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Biomedical subjects

A Vincenzi

Publications and source records attributed to A Vincenzi.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Non-HDL cholesterol predicts coronary heart disease in primary prevention: findings from an Italian 40-69 year-old cohort in general practice.

OBJECTS: Non-HDL cholesterol is now recommended as an index of risk associated with combined dyslipidemia, and it has also been found useful in predicting coronary heart disease (CHD) risk in patients with diabetes. We studied the association between known CHD risk factors, enclosed non-HDL cholesterol, and a "high CHD risk condition", i.e. a "5-years CHD risk >15%" in general practice. METHODS: We studied 4,085 40-69 year-old diabetic (no. 489) and non-diabetic (no. 3,596) individuals from an opportunistic cohort. Cross-sectional descriptive statistics, and age- and gender-adjusted multiple logistic exponential betas have been calculated. RESULTS: About 12% of the participants had diabetes. Age- and gender-adjusted comparison showed that all the study variables were significantly worse in diabetic vs. non-diabetic individuals (except cigarette smoking, total blood cholesterol and the ratio of total to HDL cholesterol). They had a mean "5-year CHD-risk" significantly higher than non-diabetic individuals (18.8+/-11.9% vs 7.5+/-6.9%, P<0.01), and a four-fold prevalence of "5-years CHD risk >15%" (55.4% vs 11.1%, P<0.01). As to diabetic individuals, the study variables associated to a "high CHD risk condition" were cigarette smoking, systolic blood pressure, and non-HDL blood cholesterol levels. As to non-diabetic individuals cigarette smoking, systolic blood pressure, and HDL (inversely) and non-HDL blood cholesterol levels were associated to a "high CHD risk condition". CONCLUSIONS: Non-HDL cholesterol--and cigarette smoking and systolic blood pressure--strongly predicted a "high CHD risk condition" both in diabetic and non-diabetic individuals.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Hearing results in stapes surgery using two different prosthesis.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Evaluation of hearing results after implantation of a fluoroplastic-platinum piston (FP) and of a titanium piston (T) with a shaft diameter of respectively 0.6 mm and 0.4 mm, in cases of otosclerosis requiring stapedotomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Pre-operative and post-operative hearing results obtained after primary stapedotomy by implantation of 30 FP and 30 T performed by the same expert author (C.Z.) were reviewed. In each patient we evaluated pre- and post-operative auditory thresholds, as recommended. RESULTS: All patients of both groups showed a significant air-bone gap (ABG) improvement for all frequencies after surgery ( P < 0. 001). Post-operative ABG comparison between the two groups showed a better ABG for lower frequencies in the FP group and for higher frequencies in the T group, but the difference was not significant. No post-operative complications, including sensorineural hearing loss, were found. Bone conduction improvement was better in the FP group than in the T one and this difference was statistically significant at 1000 and 2000 Hz. There was no statistically significant difference in the post-operative outcomes between the two prosthesis. Better results of FP for lower frequencies suggest that an increase in diameter of the prosthesis results in a greater improvement in the hearing threshold at low frequencies, while a decrease of diameter results in a greater improvement in the hearing threshold at high frequencies, as indicated by previous international studies. CONCLUSION: Our data shows that titanium piston is a as good as fluoroplastic piston in stapes surgery for otosclerosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Atypical (bizarre) leiomyoma of the nasal cavity with prominent myxoid change.

A 72 year old woman presented complaining of nasal obstruction, rhinorrea, and epistaxis. At examination, a polypoid mass on the right posterior choana was revealed and subsequently removed. Light microscopic findings consisted of a diffuse proliferation of spindle shaped, pleomorphic cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm and blunt ended nuclei in a prominent myxoid background. The presence of numerous plurinucleate, bizarre cells made it very difficult to determine the malignant potential. Immunohistochemical evidence for leiomyogenic markers coupled with the low mitotic rate, the lack of an infiltrating growth pattern, and the indolent clinical course led to the diagnosis of atypical leiomyoma with prominent myxoid change. A literature survey confirmed that such a tumour is extremely rare at this site, but the biological behaviour seems to be similar to its uterine counterpart. Clinicians should be aware of this occurrence to prevent misdiagnosis because a conservative therapeutic approach is necessary in this disease.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Radial artery flow-mediated dilatation in heart failure patients: effects of pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is associated with an impaired flow-mediated vasodilation that reflects an impaired endothelial function. Limited information is available, however, on whether and to what extent this impairment is improved by pharmacological or nonpharmacological treatment. We measured radial artery diameter and blood flow by an echo-tracking Doppler device both at baseline and after 4 minutes of hand ischemia, which increases diameter through NO secretion mediated by an increase in flow and shear stress. Data were collected from 44 CHF patients (New York Heart Association class I to III) under standard treatment (diuretic, digitalis, and enalapril, 20 mg/d), in whom CHF severity was assessed by a cardiopulmonary stress test, and from 16 age- and sex-matched controls. CHF patients were then randomized to maintain for (A) 2 months of standard treatment (n=11), (B) treatment with double the ACE inhibitor dose (n=11), (C) standard treatment with an angiotensin II antagonist (losartan, 50 mg/d; n=11), or (D) standard treatment with bicycle training for 30 minutes, 3 times a week (n=11). At baseline, radial artery diameter and flow were similar in CHF patients and controls; CHF patients had a modest although significant impairment in flow increase (-36%) and a striking impairment (-78%) in diameter increase following the 4 minutes of ischemia. After 2 months, baseline diameter and flow remained unaltered in the 4 groups. After the 4 minutes of ischemia, radial artery flow and diameter increased as before in the group under standard treatment (A), whereas in the other 3 groups, the increase was significantly (P<0.05) and, for diameter, markedly (B, 83%; C, 92%; and D, 95%) greater. The vasodilatation induced by trinitroglycerin was similar in CHF and control subjects and not affected by treatments. In CHF, radial artery shows a marked reduction in flow-mediated vasodilation, reflecting impairment of endothelial function. This impairment can be markedly improved by treatments that effectively block the renin-angiotensin system either at ACE or at ACE plus angiotensin receptor level. This is the case also with nonpharmacological treatment of CHF.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1997

Response of symptomatic myocardial ischemia in ischemic cardiomyopathy to intensive vasodilator therapy.

To determine the cardiovascular protective effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, we examined the response to intensive vasodilator therapy in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and ongoing angina pectoris. We found that for patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and ongoing active angina, intensive vasodilator therapy with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition and nitrates improved not only heart failure-related symptoms, but also resulted in a significant improvement in symptomatic ischemia and ischemia-related morbid events.

Angina Pectoris↗
PubMed1994

[Considerations concerning respiratory physiopathology in a case of total arhinia].

The Authors describe their personal experience in a rare case of total arhinia in a young boy, now seven years old, whose psycho-physical development is normal and who is healthy except for recurrent conjunctivitis due to the absence of nasolacrimal ducts. The Authors consider the possibility that in the case of total absence of the nasal function, as in total arhinia, the oropharyngeal and laryngotracheobronchial mucosa may acquire those functional and defensive properties typically belonging to nasal mucosa. In the subject in question, in fact, functional respiratory and immunosecretory parameters are normal. On the other hand, being well known how problematic acquired severely compromised nasal functions are one would think that only in the case of congenital absence of the nose can the lower aerodigestive structures compensate successfully. In the Authors' opinion this clinic observation contradicts the widely held belief that nasal respiration is absolutely necessary from the moment of birth on.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Surgical treatment of androphonia].

While numerous surgical procedures which aim at modifying the mass and tension of the vocal cords have been successfully adopted in dealing with androphonia, the most suitable and the least traumatic appears to be cricothyroid approximation. The Authors report the method employed and the satisfactory results obtained in the case of a woman whose highly masculine voice had brought about relational and psychological disorders. Studies of the instrumental phoniatric data gathered prior to surgery as well as a week, three months and a year afterwards show a change in the frequency characteristics of the voice-that is, a significant increase in the fundamental frequency. No substantial changes in aerodynamic indices or vocal range were detected.

Adult↗