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Biomedical subjects

G Nappi

Publications and source records attributed to G Nappi.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Erythrocyte spectrofluorometric abnormalities in myotonic dystrophy during "in vitro" aging.

The possibility in Myotonic dystrophy (MyD) that a decreased ATP utilization by the membrane may produce modifications in glycoprotein structure and/or in the supramolecular arrangement of some membrane proteins was investigated in human erythrocytes: a) by determining the membrane sialic acid content and the cellular ATP concentration in eight cases of MyD; b) by evaluating the stability of the membrane glycoprotein structure by in vitro ageing experiments; c) by testing the presence of high molecular weight aggregates of proteins on the membrane; d) by evaluating the physico-chemical properties of the membrane by 1-anilino 8-naftalensulfonate as a fluorescent probe. Our evidence suggests that ATP concentration and membrane sialic acid content are within normal values. Only in two cases did a decreased stability of membrane glycoproteins occur while the supramolecular assembly of membrane proteins could be considered as normal. The fluorescent probe behavior after in vitro aging was indicative of a decreased polarity of its micro-environment.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bilateral sympathetic skin response following nociceptive stimulation: study in healthy individuals.

Bilateral sympathetic skin response (SSR) was evaluated in 25 normal subjects aged (29 +/- 5 years). The stimulation (an electrical pulse train randomly applied to the sural nerve) was equal to 0.5-1.0-1.5 times the nociceptive flexion reflex (RIII) thresholds. This method allowed us to quantify the pain threshold, since a close relationship between the RIII threshold and subjective pain threshold has been described. Decrease in latency, increase in amplitude and duration were observed when increasing intensity of stimulation was used. The right-side stimulation produced significantly shorter latencies and higher amplitudes than the left one. The asymmetry index showed a trend of larger responses on the left hand and shorter latencies on the right hand in males. Females displayed less left-right asymmetry than males. A positive correlation was recognized between RIII threshold and amplitude and duration of SSR. Test-retest evaluation in 12 individuals revealed good reproducibility of SSR in terms of latency and duration, while amplitudes showed large variability. The accuracy of SSR response concerning latency and duration was better (range 0.88-0.92) when 1.5 RIII threshold was used, showing that painful stimulation should be used to obtain reliable SSR in clinical practice.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A computerized record chart for the study of chronic daily headache.

A comprehensive record chart for the study of chronic daily headache (CDH) is presented. The record chart contains 11 parts (232 items) concerning: sociodemographic data, physiological history, female reproductive life history, family history, pathological history, drug abuse, headache history, headache clinical features, prophylactic therapy, instrumental investigations, and physical and neurological examination. Furthermore, three attached special charts are illustrated which concern, respectively, the cervical spine examination, oromandibular function examination and the assessment of analgesic use.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Terguride in stable Parkinson's disease.

Terguride (TER) (2 mg/day) was compared with a placebo in 41 stable Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, so as to test its efficacy as an add-on treatment to spare levodopa (LD). After the 4th week of add-on treatment, LD was reduced by about 25%. The number of "stable" patients (--those with an increase of no more than 20% of the basal Columbia University Rating Scale (CURS) score--remaining after LD reduction was used to compare the two add-on treatments. Most patients, remained "stable" in spite of LD reduction, and no significant differences between the therapies were discovered; the CURS score decreased over time only in the TER group. Hence, TER was shown to be a drug that has DA-ergic properties but with minimal antiparkinsonian efficacy.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Further characterization of autonomic involvement in multiple system atrophy: a pupillometric study.

Pupillometry is a simple non-invasive technique which allows early detection of an altered functioning of both branches of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). In the present study, the pupillometric findings (dark and light diameters and light reflex) obtained in 14 Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) patients (5 with the striatonigral degeneration (SND) type and 9 with the olivopontocerebellar (OPCA) type were compared with those of a sex- and age-matched control group and with a group patients suffering from idiopathic parkinsonism who had never undergone treatment previously. MSA patients showed larger pupils after dark and light adaptation, high degrees of anisocoria after light adaptation and a complex impairment of pupil response to light (mainly occurring in the OPCA-type of MSA) represented by an increase in latency, contraction time and a reduction in contraction amplitude. These data point to the existence in MSA (particularly of OPCA-type) of a pupillary imbalance, mainly involving the parasympathetic branch of the ANS, which is likely to be due to an impairment of the central pathways subserving pupil response to light and is probably detectable in the early stages of the disease by means of dynamic pupillometric evaluation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Internal carotid occlusion associated with migraine syndrome: a case study of a 22-year-old female.

Migraine and migraine-like headaches are sometimes associated with acquired types of carotid artery disease. We examined a 22-year-old female suffering from periodic migraine, sometimes with "atypical" features. Color Flow Duplex Sonography revealed an occlusion of the right internal carotid artery (ICA) and a possible severe stenosis of the cervical segment of the left ICA. Digital Subtraction Angiography combined with Angio-Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Echographic Imaging suggested the possibility of a fibromuscular dysplasia involving both ICAs. It is suggested that some atypical features of headache could represent symptoms of a carotid pathology.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A record card for the study of Neuronal Hyperexcitability Syndrome.

Neuronal Hyperexcitability Syndrome (NHS) is a nosographic picture which is difficult to diagnose, due to the lack of specific standard diagnostic criteria. With slightly varying symptoms the syndrome has also been defined as Spasmophilia and Hyperventilation Syndrome. It is difficult to distinguish between NHS and panic attack disorder as there is considerable overlapping of symptomatology. We aimed to propose a standardized card which will be the first step toward a valid diagnosis of this complex neuropsychiatric problem. This card, which will be validated and of which the reliability will be evaluated, is proposed for clinical and research purposes. The card is made up of 6 parts (113 items) covering: personal data, pharmacological treatment, persistent diseases and related therapies, symptomatology trend, factors interfering with calcium-magnesium homeostasis and symptom assessment. The symptom assessment section is essential for the checking of diagnostic criteria and the earlier sections are important for the monitoring of other factors which can cause symptoms able to simulate NHS. There are also two special sections for recording laboratory tests and patients' psychic profiles.

Anti-Anxiety Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Lisuride and bromocryptine in L-Dopa stable-responder parkinsonian patients: a comparative, double-blind evaluation of cardiopressor and neurochemical effects.

In this study, we compared the haemodynamic and biochemical effects of bromocryptine to those of lisuride, in L-Dopa stable responder parkinsonian (PD) patients. Nineteen PD patients were admitted to the study. A double-blind, parallel group, randomized study was performed. Patients were randomly chosen to receive lisuride or bromoryptine. Both drugs were administered in increasing dosages until a maximum of either 0.6 mg lisuride or 7.5 mg bromocryptine was reached. The following tests were carried out: periprandial study, tilt table test and cardiovascular tests (sustained handgrip test, deep-breathing, lying-to-standing and Valsalva manoeuvre). During the tests, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were monitored with an automatic sphyngomanometer. Blood samples for catecholamine assay were taken during tilt table test. In basal conditions 70% of the randomly chosen men in the bromocryptine group showed significant orthostatic hypotension (OH), while only one subject in the lisuride group demonstrated comparable OH values. The deepest derangement of orthostatic regulation was observed in the lisuride group but it should not be attributed to the greater hypotensive effects of this drug. Infact, the cardiopressor effects of bromocryptine may well be "masked" by the alteration detected in baseline conditions. Only bromocryptine significantly reduced supine and orthostatic NE plasma levels on the 14th day of therapy. Neither bromocryptine nor lisuride significantly altered periprandial blood pressure values. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that lisuride and bromocryptine are well tolerated as far as the analysis of the development of hypotensive effects is concerned. Further, more sophisticated study, with other agents that block the peripheral and/or central effects of dopamine-agonists in PD patients should be conducted in order better to define the precise role of these types of agents and the potential cardiopressor risks in these subjects.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effects of physical exercise at high altitude on adrenocortical function in humans.

The combined effects of sustained physical activity and hypoxia on adrenocortical function were investigated in 14 healthy volunteers, 8 males and 6 females (mean age 40.9 +/- 3.3 years), during a scientific expedition in the Himalayas. Plasma cortisol levels were measured in all subjects in basal conditions and after the administration of 1 mg dexamethasone (DXM) p.o. The study was performed before and after 15 days of intense trekking (Leh, altitude 3700 m). While on both occasions subjects retained their cortisol circadian fluctuations, basal and post-DXM cortisol levels at high altitude were significantly higher (p < 0.005 and p < 0.0005) than before climbing. Cortisol suppression was noted in all cases at low altitude, whereas 4 out of the 14 subjects did not show reduced hormone levels after 15 days of trekking. Moreover, nonsuppressor subjects had significantly higher (p < 0.05) baseline cortisol levels than suppressors. Basal and post-DXM hormone levels were found to be unrelated to age and sex of subjects. The present data further suggest that sustained physical activity at altitude activates adrenocortical function in normal individuals; however, in 30% of subjects DXM-induced cortisol suppression does not occur. To explain the latter observation, the concomitant role of hypoxia (and/or other environmental changes) and the subjective perception of physical stressors should be taken into account.

Adrenal Cortex↗