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Biomedical subjects

L Poli

Publications and source records attributed to L Poli.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

[Determination of immunoglobulins in the aged. Normal range and changes in pathological conditions].

Serum IgA, IgG and IgM values in 238 normal aged subjects were compared with those in 100 normal adults. Both male and female aged subjects displayed a significant rise in IgA and a significant fall in IgM, whereas IgG values were not markedly different. It was found that IgA increased and IgM decrease by an average of 12 mg % and 10 mg % (17 mg % in the aged) per decade respectively. Values were also determines in 597 aged hospital patients and related to the disease for which they were admitted. Increases in all three Igs were noted in sclerotic cardiopathy, chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency, acute broncopneumopathy (IgA increase only in chronic forms), and gastroduodenal ulcer. Diverticulosis of the colon and acute pancreatitis, however, were accompanied by elevated IgA values only. Increases were particularly marked in chronic liver disease, less so in diseases of the gallbladder. Neoplasia was usually accompanied by higher Ig levels.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1980

Influence of age and sodium intake on plasma renin activity of normal subjects.

Supine and upright plasma renin activity (PRA) were measured i 104 normal subjects (age range 13-74 years, 71 males and 33 females) on a constant diet of normal potassium (60-80 mEq/day) and of varying but constant, sodium content (range 10-260 mEq/day). Both supine and upright PRA values were inversely related to the 24-hour urinary sodium excretion, while only upright PRA values showed a significant inverse correlation with age. Through a multiple regression analysis it was shown that age increased the significance of the PRA/sodium relationship by about 10%. Besides posture, two other factors seem to influence the PRA-age relationship: the age range and the sodium intake. In fact, the PRA-age relationship was not detectable either when subjects below 20 and above 50 were excluded, or when sodium intake was increased above 140 mEq/day. These data can explain the contrasting reports on the age influence on renin secretion. The relationship between PRA and urinary sodium confirms the dependance of PRA on the state of sodium balance. Age significantly influences the PRA/sodium relationship of normal subjects on normal or low sodium intake and in the upright position. Therefore, the decline of PRA with age may be explained by the decrease either of renin storage or of sympathetic nervous system activity on renin release.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

The effect of indomethacin on plasma renin activity and urinary aldosterone of patients with essential hypertension.

The effect of indomethacin on plasma renin activity (PRA), urinary aldosterone, 17 OH ketogenic steroids and plasma cortisol was studied in twenty-three patients with essential hypertension and compared in eleven patients to oxprenolol effect by 2 x 2 factorial trial. Indomethacin decreased PRA and urinary aldosterone: its effect was maintained when the drug was given for three days and it was related to basal PRA and aldosterone values. Therefore in patients with low PRA (renin-sodium index) PRA and aldosterone were unchanged, while they decreased in the normal high PRA group. Aldosterone changes were related to those of PRA, while 17 OH ketogenic steroids and plasma cortisol were unchanged. Both indomethacin and oxprenolol decreased PRA, but no interaction or additive effect was found between the two drugs. The present data indicate that indomethacin can decrease both PRA and aldosterone to an extent which is related to basal values and that aldosterone changes are mainly explained by those of PRA. The PRA unresponsiveness to indomethacin found in low renin patients may suggest renal prostaglandin deficiency. Finally the lack of interaction or of additive effect between indomethacin and oxprenolol may be explained by postulating either that the two drugs act on a common pathway or that an additive effect on PRA cannot be detected renin being maximally suppressed by full renal beta-receptors blockade.

17-Ketosteroids↗
PubMed1978

Plasma renin activity in renal veins of renovascular patients.

PRA was simultaneously measured in both renal veins and in a peripheral vein of patients with essential (6) and renovascular (37) hypertension. In renovascular patients suppression or renin secretion from the contralateral kidney was always observed: otherwise in patients with essential hypertension both kidneys contribute to peripheral PRA. The suppression of renin secretion from the ischemic kidney either by nephrectomy or by revascularization, joins with normalization either of peripheral PRA or of blood pressure. This finding points to the role of the renin-angiotensin system in the genesis of human renovascular hypertension.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

The effect of beta-adrenergic blockade on patterns of urinary sodium excretion, blood pressure and plasma renin activity in patients with essential and renovascular hypertension.

The effects of beta-adrenergic blockade, using oxprenolol, were studied in plasma renin activity, urinary sodium excretion and blood pressure in ten normal subjects and in 120 patients with essential and renovascular hypertension. Blood pressure was reduced by oxprenolol administration. The hypotensive action of the drug was independent of either the basal plasma renin activity or of the plasma renin activity response. Oxprenolol decreased plasma renin activity in normal subjects and in patients with essential hypertension with normal or high basal plasma renin activity. Patients with low plasma renin activity may show a lack of response to the beta-blockade. In patients with renovascular disease the response of plasma renin activity to oxprenolol was not a discriminant factor between patients cured or not cured by surgery. Some renovascular patients were unresponsive to beta-blockade with oxprenolol.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Relationship between juxtaglomerular apparatus and plasma renin activity in human reno-vascular hypertension.

Juxtaglomerular cell count (JGCC) and juxtaglomerular activity (JA) on the fragments of the ischemic kidney and plasma renin activity (PRA) in peripheral venous blood were studied in 26 renovascular patients. In 11 cases PRA was also measured in renal venous blood. JGCC and JA values were always above normal range and both were significantly related to the PRA values in peripheral venous blood, while only JA was related to the PRA values in renal venous blood. These data indicate that in human renovascular hypertension the juxtaglomerular apparatus is hyperplastic and hypergranulated: the correlation between its morphological appearance and PRA seems to indicate that the renin-angiotensin system may be in some way involved in the genesis of hypertension.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

[Clinical considerations on retroperitoneal liposarcoma. Report of 2 cases].

Liposarcoma is one of the more common tumours of the soft retroperitoneal tissues. It usually occurs in aged subjects and displays a marked contrast between its malignant histological picture and its protracted, poorly symptomatic clinical picture. Eventually, compression or invasion of nearby organs appears, whereas the patient's general condition is not affected. Two personal cases are described.

Aged↗
PubMed1976

Clinical significance of plasma renin activity in human renovascular hypertension.

1. Plasma renin activity (PRA) in peripheral venous blood of patients with renovascular hypertension was found to be high (thirty-five), normal (twenty-one) and low (three). Twenty-one patients with high PRA were cured or improved after successful surgery, as were eight of eleven with normal PRA and one with a low PRA. After surgery high PRA values became normal or low. 2. A beta-receptor-blocking agent (oxprenolol) decreased PRA in twenty-eight patients (responders) and it either did not modify or increased PRA in the other fifteen (non-responders). All fourteen non-responders were cured by surgery, as were thirteen out of fifteen responders; ten non-responders became responders after surgery. Oxprenolol suppressed renin secretion of both kidneys of two patients with essential hypertension, and it either decreased (six) or did not modify (four) renin secretion from the ischaemic kidney. 3. PRA measurement in renal veins of twenty-six patients with renovascular hypertension showed that only the ischaemic kidney contributes to the peripheral PRA, renin secretion being suppressed in the contralateral kidney. The suppression of renin secretion from the ischaemic kidney produced either by nephrectomy (nine) or by aortorenal by-pass (six) normalized blood pressure. 4. Peripheral PRA values are of poor diagnostic significance and PRA unresponsiveness to a beta-receptor-blocking drug and the suppression of renin secretion from the ischaemic kidney are characteristic findings of renovascular hypertension curable by appropriate surgery.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ethical considerations on kidney transplantation from living donors.

Kidney transplantation from living donors is widely performed all over the world. Living nephrectomy for transplantation has no direct advantage for the donor other than increased self-esteem, but at least remains an extremely safe procedure, with a worldwide overall mortality rate of 0.03%. This theoretical risk to the donor seems to be justified by the socioeconomic advantages and increased quality of life of the recipient, especially in selected cases, such as pediatric patients, when living donor kidney transplantation can be performed in a preuremic phase, avoiding the psychological and physical stress of dialysis, which in children is not well tolerated and cannot prevent retarded growth. According to the Ethical Council of the Transplantation Society, commercialism must be prevented, not only for ethical but also medical reasons. The risks are too high not only for the donors, but also for the recipients, as a consequence of poor donor screening and evaluation with consequent transmission of human immunodeficiency virus or other infectious agents, as well as inappropriate medical and surgical management of donors and also of recipients, who are often discharged too early. Most public or private insurance companies are considering kidney donation a safe procedure without long-term impairment and, therefore, do not increase the premium, whereas recipient insurance of course should cover hospital fees for the donors. "Rewarded gifting" or other financial incentives to compensate for the inconvenience and loss of income related to the donation are not advisable, at least in our opinion. Our center does not perform anonymous living organ donation or "cross-over" transplantation.

Family↗