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Biomedical subjects

D De Vita

Publications and source records attributed to D De Vita.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Choline pivaloyl ester strengthened the benefit effects of Tacrine and Galantamine on electroencephalographic and cognitive performances in nucleus basalis magnocellularis-lesioned and aged rats.

The aim of the present work was the assessment of the effects produced on the electroencephalographic (EEG) activity and the cognitive and memory performances of nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM)-lesioned or aged rats by the combined treatment with [2-(2,2-dimethylpropionyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium 2,2-dimethylpropionate (choline pivaloyl ester) (CPE) and the Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) Tacrine (THA) and Galantamine (GAL). Intraperitoneal administration of CPE combined with THA or GAL to both NBM-lesioned or aged rats, produced EEG desynchronisation, and a significant decrease in the energy of the total EEG spectrum and the lower frequency bands (delta 0.25-3 and theta 4-7 Hz) lasting many minutes. Furthermore, drug associations reversed in aged rats the scopolamine (0.2 mg/kg, i.p.)-induced increase in EEG power, slow waves and high-voltage spindle (HVS). Furthermore, the combined administration of CPE and Cholinesterase inhibitors in both NBM-lesioned or aged animals, improved performances in all behavioural tasks, enhancing object discrimination, increasing locomotory activity and alternation choice in T-maze, ameliorating retention in passive avoidance and decreasing escape latency in Morris water maze. In all test, AChEIs and CPE combinations proved to be more effective than CPE, THA or GAL given alone. In conclusion, the present work shows the ability of choline pivaloyl ester in strengthening the positive cerebral activity of THA and GAL.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Prevalence of urinary incontinence among institutionalized patients: a cross-sectional epidemiologic study in a midsized city in northern Italy.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence among institutionalized elderly people. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 839 subjects, resident in 14 residential or nursing homes. A questionnaire was administered to the study population and their clinical records were reviewed. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of urinary incontinence was 54.5%, higher in women (59.8%) than in men (39.2%). The prevalence increased significantly with age, from 26.5% in subjects 65 years old or younger to 73.7% in subjects 95 years old or older; with worsening of mental status, from 36.2% in well-oriented subjects to 76.7% in poorly oriented subjects; and with worsening of mobility, from 23.8% in self-sufficient subjects to 82.1% in bedridden patients. The prevalence was significantly associated with parity, from 54.1% in nulliparous women to 65.4% in multiparous women. Urinary incontinence was also associated with urinary tract infection, constipation, and fecal incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study are in accordance with other similar studies. That more than one half of the elderly residents of nursing and residential homes have urinary incontinence shows the relevance of this condition. We believe that urinary incontinence in institutionalized elderly people can be managed essentially by measures of tertiary prevention, aimed at reducing the handicapping conditions and at slowing down the process of self-sufficiency impairment.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Changes of plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide levels in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate whether the secretion of a cardiovascular hormone, calcitonin gene-related peptide, is modified in climateric women according to cardiovascular adaptive responses. STUDY DESIGN: Plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide levels were measured in climateric women in a basal condition (n = 15), in response to an upright position (n = 8), and during hot flushes (n = 12). The effect of hormonal replacement therapy on plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide was also studied (n = 9). Plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide levels were measured by a specific radioimmunoassay after an acidic extraction. RESULTS: Plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide levels in postmenopausal women were significantly lower than in the control group (p < 0.01). After the women assumed an upright posture, a lack of plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide increase was observed in control fertile women, who showed the typical significant hormonal increase (p < 0.01). In all patients the occurrence of hot flushes was associated with a significant and rapid increase of plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide levels. After 3 months of hormonal replacement therapy basal plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide levels returned to the range of healthy fertile women. CONCLUSIONS: The current data show that the secretion of plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide is lower in postmenopausal women and its response to postural stimulus is impaired. Vasomotor changes are associated with an increase of plasma levels of this cardiovascular hormone. An effect of hormonal replacement therapy on calcitonin gene-related peptide secretion has been shown.

Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide↗
PubMed1995

Abnormal concentration of maternal serum activin-A in gestational diseases.

Serum plasma activin-A is measurable in the maternal circulation of healthy pregnant women, increases in specimens collected during the third trimester of gestation, and is highest at parturition. Hormone abnormalities are known to be associated with preterm labor or diabetes in pregnancy. Therefore, in the present study serum activin-A levels in normal controls were compared to those in pregnant women with preterm labor or gestational diabetes. In some cases, values were obtained before and after insulin therapy. In other controls and patients with preterm labor, the activin-A concentration in cord serum was also studied. A newly developed two-site immunotest was used to determine activin-A levels. Subjects included normal controls (n = 7), who were sampled throughout gestation every 5 weeks; pregnant women at term (38-40 weeks) not in labor (n = 22); pregnant women at term in spontaneous labor (< 3.0 cm dilated; n = 42); women in preterm labor (25-35 weeks; n = 38); and women with gestational diabetes (20-39 weeks; n = 9). In control women, serum activin-A levels increased from 4.8 +/- 5.5 micrograms/L (mean +/- SD) at 20 weeks to 25.4 +/- 27.8 micrograms/L at 40 weeks (P < 0.01), and values correlated with gestational age. Pregnant women in preterm labor had serum activin-A concentrations (89.04 +/- 173.31 micrograms/L) higher than those in normal controls (P < 0.01), and no significant correlation to gestational age was found in this group of pregnant women. Healthy women in labor showed serum activin-A concentrations higher than those in women at term but not in labor (P < 0.01). Diabetic patients had serum activin-A concentrations (52.39 +/- 23.32 micrograms/L) significantly higher than those in normal controls. In these patients, maternal serum activin-A concentrations significantly decreased to the range in healthy controls at the same gestational age after insulin therapy (9.48 +/- 3.82 micrograms/L). The present study shows that preterm labor is associated with increased concentrations of activin-A in the maternal circulation and cord serum. Hypersecretion of activin-A is also shown in same patients with gestation diabetes; this reverts to normal after insulin treatment.

Activins↗
PubMed1994

Episodic changes of serum procollagen type I carboxy-terminal propeptide levels in fertile and postmenopausal women.

The aim of the present study was to optimize the use of serum procollagen type I carboxy-terminal propeptide (PICP) as a possible marker of postmenopausal-376lted changes of bone metabolism. Postmenopausal (n = 20) and healthy fertile young (n = 4) women were studied after informed consent. The postmenopausal women were subdivided in 4 groups: (1) nontreated; (2) treated with estrogen-progestogen replacement therapy; (3) treated with calcitonin, or (4) with kidney or liver diseases. Blood samples were collected at 15-min time intervals for 4, 6 or 8 h. Serum concentration of PICP was measured by radioimmunoassay, in duplicate at two different dilutions. In postmenopausal women mean +/- SEM serum PICP levels were slightly but nonsignificantly higher than in fertile women. Serum PICP levels in estrogen-progestogen or calcitonin-treated women were significantly lower than in non-treated postmenopausal women. Episodic changes of circulating PICP level were observed in fertile and postmenopausal women. The pulses of serum PICP levels did not show significant differences among the groups of women studied. The present study showed that the measurement of serum PICP levels is a useful marker for investigating the changes of bone metabolism. In particular, low PICP levels in postmenopausal women under steroid hormone or calcitonin treatment in part reflect the changes of bone turnover. The pulses of serum PICP levels during a time interval suggest that collagen metabolism in women undergoes a rapid turnover.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Activin at parturition: changes of maternal serum levels and evidence for binding sites in placenta and fetal membranes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate maternal serum activin A levels in pregnant women at parturition, correlated to the mode of delivery, and to localize activin receptor messenger RNA in human placenta and fetal membranes. METHODS: A specific two-site enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure maternal activin A levels. Activin receptor mRNA was localized in placenta and fetal membranes by in situ hybridization, using ActRII or ActRIIB antisense riboprobes. RESULTS: Serum activin A levels increased significantly in pregnant women during vaginal or cesarean delivery after spontaneous labor. No significant changes of serum activin A were found in patients undergoing elective cesarean delivery. Syncytiotrophoblast and amnion cells hybridized to radiolabeled ActRIIB probe, whereas few cells within the structure of the villi and decidual cells hybridized to radiolabeled ActRII probe. CONCLUSION: The present studies indicate that vaginal or cesarean delivery following spontaneous labor is characterized by increased activin A levels and that activin receptors are present on trophoblast and fetal membranes.

Activin Receptors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Multiple osteoid osteoma. A clinical case.

Osteoid osteoma is a benign tumor occurring frequently during the growth years. It may be found in any of the skeletal segments, and it is often present as an isolated neoformation. In some rare cases it may involve more than one segment or it may be multicentric. The authors report their experience with a case of double localization of metachronous osteoid osteoma.

Bone Neoplasms↗