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Biomedical subjects

M Pedrazzoni

Publications and source records attributed to M Pedrazzoni.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

[The hormonal response to hypercalcemic stimulation: the difference between male and female young people].

The aim of our study was to evaluate the pattern of response of thyroid Calcitonin (CT) secretory cells in young healthy people after specific stimulation. For this purpose, test of 60'' i.v. calcium infusion in a dose of 4 mg/Kg lean body mass was employed. Blood samples were taken at times-5', 0', 2', 5', 10', 15', and 30' after the infusion, to determine total Calcium (Ca), ionized calcium (Ca++) and CT concentrations. As a result, plasma CT increased significantly (f = 24.51, p less than 0.000001) in both sexes, while males showed stimulated CT values about double than the female ones: the difference was statistically significant throughout the test. In males too, we observed a strong and significant (r = 0.92, p less than 0.01) correlation between ionized calcium increases and CT responses. This correlation was found neither in males as regards total calcium, nor in females. In conclusion, our data confirm the higher CT secretion in males, indicating also a more constant pattern of response in this sex. Eventually, ionized calcium proves to be the real effective provocative stimulus for CT secretion.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Evaluation of age-related changes of erythrocyte filtration].

In two groups of subjects (young and elderly), the red blood cell (RBC) deformability was examined determining the filtration time by means of two different methods (filtration of whole blood and filtration of RBC suspension with hematocrit adjusted at 20%, respectively). In addition, the DFE (Debit de filtration erythrocytaire), an indirect index of capillary blood flow, was mathematically derived. Since the filtration times appear to be positively correlated with age, it is conceivable that in the elderly, erythrocytes are less deformable than in the young, and that this change may impair both capillary blood flow and tissue oxygen delivery; this alteration is further emphasized when the relationship between whole blood filtration time and hematocrit is taken into account.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Treatment experience with chronic spinal pain in involutional osteoporosis].

The back pain syndrome which accompanies involutional osteoporosis presents a marked heterogeneity. Acute pain may be due to vertebral fractures, whereas chronic pain may eventually accompany established osteoporosis in which clinical and instrumental evidence are present. Back pain is the consequence of the mechanical (internal or external pressure) or chemical stimulation of pain receptors present in bone tissue, along the vessels, in cartilage, joints, disk, ligaments, and also in soft tissue and muscle (with secondary antalgic contracture). The compression of spinal nerves may contribute to the pain as well. An evident alteration of mood is usually present and represents an important element in the syndrome. This phenomenon interferes with the evolution of pain, in particular as regards its intensity. Besides scales for the evaluation of pain and inability, it is possible to check objective data by means of particular algometers (not easy to employ) or by electromyographic measurements of antalgic secondary contracture of spinal muscle. Gait examination (basography) of patients with painful hip prosthesis may provide objective evaluation regarding specific antalgic activity on bone of drugs. Usually the effective drugs for osteoporosis possess antalgic properties as well, with different mechanisms of action. Three drugs with evident activity are taken into consideration: calcitonin, ipriflavon, aminobutane-bisphosphonate (alendronate). Though each of them possesses some particular activity, the main mechanism of action is dependent on their effect on the local microenvironment, particularly at the level of bone tissue (calcium, cytokine and prostaglandin local concentration), on the modulation of osteoclast activity. In particular alendronate (intermittently administered intravenously) exerts the most evident antalgic activity. Subjective chronic back pain relief is accompanied by (secondary) reduction of antalgic contracture at vertebral muscle level. The activity of the substance against the painful hip prosthesis (documented by basographic gait recording) leads us to conclude that the substance really exerts a direct antalgic action at the level of bone tissue.

Analgesics↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Effects of alpha-calcidiol (1 alpha-hydroxy-cholecalciferol) on the serum levels of osteocalcin in involutional osteoporosis].

We have examined the effects of 1 alpha-hydroxycolecalciferol (1 alpha) (1.5 micrograms for 5 days) on serum osteocalcin (OC) and other parameters of bone and mineral metabolism in 20 osteoporotic women and 11 age-matched normal women. After 1 alpha administration, a statistically significant (p less than 0.01) increase of serum OC, calcium and phosphate and urinary calcium and hydroxyproline was observed. In contrast, alkaline phosphatase was unchanged. There was no significant difference between normal and osteoporotic women in the changes of any of the parameters we monitored. In particular, OC increased in a comparable way in both groups. Thus, by means of an index that reflects the global activity of the skeleton, we could not find any apparent defect of osteoblastic responsiveness to the drug in osteoporotic subjects.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Sequential calcitriol-calcitonin in the therapy of osteoporosis].

Different therapeutic regimens have been proposed by Authors in the treatment of involutional (and particularly postmenopausal) osteoporosis. Following the up to date concepts on bone remodelling, an ADFR (Activate, Depress, Free, Repeat) trial was performed in 20 females affected by involutional osteoporosis. They were treated with Calcitriol 2 mcg/d for 7 days, followed by a 21 days period of 100 U/d Salmon Calcitonin + 1 g/d Calcitonin, followed by a 2-month period of Calcium alone. The cycles were repeated for 1 year and the results of densitometric examinations (radial mineral content evaluated by single photon absorptiometer, and vertebral mineral content evaluated by dual photon absorptiometer) and of biochemical markers (Ca++, P, osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, hydroxyproline) controlled every 3 months, were compared with those obtained in a group of patients treated only with Salmon Calcitonin and in a group treated with Calcium for 1 year. After two therapeutical cycles radial bone mineral density significantly increased; vertebral bone density also increased but not significantly. The effects were more evident in comparison to calcitonin alone treatment. A significant reduction in serum osteocalcin was documented. At the end of the therapy no further improvement was registered. This suggests that some variations and adaptation of therapeutic strategy are needed to achieve a more important and substantial improvement of bone conditions.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Epidemiologic study of femoral neck fractures in the province of Parma (1980-1992)].

Fractures of the femoral neck are one of the most important and severe complications of osteoporosis. To obtain up-to-date estimates on the frequency of these fractures in the province of Parma, a city of northern Italy, a retrospective study on the incidence of hip fractures has been carried out examining the operative records of all the orthopedic departments serving the whole province. Between January 1980 and December 1992, 3774 operations for hip fractures were performed, with a marked prevalence in women (2830 women and 944 men) and an exponential increase with age in both sexes. The incidence of extracapsular hip fractures was slightly higher and in women increased more rapidly with age than intracapsular fractures. Approximately 3 fractures out of 4 in women and 2 out of 3 in men occurred after the age of 75. Between 1980 and 1992, the age-adjusted annual incidence rose significantly by 7.1 cases per 100,000 per year in women and by 2.7 cases per 100,000 per year in men. When compared to other populations, these estimates indicate that the incidence of hip fractures in this province of Northern Italy is lower than that reported in other countries, especially in Northern Europe.

Aged↗