Biomedical subjects

A Bignamini

Publications and source records attributed to A Bignamini.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Cognitive impairment and carotid atherosclerosis in a general Italian midlife and old population.

The authors describe the design and the general, ultrasonographic, neuropsychological methodology of an observational epidemiological population survey, named REMEMBER (Registry Evaluation Memory in Buttrio e Remanzacco) conducted in the northeast of Italy in a randomized stratified sample of 1,026 subjects (554 F and 472 M) aged 55-98 years. The study was planned as cross-sectional and longitudinal survey of cognitive impairment, cardiovascular risk factors, carotid atherosclerosis in a midlife and older Italian population sample. The objectives of the first phase are to assess the prevalence of the different types of dementia, the cognitive impairment non-dementia, the cardiovascular risk factors, the carotid intima-media thickness and arterial distensibility, and of depression. The conclusions of this study will make it possible to organize preventive and interventional strategies for these epidemic conditions.

Aged↗

PubMed1999

Effects of the administration of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor during the acute phase of myocardial infarction in patients with arterial hypertension. SMILE Study Investigators. Survival of Myocardial Infarction Long-term Evaluation.

A positive history of arterial hypertension (HBP) is present in as many as 30% of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and their clinical outcome could be greatly improved by drugs enhancing blood pressure control and preserving ventricular function. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the importance of a history of HBP on the clinical efficacy of early treatment with the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor zofenopril in patients with anterior AMI. We summarize the results of a post-hoc analysis of data from the Survival of Myocardial Infarction Long-term Evaluation (SMILE) study, which randomly evaluated the efficacy of zofenopril given within 24 h of symptom onset to patients with anterior AMI not undergoing thrombolysis. Of 1441 patients who entered the study, 565 (39.2%) had a history of HBP. The mean follow-up time was 12 months and the main outcome measures were 6-week combined occurrence of death and severe congestive heart failure (CHF) and 1-year mortality. After 6-week of treatment with zofenopril the relative risk of death or severe CHF was 0.60 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.45-0.81; 2P < .05) in the hypertensive group and 0.89 (0.74-1.08; 2P = .62) for normotensive patients, whereas the 1-year risk of death was 0.61 (95% CI: 0.23,0.89; 2P < .05) and 0.77 (95% CI: 0.52-1.17; 2P = .22), respectively. The 6-week prevalence of mild-to-moderate CHF was also significantly reduced by zofenopril in the hypertensive population (14.1% v 9.4%; 2P < .05). The present data suggest that treatment with zofenopril started within 24 h of the onset of anterior AMI could be highly beneficial in patients with a history of HBP.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Enhanced accumulation of ribavirin and its metabolites in liver versus erythrocytes in mice administered with the liver targeted drug.

BACKGROUND: Ribavirin increases the efficacy of alpha-interferon in chronic hepatitis C, but accumulates in erythrocytes causing haemolysis. AIMS: To reduce this side effect we conjugated ribavirin with lactosaminated poly-L-lysine. METHODS: In mice administered with the same dose of free or conjugated [3H]ribavirin we determined the levels of radioactivity in liver and erythrocytes and measured the hepatic concentrations of ribavirin triphosphate. Moreover, we determined the doses of free and conjugated ribavirin producing a 50% reduction in the virus titre (ED50) in liver of mice infected with murine hepatitis virus. RESULTS: In mice treated with the conjugate, the ratio dpm in liver/dpm in erythrocytes was 2.2- or 4.7-fold higher than in animals administered with the free drug given intramuscularly or orally, respectively. The concentration of [3H]ribavirin triphosphate was found to be 2-fold higher in mice injected with the conjugated drug than in animals orally treated with free ribavirin. In murine hepatitis virus infected mice, the ED50 was 27.4 micrograms/g for conjugated ribavirin and 47.2 micrograms/g for the free drug. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the possibility that conjugated ribavirin may produce the same pharmacological activity in liver as the free drug but with a reduced haemolysis.

Amino Sugars↗

PubMed1996

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus markers and risk factors in patients and staff of an Italian residential institution for the mentally disabled.

We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate the prevalence rate and risk factors for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among residents and staff at the Fatebenefratelli Institute in San Colombano in the province of Milan. We tested serum from 510 patients and 165 staff members. In addition, a medical record and a completed questionnaire were obtained from each patient. A total of 338 (66.5%) residents were found to have markers of HBV infection, including 29 (5.7%) who were identified as carriers. Thirty-nine members of staff (24.1%) showed evidence of HBV infection but only 1 (0.6%) was identified as a carrier. Among patients the prevalence rate of HBV was significantly associated with length of stay and age at admission, as it was with length of employment among staff members. The hepatitis B vaccine was offered to all patients and staff in the institution during 1994. A total of 143 (84%) patients and 111 (90%) members of the staff were vaccinated in the same year. To prevent the further spread of HBV infection in this institution, all current and future residents and staff members should be screened for serological markers for HBV and subjects identified as being susceptible should be vaccinated according to a compulsory routine policy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Bombesin enhances monocyte and macrophage activities: possible role in the modulation of local pulmonary defenses in chronic bronchitis.

Increased lung levels of bombesin-related peptides (BRPs) have been described in smokers and in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPDs). Moreover, previous studies have shown that BRPs are endowed with immunoregulatory activities. The aim of the present study was to assess the in vitro influence of synthetic bombesin on the activity of mononuclear phagocytes obtained from healthy donors and from COPD patients. Bombesin significantly enhanced in vitro phagocytosis of monocytes and alveolar macrophages in both groups of subjects, restoring deficient phagocytosis in a group of COPD patients. Moreover, bombesin stimulated superoxide anion production and interleukin-8 release by peripheral monocytes.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

A double-blind multicentre study of paroxetine and amitriptyline in depressed outpatients. Italian Paroxetine Study Group.

A comparative double-blind study of paroxetine and amitriptyline in the treatment of depressed hospital outpatients was undertaken at 15 centres in Italy. Three hundred and nine patients of either sex were admitted to the study. The starting dose of paroxetine was 20 mg daily and of amitriptyline 75 mg daily in divided doses; at week 3 these doses could be increased at the investigators' discretion. Efficacy was measured on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and on Clinical Global Impression. Both treatment groups showed significant improvement at week 6 with no significant between-group differences. Significantly fewer patients receiving paroxetine reported adverse events compared with those on amitriptyline (44% vs 62%; p < 0.01 in favour of paroxetine).

Adult↗

PubMed1981

[Nuclear medicine in pneumonology in the light of 9 year's experience at the S. Luigi Gonzaga Hospital].

An attempt is made to draw a picture of the results obtained with nuclear medicine in the pneumological field in the light of 9 years experience. An attempt is also made to identify from among recently introduced techniques (T.A.C., echotomography) which ones might be substituted for radioisotopes and when, and on what occasion they can be used as complementary treatment. It is concluded that nuclear medicine is of absolute value for functional examinations of the respiratory apparatus (perfusors and ventilators) and for lung onconscannning with Ga67 citrate and Bleomycin-Co57 under present circumstances and that in other fields certain morphological scans (bone scans) are still useful by virtue of their cost-benefit ratio.

Bleomycin↗

PubMed1981

[Indications for radiotherapy of lung cancer in the light of its clinical reality].

Reference is made to a large series and the literature in an attempt to single out cases where radiation management is indicated in the curative, palliative and anatalogic treatment of lung cancer, an in association with other therapies. It is pointed out that each case much be examined on its merits in the light of the histological type, the extent of the process, and its possible metastasis. The conclusion is drawn that radiotherapy plays a useful part in the albeit slight increase in survival of lung cancer patients under acceptable general conditions.

Humans↗

PubMed1980