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C Porcellati

Publications and source records attributed to C Porcellati.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

[Sex differences in echocardiographic indices of left ventricular hypertrophy in arterial hypertension. Influence of age and pressure levels over 24 hours].

To evaluate the difference between the sexes in the echocardiographic indices of left ventricular hypertrophy in essential hypertension, we analysed the results of 24-hour non invasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and echocardiography in 195 consecutive untreated hypertensive patients (101 males, 94 females). Patients were divided into 3 age groups: up to 40 years, 41-60 years, and greater than 60 years of age. Clinical blood pressure did not differ between sexes in any of the three groups, while average 24-hour ambulatory systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels were higher in males than in females up to 40 years of age (140/93 vs 129/87 mmHg, p less than 0.01), but not between 41 and 60 years (142/93 vs 141/90 mmHg) nor in those over 60 years of age (151/92 vs 145/91 mmHg). LV mass index was higher in males than in females up to 40 years (93 vs 68 g/m2, p less than 0.01), and between 41 and 60 years (115 vs 90 g/m2, p less than 0.01), but not dissimilar between the sexes over 60 years of age (102 vs 107 g/m2, p = n.s.). In females, LV mass index increased with age (r = 0.33) and body weight (r = 0.38; both p less than 0.01), but none of these relationships was significant in males (r = 0.01 and r = 0.19, respectively). Moreover, all the relations of LV mass to either clinical or ambulatory BP were closer in females than in males. None of the echocardiographic indices of left ventricular systolic function showed statistically significant differences between the sexes in any of the three age groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring during sustained treatment with conventional and extended-release felodipine in mild-to-moderate hypertension.

To assess the duration of the antihypertensive effect of the dihydropiridine calcium antagonist felodipine in conventional (C-F) and slow-release (ER-F) formulations, 12 patients with essential hypertension underwent ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) at the end of a 2-week treatment period with C-F 5 mg b.d., ER-F 10 mg once daily (o.d.) and placebo. C-F, ER-F and placebo were given in a double-blind 3 x 3 latin square design 4 times replicated. There was no systematic change in the ABP profile over the three study periods regardless of the treatment. In comparison to placebo, the mean 24-h systolic and diastolic blood pressures showed a significant and similar reduction after both formulations of F. Compared to placebo, C-F and ER-F induced a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure for 15 and 21 h, respectively, and of diastolic blood pressure for 16 and 21 h, respectively. Three patients complained of headache (mild in 2, moderately severe in 1), and two patients of nocturia, with either formulation of F.

Adult↗

Increased exercise tolerance and reduced electrocardiographic ischaemia 3 and 12 hours after oral felodipine in effort angina.

The antianginal properties and the duration of action of two doses of felodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist with a vascular:myocardial potency ratio approximating 100:1, were investigated in 15 patients suffering from disabling effort angina pectoris with reproducible exercise tolerance. Felodipine (5 mg, 10 mg) and placebo were administered once in the morning on three different days, with a 24 h interval between them, according to a double-blind 3 x 3 latin square design, 5 times replicated. Symptom-limited cycloergometric exercise tests were performed 3 and 12 h after administration. Duration of exercise to ST segment depression of 1 mm and to peak exercise was increased (all P less than 0.01) by both doses of felodipine in comparison with placebo. Twelve hours after administration, the 10-mg dose induced a significant improvement in the exercise time and a smaller ST segment depression (all P less than 0.01) in comparison with the 5-mg dose. The relationship between ST segment depression and the pressure-rate product during exercise was favourably influenced by the 10-mg dose at 3 and 12 h after intake, and by the 5-mg dose only at 3 h after intake. These findings suggest an increase in coronary blood flow induced by felodipine. Apart from mild headache there were no other unwanted effects. In conclusion, felodipine improves exercise tolerance and reduces electrocardiographic ischaemia for up to 12 h after single oral administration in patients with effort angina. Increasing the dose from 5 mg to 10 mg produces a more prolonged effect, with increased exercise tolerance 12 h after intake.

Administration, Oral↗

[Multicenter clinical study of the antihypertensive activity of lisinopril].

One-hundred patients suffering from slight-moderate hypertension (53 m, 47 f, aged between 18 and 78, average 49.08) have been studied in order to assess the effectiveness and tolerance of lisinopril ("Zestril", ICI-Pharma), a new ACE inhibitor in a single daily administration at doses of between 10 and 80 mg in relation to pressure values. Monotherapy with Lisinopril proved effective in 84 patients (88.4%), in 74 of whom (7.9%) pressure values were returned to normal. 11 patients (11.6%) did not respond to treatment. In most cases, the result was obtained with a dose of 20 mg in a single administration (32.6%). The incidence of side-effects was limited and in no case required the withdrawal of the drug.

Adolescent↗

[Doppler echocardiography in atrial myxoma].

Two-dimensional echocardiography is the technique of choice for the diagnosis of atrial myxoma. In fact the Echo study allows the recognition of the presence of the tumor, and can show its dimensions, shape, implantation site and motility. However, it is not clear the role of Doppler echocardiography in the evaluation of atrial myxoma. This technique could be useful to recognize patients with more severe obstruction to atrioventricular flow due to large tumors. In 4 patients with large atrial myxomas (3 left and 1 right atrial myxoma) Doppler analysis of atrioventricular flow showed an apparent correlation between variation of trans-mitral or trans-tricuspid diastolic flow and symptoms (syncopal attacks). Only patients with an obstruction to atrioventricular flow and severely restricted calculated mitral or tricuspid orifice had syncopal attacks, at variance with patients without flow obstruction. Further studies on larger population will verify this apparent relation between atrioventricular flow obstruction and clinical symptoms in patients with large atrial myxoma.

Adult↗

[Echocardiographic analysis of the left ventricle in patients with type II diabetes mellitus].

Left ventricular involvement in type II diabetes mellitus is poorly understood. We performed a cross-sectional, M-mode and pulsed Doppler echocardiographic study on 27 diabetic patients and 27 controls accurately matched for age, sex, weight and height. All subjects also underwent 24-hour non-invasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Left ventricular wall thicknesses and dimensions in diastole and systole, left ventricular mass index (82.7 g/m2 vs 78.4 g/m2) and the echocardiographic indices of left ventricular contractility did not show any statistical differences between diabetics and controls. Clinic and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure did not show important differences between diabetics and controls. Doppler parameters for transmitral flow velocity (including peak A and peak E velocity and their ratio, pressure half time and pressure half slope) were the same in diabetics and controls. A stepwise multivariate regression analysis showed a significant positive independent relationship of peak A/peak E ratio with age (peak A/peak E = 0.0087 + 0.20 x age; F = 18.7; p = 0.0001), but not with diabetes or glycosylated haemoglobin (Hb 1 AC). Compared with non-diabetics, diabetics showed a slight increase in aortic peak flow velocity (0.83 m/sec vs. 0.70 m/sec; p = 0.011) and a very slight increase in peak aortic gradient. Peak aortic velocity showed a highly significant positive independent relation with the duration of diabetes (Vmax = 0.572 + 0.0028* diabetes duration (months); F = 92.6; p less than 0.0001), but not with age, systolic or diastolic blood pressure of HB 1 AC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2↗

Duration of the antihypertensive action of atenolol, enalapril and placebo: a randomized within-patient study using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Atenolol (A) and enalapril (E), two agents widely used as first-line monotherapy in arterial hypertension, have never been compared in their potency and duration of action by using 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Twelve out-patients (mean age 48.6 years - SD 7) with mild-to-moderate hypertension and supine diastolic blood pressure (Hawksley Random Zero Manometer) greater than 100 mmHg at the end of a 3-week placebo wash-out received, in double-blind and random order, A 100 mg daily, E 20 mg daily and placebo for 4 weeks each, according to a 3 x 3 latin square design. A 24-hour non-invasive ABPM (Spacelabs ICR 5200) was performed at the end of each of the 3 periods. In respect to placebo, both A and E produced a 24-h antihypertensive effect. The frequency of diastolic blood pressure values above 90 mmHg was 50.0% after placebo, 24.5% after A and 28.9% after E (a 51% reduction after A and a 42.3% reduction after E in respect to placebo - both p less than .05). Systolic blood pressure profiles differed less than 5 mmHg between placebo and A, as well as between placebo and E, between 9:30 and 10:30. Diastolic blood pressure profiles differed less than 5 mmHg between placebo and A over 2 h (between 2:30 and 3:30, and between 10:30 and 11:30), and between placebo and E over 2 other h (between 9:30 and 10:30, and between 11:30 and 12:30). None of the routine hematochemical parameters differed between placebo, A and E.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Home ambulatory blood pressure readings do not differ from clinic readings taken at the same time of day.

In most hypertensives clinic blood pressure (BP) is variably higher than home BP, but the underlying mechanisms are uncertain. We investigated whether the 24-hour ambulatory home BP profile as well as the office-home BP discrepancy could vary with the time of day of application of the recording system (from 08.00 h to 19.00 h) in 135 untreated hypertensives who underwent non-invasive home BP monitoring (ICR 5200). Neither systolic nor diastolic 24-hour home BP (average of daily readings, area-under-the-curve) varied significantly with the time of day of application of the system. Clinic BP was about 12% higher than 24-hour home BP in the whole population, mean values being 161.4/102.9 mmHg (office BP) vs 141.2/90.8 mmHg (average 24-hour home readings), as well as in each of the subcohorts based on the time of day of application of the system (all P less than 0.01). However, in none of the subcohorts were there any statistically significant differences between clinic BP and home BP readings taken at the same time of day as the clinic readings. No correlation was found between clinic heart rate and clinic-home discrepancy. We conclude that in essential hypertension 24-hr non-invasive ambulatory BP monitoring can begin indifferently from 08.00 h to 19.00 h with no expected influence of time of application on results and that clinic BP is not dissimilar from home BP at the same time of day.

Adult↗

[Comparison of the bronchodilator action of fenoterol and salbutamol by aerosol administration in patients with bronchial asthma].

A comparison was made between the bronchodilatatory activity of phenoterol (hydroxyphenylorciprenaline) and salbutamol in patients with bronchial asthma. The results showed that both drugs had marked activity at therapeutic doses, though phenoterol was more rapid (within 10 min of inhalation) and more longlasting (up to 6-7 hr). Its loss of therapeutic effect was also slower than that of hitherto experimented drugs.

Adolescent↗

Prognostic significance of serial changes in left ventricular mass in essential hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Increased left ventricular (LV) mass predicts an adverse outcome in patients with essential hypertension. The purpose of this study was to determine the relation between changes in LV mass during antihypertensive treatment and subsequent prognosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Procedures including echocardiography and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring were performed in 430 patients with essential hypertension before therapy and after 1217 patient-years. Months or years after the follow-up visit, 31 patients suffered a first cardiovascular morbid event. The patients with a decrease in LV mass from the baseline to follow-up visit were compared with those with an increase in LV mass. There were 15 events (1.78 per 100 person-years) in the group with a decrease in LV mass and 16 events (3.03 per 100 person-years) in the group with an increase in LV mass (P=.029). In a Cox model, the lesser cardiovascular risk in the group with a decrease in LV mass (hazard ratio [HR], 0.46; 95% CI, 0.22 to 0.99) remained significant (P=.04) after adjustment for age (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.10; P=.0008) and baseline LVH at ECG (HR, 3.85; 95% CI, 1.52 to 9.78; P=.012). In that model, baseline LV mass bordered on statistical significance (HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.03; P=.06). In the subset with LV mass > 125 g/m2 at the baseline visit (26% of subjects), the event rate was lower among the subjects who achieved regression of LVH than in those who did not (1.58 versus 6.27 events per 100 person-years; P=.002). This difference held in the multivariate analysis (HR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.05 to 0.68). CONCLUSIONS: In essential hypertension, a reduction in LV mass during treatment is a favorable prognostic marker that predicts a lesser risk for subsequent cardiovascular morbid events. Such an association is independent of baseline LV mass, baseline clinic and ambulatory BP, and degree of BP reduction.

Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory↗

[Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of the lisinopril + hydrochlorothiazide and captopril + hydrochlorothiazide combinations in the treatment of essential arterial hypertension].

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of the combinations of lisinopril (LIS) 20 mg + hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) 12.5 mg and captopril (CAP) 50 mg + HCTZ 25 mg in moderately hypertensive patients not adequately controlled by LIS or CAP alone. The study was multicentre (11 centres), open, random and carried out in parallel groups. After two weeks' placebo run in patients were randomly assigned to LIS 10-20 mg/o.d. or CAP 25-50 mg/b.i.d. treatment for 6 weeks. After this, patients with supine diastolic blood pressure (SDBP) greater than 90 mmHg were treated with the combinations LIS 20 mg + HCTZ 12.5 mg/o.d. or CAP 50 mg + HCTZ 25 mg/o.d. for 4 weeks; this dose was doubled if DBP was found to be greater than 90 mmHg after 2 weeks' combined therapy. A total of 175 patients were enrolled (92 females and 83 males) of which 153 completed the study. The LIS + HCTZ association caused a significant reduction of DBP in comparison to the other combined treatment (88.1 +/- 0.7 vs 90.3 +/- 0.7; p = 0.026). The statistical analysis of mean SBP values showed no significant difference between the two groups (144.0 +/- 1.3 vs 146.8 +/- 1.3; p = 0.15). At the end of the study 79.5% of patients treated with LIS + HCTZ presented normal results (DBP less than or equal to 90 mmHg), whereas the percentage of similar results in the comparison group was 72%. The percentage of "responder" patients to therapy (DBP reduced by 10 mmHg or more in relation to basal values) was 96.3% in the LIS + HCTZ group and 86.7% in the CAP + HCTZ group. In the CAP + HCTZ group 0.6% of patients reported adverse reactions, while only 0.3% were observed in the LIS + HCTZ group.

Adolescent↗