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Biomedical subjects

F Corradi

Publications and source records attributed to F Corradi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Hypertransaminasemia greater than 400 U/l in adults seen at a tertiary hospital. Prospective study of etiology].

AIM: To investigate the frequency of distinct causes of elevated transaminase levels in the range of acute viral hepatitides in patients attended in a hospital. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Patients attended in a tertiary hospital over a 3-month period who had elevation of transaminase levels (aspartate aminotransferase [AST] or alanine aminotransferase [ALT]) above 400 U/l were identified and their medical records were reviewed to determine etiology. RESULTS: A total of 106 patients were studied, of which 22 had undergone liver transplantation. In these patients, the causes of hypertransaminasemia were ischemic/reperfusion injury in 6 (27%), ischemic hepatitis in 4 (18%), acute hepatitis in 2 (9%), cellular rejection in 3 (14%), chronic hepatitis C in 4 (18%) and cholestasis in 3 (14%). In the 84 patients who did not undergo transplantation, the causes were hepatic ischemia in 24 (28%), chronic viral hepatitis in 19 (22%), toxic hepatitis in 12 (14%), pancreatico-biliary disease in 11 (13%), acute viral or bacterial hepatitis in 10 (12%), liver tumor in 3 (4%), cholestasis of pregnancy in one and unknown in 4 (5%). Ischemic lesions and pancreatico-biliary disease were more frequent in hospitalized patients while acute and chronic hepatitides were more frequent in outpatients. The worst outcomes were found in ischemic lesions and pancreatico-biliary disease. CONCLUSION: Marked elevation of transaminase levels has multiple causes. Acute viral hepatitides were a relatively infrequent cause. In transplant recipients, the most frequent causes were ischemia/reperfusion injury, while in non-transplanted patients the most frequent causes were ischemic hepatitides and acute episodes of chronic viral hepatitides. The AST/ALT ratio did not contribute to etiologic diagnosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Clinical implications of the reduced activity of the GH-IGF-I axis in older men.

During the last decade, a significant body of evidence has accumulated, indicating that IGF-I might play a role in several pathological conditions commonly seen during aging, such as atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD), cognitive decline, dementia, sarcopenia and frailty. A vascular protective role for IGF-I has been suggested because of its ability to stimulate nitric oxide production from endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells. In cross sectional studies, low IGF-I levels have been associated with unfavorable CVD risk factors profile, such as atherosclerosis, abnormal lipoprotein levels and hypertension, while in prospective studies, lower IGF-I levels predict future development of ischemic heart disease. The fall in IGF-I levels with aging correlates with cognitive decline and it has been suggested that IGF-I plays a role in the development of dementia. IGF-I is highly expressed within the brain and is essential for normal brain development. IGF-I has anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective effects and promotes projection neuron growth, dendritic arborization and synaptogenesis. Collectively, these data are consistent with a causal link between the age-related decline in GH and IGF-I levels and cognitive deficits in older persons. Finally, there is evidence of a relationship between declining GH and IGF-I levels and age-related changes in body composition and physical function. However, few studies have documented a precise role of IGF-I in the development of sarcopenia, frailty and poor mobility. We have recently documented that serum IGF-I is significantly associated with measures of muscle strength and physical performance in men and to a lesser extent in women. In conclusion, IGF-I is a pleiotropic hormone that in older persons may positively affect the cardiovascular system, the central nervous system and physical function.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Coeliac disease associated with Sjögren's syndrome, renal tubular acidosis, primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune hyperthyroidism.

Although coeliac disease may occur in patients affected by another immune-mediated disorder, its coexistence with multiple autoimmune diseases is not frequently described. We report here the case of a 45-year-old woman referred to our centre because of diarrhoea and weight loss, who had already received a diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis, Sjögren's syndrome and renal tubular acidosis. Following the development of diarrhoea we established the diagnosis of coeliac disease, based on the presence of anti-endomysium antibodies and a compatible duodenal biopsy. Despite gluten withdrawal she went on to develop an autoimmune hyperthyroidism. The patient tested positive for HLA DRB1*03 and DQB1*02. The association is unlikely to be casual and may be explained by autoimmune mechanisms, genetic susceptibility and favouring environmental factors commonly shared by the diseases of our patient.

Acidosis, Renal Tubular↗
PubMed2004

Effect of inhalation aspirin challenge on exhaled nitric oxide in patients with aspirin-inducible asthma.

BACKGROUND: A complex relationship between arachidonic acid metabolites and nitric oxide (NO) synthesis has been reported in asthma. The effects of inhaled aspirin on fractional exhaled NO (FENO) in patients with aspirin-tolerant (ATA) and aspirin-inducible (AIA) asthma compared with normal controls have been investigated. METHODS: The FENO was measured baseline, after saline and lysine-aspirin (L-ASA) bronchial challenge in 10 patients with ATA and in 10 patients with AIA [mean (PD(20)FEV(1) L-ASA): 14.7 +/- 12.7 mg], who had comparable age and baseline FEV(1). Ten healthy subjects served as controls. Sputum eosinophils were counted after saline and after L-ASA challenge in the two groups of asthmatics. RESULTS: Asthmatic patients had baseline FENO significantly higher than controls (29.7 +/- 6.8 vs 9.8 +/- 2.05 p.p.b. respectively, P < 0.0001). No difference was observed in methacholine PD(20)FEV(1) and baseline FENO between ATA and AIA patients. After L-ASA inhalation, FENO increased significantly only in patients with AIA, reaching the peak value 4 h after bronchoconstriction (from 31.1 +/- 6 to 43 +/- 4.8 p.p.b., P < 0.001), while no change was observed in patients with ATA and in controls. Sputum eosinophils increased significantly after L-ASA inhalation only in patients with AIA (from 8.1 +/- 2.7 to 11.1 +/- 2.8%, P < 0.005) and there was a significant relationship between the increase in sputum eosinophils and the increase in FENO after ASA challenge. CONCLUSION: Exhaled NO may indicate eosinophilic airway inflammation during ASA exposure in patients with ASA inducible asthma.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed2002

Pituitary function in chronic heart failure in the elderly.

Heart failure is a complex syndrome characterized by the activation of hemodynamic, immunologic and neurohormonal systems, which have beneficial effects in the short run, but will ultimately lead to secondary end-organ damage with worsening of LV remodeling and subsequent cardiac decompensation. A very important role seems to be played by modifications of the pituitary hormone systems. Due to the neurohormonal activation there is an increase in the activity in the renin angiotensin system, in the adrenergic nervous system, and in the cytokine system. In heart failure there is a decrease in many anabolic hormones, such as a decrease of GH and IGF-I, of DHEA/DHEAS with normal or increased F, and a decrease of LH and sex steroids, resulting in an important catabolic drive, capable of contributing to the development of cardiac failure and to sarcopenia and/or cachexia, frequently observed in the advanced stages of the disease. However, these hormone alterations have been described in relatively young patients with chronic heart failure, since the mean age of all the subjects studied was of about 60 yr and none of the studies have specifically addressed this issue in the very old patients, who represent the largest portion of population affected by this pathological condition. The role of hormone replacement therapy needs to be verified in a population of elderly patients with heart failure.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Role of antibiotic therapy on long-term germ excretion in faeces and digestive symptoms after Salmonella infection.

BACKGROUND: The role of antibiotic therapy on Salmonella faecal excretion is controversial. Acute Salmonella gastroenteritis induces long-lasting digestive symptoms in up to one-third of subjects. The role of antimicrobial therapy on persistent post-infectious symptoms is unknown. AIM: To investigate the role of antibiotic therapy on long-term germ faecal excretion and digestive symptoms after Salmonella infection. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 1543 subjects [518 aged between 3 and 5 years (35.3%); 950 between 6 and 10 years (64.7%) and 75 adults (4.9%)] involved in a single outbreak of Salmonella enteritis fulfilled the study criteria by repeating stool cultures and answering a symptom questionnaire 3 months post-infection. RESULTS: 327 subjects (21.2%) were treated with antibiotics during the acute infection [121 children aged 3-5 years (23.4%), 175 children aged 6-10 years (18.4%) and 31 adults (41.3%)]. Antibiotic treatment did not affect Salmonella excretion at any of the time points studied up to three months post-infection in any age group as compared to age-matched untreated controls. Persistent digestive symptoms were more common among the patients treated with antibiotics (9.5% vs. 2.9%; P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotic therapy does not affect Salmonella enteritis excretion. Digestive symptoms after clearance of the infectious agent are significantly higher in patients treated with antibiotics during acute gastroenteritis.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Hypertension as a function of age].

Hypertension is one of the main risk factors for cerebrovascular disease (stroke), coronary artery disease (acute myocardial infarction), congestive heart failure (both systolic and diastolic dysfunction), and renal dysfunction. The risk is related to blood pressure level and to the presence of target organ damage. Together with hypertension, other cardiovascular risk factors, such as hyperlipidemia and/or diabetes, also contribute to the chain of events leading to atherosclerosis, vascular complications and death. Three-quarters of middle-aged, urban population show at least one cardiovascular risk factor and 91.3% of all hypertensives show at least one cardiovascular risk factor in addition to hypertension itself. In most populations, the risk of cardiovascular disease rises steeply with age. This powerful effect of age on disease risk has important consequences for the risk of cardiovascular disease related to blood pressure and other risk factors. At most ages the risk for cardiovascular diseases is higher in men than in women, although this difference declines with increasing age and is greater for coronary heart disease than for stroke; in the United States from age 34 to 74 the risk of death from coronary heart disease is 2- to 3-fold greater in men; the risk of death from stroke is 30% higher in men than in women; after age 75 the risk of death from stroke and from coronary heart disease is similar in men and women. Postmenopausal women share the same risk with men for cardiovascular disease. For many years the study and treatment of hypertension has been largely directed toward diastolic blood pressure; the importance of elevated systolic blood pressure in the management of cardiovascular disease is being largely underrecognized. Convincing evidence is presently available indicating that elevated systolic blood pressure is even a stronger predictor than diastolic blood pressure for progression of cardiovascular disease and adverse outcomes. The clinical and laboratory evaluation and drug treatment of the hypertension is related to age. The elderly benefit from treatment of elevated systolic blood pressure as much or even more than middle-aged hypertensive subjects. Two large clinical trials on treatment of isolated systolic hypertension, the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP) and the Systolic Hypertension in Europe Study (Syst-Eur), have demonstrated that antihypertensive drug therapy in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension effectively reduces the risk of stroke and other major cardiovascular events.

Aging↗
PubMed1995

[Extrapulmonary tuberculosis. An unusual case].

Skeletal tuberculosis with extravertebral location is rare. We report a case of tuberculous osteomyelitis simultaneously affecting two right ribs and the left ulna. We emphasize the diagnostic problems (failure or delay in diagnosis) in extrapulmonary tuberculosis interesting uncommon sites and having relatively indolent presenting symptoms.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

[Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia: personal experience with 3 cases and review of the literature].

OBJECTIVE: We report personal experience on 3 cases of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia (AILD). We stress the prognostic and therapeutic aspects of this rare disease, that remain still unclear in recent literature. DESIGN: We performed a retrospective study on 3 cases of AILD, with a mean follow-up of 32.6 months (range 30-36). SETTING: Internal Medicine Unit. PATIENTS: We observed three patients, 2 males and 1 female, with a mean age of 65 years (range 51-72), with AILD confirmed by histopathological exams and evidence of unfavorable prognostic features at the time of diagnosis. INTERVENTIONS: 2 patients received polychemotherapy with cyclophosphamide+prednisone; cyclophosphamide + vincristine + prednisone. One patient was treated with low doses of prednisone (25 mg/day). MEASUREMENTS: We evaluated the degree of response (absent, partial, complete) an the time of survival (< 18 months or > 24 months). RESULTS: Response to therapy was partial in all patients; 1 patient underwent a severe bone marrow depression. All patients were alive for more than 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical course was independent of therapy (intensive or symptomatic) and prognostic criteria in all 3 patients. At present AILD is considered as a potentially malignant disease. Polychemotherapy must be used as a first choice treatment.

Blood Protein Disorders↗
PubMed1992

Bombesin receptor antagonists. 5 new irreversible alkylating analogues.

New alkylating bombesin analogues were synthesized in order to increase their solubility and stability in aqueous solutions. The best compromise between these parameters and the biological properties (receptor binding and antagonistic activity) was achieved with 4-[bis(2-chloro-ethylamino)]benzoyl derivatives of the BN (7-14) octapeptide carrying a (13-14) reduced peptide bond independently of the presence of a His12 residue, either free or protected.

Alkylating Agents↗
PubMed1991

Bombesin receptor antagonists. 3. Irreversible alkylating analogues: melphalan derivatives.

Bombesin (BN)-like peptides (such as GRP, gastrin-releasing peptide) are autocrine growth factors for small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). BN receptor antagonists can therefore find clinical application in the treatment of this highly malignant disease. The present paper deals with a new class of bombesin analogues carrying a nitrogen mustard at their N-terminus. Due to the irreversible binding to the BN receptor(s), these peptides eventually block the mitogenic effects of the natural ligand(s), regardless of their intrinsic "agonistic" or "antagonistic" structures. In Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts they inhibit [125I]GRP binding in the nanomolar/micromolar range. According to their "agonistic" or "antagonistic" structural features, they do or do not induce [3H]thymidine incorporation and p 115 phosphorylation. In competition experiments, alkylating "antagonists" selectively inhibit BN-induced thymidine incorporation either when given simultaneously with or 24 hours before the BN challenge. Alkylating "agonists" display antagonistic effects only in the sequential treatment.

Alkylating Agents↗
PubMed1987

[Pyrrolidone and piperidone derivatives with antihistaminic and antianaphylactic activities. Synthesis and pharmacological study].

The preparation of several derivatives to oxatomide (A), with the benzimidazolinone moiety replaced by another heterocyclic residue is described. In some cases changes to the basic chain of (A) were also considered. All the new compounds were evaluated as antihistaminics (H1) and antianaphylactics. The derivatives where the heterocyclic moiety was an unsubstituted or phenylsubstituted 2-pyrrolidone or 2-piperidone residue showed antihistaminic and antianaphylactic activities similar to those of oxatomide while modification of the basic side chain with elimination of the benzhydryl group, gave a complete loss of activity. The pharmacological screening was completed by the evaluation of the barbiturate induced sleep prolongation and of acute toxicity.

Anaphylaxis↗