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Biomedical subjects

G Bellini

Publications and source records attributed to G Bellini.

68 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1975

Response of plasma lipid fractions to the administration of exogenous phospholipids.

Plasma lipidic fractions (total lipids, free and total cholesterol, triglycerides, total phospholipids and low density lipoproteins) of 16 hyperlipemic subjects have been followed up over a 4-week period. Intravenous injection of exogenous phospholipids prepared from pig heart resulted in a significant decrease of all the examined lipidic fractions. The possible mechanims of exogenous phospholipids action is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Oscillatory potentials of the electroretinogram in hypertensive patients with different antihypertensive treatment.

Oscillatory potentials of the electroretinogram are useful to confirm the diagnosis of essential hypertension. Thirty-five hypertensive patients underwent primary antihypertensive therapy with four different treatments. Oscillatory potentials were recorded before the treatment and after 12 months. The oscillatory response increased in a statistically significant manner in the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor group. This is probably caused by the vasodilatation mechanism, which increases the retinal blood flow.

Action Potentials↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of L-Dopa after acute and 6-week tolcapone administration in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Tolcapone, a central and peripheral catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor, reduces the conversion of L-Dopa into 3-O-methyl-Dopa (3-OMD), thus leading to more stable and sustained L-Dopa plasma levels. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of acute and 6-week tolcapone administration on L-Dopa pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with predictable motor fluctuations. Tapping test, walking time, and tremor, as well as L-Dopa and 3-OMD plasma levels, were assessed before and for 5 hours after the administration of a single L-Dopa dose, alone or in combination with 200 mg tolcapone, in seven patients with PD. This clinical and pharmacokinetic study was repeated after 6 weeks of tolcapone therapy (200 mg three times daily). It was observed that tolcapone, after both acute and chronic administration, prolonged the motor improvement induced by L-Dopa. As a result, at week 6 of tolcapone therapy, the daily hours spent "off" were significantly decreased. Tolcapone significantly increased the area under the curve of L-Dopa plasma levels by slowing down the elimination of L-Dopa from plasma, whereas the maximal concentration of L-Dopa was not modified. 3-OMD levels decreased significantly after acute tolcapone administration, and after 6 weeks of tolcapone therapy, they were approximately one sixth of pre-tolcapone values. The data confirm that tolcapone decreases L-Dopa clearance and prolongs motor response in PD patients with motor fluctuations, and that this effect is maintained after 6 weeks of tolcapone therapy.

Antiparkinson Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

SSRIs do not worsen Parkinson's disease: evidence from an open-label, prospective study.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been reported to be useful in the treatment of depression in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, a few reports have suggested that SSRIs may worsen parkinsonian motor symptomatology and extrapyramidal side effects have been reported in depressed patients treated with SSRIs. So far, no prospective trial comparing the effects of different SSRIs in depressed patients with PD has been performed. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of four SSRIs (citalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, and sertraline) on motor performance and their efficacy on depression in a group of patients with PD. Sixty-two consecutive nondemented, nonfluctuating, depressed patients with PD were included in four treatment groups (15 patiens received citalopram, 16 fluoxetine, 16 fluvoxamine, and 15 sertraline). The evaluation of extrapyramidal and depressive symptomatology was performed with use of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Beck Depression Inventory, and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale at baseline and after 1, 3, and 6 months. Fifty-two patients completed the study. UPDRS scores were not significantly modified by the add-on therapy with each of the SSRIs studied. A significant improvement in depressive symptoms from baseline to the end of the trial was obtained with all SSRIs (Beck and Hamilton scores improving; p < 0.05 according to an analysis of variance). Our findings suggest that SSRIs do not significantly worsen extrapyramidal symptomatology and may ameliorate depression in patients with PD.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nifedipine reduces postexercise proteinuria in young volunteers.

Previous studies have demonstrated that it is possible to prevent postexercise proteinuria with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. To determine whether calcium antagonists have the same effect, 40 young healthy volunteers underwent maximal aerobic exercise with and without nifedipine 10 mg per os 1 h before the first or second trial. Urinary excretion of albumin (UAE), transferrin (UTE) and alpha 1-microglobulin (UME) were examined before and after each trial. UAE, UTE and UME were significantly increased after exercise. Nifedipine significantly decreased UAE (p = 0.001) and UTE (p = 0.02) after exercise, and slightly decreased the maximal work load and the basal excretion of albumin. UME was unchanged. Therefore, the results of this study demonstrate that nifedipine administration before exercise significantly reduces postexercise proteinuria.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Comparative assessment of arterial blood pressure and body composition in athletes practicing physical culture and in obese subjects].

The relationship between body weight excess and hypertension has been widely demonstrated. Some body-builders can reach an important body weight excess because of the skeletal muscle hypertrophy; their body mass index is comparable to that of obese subjects, although body fat excess is responsible for overweight in the latter. Blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose and insulin, Na+, K+, Ca++ urinary excretion have been compared in three groups of young males: 1. body builders with BMI greater than 27; 2. obese subjects with BMI greater than 27; 3. normal subjects with BMI less than 25. Systolic blood pressure was similar in body-builders and obese and significantly higher than in the control group. Diastolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose and insulin were similar in normal subjects and in body-builders and significantly lower than in obese subjects. Although our results confirm the relationship between increased diastolic blood pressure, hyperinsulinemia and body fat excess, the finding of increased systolic blood pressure suggests caution in body-building, because systolic hypertension has been demonstrated to be a risk factor for vascular diseases.

Adult↗