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Biomedical subjects

D Colantonio

Publications and source records attributed to D Colantonio.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Circadian pattern of circulating plasma ACTH, cortisol, and aldosterone in patients with beta-thalassemia.

Plasma levels of ACTH, cortisol, and aldosterone were measured for an entire day every 2 h, starting from midnight, in 4 healthy subjects, and in 4 patients with beta-thalassemia, without evidence for any endocrine disease. The subjects, after synchronized standard life conditions for 10 days, were held in constant supine position during the study. The data were analysed by the "cosinor" method. The results show significant circadian rhythms for the three biological variables in healthy subjects. In the thalassemic patients a significant circadian rhythm was detected only for cortisol and aldosterone. No rhythm was demonstrated for ACTH in the patient group. While no differences were found in mesors and acrophases for the three hormones between the two groups, a significant difference was observed regarding amplitudes. These data suggest that in beta-thalassemia, the secretion rhythmicity of ACTH is modified, whereas the adrenal cortex maintains its own physiologic rhythmicity in hormone secretion.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Simultaneous presentation of multiple myeloma and acute myelomonocytic leukemia in the absence of previous chemotherapy. Description of a case and review of the literature].

A case of simultaneous occurrence of multiple myeloma and acute myelomonocytic leukaemia without previous chemotherapy is reported. A careful search of the literature disclosed 16 other cases of the same association. The possible relationships between these two haematopoietic neoplasms are discussed. On the literature and personal data, it is concluded that in course of multiple myeloma the association with an acute myeloblastic leukaemia is due to two possibilities: the first, more frequent, is the long-term effect of chemotherapy, while the second, rare, is that, by still unknown causes, a simultaneous neoplastic development of a plasma cell and myeloblastic clone occurs.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Socioeconomic status and survival in multiple myeloma].

In order to investigate the relationship between socioeconomic status and survival in multiple myeloma, a group of 121 patients, followed from first diagnosis to their demise, was subdivided into three social classes: high, medium, and low. Social class subdivision was performed taking into account the degree of education, occupation, and income. Significant differences (p less than 0.05) exist regarding mean survivals, survival curves, clinical stages, and responses to therapy between the three considered classes. A low socioeconomic status is associated with shorter survival, higher frequence in poor clinical stage, and less percentage of positive responses to chemotherapy. In conclusion, the socioeconomic status is an important prognostic factor in patients with multiple myeloma, to be considered with other clinical and laboratory data.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Differentiated circadian chrono-risk of acute myocardial infarct].

In order to determine whether acute myocardial infarction (AMI) presents a circadian periodicity in its occurrence, the onset of AMI, evaluated by onset of clinical symptoms and pain, has been analysed in 520 patients with AMI. The definitive criteria of AMI were: typical chest pain, electrocardiographic findings, and plasma CPK-MB elevation. All cases of AMI were divided into subgroups according to sex (males = 369, females = 151), age (less than 60 years old = 254, more than 60 years old = 266), type of AMI (Q wave AMI = 407, non Q wave AMI = 113), previous pharmacological treatment (no treated = 373, treated = 147), history of arterial blood hypertension (normotensive = 403, hypertensive = 117). Cases of Q and non Q wave AMI were also subdivided according to treatment and hypertensive conditions. All AMI occurred outside hospital; silent AMI and reinfarctions were excluded by analyses. The data have been analysed by chronograms and by means of "single cosinor" method, both for total cases, and for each subgroup of AMI. The results show a diurnal variation in AMI occurrence regarding the whole group, with a peak from 4:00 am to noon and with a secondary small no-significant peak in the late evening, and the minimum in the afternoon. Rhythmometric analysis demonstrates a significant circadian rhythm (p less than 0.001) with acrophase at 7:52 am (from 6:08 am to 9:36 am). A statistically-significant circadian rhythm is demonstrated in each subgroup, except in hypertensive patients. Acrophases of males and females, and of patients aged over or under 60 years do not differ from that of the whole group, and between them (p greater than 0.05). The peak of non Q wave AMI occurs at 4:44 am, while the peak of Q wave AMI at 10:08 am: this difference is significant (p less than 0.001). There is also a significant difference between the acrophases of AMI in the treated and untreated groups (p less than 0.01), as well as between normotensive and hypertensive subjects (p less than 0.001). The previous treatment seems able to anticipate the maximum occurrence of AMI in the whole group and in the group of Q wave AMI. These results are very similar to previous observations and confirm the greater morning occurrence of AMI. The present data are discussed in respect with the literature observations, and the possible pathophysiological mechanisms that contribute and conditionate the morning increase and the different peaks in subgroups of AMI patients are discussed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Circadian Rhythm↗
PubMed1990

[Chrono-risks in the episodes of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism].

A study on circadian and circannual rhythmicity in the episodes of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism has been conducted in 152 cases. The data demonstrate that the incidence in the episodes of pulmonary thromboembolism, evaluated as hour and day of onset in the clinical symptoms, presents a temporal, both circadian, and circannual distribution. The greater incidence occurs in the morning hours and in the winter season. The rhythmometric analysis by "cosinor" method showed a significant circadian and circannual rhythms in incidence of episodes of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism. The temporal distribution does not seem to be casual, but the effect of interrelationship between exogenous rhythms, such as those in the haemostatic system, endogenous rhythms, such as the cold temperature, and disease. These results demonstrate that the pulmonary thromboembolism is a disease with an high "chrono-risk", i.e. it is an expectable disease in its temporal recurrence.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Prognostic value of the ratio of bone marrow plasma cells in multiple myeloma].

The relationship between initial percentage of bone marrow plasma cells and survival was studied in a group of 70 patients affected with multiple myeloma. All patients had a complete follow-up. The initial percentage of plasma cells shows a highly significant correlation with survival. Moreover, the percentage of bone marrow plasma cells is also correlated with the levels of hemoglobinemia and serum or urinary monoclonal component. The patients were divided in three groups according to the percentage of bone marrow plasma cells: group A: less than 20%; group B: 21-40%; group C: greater than 41%. The mean survival times of these three groups are significantly different, as well as their survival curves. The initial percentage of plasma cells in bone marrow is an useful parameter for estimating survival and predicting prognosis, and it can be an additional factor in the clinical staging of multiple myeloma, while the effectiveness of therapy can be monitored by sequential bone marrow aspirates.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[The chronobiology of sudden cardiac death. The evidence for a circadian, circaseptimanal and circannual periodicity in its incidence].

The aim of the study was to verify if sudden cardiac death presents a circadian, circaseptan, and circannual periodicity in its incidence. For the study of distribution of sudden cardiac death by hour of the day, the day of the week, and month of the year, 269 cases (161 males and 108 females), that occurred during the years 1970 through 1987 were considered. Sudden cardiac death, that is, death within 1 hour of onset of symptoms, occurs with greater frequency in the morning hours, on the days from Saturday to Monday, and in the months from October to January. The rhythmometric analysis by "single cosinor" demonstrates significant (p less than 0.05) rhythms, with acrophases at 5:00 a.m., on Monday, and in November. No significant differences (p more than 0.05) were found between male and female groups. These data suggest that sudden cardiac death is an event with high "chronorisk" that is a phenomenon with a greater probability of occurring in a definite period of time. The periodicity in the incidence of sudden cardiac death may be due to relationships between exogenous factors and endogenous biological rhythms.

Chronobiology Phenomena↗
PubMed1989

Atrial natriuretic peptide-renin-aldosterone system in cirrhosis of the liver: circadian study.

Plasma levels of immunoreactive atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), plasma renin activity (PRA), and plasma aldosterone (PA) were measured for an entire day at 6:00 am, 8:00 am, 12:00 pm, 6:00 pm, 8:00 pm, and 12:00 am in 6 healthy subjects, in 10 patients with compensated cirrhosis of the liver, and in 10 cirrhotics with ascites. The subjects, after synchronized standard life conditions lasting for 6 days were held in a clinostatic position during the study. The data were analyzed by the "cosinor" method. The results show significant circadian rhythms for the three biological variables in healthy subjects. In the compensated cirrhotic group, a circadian rhythm was detected only for PA. No rhythm was demonstrated in the ascitic patients. These data suggest that in cirrhosis of the liver, great variations in secretion rhythmicity for PRA and ANP are present, while maintaining the intrinsic PA rhythmicity, which is lost in patients with ascites. This progressive derangement in PA circadian rhythm in the ANP-PRA-PA system can be considered as an index of evolution in the natural history of cirrhosis of the liver.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Circadian rhythm of atrial natriuretic peptide, plasma renin and aldosterone activity in healthy subjects and in patients with compensated liver cirrhosis].

The circadian variations in atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma aldosterone (PA) have been investigated in a group of 6 patients with compensated cirrhosis of the liver compared with a group of 6 healthy subjects. All studied subjects were kept for a week on standardized life conditions, with a defined daily intake of 120 mEq of sodium and 60 mEq of potassium. Venous blood samples were collected during a whole day at 6, 8, 12, 18, 20 and 24 hours, with the subjects resting in the clinostatic position during the study. Plasma levels of ANP, PRA and PA were determined by radioimmunoassay. The data were analyzed by the cosinor method. The results show that healthy subjects present a significant circadian rhythm for the three biological variables, while patients with cirrhosis of the liver present a significant rhythm for PA only. Acrophase and amplitude of PA do not present any difference between control and patient groups. The levels of PRA and ANP are significantly higher in the cirrhotic patients. These data suggest in cirrhosis a deep variation in the secreting rhythm of PRA and ANP with maintenance, even at higher levels, of intrinsic PA rhythm. This is a possible index of time-related alterations of water-electrolyte balance and cardiovascular processes in liver cirrhosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Prognostic factors in multiple myeloma. Selection using multivariate analysis].

In order to assess the prognostic value of 15 different prognostic variables for multiple myeloma and to select the variables with the best prognostic significance, the multivariate analysis according to Cox's proportional hazard regression model was employed for a group of 80 patients followed from first diagnosis to their demise. The significant prognostic variables were bone marrow plasma cell percentage, degree of lytic bone lesions, Bence-Jones proteinuria, and haemoglobinaemia. A scoring clinical staging system was also developed, assigning the score of 1 to each of the following features: bone marrow plasma cells more than 30%, lytic bone lesions of 2-3 degrees, presence of Bence-Jones proteinuria, and haemoglobinaemia less than 110 g/l. Therefore, the score for each patient ranges from 0 to 4, and the entire group of patients with multiple myeloma is subdivided into five clinical stages: stage I = score 0, stage II = score 1, stage III = score 2; stage IV = score 3, stage V = score 4. Significant differences exist between both mean survivals (p less than 0.01), and between the survival curves (p less than 0.0001) within the five scoring clinical stages.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Endocrine changes of the liver in the cirrhotic alcoholic: analysis of circadian rhythms of anteriopituitary, adrenocortical, and gonadal hormones].

Circadian rhythms of anteropituitary (ACTH, HGH, TSH, FSH, LH, PRL), adrenocortical (cortisol, aldosterone, DHEA-S), and gonadal (testosterone, 17 beta-estradiol, progesterone) hormones were investigated in a group of male patients with alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, compared with group of male clinically healthy subjects. Each group consisted of six subjects. After a period of ten days of synchronized life conditions, venous blood samples were drawn every four hours during a whole day, the subjects resting in constant supine position. The plasma hormonal levels were determined by radioimmunoassay method. The results, analyzed by "cosinor" method, show a significant (p less than 0.05) circadian rhythm only for cortisol, aldosterone, and DHEA-S in the cirrhotic patients, while the control group exhibits a statistically significant (p less than 0.05) circadian rhythm for all hormones, except for 17 beta-estradiol. These data support the evidence of serious abnormalities in the biological time structure of anteropituitary and gonadal hormones in alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, while the adrenalcortex seems to maintain its own intrinsic circadian rhythmicity. On the basis of these results, the authors discuss the main mechanisms of the chronobiological hormonal abnormalities in alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. Further investigations in this area may provide new insights into hormonal mechanism responsible for the endocrine abnormalities in the alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1989

[Circadian rhythm in the incidence of sudden cardiac death].

Human mortality demonstrates a maximum incidence in the early morning, with a reduction in the late afternoon. In order to determine whether sudden cardiac death presents a circadian rhythm similar to that of overall human mortality, the time of the day has been analyzed in 269 cases of sudden cardiac death. The definitive criteria of sudden cardiac death were: death within 1 hour of the onset of symptoms and pathoanatomical findings. The cases of sudden cardiac death consisted of 161 males and 108 females, with ages ranging from 23 to 86 years, subdivided into 139 cases of acute myocardial infarction, 101 cases of coronary atherosclerosis, 12 cases of primary myocardiopathies, 4 cases of mitral valve prolapse and 13 cases with structurally healthy heart. All the deaths occurred outside the hospital, or immediately after resuscitation efforts had begun. The data were analyzed by means of chronograms, and with the "single cosinor" method, both for the total cases of sudden cardiac death, and for subdivisions into sex, pathoanatomical picture, and for age groups (less than 40, between 41 and 60, and more than 61 years). The results demonstrate a statistically significant (p less than 0.05) circadian rhythm of sudden cardiac death, with a peak from midnight to 8:00 am, and a minimum in the afternoon. Significant differences do not exist (p greater than 0.05) within the acrophases of sudden cardiac death between the 2 sexes, among the different age groups, or the pathoanatomical pictures of myocardial infarction and coronary atherosclerosis. No rhythm was detected regarding the sudden deaths by primary myocardiopathy, mitral valve prolapse, and "normal" heart.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Fatal pulmonary thromboembolism: is its incidence increasing or diminishing? Analysis of 178 cases from 1971 to 1988].

A retrospective study was undertaken on 178 cases (6.9% out of 2569 autopsies) of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism, 86 males and 92 females, aged 28-87 years (mean age = 71 +/- 13), in whom pulmonary emboli were found at autopsies, performed from 1971 to 1988. Fatal pulmonary thromboemboli means that no other cause of death was found at autopsy, and emboli occluded at least 2 lobar arteries. In 43 cases (24.2%) the fatal pulmonary thromboembolism developed after surgery. Considering the percentage of the cases of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism on the number of autopsies performed every year, the incidence of this disease increased throughout the period under study. There is a significant difference in incidence of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism in the autopsies in years 1971-79 in comparison with the years 1980-88. In fact the fatal pulmonary thromboembolism cases are 5.1% from 1340 autopsies in the period 1971-79, and 8.9% from 1229 autopsies in the period 1980-88. This increase in incidence is due mainly to the fatal pulmonary thromboembolism in the medical patients (from 3.2% to 7.5%) while the postoperative cases show a slight decrease, from 1.9% to 1.4%. The mean age of patients with fatal pulmonary thromboembolism increases in the second period considered. Age and medical treatment are the most important risk factors. In spite of the increasing age of the population and the increased use of major surgery, there is a tendency to constant or decreased incidence of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism, at least in surgical patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗