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Biomedical subjects

M Garofalo

Publications and source records attributed to M Garofalo.

42 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Left ventricular hypertrophy, compliance and ventricular filling.

A total of 20 untreated hypertensive patients were divided into two equal groups matched for sex, age and blood pressure but with [mean diastolic wall thickness (MDWT) greater than 1.2 cm] or without (MDWT greater than 1.2 cm) left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). All patients underwent pulsed doppler echocardiography and 99Tc radionuclide ventriculography at rest to assess diastolic and systolic abnormalities. In hypertensives with LVH the interventricular wall thickness, posterior wall thickness and relative diastolic wall thickness were significantly (P less than 0.01) higher and peak filling rate was significantly (P less than 0.01) lower than in hypertensives without LVH. The indices of systolic function, however, were not significantly different in the two patient groups. In hypertensives without LVH peak filling rate directly correlated with heart rate, whereas in those with LVH peak filling rate directly correlated with heart rate and the ratio of peak velocity of early left ventricular filling : peak velocity of late left ventricular filling due to atrial contraction. It is concluded that diastolic parameters may be useful tools for assessing myocardial compliance and may be effective markers of diastolic dysfunction.

Adult↗

Ketanserin alone and in combination with enalapril in the treatment of essential hypertension: assessment of the haemodynamic effects.

The antihypertensive and haemodynamic efficacies of ketanserin and ketanserin plus enalapril were compared. The monotherapy phase of the study involved the oral administration of 40 mg ketanserin twice daily or 20 mg enalapril once daily for 12 weeks to 25 hypertensive patients. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly reduced by both drugs. Left ventricular function both at rest and during effort improved significantly with either drug. This was due to a reduction of end-systolic volume; end-diastolic volume decreased only with the use of enalapril. Combination therapy, involving 16 patients and both drugs given at the original dosage schedule for 12 weeks, resulted in further reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and an improvement in left ventricular function; indices of diastolic function were not modified. In conclusion, ketanserin and enalapril showed comparable antihypertensive and haemodynamic activities. A combination of ketanserin and enalapril increased the favourable characteristics of both drugs.

Aged↗

Comparative evaluation of the antihypertensive efficacy of once-daily sustained-release isradipine and lacidipine using 24-hour ambulatory blood-pressure monitoring.

In this single-blind crossover study the antihypertensive efficacies of two dihydropyridine calcium antagonists, sustained-release isradipine and lacidipine, were compared using clinic and ambulatory blood-pressure measurements. After a 2-week placebo wash-out, 34 patients (19 men, 15 women, mean age 49 years) with mild to moderate hypertension (diastolic blood pressure range 95-110 mmHg) were treated with 5 mg sustained-release isradipine for 4 weeks and 4 mg lacidipine for 4 weeks in a random order. Medications were taken once daily at 08.00 h. Clinic and ambulatory blood pressures were recorded at the end of each placebo or treatment period. Two patients stopped isradipine and six lacidipine because of severe adverse effects. Clinic systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased by an average of 17/14 mmHg with isradipine and 17/13 mmHg with lacidipine, compared with placebo (P < 0.01 in both cases), without a change in heart rate. Mean ambulatory 24-h and daytime systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly reduced by sustained-release isradipine and lacidipine (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). At night systolic blood pressure fell compared with placebo (P < 0.05 with both drugs) whereas the reduction in diastolic blood pressure was not statistically significant. Mean 24-h heart rate remained unchanged. Blood-pressure variability did not differ significantly between the two drugs or between either drug and the placebo. The antihypertensive effects of sustained-release isradipine and lacidipine were similar, but the tolerability of isradipine appears to be greater since it caused fewer withdrawals.

Antihypertensive Agents↗

[Thromboembolectomy with a Fogarty catheter. Our clinical experience].

BACKGROUND: The Fogarty thromboembolectomy (TE) has been considered for a long time the best treatment for acute peripheral arterial occlusion. However, recently new therapeutic options like thrombolytic agents (local or systemic) have been introduced. METHODS: A total of 66 patients who underwent Fogarty TE for acute thromboembolic limb ischemia has been retrospectively studied. Patients with documented atherosclerotic pathology who were treated with other revascularization procedures were excluded. Patients were divided into four groups: 1) upper limb embolism, 2) lower limb embolism, 3) thrombosis on atherosclerotic plaque or on a graft, 4) post-traumatic thrombosis. Twelve patients underwent Fogarty TE for upper limb thromboembolic ischemia and 54 for lower limb; 57.5% of patients had atrial fibrillation. RESULTS: Procedures were successful in 59 patients (89.4%). Further surgical procedures (bypass, arterioplasty, further embolectomy) were performed in 35.1% (19/54) of patients of groups 2 and 3 with acute lower limb ischemia. Results were very good in group 1 and 4. Seven of the 54 patients treated for lower limb ischemia underwent limb amputation (12.9%), while hospital mortality was similar for lower and upper limb (31.4 and 33.3% respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The Fogarty TE is still a good option to revascularize acute ischemic peripheral arteries with good results in a high number of patients and should be particularly used where it is possible to perform additional techniques in case of failure.

Acute Disease↗

[Clinical and pathological characteristics of carcinoma of the kidney: computerized analysis].

To evaluate the significance of the clinical and pathological features and survivorship data, we analyzed 203 cases of renal carcinoma who underwent surgery at our department from 1974 to 1988. Tumor stages P2 and P3 and grades G2 and G3 were the most frequent. The series is large enough to permit classification according to tumor stage and grade and most of the possible associations. The diagnostic procedure and the surgical technique were consistent. Radical nephrectomy via the transperitoneal approach was performed in 153 patients. Transpleural thoracophrenolaparotomy was performed in 22 patients with a very large tumor mass in the upper pole. Extended classical nephrectomy via the lumbar approach was performed in 27 patients. Computer-assisted analysis of the clinical and pathological data showed tumor stage to be an important prognostic factor. Given a similar situation for tumor stage, the histologic grade has been shown to influence prognosis significantly. Other clinical or pathological parameters such as pseudocapsule, histological type and paraneoplastic biological and humoral changes often correlated with tumor stage or grade. Clinical staging is a point of reference for surgery. However, detection of microfoci of tumor metastasis that might be responsible for late reactivation of the disease is as yet not possible.

Adult↗