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Biomedical subjects

M Guazzelli

Publications and source records attributed to M Guazzelli.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Sleep spindles in normal elderly: comparison with young adult patterns and relation to nocturnal awakening, cognitive function and brain atrophy.

Visual measurements of sleep spindles were carried out in 48 elderly and 20 young normal adults. Computed tomography brain scans and psychometric testing were also performed. Earlier findings of reduced spindle abundance, amplitude and duration in the elderly were confirmed. In addition, we demonstrated a linear increase in spindle density and duration across NREMPs in young adults that was absent in the elderly, indicating that age affects the temporal pattern as well as the quantity of spindles. Contrary to what seemed a highly plausible hypothesis, the amount of waking in the elderly was not inversely correlated with spindle abundance, confirming earlier observations (Feinberg et al. 1967) but in a much larger group. This finding suggests that spindle abundance does not reflect the integrity of the systems that maintain the brain in NREM sleep. We also were unable to show any clear evidence that relative preservation of spindles in the elderly is associated with relative preservation of cognitive skills: psychometric performance and spindle measures were, in most instances, not significantly correlated. However, the test of this hypothesis was limited by the high level of function and the narrow range of impairment of these Ss. One intriguing positive finding was the significant inverse relation between ratings of sulcal atrophy and spindle amplitude. This observation suggests an etiology for the reduced amplitude of the sleep EEG in old age. This change is one of the most striking effects of age on brain electrophysiology.

Adult

Controlled double-blind trial of camazepam, a new benzodiazepine derivative, versus chlordiazepoxide.

31 in-patients with anxiety entered at random in a double-blind clinical trial of chlordiazepoxide and camazepam, a benzodiazepine derivative. They were assessed by three different rating scales. Statistical evaluation of the results showed similar psychopharmacological activity of both drugs. It is concluded that camazepam is suitable for treatment of mild and severe anxiety states.

Anti-Anxiety Agents

Psychological and physiopathological study on coronary patients.

In this paper the AA have tried to define the relationship between psychopathological characteristics or symptoms and angina attacks in coronary patients. The research plan was agreed upon and carried out as a collaborative program between psychiatrists and internists with the goal of reaching a more comprehensive approach to the psychosomatic patient. In 20 patients suffering from nocturnal angina attacks the polygraphic sleep recording was performed; 10 of them received psychodiagnostic examination (MMPI). In 8 cases during sleep recordings hemodynamic monitoring was also performed. The MMPI data were compared with 82 other individuals who had myocardial infarction (56 ss) and diurnal angina (26 ss) and 34 control subjects without cardiac disease. The results show that the sleep patterns were strongly affected and the most relevant alterations were recorded during the nights with ischemic episodes. No significant correlations were found between ischemic episodes and sleep stages. In no instance did the hemodynamic monitoring show an increase in the parameters related to myocardial oxygen consumption. The psychological data showed that the most severe symptomatology was observed in the nocturnal angina patients where the disease seems to be mostly related to a functional pathogenic mechanism.

Adolescent