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Fabio Galetta

Publications and source records attributed to Fabio Galetta.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

A comparative study of the in vitro antioxidant activity of statins.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of hypercholesterolemia with statins is remarkably effective in cardiovascular prevention. This has led to the hypothesis that these drugs may act on the atherosclerotic plaque by mechanism(s) independent of the reduction of serum cholesterol levels. The aim of this study was to assess the total antioxidant activity of the most prescribed statins: fluvastatin, atorvastatin, pravastatin and simvastatin. METHODS: We measured the in vitro antioxidant activity of statins as their ability to antagonize the oxidation of alpha-keto-gamma-methiolbutyric acid by both hydroxyl and peroxyl radicals. The results are expressed as Total Oxyradical Scavenging Capacity (TOSC) units. Uric acid and Trolox were used as the reference antioxidants. RESULTS: The scavenging capacity towards hydroxyl radicals was highest for simvastatin (3375+/-112 U/mg), a value 270.2% higher (P<0.0001) compared to uric acid (reference antioxidant vs. hydroxyl radicals, 1249+/-71 U/mg). Among the tested statins, fluvastatin exhibited the highest anti-peroxyl radical antioxidant capacity (8755+/-187 U/mg) which appeared 50% lower (P<0.0001) compared to Trolox (reference antioxidant vs. peroxyl radicals, 17460+/-379 U/mg). CONCLUSIONS: All the statins tested have intrinsic antioxidant activity with both anti-hydroxyl and peroxyl radical activity. Simvastatin was the most effective as an anti-hydroxyl radical antioxidant and fluvastatin as an anti-peroxyl radical antioxidant.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2003

Heart rate variability and left ventricular diastolic function in anorexia nervosa.

PURPOSE: To investigate the cardiac effects of starvation in a group of adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN). METHODS: Twenty-five patients with AN (range 13-20 years), compared with 25 age-matched thin and 25 age-matched control women with body mass index > 20 Kg/m(2), underwent a complete clinical evaluation, including echocardiogram and 24-hour electrocardiogram monitoring to evaluate heart rate variability (HRV) indices. RESULTS: Compared to both thin and control women, patients with AN had greater HRV time domain indices (SDNN: 246.5 +/- 32.4 vs. 170.4 +/- 24 ms and vs. 181 +/- 21.2 ms, p <.001), and in the frequency domain a lower LF/HF ratio (4.2 +/- 1.3 vs. 6.7 +/- 1.2 and vs. 6.8 +/- 1.3 ms, p <.001). AN patients showed reduced left ventricular mass with normal systolic function and typical diastolic patterns, characterized by a lower peak velocity transmitral flow in late diastole (peak A: 35.9 +/- 8.5 vs. 45.2 +/- 7.3 cm/sec and vs. 46.6 +/- 6.3 cm/sec, p <.01), a comparable peak velocity in early diastole (peak E: 92.7 +/- 12.1 vs. 83 +/- 6.2 and vs. 86.8 +/- 9.1 cm/sec, ns) and, subsequently, a greater E/A ratio (2.8 +/- 0.7 vs. 1.8 +/- 0.3 and vs. 1.9 +/- .5, p <.01) than thinness and control groups. Moreover, SDNN was also positively related to E/A ratio (r =.54, p <.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate a cardiovascular vagal hyperactivity in AN, which appears to influence the ventricular diastolic dynamics. HRV and diastolic function analysis may represent useful tools in monitoring anorexia-induced cardiac modifications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Relevance of plasma D-dimer measurement in patients with acute peripheral vertigo.

The aetiopathogenesis of acute unilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction (APV), also known as vestibular neuritis, is still debated: the principal cause is viral infection with vascular factors second in importance. Plasmatic D-dimer, considered a plasmatic index of hypercoagulation, was measured in a group of 45 APV patients and in a group of 25 patients suffering from Ménière's disease. Measurements were taken both during the acute stage and after a four to six week period of pharmacological washout. The mean D-dimer levels were significantly higher than those measured in the controls both during the acute phase (301 SD161 vs 202 SD113 ng/mL) and after follow up (304 SD211 vs 192 SD111 ng/mL) (p = 0.008). Moreover, during the acute stage 23 of the APV patients (51.1 per cent) had plasmatic D-dimer levels above the upper normal limit (i.e.: <300 ng/mL), compared to four of those with Ménière's disease (16 per cent). Our results lead us to postulate an involvement of the haemostatic system in APV.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Influence of gender on circulating cardiac natriuretic hormones in patients with heart failure.

In order to study the influence of gender on circulating levels of cardiac natriuretic hormones (CNHs) in heart failure, we measured the plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) by means of highly sensitive and specific IRMA methods in 239 consecutive patients (age 64.7 +/- 11.6 years, range 21-89 years; 170 men and 69 women) with cardiomyopathy. There was different response of CNH according to gender in patients with heart failure, as indicated by the ratio between the individual CNH values of patients and the gender-specific cut-off values. Indeed, the mean ratio for ANP found in men (3.6 +/- 3.6) was significantly higher (p = 0.0075) than that found in women (2.4 +/- 2.1). The mean ratio for BNP was on average 2.3 fold higher (15.9 +/- 27.1 in men and 6.9 +/- 6.8 in women, p = 0.0084). Moreover, age, ejection fraction, and disease severity independently and significantly contributed to regression with both ANP (R = 0.612, F = 39.969, p < 0.0001) and BNP (R = 0.656, F = 49.957, p < 0.0001) values, while gender did not. In conclusion, our study suggests a different, gender-specific activation of the CNH system in this clinical condition, although age, ejection fraction and disease severity seem to be more powerful predictors than gender of circulating levels of ANP and BNP in patients with heart failure.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

QT interval dispersion in young women with anorexia nervosa.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the degree of QT dispersion in a group of young women in the starvation phase of anorexia nervosa (AN) and its relation to left ventricular (LV) mass. STUDY DESIGN: Sixteen patients with self-induced starvation were matched with 16 women of normal weight and 16 constitutionally thin women (body mass index <20 kg/m2). Starving patients and control patients underwent an electrocardiogram and echocardiogram. QT intervals were measured from surface electrocardiograms and QT dispersion was defined as the difference between maximum QT and minimum QT occurring in any of the 12 leads. RESULTS: LV-chamber mass was significantly less in women with AN than in thin and normal-weight women. QT dispersion was significantly greater in AN than in the thin and control groups (QT dispersion: 50 +/- 14 vs 34 +/- 9 and 37 +/- 11 ms, P <.001; QT interval dispersion corrected for heart rate: 49+12 vs 34 +/- 9 and 36 +/- 7 ms, P <.01, respectively). A significant relation between QT dispersion and LV-mass index (r = -0.726, P <.01), and between QTc dispersion and LV mass index (r = -0.693, P < 0.01) were found only in the patients with AN. CONCLUSION: Starving patients show an increased QT dispersion related to reduced LV mass. This result could represent a useful indicator of arrhythmic risk and sudden death in AN.

Adolescent↗