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A Musca

Publications and source records attributed to A Musca.

116 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Correlations between circulation levels of natriuretic atrial peptide and urinary excretion of kallikrein in young normotensive and hypertensive subjects].

The relationships between atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and the renal sodium-modulating systems have not yet been completely examined. In particular, the relationships between ANP and the kinins system are almost unknown. We thus examined an extremely selected cohort of normotensive (n = 29, mean age 21 +/- 2 years) and hypertensive subjects (n = 51m mean age 21 +/- 2.9 years), both without hypertensive heredity. After 7 days under normal sodium intake (120 mEq of Na+/day), blood samples were taken in the morning on awaking, for radioimmunoassay of plasma levels of aldosterone, ANP and renin activity. Blood was again drawn after one active hour in orthostatism. We also evaluated urinary kallikrein excretion from urine collected over the previous 24 hours. Our results showed higher plasma levels of ANP in young hypertensives than in normotensives (statistical significance p less than 0.0025). Urinary excretion of kallikrein was markedly reduced (p less than 0.001) in the hypertensive group (0.46 +/- 0.3 U/24 h) compared to youths with normal blood pressure (0.79 +/- 0.24 U/24 h), in which a relationship between plasma ANP and urinary kallikrein was not evident; young hypertensives, on the other hand, showed an inverse correlation (r = -0.72; p less than 0.001). Finally, our investigation, aside from establishing the presence of high circulating ANP levels even at the initial phases of hypertension, points out a new possible means of feedback among sodium-modulating systems. The opposite relationship between ANP and urinary kallikrein excretion in young hypertensives could be attributed to reduced activity of the renal kinins system and a compensatory attempt on the part of ANP.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Effects of active postural inhibition on circulating levels of atrial natriuretic peptide in young hypertensive and normotensive subjects in the presence or absence of positive family history of essential arterial hypertension].

The effect of active changes in posture, from recumbency to up-right position (60 min) on the circulating levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were studied in 52 hypertensive patients, in 30 healthy human subjects and in 24 normotensive subjects with hypertensive parents. At the end of the orthostatic challenge, plasma ANP levels were reduced by about 40% (p less than 0.01) in all subjects without significant differences between the three groups. This indicates that the active postural inhibition of ANP release is substantially similar in the different subjects here studied.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Relation of atrial natriuretic peptide, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and kinin system in hypertensive and normotensive youngsters with or without a family history of essential arterial hypertension].

To evaluate the correlations occurring among plasma atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), renin activity (PRA), aldosterone (ALD) and urinary kallikrein (KK) in young hypertensives and in young normotensives with or without a family history of hypertension, 26 essential hypertensives (mean age: 22.5 +/- 2), 21 normotensives (mean age: 22.3 +/- 1.9) and 13 normotensives with hypertensive heredity (mean age 22 +/- 1.8) under normal Na+ intake (120 mEq/daily) were studied. Blood samples for plasma ANF, PRA and ALD evaluations were taken after a night bed sleep (A) and again after 1 hour of deambulation (B). KK was evaluated on 24 hours urine specimens by the chromogenic substrate (S-2266) method. The results showed that ANF plasma levels in hypertensives (A = 44.5 +/- 19.4 pg/ml, B = 24.1 +/- 11 pg/ml) were higher than in normotensives (A = 38.3 +/- 19.4 pg/ml, B = 19.9 +/- 10.6 pg/ml), with a percentage difference of 13.8% in A situation and 17.4% in B situation. Moreover ANF was higher in normotensives with hypertensive heredity than in normotensives without heredity (A = +7.4%; B = +10%). In B situation ANF was inversely correlated with ALD in all groups (p less than 0.001 in hypertensives; p less than 0.05 in both groups of normotensives), and with PRA in hypertensive group (p less than 0.001). KK was significantly lower in hypertensives than in normals (p less than 0.01) showing only in hypertensive patients an inverse correlation with ANF (r = -0.60; p less than 0.001). In conclusion, our data indicate that raised levels of plasma ANF may be present in young hypertensives with low levels of PRA, ALD and KK.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Effects of active orthostatism on blood levels of atrial natriuretic peptide in the healthy subject].

The effects of active changes in posture, from recumbency to upright position (60 minutes), on the circulating levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in healthy human subjects were studied by using a radioimmunoassay method. In supine position, plasma ANP levels ranged from 12 pg/ml to 51.5 pg/ml, with an average level of 35.3 +/- 11.5 pg/ml. After 1 hour of orthostatic position, plasma ANP levels varied from 10 pg/ml to 35 pg/ml, with an average level of 21 +/- 11.5 pg/ml. These results suggest that ANP is involved in the hemodynamic modifications following postural stimuli. Thus, postural changes can be taken in to account for evaluating plasma ANP behaviour properly.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Relation of atrial natriuretic peptide and endogenous digoxin-like activity in the plasma of young hypertensive patients].

The relationships between plasma digoxin-like immunoreactivity (DLS) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were investigated in 10 young essential hypertensives (mean age 22 +/- 2 years) and in 10 normotensives. In young hypertensives, plasma DLS and ANP were at an average level of 31.2 +/- 8 pg/ml and 56.7 +/- 20 pg/ml respectively, showing a significant correlation (r = 0.66; p less than 0.05). In normal subjects plasma DLS and ANP were at an average level of 19.1 +/- 8 pg/ml and 37.6 +/- 16.7 pg/ml respectively (n.s.). Plasma DLS and ANP were higher in hypertensives than in normotensives (p less than 0.01). In conclusion, DLS and ANP appear to have a similar behaviour, possibly due to their modulation by common stimuli.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Epidemiology of chronic obstructive bronchopneumopathies].

Mortality due to respiratory diseases has been stable in Italy during this century, but this stability seems to be artificial due to TBC and pneumonias mortality decrease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cancer mortalities increase. In 1977 COPD morbidity caused 3,000,000 off-days, but these old data probably underestimated the real situation: indeed the greatest mortality is registered, as it is well know, in the elderly subjects (greater than 75 years), and this age was not considered in these data. More recently, a finalized project has been established by the National Research Council (CNR) to obviate poorness of data on COPD epidemiology with particular regard to its morbidity. At the present time, data have not yet been published. COPD appears to affect males more than females, while race does not seem important in COPD distribution. Moreover, a marked increase in respiratory dysfunction is observed with age. Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficit plays a significant role in COPD pathogenesis, while the influence of surface cells antigens and secretory state is still unclear. COPD is more frequent in some families than in general population, as well as in monozygote twins than in dizygote ones. However, the influence of genetically determined predisposition could be overestimated, being COPD frequencies in these cases linked to other risk factors. According to the "Dutch hypothesis" bronchial hyperreactivity is an indispensable condition in COPD pathogenesis, while "British hypothesis" gives more importance to recurrent bronchial inflammation. Some contaminants play an important role in COPD pathogenesis, both in urban (NO2, NO3, SO3) and working environments (coke, etc.). Smoke is the last factor considered in the pathogenesis of COPD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Descriptive analysis of measles epidemic in Palermo, from September 1996 to June 1997. Failure of a vaccination campaign].

BACKGROUND: The authors report 1642 measles cases observed from September 1996 to June 1997 at the "G. Di Cristina" Children's Hospital. 34% of patients were hospitalized at the Division of Infectious Diseases. METHODS: The records of children admitted with measles to emergency area were retrospectively collected. The medical records (anamnestic, clinical and laboratory findings) of hospitalized children were obtained from schedules which since 1993 were performed to perspectively collect the exanthematous diseases. International criteria for the definition of measles case were applied. The variables considered were: background, demographic data, seasonal distribution, clinical presentation, complications and days of hospital stay. RESULTS: The results of this research showed that the outbreak involved predominantly infants. The complications accounted for 72% of measles hospitalized cases. Four cases of encephalitis were observed. A total of 1692 days of hospital stay was reported. CONCLUSIONS: These data show the failure in measles control adopted by the Sicilian Region and confirm the difficulties to achieve high percentage of parents participation to the infant recommended vaccination program.

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