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Biomedical subjects

M C Borgia

Publications and source records attributed to M C Borgia.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Plasma atrial natriuretic hormone in hyperthyroidism.

In 22 hyperthyroid patients, atrial natriuretic hormone (ANH) levels (71.91 +/- 21.03 pg/ml), measured during a 3-h-Holter, were found to be significantly higher (p < 0.001) than those in 20 age-matched normal subjects (37.22 +/- 8.73 pg/ml). We have demonstrated that the presence of tachiarrhythmias does not influence ANH release. The positive and significant correlation of FT3 with both ANH and heart rate confirms the hypothesis of a direct action of thyroid hormones on ANH release.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Coronary sinus plasma beta endorphin levels in cardioischemic patients undergoing PTCA.

Plasma beta-endorphin levels were studied in the coronary sinus of 8 patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). All the patients had ECG ischemic signs and pain during the inflation of the balloon. No significant changes in plasma beta-endorphin levels were observed during PTCA-induced ischemia. Baseline coronary sinus plasma beta-endorphin levels were found to be elevated when compared with peripheral ones which would suggest an accumulation of beta-endorphin in the ischemic heart.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Left ventricular filling in young patients affected by insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: a stress Doppler echocardiographic study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyze diastolic function in two different populations of young patients affected by insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), with and without systemic diabetic complications, and to compare the results obtained at rest with those obtained during isometric exercise. METHODS: Forty-five IDDM diabetic patients were studied. On the basis of presence or absence of systemic diabetic complications (nephropathy and retinopathy) patients were divided into two groups. Group I (20 patients) without and Group II (25 patients) with diabetic complications. Diastolic function parameters were measured by Doppler echocardiography at rest and during isometric exercise. The two groups were similar regarding age, metabolic control and insulin dosage but there were significant differences in diastolic and systolic blood pressure and heart rate between the two groups, the patients with complications showing higher values (p < 0.001, p < 0.005, p < 0.01 respectively). RESULTS: Group II already presented at rest alterations of diastolic function parameters respect to Group I with a marked increase of: peak velocity of late left ventricular filling (peakA cm/sec), (60.1 +/- 13.4 versus 48.4 +/- 8.9, p < 0.01); late left ventricular filling integral (A area), (6.5 +/- 1.4 versus 5.0 +/- 0.8, p < 0.05); late left ventricular filling integral over total filling (A area/total area), (0.31 +/- 0.06 versus 0.26 +/- 0.06, p < 0.01). There was a decrease of E/A ratio in Group II versus Group I (1.5 +/- 0.32 versus 1.9 +/- 0.5, p < 0.05). During isometric exercise these changes became even more pronounced in patients with complications and in this group there was a marked decrease of flow integral of early left ventricular filling over total filling (E area/total area), (0.57 +/- 0.09 versus 0.68 +/- 0.07, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, young IDDM patients with complications show an impairment of diastolic function more pronounced than those without. These changes are more evident during isometric exercise. Stress Doppler echocardiography is a reliable tool to detect early diastolic dysfunction in diabetic patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

ET-1 plasma levels during cold stress test in sclerodermic patients.

Endothelial cell injury in blood vessels of small arteries and capillaries is considered the primary event in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Because endothelin-1 (ET-1) is mainly released in the site of endothelial cell damage, thereby inducing a potent vasoconstriction, it was our intention to study ET-1 release in a group of SSc patients during a cold pressor test (CPT). Twelve SSc patients and a control group of 10 healthy subjects underwent CPT. Blood samples for ET-1 assay were collected at 90 and 180 seconds of exposure to cold stress. Heart rate and blood pressure were recorded at the same intervals. A capillaroscopic examination was performed in both groups before and after CPT. We observed significantly higher levels of plasma ET-1 in SSc patients compared with those of the control group at baseline (P=0.007) and at 90 (P=0.006) and 180 seconds (P=0.03) of CPT. During the test, the capillaroscopic examination showed a dramatic worsening of the vascular picture that was parallel to the increase in ET-1 plasma levels. This suggests that higher ET-1 plasma levels can have a part in the acute vascular reactivity of SSc patients undergoing CPT.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[The ocular fundus in ischemic cardiopathy].

BACKGROUND: This work aims to correlate retina vessel alteration with the possible presence of coronary alteration in the same patient. METHODS: For this purpose 103 patients have been studied. Of these, 63 had symptoms of coronary heart disease while the remaining 40 were used as a control. 29 patients, out of the 63, were also afflicted with angine while 34 had previously had myocardial infarction. Eye fundus tests and coronarography have been carried out, and risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking have been investigated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: This work shows that there is a close correlation between a positive eye fundus and coronarography alteration whereas a negative one is not incompatible with organic lesions. A positive eye fundus due to alteration of retina microcirculation can be indicative of atherosclerosis in symptomatic patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Alteration of left ventricular filling evaluated by Doppler echocardiography as a potential marker of acute rejection in orthotopic heart transplant.

To evaluate the changes in left ventricular (LV) filling associated with acute cardiac rejection, serial Doppler echocardiographic (ED) examination were performed on the same day as endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) in 40 patients who underwent orthotopic transplantation. The diameters and wall thickness of the left ventricle were measured. The indexes of LV filling in the following parameters were measured by pulsed Doppler: isovolumic relaxation time (IRT), peak early mitral flow velocity (V max E), and pressure half-time (PHT). The patients were classified into three groups on the basis of EMB: Group I (19 patients without rejection), Group II (11 patients with mild or moderate rejection), and Group III (10 patients with severe rejection). In Group III rejection was associated with a significant increase of posterior wall thickness (P < 0.05), with a decrease of IRT (P < 0.05), and an increase of V max E velocity (P < 0.01) in comparison with Group I. In Group II, Doppler indexes were not statistically significant in comparison with Groups I and II. In conclusion, in transplant patients, a diagnosis of acute rejection can be suspected in severe rejection by use of echocardiography when the diagnosis is based on a multiparametric evaluation of different ED indexes (m-mode and Doppler indexes). Doppler echocardiography is a method with an excellent specificity but insufficient sensitivity; this is due to the influence of recipient atrial contraction timing on Doppler indexes of LV filling.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1996

[Lipoprotein (a) and plasminogen in atherosclerosis].

The aim of this study was to evaluate plasma levels of lipoprotein (a) [LP(a)] and plasminogen in patients affected with atherosclerotic disease and to understand the mutual relationships. Eighty-four patients affected with atherosclerosis were examined and divided as follows: group I, 24 patients with peripheral arteriopathy; group II, 40 patients with ischemic heart disease (myocardial infarction and/or angina pectoris); group III, 20 patients with multi-infarct dementia; group IV (control group) with 20 healthy young subjects. The results show that Lp(a) plasma levels, in atherosclerotic patients, are higher than 30 mg/dl, while the plasminogen levels are lower than 80 mg/dl. There is an inverse correlation between these two data. Moreover, a different behaviour of Lp(a) and plasminogen rate related to age of patients, to number of atherosclerotic lesions or to acuteness of ischemic heart disease, was observed.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1995

Myocardial scintigraphy with 99mTc-sestamibi in children with Kawasaki disease.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis syndrome of early childhood. It involves particularly the coronary arteries and may cause aneurysms and thrombotic occlusions. Echocardiography is the most useful method of detecting coronary aneurysms. Nevertheless, obstructive lesions are difficult to evaluate and often need invasive coronary angiography. An important feature of this disease is the possibility of finding coronary pathology several years after the onset. This characteristic makes KD an important cause of coronary artery disease (CAD) in young adults. Thus patients with KD and previously diseased coronary arteries should be kept under long-term control. However, coronary angiography is invasive and cannot be performed repeatedly, especially in young patients. As an alternative, thallium 201 scintigraphy has been employed, but its low-energy photons are suboptimal for standard gamma-camera imaging, particularly in children aged less than three years. To verify the usefulness of a noninvasive assessment of myocardial perfusion, the authors used rest and dipyridamole 99mTc-Sestamibi scan in 15 children (ranging from one to six years of age) with Kawasaki's cardiac involvement. Coronary aneurysms have been demonstrated by echocardiography in 12 patients; 8 patients were also submitted to cardiac catheterization. The sensitivity of 99mTc-Sestamibi imaging for detection of overall coronary lesions was 88% and the specificity was 93%. These data suggest that rest/dipyridamole 99mTc-Sestamibi scintigraphy is an accurate and noninvasive method for the detection and follow-up of Kawasaki's cardiac damage even in patients aged one year.

Child↗
PubMed1994

[Effects of carbamazepine on heart conduction in young patients: a serial study using ambulatory ECG].

BACKGROUND: Carbamazepine (CBZ) is a first-line drug in the treatment of epileptic seizures and neuralgia. CBZ is also a cardioactive drug and sometimes induces sinusal dysfunction or AV conduction defects. METHODS: In order to investigate the effect of CBZ on sinus node function and AV conduction, long-term ECG recording (24 hours) and determination of plasma concentration of CBZ were carried out in 10 epileptic patients without heart disorders (5 males and 5 females, mean age 31 years), in the basal state, during steady-state (7th day) and after 30th day of CBZ treatment. The number of total cardiac beats, mean heart rate, P-Q and Q-T interval, sinus-atrial node and atrioventricular dysfunction and intraventricular conduction delay were evaluated. RESULTS: Plasma CBZ concentration was always in the therapeutic range (5-12 micrograms/ml): 9.5 micrograms/ml in the 7th day and 7.8 micrograms/ml in the 30th day. No significant differences in the number of cardiac beats, or P-Q and Q-T intervals were found; there was no depression of sinus node function nor delay of AV conduction. In the basal state, ectopic supraventricular beats (105 +/- 20/24 hours) were observed in 7 patients and repetitive in five of them. In the first Holter ECG recording during CBZ treatment, a strong reduction of ectopic supraventricular beats (6 +/- 3/24 hours) and disappearance of the bursts was observed. In the second control, when the CBZ concentration was lower, the number of ectopic supraventricular beats were moderately increased (30 +/- 8/24 hours) and in one patient supraventricular tachycardia reappeared. CONCLUSIONS: In young epileptic subjects without signs of heart disease, CBZ seems to have no significant effect on conduction, yet has a possible antiarrhythmic effect.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Anatomo-clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of cardiopathy in Friedreich's ataxia: description of a clinical case].

A case of Friedreich's Ataxia in a 16-year-old patient is reported. Clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings of this patient are described, along with the differential characteristics between hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the course of Friedreich's Ataxia and the classic form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Bidimensional echocardiography is able to identify cardiac alterations and to differentiate patients affected by Friedreich's ataxia from patients with other ataxic disorders where cardiac involvement is not present.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Cigarette smoking and acute myocardial infarct].

The study examined a group of 150 patients with acute myocardial infarction aged under 60 years old. The subjects examined were divided into smokers and non-smokers; smokers were further subdivided into three groups: those smoking less than 20, between 20 and 40 and more than 40 cigarettes a day. Furthermore, they were divided into two groups aged under or over 40. The following parameters were evaluated and compared: the method of onset of acute myocardial infarction, the site of infarction, the presence or absence of the Q wave on the ECG, the presence of angina before and after acute myocardial infarction, arrhythmia during the acute phase and during hospitalisation, mortality during the first 10 days of hospitalisation. The results showed that cigarette smoking is a major risk factor able to influence the age of onset of acute myocardial infarction, especially if over 20 cigarettes a day, whereas it has no influence on clinical history and early death.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Correction of transposition of great vessels with and without associated congenital defects. Description of two clinical cases].

We describe two cases of corrected transposition of great vessel (L Transposition). The first case was diagnosed in a man of 70 years old and was not associated with other congenital defects. The second case regards a young man of 16 years old and congenital cardiopathy was associated with interventricular defect and left Ebstein disease. We discuss the different evolution of L Transposition according to the presence or not of other congenital defects and we analyse right ventricle behaviour when it is submitted systemic pressure. In the literature only 26 cases of L Transposition were described in patients over 40 years old. The first case represents a rarity and it shows how in the absence of associated congenital defects, the right ventricle is able to adapt to systemic pressure. Bidimensional echocardiography in the method of choice to diagnose and evaluate congenital cardiopathy in adult age.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1992

Echocardiographic follow-up of right atrial tumoral invasion by hepatocarcinoma: a case report.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is known for its tendency to grow in the venous system. We describe a patient suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma with right atrial metastatic tumor. Echocardiography demonstrated a right atrial mass as a result of invasion of the inferior vena cava and next extension into right atrium. The autopsy showed an irregular polypoid mass that occupied the entire right and left atrium, hepatocarcinoma was confirmed by histologic studies. We advocate performing echocardiographic examination in patients with hepatocarcinoma who have cardiac symptoms and signs.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Cardiac rhabdomyoma in tuberous sclerosis. Presentation of a case].

We report of a case of cardiac tumor in a three months old infant, examined with echocardiography because a murmur was noted on routine examination. Further investigations brought out the diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis. Spontaneous regression of the tumor mass occurred in the following months. No signs of cardiac dysfunction of CNS involvement appeared. The peculiarity of rhabdomyoma as an early manifestation of tuberous sclerosis is emphasized.

Echocardiography↗
PubMed1991

[Nifedipine and gingival hypertrophy].

Nifedipine-induced gingival hypertrophy is a rare side effect reported by the producers of this drug but, surely, not well known in all its aspects. In the present case report this pathology is studied in a patient treated with nifedipine for 30 months for cardiac angina, analyzing the histologic features, the therapy plain conducted for the hypertrophy and the most important pathogenetic theories formulated till now.

Angina Pectoris↗
PubMed1991

[Bidimensional echocardiographic images of extracardiac tumors. Detection of mediastinal masses by the bidimensional echocardiographic Doppler technique].

A mediastinal tumor might mimic tricuspid stenosis, pulmonary stenosis, constrictive pericarditis, producing symptoms and signs of a cardiologic illness. We report 2 cases of mediastinal masses (1 lymphoma and 1 pulmonary cancer) localized in the anterior mediastinum and compressing the cardiac silhouette. Bidimensional echocardiography and Doppler were used to differentiate masses of cardiac origin from extracardiac origin and to study the hemodynamic alterations; moreover these techniques allow to evaluate the efficacy of therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Anionic versus cationic immunoglobulin clearance in normal subjects: a novel approach to the evaluation of charge permselectivity.

The excretion of proteins differing in charge (the different immunoglobulin subclasses) and/or size (albumin, immunoglobulins) were investigated in normal subjects in a number of physiological conditions aiming at the evaluation of renal charge permselectivity. In 101 randomly selected normal subjects the urinary excretion rates of albumin, IgG4 (anionic proteins) and of total IgG (mostly cationic) were evaluated in basal conditions; the protein/creatinine urinary ratio and protein clearances were assessed in part of them. In addition, the intra- and interday variations of protein excretion were evaluated. Protein clearances were measured in a sample group after standardized physical exercise, after an amino acid load, and in orthostatism. Albumin, IgG4 and IgG were assayed using sensitive methods developed in our laboratories. The excretion rate values of albumin, IgG4 and total IgG (median, interquartile range) were 4.36 micrograms/min, (2.58-6.59), 4.25 ng/min (2.6-7.6), and 1.47 micrograms/min (0.85-2.44), respectively. The clearances of the three proteins (mean +/- SD) were 0.13 +/- 0.07, 0.017 +/- 0.012 and 0.14 +/- 0.08 ml/min x 10(-3), respectively. The IgG4/IgG ratio averaged 0.1 and was always below 0.25. Protein excretion rates showed a noticeable variation during the day and from day to day. Physical exercise, the change of posture and the amino acid load significantly increased proteinuria but did not significantly modify the anionic/cationic immunoglobulin ratio. Thus, the anionic/cationic immunoglobulin ratio of about one tenth, substantially stable during dynamic tests, in normal subjects may be considered an index of physiological renal protein charge permselectivity.

Adolescent↗