Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Caselli

Publications and source records attributed to G Caselli.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Antimitochondrial autoantibodies in myocardial hypertrophy: comparison between hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hypertensive heart disease, and athlete's heart.

Antimitochondrial autoantibodies (AMA) were tested by indirect immunofluorescence in three groups of subjects with different types of myocardial hypertrophy: 35 patients affected with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC), 20 patients with cardiac hypertrophy secondary to essential hypertension, and 35 active endurance athletes with exercise-induced left ventricular hypertrophy. Forty-two healthy subjects served as a control group. Left ventricular hypertrophy was considered a left ventricular mass (LVM) echocardiographically calculated (Devereux formula), exceeding 244 gm or a LVM index exceeding 122 gm/m2 (greater than 2 SD from a previously studied normal population). AMA were found in 15 of 35 (43%) patients with HC and in 6 of 20 (30%) patients with hypertensive heart disease (p less than 0.01); in contrast, AMA were not present in the sera of athletes or in the sera of controls. Although the significance of AMA in subjects with pathologic myocardial hypertrophy has not yet been established, their absence in the sera of athletes strengthens the opinion that cellular changes, as a compensatory response of the myocardium to a work overload, have a physiologic fashion in these cases. Moreover, identification of AMA in the sera of athletes with disproportionate severe left ventricular hypertrophy of uncertain origin may be helpful to ensure a single diagnosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

[Extreme cardiac hypertrophy in athletes. Morphological and functional echographic study].

Cardiac hypertrophy is an adaptation phenomenon of the heart as a result of increased hemodynamic load due to intense and prolonged training in athletes. This is mainly seen in endurance athletes. In some cases cardiac hypertrophy can mimic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, specially if hypertrophy is mainly localized at the interventricular septum as compared to the left ventricular free wall. In our study we tried to evaluate the different diagnostic features obtained by echocardiography and clinical examination in a group of 23 athletes with marked hypertrophy (all were participants to the 1984 Olympic Games held in Los Angeles) as compared to a group of 11 sportsmen with non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC). Cardiomyopathy was diagnosed on the basis of clinical, echocardiographic and angio-scintigraphic findings. The 23 athletes were selected on the basis of M-Mode and 2D echocardiographic thickness of the interventricular septum (IVS) which was in diastole greater than or equal to 15 mm. They were all asymptomatic, only 4 of the 23 athletes had ECG anomalies due to left axis deviation (LAS) and T wave inversion. Only 4 of the subjects with HC had a family history of HC. ECG changes were the following: T wave inversion (9 subjects), left axis deviation (LAD) (4 subjects), deep Q wave in D2-3, aVF, V5-6 (2 subjects) and low voltage R wave in V5-6 (1 subject). All the athletes had marked hypertrophy of the IVS. Interventricular septum thickness (IVST) was 15.7 +/- 0.6 mm, with a range from 15 to 17.5 mm. Posterior wall thickness (PWT) was 13.7 +/- 1.1 with a range from 12 to 16 mm. The sportsmen with HC had an IVST of 16.2 +/- 3.5 mm and a PWT of 11.3 +/- 1.5 mm. The IVST/PWT ratio was significantly lower (p less than 0.01) in the athletes (1.14 +/- 0.02) when compared to the group with HC (1.4 +/- 0.3). In 7 of the subjects with HC the hypertrophy was mainly localized at the anterolateral segment of the interventricular septum (in 4 of these subjects the hypertrophy involved also the antero-lateral part of the left ventricular free wall).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1988

General pharmacology of the new antitussive levodropropizine.

The general pharmacological profile of levodropropizine (S(-)3-(4-phenyl-piperazin-1-yl)-propane-1,2-diol, DF 526), a new antitussive drug, was compared with that of dropropizine racemate. Levodropropizine had weaker central sedative effects than the racemate and it did not induce physical dependence in rats. When given intravenously or intraperitoneally, levodropropizine did not exert any significant effects on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Receptor binding data excluded interaction with beta-adrenergic, muscarinic and opiate receptors. On the contrary, levodropropizine has affinity for H1-histaminic and alpha-adrenergic receptors. The affinity was also confirmed with isolated organ preparations. On the basis of this study, levodropropizine appears to have a better tolerability index than the racemate.

Airway Resistance↗
PubMed1987

[Chronobiologic study of the dynamic electrocardiogram in healthy athletes with frequent ventricular ectopic beats].

The chronobiologic analysis has been applied to Dynamic ECG data in order to verify whether or not a circadian rhythm for heart rate (HR) and ventricular ectopic beats (VEB's) can be detected in athletes with frequent ventricular arrhythmia (range 169-2120 VEB's/hour). The study was carried out on 10 athletes (7 males and 3 females, aged 11-23 years), taking part in various sports, asymptomatic but characterized by a frequent VEB's. Data have been analysed by means of cosinor method. A circadian rhythm for HR was documented. A circadian rhythm for VEB's was validated in all but one of the athletes. The circadian acrophases for HR occur early in the afternoon. The circadian acrophases for VEB's are prominently diurnal (7 out of 10 cases). The VEB's circadian crest is not associated with the physical activity supporting a relative independency of the rhythmic generator of VEB's.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

[Dermatoses in the spinning and weaving industry].

In order to detect cutaneous alterations among the workers of a textile industry, the authors proceeded to a dermatologic examination of 1207 persons, with special emphasis on skin conditions of the fingers and toes. The most noticeable and specific alteration related to the work was a linear hyperkeratosis of the lateral aspects of the first and second finger of the right hand--the fingers of prehension--submitted to repeated micro-traumas due to the manipulation of the threads. In second place in order of frequency were the intertriginous inflammation of the toes, due to the high level of temperature and humidity prevalent in some areas of the plant, besides the use of inadequate shoes and socks. Some suggestions are made for reducing the incidence of dermatologic risks.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Wenckebach second-degree A-V block in top-ranking athletes: an old problem revisited.

The occurrence of Wenckebach second-degree (Mobitz I) A-V block in apparently normal persons still provides a puzzle for the cardiologist, as the benign nature of this event has been recently questioned. This problem becomes more intriguing when Wenckebach A-V block is encountered in asymptomatic top-ranking athletes, because of medico-legal implications. We report 10 cases of highly-trained athletes, including three with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) features, with a spontaneous or induced Wenckebach second-degree A-V block. Previous ECGs of six subjects, dating from a maximum of 6 years to a minimum of 18 months, were available. Deterioration of A-V conduction has never been documented and all six cases have remained asymptomatic for the whole follow-up period. Athletes have been submitted to a protocol study consisting of ECG recording at rest, during, and after vagal and sympathetic reflex maneuvers, drug administration (isoproterenol and atropine), submaximal and maximal exercise. Nine subjects have been considered to have "normal" responses of the A-V node to provocative tests, since conduction disturbances were improved or normalized by reflex sympathetic stimulations and were completely normalized by autonomic drug administration and exercise. One athlete showed "abnormal" responses to tests. In order to give a conclusive prognostic and medico-legal assessment, we advised him to submit to an invasive electrophysiological investigation. Wenckebach second-degree A-V block in athletes may be a more common finding than so far described, especially when a systematic search is made. In our opinion, this event can still be considered a vagally-induced benign feature of athlete's heart, provided that an immediate improvement of A-V conduction is obtained in response to reflex sympathetic maneuvers, and that a complete normalization after sympathomimetic and vagolytic drug administration and physical exercise is observed. The clinical histories of our athletes and the observed complete disappearance of conduction disturbances after detraining, strongly support this opinion. Wenckebach second-degree A-V block in asymptomatic athletes with MVP features probably does not affect the prognosis if similar favorable responses to the aforesaid tests are observed.

Adolescent↗