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Biomedical subjects

L Gerardino

Publications and source records attributed to L Gerardino.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Enhanced oxidative stress in workers with a standing occupation.

BACKGROUND: Several epidemiological studies have shown a statistically significant association between standing work and chronic venous insufficiency of lower limbs. This condition has been associated with an enhanced oxidative stress that, according to the literature, could represent a risk factor for cardiovascular and other systemic diseases. AIMS AND METHODS: To evaluate venous pressure of the lower limbs and reactive oxygen species (ROS) before and after work in 62 workers with a standing occupation (surgery room nurses) and 65 outpatient department nurses who can walk during their working time. RESULTS: After work, a statistically significant increase of venous pressure of the lower limbs levels was observed in both the study group and controls. Standing workers showed significantly higher mean levels of ROS after work.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Abdominal aortic aneurysm in normotensive patients: association with angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: to assess if deletion of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene is a risk factor for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) in normotensive patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ACE gene polymorphism was examined by polymerase chain reaction in 124 subjects with AAA and in 112 control subjects. AAA normotensive patients (group A, n=56) were compared to normotensive control subjects (group B, n =112) and to AAA hypertensive patients (group C, n =68). All subjects enrolled in this study were Caucasian and from central and southern Italy. RESULTS: the distribution of ACE genotypes was: normotensive patients with AAAs (group A): 3 II, 14 ID, 39 DD; normotensive control subjects (group B): 36 II, 48 ID, 28 DD; hypertensive patients with AAAs (group C): 14 II, 32 ID, 22 DD. The DD genotype was more common in group A than in control groups (A vs B p<0.001; A vs C p <0.001). The ID genotype was more common in group A as well (A vs B p <0.05; A vs C p <0.005). CONCLUSIONS: our data suggest a role for ACE I/D gene polymorphism in the pathogenesis of AAA in normotensive patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Hemodynamic and functional consequences of radial artery removal for coronary artery bypass grafting.

Five years after surgery the echo-Doppler characteristics of the forearm circulation and the transcutaneous oxygen and carbon dioxide pressures of the operated and control arm were determined at rest and under conditions of hand exercise in 34 patients who received a radial artery graft for myocardial revascularization. Doppler measurements showed the ulnar compensation to radial artery removal, and transcutaneous measurements demonstrated a moderate degree of exercise-induced hand ischemia on the operated site.

Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous↗
PubMed1999

Post-traumatic basilar artery thrombosis in a young man with atrial septum aneurysm and prothrombin gene G20210A polymorphism.

Prothrombin gene G20210A polymorphism has been recently identified as a cause of venous thrombosis. However the association between this mutation and arterial thrombosis remains uncertain. Some authors have suggested that the polymorphism in the 3' region of the prothrombin gene may precipitate cerebral arterial thrombosis in young patients with prothrombotic conditions. We report a case of post-traumatic basilar artery thrombosis in a young patient carrier of the prothrombin gene G20210A polymorphism. Thirty-six hours after sustaining a head injury in the occipital region, a young man developed vomiting, headache, dizziness and truncal ataxia, without signs of focal impairment. Magnetic resonance imaging and selective angiography carried out 2 days later showed an obstruction of the basilar artery, with infarction of the right cerebellar region. A transthoracic echocardiogram showed a patent foramen ovale with little left-to-right shunt and an aneurysm of the interatrial septum. Blood examination showed a heterozygous status for prothrombin gene G20210A polymorphism. We conclude that this prothrombin gene mutation and the coexisting particular head injury and interatrial septal aneurysm could have contributed simultaneously to the development of basilar artery occlusion and cerebellar infarction. We suggest that in selected cases of cerebellar ischemia a prothrombin gene G20210A polymorphism should be considered.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Effects of propionyl-L-carnitine on peripheral arterial obliterative disease of the lower limbs: a double-blind clinical trial.

The authors evaluated the efficacy of propionyl-l-carnitine, a drug able to reduce peripheral resistance and protect the cells against oxidative stress damage, in patients affected by peripheral arterial obliterative disease at class II of Fontaine. The study was performed on 22 patients according to a double-blind, randomized design in parallel with placebo. The drug was administered at a dosage of 1 g three times a day orally for 90 days. At recruitment and at the end of the study all patients underwent physical examination, treadmill test, doppler C.W. of the lower limbs, ankle/brachial index, dosage of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), hematocrit, hematic filtration, and viscosity. In the group treated with propionyl-l-carnitine a statistically significant increase of claudication distance, blood flow velocity, PAI-1 activity and red blood cell deformity was observed. These data suggest the usefulness of propionyl-l-carnitine in the treatment of patients affected by peripheral arterial obliterative disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

New prospects for the treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon using a serotoninergic S2 receptor antagonist (ketanserin) and stable derivatives of prostacyclin.

The authors propose a promising new therapy for the treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon, with parenteral prostacyclin (carbaprostacyclin) and a serotonergic S2-receptor antagonist (ketanserin) given orally. They studied 31 patients, 22 treated with ketanserin and carbaprostacyclin, 9 with carbaprostacyclin alone. Both groups demonstrated successful results and a significant improvement in measurements performed by photoplethysmography and transcutaneous pulse oximetry.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The action of propionyl-L-carnitine on the vasal endothelium: increased t-PA synthesis and a decrease in the activity of PAI-1. A preliminary study.

In this study the authors attempted to restore the coagulative fibrinolytic homeostasis that is compromised in peripheral vascular disease. Eleven patients with arterial disease, eleven with venous disease and seven healthy volunteers underwent oral treatment using 3 g of propionyl-L-carnitine divided into thrice daily doses for a period of 20 days. (1 g t.i.d.). This quaternaria amine is able to correct tissue hypoxia by increasing ATP and energy production and has the capacity to prevent alterations in endothelial membrane permeability. The authors observed a significant increase of t-PA synthesis on the 10th day of therapy in the arterial disease and control groups. All three groups showed a significant increase in t-PA synthesis on the 20th day of therapy. A significant decrease in PAI-1 activity was observed on the 10th and on the 20th day of therapy in both the patient groups, but not in the control group. Although the exact pathological mechanisms of peripheral vascular disease are complex and in many aspects still unknown, it is now absolutely certain that there is a pathogenetic role of functional imbalances. An important part is played by the reduction in t-PA synthesis and the increase in PAI-1 activity, and the authors conclude that it is necessary to use pharmaceutical substances to restore proper equilibrium.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[t-PA and PAI in patients with Raynaud's syndrome in treatment with a stable prostacyclin analog].

An study was made in order to determinate the relationship between the restoration of the local fibrinolytic activity and the clinical signs in patients with a Raynaud's phenomenon. It is known that local fibrinolytic activity is a system influenced by changes into its components produced by exogenous and endogenous factors. An important role is represented by the t-PA and PAI-1. On the contrary, u-PA doesn't change. Samples were all taken at the same time, approximately at the middle of the morning. In patients with Raynaud's phenomenon treated with a prostacyclin stable analogous, we have perceived a clinical improvement, corresponding with a fibrinolytic activity increase.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pulmonary silicosis associated with MacLeod syndrome: a case report].

The paper reports a case of silicosis associated with idiopathic unilateral hyperlucent lung--MacLeod's disease (ML)--in a 65-year old miner. ML had not been diagnosed before this clinical observation and the patient had been exposed to silica dust for about 15 years as a truck operator in water supply tunnelling work in central Italy. Impaired ventilatory function due to left pulmonary dystrophy was the favouring or even the causal factor of dust accumulation in the functionally active right lung and of the tissue reaction to the dust, leading to interstitial fibrosis. A radiological diagnosis of p 1/0 pneumoconiosis was made according to the 1980 International Labour Office classification. Clinical, radiological and functional findings indicated the presence of respiratory failure as a result of the sum of silicotic and dystrophic lesions. Two combined pulmonary scintigraphic examinations with Tc99 perfusional and mTc-DPTA inhalatory methods revealed peculiar alterations: absence of ventilation associated with severe vascular impairment in the left lung, inequality of the ventilation/perfusion rate, due to pneumoconiosis, in the right lung. MacLeod's disease is rare, but must be considered as a mandatory contra-indication for work involving dust exposure risk since it is one of the predisposing factors which can cause an occupational disease even if environmental exposure standards are observed.

Aged↗