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Biomedical subjects

M Patriarca

Publications and source records attributed to M Patriarca.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Association of selected social, environmental and constitutional factors to blood lead levels in men aged 55-75 years.

Blood lead (B-Pb) levels were determined in 1802 out of 1856 non-occupationally exposed men aged 55-75 years living in the Rome area who participated, between 1989 and 1990, in an epidemiological survey for coronary heart disease (New Risk Factors Project). The median B-Pb level was 113 micrograms/l (10th-90th centiles: 74-180 micrograms/l) and only 0.7 per cent (n = 14) of the subjects had B-Pb values higher than 300 micrograms/l. B-Pb levels were significantly and positively associated to alcohol consumption. Moderate and heavy drinkers had median B-Pb level of 143 micrograms/l (10th-90th centiles: 92-233) and 165 micrograms/l (10th-90th centiles: 102-285) respectively, whereas non-drinkers had a median B-Pb level of 96 micrograms/l (10th-90th centiles: 66-143). The influence of smoking habits was less relevant. Subjects who never smoked and subjects smoking more than 20 cigarettes daily had median B-Pb levels of 103 and 133 micrograms/l, respectively. Individuals classified as habitual car-drivers had slightly higher Pb levels than non-drivers. Subjects classified as manual workers had higher B-Pb levels in comparison with non-manual workers and retired subjects. B-Pb levels were directly related to HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C, r = 0.2252) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT, r = 0.2207) serum levels. The alleged alcohol consumption was more related to B-Pb level (r = 0.3848) than to serum level of HDL-C (r = 0.2474) or gamma-GT (r = 0.2469). A significant correlation (r = 0.2409) also existed between B-Pb and blood cadmium levels (B-Cd). Subjects with a low Gaensler ratio, an index of respiratory function, had higher B-Pb levels. In multiple regression analyses alcohol intake was the most important predictor of B-Pb level, explaining more (14.27%) of the total variance than did B-Cd (4.98%), HDL-C (1.89%), driving habits (1.46%), gamma-GT (1.09%), skinfold thickness (0.96%), and Gaensler index (0.38%). The risk ratio of having B-Pb level higher than 180 micrograms/l (90th centile of B-Pb distribution in our subjects) was 5.3 (95% CI: 2.7-10.4) for drinkers versus non-drinkers and 1.9 (95% CI: 1.2-3.1) for current smokers versus subjects who had never smoked. B-Pb was, at least in our subjects, a more specific and sensitive objective index of alcohol consumption than gamma-GT and HDL-C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Age and sex specific reference serum selenium levels estimated for the Italian population.

The association between the concentration of selenium in serum and the risk of degenerative processes of the cardiovascular apparatus or of neoplastic disease remains still uncertain. An inaccurate selection of the study populations, and above all the lack of age, sex and area of residence specific reference values could have contributed to create confusion on the biological relevance of selenium in human diseases. In our present work the serum selenium levels for the Italian population have been studied, adopting standardized methods. The study population (4201 adult subjects and 1217 children) was derived from samples of populations previously enrolled in epidemiological preventive programs. The mean observed values for the various adult populations examined varied between 87 and 93 micrograms/l and resulted approximately 5 micrograms/l higher than the mean observed values in ten European countries. The mean observed values for the paediatric population (less than 15 years of age) were slightly lower (78-83 micrograms/l). A decreasing trend of the values with age, above 60 years, especially in males, has been observed. No significant difference has been observed for sex and geographic area of residence. A preliminary study of the variations of the serum selenium levels during certain diseases has shown a sharp reduction in children with phenylketonuria and undergoing dietary restrictions, in subject with active systemic Lupus erythematosus, and in certain neoplasias.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

The interlaboratorial quality assurance program for blood lead determination. An evaluation of methods and results.

For over five years a national program, promoted by a working group of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Italian National Institute of Health), has been active in Italy for the quality control of the blood lead levels determination. The program is based on the adoption, by the laboratories, of the same known-titre materials, for the internal quality control, and on the participation in periodical collaborative exercises for the external quality evaluation. The promoting laboratory prepared the control samples, verified their homogeneity and stability and distributed them to the laboratories following a randomized procedure; then, it provided a preliminary elaboration of the results (precision, difference from the median, distribution) after each exercise, and carried out the global evaluation of the performances of each laboratory after at least one year of activity in the program using parametric (regression analysis) and non-parametric (evaluation of the results according to pre-determined acceptability criteria) statistical methods. After four years of activity, the results obtained show that the adopted scheme and the procedures used turned out to be adequate. The study of the regression parameters between the results of each laboratory and the medians of the results of all the laboratories has confirmed the validity of the graphic criterion adopted, also yielding specific information on the relative contribution of the different kinds of error (systematic, constant and/or proportional and casual) to the global error. Furthermore, the proportion of the laboratories with "good level" performances (i.e., acceptable results in at least 80% of the examined samples) has increased from approximately 30% in the first phase to approximately 50% in the fourth phase.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Comparable laboratory performances in the analysis of lead in control samples and in fresh human blood.

The validity of quality control programs is based on the assumption that the control samples can be commuted with the real samples, so that, according to the results obtained by a given laboratory on control samples, it is possible to produce reasonable predictions about the reliability of results obtained on real samples. During the implementation of a program of biological monitoring of the general population against the risk of saturnism, a great number of data have been collected allowing the evaluation--as far as blood lead determination is concerned--of the real predictive power of the results obtained by a laboratory during a quality control program, according to its specific level of analytical reliability. The results obtained by eleven laboratories in the analysis of control samples have been compared, by regression analysis, with the results obtained on the same samples by the reference laboratory. The same procedure has been adopted for the results obtained by each laboratory and by the reference laboratory in the duplicate analysis of about 10% of the real samples collected by each center during the biological monitoring program. The comparison between the regression parameters obtained, in both cases, for each laboratory has not produced evidence of systematic differences. Furthermore, a non-parametric evaluation of the data (based on the magnitude of the differences between the results of the laboratories and the results of the reference center) shows, in most cases, similar laboratory performances in the analysis of control samples and of real samples.

Blood Chemical Analysis↗
PubMed1989

Lead exposure: assessment of the risk for the general Italian population.

According to the regulations contained in the presidential decree DPR 496/82 certain Italian regions have carried out investigations--based on the blood lead level measurement--for the biological surveillance of the general population against the risk of saturnism. A work-group from the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Italian National Institute of Health) coordinated the activity of the various centers and organized an appropriate quality control program to guarantee the quality of the analytical data collected. A total of 8635 subjects (4864 females and 3771 males) have been examined, 1968 of which (1058 females and 910 males) were under 14 years of age. The median values of the observed blood lead levels were, for the adults, 153 micrograms/l in males and 100 micrograms/l in females; and, for the children, 94 micrograms/l in males and 86 micrograms/l in females. The reference limit decreed by law for the 98th percentile is exceeded by the adult-males group, while both limits, at the 90th and 98th percentiles are exceeded by the population residing in the Portoscuso (CA) municipality. Our investigation confirms the correlation between blood lead levels, alcohol consumption, and cigarette smoking; in both sexes and in all age groups (except for females 15-25 years of age) a positive correlation of blood lead levels with alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking is clearly evident. The association of blood lead levels with alcohol seems to be stronger than that with cigarette smoking. The comparison with the results of previous investigations shows a 25% reduction of blood lead levels in the general Italian population during the 1979-1985 period.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Evaluation of the performance of Italian laboratories in the determination of cadmium levels in blood.

The measurement of the blood cadmium level is necessary for the biological monitoring of workers or of general populations that are thought to be professionally or environmentally exposed to cadmium. However, since the levels of interest are exceedingly low, the analytical determinations involve considerable problems. With the aim of comparing the performances of the Italian laboratories in the blood cadmium levels determination, a working group of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Italian National Institute of Health) promoted in 1983 a quality control program including the provision of materials for the internal quality control and the performance of bi-monthly or quarterly exercises for the external quality control. The promoting laboratory provided the preparation and distribution of the samples to the laboratories and the processing of the data at the end of each exercise. A global and more thorough evaluation of the performances of each laboratory was carried out at the end of each phase (lasting at least one year), including a graphical evaluation of the results of each laboratory according to a predetermined acceptability criterion and the linear regression analysis. Of the 20 participating laboratories, approximately 50% obtained acceptable results for at least 80% of the examined samples. The mean relative inaccuracy decreased from 36% in the first phase to 20% in the last one. To improve analytical performances, both technologically advanced instrumentations and experienced personnel seem to be necessary.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Teratogenicity study of ammonium glycyrrhizinate in the Sprague-Dawley rat.

Ammonium glycyrrhizinate (AG), a commercially used salt of glycyrrhizic acid, was administered in the drinking-water to Sprague-Dawley rats on days 7-17 of pregnancy. The actual intakes were 0, 21.33 +/- 1.22, 238.75 +/- 17.50 and 679.94 +/- 69.87 mg AG/kg body weight/day for groups 0, 1, 2 and 3, respectively. AG caused polydipsia in the dams. Foetuses from the treated litters did not present an increase in external malformations, a decrease in weight or a decrease in the degree of ossification. However, there was a slight but significant increase in embryolethality and in the prevalence of external haemorrhages. Skeletal examination revealed a dose-related increase in minor anomalies, especially in the sternebral variants. Renal ectopy also increased significantly at the highest dose. These results indicate that the possible embryotoxicity of aromatizing compounds should be considered.

Aldosterone↗
PubMed1988

Improved determination of selenium in serum by Zeeman atomic absorption spectrometry.

We have improved Zeeman atomic absorption spectrometric determination of selenium in serum by using an acidic solution of Ag + Cu + Mg as a matrix modifier and performing the charring step in flowing O2. Under these conditions, we could calibrate serum results with selenium standards in bovine albumin solutions. Mean analytical recovery was 98%, and the CV was 1.8% within runs, 2.9% between runs. Analysis of Reference Materials from the U.S. National Bureau of Standards (SRM 909 and RM 8419) yielded the values of 106 (SD 2.4) and 15 (SD 1.6) microgram/L, respectively, in good agreement with the expected values (106 and 16, respectively). The method--being reliable and relatively simple and rapid--is suitable for use in epidemiological screenings. Mean selenium concentrations in serum sampled from 274 adults in central Italy were 90 (SD 15) microgram/L. For 11-year-old children, these values were lower and showed a tendency to sex-related difference: 82 (SD 9.9) microgram/L for 97 boys, 78 (SD 9.3) microgram/L for 90 girls.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Estimate of uncertainty of measurements in clinical laboratories and in environmental, occupational, and preventive medicine].

According to recently issued (UNI CEI EN ISO/IEC 17025, UNI CEI ENV 13005 and prEN ISO 15189) standards, to assure the quality of analytical results and their comparability in time and in different places, testing and clinical laboratories must demonstrate to use validated methods, guarantee the traceability of their measurements and state the measurement uncertainty associated with each result. For some SI quantities, such as the mass, the traceability to SI and the estimate of measurement uncertainty are warranted by established methods. In the clinical laboratory and especially in preventive, environmental and occupational laboratory medicine, specific difficulties arise to warrant the traceability to the mole. On one hand, the whole concept of measurement uncertainty is new in laboratory medicine, on the other hand, its application faces practical difficulties, because of the wideness and the complexity of the analytical repertory, the lack of officially validated methods and matrix-specific reference materials traceable to SI. In this paper we discuss briefly the concept of measurement uncertainty and its meaning in comparison with other parameters used to define the performance of analytical methods. In addition, we describe the procedures recommended by international organisations for estimating measurement uncertainty and interpreting analytical results with an associated measurement uncertainty in comparison with limit values.

Clinical Laboratory Techniques↗