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Biomedical subjects

G Oliva

Publications and source records attributed to G Oliva.

106 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Diabetes in the elderly: remarks from an epidemiological study carried out in a town in south-eastern Sicily (Militello V.C.).

Longer mean life span and life expectancy of diabetics and increased factors that favor onset of type II diabetes have determined greater prevalence of diabetes in the elderly population. According to HANES II, it is 17% in the elderly in U.S.A. We carried out an epidemiological study on the over 65 year olds in Militello V.C. and examined 910 elderly subjects (72.05% of the total elderly population). All were tested for peripheral fasting blood glucose, body weight and height and filled out a questionnaire with general and diabetological questions. The values recommended by the NDDG were used to diagnose diabetes. One hundred and sixty-one diabetics (25 newly diagnosed) were observed (17.69%). Onset had occurred before age 65 (aged diabetics) in 72 cases and after 65 in 89 (senile diabetics). Mean blood glucose was 152.91 +/- 55.56 mg/dl. Our results indicated that sulfonylureas and/or biguanides are first choice treatment. By grouping the diabetics on the basis of age at onset and duration of disease, a fall in the number of cases treated with diet alone and hypoglycemic drugs and an increase in patients on insulin were seen in aged diabetics as the disease evolves. On the contrary, there was a rise in the number of senile diabetics on hypoglycemic drugs.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion: a long-term study.

The authors report data obtained from a 3-year study of CSII and humanized insulin (semi-synthetic human insulin) administered to 18 insulin-dependent subjects in the outpatient clinic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of insulin pumps in long-term treatment. Metabolic parameters were significantly improved (p less than 0.001) in the first month and remained so with only slight alterations throughout treatment. The authors underline some metabolic problems (ketosis) caused by malfunctioning of the insulin pumps, by the difficulties with the infusion system or by nodular skin lesions at the infusion site. Only these lesions called for treatment to be discontinued in 4 patients. The highest incidence of nodular skin lesions was seen after one year's uninterrupted treatment and they seem connected to the duration of treatment rather than to the patients' negligence (inadequate hygiene, delayed needle substitution). The authors conclude that CSII treatment is valid over short-term periods, whereas it presents drawbacks over long-term administration.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Characterization of the inorganic pyrophosphatase from the pathogenic bacterium Helicobacter pylori.

A cytoplasmic pyrophosphatase [E.C. 3.6.1.1.] was partially purified from Helicobacter pylori. The molecular mass was estimated to be 103 kDa by gel filtration. Results of SDS-PAGE suggested that the enzyme consists of six identical subunits of 19.1 kDa each. The enzyme specifically catalyzed the hydrolysis of pyrophosphate and was very sensitive to NaF, but not to sodium molybdate. The optimal pH for activity was 8.5. Mg2+ was required for maximal activity; Mn2+, Co2+, and Zn2+ poorly supported hydrolytic activity. The pyrophosphatase had an apparent K(m) for Mg-PP(i)2 hydrolysis of 90 microM, and a Vmax estimated at 24.0 micromol P(i) min(-1) mg(-1).

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP)- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation in canine leishmaniasis.

Leishmania-infected dogs, which represent an important reservoir of infection in many parts of the world, frequently suffer from haematological disorders, including thrombocytopenia. In this study, the ability of platelets from healthy (control) dogs (n = 11) and from dogs with naturally acquired clinical leishmaniasis (n = 24) to aggregate in the presence of two different agonists (adenosine 5'-diphosphate [ADP] and collagen) was assayed. Haematological parameters examined consisted of the platelet count, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), fibrinogen concentration and D-dimer concentration. In dogs with leishmaniasis, a significant decrease in ADP- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation was observed. Compared with platelets from the control dogs, those from leishmania-infected dogs showed a higher sensitivity to collagen, as demonstrated by a reduction in platelet aggregation of up to 20.4%, and a significant (P < 0.0001) difference for all the doses tested. With ADP the reduction was up to 10.4%, the difference reaching a significant level of P < 0.0001 only at the maximum dose used. The nature of this response, which was not accompanied by any clinical signs of bleeding other than an increase in aPTT, emphasizes the role of platelets in the parasite-host cell interaction.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Primary hypothyroidism associated with leishmaniasis in a dog.

A case of primary hypothyroidism associated with leishmaniasis is described in a four-year-old, male Yorkshire terrier. Clinical diagnosis of hypothyroidism was confirmed by a low baseline serum tetraiodothyronine (T4), a reduced response to thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) stimulation, an increased serum TSH concentration, and scintigraphic thyroid gland examination. Examination of a thyroid biopsy showed many Leishmania amastigotes, both inside and outside of macrophages, together with signs of follicular atrophy.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Granulomatous mastitis: diagnostic and therapeutic problems. Case report and review of the literature].

The granulomatous mastitis is uncommon inflammatory disease of the breast of unknown etiology. The diagnosis is obtained only through hystopathology. We report a case of woman, 41 years old, showing lesions of the breast, that caused strong pain with ulcerations sero-haematic secretion and axillary omolateral lymphadenopathy. The diagnostic workup (sonography, mammography, multiples FNAB of single lesions, the culture of cells and hormonal profile) showed an inflammatory aspecific lesions with presence of atipic cells in nipple's secretion and in FNAB of periareola lesion. We performed an excisional biopsy. The hystopathologic diagnosis showed a granulomatous mastitis, confirming the validity of our diagnostic and therapeutic choices. The excisional biopsy has allowed to avoid an overtreatment and obtain a good aesthetic result.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The (Ca2+, Mg2+)-ATPase activity in erythrocyte membranes from essential hypertensive patients.

The erythrocyte (Ca2+,Mg2+)-ATPase activity from 12 hypertensive and 14 normotensive subjects have been compared. No differences were found in the calcium-ATPase activity from both studied groups. When the calcium-ATPase assay was carried out in the presence of EGTA, we observed a partial stimulatory effect of the activity, but a blunted stimulation by calmodulin in both membrane preparations. When the EGTA was removed and a total concentration of calcium (100 uM) was kept constant in the incubation media, calmodulin stimulated the ATPase four fold over the non stimulated conditions in both studied groups. It is concluded that the use of EGTA buffers in the assay of the calcium-ATPase in the erythrocyte membrane of normotensive and hypertensive patients, must be used with caution, since a different enzyme sensitive to EGTA in the normotensive and the hypertensive membranes could give an erroneous interpretation of the results. This condition could partially explain the controversies in recent reports investigating the (Ca2+,Mg2+)-ATPase activity and calcium transport in different cell systems isolated from hypertensive patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Oral therapy with ciprofloxacin in the prophylaxis of urinary infections in surgical patients with permanent bladder catheter].

Urinary infections represent about 30% of all infections observed within a hospital environment in surgical patients with indwelling catheter. The aim of the research was to assess the effectiveness of ciprofloxacin the prophylaxis of bacteriuria in vesical catheter-bearing patients, during the post-operative period. A comparative investigation was carried out in 33 patients submitted to surgery and carries of vesical catheters during the post-operative period. The patients were divided into 2 group: one group of 23 patients received ciprofloxacin, and a group of 10 patients represented the control group. A urine culture was carried out in every patient before positioning the catheter, and urine cultures were taken every 72 hours; the urethero-vesical portion of the catheter was always submitted to cultural examination after its removal. Patients treated with ciprofloxacin received good protection against Gram- urinary infections, and catheter cultures also demonstrated inhibiting activity with respect to urethral colonisation on the part of Gram- infections. Confirmation of this results in larger series would be an indication for the use of ciprofloxacin in the prophylaxis of urinary infections caused by indwelling vesical catheters in the postoperative period.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Short bowel syndrome. Still a current problem].

In the last year the Authors operated two patients presenting with a clinical feature of intestinal infarct. A wide intestinal resection was performed and patients had a residual tract of 40 cm and 50 cm of bowel respectively, later manifesting as short bowel syndrome. It was not possible during the operation to preserve the Baubin valve in one case, in the other one the value had been sacrificed during a previous operation for right colonic malignancy. In the postoperative period, patients were temporarily transferred to the intensive care unit, returning in the surgery ward after few days, and counting total parenteral nutrition with progressive decreasing mixture in calories. Contemporarly enteral nutrition was started slowly increasing the quantity of water, calories and azote administration. In a second time oral diet was started up to completely weaning parenteral and enteral nutrition. At the present patients are enlisted in quarterly follow-up, completely stabilized, and independent from artificial nutrition with a good quality of life. Furthermore a saving of sanitary costs was obtained.

Aged↗