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Biomedical subjects

D Sava

Publications and source records attributed to D Sava.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1993

Effect of copper sulfate on experimental atherosclerosis.

Serum copper concentration increases significantly (p < 0.01) in rats with experimental atherosclerosis compared to a control group. The serum zinc, the zinc, and copper concentration in abdominal aorta and in liver decreases significantly (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. Administration of copper sulfate for 100 d in these animals induces a significant increase of serum copper (p < 0.01), decrease of serum cholesterol (p < 0.05) and increase of liver copper concentration as compared with the group fed only a high cholesterol diet. In the aorta of these animals the copper concentration increases and edema and lipid infiltration are considerably less than in the group of animals fed only a high lipid diet.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Differential hemispheric asymmetries in depression and anxiety: a reaction-time study.

Several lines of evidence suggest impaired right hemisphere function in depression. In order to further investigate this phenomenon, simple reaction times (RTs) to lateralized visual stimuli were studied in patients with mild unipolar depression, in patients with chronic anxiety, and in medical patients free of psychiatric symptoms. The results showed a marked slowing of RTs to left visual field (right hemisphere) stimuli in depressed patients. Anxious patients showed a trend toward an opposite asymmetry, with slower responses to right field (left hemisphere) stimuli. In the nonpsychiatric group no visual field differences were present. The results are discussed in light of two alternative interpretations: depression may engage the right hemisphere's mechanisms, interfering with its functioning at a premotor level, or it may influence the regulation of performance by arousal and vigilance mechanisms lateralized to the right hemisphere, possibly operating at an earlier sensory stage.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Inadequate cortisol synthesis in prophyria cutanea tarda.

Many common clinical features suggest that between corticosuprarenal insufficiency (CSRI) and porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) there may be some pathogenic relationships. In order to further understand these relations we have performed the ACTH-depot stimulation test (1 mg, i.m.) in 9 patients (from 13 males) with PCT. In 8 patients cortisolemia was assayed 1, 2, (12) and 24 hours post-stimulation. In all 13 cases the basal eliminations of cortisol metabolite (17-OH-corticosteroids) were under normal limits: 2.88 mg/24 h/g creatinine vs 15 controls with 7.06 mg/24h/g creatinine. After ACTH four cases showed lack of stimulation, considered on the second day for 17-OH-corticosteroids. In one case, after one year of PCT treatment, the early post-stimulation level is only moderately decreased. In one case, the test was normal. In four cases the ACTH stimulation was over-normal, i.e., greater than on the first day, suggesting supraphysiological responses. In this group 2 patients showed unexpectedly low early stimulation slopes on cortisolemia (at 1 and 2 hours) associated with concordant high late stimulation levels. This later phenomenon suggests a functional impaired secretion of cortisol in PCT, which seems to be similar to that of insulinemia after glucose in NIDDM, as a receptor lesion. The lesions of cortisol secretion in PCT could have been made by porphyrin storage, impaired hem-enzyme synthesis (cyt P-450) and as a new and attractive hypothesis, could be due to mitochondrial porphyrin receptor decreased activity.

17-Hydroxycorticosteroids↗
PubMed1988

Right hemisphere superiority for programming oculomotion: evidence from simple reaction time experiments.

Simple reaction times (RTs) to lateralized unstructured visual stimuli were measured in normal subjects while they were carrying out concomitant oculomotor tasks. Four tasks were used. In the first task, subjects had to find the correct path in a maze presented at the centre of a screen; in the second task, subjects had to follow a bright dot moved on a screen with variable direction, trajectory and velocity with their eyes; in the third task, the subjects had to follow a bright dot moved back and forth either horizontally or vertically along the same trajectory and at a constant velocity; in the fourth task, the subjects had to monitor the movement of a bright dot moved with variable direction, trajectory and velocity without moving the eyes. In all tasks, with the exception of the third, there was a selective lengthening of RTs mediated by the right hemisphere. It is concluded that the right hemisphere is dominant in programming eye movements.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Hemispheric differences of simple reaction times in non-psychotic unipolar depressed patients].

Simple reaction times to visual stimuli were studied in 8 patients affected by depression and in 8 normal subjects. Regardless of the hand used, the condition of depression produced a specific lengthening of the responses to stimuli located in the left visual field. It is concluded that the right hemisphere plays a major role in modulation of negative emotional behaviour.

Depressive Disorder↗
PubMed1984

[Selective interference for the right hemisphere in a task of visual-motor exploration].

Simple reaction times to lateralized visual stimuli were studied in normal subjects while they were carrying out a concomitant task. The concomitant task consisted in the exploration of a visual maze presented in the middle of a screen. Regardless of the hand used, the concomitant task produced a specific lengthening of the responses to stimuli located in the left visual field. It is concluded that the right hemisphere plays a major role in the organization of ocular movements during active exploration of visual environment.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Different effects of subacute administration of S. Croce oligo-mineral water on colonic vs rectal constipation].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a subacute administration of oligomineral water "S. Croce Sponga" in subjects affected by chronic constipation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Hospitalized patients (13 females and 4 males) have been classified according to radiologically evaluated transit times if affected by colonic or rectal constipation, and by clinical interview if suffering from chronic colonic constipation due to increased resistance or hypomotility. Treatment consisted in the administration of 1.5 litres/day of S. Croce Sponga oligomineral water for 7 days or a control water of known composition. The study started after seven days of hospital stay. RESULTS: The results of the study showed that S. Croce Sponga oligomineral water was effective in resolving the condition of chronic colonic constipation in almost 80% of the subjects. No effect was observed in subjects with chronic rectal constipation. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with S. Croce Sponga oligomineral water resolved chronic colonic constipation by enhancing velocity of the colonic transit.

Aged↗