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F Tassone

Publications and source records attributed to F Tassone.

86 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Family and population studies of SAHH and ADA polymorphisms. A possible pitfall in the ascertainment of SAHH electrophoretic phenotypes.

Typing of both SAHH and ADA red cell electrophoretic patterns was carried out among the members of about 80 families from Latium (Central Italy) and in a random sample of about 350 individuals from two Italian regions, Latium and Sardinia. 1. The SAHH1 enzyme product provided another interesting example of a change in the electrophoretic pattern brought about by the haemolysate ageing. In vitro storage of SAHH 1 red cell lysates leads to the production of a pattern similar to that expected from a heterozygote SAHH 2-1. This change has been shown to be abolished by pretreating the sample with mercaptoethanol. The results indicate that the systematic use of sulphydril reducing agents can provide a more reliable means of analysing the SAHH polymorphism if differently stored samples are to be compared by starch gel electrophoresis. 2. Evidence against complete linkage of the SAHH and ADA loci has been obtained from two informative SAHH/ADA matings encountered in this study. 3. The SAHH allele frequencies observed in the two samples analysed were: SAHH1 = 0.969, SAHH2 = 0.024, SAHH3 = 0.007 (Latium) and SAHH1 = 0.973, SAHH2 = 0.011, SAHH3 = 0.016 (Sardinia). 4. The ADA2 allele frequency estimates were: 0.083 (Latium) and 0.059 (Sardinia). These figures are almost identical to those already reported for the same two regions.

Adenosine Deaminase↗

[Transvenous cardioversion in the treatment of sustained ventricular tachycardia. Preliminary results in 3 patients with implantable cardioverter].

The efficacy of intracardiac cardioversion was verified in 11 pts suffering from coronary heart disease and recurrent sustained VT. All pts were receiving anti-arrhythmic drugs. Tachycardia cycle length was between 280 and 400 msec. 65 episodes of VT (21 spontaneous and 44 induced) were treated with synchronized shocks of low energy between 0.27 and 2 J using the external cardioverter. Cardioversion was successful in 83% of VT episodes. VT acceleration occurred in one case; transient atrial fibrillation was induced six times. All pts tolerated shocks from 0.27 to 1 J with moderate discomfort; shocks exceeding 1.0 J were less well tolerated. CK levels were not increased. In three pts (VT cycle length of 320, 380 and 400 msec) a permanent Cardioverter (Medtronic Model 7210) was implanted and programmed to operate in non-automatic mode. Every month the pts underwent a follow-up visit to verify the electrophysiological features of VT in non invasively induced VT episodes and the efficacy of transvenous cardioversion. In a mean follow-up period of 9 months, respectively 5, 4 and 3 spontaneous VT episodes occurred. In two pts cardioversion resulted constantly effective, whereas in the third one provoked VT acceleration requiring DC-shock in the last spontaneous episode of VT.

Aged↗

[A new dual-chamber pacemaker with an automatic antitachycardia system in the treatment of the bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome].

A new dual-chamber pacemaker with automatic tachycardia terminating system was used in three patients with bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome. This pacemaker (Medtronic Symbios 7008) is a multiprogrammable, bipolar device with bidirectional telemetry and six permanent pacing modes (DDD-DVI-VVI-DOO-VOO-AOO). The antitachycardia system can be programmed in two different modes: underdrive dual demand and overdrive atrial burts (1 to 16 stimuli with selectable coupling interval from 135 to 360 msec). The pacing modes are automatically activated when five consecutive R-R cycles shorter than the tachycardia detection interval are sensed. The pacemaker may sense the ventricle (when set on VVI or DVI mode) or sense both the atrium and the ventricle (in DDD mode). The pacemaker was programmed on DVI mode in all three patients, and the overdrive atrial burst program was used for tachycardia termination, with promptly and costantly effective results. The underdrive dual demand program was tested after the implantation, but it did not show constant results because inefficacy or late termination of tachycardias.

Aged↗

[Use of esophageal leads in the diagnosis of myocardial infarct with a postero-inferior site].

The electrocardiographic diagnosis results from the verification of a anomalous waves in one or more derivations. There are, however, some cases of infarct in which the electrocardiogram appears regular and there are other different situations in which a more less profound "a" wave can appear in the D3 and aVF derivations. The Authors have considered four groups of patients, in which only the oesophageal ecgraphic has allowed to obtain the right diagnosis, succeeding in filling the gaps of the diagnostic possibilities of the standard ecgraphic.

Aged↗

[Adrenergic receptors in coronary arteries (author's transl)].

The relations between adrenergic nerve fibers and related receptors in the wall of the coronary arteries have been studied in man. On sections of these vessels morphological observations (H.E.) were carried out: histochemical staining of adrenergic mediators (Eranko reaction for norepinephrine, and Hillarp reaction for cathecolamines), and of beta-receptors by means of a beta-blocking fluorescent drug (pindolol-Visken LB 46). Our observations provide evidence of the presence of beta-receptors in the wall of the coronary arteries, but they are particularly concentrated in the periadventitial connective tissue, in the adventitia and in the intima-media transitional zone. Beta-adrenergic receptors are above all present in the most richly innervated part of the vascular wall, and are therefore in close rapport with adrenergic nerve fibers.

Adolescent↗

Smoking, blood pressure and serum albumin are major determinants of carotid atherosclerosis in dialysis patients. CREED Investigators. Cardiovascular Risk Extended Evaluation in Dialysis patients.

AIM: To investigate the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and some major cardiovascular risk factors in uremic patients on chronic dialysis. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 119 unselected dialysis patients (89 on hemodialysis and 30 on chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, CAPD). Fasting blood sampling for serum lipids, albumin, hemoglobin, and echo-colour-Doppler evaluation of common carotid arteries were performed in all patients (during the non-dialysis day in hemodialysis patients). In hemodialysis patients BP was measured before and after dialysis; in CAPD patients home BP values were recorded during the month before the study day. RESULTS: Ninety-five patients had at least one plaque and 57 had at least four plaques. Thirty-eight had mild and eleven severe carotid stenosis. In multiple regression models, the mean internal diameter of carotid arteries was explained (R=0.52, P=0.0001) by systolic pressure (r=0.39), serum cholesterol (r=-0.28), age (r=0.27) and smoking (r=0.24) while the degree of carotid stenosis was predicted (R=0.39, P=0.0001) by age (r=0.36) and smoking (r=0.25). The number of atherosclerotic plaques was explained (R=0.51, P=0.0001) by age (r=0.36), smoking (r=0.25) and pulse pressure (r=0.20), serum albumin just failing to reach statistical significance (P = 0.06). However, serum albumin was a significant and independent predictor of the number of atherosclerotic plaques (r=-0.26) in hemodialysis patients (n=89). Sex, diabetes, Kt/V, duration of dialysis treatment, hemoglobin, serum calcium and phosphate did not add any predictive power to the models. CONCLUSIONS: In dialysis patients arterial pressure and smoking are associated with carotid atherosclerosis. Serum albumin appears to serve as an independent predictor of carotid atherosclerosis.

Arteriosclerosis↗

GH response to GHRH combined with pyridostigmine or arginine in different conditions of low somatotrope secretion in adulthood: obesity and Cushing's syndrome in comparison with hypopituitarism.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosing GH deficiency in adults is difficult due to the age-related variations of GH/IGF-I axis and the influence of nutrition. Nowadays, GH replacement is allowed for patients with GH peak to provocative stimuli < 3 micrograms/L. Somatotrope insufficiency is present in hypopituitarism but also in obesity and hypercortisolism. However, to evaluate GH insufficiency in adults is difficult due to variations of GH and IGF-I levels as function of age and nutrition status. METHODS: We aimed to verify the GH response to GHRH (1 mg/kg i.v.) combined with pyridostigmine (PD, 120 mg p.o.) or arginine (ARG, 0.5 g/kg i.v.), in 26 hypopituitaric patients (GHD), in 11 obese women (OB), in 8 women with Cushing's syndrome (CS), and in 72 control subjects (NS). RESULTS: IGF-I levels in GHD were lower than those in OB (p < 0.01) and in CS (p < 0.01) which, in turn, were lower to those in NS (p < 0.02). In NS, the GH peak responses to GHRH + PD and GHRH + ARG were similar and the minimum normal GH peak was 16.5 mg/L. GHD had GH responses similar, lower than those in NS (p < 0.01) and always below the normal limit. However, only 12/20 and 8/14 had peaks < 3 micrograms/L; conventionally, below this limit severe GH deficiency is shown and rhGH replacement is allowed. In OB, the GH responses to GHRH + PD and GHRH + ARG were similar, lower (p < 0.01) and higher (p < 0.01) than those in NS and GHD, respectively. Six out of 11 OB had GH peaks below the normal limits but nobody < 3 micrograms/L. In CS, the GH response to GHRH + PD was lower than that to GHRH + ARG (p < 0.01); both these responses were lower than those in NS (p < 0.01) and even in OB (p < 0.01) but higher than those in GHD (p < 0.01). All and 7/8 CS had GH peaks lower than normal limits after PD + GHRH and ARG + GHRH, respectively while 6/8 showed GH peak < 3 micrograms/L after PD + GHRH but only 1 after ARG + GHRH. CONCLUSIONS: Present data demonstrate that the maximal somatotrope secretory capacity is reduced in OB and even more in CS. From a diagnostic point of view, PD + GHRH and ARG + GHRH tests distinguish OB from severe GHD. As hypercortisolism impairs the activity of cholinesterase inhibitors, only ARG + GHRH, but not PD + GHRH is a reliable test to explore the maximal somatotrope secretory capacity in CS. Notably, even with the ARG + GHRH test, in CS the maximal somatotrope secretory capacity is sometimes so reduced as to overlap with that of severe GHD.

Adult↗

[New method of percutaneous implantation of a definitive pacemaker].

The Authors present a new method for the installation of a definitive pacemaker with a percutaneous puncture in the sub-clavian vein. According to the Authors, this method is reserved, in alternative to the other stimulations, to the subjects with the venous anomalies or with difficulties of the electrocatheter introduction through the usual ways or for defect of disponibility of the venous vessels already sacrificed in previous operations. This allows to reduce the number of patients to send to the cardiosurgeon for a myoepicardic stimulation.

Cardiac Pacing, Artificial↗