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Biomedical subjects

D Gola

Publications and source records attributed to D Gola.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Bone turnover in hyperthyroidism before and after thyrostatic management.

Hyperthyroidism is associated with enhanced osteoblastic and osteoclastic activity, and patients frequently have low bone mineral density and high bone turnover. The aim of this study was to examine the bone formation and resorption markers trend in 12 female patients, before and after normalization of thyroid activity. The following measurements were made at baseline and 1 and 6 months after hormone normalization induced by methimazole treatment: total alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), collagen type C-terminal propeptide (PICP), osteocalcin (BGP), telopeptide (ICTP), urinary-hydroxyproline/urinary creatinine (uOHP/uCreat), urinary calcium/urinary creatinine (uCa/uCreat) and deoxypyridinoline crosslinks (D-Pyr). Compared with controls, all of these parameters were significantly increased (ALP p = 0.014; BALP p = 0.0001; PICP p = 0.013; BGP p = 0.009; ICTP p = 0.0001; uOHP/uCreat p = 0.002; uCa/uCreat p = 0.044; crosslinks p = 0.0001). After treatment the values of ALP, BALP and PICP in hyperthyroid patients showed an initial slight increase and then a significant downwards trend (ALP p = 0.008, BAP p = 0.001, PICP p = 0.026). Furthermore, resorption markers showed a significant decrease (uOHP/ uCreat p < 0.005 and D-Pyr p < 0.008). As regards lumbar BMD patients, measurements were significantly reduced in comparison with the control group (p = 0.005). Six months after serum thyroid hormones level normalization, we observed a significant increase (p=0.014 vs baseline). Both neoformation and resorption markers are useful to assess pathological bone turnover and bone involvement in hyperthyroidism. They could also be employed to monitor the effect of antithyroid treatment on bone and to indicate if bone antiresorption therapy should be considered.

Adult↗

Hepatitis C infection in an Italian population not selected for risk factors.

AIMS/BACKGROUND: This study estimated the prevalence of HCV infection and relationship with viremia in a general population. The inhabitants of Albavilla town were personally invited to participate. METHODS: Out of 3997 inhabitants falling within the age range 18-85 years, 2403 (participation rate 60.1%) were examined for transaminases, HCVAb, HCVRNA, genotype and immunoblot assay. The following information was collected: sex, age, blood transfusions, surgery, use of glass syringes, drug addiction, alcohol consumption, tattoos and body mass index. RESULTS: 115 (4.8%) were HCVAb+, the prevalence being 1.2% under 40 years. Transfusion in the past was the only risk factor for HCV infection. Among the HCVAb+ subjects, 71 (61.7%) were HCVRNA+. 40.8% of the HCVAb+/HCVRNA+ group had normal ALT, compared with 68% of those with HCVAb+/HCVRNA-. The HCV genotypes in the 71 HCVRNA+ subjects were: 2a/2c in 58 (81.7%), 40% of them with normal ALT;1b in 11 (15.5%), none with normal ALT; genotype 3 in two (2.8%). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HCVAb in this general population was 4.8%. About 3% were HCVRNA positive and of these genotype 2a/ 2c was present in 81.6%.

Adolescent↗

Serum cholesterol and chronic hepatitis C.

Total serum cholesterol levels have been studied in 100 patients with histological diagnoses of chronic hepatitis B and 100 wit chronic Hepatitis C, all without cirrhosis, and two age- and sex-matched control groups (B and C). Mean serum cholesterol levels of the groups were compared also in relation to sex, liver function, duration of the disease, alcohol intake, mass index, liver enzymes, presence of liver steatosis and severity of the liver disease on the basis of the histological activity index. The percentages of patients with serum cholesterol level < 150 mg/dl and > 240 mg/dl were also calculated. The mean serum cholesterol level was significantly lower in hepatitis C: 176 md/dl vs 194 mg/dl of hepatitis B (p = 0.004) and 198 of control C (p = 0.000). Twenty eight hepatitis C patients had serum cholesterol < 150 mg/dl vs 10 with hepatitis B (p = 0.001). In multivariate regression analysis, only the type of virus infection was independent related to serum cholesterol level (p = 0.0063).

Adult↗