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Biomedical subjects

M Biondi

Publications and source records attributed to M Biondi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Psychological stress, neuroimmunomodulation, and susceptibility to infectious diseases in animals and man: a review.

This article reviews research on the role of psychological stress, personality, social support and other psychosocial factors in bacterial, viral and parasitic infections. After 100 years of research on man and animals, psychological stress is considered as a potential cofactor in the pathogenesis of infectious disease. Psychological stress seems able to alter the susceptibility of animals and man to infectious agents, influencing the onset, course and outcome of certain infectious pathologies. Many experiments have identified in neuroimmunomodulation the principal mediator of the alterations associated with conditions of stress. The development of psychoneuroimmunology has fostered in-depth study of the complex relationship between psychosocial factors, the central nervous system, the immune system and infectious disease. Although antimicrobial drugs have certainly remained the basis of all anti-infective therapy, this type of study has already led some authors to propose and experiment protocols of psychological intervention or psychoimmunotherapy in pathologies such as tuberculosis, or herpes simplex virus or human immunodeficiency virus infections. The psychoneuroimmunological approach to infectious diseases will probably grow in importance in the future not only in the setting of research in psychosomatic medicine but also in that of clinical microbiology.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Clinical and biological aspects of bereavement and loss-induced depression: a reappraisal.

Loss and bereavement can be regarded as risk factors for the development of psychiatric and medical illness. Vulnerability to physical illness and mortality are increased during the first 2 years of bereavement, with men at higher risk than women. Symptoms of anxiety and a frank depressive syndrome are common during the first months of bereavement and, although depressive symptoms are usually transient and self-limited, bereaved individuals not rarely go on to develop major depression. In our perspective, loss perceived as irreparable, and persistence of perceived loss may favour the development of complicated grief and depression. Factors such as unexpectedness, absence of social support, concurrent loss or illness, and grief proneness may predict poor adjustment after bereavement. Complicated bereavement should be distinguished from uncomplicated bereavement, because patients with the latter need no treatment. In humans, there is evidence of increased adrenocortical activity and altered immune function following bereavement, whereas in non-human primates, biogenic amine systems appear to be involved in the response to maternal or social separation. According to a 'psychosomatic view of the brain', critical life events can both affect brain neurotransmitters and contribute to psychological and somatic symptoms of depression. Emotional events may be transduced into long-lasting brain changes, involving neurotransmitters, neuropeptides and receptors. Although only very limited evidence exists, long-term consequences could involve changes at the gene expression level.

Bereavement↗
PubMed1996

Dysfunctional disorders of the biliary tract.

Gallbladder (GB) and Sphincter of Oddi (SO) dysfunctions represent the dysfunctional disorders of the biliary tract (BTDD) that manifest clinically as a variable combination of chronic or recurrent biliopancreatic symptoms and/or pancreatitis not explained by structural abnormalities. GB and SO dysfunctions are motor disorders of muscle contractility that, irrespective of the potential etiologic factors, cause abnormal GB emptying and, respectively, obstruction to the flow of bile and/or pancreatic juice into the duodenum. GB dysfunction is usually diagnosed on clinical grounds in patients with biliary type pain not accompanied by increase of temperature not by laboratory examinations and in whom ultrasonography (US) and/or cholescintigraphy can possibly detect an altered GB emptying. Although cholecystectomy is the most appropriate treatment of GB dysfunction and 50% to 70% of the patients benefit of cholecystectomy, no single test can predict the long-term outcome of surgery. SO dysfunction is usually suspected in cholecystectomized patients on clinical grounds, laboratory, US, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) findings. The diagnosis is supported by the measure of the extrahepatic bile transit time at cholescintigraphy and confirmed by SO manometry. Endoscopic sphincterotomy is the usual treatment of SO dysfunction that has an elevated therapeutic efficacy in patients with manometric diagnosis. Emotional and behavioral factors may play a direct role as precipitants of biliary pain or an indirect role by inducing eating behaviors at risk for BTDD. The possible presence of psychological and/or psychiatric components which may predispose to, coexist with, or manifest in reaction to the BTDD should be taken into consideration when developing a treatment strategy for these patients.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMed1994

Tension-type headache: psychosomatic clinical assessment and treatment.

Tension-type headache (TTH) is an ill-defined nosographic entity. The classification of headaches according to the Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society is closer to clinical reality with respect to the past classification. From an aetiopathological standpoint, hypotheses trying to explain primary headache disorders in a unified way are interesting. The treatment of this disorder requires a thorough diagnostic framing, which should take into account its psychosomatic aspects, focusing on the individual patient and his history. In fact, the many studies which aimed at characterising the disorder from a psychological viewpoint are not able to provide generalizable indications. In the same way, as it appears that none of the currently available treatments (drugs, biofeedback and psychotherapy) demonstrates clear superiority over the others, the choice should involve an intervention targeted on those factors which are held to be most important in an individual patient. Finally, as for acupuncture and other physical therapies, although interesting results are reported, these treatments are difficult to assess and should be reserved to particular cases.

Headache↗
PubMed1994

Personality, endocrine and immune changes after eight months in healthy individuals under normal daily stress.

The impact of stress and its neuroendocrine correlates on immune function are well established and individual variations could be attributed to modulation by personality characteristics. To assess the influence of everyday life stress and personality on neuroendocrine and immune function, we administered, to 18 healthy adults, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) to assess their personality, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory to measure anxiety, the Reaction Scheme Test to assess their coping reaction style, the Life Events Survey to assess the impact of stressful life events, and the Subjective Stress Questionnaire to assess perceived stress. The endocrine evaluation comprised prolactin, cortisol, and growth hormone plasma levels, while the immunological evaluation assessed T4, T8, and T11 lymphocyte percentages, as well as natural killer cell count and activity. All evaluations were made at baseline and after 8 months. We found a reduction of the T11 lymphocyte percentage to be accompanied by a reduction in the scores of the MMPI scale of Subtle Defensiveness and by an increase in the scores of the Social Introversion Scale. A positive correlation was found between prolactin and T4 lymphocyte percentage. These preliminary data show that some personality and endocrine measures correlate with immune function.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Temporomandibular joint pain-dysfunction syndrome and bruxism: etiopathogenesis and treatment from a psychosomatic integrative viewpoint.

It is common opinion that temporomandibular joint pain-dysfunction (TMJPD) syndrome and bruxism have a major psychosomatic component. In this paper, we try to review these entities in an integrated manner, taking into account both medical and psychological aspects. Two etiological models have been developed: the structural model emphasizes the role played by malocclusion or alterations of the maxillomandibular relationship, while the functional model underscores the role of stress, emotional tension, and personality characteristics. In TMJPD and bruxist patients a careful physical and psychological examination has to be performed. The classical dental treatment is based on equilibration procedures, prostheses and drugs. Treatment strategy can also be based on psychotherapeutic and relaxation treatments; in this respect, the use of EMG biofeedback training has been subjected to intense study.

Bruxism↗
PubMed1993

Frontal hemisphere lateralization and depressive personality traits.

To assess the relationship between hemispheric differences in information processing and interhemispheric asymmetries in terms of brain bioelectrical activity, we correlated scores on the MMPI Depression scale with interhemispheric asymmetry, measured as peak amplitude and latency of the P3 component of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) at the frontocortical region of 14 healthy unselected volunteers (8 men and 6 women) who were about to start a course in autogenic training. The sample was subdivided into two groups on the basis of the median score on the MMPI Depression scale. Subjects scoring above the median showed a right lateralization at the frontocentral region and a significantly shorter P3 latency at the right hemisphere compared to the left.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Effect of ipriflavone on bone mass in elderly osteoporotic women.

A study in elderly osteoporotic women was performed to assess the effect of one year treatment with ipriflavone (IP) on bone mass and bone biomarkers. Twenty-eight women aged over 65, with diagnosis of osteoporosis and X-ray evidence of at least one vertebral fracture, were treated with IP tablets (600 mg/day) or placebo (PL), according to a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group design. One g/day calcium supplementation was given to all patients. After 12 months a significant increase (+6%, P < 0.05) of bone mineral density (BMD) at the distal radius (DPA) was obtained in the IP-group. Serum osteocalcin (BGP) and urinary HO-proline/creatinine (HOP/Cr) values were reduced in the same group. BMD values did not change (-0.3%) in the placebo group. One woman of the PL-group was withdrawn from treatment because of worsening of pain, due to new vertebral crushes. Side effects (mainly gastrointestinal) arose in 8 IP- and in 5 PL-treated women. The compliance to the oral administration was good.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

An enzymatic procedure for the confirmation of total coliforms and Escherichia coli enumeration from water.

A new procedure for the confirmation of total coliforms and Escherichia coli from presumptive most probable number (MPN) test is described. The procedure utilizes an enzymatic test apparatus composed of a couple of devices, one charged with ONPG-medium for the detection of beta-galactosidase, the other with PNPG-medium for the detection of beta-glucuronidase. The results obtained demonstrate that the procedure is sensitive, specific and accurate. Further, it presents some advantages from the practical point of view: the cost of the devices is relatively low, their use is extremely simple and short time consuming, a single thermostatic apparatus adjusted at 36 degrees C for the incubation of the devices is only required, the results can be obtained after 18 h without any apparatus for the lecture (e.g. UV apparatus), they are not submitted to subjective interpretation.

Colony Count, Microbial↗
PubMed1991

Intermittent treatment with intravenous 4-amino-1-hydroxybutylidene-1,1-bisphosphonate (AHBuBP) in the therapy of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Since data on the efficacy of 4-amino-2-hydroxybutylidene-1,1-bisphosphonate (AHBuBP) in the therapy of osteoporosis are not yet available, we have examined in an open, randomized study, the effects of an intravenous intermittent treatment with this drug on the vertebral and radial bone mass in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Forty postmenopausal osteoporotic women were randomly assigned to one of two groups, one treated with AHBuBP (5 mg/day on two consecutive days every 3 months for one year; n = 20), the other with oral calcium (n = 20). The bone mineral density (BMD) of the spine increased significantly in women receiving AHBuBP, whereas it tended to decrease in patients given calcium. The differences in the vertebral BMD changes between groups was highly significant (P less than 0.01). Radial BMD tended to increase in patients treated with AHBuBP, and to decrease in patients receiving calcium. The difference in the linear trends was statistically significant (P less than 0.05). The side effects of AHBuBP (a transient acute phase reaction in 3 out of 20 subjects) were slight and well-tolerated. A good effect of AHBuBP was observed also on back pain (P less than 0.05). We conclude that intermittent treatment with AHBuBP is capable of increasing spinal BMD and conserving radial BMD in postmenopausal osteoporosis and may represent a convenient therapeutic choice in this condition.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Human psychoneuroimmunology today.

Studies in human psychoneuroimmunology began around 1919, but a systematic approach wasn't used until the work of Solomon in the 1960s. Recently, the new specialty has achieved relative independence due to considerable data acquisition. Stress research has revealed relationships between neuroendocrine and immune changes. In parallel, increasing evidence of immunological alterations in psychiatric diseases has expanded the field; presently, immunological correlates of psychosomatic diseases and personality are sought. On the other hand, while immunological disease has been psychologically assessed for many years, a clear-cut link between psyche and immunological changes has yet to be shown. This fact, along with the therapeutic implications of advancing knowledge, will influence strongly the future trends of psychoneuroimmunology. Concepts emerging from the study of this field will be of heuristic value to both psychiatry and immunology and will help define new and expanded limits for both disciplines.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1985

ACTH, beta-endorphin and met-enkephalin: peripheral modifications during the stress of human labor.

We investigated the psychoneuroendocrine and emotional correlates of the natural stress situation of human labor. State anxiety, subjective pain, plasma ACTH, peripheral plasma beta-lipotropin (Beta-LPH), beta-endorphin (Beta-EP), and met-enkephalin (Met-Enk) were serially evaluated at six predetermined time points before, and after labor in a sample of 14 women with normal pregnancies. State anxiety and subjective pain showed a progressive increase during labor, with a levelling during the final stage. Plasma Beta-EP and ACTH showed a similar progressive increasing from baseline until the end of labor. Beta-LPH showed no significant modification. Met-Enk remained at nearly baseline values throughout labor, with a marked progressive rise in the postpartum stage. The findings of this study seem to confirm the role of plasma Beta-EP as a stress hormone. Possible relationship between pain and anxiety curves and plasma Beta-EP are discussed in light of psychobiological studies on stress, the opioid system and analgesia. Plasma Met-Enk, according to our findings, should probably not be regarded as a stress hormone. Its rise in the postpartum stage might be as one of the psychoneuroendocrine mechanisms maintaining elevated prolactin levels during lactation.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗