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Biomedical subjects

F Pigozzi

Publications and source records attributed to F Pigozzi.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

The application of shock-waves therapy in the treatment of resistant chronic painful shoulder. A clinical experience.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy of extracorporeal shockwaves therapy (ESWT) in patients with chronic painful shoulder. METHODS EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: a prospective design was used with a short term follow-up. SETTING: data were collected at the Service of Physioterapy in Villa Stuart Clinic-Rome. PATIENTS: 72 patients of both sexes with an average age of 38 years (range 18 to 69) affected by chronic painful shoulder, whose symptoms lasted more than 6 months. INTERVENTIONS: all patients received on average, 2,000 impulses of ESWT at level 5 energy (0.21 mJ/mm2) according to Dornier Epos equipment one session per week for 8 weeks. MEASURES: all cases underwent an instrumental examination with X-ray conventional imaging and clinical assessment of pain (visual analogue scale) and functional limitation of the shoulder, two weeks before the treatment and at one month follow-up. RESULTS: 53% of patient scored excellent results, 14% good, 13% fair and 20% poor. In the group of calcifying tendinitis we had a reduction in 37% and no changes in 63%. CONCLUSIONS: Even with a limited number of cases our early results show the efficacy and safety of ESWT in the treatment of chronic painful shoulder resistant to other conservative approaches.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Acute amino acids supplementation enhances pituitary responsiveness in athletes.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a mixture of amino acids on pituitary responsiveness to a stimulation test (GnRH + CRH) in athletes. METHODS: In a double blinded counterbalanced experimental protocol, 10 moderately trained male athletes performed the pituitary stimulation test 60 min after a single oral administration of a placebo (P1-AS) or an amino acid mixture solution (AS) (L-arginine hydrochloride 100 mg x kg(-1) + L-ornithine hydrochloride 80 mg x kg(-1) + L-branched chain amino acids 140 mg x kg(-1): 50% L-leucine, 25% L-isoleucine, 25% L-valine) on two different occasions. Plasma ACTH, LH, FSH, GH, and cortisol were evaluated before (-60, -30, 0 min) and after (+15, +30, +45, +60, +90 min) the stimulation test. RESULTS: The ACTH, LH and FSH response to CRH + GnRH was significantly higher in AS group both as absolute values and area under curve (AUC) values than in P1-AS group. Pre-test and post-test cortisol AUC levels were significantly higher in P1-AS group although a higher percent increase in post-test cortisol was found in AS group. The total GH-AUC was higher in AS group and, as expected, the absolute GH concentrations at different time points were not influenced by CRH + GnRH administration. CONCLUSION: The amino acid mixture used enhanced the ACTH, LH, and FSH response to CRH + GnRH.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1998

Physical training of football players based on their positional rules in the team. Effects on performance-related factors.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative effectiveness of an individualized training programme for football players according to their positions in the team, by comparing it with a programme which did not differentiate roles, but utilized the same means for training. METHODS: Forty-four young top level football players divided equally into an experimental and a control group were submitted to two different training programmes for an 8-month period. Each group consisted of 5 forwards, 6 midfielders, 4 fullbacks, 4 centerbacks and 3 goalkeepers. The two groups had almost the same average age (17.8 +/- 0.6 and 17.7 +/- 0.6 yrs respectively), weight (72.6 +/- 4.7 and 72.8 +/- 3.7 kg) and height (181.3 +/- 4.4 and 180.3 +/- 4.0 cm). The following measurements were taken before and after the training period in order to evaluate the aerobic and anaerobic (lactacid and alactacid) power as well as explosive and elastic power which are related to football performance: running tests of 30, 50, 300 and 1,000 meters, squat jump (SJ), counter movement jump (CMJ) and repetition counter movement jump (test 15"). RESULTS: A percent improvement observed for forwards and centerbacks was significant, in comparison with the control group, in all tests but the 30 and 1,000 meters run, on the contrary fullbacks and midfielders demonstrated a significant improvement only in the 1000 m run test (p < 0.01). In addition, a significant increase (14%, p < 0.01) was observed in CMJ of goalkeepers in the experimental group, in comparison with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that individualized training developed in accordance with the real model of football performance and the different mechanisms of bioenergetic processes, is a superior method of training and can optimise the performance of all player in the team.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor I responses to moderate submaximal acute physical exercise in man: effects of octreotide, a somatostatin analogue, administration.

We evaluated growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) response to moderate submaximal acute short-term physical exercise under basal conditions and after the administration of octreotide, a somatostatin analogue (SA), in a double-blind, counter-balanced experimental protocol. Seven untrained male volunteers performed two identical exercise tests, each on a treadmill (2.5% slope) for 30 minutes (min) at 60% of VO2max. Before starting the exercise test all the subjects received a single administration of placebo or octreotide and vice versa at two different sessions. Plasma GH, IGF-I and lactate assays were evaluated before starting, during, at the end and in the recovery phase. In the placebo-treated group GH rose significantly both during exercise and recovery whereas no significant modifications in IGF-I levels were observed. SA administration inhibited the exercise-dependent GH secretion, which showed a small rise only during exercise and returned to basal levels during recovery. In the same group, IGF-I decreased significantly after exercise compared to basal values. The results suggest that 1) in our experimental conditions acute physical exercise at aerobic threshold does not modify IGF-I concentration 2) SA is able to inhibit the exercise-dependent GH secretion and to decrease post-exercise IGF-I concentration.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Snowboard traumatology: an epidemiological study.

In the past 10 years, snowboarding has become a popular winter sport among young people, and the number of accidents has increased proportionately. The incidence of traumas from snowboarding is shown to be 4 to 6 for every 1000 medical examinations, which is similar to that of downhill skiing. However, other important statistical differences exist between the two sports. This study of 106 snowboarding-related injury cases analyzes the epidemiology of these injuries in Italy. Results found that 45.1% of injuries are located in the upper limbs and that significant advantages are obtained with the introduction of guards to protect the upper limbs during descent. Serious ligament injuries to the knee are more rare in snowboarding than in downhill skiing. In both sports, injuries are more common with rigid boots, which lead to a higher incidence of injury to the upper limbs. Finally, a high percentage of injury to beginners was found in this study. Training courses for those who are considering taking up the sport of snowboarding could significantly lower their risk of trauma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Long-term practice effects on a new skilled motor learning: an electrophysiological study.

Cortical functions concerned with the execution of skilled movements can be studied through complex interactive tasks. Skilled performance task (SPT) offers the greatest deal of information about the electrophysiological components reflecting pre-programming, execution of the movement and control of the results. Overall, these components are indicated as "movement-related brain macropotentials' (MRBMs). Among them, Bereitschaftspotential (BP) reflects cerebral processes related to the preparation of movement and skilled performance positivity (SPP) reflects control processes on the result of performance. There is some evidence supporting a training effect on MRBMs, but less clear is whether long-term practice of a skilled activity could modify learning strategies of a new skilled task. We recorded MRBMs in subjects trained for a long time to perform a highly skillful athletic activity, i.e. gun shooting, and in a group of control subjects without any former experience in skilled motor activities. Our findings demonstrated the existence of a relationship between pre-programming and performance control, as suggested by decrease of BP amplitude and increase of SPP amplitude in presence of high levels of performance. Long-term practice seems to develop better control models on performance, that reduce the need of a high mental effort in pre-programming a skilled action.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Electrograms for identification of the atrial ablation site during catheter ablation of accessory pathways.

BACKGROUND: Catheter ablation of accessory pathways using radiofrequency current has been shown to be effective in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, by using either the ventricular or atrial approach. However, the unipolar electrogram criteria for identifying a successful ablation at the atrial site are not well established. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White were treated by delivering radiofrequency energy at the atrial site. Attempts were considered successful when ablation (disappearance of the delta wave) occurred in < 10 seconds. In eight patients with concealed pathway, the accessory pathway location was obtained by measuring the shortest V-A interval either during ventricular pacing or spontaneous or induced reciprocating tachycardia. In 92 patients both atrioventricular valve annuli were mapped during sinus rhythm, in order to identify the accessory pathway (K) potential before starting the ablation procedure. When a stable filtered (30-250 Hz) "unipolar" electrogram was recorded, the following time intervals were measured: (1) from the onset of the atrial to the onset of the K potential (A-K); (2) from the onset of the delta wave to the onset of the K potential (delta-K); and (3) from the onset of the K potential to the onset of the ventricular deflection (K-V). During unsuccessful versus successful attempts, A-K (51 +/- 11 ms vs 28 +/- 8 ms, P < 0.0001 for left pathways [LPs]; and 44 +/- 8 ms vs 31 +/- 8 ms, P < 0.02 for right pathways [RPs]) and delta-K intervals (2 +/- 9 ms vs -18 +/- 10 ms, P < 0.0001 for LPs; and 13 +/- 7 ms vs 5 +/- 8 ms, P < 0.02 ms for RPs) were significantly longer. CONCLUSIONS: Short A-K interval (< 40 ms), and a negative delta-K interval recorded from the catheter positioned in the atrium are strong predictors of successful ablation of LPs and RPs. Therefore, the identification of the K potential appears to be of paramount importance for positioning of the ablation catheter, followed by analysis of A-K and delta-K unipolar electrogram intervals. However, it appears that the mere recording of K potential is not, per se, predictive of successful outcome, but rather the A-K and delta-K interval.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Anterior cruciate ligament patellar tendon reconstruction: it is probably better to leave the tendon defect open!

The purpose of our prospective study was to establish whether or not in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) patellar tendon reconstruction the tendon defect has to be closed. In 50 consecutive ACL patellar tendon reconstructions, the tendon defect was randomly closed (group I) or left open (group II). The following data were recorded from all patients on the 4th and 14th days post operation: range of motion (ROM), pain at rest, pain and validity at isometric contraction, ability of bent leg raising (at 4th day) and straight leg raising (at 14th day). All the patients underwent ultrasonographic examination after 3 months and X-ray scanning at 6 months post operation. Forty patients underwent a CT-scan examination at 6 months. Thirty patients underwent isokinetic testing between 10 and 12 months post operation. Evaluating the immediate post operation data, no statistically significant differences emerged between the two groups. Ultrasonography showed in 68% of the knees of group I (defect closed) a thickened patellar tendon (PT), while in 60% of group II it was of normal thickness. No patients of either group developed patella infera by X-ray evaluation 6 months post operation. CT scans at 6 months showed that 100% of the knees of group I had a thickened PT in toto (nearly twice as thick as normal). Scar tissue was present not only in its central third but also in more than half of the cases in the medial and lateral third. In group II 75% of the patients had a normal thickness PT and 25% presented with only a minimal thickening. Scar tissue was distinguished only at its central third.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Functional anatomy of the shoulder: first reliefs with polyarticular goniometer.

The aim of this study is to explain the basic principles of functional anatomy of the shoulder, and to give further data on the maximum mobility of the upper limb. The measurement of the articular movements was performed using a new model of polyarticular goniometer. The discussion of these results gives way to further possibilities of research, which are useful for the functional evaluation of the athlete in sports medicine.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Identification of blood erythroid markers useful in revealing erythropoietin abuse in athletes.

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rEpo) is being used with increasing frequency by endurance athletes to improve aerobic potential. Although rEpo administration has been banned by the International Olympic Committee, no methods are available to unequivocally detect its abuse in sports. Prompted by these considerations, we evaluated the main hematological and biochemical modifications measured in the blood of 18 volunteers upon rEpo administration. Different rEpo regimens, iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12 administration did not significantly modify the percentage increase in hematocrit. However, a significant decrease in circulating ferritin (fr) and an increase in the soluble transferrin receptor (sTfr) were not found in athletes receiving low (30 IU/kg) doses of rEpo. Thus, an increase in the sTfr/fr ratio cannot be used as an indicator of rEpo abuse, at least when the hormone is administered at low concentrations. In contrast, the amounts of beta-globin mRNA detected by quantitative competitive (RT)-PCR in whole blood samples significantly increased above the threshold levels in all of the treatments investigated. Taken together, these data suggest that hematocrit value, reticulocyte count, soluble transferrin receptor content, and concentration of beta-globin mRNA, when included in a new multiparametric formula, can detect rEpo abuse in 57.5% of the samples examined with a confidence interval of 99.99%. Thus, the method reported in this paper could significantly improve the tests currently available, which in similar experiments allowed the detection of rEpo abuse in only 7.6% of the samples examined.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Reduced glutathione and anaerobic threshold].

In this study the authors evaluate the relationship existing between reduced glutathione (GSH) and increased indexes of muscle performance. GSH has a protective action on the cell either against the oxidative stress or for its ability of removing through out the body xenobiotic substances circulating. 15 male competitive pentathlon athletes were the sample of this research. The aim of the research is to evaluate the possible role of GSH to determine the anaerobic threshold through its blotting function.

Adult↗