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Biomedical subjects

F Cruciani

Publications and source records attributed to F Cruciani.

41 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

'Minimal-change hypertensive retinopathy' and 'arterial pre-hypertension', illustrated via ambulatory blood-pressure monitoring in putatively normotensive subjects.

PURPOSE: To investigate the 24 h blood-pressure (BP) pattern in subjects who were found to show some incipient signs of hypertensive retinopathy but had been diagnosed as normotensives by means of casual sphygmomanometry. METHODS: Non-invasive ambulatory BP monitoring was performed in 25 caucasian subjects (16 M, 9 F; mean age 46 +/- 16 years) showing this type of retinal problem. A comparable number of controlled normotensive Caucasian subjects (15 M, 10 F; mean age: 48 +/- 15 years) without funduscopic signs of hypertensive retinopathy were investigated as a reference group. A series of BP tests over time was analysed by means of conventional biometry and chronobiological methods. RESULTS: The biometric estimates suggest that the investigated subjects with incipient hypertensive retinopathy, although characterized by BP values below 140/90 mmHg, show a significantly higher daily systolic BP. The increase, however, is within WHO reference limits and is not associated with the abolition of the circadian BP rhythm. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the initial signs of hypertensive retinopathy may appear before BP elevation above WHO reference limits occurs. Because of this, it can be assumed that there is such a condition as 'minimal-change hypertensive retinopathy' associated with a haemodynamic picture of 'arterial pre-hypertension'.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Recent trends of ophthalmic diseases in Italy: are official data reliable?

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to investigate the epidemiological trends of ocular diseases using hospital discharge forms as our data source. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined official Italian Statistical Institute (ISTAT) data concerning patients discharged from ophthalmologic wards. Our analysis was limited to the years when ISTAT managed health service data (1986, 1990 and 1994); whilst currently this duty has been transferred to the Ministry of Health. RESULTS: The diseases encountered most frequently were cataract, glaucoma and retinal detachment. Patients over 65 years of age represented 54% in 1986 and 67% in 1994. We observed a general trend toward shorter hospital stays (10.5 days in 1986 and 6.4 days in 1994). We applied an indirect analysis that included masculinity and chi 2 homogeneity that were aimed to evaluate results de spite the questionable reliability of ISTAT gross data. CONCLUSIONS: The results of indirect analysis (masculinity and chi 2 homogeneity, of data combined with the significant number of charts presenting incomplete diagnostic information strongly question the reliability of official documentation. The increase of hospitalisation for ophthalmic surgery and a higher average age of affected subjects were confirmed. We observed a reduction of mean hospital stay per admission, indicating a positive achievement in terms of cost reduction.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

MTHFR C677T mutation, factor II G20210A mutation and factor V Leiden as risks factor for youth retinal vein occlusion.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T mutation, factor II G20210A mutation and factor V Leiden are risk factors for retinal vein occlusion (RVO) in patients under fifty years of age. METHODS: Comparison of 29 patients, under 50 years old of age, as affected RVO and 62 age matched normal controls. Plasma MTHFR C677T genotype, Factor II G20210A genotype, Factor V Leiden genotype, S protein level, C protein level, APCR presence (Actived Protein C Resistance), homocysteine level and Beta-thromboglobulin level were determined. RESULTS: Seventeen RVO patients and twenty-one controls were heterozygous for the MTHFR C677T mutation. Three RVO patients and twenty-three controls were homozygous for the MTHFR C677T mutation. Three RVO patients and two controls were heterozygous for the factor II G20210A mutation. One control was heterozygous for the factor V Leiden. CONCLUSIONS: This study fails to demonstrate that these mutations are risk factors for RVO in patients under fifty years of age.

Activated Protein C Resistance↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ocular toxicity of systemic chemotherapy with megadoses of carmustine and mitomycin.

The use of chemotherapeutic agents in high doses in the treatment of advanced-stage cancer enhances drug toxicity, and ocular complications are not uncommon. In this article, we discuss the ocular toxicity in six patients with advanced nonpretreated colorectal cancer who received megadoses of carmustine and mitomycin with the support of autologous bone marrow transplantation. The results obtained did not reveal any subjective or objective pathologic conditions of the ocular apparatus with particular attention to orthoptic examinations, the anterior segment, and the fundus. No patient had changes in visual acuity. Tonometry did not demonstrate significant variations. There were, however, qualitative and quantitative changes in the tear films of all patients, leading to damage to the corneal and conjunctival epithelium.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗