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Biomedical subjects

S Romano

Publications and source records attributed to S Romano.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Prolactin and prostate: a chronobiologic study.

A possible role of prolactin in prostatic disease has been claimed, but the results are so far misleading. Among the several factors that influence serum prolactin levels, temporal variations, notably circadian, are prominent. This paper shows an impairment in serum prolactin, chronobiologically investigated, in 12 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy and in 7 patients with prostatic carcinoma. However, a single serum sample cannot be sufficient and may sometimes be misleading if not plotted with an adequate temporal reference standard (chronodesm).

Aged↗
PubMed1982

STI usefulness during isometric exercise in labile hypertensive patients.

Measurement of the left ventricular systolic time intervals (STI) was considered a valid method in demonstrating the presence of a state of beta-drenergic hyperstimulation. The authors used this method during isometric exercise to differentiate between a group of 16 normal subjects (N) and 16 random labile hypertensives (LH), and between the N and 16 fixed hypertensives (FH). Exercise resulted in a general shortening (p less than 0.01) of the STI, an increase (p less than 0.01) in the systolic arterial pressure (SAP), and an increase (p less than 0.01) in the heart rate (HR) in all the groups studied. The study also demonstrated that the state of blood pressure (diagnosis) alone does not significantly influence the course of the exercise test, and that the interaction diagnosis-exercise gives quantitatively different results in the three groups, to the extent that it is possible to recognize a specific polygraphic pattern for the LH. In this group there is a greater shortening of the Q--S2 and the non-corrected LVET (p less than 0.01) than for the N. The behaviour for the FH falls between the other groups, but it is not possible to distinguish clearly between this group and its neighbour on either side. We conclude that the measurement of the STI during isometric exercise could be useful in determining a diagnostic pattern for subjects who show a lability in their blood pressure.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

[Direct measurement of sinoatrial conduction time in man. Correlation with sinus cycle length].

Recent reports have shown that it is possible to record sinus node potential (SNP) using a transvenous electrode catheter technique in animals and in man. We applied similar techniques to record sinoatrial activity in 24 normal subjects and in 6 patients with sick sinus syndrome. We used bipolar recordings, with one interelectrode distance of 1 cm, low-pass filters of 0.1-50 Hz and high-amplification (up to 100 microV/cm). Validation of the source of the sinus node electrograms (SNE) was obtained by using ad hoc criteria. Like SNE recorded in animals, human SNE shows a smooth, low-frequency upstroke slope that begins before and merges into atrial activation. Sinus node potential is separated from preceding T wave by an isoelectric plateau. In 24 subjects with normal sinus node function, the directly recorded sinoatrial conduction time (D-SACT) was 82.9 +/- 17.9 msec. Correlation with the SACT estimated by Narula's method was excellent (r = 0,84). In 12 patients with sinus arrhythmia on SNE, SACTs were directly measured as were the associated P-P intervals. When SACT at each sinus cycle length (SCL) was plotted against SCL for all subjects grouped together, the average change of SAT per 100 msec change of SCL was 15 msec. In 6 patients with sick sinus syndrome, D-SACT was 150.4 +/- 67.4 msec. When SACT at each SCL was plotted against SCL, the average change of SACT per 100 msec change of SCL was 39 msec. In the same patients the SACT estimated by Narula's method was 129 +/- 17 msec.

Electrocardiography↗
PubMed1981

[Activity of a new long-acting anti-arrhythmic drug on ventricular extrasystole. Study with Holter continuous electrocardiographic monitoring].

Therapeutic effectiveness of a new long-acting antiarrhythmic preparation was evaluated in 31 patients with sustained premature ventricular beats. After an observation period, a 24 hours Holter monitoring was performed. A group (21 patients) was treated with dihydrochinidine 250 mg twice a day; another group (11 patients) was treated with 500 mg twice a day. In the latter group was determined basal chinidinemia on the first and third day. A 24 hours Holter monitoring was repeated on the fourth day. In the first group we reached a 77.4% reduction of the arrhythmia: not enough, however, to agree with established statements. We reached a larger reduction (84.7%) with higher doses (1000 mg daily). This drug was well tolerated in both groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Circadian rhythms of respiratory functions in asthmatics.

35 subjects underwent pulmonary function tests, plasma cortisol and urinary catecholamine measurements at 4-hour intervals, during a period of 24 h. In healthy subjects a circadian variation was not demonstrated. In asthmatic subjects circadian variation of a large number of ventilatory variables and a normal circadian pattern for plasma cortisol were demonstrated. Asthmatic patients were divided into two groups: patients with intrinsic asthma and patients with extrinsic asthma. The former showed the most impressive circadian pattern; the most severe bronchospasm occurred between 12.00 and 00.00 h; patients with extrinsic asthma, older than 20 years became worse around 03.00 h. During this period their urinary catecholamines reached the lowest values. The younger patients with extrinsic asthma presented the highest TGV values at 12.50 h. From the clinical viewpoint, it is emphasized that chronobiologic criteria could be utilized for the chronotherapeutic management of asthmatics.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Reproducibility of strain gauge venous occlusion plethysmography in long-run measurements in man.

In order to evaluate strain gauge venous occlusion plethysmography as a tool to test the effects of treatment on peripheral blood flow, some biasing effects due to this technique were studied in relation to a long-run session and to cuff and gauge displacement. Arm peripheral blood flow was estimated by a computerized procedure during three successive days in a young male subject. The measurements were arranged as follows: 1) 75 replications under constant conditions, lasting 1.6 hours; 2) 18 triplets with alternative cuff displacement between two forearm positions, lasting 1.5 hours; 3) 40 measurements taken alternatively with a fixed gauge and a displaced one from a proximal to a distal position and vice versa, lasting 2.1 hours. Statistical comparison revealed: 1) a good long-run reproducibility during the first session; 2) a significant difference between the first and third day sessions under the same conditions; 3) a significant difference between the distal and proximal cuff mean flows during the second day session; 4 significant differences among the third day means in dependence of gauge position; 5) no significant dependence on strain gauge tension during the third day session. It is thus concluded that strain gauge plethysmography may be a reliable technique mainly in a longitudinal experimental design when the acute effect of some drug administration is to be evaluated.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Circadian variation of serum prolactin and TSH of women in health or with mammary carcinoma, fibroadenoma or fibrocystic mastopathy.

Prolactin and TSH were determined in serum samples obtained at 4-hourly intervals throughout a 24-hour span from healthy women and from women with fibrocystic mastopathy, fibroadenoma or carcinoma of the breast. Data were subjected to analysis by the population mean-cosinor method. Differences in circadian mesor of prolactin among the 4 groups were statistically significant (P < .01), with healthy women having the lowest value. Prolactin amplitude differences among the groups were of borderline statistical significance (P = .05), while no differences in circadian acrophase were apparent. No statistically significance differences in TSH circadian mesor, amplitude or acrophase could be demonstrated. Individual values from subjects with breast disease were compared with time-qualified tolerance intervals based on data from healthy subjects. If these results can be corroborated on larger populations, sampling about 3 hours after arising may best detect an abnormal serum prolactin elevation. Results from this and other studies indicate the need for multi-variable and multifrequency investigations of breast disease.

Adenofibroma↗