Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Mancini

Publications and source records attributed to M Mancini.

At least 487 records · Page 27Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

An Italian chart for cardiovascular risk prediction. Its scientific basis.

A risk chart for primary prediction of major coronary and cerebrovascular events based on Italian population data was created. Material from three Italian population studies was available: the Italian Rural Areas of the Seven Countries Study (no. 1712), the Gubbio Study (no. 3061) and the ECCIS Study (no. 4998) for a total of 9771 men and women aged 35 to 74 years and followed-up from 5 to 15 years, for a total of over 55,000 person/years. Sex, age, diabetes, cigarette smoking, systolic blood pressure and serum cholesterol were selected as risk factors, while the endpoint was established as the occurrence of the first major coronary or cerebrovascular event in 10 years. The accelerated failure time model was used as the predictive model. Two models were adopted, i.e., for relatively younger subjects (45-59 years) and for relatively older subjects (60-74 years). Both produced highly significant coefficients for each of the selected risk factors. The two models carried a satisfactory discriminating power, with 40% to more than 50% of all events located in the upper quintile of the estimated risk. Sex, age (6 classes), diabetes, cigarette smoking (4 classes), systolic blood pressure (4 classes) and serum cholesterol (5 classes) were considered for the creation of a risk map derived from multivariate models. A total of 1920 cells were filled with different colors corresponding to 6 classes of absolute risk. A similar set of cells was filled with another color scale for the estimate of the relative risk versus subjects of the same age and sex carrying Italian mean levels of risk factors. The chart is being distributed to the Italian medical profession as a practical tool to select high-risk individuals for the primary prevention of major cardiovascular diseases.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pharmacological characterization and autoradiographic localization of dopamine receptor sites in the caudal artery of the rat.

The existence and the localization of dopamine DA-1 and DA-2 receptors in the main ventral artery of the rat tail were studied using combined radioligand assay and autoradiographic techniques. [3H]-SCH 23390 was used as a ligand of DA-1 receptors, whereas [3H]-spiroperidol was used as a ligand of DA-2 receptors. No specific binding of [3H]-SCH 23390 was detectable in frozen sections of the caudal artery, neither in receptor binding nor in autoradiography experiments. In contrast, the ligand was specifically bound to sections of the rat brain including the neostriatum. [3H]-Spiroperidol was bound to sections of the caudal artery in a manner consistent with the labeling of DA-2 receptor sites. The dissociation constant value was 3.37 nM. The number of binding sites was 90 fmol/mg protein. Autoradiography demonstrated the localization of specific [3H]-spiroperidol binding sites in the adventitia and in the adventitia-media border. These sites disappeared after 6-hydroxydopamine sympathectomy, suggesting their prejunctional nature. The present results suggest the existence of DA-2 but not of DA-1 receptors in the rat caudal artery. These prejunctional DA-2 receptors are probably involved in the inhibition of noradrenaline release caused by DA-2 receptor agonists.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Similarity of age-dependent changes in renal and striatal dopamine receptors.

A comparative analysis of the age-dependent changes in renal DA-1 and striatal D-1 dopamine receptors was performed in 3-(young), 12-(adult) and 27-(aged) month-old male Wistar rats by means of combined radioreceptor binding and autoradiographic techniques. 3H-SCH 23390 was used as a ligand of DA-1 or D-1 receptors. Experiments were performed on frozen sections of the kidney and of the striatum. The affinity of the ligand for both renal or striatal receptors did not show age-dependent changes. A significant loss in the density of DA-1 and D-1 sites was observed in the adult in comparison with young rats. A further decrease in the density of these sites was noticeable between adult and aged animals. These results suggest that renal DA-1 and striatal D-1 receptors are sensitive to aging to the same extent.

Aging↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Cardiovascular response to the cold test in obese subjects. Effect of a hypocaloric, normal sodium diet].

Loss of weight in obese patients, both hypertensive and normotensive, causes a fall in blood pressure (BP) through a mechanism which is still not fully understood. The effects of a low-sodium low-energy diet on BP were assessed in 20 obese subjects (15 M and 5 F; age 26-65 years), 11 of whom were normotensive and 9 hypertensive. Following a period of normocaloric diet, a diet of 600 kcal was prescribed for 6 months. BP and heart rate (HR) were measured at the start and end of hypocaloric diet in resting conditions and during stimulation of the adrenergic nervous system (ANS) obtained by exposure to cold (immersion of the hand in water and ice). A reduction of resting BP (from 137/81 +/- 5/4 to 122/74 +/- 4/4 mmHg, p less than 0.05) was observed in 8 patients who lost at least 30% of excess weight (from kg 107 +/- 6 to 91 +/- 4, p less than 0.001) together with an increase in BP during exposure to cold (from 140/82 +/- 3/3 to 156/95 +/- 7/4 mmHg before and from 120/78 +/- 3/4 to 140/88 +/- 3/3 after the diet, p less than 0.05). No changes were found in the daily urinary excretion of Na during the course of diet therapy. These results demonstrate that a hypocaloric diet, independent of saline restriction, is able to reduce resting BP and pressure peaks during adrenergic stimulation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[New trends in the prevention of ischemic heart disease].

In the past years several studies have confirmed the causal role of the three major risk factors, i.e. hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and cigarette smoking in the determination of atherosclerosis and its major complication, coronary heart disease (CHD). In particular the Lipid Research Clinics Primary Prevention Trial and, more recently, the Helsinki Heart Study, have demonstrated beyond doubt the effectiveness of dietary and pharmacological intervention in subjects affected by hypercholesterolemia. The mounting alertness derived from the results of these and other trials has generated the need for "codifying" strategies directed towards the prevention of CHD in the industrialized western world. The population strategy tends to modify cultural and environmental habits such as diet, cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse, physical exercise etc. The individual strategy is directed at identifying, within each population, those individuals who are probably carriers of a particular risk factor, for instance those affected by hyperlipidemia of genetic origin. The two strategies are intended to be two complementary moments in the ceaseless fight against CHD.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Lipoprotein abnormalities and extracoronary atherosclerosis in patients with premature ischemic heart disease.

A study of serum lipoprotein (VLDL, LDL, HDL) concentration has been performed on 36 males who had undergone an aorto-coronary bypass operation before age 50. They have been compared to 33 healthy men in the same age range. The presence and severity of coronary, carotid and peripheral atherosclerosis in these patients has been evaluated on the basis of coronary angiograms, continuous wave Doppler and Duplex scanning by echo-Doppler. Lipoprotein abnormalities have been related to the occurrence of extracoronary arterial lesions in association with myocardial ischemia. Total serum cholesterol and triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides were higher in IHD patients (p less than 0.05), while HDL cholesterol was lower (p less than 0.01). No statistically significant difference was detected in VLDL lipids or apo B and in LDL apo B. Signs of extracoronary atherosclerosis were more frequent among IHD patients than in controls. Ankle/arm pressure ratio was abnormally low in 12 patients as compared to only one control (p less than 0.01). Echo-Doppler examinations of iliac arteries demonstrated a higher prevalence of lesions among IHD patients as compared to controls (20 versus 2; p less than 0.01). All patients (4 out of 36) with audible carotid bruits had stenoses in the internal carotid artery. In order to evaluate the relationships between lipoprotein concentration and occurrence of extracoronary atherosclerosis, analysis of variance and multiple comparisons were performed on values for lipoprotein concentration in three groups: controls, IHD patients without evidence of extracoronary atherosclerosis, IHD patients with detectable extracoronary lesions. Significant differences among the three groups were demonstrated as regard to LDL cholesterol or triglycerides and HDL cholesterol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Alcohol consumption and blood pressure in school children.

The present report focuses on the relationship between alcohol consumption, estimated with the use of a seven day food record, and blood pressure in a group of 203 male and female school children with a mean age of 11 year. 50.5% of the male and 39.4% of the female children reported use of alcoholic beverages. The average weekly ethanol consumption in these regular drinkers was 73.9 ml/week for boys and 53.1 ml/week for girls. The results of the analyses fail to show any significant association between alcohol consumption and blood pressure levels. The possibility of the association between alcohol and hypertension being dependent on advanced age is discussed in view of the present results and previously published reports.

Adolescent↗