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Biomedical subjects

M Bernardi

Publications and source records attributed to M Bernardi.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Study on coagulation profile of patients with cirrhosis of the liver undergoing elective fibreoptic injection sclerotherapy of oesophageal varices.

In order to establish whether injection sclerotherapy of oesophageal varices could bring about a worsening of the coagulation abnormalities of patients with cirrhosis, the platelet count and the coagulation profile were monitored prior to, then 30 min and 18 h after, the injection in 8 patients undergoing 18 sclerotherapy sessions. Under basal conditions the platelet count, prothrombin activity, normotest and antithrombin III were all reduced; fibrinogen was in the low, and partial thromboplastin time in the high, normal range. A significant shortening of PTT and a further reduction in the platelet count, in the normotest and in fibrinogen occurred after 30 min. On one occasion laboratory evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation was observed. After 18 h most parameters approached basal values, but the normotest remained persistently reduced. Even though a transient activation of the coagulation process, with consumption of platelets and the liver-dependent clotting factors took place after sclerotherapy in most cases, leading in one to self-limiting disseminated intravascular coagulation, haemorrhagic complications did not occur in our patients. These results suggest that injection sclerotherapy did not lead to clinically significant deterioration of coagulation even in patients with abnormal coagulative function. The observed changes appeared to be self-limiting and confined to the laboratory level in all cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Sex-linked differences in avoidance learning in the offspring of rats treated with nicotine during pregnancy.

The offspring of rats treated with nicotine (0.5 mg/kg/day SC) on days 1-20 of gestation, were trained for active avoidance conditioning when 60 days old. Although learning was similar in both control groups of males and females, nicotine exposure during fetal life improved learning in females but reduced it in males, the difference between these two groups being statistically significant from day 17 until the end of the training period (day 25).

Aging↗
PubMed1983

Aldosterone related blood volume expansion in cirrhosis before and during the early phase of ascites formation.

Thirty-seven patients with liver cirrhosis (16 without ascites: group 1; 21 with untreated ascites at the first onset: group 2) were studied during controlled sodium intake (40 mmol/day). Renal plasma flow, glomerular filtration rate, urinary sodium excretion, plasma sodium and potassium, plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone concentration, blood volume, and arterial pressure were evaluated. All the patients had normal renal perfusion, plasma sodium and potassium, and arterial pressure. Mean plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone concentration were significantly depressed in group 1 (p less than 0.001, p less than 0.005 respectively) compared with 21 normal controls in identical experimental conditions. This was possibly a consequence of expanded blood volume (p less than 0.001 compared with controls) which was directly correlated with plasma aldosterone concentration (p less than 0.001). In group 2 plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone concentration were normal in over 50% of cases. Blood volume was lower than in group 1 (p less than 0.002), but again related to plasma aldosterone concentration (p less than 0.01). In both groups plasma aldosterone concentration was hyperbolically and inversely correlated with urinary sodium excretion, but the two curves were progressively shifted to the left in respect to controls suggesting an enhanced renal tubular sensitivity to the hormone. The results suggest that aldosterone related renal sodium retention, with consequent blood volume expansion, occurs before ascites formation. The mineralocorticoid activity of aldosterone is amplified by an enhanced sensitivity of renal tubules which appears to increase as the disease progresses.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Italian validation of the Symptom Rating Test (SRT) and Symptom Questionnaire (SQ).

Two self-rating scales of psychological distress, the Symptom Rating Test (SRT) and the Symptom Questionnaire (SQ), have been validated in translations in Italy. They were administered in several studies to psychiatric patients (neurotics and depressives), matched controls, and patients suffering from various organic illnesses (dermatologic disorders, hypertension, secondary amenorrhea and patients undergoing amniocentesis). The SRT and the SQ sensitively discriminated between psychiatric patients and normals, between different levels of psychological distress in several of the somatic illnesses, and detected significant changes in the psychological status of patients participating in medical procedures such as amniocentesis. The scales were found to be useful in research in psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine. The findings suggest that the Italian translations are valid and sensitive scales of distress and can apparently be used as effectively in research as the original. They are likely to be of value in cross-cultural research in Canada. Both scales may be helpful in the psychological assessment of Italian immigrants in North America and Australia, especially in those whose English is poor.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in fulminant hepatic failure.

The relationship of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system to blood pressure and sodium homeostasis and to renal function was investigated serially in 12 patients with fulminant hepatic failure. The plasma concentrations of renin, angiotensin II, and aldosterone were, in most instances, markedly increased. Systolic blood pressure, which was often very low, showed a significant inverse relationship to the plasma renin concentration, suggesting that the marked stimulation of the system is a homeostatic response to hypotension. However, the plasma renin substrate concentration was markedly decreased, and the conversion of angiotensin II to inactive peptides increased, both of which may have severely limited the full 'expression' of the stimulated system. Renin and angiotensin II levels were both related to creatinine clearance, which was often reduced, but it is not clear as to which was cause and which effect. No relationship between the plasma aldosterone concentration and renal sodium excretion could be detected.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Depressive symptoms and abnormal illness behavior in general hospital patients.

There have been many accounts of depression and abnormal illness behavior in medical inpatients, but systematic studies of their prevalence and features in a general hospital are lacking. Occurrence and characteristics of depression and illness behavior were studied in 325 inpatients of a general hospital in the northern part of Italy. Patients were surveyed in six separate wards (medicine, surgery, dermatology, OB-GYN, orthopedics, and ophthalmology) and represented about 90% of their actual population during a one-week period. Two self-report scales were used for screening: the CES-D (scale devised by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies of Depression at NIMH) for measuring depression and the Illness Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ), developed by Pilowsky and Spence. Both scales were administered in their validated Italian translations. The customary cut-off point of 16 in the CES-D score revealed about 58% of the patients as depressed. A more conservative cut-off point of 23 still showed 33.5% of the patients as depressed. The IBQ scores of the depressed patients showed significantly (p less than 0.001) higher levels of general hypochondriasis, disease conviction, dysphoria, and irritability than the nondepressed patients. No relevant differences existed between wards in the amount of depression and IBQ scores, even when differences were adjusted for age, sex, marital status, and social class. Implications for psychosomatic research (sociodemographic characteristics of depression and illness behavior, bias in comparing hospital patients and controls in the general population, and so on) and treatment (consultation-liaison psychiatry) are discussed.

Depression↗
PubMed1982

Impairment of blood pressure control in patients with liver cirrhosis during tilting: study on adrenergic and renin-angiotensin systems.

Mean arterial pressure, phenylalanine, tyrosine, norepinephrine and plasma renin activity (PRA) were determined in the plasma of 6 healthy controls and 8 patients with liver cirrhosis receiving a controlled sodium intake (40 mEq/day), after 1 h of bed rest and 10 min after being tilted up at 90 degrees. After resting, patients showed lower arterial pressure (p less than 0.025) and higher plasma levels of phenylalanine (p less than 0.005), tyrosine (p less than 0.05), norepinephrine (n.s.) and PRA (n.s.) than controls. In spite of a prolonged and marked stimulation of the adrenergic system induced by tilting, arterial pressure of cirrhotics, after an initial increase, decreased significantly. A significant PRA increase was observed in both groups but in patients it was greater and lasted longer, up to 30 min, when PRA and arterial pressure were inversely and significantly correlated. The adrenergic system of cirrhosis then appeared unable to maintain adequate levels of arterial pressure, even though hyperstimulated. The renin-angiotensin system played an important compensatory role in this contest.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Depression and illness behavior in a general hospital: a prevalence study.

Occurrence and characteristics of depression and illness behavior were studied in 325 inpatients of a general hospital in the northern part of Italy. Patients were surveyed in six separate wards (medicine, surgery, dermatology, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics and ophthalmology) and represented about 90% of their actual population during a 1-week period. Two self-report scales were used for screening: the CES-D for measuring depression developed by the NIMH and the Illness Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ) developed by Pilowsky and Spence. Both scales were administered in their validated Italian translations. Applying the generally used cut-off point of 16 in the CES-D score, about 58% of the patients were classified as depressed. This cut-off was derived from community studies in the US. Applying a rather more conservative cut-off point of 23 (derived from the scores of psychiatrically depressed patients in Italy), still 33.5% of the patients emerged as depressed. The IBQ scores of the depressed patients showed significantly (p less than 0.001) higher levels of general hypochondriasis, disease conviction, dysphoria and irritability than the nondepressed patients. There were no relevant differences between wards in the amount of depression and IBQ scores even when differences were adjusted for age, sex, marital status and social class. Implications for psychosomatic research (sociodemographic characteristics of depression and illness behavior, bias in comparing hospital patients and controls in the general population, etc.) and treatment (consultation-liaison psychiatry) are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

[Catecholamine and renin-angiotensin system in blood pressure control in patients with liver cirrhosis].

The changes induced by active tilting in arterial pressure, plasma renin activity, norepinephrine and its precursors phenylalanine and tyrosine were evaluated in 8 patients with liver cirrhosis and 6 healthy controls. The results suggest the inability of the adrenergic system, though hyperstimulated, to maintain arterial pressure homeostasis in cirrhosis with a compensatory hyperactive renin-angiotensin system. Derangements in catecholamine synthesis, possibly due to altered utilisation of precursors to alternative final products (weak neurotransmitters?) can be taken into account.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Different mechanisms of "in vitro' lymphocytotoxicity against isolated rabbit hepatocytes during the course of acute viral hepatitis.

In order to characterize the effector mechanism of "in vitro' lymphocytotoxicity against isolated rabbit liver cells in acute viral hepatitis (AVH), the test was performed in 4 patients with type A, in 8 with type, B, and in 2 patients with non-A non-B AVH: (a) using peripheral blood lymphocytes; (b) after enzymatic digestion of the surface membrane immunoglobulins of these lymphocytes, and (c) as in b with addition of patients' sera. 78.5% of the patients had an elevated cytotoxicity which did not change when the lymphocytes were treated as in b and c. Only the 2 patients which progressed to chronicity had an elevated cytotoxicity which disappeared after enzymatic exposure and reappeared with the addition of patients' sera. The results suggest that "in vitro' cytoxicity in recovering AVH is not antibody dependent, but probably of spontaneous type. On the contrary an antibody-dependent cytotoxicity is present in the 2 cases of AVH who progressed to chronicity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Plasma amino acid patterns in experimental acute hepatic failure: comparison between hepatectomy and liver devascularization in pigs.

To clarify the physiopathologic mechanism leading to a marked increase in aromatic amino acids (AAA) in acute hepatic failure (AHF), we compared two experimental models of AHF. Ten pigs were submitted to one-stage hepatic devascularization (group A); in eight other pigs total hepatectomy was performed (group B). The animals were maintained under constant glucose infusion. The mean survival time in group A was 23 +/- 2 hours; after hepatectomy it was 30 +/- 4 hours. Hepatic coma progressively deepened from 8 +/- 3 hours in Group A animals and was delayed until 17 +/- 5 hours in the anhepatic pigs. AAA, methionine, and tryptophan immediately increased markedly in pigs with liver ischemia. In group B animals, AAA showed a slight increase only 18 hours after hepatectomy, whereas there were no significant differences in methionine and tryptophan. The different amino acid patterns in the two groups of animals demonstrate that hepatocyte necrosis is a major source of plasma amino acids after liver devascularization. The slight increase in AAA after total hepatectomy suggests that a release mechanism from muscular mass is involved in the later stages of the experiment. The onset of coma is related to the increase in AAA rather than to alterations in blood ammonia that did not differ in either group of animals.

Amino Acids↗