Biomedical subjects

M Gallerani

Publications and source records attributed to M Gallerani.

84 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Circadian variation in the time of onset of acute gastrointestinal bleeding.

The increased attention to biologic rhythms and clinical manifestations of several diseases has recently led to the identification of "chronorisks" for certain pathologic events. To evaluate whether a temporal pattern exists for acute gastrointestinal bleeding, 369 consecutive patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding observed at the emergency department (ED) of S. Anna Hospital of Ferrara, Italy, during a 3-year period (1988-1990) were studied. On presentation to the ED, 287 patients had upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding (UGB), and 82 patients had lower gastrointestinal tract bleeding (LGB). In 270 cases of UGB and in 75 cases of LGB, the hour of symptom onset was known and the data were analyzed for the number of observed versus expected events during the four 6-hour intervals of a day. The majority of events occurred in the morning (32.2% of UGB and 42.7% of LGB). Cosinor analysis yielded a circadian rhythmicity with a peak in the late morning to early afternoon for both UGB and LGB independent of sex and site of bleeding.

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Circadian variation in the onset of acute myocardial infarction: lack of an effect due to age and sex.

The circadian patterns in the onset of symptoms of acute myocardial infarction were assessed in a prospective study involving 450 patients. Analysis of the data in the 424 patients in whom the time of onset was known did not show any statistically significant circadian rhythms, either for the group as a whole or for subgroups divided according to sex, age group (< 60, 60-69, 70-79 and > or = 80 years old), or the presence or absence of diabetes mellitus. The frequency of onset of symptoms was highest in the morning (06.01-12.00 h) for the group as a whole (29.2%). Patients aged < 70 and > or = 80 years old showed a peak in the morning, whereas patients aged 70-79 years old showed a peak in the afternoon (12.01-18.00 h).

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Fatal pulmonary embolism in hospitalized patients: evidence for a winter peak.

This study was intended to determine whether there are circa-annual variations in the incidence of fatal pulmonary embolism for hospitalized patients. Patients (152), admitted into both the medical and surgical departments of St. Anna Hospital of Ferrara, Italy, during an 8-year period (1983-1990) and who died in hospital as a result of pulmonary embolism, were considered. The day and month of death were registered, and analysed by inferential statistics (single cosinor). A circa-annual variation, with a statistically significant peak in late January (P = 0.002), was found for the total sample. After stratification by sex, this winter peak was confirmed only for women (P = 0.006).

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Haematological profile in cancer patients: analysis of circadian pattern.

This study was intended to evaluate whether unusual circadian patterns in blood cells exist in cancer patients. Ten patients (five men and five women) suffering from advanced malignancy were compared with a control group of apparently healthy volunteers, of comparable age and sex. After synchronization of daily activities, meals and rest of the two groups, blood samples were taken four times (at 8.00 a.m., 12.00 a.m., 4.00 p.m. and 8.00 p.m.) in a single day. The total red and white cell counts, haemoglobin, platelet count, and neutrophil, lymphocyte, eosinophil, monocyte and basophil differential white cell counts were analysed by both conventional (Student's t-test; multifactorial analysis of variance) and inferential statistics (single and mean cosinor). The average values for platelets (P = 0.04), white blood cells (P = 0.004) and lymphocytes (P << 0.001) showed significant changes with time, independently of disease state. Cosinor analysis indicated a circadian rhythmicity for haemoglobin (P = 0.02), eosinophils (P = 0.014), and lymphocytes (P = 0.001) in healthy subjects, and for eosinophils only (P = 0.024) in cancer patients.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Seasonal variations in the incidence of cranial nerve paralysis.

The aim of the study was to verify whether there is a seasonal pattern in the occurrence of cranial nerve paralysis. All patients admitted to the Emergency Department of St Anna Hospital, Ferrara, Italy, from 1 January 1991 to 31 December 1997, were reviewed. Cranial nerve paralysis was diagnosed in 126 cases: the oculomotor nerve accounted for 46 cases, the trochlear nerve for 14, and the abducens nerve for 66. The frequencies of cases involving the oculomotor nerve and of all cases were significantly higher in winter than in the other seasons. Compared with other 2-month periods, the highest number of total cases occurred in November to December. Chronobiological analysis of the data for individual months showed a rhythmic 12-month pattern for the total population, with a weakly significant peak in January.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The association of low serum cholesterol with depression and suicidal behaviours: new hypotheses for the missing link.

Several observational studies indicate that reduction of serum cholesterol levels is related to an increase in violent deaths and suicide but the nature of this possible relationship remains unclear. Many confounding factors, e.g. poor health, depression and loss of appetite may play a role in the apparent relationship between serum cholesterol levels and suicide. Two separate phenomena should be considered: lowering total cholesterol and low total cholesterol. This review considers the evidence from epidemiological studies on serum cholesterol lowering and psychiatric disturbances. The available evidence does not seem to substantiate the view that large-scale intervention to reduce cholesterol concentrations could lead to more violent and aggressive behaviour, and generally greater unhappiness. In recent trials using statin treatment, there were slightly fewer deaths from accidents and suicide in the treated group compared with the placebo group. We believe that clinicians should not be deterred from prescribing cholesterol-lowering drugs, to reduce the risk of death from coronary heart disease, when they are indicated.

Aggression↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Hypoparathyroidism in chronic alcohol intoxication: a preliminary report.

It is well known that osteoporosis is more common in chronic alcoholists than in age-matched controls. Possible aetiological factors could be: malabsorption of calcium and vitamin D, liver disease, abnormal parathyroid function. With this study, the authors investigated parathyroid hormone (PTH) behaviour in thirteen selected patients with alcohol abuse, free from any clinical or humoral sign of hepatopathy, and in ten healthy subjects as a control group. In alcohol abusers a significant reduction of plasmatic PTH, compared to normal calcium levels were found. A possible direct interaction effect between ethyl alcohol and PTH may be suggested, even if further studies are required.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Seasonal variation in onset of acute appendicitis.

PURPOSE: Several acute diseases exhibit a circannual pattern. The present study was aimed to verify the possible existence of a seasonal variability in the onset of acute appendicitis (AA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: All cases of AA diagnosed at the St Anna Hospital of Ferrara, Italy, from 1998 to 2004, were considered. The total sample was divided into subgroups by gender, age (< or = 19 and > or = 20 years), and ICD9-CM code. For statistical analysis, the distribution of symptom onset was tested for uniformity by the chi2 test for goodness of fit, and chronobiological analysis was performed by applying partial Fourier series. RESULTS: In the 7-year period analysis, 1331 consecutive cases of AA (673 males) were observed. The analysis showed, for total population, a seasonal variation with a peak in summer and a nadir in spring. Subjects < or = 19 years (n = 654) showed a higher frequency of events in winter (winter = 191 cases, 29.2%; spring = 154 cases, 23.5%, summer = 142 cases, 21.7%, autumn = 167 cases, 25.5%, chi2 = 8.07 p = 0.046), whereas subjects > or = 20 years (n = 677) showed a higher frequency in summer (winter = 150, 22.2%, spring = 151, 22.3%, summer = 214, 31.6%, autumn = 162, 23.9%, chi2 = 16.33 p = 0.001; difference between the two groups: chi2: 19.2, p < 0.001). Cases of AA with peritonitis (ICD-9 540.0, n = 90), were more frequent in summer (winter = 18, 20%, spring = 19, 21.17%, summer = 38, 42.2%, autumn = 15, 16.7%, chi2 = 14.22, p = 0.002), and chronobiological analysis found a statistically significant peak of higher incidence in July (PR 68.2, 95%CL: May-September, p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: The existence of a seasonal pattern in the onset of AA is confirmed, with differences in relation to age.

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Temporal organization of cerebrovascular accidents: a retrospective, preliminary study about stroke in Ferrara, Italy.

An epidemiologic retrospective study was conducted from January 1984 to December 1988 on subjects admitted into the Institute of Semeiotica Medica of the University of Ferrara (as a general medicine, unselective department) and presenting a stroke. Year, month and hour of onset of symptoms in 141 patients (all resident in Ferrara, mean age 74.3 +/- 8.3 years) were carefully recorded. The definition of precise clock hour was reached only in 108 cases. The data were then analyzed by means of Halberg's single cosinor. Time series analysis showed a seasonal pattern of disease onset, characterized by a circannual rhythm with acrophase in late winter - early spring (-83.9 degrees). A significant circadian rhythm was found too, with acrophase at afternoon (-242.8 degrees).

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Analysis of folate and vitamin B12 in beta thalassemia minor.

To evaluate whether anemia of heterozygote beta thalassemic subjects depends on folate or vitamin B12 deficiency, the serum values of these two vitamins were assessed in 176 adult subjects: 81 healthy heterozygote beta thalassemic subjects, 76 healthy normal controls and 15 subjects with microcytic iron deficient anaemia and no thalassemic trait. Mean serum folate and vitamin B12 levels in heterozygote beta thalassemic subjects were not statistically different when compared to control groups. No statistically significant correlation was found between mean serum levels of the two vitamins and hematocrit in beta thalassemic carriers and in normal subjects.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Average life expectancy of heterozygous beta thalassemic subjects.

In order to define the lifespan of heterozygous beta thalassemic subjects as compared to non thalassemic subjects, the authors prospectively studied all patients deceased during a period of 76 months at St. Camillo Hospital of Comacchio (Ferrara), located in the Po delta, a region with high prevalence of thalassemia minor. No statistically significant differences were found in the average life expectancy between the thalassemic and non thalassemic groups.

Heterozygote↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Epidural pressure measurement in the rat.

An original device for the epidural pressure measurement in the rat is presented. The reliability of epidural pressure as an index of intracranial pressure is discussed and several possible causes of error are examined. The device has been tested under conditions both of transient and prolonged cerebral blood volume increase, obtained by venous outflow obstruction.

Animals↗