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Biomedical subjects

F Di Stefano

Publications and source records attributed to F Di Stefano.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

[Thiadenol in the short-term treatment of patients with blood lipid disorders].

Short-term treatment has been used with 5 tablets/day of BS 530 (Eulip) in 25 patients suffering from various forms of hyperlipoproteinaemia, prevalently of Fredrickson's type IV, with or without signs of general or local arteriosclerosis. The preparation was always very well tolerated and proved to act rapidly in the lowering of both cholesterolaemia and triglyceridaemia.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Senile diabetes and bone mineral density.

Bone mineral density was determined in a series of 67 elderly diabetics (38 males and 29 females) and 40 non-diabetic elderly subjects (20 males and 20 females) at the third medial and tenth ultradistal of the non-dominating radius using an X-ray densitometer (DEXA). Bone metabolism markers (Ct, PTH, HOP, UCA, AP, Vit-25-OH-D, BGP) were also measured. Our results indicate that there is no significant difference in values of BMD and the bone metabolism markers studied between diabetic and non-diabetic elderly subjects. We believe that senile diabetes is not a risk factor of onset and maintenance of senile osteoporosis.

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Altered laboratory thyroid parameters indicating hyperthyroidism in elderly subjects.

The most common laboratory alterations of thyroid function indicating hyperthyroidism were evaluated in a series of 3015 subjects over 65 years of age by determining total T3, total T4 and TSH. Ultrasound and scintigraphy of the thyroid were performed where necessary. Our results showed a high prevalence of laboratory alterations hyperthyroidism type of around 8.09%, whereas the real prevalence (both clinical and laboratory) is 2.00% with a female/male ratio of 2.00. The most frequent hyperfunctioning thyreopaty is thyroidal adenoma (50%), followed by toxic multinodular goiter (33%) and Basedow's disease (17%). The most common clinical signs of hyperthyroidism involve the neuromuscular system and are often present in the so called 'euthyroid' elderly subject. We conclude that it is very difficult to diagnose hyperthyroidism in the elderly on clinical and laboratory grounds. The most significative laboratory thyroid parameter indicating hyperthyroidism seems to be TSH values below 0.2 IU/ml determined using the ultrasensitive IRMA method.

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PubMedDate not supplied

Altered laboratory thyroid parameters indicating hypothyroidism in elderly subjects.

The altered laboratory thyroid parameters indicating hypothyroidism were evaluated in a series of 3015 subjects over 65 years of age by determining total T3, total T4 and TSH. In addition, clinical signs of hypothyroidism were recorded in a subsample of 300 randomly selected elderly. Our results showed a high prevalence of altered laboratory thyroid parameters indicating hypothyroidism of 17.88%, whereas the real prevalence (both clinical and laboratory) is 1.00% with a female/male ratio of 2.00. The most frequent laboratory alterations was the so-called 'alerted pituitary' status'. The most common clinical signs of hypothyroidism involved the nervous system. We conclude that it is very difficult to diagnose hypothyroidism in the elderly and that the most indicative laboratory alterations seem to be TSH values above 3 IU/ml determined using the IRMA method.

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Simple renal cysts in hypertensive patients: relation between cyst growing and anti-hypertensive therapy.

The study investigates relationship between simple renal cyst enlargement studied by ultrasonography and anti-hypertensive treatment. To this purpose we enrolled 42 patients with newly diagnosed hypertension affected by simple renal cysts. Fourteen were randomly assigned to treatment with ACE-Inhibitors (group 1), twelve to diuretics (group 2) and sixteen to Ca-Antagonists (group 3). Patient performed a basal ultrasonography to evaluate basal cyst dimension before starting anti-hypertensive treatment. Following 12 months of the anti-hypertensive regimen, a new echograph was performed to evaluate changes in cyst size. A control group consisting of 15 patients with normal blood pressure and simple renal cysts was enrolled (group 0). An enlargement of cysts was detected in all patients. However, the enlargement observed in patients treated by Ca-Antagonists was significantly greater than that observed in the other groups (p<0.05). Our study supports the hypothesis that Ca-Antagonists may favor cyst enlargement by enhancing cyclic AMP production. In fact, cAMP and cAMP agonists stimulate fluid secretion by lining cells of the cyst wall, inducing cyst enlargement.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Occupational asthma due to low molecular weight agents.

Occupational asthma is defined as variable airflow obstruction and airways hyperresponsiveness caused by exposure to agents present in the workplace. Low molecular weight agents such as isocyanates, aldehydes, anhydrides, colophony, dyes, persulphate, amines, acrylates and metals are steadily increasing as causative agents of occupational asthma. Isocyanates, aldehydes and anhydrides my cause sensitisation through an IgE mediated response in some workers. These agents act as haptens which combine with a carrier protein to form a complete antigen. Assays for the detection of specific IgE are standardized for very few agents and have a good specificity, but poor sensitivity. The diagnosis of occupational asthma relies not only on a suggestive hystory showing that asthma is caused or exacerbated specifically by work exposure, but in most cases needs to be confirmed by objective means. Combined monitoring of lung function parameters, such as peak expiratory flow rate at the work site and non specific bronchial hyperresponsiveness during and away from exposure, is necessary. The "gold standard" for confirming a diagnosis in an individual worker still remains the specific bronchoprovocation test, which has now reached a high degree of sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility for agents such a s isocyanates. In occupation asthma due to low molecular weight agents there are no individual risk factors which could predict the susceptibility to develop the disease. The primary prevention is based on appropriate interventions tn the workplace. The strict medical surveillance of workers may allow the early diagnosis and removal from further exposure in order to prevent morbidity and disability.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Seasonal variability of non-specific bronchial responsiveness in asthmatic patients with allergy to house dust mites.

The aim of the study was to assess the seasonal variability of non-specific bronchial responsiveness to methacholine in allergic asthma. One hundred sixty-five patients (83 male and 82 female) entered the study: 86 subjects (group A) with allergy exclusively to mites and 79 (group B) with concomitant allergy to pollens, e.g., "Graminae" and "Parietaria." Inclusion criteria were the absence of sensitization to other allergens, no smoking habit, withdrawal from steroids, bronchodilators, sodium cromoglycate, and antihistamines for at least four weeks before enrollment, FEV1 > 70% of the predicted value, and absence of other respiratory diseases and of upper and lower respiratory tract infections for at least one month before the methacholine challenge. None of the patients had been previously treated with specific immunotherapy. Subjects of each group (A and B) underwent methacholine challenge at first visit and were divided into four subgroups according to the period when the challenge was performed. Subgroups A1 and B1 performed the challenge in December, January, and February; subgroups A2 and B2 in March, April, and May; subgroups A3 and B3 in June, July, and August; subgroups A4 and B4 in September, October, and November. PD20 values were expressed as the natural logs of the cumulative dose of methacholine causing at least a 20% fall in FEV1. Statistical analysis was carried out using multiple group analysis and Student's t-test. Results showed that the highest non-specific bronchial responsiveness was observed in autumn (ln PC20 = 4.54 +/- 1.51) in patients allergic to mites only (group A), and in summer (ln PC20 = 4.72 +/- 2.11) in those of group B. Multiple group analysis showed statistical significant differences between subgroups within each group (group A, p = 0.039; group B, p < 0.001). In patients allergic exclusively to house dust mites (group A), multiple comparisons and Student's t-test showed statistically significant differences between non-specific bronchial responsiveness (NSBR) assessed in autumn and those of other seasons (winter, p = 0.002; spring, p < 0.001; summer, p = 0.082). These results confirm that the level of allergen exposure may influence NSBR. Mite-allergic patients showed an increase of NSBR in autumn, possibly as a consequence of higher indoor mite concentration. However, mite- and grass-allergic patients had wider variations of NSBR, possibly reflecting changes in seasonal pollen concentration.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A seroepidemiological study of toxoplasma gondii infection in children of northern Greece.

The aims of this study were to determine the incidence of toxoplasmosis in children ofthe northern Greece region through the evaluation of serologic examination. Sera of 486 children, aged between 6 months and 15 years, suffering from different clinical entities, were tested for anti-Toxoplasma gondii specific IgG antibodies, using an ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) technique. In this survey, a high percentage (11.1 percent) of the hospitalized children reacted positively to this method. Males and females had equal prevalence, 11 percent and 11.2 percent, respectively. Seropositivity rate was higher in children aged between 6 and 10 years old. In conclusion, our results indicate toxoplasma infection is an important public health problem affecting children and adolescents in northern Greece. We believe that the study described here could be considered for inclusion in existing national screening programs for hospitalized children.

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PubMedDate not supplied

Allergen immunotherapy: an effective immune-modifier.

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (IT) consists in administering gradually increasing doses of an allergen extract to sensitive patients. This practice results in ameliorating symptoms associated with the subsequent exposure to the causative allergen. Presently, the lack of therapies which affect the pathogenesis of the disease make IT the only treatment that may improve the natural course of allergic diseases.

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