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Biomedical subjects

L D'Elia

Publications and source records attributed to L D'Elia.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Altered renal sodium handling and hypertension in men carrying the glucagon receptor gene (Gly40Ser) variant.

A higher prevalence of hypertension has been associated with the G-->A/GT (Gly40Ser) polymorphism of the glucagon receptor gene (GCGR) in two population studies. As the mutated receptor is less responsive to glucagon, it has been speculated that the increased susceptibility to hypertension is due to deprivation of the recognized natriuretic effect of the hormone. To test this hypothesis we determined the frequency of the polymorphic variant and evaluated the segmental renal sodium handling by the clearances of uric acid and of exogenous lithium in the Olivetti Heart Study participants (n=971). The polymorphic variant was present only in heterozygous form in 37 individuals (3.8%). After controlling for age and body mass index, the carriers of the variant were twice more likely to be hypertensive and almost three times more likely to be on antihypertensive treatment at the time of examination. Compared to participants carrying the wild type, those carrying the Gly40Ser allele had higher serum uric acid and lower fractional excretion of uric acid and exogenous lithium, independently of age, body mass, and current pharmacological treatment. We conclude that the Gly40Ser polymorphism of the GCGR gene is associated with higher risk of hypertension and with enhanced proximal tubular sodium reabsorption, a factor possibly contributing to hypertension in this group.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Relationship of the Trp64Arg polymorphism of the beta3-adrenoceptor gene to central adiposity and high blood pressure: interaction with age. Cross-sectional and longitudinal findings of the Olivetti Prospective Heart Study.

METHODS: The association of the Trp64Arg polymorphism of the beta3-adrenoceptor (beta3-AR) gene with high blood pressure, central adiposity and other features of the metabolic syndrome was investigated in a large unselected sample of a white male working population in Southern Italy (n = 979). RESULTS: In the whole population, subjects heterozygous for the Trp64Arg mutation (11.2%) were not different from the homozygous Trp64Trp for any of the variables investigated. However, upon stratification for age, among men in the upper tertile of age (> 53 years), the Trp64Arg genotype was associated with higher waist: hip ratio (0.992 +/- 0.021 versus 0.982 +/- 0.037, P< 0.05), serum uric acid (6.34 +/- 1.50 versus 5.75 +/- 1.30 micromol/l, P < 0.05) and systolic blood pressure (144.3 +/- 19.4 versus 136.9 +/- 18.9 mmHg, P< 0.05) compared with the wild-type homozygotes. Accordingly, in the same age group, the carriers of Trp64Arg genotype were more often in the upper tertile of abdominal adiposity (69.7 versus 43.7%, P< 0.02) and serum uric acid (56.3 versus 34.8%, P < 0.02) and were more often hypertensive (68.6 versus 57.6%, P< 0.058) than the Trp64Trp homozygotes. No such differences were observed in younger age groups. No association was found with fasting serum insulin and the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index of insulin resistance. Furthermore, in a subgroup of 457 men for whom retrospective 20-year follow-up data were available, the variant genotype was associated with a higher probability of developing overweight (44.7 versus 27.0%, P < 0.05) and a trend to higher blood pressure (52.6 versus 38.4%, P = 0.09) over 20 years. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the Trp64Arg variant of the beta3-AR receptor predicts a greater tendency to develop abdominal adiposity and high blood pressure with advancing age.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1997

The African-American Health Project (AAHP): study overview and select findings on high risk behaviors and psychiatric disorders in African American men.

The AAHP investigated the neurobehavioral and psychosocial sequelae of HIV-1 and substance use in urban African American men. A community resident sample of 502 African American men stratified by HIV-1 serostatus, drug use and sexual orientation were recruited. A comprehensive battery of measures of neurobehavioral and health status, lifestyle and psychosocial characteristics were administered to all participants, and a stratified sub-sample of 120 participants were tested using state of the art brain imaging techniques to investigate differences in the functional and neurophysiologic effects of HIV-1 and substance use. An overview of the methodology of the AAHP and results on high risk sexual and substance use behaviors, and psychiatric disorders are presented and discussed. The sample was primarily HIV-negative (63%), heterosexual (49% gay or bisexual) and a high percentage used substances during the past year (56% used drugs and 30% moderate/heavy drinkers). High-risk sexual practices were relatively prevalent, and a high percentage reported a history of STDs and other infections. Finally, 25% had a current psychiatric disorder, with gays/bisexuals and HIV-seropositives evidencing greater psychiatric vulnerability. More research is needed to further explore the apparent greater risk for psychiatric disorders among gay and bisexual men, and to determine whether being African American and lower social class exacerbate this risk.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Cognitive functioning in premenstrual syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate cognitive functioning in women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and controls during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. METHODS: Thirty women with PMS and 31 controls were selected on the basis of psychiatric interview and prospective daily diary recordings. Subjects were tested on two occasions, follicular (days 8-10) and luteal (days 24-26), using complex tasks consisting of measures validated previously for the assessment of "executive" frontal-lobe functions. Tests were counterbalanced for order across subjects. RESULTS: The Beck Depression Inventory scores were significantly different between the groups and across time (P < .001). Women with PMS had a mean luteal phase Beck score of 13.3 consistent with mild-to-moderate premenstrual depression. There were no statistically significant score differences in tests for attention, memory, cognitive flexibility, and overall mental agility. The evaluation of our preliminary data with 30 PMS subjects and 31 controls indicated a very small effect size (.02). To detect an effect size this small (if in fact one exists) with a power of .8 would require a sample of more than 1000 subjects per group. CONCLUSION: Our sample of women with PMS failed to demonstrate objective evidence of diminished cognitive performance, despite subjective feelings of inadequacy.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Performance on motor tasks as an indication of increased behavioral asymmetry with advancing age.

Age-related asymmetrical functional decline was tested on a sample of 64 right-handed volunteers between 60 and 64 years of age who were free from neurological illnesses and physical handicaps. Increase in functional asymmetry was explored by examining performance indexes for each hand and superiority of the dominant hand on motor tasks of different complexities: the Finger Tapping Test, the Grooved Pegboard Test, and the Pin Test. Our study revealed an increase in superiority of the right hand with age on a highly demanding task (Pin Test). This finding is discussed in light of the hypothesis of a decline in callosal functioning with age and the alternative hypothesis of a greater vulnerability of the right hemisphere in the elderly.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Detection of Alzheimer disease in individuals with Down syndrome.

A comprehensive baseline of emotional functioning was established for adults with Down syndrome. Five emotional factors were studied using groups of (a) adults with Down syndrome (n = 30), (b) clinical control subjects with dementia of the Alzheimer type (n = 18), and (c) elderly control subjects without mental retardation (n = 25). Results of planned statistical comparisons showed indifference, pragnosia, and inappropriateness as primary emotional factors separating Down syndrome and Alzheimer disease groups from elderly control subjects without mental retardation. Indifference was also shown to covary with cognitive mental state, whereby increased levels of indifference were associated with decreased levels of cognitive functioning. The possibility of noncognitive variables signalling dementia of the Alzheimer type in individuals with Down syndrome was discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

WHO Neuropsychiatric AIDS study, cross-sectional phase II. Neuropsychological and neurological findings.

BACKGROUND: The neuropsychological and neurological complications of HIV-1 infection and AIDS were explored within the cross-sectional phase of the WHO Neuropsychiatric AIDS Study. Special attention was devoted to the controversial issue of the prevalence and clinical significance of subtle cognitive deficits in asymptomatic seropositive subjects. METHODS: A neuropsychological test battery validated for cross-cultural use, a structured interview for the diagnosis of dementia, a rating scale of functioning in daily living activities, and a neurological module were administered to representative samples of seropositive subjects and to matched seronegative controls living in the five geographic areas predominantly affected by the HIV-1 epidemic. Data are available for five centers. RESULTS: The prevalence of global neuropsychological impairment was significantly increased in asymptomatic seropositive subjects compared with controls in only two centers. A significant effect of education on neuropsychological performance was observed among asymptomatic seropositive individuals. In the two African centers, low-education, but not high-education, asymptomatic seropositive persons had an impaired performance. The frequency of impaired functioning in daily living activities and of neurologic abnormalities was higher in symptomatic, but not in asymptomatic, seropositive subjects compared with controls in all centers. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the risk of subtle cognitive deficits may be increased in asymptomatic stages of HIV-1 infection. However, these deficits are not associated with neurologic changes and do not seem to affect subjects' social functioning.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMed1993

Evaluation of two new neuropsychological tests designed to minimize cultural bias in the assessment of HIV-1 seropositive persons: a WHO study.

In the course of the preparatory work for the WHO cross-cultural study on the neuropsychiatric aspects of HIV-I infection, two new neuropsychological tests (the WHO/UCLA Auditory Verbal Learning Test and the Color Trails 1 & 2) were developed. The evaluation of these tests was performed at four sites, two in developed and two in developing countries. The data obtained suggest that the tests are more culture fair than others currently used to assess the same functional domains, that they are sensitive to HIV-1-associated cognitive impairment, and that this sensitivity "holds" across different cultures.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

Performance of four age groups of normal elderly on the Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test.

This study explored effect of age on encoding, retention, and retrieval components of memory functioning in a sample of 156 healthy, elderly subjects between the ages of 57 and 85, partitioned into four age groups. Memory assessment was based on subjects' performance on the RAVLT, which consisted of five free-recall trials, recall after interference, and recognition trial. Significant group differences in recall were found on all five learning trials, whereas rates of learning, forgetting, and recognition did not differ for four age groups. In addition, primacy/recency effect was equally strong for all groups. Results suggest faulty retrieval mechanisms, whereas encoding and retention processes did not prove to be affected by aging.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

The occurrence of different intrusive errors in patients with Alzheimer's disease, multiple cerebral infarctions, and major depression.

Recent evidence suggests that specific types of intrusive errors may occur more often in the protocols of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients than in those of patients diagnosed with other types of dementia. Using the FULD Object Memory Evaluation, we documented the occurrence of five qualitatively different types of intrusive errors for mildly and moderately impaired patients with AD and multiple cerebral infarctions (MCI). Depressed and normal elderly controls were also studied. Despite an equivalent degree of impairment on a broad array of neuropsychological measures, mildly impaired AD patients evidenced greater deficits on a measure tapping retrieval from semantic memory and demonstrated a higher occurrence of specific types of intrusive errors relative to their mildly impaired MCI counterparts. Further, both of these measures were highly correlated, suggesting that these indices may be particularly sensitive to semantic dysfunction associated with early AD.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

A WAIS-R marker for accelerated aging and dementia, Alzheimer's type? Base rates of the Fuld formula in the WAIS-R standardization sample.

Recent reports have provided evidence that a WAIS-R marker for dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT) may have value in differential clinical diagnosis. Using the Fuld (1984) formula, this study investigated the prevalence of the WAIS-R marker in the WAIS-R standardization sample (N = 1,880), whose members range in age from 16 to 74 years. The results from the WAIS-R sample suggest no significant age differences in the occurrence of this marker when age-corrected scaled scores are employed. Across age, the occurrence of this marker is about 6.2%. Although there were no significant effects according to race, there were significant sex (males = 7.34%; females = 5.11%) and education effects. For individuals aged 65-74 with some post high school education, the base rate was about 14%. These findings are discussed as they relate to the potential clinical usefulness of this marker in the differential diagnosis of DAT.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Wechsler Memory Scale: a critical appraisal of the normative studies.

Numerous reports are available providing normative data for the original Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) for the greater part of the life span. However, large differences in reported scores across studies examining the same age group, as well as often vague descriptions of subject and procedural variables make the task of choosing appropriate comparison data difficult. Although the long awaited revision of the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS-R) is now available, at least for the short term, it is likely that investigators will continue to use the original WMS and make inferences based on available normative data. The present paper reviews the strengths and weaknesses of the available normative reports for both the WMS and WMS-R. This determination was based on a set of criteria against which to assess the adequacy of the normative studies. Recommendations are offered for the potential applications and misapplications in research and clinical practice.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Clinical evaluation of 104 hip resection arthroplasties after removal of a total hip prosthesis.

Functional results of resection arthroplasty are currently considered poor. In 104 hip prosthesis removals after either septic or aseptic loosening, pain, walking, joint motility, life style, and patient's opinion were evaluated. A satisfactory result was recorded in 72% of cases. Prognosis is poorer in patients who are young, have septic loosening, and have poor residual mobility. Resection arthroplasty should be considered a salvage procedure in cases of septic loosening and/or bone stock deficiency after a failed total hip arthroplasty.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Avulsion of the long head of the triceps in kidney transplant.

The authors describe a case of avulsion of the long head of the triceps in a patient with kidney transplant. An analysis of the case and a review of the literature suggest weakening of the osteotendinous junction due to the associated action of renal osteodystrophy and cortisone therapy.

Adult↗