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Biomedical subjects

G Costa

Publications and source records attributed to G Costa.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Age- and menopause-related changes in speed of sound and ultrasound attenuation of the os calcis in a healthy Italian female population.

This study assessed changes in ultrasonometric variables of bone (speed of sound, broadband ultrasound attenuation and stiffness) related to age and years since menopause in a normal Italian female population. Two hundred and thirty-one healthy female subjects, age range 18-78 years, divided into two groups (113 pre-menopausal, age range 18-51 years, and 118 post-menopausal, age range 46-78 years), were investigated. The results obtained show that there was a linear decrease in speed of sound, broadband ultrasound attenuation and stiffness with age; a similar pattern was also observed in post-menopausal women as far as the correlations between ultrasonometric variables and both age and years since menopause were concerned. In particular, speed of sound declined at a rate of 0.86 m/s for each year post-menopause, while broadband ultrasound attenuation declined at 0.4 dB/MHz, and stiffness at 0.5 units. These findings suggest that ultrasound variables might be able to detect characteristics of bone that are barely influenced by estrogen deficiency, and depend on other factors. Therefore, ultrasound measurement should be considered as a possible alternative to x-ray densitometry for the assessment of the skeleton.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Effects of fructose-1,6-biphosphate on microsphere-induced cerebral ischemia in the rat.

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate has been shown to exert beneficial effects in different experimental models of cerebral ischemia. In view of this evidence, we have determined whether the compound protects the brain during microsphere-induced ischemia. One thousand two hundred microspheres were injected into female rats through a catheter inserted into the right common carotid artery and, 15 minutes and again 24 hours later, we intravenously treated the animals with 333 mg Kg(-1) of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. The injection of microspheres produced significant changes in the rats' gross behavior, in their performance in the beam walking test, and in their brain lactate concentrations. The treatment with fructose-1,6-bisphosphate significantly attenuated the behavioral alterations induced by microsphere ischemia, but not in reducing brain accumulation of lactate. Moreover, the compound was shown to ameliorate the blood-brain barrier dysfunction, produced 2 and 4 hours after microsphere injection, evaluated by the Evans blue method. These results suggest that fructose-1,6-bisphosphate possesses salutary properties against the damages induced by microsphere ischemia.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Endothelin receptor-mediated Ca2+ mobilization and contraction in bovine oviductal arteries: comparison with noradrenaline and potassium.

1. The effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1) were studied in bovine oviductal arteries and compared to those of noradrenaline (NA) and high K+ (K+). The influence of endothelium, the receptor subtypes involved, and the mechanisms of Ca2+ mobilization were assessed. 2. ET-1 (0.1-300 nM) induced concentration-dependent contractions with a potency of 10(3) and 10(2) times higher than NA (0.1 microM-0.1 mM) and K+ (9.5-119 mM), respectively. Removal of endothelium or NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG, 0.1 mM) pretreatment did not affect responses to either ET-1 or K+, whereas the NA response was significantly increased. Indomethacin (1 microM) had no effect on either of these agonists. 3. The rank order of potency for the ET isopeptides was: ET-1 = ET-2 > ET-3. The ETA receptor-selective agonist, sarafotoxin 6c (S6c), had no effect. The ETA receptor-selective antagonist, BQ-123, showed a competitive antagonism on the ET-1 response (pA2 value of 6.58 +/- 0.01), whereas contractions to ET-3 were completely abolished by BQ-123 at 0.1 microM. 4. Concentration-response curves to both ET-1 and NA were shifted to the right and their maximum response reduced to approximately 56% and 65% of controls, respectively, under 30 min of incubation in Ca(2+)-free solution, whereas responses to K+ were almost abolished by this treatment. Contractions to both NA (30 microM) and ET-1 (30 nM) were maximally inhibited after 10 min of extracellular Ca2+ deprivation. 5. Contractions to ET-1 were more potently inhibited by nickel (Ni2+, 0.3 mM), whereas nifedipine (1 microM) and cadmium (Cd2+, 0.1 mM) induced only a slight effect. In contrast, opposite effects were found for both NA and K+. 6. Treatment with ryanodine (100 microM) and caffeine (10 mM) in Ca(2+)-free solution reduced the tension measured 5 min after NA (30 microM) and ET-1 (30 nM) addition, but the sustained response (tension at 25 min) remained unaffected. 7. Calphostin C (1 microM), a specific protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, reduced the maximum contractile response to ET-1 by about 50% without significantly affecting its pD2 value. 8. These results suggest that ET-1 acts in bovine oviductal arteries by directly activating a homogenous population of ETA receptors in smooth muscle, without endothelial modulation. Several Ca2+ activation mechanisms seem to be involved in the contractile action of the peptide, including: (1) extracellular Ca2+ entrance through Ni(2+)-sensitive and L-type Ca2+ channels; (2) intracellular Ca2+ release from a ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+ store; and (3) sensitization of the contractile machinery to Ca2+ via PKC.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Intralesional sonographically guided injections of lymphokine-activated killer cells and recombinant interleukin-2 for the treatment of liver tumors: a pilot study.

Primary and metastatic liver cancers have a poor prognosis. At present, sonographically guided alcohol injection results in a partial reduction of cancer masses even if severe toxic effects (including pain and bleeding) are always present. For these reasons, a pilot study was started to evaluate the feasibility of an intralesional adoptive immunotherapeutic approach, using lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells and recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2). Nine patients (one with primary hepatocarcinoma and eight with liver metastases) entered the study. Four cycles of weekly injections of LAK cells (ranging from 2 to 9 x 10(8)) and 10(6) IU rIL-2 were performed percutaneously under ultrasonic guidance. In the same period, 3 x 10(6) IU rIL-2/day, for 24 days, was injected subcutaneously. All patients but one completed the therapy. Side effects were limited to grade 1-2 fever and were mostly related to rIL-2 subcutaneous injections. No patients complained of having pain during intralesional therapy. Two complete responses were detected. One partial response, four stable diseases, and one progressive disease were observed. One patient was not evaluable. These preliminary results suggest that sonographically guided intralesional adoptive immunotherapy of liver tumors is feasible, safe, and could offer promising therapeutic advantages in cancers for which conventional treatment is generally unsatisfactory.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Drinking habits as cofactors of risk for alcohol induced liver damage. The Dionysos Study Group.

BACKGROUND: The Dionysos Study is a cohort study of the prevalence of chronic liver disease in the general population of two northern Italian communities. It included 6917 subjects, aged 12-65 (69% of the total population). AIMS: The aim of this part of the study was to examine the relationship of daily alcohol intake, type of alcoholic beverage consumed, and drinking patterns to the presence of alcohol induced liver damage in an open population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 6534 subjects, free of virus related chronic liver disease and participating in the first cross-sectional part of the study, were fully examined. Each subject underwent: (a) medical history and physical examination, (b) evaluation of alcohol intake using an illustrated dietary questionnaire, and (c) routine blood tests. More invasive diagnostic procedures were performed when indicated. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis showed that the risk threshold for developing either cirrhosis or non-cirrhotic liver damage (NCLD) was ingestion of more than 30 g alcohol per day in both sexes. Using this definition, 1349 individuals (21% of the population studied) were at risk. Of these, only 74 (5.5% of the individuals at risk) showed signs of liver damage. The prevalence of "pure" alcoholic cirrhosis was 0.43% (30 of 6917), representing 2.2% of the individuals at risk, with a ratio of men to women of 9:1, while 44 (3.3% of the individuals at risk) showed persistent signs of NCLD. After 50 years of age, the cumulative risk of developing both NCLD and cirrhosis was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) for those individuals who regularly drank alcohol both with and without food than for those who drank only at mealtimes. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that in an open population the risk threshold for developing cirrhosis and NCLD is 30 g ethanol/day, and this risk increases with increasing daily intake. Drinking alcohol outside mealtimes and drinking multiple different alcoholic beverages both increase the risk of developing alcohol induced liver damage.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Social class and cancer survival in Turin, Italy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate social differences in cancer survival in residents of Turin, Italy. DESIGN: Incident cases from the Piedmont cancer registry were linked to municipality files and 1981 census data, and followed up from 1985-92. The census provided data on education and housing tenure, which were used as indicators of social class. The case fatality ratio (CFR) was estimated through a proportional hazard model, with socioeconomic indicators as risk factors. MAIN RESULTS: Educated people of both sexes showed better survival for all malignant neoplasms together and, particularly among men, for tumours which show a better prognosis such as cancer of colon-rectum, larynx, prostate, and bladder. The relative risk of dying, compared with people who had only primary school education, decreased from 0.91 for those with middle school education to 0.67 for those who held a university degree. CONCLUSION: There were major differences in cancer survival showing a poorer outcome for those from the lower social stratum, particularly in sites for which effective treatments are available. Since is unlikely that the observed differences could be totally explained by extraneous factors, such as competing mortality, it is concluded that even in a country where the health system offers universal coverage, non-financial barriers act by creating differences in opportunities for better care.

Educational Status↗
PubMed1997

Validation of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in Italy.

Validation of the Italian version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is described. Sixty-one post-partum women (aged 22-43 years) were evaluated. Degree of accuracy of the Italian EPDS was carried out by comparing results with those obtained by means of the clinical interview Present State Examination (PSE). Nine women (15%) were suffering from clinically significant depression. The best cut-off score of the Italian EPDS was between 9 and 10; this showed the highest sensitivity (100%) with a good specificity (83%). These results are concordant with the validation of the original English scale and of other translated versions. This study confirms that the EPDS is an extremely useful screening instrument that shows consistent psychometric features when translated and used in different community contexts.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

The problem: shiftwork.

Shiftwork, particularly that including night work, causes disruption of biological rhythms and perturbation of the social and family life that can negatively affect performance efficiency, health, and social relations. Adverse effects can manifest themselves in the short term as sleep disturbances, shiftlag syndrome, psychosomatic troubles, errors, and accidents; in the long term, there is an increased risk for gastrointestinal, psychoneurotic, and cardiovascular diseases, and women shiftworkers can be more vulnerable in relation to their reproductive function and family duties. A high interindividual variability is recorded in both short-term adjustment and long-term tolerance, being connected to individual factors as well as to work organization (shift schedules in particular) and social conditions.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1997

[Brucellosis with osteo-muscular localization. A case report of a not rare pathological condition].

Brucellosis may show itself only through its bone and muscle complications, especially in the lumbar region, such as vertebral colliquation or psoas abscess. The authors describe a case of brucellosis (56 year old male, butcher) with lumbar bone and muscle involvement. The first symptom was a persistent pain of the right lumbar region, with irradiation to the homolateral leg. At admission the patient showed a lumbar cutaneous fistula with pus-like secretion. Quick diagnosis and therapy can prevent irreparable damage, even when the symptoms are silent.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and respiratory function].

A prospective analysis of 58 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy was undertaken to assess pulmonary function changes related to the surgical procedure. Pulmonary function tests were performed preoperatively, as well as 24 hrs., and 48 hrs. after operation. Additionally blood gas analysis was assessed 1 hr. and 6 hrs. after the procedure. At 24 hrs. from operation significant decreases in forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1", and Tidal volume to 72% (p < 0.001), 70% (p < 0.001), and 92% (p < 0.001) of preoperative values respectively were registered. There was a reduction in PaO2 (p < 0.001) and an increase in PaCO2 (p < 0.05) at 24 hrs. An increase in PaCO2 was also observed 1 hr. (p < 0.001) and 6 hrs. (p < 0.05) postoperatively. Blood gas analysis revealed pH value slightly lower than normal at 1 hr. from operation (p < 0.01). The pulmonary function tests returned to preoperative values at 48 hours.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Familial and psychological risk factors of ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: The aetiology of ulcerative colitis is still unknown. Several theories have been proposed taking into account psychological influences. AIMS: The present study was undertaken to test the hypothesis of a relationship between certain individual psychological patterns, stress, some familial variables, and ulcerative colitis. PATIENTS: A series of 122 patients with ulcerative colitis and a matched hospital control population were independently studied by a team of physicians and a team of psychologists. METHODS: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Form Y) and Sacks' sentence completion tests were submitted to all subjects in both populations. RESULTS: Data showed significantly higher anxiety trait and state in ulcerative colitis patients, whilst 84% of ulcerative colitis patients showed a variety of obsessional traits and an affectivity state characterized by introversion and emotional immaturity. A link was found with regard to relationship with mother, to the condition of single children in the male ulcerative colitis population (41% vs 18% controls), and to last born daughters in the female ulcerative colitis group (47.5% vs 27.9% controls). In addition, a previous stressful life event within the 12-month period prior to the investigation was found in 44.3% of ulcerative colitis patients and in 10.7% of controls. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological disturbances and familial condition are proposed as risk factors, if not actual aetiological variables of ulcerative colitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis successfully treated by hepatic vagotomy.

Idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis and sphincter of Oddi disorders have been increasingly found to be concomitant problems. Treatment of this condition requires disruption of the integrity of the sphincter of Oddi. The case of a 16-year-old girl with sphincter of Oddi motor disorders and idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis who was successfully treated with hepatic vagotomy. This result, if confirmed, could add to our present knowledge of the physiopathology and pathogenesis of sphincter of Oddi motor disorders.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

Hormonal Secretion of Nurses Engaged in Fast-rotating Shift Systems.

The aim of the study was to assess whether fast-rotating shift systems, including one or two consecutive night shifts, would cause significant disturbances of the normal hormonal patterns of ten young female nurses working in an intensive care unit. Plasma cortisol, serum prolactin, and growth hormone were measured at the start, middle, and end of one morning (07-14), one afternoon (14-21), and two night shifts (21-07); urinary excretion rates of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s), adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norephinephrine) were determined for each half of the four shifts. During the night shifts, the hormones more sensitive to exogenous components, such as catecholamines, prolactin, and growth hormone, showed an immediate response to the shifted sleep/activity cycle, evidencing a "masking effect" due to the work activity. On the other hand, hormones having stronger endogenous components, such as cortisol and melatonin, showed a more stable pattern, with a slight tendency for partial adjustment of cortisol during the second night.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors block acetylcholine-evoked release of dopamine in rat striatum, in vivo.

In the rat striatum, acetylcholine (ACh) increases dopamine (DA) release. The role of increased cholinergic activity provoked by acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEi) on DA release is currently under revision after recent papers have shown a blockade of nicotinic transmission by AChEi in vitro. To study the effects of AChEi in vivo, Fasciculin2 (FAS), a peptidergic AChEi, and physostigmine (PHY), a classical carbamate AChEi, were applied through push-pull or microdialysis cannulae respectively, to the striatum of rats, alone or with ACh. Extracellular concentrations of DA were assessed by HPLC with electrochemical detection. Alone, the AChEi studied did not provoke changes in basal extracellular levels of DA, in the different doses studied. ACh (100 microM, 1 and 5 mM) applied through the push-pull cannulae in basal conditions provoked a dose-dependent increase of extracellular DA. This effect was not observed with ACh in concentrations of 100 microM and 1 mM if FAS (0.4 and 4.2 microM) was applied first. Higher concentrations of ACh (5 mM) evoked a partial response after FAS 0.42 microM, an effect still blocked by FAS at 4.2 microM. PHY 50 microM applied through microdialysis completely blocked the increase in DA release provoked by ACh 10, 20 mM, while at ACh 30 mM, PHY 50 microM only partially blocked the evoked increase. A partial blockade was also observed with PHY 20 microM, on the three different concentrations of ACh. On the other hand PHY 10 microM did not block any of the ACh doses perfused. These results showed that AChEi like FAS and PHY interfere with the ACh-evoked DA release in the striatum.

Acetylcholine↗