PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L Altomonte

Publications and source records attributed to L Altomonte.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Generalized osteoporosis in non-steroid treated rheumatoid arthritis.

To investigate the presence of reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and to assess determinants of bone loss in rheumatoid arthritis, 45 female patients suffering from non-steroid treated rheumatoid arthritis were submitted to dual photon absorptiometry of the lumbar spine and to laboratory tests for calcium metabolism. The rheumatoid arthritis patients were divided into two groups according to anatomic grade and functional class; no abnormalities in calcium metabolism were detected whereas BMD was significantly lower in the third and fourth grade and in the third and fourth class patients (P less than 0.005 versus controls, versus grades I and II and versus classes 1 and 2). BMD was significantly correlated with age (P less than 0.001) and years postmenopausal (P less than 0.01), but not with duration of disease. By multiple linear regression we derived an equation predictive of BMD. Osteoporosis in rheumatoid arthritis is observed even in non-corticosteroid treated patients; articular lesions with subsequent reduction in physical activity appear to play an important role in axial bone loss in rheumatoid arthritis.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1990

Effect of oral gold salt therapy on bile acid absorption in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Several studies pointed out an altered stool pattern as the most common side effect of auranofin therapy. The major mechanism in the aetiology of auranofin-induced impairment in bowel habit seems to be the inhibition of Na+/K+ ATPase in the gut. In vitro experiments proved that auranofin can affect active bile acid (BA) reabsorption in rat terminal ileum; this action, due to the ability of the drug to reduce Na+ pump activity by inhibiting Na+/K+ ATPase, may make a significant contribution to the auranofin-induced diarrhoea. The ability of auranofin to reduce the Na+ gradient necessary for active BA reabsorption, however, could cause a decrease of serum BA levels in patients taking auranofin before or without the development of an overt diarrhoea. We measured fasting and postprandial serum conjugated BA levels in 10 female rheumatoid arthritis patients before and after one month and two months' auranofin treatment. No patient developed diarrhoea during the chrysotherapy. When oral gold salt therapy was started, we observed a slight decrease in serum BA levels, but difference was not statistically significant. We can conclude that auranofin therapy does not cause BA malabsorption in patients who do not develop diarrhoea during the treatment.

Absorption↗
PubMed1990

Eosinophilic fasciitis associated with inflammatory neutrophilic vasculitis.

The authors report a case of eosinophilic fasciitis with an histopathological pattern of inflammatory neutrophilic vasculitis associated with the typical inflammatory infiltrate. The presence of this type of vasculitis which may be observed in the initial forms of scleroderma supports the hypothesis of a considerable overlap between these two entities.

Eosinophilia↗
PubMed1989

Serum osteocalcin as an index of bone turnover in active rheumatoid arthritis and in active psoriatic arthritis.

Juxtaarticular osteoporosis is a recognized clinical feature in both rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PA), while generalised osteopenia seems to be characteristic of RA only. To assess differences in bone turnover in the two forms of disease, we measured serum osteocalcin levels and other parameters of bone metabolism in two groups of female, ambulant, age-matched patients suffering from active RA or active PA and never treated with steroid therapy. Serum osteocalcin levels were significantly higher in RA patients than in PA patients (13.05 +/- 1.27 ng/ml vs 4.83 +/- 0.88 ng/ml; p less than 0.001), with a significant positive correlation between osteocalcin and serum alkaline phosphatase in both groups. These data suggest that bone turnover is higher in active RA than in active PA. Juxtaarticular osteoporosis could be mediated by local disease mechanisms both in RA and in PA, while factors specifically related to active RA seem to determine a more generalized impairment of bone turnover.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Bone GLA protein (BGP) levels and bone turnover in rheumatoid arthritis.

Bone GLA protein (BGP) and other biochemical indices of bone turnover were measured in 42 female patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in a group of normal subjects matched for sex and age. Mean serum BGP concentrations were significantly higher in patients with active arthritis than in patients with mild activity (p less than 0.01) and controls (p less than 0.01). No significant difference was found in serum BGP levels and in other parameters of bone turnover when the patients were stratified according to functional class or duration of disease. There was a correlation between BGP and alkaline phosphatase levels only in RA patients with high activity of disease. Our data suggest an accelerated bone turnover in patients with active RA. We infer that in such patients the impairment of bone metabolism is a determinant of RA-associated osteopenia. Disease activity rather than functional impairment or duration of arthritis should be regarded as a factor in the bone loss of RA.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Nimesulide in the treatment of osteoarthrosis and extra-articular rheumatism].

Nimesulide is a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug which seems to be characterized by a low inhibitory action on prostaglandin synthesis and a high inhibitory action on oxygen free radicals production. The aim of this trial was to determine the effect of Nimesulide on degenerative joint disease and on non-articular rheumatism. One hundred and forty, 64 females and 76 males aged 51.9 +/- 1.2 years, affected with osteoarthritis or non-articular rheumatism (fibromyalgia, periarthritis, tendinitis, tenosynovitis, bursitis and enthesitis) were studied. Nimesulide was administered at a daily dosage of 200 mg. A significative improvement in the clinical parameters studied was observed in all the patients, but a more remarkable progress was noted in the group with non-articular rheumatism. The incidence of adverse reactions was irrelevant: 2 patients complained of epigastralgia that subsided reducing the daily dosage to 100 mg.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Impaired growth hormone response to clonidine in obesity.

Clonidine, an imidazoline derivative, is an antihypertensive agent which reduces sympathetic tone by acting in the central nervous system to stimulate alpha-2 adrenoceptors. There is evidence that dopamine and norepinephrine modulate the secretion of GH. Stimulation of GH release is a well-known effect of clonidine in man. Obesity is characterized by an impairment of GH release in response to various stimuli. The aim of this work is to study GH release in response to alpha-2 adrenoceptors stimulation by clonidine in obesity. 12 volunteer obese subjects were studied. 10 normal weight subjects, sex and age matched, were controls. The GH responsiveness was tested with a single oral dose of clonidine (0.15 mg). Blood was sampled for GH radioimmunoassay at 0', 30', 60', 90', 120', 150', 180'. Serum GH basal levels were not significant different in obese subjects compared to controls. In obese subjects, no significant changes occurred in blood GH concentration after clonidine. In normal weight controls, instead, a significant increase of GH values was reached at 90' (P less than 0.05) and at 120' (P less than 0.05) after clonidine. The impairment of GH release after clonidine in obese subjects might be in a reduced serotonin release or in a failure of the hypothalamic-pituitary system to stimulate plasma GH caused by a diminished GH releasing factor stimulatory effect or by an excessive endorphin or somatostatin secretion in obesity.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1988

Influence of diet with different lipid composition on neutrophil chemiluminescence and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Neutrophil chemiluminescence was determined in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. Twelve patients were randomly assigned either to a diet high in polyunsaturated fatty acids supplemented with eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids or to a diet high in saturated fatty acids. A correlation with clinical and laboratory parameters is also reported. No statistical difference was observed in neutrophil chemiluminescence and in clinical parameters in the group of patients treated with a diet high in saturated fatty acids. Fish oil ingestion resulted in subjective alleviation of active rheumatoid arthritis and reduction of neutrophil chemiluminescence. This study corroborates the hypothesis of an anti-inflammatory role for polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Effect of fenfluramine on insulin/growth hormone ratio in obese subjects.

Obesity is characterized by increased levels of insulin and by subnormal growth hormone (GH) release. Insulin/GH ratio is significantly higher in obese than in lean individuals. Fenfluramine, an anorectic drug, may have some effects on hypothalamic-pituitary function and on insulin secretion, possibly through a serotonergic stimulation. The aim of this work was to study the effects of fenfluramine on the insulin/GH ratio after arginine in obese subjects. Ten volunteer obese females were studied; 10 volunteer women were the normal weight controls. All subjects were given placebo and fenfluramine (60 mg p.o.) in a randomized order and after 120 min underwent arginine infusion (25 g i.v. for 30 min). Blood samples were taken every 30 min until 270 min for GH and insulin radioimmunoassay. In the obese group the GH response to arginine was significantly lower than in controls. Fenfluramine administration restored the subnormal GH response to arginine in obese subjects. Arginine infusion provoked a greater insulin secretion in obese subjects than in lean individuals. Fenfluramine administration diminished the insulin response to arginine. Fenfluramine did not modify the insulin/GH ratio in controls while it significantly lowered the insulin/GH ratio in obese subjects. Because insulin promotes fat and carbohydrate storage while GH stimulates lipolysis, the combination of high insulin and low GH concentrations may worsen the obese condition. A lower insulin/GH ratio can be useful in the treatment of obesity.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Glucagon and glucose tolerance in liver cirrhosis.

The present study was undertaken in order to establish the significance of glucagon in glucose intolerance in liver cirrhosis. The plasma glucose response to an oral glucose load (75 g) was determined in 10 control subjects and in 10 cirrhotic patients, after infusions of: glucagon (3 ng.kg-1.min-1) or saline (154 mmol/l); somatostatin (SRIH) (500 micrograms/h); and SRIH plus glucagon (3 ng.kg-1.min-1). Glucagon infusion did not impair glucose tolerance, neither in normal subjects nor in patients with cirrhosis. On the other hand, in both groups glucose tolerance was impaired by SRIH infusion, presumably owing to an absolute insulin deficiency. Both in normal subjects and in cirrhotic patients, SRIH plus glucagon infusion further impaired glucose tolerance, presumably as a result of excess glucagon and concomitant insulin deficiency. In conclusion, our data show that hyperglucagonemia is not an important factor in the development of the glucose intolerance in patients with hepatic cirrhosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Effect of fenfluramine on growth hormone and prolactin secretion in obese subjects.

Obese subjects show a subnormal growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) release in response to a variety of stimuli. Fenfluramine, an anorexiant drug used in obesity therapy, may have some effects on hypothalamic-pituitary function mediated by serotoninergic stimulation. The present investigation in obese subjects was carried out to study the effects of fenfluramine (60 mg orally) on GH and PRL secretion after intravenous arginine infusion. Ten volunteer obese females were studied and compared with 10 volunteer normal weight controls. In the obese group the GH response to arginine was significantly lower than in control group. Fenfluramine administration restored the subnormal GH response to arginine in obese subjects. The PRL response to arginine in obese women was subnormal. Fenfluramine administration restored the response of PRL to arginine infusion to normal. In conclusion, fenfluramine--under acute circumstances--enhances the hypothalamic-pituitary response to arginine in obese subjects. The decreased GH and PRL output in obese subjects is not due to an absolute hormonal deficiency and this effect of fenfluramine on GH secretion may--due to its lipolysis stimulation--be useful in obesity treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Clinical experience with thymostimulin (TP-1) therapy. Preliminary findings].

In order to verify the immunostimulant effect of thymus humoral factors, a bovine thymic extract (TP 1-Thymostimulin) was given to 9 patients affected by primary immunodeficiency (mild deficit T/B combined) and to 8 patients affected by acquired immunodeficiency because of old age, lung neoplasm or with recurrent herpes simplex labialis. 6 patients affected by chronic hepatitis HBsAg+ and 1 patient affected by Behçet's syndrome were also studied. At the end of the study, after six months, all the patients with primary or acquired immunodeficiency showed a normalization of their immunological parameters and a clinical improvement. A clinical improvement was also observed in the patients affected by lung neoplasm. Instead, patients suffering from chronic active hepatitis HBsAg+ showed unsatisfactory results; the study did not reveal any clinical or immunological improvement in these cases. The patient affected by Behçet's syndrome showed a decreased recurrent uveitis.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗