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Biomedical subjects

G De Vito

Publications and source records attributed to G De Vito.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Determinants of maximal instantaneous muscle power in women aged 50-75 years.

The present study aimed at analysing the age-related decline in maximal muscle power (W) in 52 sedentary healthy women aged between 50 and 75 years to determine whether force or velocity is the major determinant. Maximal muscle power was estimated from two types of vertical jumps, squatting (SJ) and countermovement (CmJ), performed on a force platform. It was obtained by measuring the vertical force (F(opt)) applied to the body centre of gravity and calculating the corresponding vertical velocity (v(opt)). An age-related decline in absolute W was statistically significant in all the conditions examined and in both peak W and average power (W) values. The decrease in v(opt) was also statistically significant. Also F(opt) declined but this reduction was not statistically significant with the exception of the average value in CmJ. Not surprisingly the highest W were obtained in CmJ, and the difference in power production between the two types of jump showed an age-related decrement only in W. The main finding of the study was the demonstration that v(opt) was the critical determinant of the age-related decline in W in healthy elderly women.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Epidemiology of musculoskeletal disorders due to biomechanical overload.

The link between occupation and musculoskeletal disorders has been focused on in numerous research projects, ranging from those simply observing the different pathological findings reported among workers performing particular tasks, down to the latest studies actually quantifying the 'exposure' of workers to physical and psychosocial stimuli. For some disorders and certain tissues, it has been reported that specific types of work-related exposure are associated with the development of musculoskeletal pathologies, and that the relative risks for certain types of occupational exposure can be extremely high. This has been proven in relation to tendinitis of the shoulder and hand-wrist, carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as several localized aspecific musculoskeletal symptoms, such as pain. For other pathologies, the studies reported contradictory results. This is the case for lateral epicondylitis and cervical radiculopathy.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed1997

Is the Olympic boardsailor an endurance athlete?

The present study was carried out in order to describe the physiological profile of top Olympic boa rdsailors of both genders and to measure the energy cost during actual boardsailing with particular attention to the most demanding conditions. Fourteen elite Olympic boardsailors (7 males and 7 females) volunteered to participate in the study. Each subject underwent a maximal cycle ergometer test in orderto measure VO2peak and ventilatory threshold (Tvent). Additionally, anthropometric measurements including body fat percentage were taken. The cardiorespiratory demand and the energy cost of actual boardsailing were assessed by means of a very light telemetric device (K2 Cosmed) which allowed the measurements of VO2, VE and HR. VO2peak was 63.6 +/- 2.3 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1) (Tvent 70% of maximum) and 49.2 +/- 4.1 (Tvent 60% of maximum) in males and females, respectively. The data recorded during actual boardsailing show that this sport activity can be classified as aerobic, the VO2 values being above or very close to those of Tvent values (75% and 60% of the maximum in males and females). Furthermore the mean blood lactate values obtained at the end of each regatta testing were 6 +/- 2 mMol x l(-1) in males and 5 +/- 1.5 mMol x l(-1) in females indicating a partial involvement of anaerobic metabolism, which in some regatta phases could represent a limiting factor for performance.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1997

Low intensity physical training in older subjects.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of a low intensity general training program (< 50% of heart rate reserve) on physical fitness of healthy older subjects, by comparing maximal and submaximal indices of training response. METHODS: Twenty-two volunteers over 60 years of age participated in the present study. The sample was randomly divided in an experimental group of 13 older subjects (3 men and 10 women, mean age 63.5 +/- 3 years) while the remaining 9 subjects (3 men and 6 women, mean age 64.2 +/- 4 years) served as inactive control group. After medical screening all participants were evaluated before and after 12 weeks in which the experimental subjects underwent a low intensity training. Each subjects-either inactive or active-performed two treadmill tests at two-days interval, to measure maximal and submaximal responses to exercise, respectively. Heart rate (HR), oxygen uptake (VO2) and pulmonary ventilation (VE) were measured using a telemetric apparatus. RESULTS: The major finding of the study was the significant improvement in submaximal response to exercise of experimental subjects, expressed by the reduction in HR, VO2 VE while VO2 max did not change. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, it appears that a low intensity general training similar to that followed in the present study may represent a good means to improve physical fitness in healthy elderly people. Similarly, this study supports the effectiveness of evaluation tests based on submaximal responses to exercise in this population.

Aging↗
PubMed1997

[Changes in the treatment of cardiac emergencies and their influence on fatalities. Data from the MONICA Project, Brianza Area].

BACKGROUND: During the last decade, clinical trials consistently modified the therapeutic approach to coronary disease, and particularly to acute myocardial infarction. However, the magnitude of the contribution to the observed reduction in case fatality rates due the therapeutic improvement is still being debated. OBJECTIVES: To determine the real degree of implementation of the "suggested treatments" on clinical practice, and to evaluate their global effect on coronary mortality. METHODS: Analysis of the type of administered treatment in two consecutive series of acute coronary events, observed during the year 1986 (500 events) and 1989 (907 events), registered by the MONICA Project-Brianza Area. We evaluated: pre-coronary times; type of hospitalization; type of treatment before, during and after the event; occurrence of cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation both in and out of hospital; global and specific fatality rates at 28 days. RESULTS: In the study period, overall coronary fatality rates changed from 29.4 to 23.6% (19% decrease-p < 0.05), fatality of confirmed AMI changed from 16.4 to 8.3% (49.4% decrease-p < 0.005); specific fatality for out of hospital cardiac arrest was unchanged (99%). Pre-coronary times were unmodified in the two periods of observation: hospitalization < 1 hr. in 20%, < 6 hr. in 50%, > 24 hr. in 10% of events. The percentage of cases admitted in CCU changed from 47.4 to 54.8% (from 71.6 to 86.4% of patients with confirmed AMI-p < 0.025). Thrombolysis in confirmed AMI changed from 29.3 to 43.2% (p < 0.001); antiplatelets treatment changed from 19.7 to 81.9% (p < 0.001); the use of betablockers went from 16.6 to 44% (p < 0.001) while the use of other agents was unmodified. Coronary arteriography and revascularization procedures continue to play a marginal role. CONCLUSIONS: The MONICA registry experience shows that very important changes occurred in the treatment of coronary emergencies, particularly in the acute phase of myocardial infarction, suggesting that in our area, standardization of the therapeutic protocols might be responsible for the observed reduction of coronary fatality even though the advantages were observed only in hospitalized patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Job strain and ambulatory blood pressure levels in a population-based employed sample of men from northern Italy.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the associations between categories of perceived job strain and blood pressure, measured by clinical and ambulatory devices on a population-based sample of employed men in northern Italy. METHODS: The study included 527 employed normotensive or mild hypertensive nonmedicated men enrolled in an age-gender stratified random sample of 821 25- to 64-year-old residents of the city of Monza (in the vicinity of Milan). The job-strain categories were classified according to the traditional quadrant-term approach and also a new approach based on the comparison of extreme tertile categories in order to enhance contrasts. Clinical blood pressure was measured according to the standardized MONICA procedure; 24-h, work, leisure, and nighttime blood pressure values were obtained with an ambulatory device. Disparities, calculated as differences between clinical and ambulatory measurements, were also analyzed. RESULTS: Among normotensive working men the highest mean for systolic blood pressure was found in the high-strain group, and progressively lower values were found in the passive, active and low-strain categories. These patterns were observed for both the clinical and ambulatory measurements. Among the mild hypertensive subjects, lower mean values for ambulatory systolic and diastolic blood pressure were found in the passive and high job-strain categories when the tertile term approach was adopted. The passive group also showed the highest mean difference between the clinical and ambulatory measurements; this finding indicates that they may be more susceptible to alarm reactions. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that job strain affects blood pressure in population-based samples and the effect is consistent across sociocultural contexts.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Decrease of endurance performance during Olympic Triathlon.

The present study was carried out in order to quantify the athlete's endurance impairment after two out of three sequential events of Olympic Triathlon (OT). Furthermore the significance of ventilatory threshold (Tvent) and peak of oxygen uptake (VO2peak) as triathlete's performance predictors was assessed. Tvent and VO2peak were measured in six male triathletes performing an incremental treadmill test a week before an ad hoc triathlon event. The same test was applied immediately after the first two segments of the triathlon (1.5 km swim, 32 km bike). VO2peak and Tvent measured during the latter test were reduced compared to the first test. VO2peak decreased from 69 to 64 ml.kg-1.min-1 and Tvent from 58 to 51 ml.kg-1.min-1 p < 0.01), respectively. VO2peak and Tvent measured in the first test were well correlated (P < 0.05) to both running and cycling times. The Tvent measured during the second test was related to the running time but with a higher significance (p < 0.01) than in the first test. The impairment in the endurance performance induced by the first two segments of OT is an important aspect to consider both in training and in race strategy. These results also provide evidence that VO2peak and Tvent are good predictors of triathlon performance at least in cycling and running events.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Ambulatory blood pressure normality: results from the PAMELA study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine ambulatory and home blood pressure means and distributions in relation to clinic blood pressure in a general population. METHODS: We obtained a random sample of 2400 subjects stratified by sex and 10 year age groups to be representative of residents aged 25-64 years of the city of Monza. Participation rate was 69% (1651 subjects). Blood pressure measurements consisted of clinic blood pressure (average of three measurements, sphygmomanometry), home blood pressure (average of morning and evening measurements, semiautomatic device) and ambulatory blood pressure (automatic readings at 20 min intervals, Spacelabs 90207). Clinic blood pressure was obtained both before and after home and ambulatory blood pressures. Data analysis did not include 213 subjects receiving antihypertensive drug treatment and was therefore limited to 1438 participants. RESULTS: In the 1438 subjects, clinic, home and ambulatory blood pressure showed a normal-like distribution, with a taller peak and a narrower base for ambulatory than for home and clinic values. Clinic, home and ambulatory blood pressures were significantly related to each other (P always < 0.001). The means of the two clinic blood pressures obtained on consecutive days were superimposable (127.4 +/- 17.0/82.3 +/- 9.8 and 128.2 +/- 16.5/81.9 +/- 9.9 mmHg) and both were markedly higher than home and 24 h average blood pressures (8.2 mmHg), which were similar to one another. The differences between clinic and home or 24 h average blood pressure were similar in both sexes but increased with increasing age and clinic blood pressure values. The influence of clinic blood pressure values on the clinic-ambulatory or clinic-home blood pressure differences was more important than age. Although higher than the 24 h average value, daytime average blood pressure was also lower than clinic blood pressure. Night-time blood pressure was markedly lower than the daytime value in both sexes and at all ages. CONCLUSION: Data from a large and unbiased sample of a general population show that home and 24 h or daytime average blood pressures are much lower than clinic blood pressure. The relatively close correlation between blood pressure values measured with the different methods used has allowed calculation of home and ambulatory blood pressure values corresponding to the accepted upper limit of normality of clinic blood pressure (140/90 mmHg). The upper limit of normality for the population was for both home and ambulatory blood pressures in the range 120-130 and 75-81 mmHg for systolic and diastolic values, respectively, with slight differences depending on sex and age. Taking 140/90 mmHg as the upper normal limit of the population is therefore an error that leads to individuals whose home or ambulatory blood pressures are high being considered as normotensive.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Drop in cardiovascular and coronary mortality in Lombardia, 1969-1987. Evaluation of reliability of the estimates and possible explaining hypothesis].

The results of the present analysis indicate, from 1969 to 1987, a sharp and stable decline in cardiovascular (CVD) mortality in Italians aged 35-74 years (37.6% in males 53.6% in females). These trends were responsible for consistent reductions of total mortality (27.5% and 38% in the two gender groups, respectively), and for the increase of life expectancy. The decrease involved the two major components of CVD mortality, i.e. coronary heart disease (CHD) (23% in males and 44% in females) and cerebrovascular diseases (Stroke) (42.6% in the former and 51% in latter gender group). All these mortality decrements have been higher in the Lombardia Region. Comparing age-adjusted mortality rates in 1968 and 1987, it was possible to estimate that 23,040 deaths were saved in one year among the residents of this northern part of Italy, and the decrease of CHD mortality was responsible for about 30% of the total national decrement of CHD deaths, within comparable age strata. This is attributable both to the higher rates registered at the beginning of the studied period, and to the sharper decline observed. The social impact, in terms of reduction of deaths, was prominent for males. Among the northern male population, the amount of prevented deaths due to CHD and Stroke was equivalent (2072 vs 2172). Data from a MONICA Collaborating Center, located in the region--Area Brianza--, allow us to estimate, for coronary diagnoses reported on death certificates in the 1980s, acceptable levels of accuracy (Cohen's Kappa of .35, with 99% CI .27-.43) and sensitivity (87%). In comparison with earlier estimates carried out in the late 1970s, it is possible to hypothesize an increase of sensitivity over time for certified myocardial infarction diagnoses, which could have contributed to the underestimation of the observed decrements. In dealing with estimates of the reasons for these declines, only suggestions could be addressed because results of specific and comprehensive studies are not presently available. By comparing MONICA data with the results obtained in earlier surveys, it is possible to estimate that about 20 to 30% of the CHD decline, which occurred in the Region, might be attributed to the decrease of in-hospital coronary case-fatality. Moreover, major coronary risk factors (total cholesterol, blood pressure and cigarette smoking) show parallel positive changes, but their contribution in predicting the CHD downfall is difficult to evaluate on the basis of existing data.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Ambulatory blood pressure normalcy: the PAMELA Study.

Although ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is gaining in popularity, it still has important limitations in clinical use, particularly for the definition and diagnosis of hypertension. Various attempts have been made to calculate 'normal' or 'reference' values for ambulatory blood pressure, mostly by 24-h non-invasive monitoring in groups of 'normal' subjects. The most appropriate approach, however, is to compare 24-h ambulatory blood pressure values and casual or clinic blood pressure values in a random sample of a suitably large population. The PAMELA Study has been planned to obtain an epidemiological evaluation of 24-h ambulatory blood pressure values, and its design is described here. In the city of Monza, 2400 subjects aged between 25 and 64 years have been randomly selected according to World Health Organization Monitoring Cardiovascular Diseases (WHO-MONICA) project criteria within sex and age strata. In these subjects, clinic blood pressure, random-zero blood pressure, ambulatory blood pressure (24-h monitoring with SpaceLabs 90207; Redmond, Washington, USA), home blood pressure, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic indices, cardiovascular risk factors and psychological variables are being measured.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Genetic polymorphisms in the Croatian ethno-linguistic minority of Italy.

Phenotype and gene frequencies of twelve genetic markers (ABO, RH, MNS, ACP1, ESD, PGD, PGM1, PGM2, HB, ALB, CP and HP) of the three Croatian communities (Acquaviva Collecroce, Montemitro and S. Felice del Molise) living in Southern Italy are reported. From the comparison with the surrounding Italian population and with Balkan populations, some instances of still incomplete genetic admixture can be inferred (ABO*A and O, ESD, PGD and PGM1).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Critical fusion frequency in MS during mild induced hyperthermia.

By raising the body temperature of 0.5 degrees C the critical fusion frequency of a flickering light increases in normal subjects but decreases in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The change was present in 14 patients with definite MS and in 5 of 10 patients with probable MS. No clinical worsening was observed during the procedure or in the following hours.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

The fetus in the extrauterine environment.

The influence of environmental factors on early development is discussed beginning with studies on the preterm newborn, most of which compare preterms who have reached 40 weeks conceptional age with full term newborns in respect of neuropsychic development. They are therefore open to several methodological criticisms and have supplied often contradictory results. With ultrasound techniques it is now possible to compare the fetus with the preterm in respect of motor development at the same conceptional age. The variety of methods used and the limits of fetal observability, especially in the last weeks of gestation, nonetheless demand great prudence in the interpretation of data obtained by this new means. The incidence of various motor patterns was assessed in a group of 10 preterms at low risk for neurological damage by means of weekly video recordings. The preliminary results seem to indicate that many items in the motor repertoire do not change substantially at the approach to 40 weeks conceptional age and are similar to those described in the fetus.

Child Development↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of the socioeconomic status in epidemiological surveys: hypotheses of research in the Brianza area MONICA project].

Socio-economic status (SES) has been reported as a causative factor of increasing health inequalities in industrialized countries. The phenomenon has been particularly investigated for job related diseases, including cardiovascular disease and risk. The group of occupational medicine specialists in the world wide MONItoring program of CARdiovascular disease (WHO-MONICA Project) is now producing a number of hypotheses about the application of internationally defined criteria and tools for SES evaluation in the Italian area of the Project, Area Brianza. After a short review of some main conceptual and methodological problems, a proposal is presented of an SES index, derived from the pooled data of two population surveys carried out in this area. From a randomized sample of 3200 residents, 25-64 years old, stratified by sex and age decade, 1731 subjects, 594 females and 1137 males, employed at the time of the screening were extracted. Four variables were considered: age, education, occupational level and job-strain (according to the Karasek-Theorell model) by which each subject was classified in three levels--high, medium, low--of education and occupation, whose combination was used to obtain as many levels of socio-economic status. This a method of building an SES index is based on a sequence of approximations following two essential criteria: limitation of the variables to be surveyed, through standardized procedures; ability to identify the "low" SES category, presumably more at risk for disease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Epidemiology of musculoskeletal disorders caused by biomechanical overload (WMSDs)].

The link between occupation and musculo-skeletal disorders has been focused on in numerous research projects, ranging from those simply observing the different pathological findings reported among workers performing particular tasks, down to the latest studies actually quantifying the "exposure" of workers to physical and psycho-social stimuli, Recently, Hagberg et al (11) carried out a critical review of the literature concerning the upper limbs. For some disorders and certain tissues, the authors reported that specific types of work-related exposure are associated with the development of musculo-skeletal pathologies, and that the relative risks for certain types of occupational exposure can be extremely high. This has been proven in relation to tendinitis of the shoulder and hand-wrist, carpal tunnel syndrome, and tense neck syndrome, as well as several localised aspecific musculo-skeletal symptoms, such as pain. For other pathologies, the study reported contradictory results. This is the case for lateral epicondylitis, narrow chest syndrome and cervical radiculopathy. Associations have moreover been observed between several groups of disorders and certain psycho-social factors (e.g. workload, degree of discretionality).

Brachial Plexus Neuritis↗