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Biomedical subjects

G Casale

Publications and source records attributed to G Casale.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Allergic bronchial asthma: eosinophil chemotaxis and antihistaminic drug modulation.

This paper investigated the chemotactic capacity of blood eosinophils (EOS) in response to C5a and formyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) in 15 Parietaria-pollen-allergic patients with mild asthma during the Parietaria pollen season. Data showed that EOS chemotaxis toward C5a was significantly reduced during the peak pollen count, compared with the values obtained in normal subjects. On the other hand, FMLP could induce EOS chemotactic activity only in Parietaria-allergic patients, the highest value being registered during the height of the Parietaria season. In vitro cimetidine modulation of chemotactic function in comparison with C5a led to a recovery of the impaired results obtained in the presence of high histamine levels. Moreover, diphenhydramine preincubation of EOS induced a reduction of the enhanced chemotactic activity obtained with low concentrations. The data suggest that different serum histamine levels give rise to an impaired immune-phlogistic response in allergic patients and that histamine-receptor antagonists may modulate this effect.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Circadian rhythms of heart rate and premature ventricular beats in the aged.

The chronobiological analysis by means of the cosinor method on the dynamic electrocardiographic tracings of 30 subjects aged over 65 years with no clinical or instrumental signs of heart disease revealed a significant circadian rhythm of heart rate with acrophase in the early afternoon. When compared with a group of 30 young adult subjects, the elderly exhibited only a non-significant reduction of the rhythm amplitude. Elderly patients with heart disease exhibited a similar chronobiological pattern of heart rate. Premature ventricular beats (PVBs) were present in all subjects and occurred mostly during the day. A significant circadian rhythm was present only in elderly heart patients with 30-150 PVBs/h. The circadian distribution of PVBs showed significant interindividual differences with nocturnal acrophase in about one third of the patients. The chronobiological analysis can represent the basis for a more appropriate therapeutic approach to the elderly with PVBs.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Beta-endorphin and cold pressor test in the aged.

In 8 young and 8 elderly subjects mean values of plasma beta-endorphin were nearly equal under basal conditions. In all subjects the cold pressor test provoked a marked increase of beta-endorphin, which was more evident in young subjects. Mean values of the areas of endorphin modifications were the same in both young and elderly subjects. These results may suggest that after a short-term stimulus, such as the cold pressor test, no marked differences in pituitary secretion between young and elderly subjects may be evidenced.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Circadian rhythms in the aged: a review.

After a review of the fundamental concepts on chronobiology, the importance of circadian rhythms in the aged was examined on the basis of the data obtained in animals and humans, including personal observations on over 40 blood constituents. During ageing there are significant modifications of circadian rhythms, with frequent diminution of amplitude and a shift of acrophase. The biological, clinical and therapeutic implications of these findings are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Circadian rhythms of blood components in dementia senilis.

In eleven patients with dementia senilis circadian rhythms of hematocrit, hemoglobin, erythrocytes, leukocytes, serum iron and transferrin were studied by means of the cosinor method. An evident circadian rhythm was observed for all blood components, except leukocytes. There were no significant differences between patients with dementia senilis and healthy aged persons as far as hematocrit, hemoglobin, erythrocytes, and leukocytes are concerned. Acrophase for serum iron and transferrin occurs a little earlier and mesor is lower than in healthy aged persons.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

[Circadian rhythms and aging].

The cosinor method was used to study the circadian variations in 36 haematic parameters in apparently healthy elderly subjects. A nyctohemeral cycle was evident in most cases. Differences in the means and range of IgA, IgG and antithrombin III rhythms compared to those of younger adults were noted. On the whole, the circadian system of the elderly is very similar to that of adults.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Circadian rhythm of immunoglobulins in aged persons.

A circadian rhythm with a high statistical probability was detected for IgA, IgG and IgM in a group of 37 aged subjects. These rhythms have a peak (acrophase) in the early afternoon, around 13h00, with variable confidence interval, which may extend between 8h30 and 17h30. The double amplitude of rhythms is approximately 15% of the mean concentration of antibodies during the day (mesor). No statistical difference was observed in mesor, amplitude or acrophase between males and females or in association with age (below or above 75 years) or in mean concentration of immunoglobulins (inside or outside the adult standard reference value at 8h00).

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Urinary tract infections in the aged: improvement with thymostimulin.

30 aged patients, with chronic urinary tract infections, were treated with a thymus extract (thymostimulin, TP-1 Serono), in combination with antibiotic therapy, according to the antibiogram data, or with antibiotic therapy alone. When thymus extracts were added to the treatment, an improvement of the clinical course of the disease was observed and the severity and duration of the subjective symptoms such as strangury, dysuria, and pollakiuria, were reduced. The two groups of patients presented no modifications of the febrile patterns, nor persistence in or recovery from infection after 30 days of treatment, but especially after 90 days, the frequency of reinfections or the persistence of infections were markedly reduced. During treatment with thymostimulin, there was an evident increase in the cellular immunity tests (T-lymphocytes, rosettes, PHA) as compared with the immunodepression found before treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed1981

[Fasting glycosylated hemoglobin A1c and behavior of blood sugar and blood insulin after oral glucose tolerance test in subjects with a family history of diabetes].

In a group of subjects with a known family history of diabetes (subjects with high risk of diabetes) and in two control groups, one of normal subjects and the other of poorly controlled insulin-dependent diabetic patients, all with normal blood levels of cholesterol and triglyceride, the fasting HbA1c concentration and the glycemic and insulin response to OGTT (1 g/kg of body weight) were studied. A prompt increase in serum insulin was observed both in normals and in subjects with a known family history of diabetes (poor in diabetics, of course), but insulin peak was significantly higher in the second ones. As in diabetes patients as in subjects with a known family history of diabetes, the HbA1c levels were significantly higher than in normal subjects, but significantly less high in subjects with a known family history of diabetes than in diabetics. These data might suggest that the prediabetic states generally joint with hyperinsulinemia and the HbA1c determination could contribute to the selection of those prediabetic states.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

[The response of pancreatic alpha and beta cells to oral glucose stimulation in subjects with risk of diabetes].

Oral glucose tolerance tests (g 1/kg body weight were performed in 14 high diabetic risk subjects (mean age: 39,5 years), 9 insulin-dependent diabetic patients (mean age: 37,8 years) and 14 normal subjects (mean age: 31,5 years). Glucose, IRI and IRG were determined at various intervals. In the high diabetic risk subjects: 1) the OGTT was normal; 2) the insulin response to carbohydrate ingestion was significantly higher than in normals and, of course, in diabetics; 3) the fasting glucagon levels showed no significant differences from the normals; 4) significant suppression of fasting glucagon concentration was observed in normals after oral glucose, but not in high diabetic risk subjects and in diabetic patients. On the basis of our findings it might be suggested, therefore, that in the subjects, who are genetically pre disposed to developing diabetes mellitus, insulin does not suppress pancreatic glucagon secretion or owing to a functional disorder among alpha- beta- and delta-cells, somatostatin secretion is deficient or slow with following hyperinsulinemia and hyperglucagonemia.

Adult↗