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Biomedical subjects

M Porcu

Publications and source records attributed to M Porcu.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

[Coronary artery dissection secondary to selective coronary angiography].

Coronary artery dissection during coronary arteriography is a rare complication. We describe three cases occurred in our laboratory (0.18% of all the procedures). All the invasive procedures were performed with a femoral approach with Judkins catheters by three different surgeons with limited experience; all dissections involved the right coronary artery. Two patients were men with coronary artery disease and the third was a woman who underwent catheterization for mitral valve disease. An inferior acute myocardial infarction occurred in both men and one of them was surgically treated. No ischemia was observed in the female patient with mitral disease. According to previous reports, we believe that the patients at risk for such a complication (adults with diffuse coronary artery disease or young women with valvular disease and normal coronary arteries) must be more carefully considered. Moreover, in these patients soft-tip Judkins catheters should be used during femoral procedures in the right coronary artery.

Aortic Dissection↗
PubMed1989

Ratio between aldosterone and atrial natriuretic peptide in pregnancy.

The possibility of evaluating the ratio between aldosterone and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) instead of the two hormones by themselves in studying sodium handling in normal pregnancy and in preeclampsia in the steady state and following albumin infusion was examined in this study. In 32 normal pregnancies monitored monthly, the highest aldosterone/ANP ratio was observed in the last weeks (28.7 +/- 12), and dropped in the first postpartum week (3.6 +/- 2.8), without changes in fractional excretion of sodium. In 18 preeclamptic patients, the ratio was significantly lower than in normal pregnancy at the same gestational ages, and it was coupled with absolute reduction in the sodium excretion. Among preeclamptic patients, a significant inverse correlation (P less than 0.025) was revealed between the ratio and sodium excretion. Natriuresis in response to acute volume expansion with albumin infusion occurred only in 50% of preeclamptic patients, and was associated with an ANP increase, an aldosterone decrease, and a further decrease in the ratio. A blunted natriuresis was observed in cases with a particularly low prealbumin value of this ratio. Furthermore, in preeclampsia, a particularly low ratio seemed to be typical of the patients who showed poorer placental flows and fetal outcomes. These results suggest that the balance between aldosterone and ANP may be a useful index in understanding sodium homeostasis in these settings.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[Hydatid localization in the proximal tract of the right branch of the pulmonary artery. Description of a case].

Hydatid localization in the major branches of the pulmonary circulation have rarely been reported. The AA. describe the case of a young male patient, previously operated for pulmonary and hepatic hydatidosis, who was unresponsive to medical treatment and died of right heart failure. At necropsy a large hydatid cyst occluding the right proximal branch of the artery was found.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Cholesterol HDL in phenobarbital-treated male and female Wistar rats.

The effect of phenobarbital treatment on HDL cholesterol was studied in male and female Wister rats. An increase of HDL cholesterol was observed in both sexes one day after the administration of the barbiturate. The values of HDL cholesterol returned to those of the control animals l7 days after treatment.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Serum ferritin, liver iron stores, and liver histology in children with thalassaemia.

Serum ferritin, liver iron stores, and liver histology were studied in 38 children with thalassaemia major who were being treated by regular blood transfusions. There was no correlation between serum ferritin levels and either the number of transfusions or the amount of iron deposited in the liver. However, for a given level of iron stores, ferritin levels were higher in patients with chronic hepatitis (including chronic aggressive and chronic persistent forms) than in those with hepatic siderosis only. We conclude that serum ferritin reflects tissue iron deposits in regularly transfused thalassaemic patients, only in the absence of hepatitis.

Blood Transfusion↗
PubMed1976

Influence of lead nitrate on dimethylnitrosamine intoxication.

The effect of lead nitrate, an inhibitor of the hepatic drug-metabolizing enzyme system upon the acute, hepatotoxicity of dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) was studied. Lead pretreatment significantly prevented polysomal disaggregation induced by the nitrosamine. Cell necrosis, evaluated morphologically and by the release of serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT), was also diminished. The metabolism of DMN in rats pretreated with lead nitrate was investigated by following its clearance from blood and by determining, in vitro the demethylation of the nitrosamine. Lead increased, although not significantly, the clearance of DMN from blood, but it lowered the activity of DMN-demethylase 24 h after its administration. Finally, lead lowered the lethal effects of DMN. The mechanism by which lead influenced DMN toxicity is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Diastolic heart failure].

Until recently, the development of heart failure was related exclusively to the acute or chronic impairment in systolic function. Currently, the concept of heart failure not sustained primarily by a significant reduction in contractility has been clearly defined by several epidemiological and pathophysiological observations. This condition, defined as 'diastolic heart failure' or 'heart failure with preserved systolic function' can be related to different cardiac diseases with a higher prevalence in the elderly. Afterload mismatch situations, such as hypertension or aortic stenosis, as well as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or pericardial diseases, determine this common clinical syndrome more frequently. Currently, the treatment of diastolic heart failure is still empirical, as there are few and inconclusive data coming from evidence-based medicine.

Diastole↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Levels of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 1 in uremia and in hemodialysis].

The present study aimed to assess the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNFalpha) and Interleukin-1 (IL-1) in uremic patients and those patients undergoing extracorporeal replacement therapy in relation to the duration of dialysis and the type of membrane. Serum cytokine values were assayed using an immunoradiometric technique (monoclonal antibodies) in 28 uremic patients and 7 healthy controls. TNFalpha levels were normal in control subjects but increased in uremic patients. Patients undergoing hemodialytic treatment showed increases which were statistically significant in comparison to basal levels, with a trend which was directly correlated to the duration of dialysis. No significant variations were induced by the different types of dialysis membranes used. In virtually all patients IL-1 values could not be assayed using this method.

Acrylic Resins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Left atrial myxoma simulating a systemic disease with pleural-pericardial effusion. Detection by two-dimensional echocardiography.

Clinical symptoms of cardiac myxomas are often very confusing. We observed a 46-year-old woman with a left atrial myxoma simulating systemic disease with pleural-pericardial effusion. We think that like other systemic symptoms effusion (which to our knowledge has not been previously described in literature) can be attributed to the result of tumor secretion or necrosis. In fact, soon after surgical removal of the tumor, all pathological signs disappeared.

Diagnosis, Differential↗