of S. Anna Hospital of Ferrara, Italy, during a 3-year period (1988-1990) were studied. On presentation to the ED, 287 patients had upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding (UGB), and 82 patients had lower gastrointestinal tract bleeding (LGB). In 270 cases of UGB and in 75 cases of LGB, the hour of symptom onset was known and the data were analyzed for the number of observed versus expected events during the four 6-hour intervals of a day. The majority of events occurred in the morning (32.2% of UGB and 42.7% of LGB). Cosinor analysis yielded a circadian rhythmicity with a peak in the late morning to early afternoon for both UGB and LGB independent of sex and site of bleeding.

Acute Disease↗

Fatal pulmonary embolism in hospitalized patients: evidence for a winter peak.

This study was intended to determine whether there are circa-annual variations in the incidence of fatal pulmonary embolism for hospitalized patients. Patients (152), admitted into both the medical and surgical departments of St. Anna Hospital of Ferrara, Italy, during an 8-year period (1983-1990) and who died in hospital as a result of pulmonary embolism, were considered. The day and month of death were registered, and analysed by inferential statistics (single cosinor). A circa-annual variation, with a statistically significant peak in late January (P = 0.002), was found for the total sample. After stratification by sex, this winter peak was confirmed only for women (P = 0.006).

Aged↗

[A "plethora", minor and transient, as an immediate cause of a cerebrovascular accident].

Even if the well-known predisposing factors play an essential role in the realization of cerebrovascular accidents, in these last years the possible importance of the hemoreologic parameters is still a topic under discussion. The authors found a significant increase of the considered hemoreologic parameters (HT, Hb, RBC) in the patients hospitalized for cerebrovascular accidents compared to controls, without differences for gender, even if this increase remained into the limits of normal range. Conversely, no significant differences were found concerning the considered metabolic parameters.

Aged↗

Acute sublingual nifedipine and adrenergic activation: a chronobiologic attempt of optimized administration in healthy subjects.

Nifedipine has been shown to increase heart rate and plasma catecholamines, due to an adrenergic activation. Two healthy male subjects, after a period of sinchronization, have self-measured heart rate (HR) every 30 min for two consecutive days through a portable, non invasive, automatic device. The data were then analysed by means of chronobiologic procedures, to verify their personal HR acrophase. Forty-eight hours later, the same subjects repeated the trial, assuming 20 mg of sublingual nifedipine just one hour before their calculated HR acrophase, and data were analysed at the same way. After drug assumption, both HR acrophases and mesors failed to show any modification.

Administration, Sublingual↗

Temporal organization of cerebrovascular accidents: a retrospective, preliminary study about stroke in Ferrara, Italy.

An epidemiologic retrospective study was conducted from January 1984 to December 1988 on subjects admitted into the Institute of Semeiotica Medica of the University of Ferrara (as a general medicine, unselective department) and presenting a stroke. Year, month and hour of onset of symptoms in 141 patients (all resident in Ferrara, mean age 74.3 +/- 8.3 years) were carefully recorded. The definition of precise clock hour was reached only in 108 cases. The data were then analyzed by means of Halberg's single cosinor. Time series analysis showed a seasonal pattern of disease onset, characterized by a circannual rhythm with acrophase in late winter - early spring (-83.9 degrees). A significant circadian rhythm was found too, with acrophase at afternoon (-242.8 degrees).

Aged↗

[Erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase in subjects on periodic hemodialysis].

Red cell carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes I and II have been measured by means of cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis in patients with chronic renal failure and dependent on periodic hemodialysis; these patients showed a chronic anemia due to many factors. Carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes were higher in uremic and anemic patients than in the controls. Since hemoglobin can act as a protons acceptor from the active site of carbonic anhydrase during the hydratation of CO2 (and vice-versa), the increase of carbonic anhydrase can facilitate, via the Bohr effect, the transfer of the oxygen to the peripheral tissues. Therefore an increase of red cell carbonic anhydrase can constitute a compensating mechanism of anemic hypoxia in uremic patients.

Adult↗