Biomedical subjects

G Maina

Publications and source records attributed to G Maina.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Characterization of surface modified Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy.

In the last years different types of surface modifications were developed with the aim of improving the osteointegration ability of titanium alloys. The chemical composition, crystallographic structure and morphology of a surface layer can be modified in order to obtain a better interaction between the implant, the cells and the organic fluids. The final goal is to obtain a more efficient bone growth also in critical clinical cases. In the present paper were reported several data about the characterization of the Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy treated by two innovative surface treatments. They consist of blasting, followed by a two step chemical etching and heat treatment performed in air or in vacuum. TEM, XRD and SEM investigations were performed in order to assess the structure and morphology of the modified surfaces. The surface chemical composition was investigated by XPS ad AES analyses. The ability to interact with physiological fluids was tested by immersion of the treated materials in an acellular simulated body fluid (SBF). Metal ion concentration analyses of the fluid and SEM observations of the samples were performed after different times of soaking. The mechanical characterization involved scratch and fatigue tests. The surface of treated samples shows chemical, structural and morphological modifications. The passivation pre-treatment has influence on the surface modification. The treated samples evidenced a quite low metal ion release and interact with SBF solution, showing a moderate bioactivity. A relevant decrease in fatigue strength was observed on modified samples.

Aluminum↗

PubMed2005

Validity and reliability of the Italian version of the Quality of Life, Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire.

The Quality of Life, Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q) is increasingly used in psychiatry because it gives emphasis to the subjective perspective of patients on physical, psychological and social domains. This paper reports on the validation of the Italian version of the Q-LES-Q in a large multicenter study (EQUIP) conducted at five Italian sites on outpatients in treatment for anxiety disorders. Study participants underwent a broad assessment of psychopathology including the MINI-International Neuropsychiatric Interview, the Symptom Checklist (SCL-90) and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI). Cronbach's alpha was used to determine the internal consistency of the Q-LES-Q areas and Pearson's r was used to analyze the correlation between the areas of Q-LES-Q and those of the other instruments. The internal consistency of the Q-LES-Q proved to be substantial (>0.80 in each of the areas) as well as the test-retest reliability. The convergent validity of the Q-LES-Q vs. the Work and Social Adjustment Scale was examined. High correlations were found between scales measuring similar constructs in the two instruments and lower correlation between scales measuring different constructs. In conclusion, the Italian version of the Q-LES-Q proved to be as valid and reliable as the original English version.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Surface characterization of silver-doped bioactive glass.

A bioactive glass belonging to the system SiO(2)-CaO-Na(2)O was doped with silver ions by ion exchange in molten salts as well as in aqueous solution. The ion exchange in the solution was done to check if it is possible to prepare an antimicrobial material using a low silver content. The doped glass was characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, SEM observation, EDS analysis, bioactivity test (soaking in a simulated body fluid), leaching test (GFAAS analyses) and cytotoxicity test. It is demonstrated that these surface silver-doped glasses maintain, or even improve, the bioactivity of the starting glass. The measured quantity of released silver into simulated body fluid compares those reported in literature for the antibacterial activity and the non-cytotoxic effect of silver. Cytotoxicity tests were carried out to understand the effect of the doped surfaces on osteogenic cell adhesion and proliferation.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed2004

Percutaneous absorption of 5 glycol ethers through human skin in vitro.

Absorption across full thickness human skin was evaluated in vitro for five selected glycol ethers. Skin membranes were settled on static diffusion cells and both neat and 50% water diluted glycol ethers were applied on the donor chamber for 8 h. The amount of glycol ethers permeated into the receptor fluid was measured by gas chromatograph equipped with flame ionization detector (GC-FID). For neat solvents, permeation coefficient Kp ranged from 0.06 to 0.83 cm h(-1) 10(-3) respectively for DEGBEA and EGMEA while for 50% v/v diluted glycol ethers it varied from 0.08 to 1.81 cm h(-1) 10(-3) respectively for DPGME and EGMEA. These experiments show a statistically significant (Student's t-test, P <0.05) increase in permeation coefficients from neat to 50% water diluted glycol ethers and the same trend can be observed in fluxes and lag times. Only DPGME show an opposite behaviour. These results confirm the good ability of these solvents of permeating the skin and show that they could represent a risk for their potential dermal absorption both for workers and for occasional exposures, since the average lag time is 1.57 h.

Chromatography, Gas↗

PubMed2002

Management of treatment resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder. Algorithms for pharmacotherapy.

Treatment resistant OCD subjects, defined as those patients who undergo an adequate trial of SRI (clomipramine or SSRI) and do not respond or show unsatisfactory results, account for 40-50% of all patients. Once the appropriateness of the trial has been assessed, several options exist for the clinicians. If clomipramine or citalopram have been used, an appropriate strategy consists in giving the same drug intravenously. Double-blind studies exist on the efficacy of clomipramine IV, while data are missing for citalopram. Another option that should be considered first, although data are scarce, is the addition of a cognitive behavioral therapy, when available, in the forms of exposure and response prevention. When such options are not suitable or available, augmentation of the ongoing SRI with another compound represents the preferable strategy. Double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have shown the efficacy of adding pindolol (7.5 mg/d), risperidone (2 mg/d) and olanzapine (5-10 mg/d). Other agents have been proposed, but data emerging from double-blind studies were negative or contradictory. Another option available is switching from CMI to SSRI, or vice versa, or from SSRI to SSRI. Data regarding such treatment strategy, however, are highly preliminary, based on a couple of open label reports and on studies performed in treatment resistant depression. An unresolved question is whether augmentation should be preferred to switching. No data exist in OCD; a practical approach would suggest augmentation first, considering that response should be obtained faster than by switching compound. When all the available and effective strategies prove uneffective, clinicians should consider switching the patient to other compounds in monotherapy, such as venlafaxine, sumatriptan, inositol, although research is strongly needed before conclusions on the efficacy of such compounds can be drawn.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2001

Dysthymic disorder: clinical characteristics in relation to age at onset.

BACKGROUND: The variability in the clinical presentation of dysthymia has given rise to a rich debate in literature, and various hypotheses have been proposed. One is that the clinical presentation differs in relation to age at onset. The aim of the study was to evaluate differences in socio-demographic and clinical characteristics in a sample of patients with dysthymia (DSM-IV), in relation to age at onset. METHOD: 84 consecutive outpatients with a diagnosis of dysthymia (DSM-IV) were studied. All subjects were evaluated by a semistructured clinical interview and the following rating scales: HAM-A, HAM-D, MADRS, Paykel's Interview for Recent Life Events. RESULTS: 23.8% of the sample had early-onset (<21 yrs) dysthymia. Patients with early-onset disorder were significantly younger at the observation, more frequently female and single. They had a significantly longer duration of illness and in a significantly higher percentage had already received a specialist treatment before admission in the present trial. No differences in the frequency of symptoms were observed. A significantly higher percentage of patients with late-onset disease reported at least one stressful event in the year preceding the onset of dysthymia. A positive history of major depression was significantly more common among the early-onset group; social phobia, panic disorder and conversive disorder were also more frequent in this group. The late-onset patients frequently presented generalized anxiety disorder, substance abuse and somatization disorder. LIMITATION: The study is retrospective and enrolls a limited number of cases. CONCLUSIONS: The present study agrees with other reports on the differences in clinical presentation of dysthymia according to age at onset. Although they are not actually related to age at onset, some interesting findings emerged in the symptomatological characterization of the disorder, referring to the diagnostic criteria proposed in DSM-IV.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Gender-related distribution of personality disorders in a sample of patients with panic disorder.

OBJECTIVE: We examined gender differences in the frequency of DSM-IV personality disorder diagnoses in a sample of patients with a diagnosis of panic disorder (PD). METHOD: One hundred and eighty-four outpatients with a principal diagnosis of PD (DSM-IV) were enrolled. All patients were evaluated with a semi-structured interview to collect demographic and clinical data and to generate Axis I and Axis II diagnoses in accordance with DSM-IV criteria. RESULTS: Males were significantly more likely than females to meet diagnoses for schizoid and borderline personality disorder. Compared to males, females predominated in histrionic and cluster C diagnoses, particularly dependent personality disorder diagnoses. A significant interaction was found between female sex and agoraphobia on personality disorder (PD) distribution. CONCLUSIONS: Male PD patients seem to be characterized by more severe personality disorders, while female PD patients, particularly with co-morbid agoraphobia, have higher co-morbidity rates with personality disorders belonging to the 'anxious-fearful cluster'.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Occurrence and clinical correlates of psychiatric co-morbidity in delusional disorder.

The present study investigated the occurrence and the clinical correlates of psychiatric co-morbidity in a sample of 64 patients with delusional disorder (DD). Subjects were evaluated with a semi-structured interview for the collection of demographic and clinical features of the disorder; co-morbid axis 1 disorders were determined according to the clinical interview using DSM-IV by Othmer and Othmer. Delusional disorder subjects with and without co-morbid diagnoses were compared to investigate whether the presence of another psychiatric disorder influenced the clinical features of the illness.Seventy-two percent of the subjects had at least one additional lifetime psychiatric diagnosis. High lifetime co-morbidity was found with affective disorders, whose onset generally had been subsequent to the onset of DD. Patients with at least one co-morbid disorder (N = 46) had an earlier age at onset, presented for the first psychiatric consultation at an earlier age, and were younger at index evaluation for this study with respect to patients without co-morbidity (N = 18). Types of DD differed significantly according to the presence/absence of lifetime co-morbid disorders: DD patients with co-morbidity were in most cases persecutory type (54.4%) while DD patients without co-morbidity were mixed type (66.7%). Our data indicate that there is a considerable proportion of patients whose DDr is strictly connected with other co-occurring psychiatric disorders (mainly affective disorders), which exert an influence on the phenomenology of the illness.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

The cAMP-dependent protein kinase substrate Rap1 in platelets from patients with obsessive compulsive disorder or schizophrenia.

Previous studies have reported that the cAMP-dependent protein kinase and one of its substrates, namely Rap1, are altered in patients with affective disorders. Abnormalities in the cAMP-dependent protein kinase have also been reported in platelets of patients with obsessive compulsive disorder and schizophrenia. However, it remains to be determined whether abnormalities in Rap1 are specifically related to affective disorders or may also be present in schizophrenia and obsessive compulsive disorder. Thus, we investigated Rap1 in platelets from 12 drug-free patients with obsessive compulsive disorder, ten drug-free patients with schizophrenia, and 20 healthy subjects. While no difference was observed in the levels of Rap1 between groups, the phosphorylation state of Rap1 was significantly lower in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder than in schizophrenic patients and controls. These data further support the idea that abnormalities of cAMP signalling pathway could be associated, albeit in a somewhat different way, with several psychiatric disorders.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Gender-related differences in the onset of panic disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate gender-related differences in premorbid conditions and in the role of triggering events in the onset of panic disorder (PD). METHOD: One hundred and eighty-four out-patients with a principal diagnosis of PD (DSM-IV) were evaluated with a semi-structured interview to generate Axis I and Axis II diagnoses according to DSM-IV, to collect family history of psychiatric disorders and life events. The statistical analysis was performed comparing men and women. RESULTS: Men and women showed similar age at onset of PD. A family history of mood disorders characterized females. Men had higher rates of cyclothymia, body dysmorphic disorder and depersonalization disorder preceding PD, while women had higher rates of bulimia nervosa. Dependent and histrionic PDs were more common among women, while borderline and schizoid PDs were more common among men. Life events showed a significant role in precipitating PD onset in women. CONCLUSION: Premorbid clinical conditions of PD seem to differentiate between males and females in the role of precipitating events.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Relapses after discontinuation of drug associated with increased resistance to treatment in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The aim of the present study was to determine whether obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients whose symptoms recur after drug discontinuation respond again when the same drug at the same daily dosage is reinstituted. Eighty-one patients who were responders to a previous 6-month, open-label, noncomparative, acute treatment phase with fixed doses of selective reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) and who relapsed within 6 months of drug discontinuation had the drug to which they responded in the acute phase reinstated at the same daily dose. The reinstitution trial lasted 24 weeks with monthly evaluations (Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale and Clinical Global Improvement). Data obtained in the reinstitution phase were analysed using Pearson's chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test when appropriate. The cumulative percentages of patients who responded in the second trial were compared to those of patients who responded in the acute treatment phase (for each treatment and for all SRIs together) across all evaluation times. When considering all patients together, a lower percentage of responders resulted when SRIs were reinstated: the difference in the cumulative percentage of responders appeared at month 4 and increased at months 5 and 6 (Pearson chi-squared, P = 0.028, P = 0.009 and P < 0.001, respectively). When considering the patients separately according to the SRI used, no differences in the percentages of responders were found at any time. Our results indicate that patients whose symptoms recur after drug discontinuation respond again when the same drug used previously (at the same dosage used in the acute phase) is reinstated, but at a lower degree with respect to the acute treatment. Findings from our study, together with literature data indicating high relapse rates when discontinuing the treatment after the acute phase, support the idea of continuing the treatment in OCD over the long term.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2000

Lymphocyte peripheral benzodiazepine receptor mRNA decreases in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The relative content of peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (pBR) mRNA was examined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in lymphocytes of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients, according to their clinical course of illness. pBR mRNA significantly decreased only in chronic OCD patients (n=8) as compared to controls (n=10), whereas no significant changes were observed in episodic OCD patients (n=7). We suggest that modulation of pBR gene expression might delineate a clinical heterogeneity in OCD.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Multicentre, double-blind, comparison of fluvoxamine and clomipramine in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The aim of this prospectively randomized, double-blind, parallel group, multicentre study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of fluvoxamine and clomipramine in patients suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) (DSM-III-R). Fourteen centres participated in this trial. Sixty-eight patients were randomized to receive fluvoxamine and 65 to receive clomipramine. The duration of the study was 10 weeks. The two treatment groups showed a marked improvement of obsessive-compulsive symptomatology, as determined by the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, the National Institute of Mental Health Obsessive-Compulsive Global Scale and Clinical Global Impression. No statistically significant differences were found between fluvoxamine and clomipramine in terms of efficacy during the study. A similar number of patients in each group withdrew from the study prematurely, but there were more dropouts due to adverse events in the clomipramine group. Concerning tolerability, there were significantly more reports of constipation and dry mouth in the clomipramine group. The results show that fluvoxamine and clomipramine have similar efficacy in the treatment of patients suffering from OCD, but fluvoxamine is better tolerated. In view of the superior safety profile of fluvoxamine compared to clomipramine in terms of a risk-benefit assessment, the use of fluvoxamine would appear to be advantageous for this patient population.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Altered cAMP-dependent protein kinase A in platelets of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess cAMP-dependent protein kinase A in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). METHOD: The levels and the activity of protein kinase A were evaluated in whole platelets obtained from 12 unmedicated patients with OCD and 15 healthy comparison subjects. RESULTS: The immunolabeling of protein kinase A regulatory subunits type I and II were significantly greater but that of the catalytic subunit significantly lower in patients with OCD than in healthy subjects. The cAMP-stimulated activity in patients with OCD was significantly lower than that in healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest a possible role of protein kinase A in the pathophysiology of OCD.

Actins↗

PubMed1999

Recent life events and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): the role of pregnancy/delivery.

Conflicting results have been reported on the possible role of life events in triggering OCD onset. Moreover, pregnancy and/or delivery, among life events, appear to influence the OCD course and, in some cases, appear related to its onset. Our purpose was to assess the occurrence of potentially traumatizing events among patients with OCD. The study also provides an initial exploration of the association between OCD and pregnancy or delivery. The number and type of stressful life events which occurred in the 12 months before the onset of OCD were determined for both OCD patients (N = 68, 33 women and 35 men) and a group of comparison subjects (N = 68, 33 women and 35 men) by using a semistructured interview in accordance with Paykel's list. The results did not show a significant excess of life events in patients compared with healthy subjects. No differences were detected between OCD patients according to gender. When examining the type of events, OCD female individuals were found to be more likely than normal female subjects to report exposure to postpartum events, and high rates of obstetric complications were observed in these patients. Subjects with postpartum OCD had significantly higher rates of aggressive obsessions to harm the newborn. OCD male subjects did not show an association between a specific event and onset of the disorder. The findings confirm that the postpartum period represents a risk factor for OCD in some individuals, and suggest that obstetric complications may be relevant to the development of the disorder.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Gender-related clinical differences in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the gender-related differences of clinical features in a sample of obsessive-compulsive (OCD) patients. One hundred and sixty outpatients with a principal diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (DSM-IV, Y-BOCS = 16) were admitted. Patients were evaluated with a semi-structured interview covering the following areas: socio-demographic data, Axis I diagnoses (DSM-IV), OCD clinical features (age at onset of OC symptoms and disorder, type of onset, life events and type of course). For statistical analysis the sample was subdivided in two groups according to gender. We found an earlier age at onset of OC symptoms and disorder in males; an insidious onset and a chronic course of illness were also observed in that group of patients. Females more frequently showed an acute onset of OCD and an episodic course of illness; they also reported more frequently a stressful event in the year preceding OCD onset. A history of anxiety disorders with onset preceding OCD and hypomanic episodes occurring after OCD onset was significantly more common among males, while females showed more frequently a history of eating disorders. We found three gender-related features of OCD: males show an earlier age at onset with a lower impact of precipitant events in triggering the disorder; OCD seems to occur in a relative high proportion of males who already have phobias and/or tic disorders; and a surfeit of chronic course of the illness in males in comparison with females.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Modifications to physicochemical and nutritional properties of hard-To-cook beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) by extrusion cooking.

The objective of this work was to evaluate extrusion cooking as a means to improve the nutritional properties of Phaseolus vulgaris L. that had been stored either at 42 degrees C and 80% relative humidity for 6 weeks or for periods >1 year in cereal stores in tropical conditions. Storage under these conditions resulted in an increase in cooking time increased (7.7- and 12-fold, respectively) as a result of development of the hard-to-cook (HTC) defect. Single-screw extrusion of the milled beans was carried out at four barrel temperatures and two moisture contents. The extrudate bulk density and water solubility index decreased with increasing temperature, whereas the water absorption index increased due to the higher proportion of gelatinized starch in the extruded samples. Both fresh and HTC beans contained nutritionally significant amounts of lectins, trypsin, and alpha-amylase inhibitors, which were mostly inactivated by extrusion. Extrusion also caused a considerable redistribution of insoluble dietary fiber to soluble, although the total dietary fiber content was not affected. Changes in solubility involved pectic polysaccharides, arabinose and uronic acids being the main sugars involved. Stored beans subjected to extrusion cooking showed physical and chemical characteristics similar to those of extrudates from fresh beans.

Cooking↗

PubMed1999

Obsessive-compulsive syndromes in older adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: This report presents data on the prevalence of both obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and subthreshold obsessive-compulsive syndrome (sOCS) in a representative sample of older male adolescents living in Piedmont, Italy. METHOD: A total of 1,883 recruits to the Italian Defence Force were interviewed using the OC portion of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. A diagnosis of sOCS was made for individuals who had obsessive and/or compulsive symptoms but who failed to meet one of the severity criteria of impairment. RESULTS: The point and lifetime prevalence rates of OCD were 2.0% and 2.6%, respectively. In total, 12.3% of the subjects received a current diagnosis of sOCS. No differences were found when examining prevalence rates according to area of residence or occupational status of the subjects. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that OCD is as common in older male adolescents as it is in adults, and that sOCS, being commonly endorsed in a general adolescent population, may represent a normal phenomenon in older adolescents.

Adolescent↗