Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to D Camaioni.
A comparison between the concentrations of free amino acids in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in cases of hypercapnic coma and acute respiratory failure has been made. Hypotheses are formulated to interpret the observed changes in the cerebral metabolism of amino acids in these pathological conditions.
Protein catabolism, as measured by plasma amino acids is increased by amphetamine injection (15 mg/kg body wt) administered to 10 adult male guinea pigs. Changes in the cerebrospinal fluid were less marked than those in the plasma. The amphetamine seemed to inhibit the enzymes of the metabolic pathways that use amino acids.
An experimental study of 150 guinea pigs has been carried out to analyze the amino acid pattern in plasma, cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue in acute hypoxia. The distribution of these compounds changed, and hypotheses about particular cerebral metabolic pathways involved are presented.
The plasma and urine osmolality and their ratios were measured in 774 patients in critical care. We found that changes in osmolality were related to the alterations of ratios of sodium ion, glucose, blood urea nitrogen and unknown metabolites, and this knowledge may be of therapeutic and prognostic value.
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A comparative study of the concentrations of free amino acids in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid in cases of coma of different origins has been made. Hypotheses are put forward to explain the biochemical steps involved in cerebral metabolism of protein.
The concentrations of free amino acids were measured in plasma and erythrocytes in 15 patients, and in cerebrospinal fluid in eight patients, who were in coma. Although there was a variety of causes of coma, there seemed to be a characteristic pattern of the concentrations of amino acids for coma, and the plasma/cerebrospinal fluid ratios also showed constant patterns.
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BACKGROUND: It has often been suggested that stress might trigger vitiligo. However, only one study supported this hypothesis, and no study explored the role of other personality or social factors. METHODS: Out-patients experiencing a recent onset or exacerbation of vitiligo (n = 31) were compared with out-patients with skin conditions in which psychosomatic factors are commonly were regarded as negligible (n = 116). Stressful events during the last 12 months were assessed with Paykel's Interview for Recent Life Events. Attachment style, alexithymia and social support were assessed with the 'Experiences in Close Relationships' questionnaire, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, respectively. RESULTS: Cases and controls did not differ regarding the total number of events and the number of undesirable, uncontrollable or major events. Three or more uncontrollable events had occurred more frequently among cases than controls. Perceived social support was lower in cases than in controls. Cases scored higher than controls on anxious attachment, tended towards higher scores on avoidant attachment and were classified more often as insecure. Cases scored higher than controls on the TAS-20 and were classified more often as alexithymic or borderline alexithymic. The occurrence of many uncontrollable events, alexithymia and anxious attachment were associated with vitiligo also in multiple logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that vulnerability to vitiligo is not increased by stressful events, except for many uncontrollable events. Alexithymia, insecure attachment and poor social support appear to increase susceptibility to vitiligo, possibly through deficits in emotion regulation or reduced ability to cope effectively with stress.
Although the onset of alopecia areata has often been anecdotally linked with emotional stress, findings from the few controlled studies have not been univocal. The authors compared outpatients experiencing a recent onset of alopecia areata (N=21) with outpatients affected by skin conditions commonly believed as having a low psychosomatic component (N=102). Participants were administered Paykel's Interview for Recent Life Events, the Experiences in Close Relationships scale, the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Multiple logistic regression was used to control for age and gender. The total number of recent life events (last 12 months) was not different between the alopecia patients and the comparison subjects. Also, the alopecia patients and the comparison subjects did not differ in terms of the number of undesirable or major events. The comparison subjects even experienced a greater number of uncontrollable events. Alopecia areata tended to be associated with high avoidance in attachment relationships, high alexithymic characteristics, and poor social support. The results suggest that personality characteristics might modulate individual susceptibility to alopecia areata.
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In most (65-80%) cancer patients at an advanced stage of illness we find significant, invalidating symptoms of pain. Cancer pain is a complex pain (with a nociceptive, neuropathic and deafferentation component), which requires a multidisciplinary approach (surgery, radiochemotherapy, and pain therapy). Pain therapy has various pharmacological strategies at its disposal (opiates, anti-inflammatory and adjuvant drugs) together with modulation and neurodestructive techniques, which must be applied taking account of both the stage of the disease and the pain intensity. In elderly patients, a careful, tailored management of pharmacological therapy is required. In older age, personality disorders are also to be found (anxiety, depression, hypocondria and feeling of abandonment), which make therapy more complex and varied. Knowledge of these problems will, however, make it possible to control cancer pain in elderly patients to the best possible effect and improve the quality of life in the advanced and terminal stages.