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Biomedical subjects

D Catalano

Publications and source records attributed to D Catalano.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of age, gender and hyperparathyroidism on lean body mass in hemodialysis patients.

Hyperparathyroidism of hemodialysis patients is associated with osteo-dystrophy, impairment of cardiac function, of peripheral nerve conduction, of response to r-HuEPO and with decrease of lean body mass. Primary hyperparathyroidism of post-menopausal women is associated with increased fat mass (FM). The study investigated if gender varies relationship between i-PTH, and body composition, assessed by multifrequency bio-electrical impedance analysis (BIA), cardiac function, assessed by echocardiography, and anemia, in long-term hemodialysis patients. Seventy patients on long-term bicarbonate dialysis, 34 male and 36 post-menopausal female, were studied. i-PTH RIA, multifrequency BIA and Kt/V were assessed at three months intervals. i-PTH (345.88 +/- 199.58 vs. 224.26 +/- 161.62 pg/ml, p < 0.01) and FM% (39.13 +/- 10.42 vs. 30.95 +/- 5.88, p < 0.001) were both significantly higher in women vs men; BMI was not significantly different. In the total group of patients (r = 0.572, p < 0.001) and in women (r = 0.68, p < 0.001) a positive correlation was found between i-PTH and FM%, and reciprocally an inverse negative correlation with free fat mass (FFM) was observed. No significant relationship was observed in men. Decrease of blood pressure measurements and increase of left ventricular Ejection Fraction, in the comparison of beginning and end of three dialysis sessions, were significantly greater in women. Reduced FFM of women on dialysis could have also some relationship with a more close long-term adherence to dietary protein restriction. Hyperparathyroidism in chronic renal failure patients could share liability of bone structural abnormalities, cardiac function impairment, excitable tissue disease, and anemia. However, malnutrition, and its consequent relative decrease of lean mass, resulting from kidney disease and, possibly, from nutritional behavioral modifications, could be responsible of the multi-organ involvement of hyperparathyroidism in end-stage renal disease.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Quality of life in hemodialyis patients: the effect of educational status].

INTRODUCTION: Hemodialysis has a major influence on the quality of life of chronic renal failure patients. Great attention is currently paid to the development of supporting programmes for this patient group. Aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life in maintenance dialysis and to research the influence of various factors related to treatment and ESRD on quality of life, taking into account also the level of school instruction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Reduced functional abilities, as measured by the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), and Functional Living Test (FLT), derived by Karnofsky Activity Scale were assessed; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) and semistructured interviews, including a clinical grading of symptoms were considered vs. age, duration of dialysis, level of school instruction. The study was performed with 40 hemodialysis patients, aged 57.4 +/- 14.9 years (range 22-79), treated since at least three years. RESULTS: Significant (P < 0.05) independent correlates with higher SIP scores (greater disability) and Functional Living Test were lower educational level, and the score of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD). No correlation was found for any of the three scales vs. age and vs. dialytic age; no gender difference was observed. DISCUSSION: A greater care in considering Quality of Life questionnaires is warranted, especially for the severe interference of instruction level of patients on results. QALY (Quality Adjusted Life Years), used as a tool for decision-making in clinical and political subsets, can include critical bias that invalidate conclusion.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Quality of life in menopause. Experimental research].

Psychophysiological relationship in menopausal women was explored by the comparison of stress level and resistance to stress and related symptoms: socio-economic and cultural variables and willingness to participate into a specific therapeutic program were taken into account. One hundred women, aged 44-59 years (54.2 +/- 5.64), that consecutively were referred to an out-patient menopausal Clinic, were studied by a questionnaire that evaluates quality of life (qol) derived and adapted from the Sickness Impact Profile and the Functional Living Test; moreover the test MSP (psychological stress measurement), translated from the original and adapted to Italy, was used. Psychological complaints of women examined are minimal: adaptation tests are substantially normal, and stress index measurements are even lower in comparison with a gender and age matched population group. Our results suggest that after a short period of psychological tension at the onset of climaterium, women acquire a positive, stable status, well different from stereotypes and prejudices around psychological disturbance associated with menopause. Minimal relevance of perceived disturbance seems the reason that limits the women's need and request for a specific therapy. Menopausal depression seems more related to life changes than to hormonal alterations. Reduced physical fitness, increased risk of parental death, difficulty to cope with new roles, apart the care of adult sons or daughters. A critical point is socio-economic level and the possibility to maintain a satisfying work. Contextual conditions, and specially degree of instruction, type of role change inside the family and number of sons, appears the most evident and relevant variables that mediate psychophysical conditions and perceived quality of life.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Erythropoietin and cisplatin-induced neuropathies in cancer patients].

Anaemia commonly occurs in cancer patients on chemotherapy, often necessitating blood transfusion, and, in most recent years, treatment with human recombinant cythropoietin (rHuEPO). However, several extra-hematological effects were reported for EPO, and multi-organ physiological effects on development and repair of tissues are described both on nerves and muscles. Moreover, EPO is presently used in oncological patients with the goal of preventing or limiting anemia secondary to chemotherapy. Ten patients with advanced lung cancer and without neurological impairment assessed by Siegal score and without severe anemia, were studied. Patients (age 56.2 +/- 8.3 years) were random assigned to two groups of 5 patients each: the control group and the EPO treated group. In both groups, at the end of the study, hemoglobin concentration was not different (above 9 mg/dl). In EPO treated group neurological score was 4.00 +/- 1.87, significantly lower (p < 0.004) in comparison with untreated group (score 9.20 +/- 4.32). From these preliminary data we suggest that EPO treatment in cancer patients can exert also a limiting effect on cisplatin peripheral neurotoxicity.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Portal flow, nutritional status, and circulation effects of parathormone].

Circulatory effects of parathyroid hormone (PTH) were reported in experimental animal models, also in liver portal system. We devised to study non invasively relationship between plasmatic iPTH and portal blood flow rate in humans. The study was done in a group of healthy post-menopausal women aged 52.0 +/- 5.2 years (range 47-65), not treated with hormone therapy, with different body mass index. Women were studied by echocolor-doppler and by clinical and biochemical assays of common laboratory test and of iPTH, insulin and prolactin (RIA). A positive correlation between iPTH and mean portal flow rate was observed in the overall group. Women with BMI < 25 showed a more marked correlation between these two parameters, not observed in women with BMI > 25, with slight-moderate overweight. In this last group an inverse correlation between blood pressure and iPTH was observed. From these preliminary results, as previously observed in chronic disease, relationship among iPTH, regional flows and nutritional state can be operating also in physiological conditions.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Perception of cultural correlates of medicine: a comparison between medical and non-medical students--the authoritarian health.

UNLABELLED: Aim of the study was to ascertain if a common cultural feeling of young people toward health, disease, physician's role and doctor-patient relationship, is present, and if under- and post-graduate students concepts and opinions modify during their stay in a School of Medicine. The study (1999-2001) was performed by anonymous questionnaires with 75 students (m = 28; f = 47) of the State School of Medicine, tested at the 3rd year, and with 73 students (m = 29; f = 44) tested at the 5th year of course; moreover with 71 (m = 30, f = 41) postgraduate residents at the 3rd year of specialty (Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Surgery). A group of 76 (m = 33; f = 43) students of the last year of a high school was also tested as reference group. RESULTS: Interference of medical under- and post-graduate school curricula on thoughts of youngsters toward health, disease, physician's role and doctor-patient relationship appears quite limited. Dissimilar way of thinking of medical vs. non-medical students was confined to some aspects concerning patient's possibility of healing, physician's role, behavior and function in chronic diseases. In the whole, our results suggest a trend, growing with the age of students, toward a more authoritarian and less "participative" approach with the patient: less confident relationship and more conflictual and antagonistic behaviors are widely considered and accepted. A general perspective with the construct of an authoritarian concept of health is superimposed as a net of rules and conditions on feelings' background of youngsters: postgraduate students regard themselves (and are perceived by younger students) as the guardians of an "healthy" system founded on scientific, economical and sociological grounds, as a work pointing to effectiveness, more than as a science with the target of efficacy. CONCLUSION: Impact of curricular studies of Medicine on youngsters is complex, but seems to modify only some and limited aspects of previously acquired thoughts and feelings on health and disease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychological stress measure in type 2 diabetes.

Psychological stress has been implicated as a cause of several psychosomatic disorders, but also as a factor that can unfavourably influence many diseases including diabetes mellitus. Measure of psychological stress in diabetes was performed by Psychological Stress Measure (PSM), a validated instrument, designed using 49 items drawn from descriptors generated by focus groups on stress. Clinical and psychological framework was assessed in a cohort of 100 type 2 diabetic patients (30 m, 70 f), aged 66.99 +/- 13.68 years considering disease grade, complications and level of instruction. Three other questionnaires were administered concurrently to all patients: Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), Functional Living Index (FLI) and SF-36 QOL. ANOVA statistical testing and Spearman correlation matrix were used also vs socio-cultural and clinical profile. Gender, obesity, diet compliance, smoking do not affect PSM response. Hypertensive patients and those with family history of diabetes show lower PSM scores, according to a sort of moderator effect on stress of concurrent and/or previous experience with chronic disease. Neuromuscular ailments are more prevalent in women; men vs women experience severe limitations of their working capacities and relational possibilities, with severe discomfort. In the whole, higher scores of PSM (greater stress p < 0.01) and lower scores of FLI (fair well-being perception; p < 0.01) are reciprocally related inside any school instruction level. Despite the great reciprocal association of the PSM vs FLI and SIP, no significant correlation is found between PSM vs SF-36 QOL. Socio-cultural elements interfere, and particularly instruction level quantified as school grades achieved, with the manner of living their disease. Interventions on psychological distress of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients is warranted, specially in the groups with lower levels of instruction which may need an attentive strategy for achieving a satisfactory coping with this disease.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Connectivitis and diseases of the digestive system].

Gastroenteric changes in patients suffering from connectivitis observed consecutively between 1977 and 1986 have been examined: of the 24 patients (20 f, 4 m) aged between 13 and 76 yrs observed, 12 suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, 8 systemic lupus erythematosus, 2 sclerodermia, 2 mixed connectivitis. 14 reported gastroenteric disturbances, particularly dyspepsia, rarely dysphagia, diarrhoea, melena. Gastroenteric lesions, gastroesophageal reflux, erosive oesophagitis, oesophageal diverticulum, congestive gastritis, duodenitis, duodenal ulcer, diverticular colonopathy were observed, confirming the frequency of gastroenteric changes in connectivitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The morphological characteristics and ultrastructural aspects of cervical ripening induced by sulprostone.

Cervical tissue biopsies from fifteen pregnant women who were seeking a second trimester elective abortion were examined before and after sulprostone systemic administration, to evaluate the hystological and ultrastructural modifications. While light microscopy showed an increase in vascularity and a submucosal edema with an infiltration of inflammatory cells, electron microscopy pointed out a complete dissociation of collagen fibers with a large increase of basic substance constituents. These features are similar to modifications found in the ripening process at term, demonstrating that sulprostone can be useful to prime uterine cervix.

Abortifacient Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chlorambucil in the treatment of iridocyclitis in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

A patient with chronic, progressive, iridocyclitis secondary to pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is described. The patient's iridocyclitis was unresponsive to topical, systemic, and subtenon injections of corticosteroids, but did respond to low doses of chlorambucil. The use of immunosuppressives may be indicated in severe, unresponsive iridocyclitis secondary to JRA.

Arthritis, Juvenile↗