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Biomedical subjects

P Pasqualetti

Publications and source records attributed to P Pasqualetti.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

[Prognostic factors in IgG and micromolecular multiple myeloma. Retrospective analysis of 50 consecutive cases].

Clinico-pathological findings in 50 consecutive previously untreated patients with IgG and micromolecular multiple myeloma were reviewed. The clinical factors related with a shorter survival were: Bence-Jones proteinuria, high level of serum creatinine and serum calcium, low level of haemoglobin, widespread bone lesions, and plasma cell percentage in bone marrow more than 20%. This factor is significantly correlated with survival. The staging systems proposed by Durie and Salmon and by Merlini et al. are a precious reference in the evaluation of survival and treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

[Effect of aging on the renin-aldosterone system in healthy men].

The relation between aging and plasmatic renin activity (PRA) and plasmatic aldosterone (PA) was studied in three groups of healthy normotensive male subjects: group A (subjects aged 20-40 years), group B (subjects aged 41-60 years), group C (subjects aged 61-80 years). Each group consisted of 15 subjects. All studied subjects were kept for a week on standardize life conditions with a defined daily intake of 120 mEq of sodium and 60 mEq of potassium. Venous blood samples were collected at 8.00 a.m., the subjects resting in supine position at least eight hours before the study. PRA and PA levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. The mean value of PRA and PA in the three groups were compared by t Student test. The results show that both PRA and PA present a decrease with age advancing: in fact the levels of PRA and PA are significantly higher in group A versus group B and group C, and in group B versus group C. The decline in PRA levels in the older subjects appeared to be due to various factors. It is concluded that aging process causes a decrease in PRA, with parallel lowering of PA and that these modifications have to be considered in biochemical diagnostic work-up of patients with arterial hypertension.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Serum levels of magnesium in hepatic cirrhosis].

In a group of 50 patients with liver cirrhosis compared with a group of 50 clinically healthy subjects serum magnesium levels were determined. The patients were divided according the aetiology of liver cirrhosis and to the presence or not of ascite and cholestasis. The serum magnesium levels were related to the main laboratory tests used in liver cirrhosis. The patients present a significant decrease of serum magnesium levels in comparison to controls. The patients with alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver and with ascite have significant lower magnesium levels in comparison with the patients with post-hepatitis cirrhosis and with patients without ascite. There is a significant correlation between serum magnesium levels and serum levels of aldosterone, albumin, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and total pool of bile acids. Direct and indirect effects of alcohol, a secondary hyperaldosteronism, the use of diuretics, and hypoalbuminaemia could account for magnesium serum level decrease in liver cirrhosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy. Description of a case of survival.

The Authors describe a case of acute fatty metamorphosis of the liver in pregnancy in a patient who survived and delivered a living female child. Clinical and istopathologic features, possible etiologic factors and possible treatment for the mother and fetus are discussed. The Authors, finally, think that acute fatty liver of pregnancy is more frequent than expected and that it should be considered in all cases of jaundice in pregnancy.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hyperthermia and paclitaxel--epirubicin chemotherapy: enhanced cytotoxic effect in a murine mammary adenocarcinoma.

Multimodality therapy is considered of great interest in the treatment of locally advanced solid tumours. In previous experiments, paclitaxel (TX) and epirubicin (EP) were combined with different schedules, obtaining a superadditive effect on the growth of a murine mammary carcinoma. In the present study, the authors have analysed the possible use of hyperthermia (HT) to increase the efficacy of TX and EP combinations. Tumours were transplanted into the right hind foot of female hybrid (C3D2F1) mice. Both TX and EP were administered i.p in two different doses. Hyperthermia was applied using a water bath at 43.2 degrees C for 1 h. Results were analysed in terms of Tumour Growth Delay (TGD). The maximum tolerated doses in combined protocols were TX 45 mg/kg and EP 9 mg/kg, with an interval time of 24h between the two administrations. TGDs of some of the schedules performed are reported: EP + HT = 11 days, TX + HT = 16 days, TX + EP (with an interval time of 24 h) = 14 days, and TX + EP + HT = 22 days. In the experimental model, HT significantly increases the effects of both TX and EP. TX + EP + HT treatment is the most effective (significantly different from TX + EP), but not in a significant way when compared to TX + HT treatment. These results suggest the possible use of a TX + HT protocol for local tumour response, whereas EP could be added in order to achieve a better systemic control.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Daily distribution of episodes of acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema.

Many fatal or potentially fatal cardio-cerebrovascular diseases present a definite circadian distribution in their onset. In order to verify if episodes of acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema have a significant daily periodicity in their occurrence, a retrospective analysis of 1,204 episodes has been conducted. In all cases, the hour of the day of onset has been identified with certainty; all episodes occurred in hospitalized patients. The rhythmometric circadian inferential statistical analysis by means of the single cosinor method demonstrates that the episodes of acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema present a significant (p < 0.002) circadian distribution, with a peak at 1:00 a.m. (from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.). No significant differences (p > 0.05) were found in the circadian distribution regarding sex, age (less or more than 60 years), absence or presence of arterial hypertension and coronary artery disease. Several factors may contribute to this behavior, especially the relationships between several endogenous circadian rhythms, sleep and disease. The knowledge that acute pulmonary edema is a high chronorisk disease could be of interest for the better understanding of its pathophysiology and for a better causative control and prevention.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Circadian rhythms of fibrinogen antithrombin III and plasminogen in chronic liver diseases of increasing severity.

Acquired deficiencies of fibrinogen, antithrombin III and plasminogen are reported in liver disease, and it is known that their plasma levels fluctuate during the day. The aim of this study was to investigate the circadian rhythms of these three factors in chronic liver disease. Five groups of subjects were considered: (A) 15 healthy controls: (B) 15 patients with hepatic alcoholic steatosis; (C) 15 patients with chronic active hepatitis; (D) 15 patients with compensated cirrhosis of the liver, and (E) 15 patients with decompensated cirrhosis with ascites. The levels of fibrinogen, antithrombin III and plasminogen were determined in blood samples drawn in each subject during the span of a day every 3 h starting from midnight. The time-related values were analyzed using the 'population-mean cosinor' method. Groups A and B presented a significant (p < 0.05) circadian rhythm for each variable, group C a significant (p < 0.05) circadian rhythm for fibrinogen and antithrombin III and groups D and E no significant (p > 0.05) circadian rhythms. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were demonstrated among the groups in the mean daily levels of the three variables by ANOVA, the concentrations decreasing with disease severity. These data confirm the existence of a significant diurnal periodicity in the circulating levels of fibrinogen, antithrombin III and plasminogen in controls and suggest that liver disease is associated with progressive circadian modifications in the temporal structure of fibrinogen, antithrombin III and plasminogen, related to the stage of the liver disease. The rhythm derangements may be considered markers of evolution in liver disease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Flow cytometric and immunohistochemical correlations in high incidence human solid tumors.

475 patients with carcinoma at different sites (141 colon-rectum; 102 breast; 50 stomach; 48 kidney; 46 head and neck; 41 bladder; 47 other sites) submitted to surgery have been analyzed after histopathological staging and grading, by flow cytometry (monoparametric DNA content analysis) and immunohistochemistry (p53, c-erbB-2, and PCNA expression). In breast cancer patients the presence of receptors for estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PGR) has also been determined. Flow cytometry-derived parameters were DNA ploidy, fraction of cells in S-phase (SPF), and DNA content heterogeneity (multi-clonal stem cell lines with different DNA index and/or more than one subpopulations with different ploidy levels in different samples from the same tumor). Correlations of the results obtained by the different techniques have been attempted by the non-parametric Spearman's rank correlation approach. Significant associations (P < 0.05) were found between the histopathological, immunohistochemical and flow cytometric parameters considered in some anatomical regions, such as stomach (p53 vs DNA content aneuploidy and vs heterogeneity), colon-rectum (TNM vs p53 and vs heterogeneity), bladder (grading vs DNA content aneuploidy and vs heterogeneity). Tumor heterogeneity proved to be dependent on the number of tumor samples taken. The results of this preliminary assessment will subsequently be compared with the data obtained from a currently ongoing follow-up survey.

DNA, Neoplasm↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Circadian rhythm of serum erythropoietin in myelodysplastic syndromes.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MSD) are a group of clonal disorders of the hemopoietic stem cell, often evolving in acute leukemia. They are characterized by anemia, and it has been attributed either to a deficiency in erythropoietin (EPO) secretion or to a resistance to EPO itself. Since in healthy subjects the serum circulating EPO levels fluctuate during the day, the aim of the study was to investigate the diurnal rhythm of EPO in MDS. Two groups of subjects were admitted to the study: (A) 20 adult clinically healthy subjects, and (B) 20 patients with MDS without renal failure. After standard life conditions in hospital lasting one week, venous blood samples were drawn during the span of a whole day and every four hours, starting from midnight, for the measurement of serum EPO levels by RIA. Statistical analysis was carried out by means of the "cosinor" method. The results show that the controls present a significant (p < 0.05) circadian rhythms in serum EPO levels with acrophase in the late afternoon; on the contrary, no significant (p > 0.05) rhythm was detected in patients with MDS. Patients with MDS presented significantly higher (p < 0.05) MESOR and lower (p < 0.001) amplitude of EPO circadian rhythm in respect to the controls; moreover, a significant (p < 0.005) difference was found between the two groups in overall EPO rhythm. These data confirm the existence of a physiological circadian rhythm in serum EPO concentrations with maximum in the afternoon. Because EPO levels are increased in the patient group, EPO deficiency does not seem to be the cause of anemia in MDS. Reduced EPO amplitude may be a compensatory mechanism for enhancing its activity in MDS. Finally, the stimulatory therapy in MDS with recombinant human EPO should be administered in the late afternoon hours, in order to respecting and simulating the physiological circadian rhythm of endogenous EPO.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prognostic value of Pugh's modification of Child-Turcotte classification in patients with cirrhosis of the liver.

The Child-Turcotte classification, as modified by Pugh et al., was recorded on diagnosis in 598 completely followed patients with cirrhosis of the liver. The variables that comprise the Pugh classification are ascites, encephalopathy, serum albumin, serum total bilirubin, and prothrombin time. The Pugh score categorized in three classes (class A = score 5 or 6, class B = score 7 to 11, class C = score 12 to 15) separates the series into three groups of approximately equal size with significant differences in median survivals (p less than 0.005) and in survival curves (p less than 0.0001). The characteristics of simplicity, availability, low cost and good discrimination power make the Pugh classification a very useful method to estimate prognosis in patients with cirrhosis of the liver.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Persistence of human growth hormone circadian rhythm in patients with homozygous beta-thalassemia.

Plasma levels of human growth hormone (hGH) were measured for an entire day every two hours, starting from midnight, in 6 healthy male subjects and in 6 male patients with homozygous beta-thalassemia, without evidence of any endocrine disease. The data were analyzed by the "cosinor" method, and the results show the presence of a significant (p < 0.05) circadian rhythm for hGH in both groups. Whereas no differences were found in mesors and acrophases between the two studied groups (p > 0.05), a statistically-significant (p < 0.05) difference was observed regarding amplitudes, being higher in the controls. These data suggest that in patients with beta-thalassemia major without evidence of any endocrine abnormality, the circadian secretory pattern of hGH is preserved, even if the rhythm amplitude is reduced: this could be a compensatory mechanism in order to stimulate growth.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Assessment of gallbladder motility in patients with alcoholic hepatic cirrhosis after a fatty meal. A real-time ultrasonography study].

Gallbladder emptying after fatty meal administration was investigated by real-time ultrasonography in 10 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, and 10 normal controls. Gallbladder volume was measured using the sum of cylinders method before and 5', 15', 20', 30', 60', 90', and 120' after fatty meal administration. Patients with liver cirrhosis presented the gallbladder volume significantly increased after 15' and 20', and significantly reduced after 60' and 90' in respect to controls. A significant difference was found between the groups in the two curves, patients showing a retarded contraction of gallbladder. The mechanism for sluggish gallbladder emptying in liver cirrhosis is unknown, however impaired emptying with bile stasis provides a potential pathophysiology basis for the high frequency of cholelithiasis in this disease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide after exercise.

The plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide were determined before, at the end of exercise performed on a bicycle ergometer at constant 200-W for 10 minutes, and at 30 minutes after the end of test in 8 clinically healthy male subjects. The results show that plasma atrial natriuretic peptide levels increase significantly at the end of test, and return to baseline values after 30 minutes. The increase in atrial natriuretic peptide levels is significantly correlated with the increase in heart rate and in systolic arterial blood pressure. These data indicate that the plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide increase in response to exercise proportionally to the intensity of workload: in this respect, exercise is an useful test in order to evaluate the endocrine function of the heart.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Multiple myeloma in L'Aquila and Avezzano, Italy, 1970-89. Changes in incidence rates, symptoms at diagnosis, and survival.

From 1970 to 1989, multiple myeloma was diagnosed in 184 residents in the counties of L'Aquila and Avezzano, two cities of the Region Abruzzo in Central Italy. The data were analysed for variations by sex, classes of age, urban and residence areas, symptoms and clinical stages at presentation, causes of death, and survival curves. The average annual incidence rate in the period 1970-89 was 5.8 per 100,000 residents. This increase in trend is statistically-significant (p less than 0.01). The average incidence was consistently higher among males, the age group 61-70 years old, and residents in urban areas for the decades 1970-79 and 1980-89. The increase in incidence rates of multiple myeloma was evident in all population categories, without significant differences (p greater than 0.05) in any evaluated class. The patients diagnosed in 1970-79 presented significantly (p less than 0.05) higher percentage of bone involvement at first diagnosis with respect to the patients diagnosed in 1980-89. A significant difference (p less than 0.05) was also observed in the clinical stage distribution. Patients from the 1980-89 decade survived for a significant (p less than 0.0001) longer period of time than the diagnosed between 1970-79. No differences (p greater than 0.05) were noted regarding causes of death. These results confirm the recent data of an increased incidence of multiple myeloma in the world. This trend could be due to an improvement in diagnosis and recording of multiple myeloma. On the other hand, environmental and occupational factors may play an important role in this increase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗