PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Rizzato

Publications and source records attributed to G Rizzato.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Treatment with low dose metformin in patients with peripheral vascular disease.

Low dose metformin (500 mg b.i.d.) was tested in 11 patients with symptomatic peripheral vascular disease (PVD) in an open design. At -1, 0, 1, 4, 7 months the major lipid and lipoprotein parameters, arterial function, and fibrinolytic activity were monitored. Arterial function changes were similar to those found with a high dose (850 mg t.i.d.) metformin but plasma lipids did not change to an appreciable extent. Post-ischaemic blood flow, by plethysmography, rose 30%; the exercise capacity, evaluated by treadmill test, also increased significantly by 105.7% for relative and 53.3% for absolute claudication. Total fibrinolytic activity did not change during the treatment but the antigens of two of the major components of the fibrinolytic system, i.e. t-PA and PAI-1, were significantly reduced at the end of the study. This study gave results quite consistent with those obtained with higher metformin doses, associated with a potentially higher risk of lactic acidosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Bronchopulmonary lavage (BAL). A window of the lungs.

Bronchopulmonary lavage (BAL) has provided a fresh dimension for the investigation of pulmonary and multisystem disorders. BAL fluid may be analysed for cells and chemical mediators in the diagnosis and also serially for the management of several granulomatous disorders including sarcoidosis, extrinsic allergic alveolitis, chronic beryllium disease, talc granulomatosis, tuberculosis, Langerhans' histiocytosis-x and Crohn's disease. It may also provide information in fibrosing alveolitis, collagen vascular disease, occupational and drug-induced lung disease, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, bronchial asthma, neoplasia, transplantation, pulmonary alveolar proteinosis and eosinophilic lung disease. This survey analyses the value of BAL and how it has provided a new window for the chest physician.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid↗
PubMed1992

Multi-element follow up in biological specimens of hard metal pneumoconiosis.

The movement of Co and the other components of the hard metal in the body fluids, their solubility, their links to the cells and proteins of the body, and their clearance are largely unknown. The first aim of this work is to evaluate whether Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA), a new analytical technique based on the radiochemical separation of samples irradiated in a Nuclear Reactor, may be suitable for studying the movement of elements in tissues or body fluids of workers over time. We have investigated seven hard metal workers, all employed in the grinding process, with NAA studies (single study in two, follow-up in five) of 29 elements on lung tissue, BAL fluid, blood, urine, pubic hair, toenails and sperm. In three, the diagnosis of hard metal pneumoconiosis was easy; in the other four, due to evident bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy, it was difficult to distinguish between pneumoconiosis and sarcoidosis stage II, and the final diagnosis, after pulmonary biopsy, was hard metal pneumoconiosis in three, and sarcoidosis in one. In spite of high potential, NAA gives a number of unexpected results, with apparent controversies and no clear relationship in the evolution of levels of Co, W and Ta: there is no simple explanation for such apparent inconsistencies at present, so that the study of the movement of elements in body fluid sometimes appears disappointing with this technique. Other observations were noted from the data available: 1) the concentration of elements (Co, Ta, W) in lung tissue is far higher than in BAL fluid, but the factor is so variable that BAL fluid cannot be taken as representative of the concentration of elements in lung tissue. 2) High concentrations in tissues or body fluids are indicative for exposure, but not for disease. In the light of available data, there are no levels above which development of disease is inevitable. 3) When the problem is to distinguish between sarcoidosis and pneumoconiosis in exposed subjects, the concentration of elements is of no value, and the pulmonary biopsy is still necessary. However a NAA study may be helpful to confirm the presence of the offending agent, and to avoid pulmonary biopsy in cases where the occupational history is unclear.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Prevention of corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis with salmon calcitonin in sarcoid patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of salmon calcitonin (sCT) in preventing corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis. Three groups of patients with sarcoidosis requiring long-term steroid therapy were followed for 2 years with yearly evaluations of vertebral cancellous mineral content (VCMC) by quantitative computed tomography. The first group (n = 18) was treated with intramuscular (i.m.) sCT for the 2-year study period; the second (n = 11) with i.m. sCT for the first 4 months and then with sCT nasal spray for 20 months; the third (n = 35) received no sCT. We observed a large mineral loss in the third group but a very slight drop of VCMC in the two groups receiving sCT. SCT nasal spray was better tolerated and as effective as i.m. injections. The action of sCT appeared extremely useful, especially in the first year of steroid therapy when corticosteroid-induced mineral loss was maximal. We conclude that sCT nasal spray is a good tool for preventing corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1991

Long-term therapy with deflazacort in chronic sarcoidosis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term action of deflazacort (DF), a new calcium-sparing and bone-saving corticosteroid, in chronic sarcoidosis patients needing prolonged therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 40 patients with chronic histologically proved sarcoidosis requiring long-term corticosteroid therapy were treated with DF and followed for a mean period of 958 +/- 515 days (range 382-2, 068). The indication for giving corticosteroid therapy was pulmonary impairment in most (36), but also other events including hypercalcemia (2), kidney stones (5, 2 with recurrent colic), uveitis (2), lupus pernio (3), suspected heart impairment (5), hypersplenism (1), and other causes. Follow-up examination included serial ACE, chest x-ray, 67Ga lung scan, pulmonary function data, serum and urinary calcium levels. Eleven patients (UT group) were not receiving glucocorticoids when first seen at our clinic; 29 patients (PT group) were on therapy with glucocorticoids (27 wity prednisone, 2 with DF) for 870 +/- 1,128 days (range 27-4,310) RESULTS: In the PT group, DF maintained the good results previously obtained with prednisone; in this group, chest x-ray film showed improvement in 16 patients, 67Ga lung scan was better in 13, while worsening chest x-ray film findings in 1 and 67Ga lung scan in 2 was seen coincident with DF tapering. Respiratory function data showed a mild nonsignificant improvement. SACE decreased significantly from 114.6 +/- 38.7 to 91.5 +/- 37.9 nM/ml/min (p less than .05). In the UT group the results were better, as expected in a population where the action of corticosteroids did not influence the first observation. FVC increased significantly from 76.3 +/- 13.0 to 89.9 +/- 19.5 percent predicted (p less than .01); the 67Ga lung scan and chest x-ray film findings improved in all but 1 patient, and ACE dropped significantly (p less than .01) from 131.8 +/- 46.3 to 83.7 +/- 25.0. In both groups the side effects were mild, and only 2 patients discontinued the treatment, 1 for gastric ulcer, and the other for amenorrhea plus a 14 kg weight gain. CURRENT STATUS: One patient died of cancer, 9 discontinued treatment (5 because therapy was no longer necessary, 2 for the above described side effects, 2 for non-drug-related reasons), 4 dropped out and were last seen when taking DF 22.5, 18, 12 and 6 mg daily respectively. Twenty-six are continuing the drug on a long-term basis at the current mean daily dose of 12.1 +/- 7.3 mg (range 3-30). In a number of these, an attempt to discontinue DF resulted in a sarcoid relapse, and DF was restarted. CONCLUSION: DF is a good and safe approach to the long-term corticosteroid therapy of sarcoidosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Bone loss in untreated longstanding sarcoidosis.

The introduction of new techniques for the study of Bone Mineral Content (BMC) has not yet been extensively applied to sarcoidosis. Using Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT) in a long-term prednisone-treated sarcoid population we have shown in 1988 [1] that Bone Mineral Loss is more frequent than elsewhere reported with other techniques on patients with different diseases. It was not clear if this difference was due to the sarcoidosis itself or to the better sensitivity of QCT compared to former techniques [2]. Thus we have now studied QCT in a group of 36 untreated patients with active, histologically proven sarcoidosis, chronic in most cases, to clarify the action of sarcoidosis itself over the BMC. For each patient Vertebral Cancellous Mineral Content (VCMC) has been expressed in terms of Z score (i.e. the number of Standard Deviations (SD) above or below the normal value) in order to overcome the differences due to age and sex. In the whole group, mean value of Z score was -0.41 +/- 0.30 (P > 0.05 vs. 190 normals). Nevertheless VCMC was below the normal range in 13 out of 36 patients; in five of them, all with longstanding sarcoidosis for at least 2 years, VCMC was more than two SD below the normal; four out of 36 had a VCMC lower than 110 mg/cm3 K2HPO4 eq, that is considered the threshold level under which the risk of fracture begins (but three of them were postmenopausal females).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Is sarcoidosis a borreliosis?

Recently some Authors have suggested that sarcoidosis may be a borreliosis. Thus in the period April to June 1991 we studied serum samples of 12 sarcoid patients (pts) by ELISA in order to identify antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). None had positive results. We conclude that great caution is to be used in advancing the hypothesis of an etiologic role of Bb in sarcoidosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Trace metal lung disease: in vitro interaction of hard metals with human lung and plasma components.

Hard metal pneumoconiosis is an occupational pulmonary disease caused by long-term exposure to dust produced in the hard metal industry. In vitro experiments have been carried out to study the solubility and metabolic behaviour in human lung tissue and plasma of hard metal alloy constituents such as cobalt, tungsten, tantalum, titanium and niobium. The experiments were carried out using 60Co, 187W, 182Ta, 44Ti and 95Nb radiotracers in combination with neutron activation, radio-release tests and gel filtration techniques. Leaching experiments from neutron-irradiated hard metal dust showed that cobalt was highly soluble, especially in the lung cytosol and plasma, in comparison with tantalum and tungsten. The gel filtration experiments showed three biochemical pools of cobalt in both lung and plasma components, in accordance with the hypothesis that cobalt represents the allergic factor in the development of hard metal disease. High affinity for proteins was observed for Nb, Ta and Ti, but not for W, in agreement with the dissimilar biological half-lives of these elements in the body. The different ability of the metals to interact with biochemical components and to be solubilized in biological media may explain the various degrees of retention in the lung, which would influence the metabolic pathways. This would explain the presence of Co, Ta and W in body fluids, as well as in the public hair and toenails of hard metal workers.

Dust↗
PubMed1990

Retroperitoneal involvement in sarcoidosis.

The presence of retroperitoneal lymphnodes is well known in sarcoidosis. We observed in two patients unilateral hydronephrosis (asymptomatic in one; dysuria in the other), and in one patient urine retention due to compression of both ureters; this patient also had jaundice due to lymphnode compression of the biliary tract. In another four patients we noted retroperitoneal lymphnodes without compression. We conclude that retroperitoneal impairment may be a previously unreported complication of Sarcoidosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Prednisone-induced bone loss in sarcoidosis: a risk especially frequent in postmenopausal women.

The incidence of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis is reported in about 40 to 50% of treated patients, but it has never been extensively studied in sarcoidosis. We have studied Vertebral Cancellous Mineral Content (VCMC) of the lumbar spine by Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT) in 190 normal subjects, 7 patients with sarcoid on no treatment and 64 patients with sarcoid on treatment with prednisone. As compared to the 190 normal subjects and the 7 untreated patients, VCMC was reduced in 46 of 64 patients with sarcoid on treatment with prednisone. Loss of VCMC in the patients varied directly with dose and duration of prednisone treatment. It is concluded that - in sarcoid patients and especially in postmenopausal females - long-term prednisone therapy results in bone mineral loss more frequently than elsewhere reported for other groups of patients. It is not clear if this difference is due to the sarcoidosis itself or to the better sensitivity of Computed Tomography compared to former techniques.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Bone protection with salmon calcitonin (sCT) in the long-term steroid therapy of chronic sarcoidosis.

Prednisone-induced osteoporosis is very frequent in the long-term treatment of sarcoidosis (sarcoidosis 4:45-48, 1987). The aim of this work is to evaluate if salmon Calcitonin (sCT) is able to prevent osteopenia in the long-term. We have studied 53 patients with chronic histologically-proven sarcoidosis, all needing steroids, in a follow-up of 15 months; 20 of them were protected with sCT (100 I.U. i.m. daily for one month, then every two days for all the time of the study), 33 were unprotected. The two groups were matched for age, sex and total dose of prednisone. In order to overcome the differences of Vertebral Cancellous Mineral Content (VCMC) due to age and sex, we express VCMC in terms of Z score, i.e. the number of standard deviations above or below our normal means: initial Z score was -1.77 +/- 0.16 in the sCT group and -0.99 +/- 0.17 in the other group (P less than .05). For each subject we calculated the Mineral Loss (ML) in % of the initial value. At the end of the study ML% averaged -2.15(+/- 2.27) in the sCT protected group, and -14.11(+/- 2.08) in the unprotected group (P less than .001). We have also analysed the results limited to pts with initial Z score under -1 (19 sCT protected pts vs 18 unprotected). In these subgroups the ML% after 15 months averaged -13.62(+/- 2.9) in the unprotected group and -2.80(+/- 2.29) in the protected one (P less than .01). Finally we have studied another subgroup, i.e. 21 postmenopausal females: 9 were sCT protected, 12 were unprotected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Researching osteoporosis in prednisone treated sarcoid patients.

Eighty-four normal subjects, 5 untreated sarcoid patients and 32 sarcoid patients under chronic prednisone therapy were submitted to Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT) for Vertebral Cancellous Mineral Content (VCMC) evaluation. In the five untreated and in the 84 normal subjects, VCMC (given in mg/cm3) fell in the normal range found elsewhere. 22 of the 32 treated patients had lower than normal values. Osteoporosis (expressed through cancellous mineral loss) increased significantly (P less than .01) with increasing dose x time of prednisone therapy. We conclude that the bone loss is far more frequent than suspected in prednisone treated patients with sarcoidosis; yearly QCT could be a good tool for monitoring patients under chronic therapy.

Bone and Bones↗