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Biomedical subjects

P Mecocci

Publications and source records attributed to P Mecocci.

58 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
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Antioxidant enzyme activities in healthy old subjects: influence of age, gender and zinc status: results from the Zincage Project.

Enzymatic activities of plasma superoxide dismutase (pSOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (eSOD) were assayed in 981 healthy community dwelling old subjects participating in the Zincage Project. The relationship between antioxidant enzyme activities and, respectively, gender, age and zinc status were assessed. eSOD activity was higher in nonagenarians than in 80 year old subjects. Plasma Zn was lower in nonagenarians compared with younger subjects. The prevalence of Zn deficiency increased with age, with normal Zn levels observed in about 80% of adult subjects and only in 37% of the nonagenarians. Women showed higher eSOD and CAT activities compared to men, whereas plasma Zn was higher in men than in women. There was a positive correlation between eSOD activity and age and a negative correlation between eSOD activity and plasma Zn concentrations. An inverse correlation was also found between plasma Zn concentration and age. Further studies on different aspects of Zn metabolism--intake, plasma concentration, peripheral cell concentration, activity and amount of Zn-dependent enzymes--are warranted.

Age Distribution↗
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Blood pressure and functional aspects of the aging brain.

This study was carried out to define the effects of both long-term hypertension and hypotension on the cerebral functioning of the elderly, comparing them to the effects of normotension. Ninety-eight subjects of both sexes, between 70 and 82 years of age, were divided into three groups on the basis of their mean blood pressure: 33 normotensives, 36 hypotensives and 29 hypertensives. They underwent a neuropsychological assessment, a haemorrheological evaluation and an EEG monitoring while awake. The results show that the three parameters were almost always within normal limits in the normotensives, while EEG alterations, lower neurophysiological scores and blood hyperviscosity were noted in both the hypertensives and hypotensives. Our results would seem to confirm that long-term hypertension may induce alterations in the cerebral electrogenesis and intellectual functions of the elderly and that also long-term hypotension might negatively interfere with some functional aspects of the aging brain.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system: a 70-year-old man with ataxia, depression and visual deficits.

BACKGROUND: Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system (SSNS) is caused by cerebral, cerebellar and spinal cord tissue deposition of hemosiderin, often related to repeated episodes of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Typical symptoms include ataxia, sensorineural deafness and dementia. METHODS AND RESULTS: An elderly patient with SSNS presenting with ataxia, depression and severe visual impairment was admitted to the Unit of Geriatrics of the University Hospital of Perugia, Italy. Late diagnosis and the association of symptoms with SSNS prevented the possible surgical treatment of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Recognition of uncommon clinical variants may facilitate early diagnosis of SSNS and improve therapeutic results.

Aged↗