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Biomedical subjects

M Degan

Publications and source records attributed to M Degan.

67 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Antihypertensive activity of enalapril. Effect of ibuprofen and different salt intakes.

It has been suggested that angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may also act through the renal prostaglandin (PG) system; moreover, it has been shown that nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are capable of reducing the antihypertensive activity of ACE inhibitors. Sixteen essential hypertensive patients (WHO stages, I-II, eight on a low-sodium diet and eight on a high-sodium diet) were treated with enalapril, 20 mg/day per os, for 4 days. On days 3 and 4, ibuprofen, 1,200 mg/day per os, was also given. Enalapril reduced blood pressure, particularly in the group on the low-sodium diet. Urinary 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, an indicator of renal PGI2 production (determined by HPLC-RIA), increased in the first few hours after enalapril in the low-sodium group. Ibuprofen did not reduce the antihypertensive effect of enalapril, nor did it affect plasma renin activity or plasma aldosterone. Only a slight reduction in 6-keto-PGF1 alpha excretion was observed after enalapril plus ibuprofen. It is suggested that the effect of enalapril on urinary 6-keto-PGF1 alpha excretion is largely dependent on factors such as sodium intake.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMed1986

Effect of carprofen and indomethacin on gastric function and the content of prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha in human gastric juice.

The effect of indomethacin (2 X 50 mg daily) and carprofen (2 X 150 mg daily) on gastric secretion and the generation of prostaglandins PGE2 and PGF2 alpha in gastric juice, was investigated in a single blind cross-over study in eight healthy volunteers lasting one week. We observed no statistically significant change in basal and pentagastrin-stimulated gastric secretory parameters (outputs of gastric acid, N-acetyl-neuraminic acid and pepsin) before and after treatment with indomethacin and carprofen. However, an inhibitory effect was found on the output of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha after pentagastrin stimulation. While both drugs diminished the output of PGF2 alpha to a similar extent, carprofen exerted a markedly weaker inhibitory effect on the output of PGE2 than did indomethacin. It is suggested that the gastric tolerability of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is related to their inhibitory potency on PGE2 formation, in the sense that weak inhibitors of PGE2 cause less damage to the gastric mucosa than do strong inhibitors.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Kinetics of bumetanide-sensitive Na+-K+ co-transport in erythrocytes of essential hypertensive patients.

Outward bumetanide-sensitive Na+-K+ cotransport was studied in the erythrocytes of 51 subjects, 24 normotensive subjects and 27 hypertensive patients, matched for sex and age. Three kinetic parameters of this cation transport system were considered: velocity of efflux at saturating internal sodium (Nai) concentrations (Vmax.), apparent affinity for sodium (K 50%) and index of co-operativity among Nai sites (Hill's n). We correlated these values with clinical and laboratory data determined routinely in hypertension. There were no significant differences between normotensive and hypertensive subjects for the values considered and we did not find any significant correlations between co-transport and clinical data.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

[The effect of dopaminergic stimulation and inhibition on the urinary excretion of aldosterone and kallikrein in spontaneously hypertensive rats].

The effect on the electrolyte balance of a dopaminergic agonist (bromocriptine) and an antagonist (metoclopramide) and their effect on renal aldosterone and kallikrein excretion were investigated. Ten normotensive Wistar rats and ten spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-Wistar Kioto) were treated with BCR (4 mg/Kg weight b.i.d.) for 4 days; after a week of pharmacological wash-out they received MCP (0,5 mg/Kg weight b.i.d.) for 4 days. Before and after treatment and at the 2nd and 4th day of each treatment diuresis, urinary excretion of aldosterone, kallikrein, sodium, potassium and proteins were measured. During the 24-hour urine collections the rats were kept in separate metabolic cages with free access to food and water. Kallikrein urinary excretion was lower in SHR than in normotensive rats under basal conditions (p 0.05); urinary sodium, potassium, proteins and sodium/potassium rate were also reduced in SHR. After treatment with bromocriptine a further reduction in urinary kallikrein excretion was observed in SHR. After MCP all the parameters were unchanged both in normotensive rats and in SHR, but SHR showed a significant correlation between aldosterone and kallikrein excretion (p less than 0,001); in this condition it seems that in SHR the control exerted by aldosterone on kallikrein excretion is greater than the one exerted by dopamine. It may indicate a defect of the natriuretic and vasodilator dopaminergic system in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Aldosterone↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The effectiveness of foot reflexotherapy on chronic pain associated with a herniated disk].

Foot reflexology is both a diagnostic technique and therapy. It is an alternative therapy which is considered useful in pain management. Its effectiveness as a therapy has been studied at the Mestre hospital where a clinical study has been undertaken to determine the effectiveness of reflexology in the reduction of pain. A group of 40 persons suffering almost exclusively from a lumbar-sacral disc hernia received three treatments of reflexology massage for a week. The results found that 25 persons (62.5%) reported a reduction in pain, (rating at 0.75 on a scale of 0-4). These results however did not take into consideration the relationship between the effectiveness of foot reflexology and variables such as the persons physicality (Body Mass Index), or their psychological or social status.

Body Mass Index↗
PubMedDate not supplied

NCX4016 (NO-aspirin) inhibits thromboxane biosynthesis and tissue factor expression and activity in human monocytes.

BACKGROUND: NCX4016 (2 acetoxy-benzoate 2-(2-nitroxymethyl)-phenyl ester, NicOx S.A., France) is an antithrombotic agent chemically related to acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). We hypothesised that NCX4016, being able to release nitric oxide (NO) and to inhibit cyclo-oxygenase, might inhibit the prothrombotic function in human monocytes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The effects of NCX4016 and ASA on the release of thromboxane (TX) B2 and tissue factor expression and activity were compared using adherent human monocytes. The tested drugs were added before stimulation with 10 Kg/ml LPS and incubation lasted 6 hours. TXB2 concentration was measured by RIA in the supernatant of cultured cells. Immunoreactive tissue factor (TF) concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay and TF activity was assayed by measuring the peptidyl activity of the tissue factor/ factor VII complex. RESULTS: Both ASA and NCX4016 10-300 Kmol/L dose-dependently reduced TXB2 release. NCX4016 activity was comparable to that of equimolar ASA. Part of the activity of NCX4016 up to 100 Kmol/L was prevented by 10 Kml/L ODQ, inhibitor of cGMP generation. Immunoreactive TF was dose-dependently inhibited by 300 Kmol/L NCX4016, but not by ASA. Also tissue TF activity was reduced by 300 Kmol/L NCX4016, but not by ASA. CONCLUSIONS: The present results indicate that NCX4016 not only has anti-platelet effects but also inhibits prothrombotic activities in human monocytes, partly via NO-dependent mechanisms. NCX4016 may prove effective in the clinical setting of athero-thrombosis.

Aspirin↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Italian translation and validation of the ICNP Beta (International Classification for Nursing Practice].

The visibility of nursing care can be measured through the results on the patient and studying the existing data on patient care. An important area is tied up for a common language and terminology because it is important to have a universal understanding. For this reason the International Council of Nurses (ICN) has elaborated an international terminology for Nursing Practice that can be useful to pick up and to catalogue the problems of nursing nature in diagnosis also finding a system of classification of the activities The Consociazione Association, as representative of the ICN in Italy, through the School of Advanced Nursing of the University "La Sapienza" of Rome, has set up a Working group for the translation of the document ICNP version Beta. The present article explains the difficulties related to the Italian translation, the working group, the procedure, the validation and the met problems along with a vision for the future development and utilization.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The utilization of the ICNP Beta version taxonomy system for the nursing protocols' construction].

The ICNP Beta version system has been used for the revision of hospital protocols on the nursing management of the central venous catheters. Despite the taxonomy defects of clarity and functionality, our experience has shown an increase of understanding and accord between builders professionals and protocol's users. Besides all. It has also been important to sensitize the participants to the experimentation of an encoded international language.

Catheterization, Central Venous↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pilot training experience in lip-reading skills for nurses in intensive care units].

UNLABELLED: In the intensive care unit (ICU) of Mestre hospital (Italy) a research was carried out to analyse the possibility to improve nurses' lip-reading skills. METHODS: A specialized speech therapist organized a 20 hour training course for 34 health workers in ICU. RESULTS: The participants had a lip-reading test at the beginning and at the end of the course and six months later. The final test revealed that participants could recognize a greater number of typical words in ICU in comparison to the initial test. Yet, after 6 months the skill decreased to the level shown at the beginning of the course. On the other hand, the trend shows that some participants' skill did not decrease. Neither the starting level nor intermediate stage are conditioned by sex, age, profession, and experience. In order to measure clinic efficacy, the participants had another test to understand if improved lip-reading skill could influence the following variables: word comprehension, nurse attitude to communication toward non-speaking people, patient emotional status and nurse emotional status. The training course seems to have had good effects on nurses' attitudes towards their patients and on their communication. Yet, study results do not show if increased lip-reading skills have real positive effects on ICU communication and whether this method is better than usual communication methods (e.g. mimic or alphabetic board).

Critical Care↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The use of nursing records in the Veneto region].

Use and quality of nursing records used in the Regione Veneto hospitals was evaluated. An open ended questionnaire was sent to the nurses managers of each hospital. The questionnaire asked some general information on the hospital (number of beds, number and qualification of nursing personnel) and nurses managers were asked to send a blank copy of the nursing records in use. 21 nurses managers answered, overall responsible for 28 hospitals. Nurses records are used in 78 wards over 412 (19.1%). The wards are different for specialty and characteristics. Apparently, the only factor associated with the implementation of nursing records is the number of beds, with a wider implementation of nursing records in smaller hospitals. No association was found with the level of qualification of the nursing personnel. 11 nursing records were received. The items to be compulsorily monitored were mostly physical needs (i.e. elimination, hygiene, nutrition, mobilization), with the exception of the two records used in the psychiatric wards, where data on the behaviour and reaction of the patient was available.

Forms and Records Control↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A new role for nurses in help outside the hospital].

On November 1994 a new emergency service was started in Mestre. Data on the emergency service functioning were collected from April to June 1995 and some reflections on the role and educational requirements of nurses are proposed). The number of urgent calls is fairly limited (1.2 every 30 calls) and they are evenly distributed over the 24 hours. As in other similar realities, there is an overestimate of the number of urgent calls (51% vs 10.3% of true emergencies). The time from the call to the arrival of the patient to the hospital is 28 minutes and there are no differences between day and night hours. The role of the nurse is actually fairly limited: since nurses' interventions are not essential for saving patients, lives, nurses try to transport the patient to the hospital as quickly as possible, thus neglecting some interventions which could better assure safety. An agreement on basic monitoring and treatment protocols for the more relevant and frequent events would allow nurses to perform a wider role and patients to have a quicker treatment.

Emergency Nursing↗