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Biomedical subjects

G Gravante

Publications and source records attributed to G Gravante.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Analysis of prognostic indexes and other parameters to predict the length of hospitalization in thermally burned patients.

BACKGROUND: In a retrospective study the influence of several clinical data and prognostic indexes on the length of hospital stay in burned patients was investigated. METHODS: We recorded all admitted patients from January 2004 to December 2005 except for electrical and chemical injuries or patients that died during recovery. Age, gender, weight, height, body surface area, fluid, caloric and protein delivery, Total Burn Surface Area, full thickness burn surface area, Roi index, Baux score, Unit Burn Standard index, Abbreviated Burn Severity Index and the length of hospitalization were registered. A univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to look for correlations between these parameters and the length of hospitalization. RESULTS: We recorded eligible 233 patients. The univariate analysis showed that age, protein and caloric delivery, Roi index and ABSI were significantly related with the length of hospitalization while, at the multivariate analysis, only Roi index was related (p<0.05). However, Roi index was able to predict only 5.5-6% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: A correlation exists between the length of hospital stays and the Roi index in burned patients but does not explain the bulk of evidence. Further studies are required to investigate this relation, to screen other parameters and to correlate them with measures of outcome, i.e. functional (the range of motion of articulations) or aesthetic (patient's self assessment of his body image).

Adult↗
PubMed2007

"Systemic apoptotic response" after thermal burns.

The systemic pathophysiologic changes following thermal injuries affect multiple organs and body systems leading to clinical manifestations including shock, intestinal alterations, respiratory and renal failure, immunosuppression and others. Recent advances in the comprehension of mechanisms underlying systemic complications of thermal injuries have contributed to uncover part of the cellular and molecular basis that underlie such changes. Recently, programmed cell death (apoptosis) has been considered playing an important role in the development of such pathological events. Therefore, investigators utilizing animal models and clinical studies involving human primates have produced a large body of information suggesting that apoptosis is associated with most of the tissue damages triggered by severe thermal injuries. In order to draw the attention on the important role of apoptosis on systemic complications of thermal injuries, in this review we describe most of these studies, discuss possible cellular and molecular mechanisms and indicate ways to utilize them for the development of therapeutic strategies by which apoptosis may be prevented or counteracted.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Influence of family history to type 2 diabetes on the body composition and homeostasis model assessment: a comparison between young active and sedentary men.

AIM: Family history (FH) to type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a risk factor to the development of illness, inducing early anthropometric and metabolic modifications in sedentary subjects. The aim of this paper was to study the FH to DM influence on body composition and glucose metabolism in young sedentary and active men. METHODS: In a cross-section analysis, we recorded anthropometric data, body composition (by BIA), plasmatic insulin and glucose in 60 young healthy Sicilian men (31 athletes and 29 sedentary subjects); FH was defined FH+ if subjects referred to have at least one family member of first degree with documented DM; men without FH to DM were defined FH-. RESULTS: In sedentary subjects, FH+ was associated with the highest values of body mass index (P<0.05) and an increase in the waist-hip ratio (P<0.0585). Sedentary FH+ had a worse body composition, because of an increase in fat mass (P<0.05 for absolute and percent values). Compared to FH- sedentary men, FH+, with lower basal plasmatic insulin, had lower levels of homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) (P<0.05). Between FH+ and FH- athletes no differences were found. CONCLUSIONS: In young men subjects, study confirms influence of FH to DM on physical data, body composition and glucose metabolism and the protective role of a regular physical activity. In subjects FH+ the promotion of health education can prevent the arising of obesity and diabetes; other studies on subjects of both sexes are necessary to assess relation between FH degree to type 2 DM and early physical and metabolic modifications.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Plantar pressure distribution analysis in normal weight young women and men with normal and claw feet: a cross-sectional study.

We analyzed the plantar support in 72 normal-weight young voluntaries (46 women, 26 men), by a baropodometric platform. We considered subjects with claw foot (CFS) and subjects with normal foot (NFS). We found a significant reduction of total plantar support surface in the CFS (P < 0.0001 for women, P < 0.001 for men), due to the reduction of the forefoot and rear foot areas of both plantar imprints. Indeed, CFS of both sexes exhibited higher values of both plantar pressure and peak pressure, compared to the NFS. Moreover, the load per units of plantar surface increased in CFS compared to the NFS. In conclusion, the reduction of plantar support surfaces in CFS of both sexes was associated to a major load per units of plantar surface in the forefoot and rear foot areas, and this may be a risk factor to lower extremity overuse injuries.

Adolescent↗