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Biomedical subjects

P Rubba

Publications and source records attributed to P Rubba.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Non invasive study of carotid arteries by echo-doppler and metabolic abnormalities in patients with dementia.

In order to evaluate the prevalence of common and/or internal carotid stenoses together with metabolic abnormalities in dementia nineteen patients were investigated. Dementia and differential diagnosis between Alzheimer type (DAT) and multi-infarctual (MID) dementia were performed on the basis of Computerized Tomography scan, behavioural anamnesis, neurological and neuropsychological examinations. Eight patients were diagnosed as MID and 11 as DAT. Noninvasive study of neck arteries was performed in supine position by a Duplex Scanner, able of detecting a wide range of stenosis, even when very mild. Arterial hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes and high hematocrit level were present in both groups, although to a higher extent in MID (p 0.05). Results from Duplex Scanner demonstrate 12 vascular stenoses 16-49% and one between 50-99% (13/76), being vascular abnormalities equally distributed among DAT and MID patients. These data suggest that patients with metabolic abnormalities and arteriosclerosis can develop dementia not necessarily of vascular type. On the other hand, MID patients do not present higher number of stenosis as compared to DAT, indicating that vascular disease of carotid arteries is not prominent in the clinical context of dementia.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Improvement of the nicotinic acid test in the diagnosis of Gilbert's syndrome by pretreatment with indomethacin.

The hyperbilirubinemia induced by nicotinic acid (NA) is well correlated to 14C-bilirubin clearance, and is utilized to diagnose Gilbert's syndrome (GS). However, NA produces a number of vascular prostaglandin-mediated side effects. In an attempt to improve the NA test we evaluated the influence of pretreatment with Indomethacin, a PG-synthetase inhibitor, both on side effects and hyperbilirubinemia. NA (5.9 mumoles/kg of body weight i.v.) was administered on two separate occasions, before and one hour after i.m. injection of 100 mg Indomethacin in 11 GS males and 11 controls matched for sex and age (age range 18.34 years). The hyperbilirubinemic effect of NA was not modified by Indomethacin in any subject; the side effects were either significantly reduced or completely abolished. We suggest that patients undergoing the NA test for the diagnosis of GS be pretreated with Indomethacin.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Effect of oral mesoglycan on plasma lipoprotein concentration and on lipoprotein lipase activity in primary hyperlipoproteinemia.

Mesoglycan extracted from calf aorta was orally administered (96 mg/day) to 15 patients with primary hyperlipoproteinemia: 4 type IIA, 4 type IIB, 6 type IV and one type V. In the seven hypertriglyceridemic patients the drug after two months of treatment reduced total and VLDL-triglyceride from 701 mg/dl to 423 mg/dl (p less than 0.025) and from 562 mg/dl to 377 mg/dl (p less than 0.025) respectively and increased lipoprotein lipase activity from 19.7 mumol/l/min to 27.8 mumol/l/min (p less than 0.05). No change was observed in the group with type IIA-IIB hyperlipoproteinemia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Haemodynamic changes in peripheral arterial circulation during antihypertensive treatment with captopril, methyldopa and indapamide.

Structural changes in resistance vessels of the lower limbs have been detected in early stages of arterial hypertension. In these patients it might be important to reduce blood pressure by drugs which do not impair peripheral blood flow. Twenty-four patients with arterial hypertension, without target organ damage were randomly given a placebo, 50 mg captopril, 500 mg methyldopa or 2.5 mg indapamide and their blood pressure, arterial blood flow and peripheral resistance were measured at baseline and at the peak action of the antihypertensive treatment. Significant decreases in blood pressure and peripheral resistance have been induced by a single oral dose of captopril and methyldopa: a concomitant significant increase in peripheral blood flow to the lower limbs was also observed during methyldopa treatment. No acute effect was observed on the placebo or on indapamide: the latter induced a decrease in blood pressure and in peripheral resistance along with an increase in arterial blood flow during long-term treatment after four weeks of therapy. Our observations seem to support the usefulness in hypertensive patients with concomitant lesions in the peripheral arterial tree of antihypertensive agents such as methyldopa and indapamide which increase blood flow and reduce peripheral resistance while lowering high blood pressure.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Hemorrheological anomalies: an element of additional risk in arterial diseases].

Arterial blood flow to different tissues and organs is influenced by blood viscosity. The main determinants of blood viscosity are hematocrit and plasma protein concentration. Venesection and consequent reduction of hematocrit are very useful in various pathological conditions. Plasma-exchange removes proteins in excess (such as LDL in familial hypercholesterolemia) from plasma and thereby improves plasma viscosity, erythrocyte deformability and blood flow to the body tissues.

Arterial Occlusive Diseases↗
PubMed1982

Fatty acid and glucose incorporation into human adipose tissue in non-insulin-dependent diabetes and in insulinoma. Inverse relations with plasma triglyceride and glucose concentrations.

Decreased fatty acid and glucose incorporation into human adipose tissue (FIAT and GLIAT) are frequently found in primary hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) and might also contribute to the defective removal of lipoprotein triglyceride (TG) in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). To study this possible mechanism, FIAT and GLIAT were determined in needle biopsy specimens from 14 patients with newly diagnosed NIDDM and in 14 age- and weight-matched controls. A patient with insulinoma and hyperinsulinism was also studied. FIAT and GLIAT processes were markedly reduced in patients with NIDDM that developed at the onset of maturity. Insulinoma patients, with normal plasma TG, showed FIAT-GLIAT values in the high to normal range before operation. A direct, highly significant correlation (P less than 0.001) was demonstrated between FIAT and GLIAT in diabetics, insulinoma and controls when considered together. Plasma TG and glucose concentrations were inversely related to FIAT and GLIAT. These relationships were independent of the degree of obesity. It is suggested that impaired FIAT and GLIAT might contribute to defective TG removal and HTG which are often demonstrated in NIDDM.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗
PubMed1982

Changes of systolic time intervals in asymptomatic patients with primary hyperlipoproteinemia.

Previous studies have focused on the usefulness of systolic time intervals to assess changes of myocardial function. In a recent report, hyperlipoproteinemia (HLP) was shown to induce early signs of vascular disease in asymptomatic subjects. By means systolic time intervals (STI) we studied left ventricular functions in normal subjects and asymptomatic patients with HLP, who showed normal response to exercise on a bicycle ergometer. The results showed mean values of STI for the population in the normal range, according to standards accepted in North American reports. Different values of STI were found when we compared the data of controls with the STI of HLP patients with higher values of PEPI and PEP/LVET and lower values of LVETI in HLP patients. These results suggest that hyperlipoproteinemia affects STI in asymptomatic patients, probably as a sign of early impairment of left myocardial function.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Increased blood flow to lower limbs after plasma exchange in two patients with familial hypercholesterolemia.

Leg blood flow was measured before and 1 and 7 days after plasma exchange by venous occlusion plethysmography in a 9-year-old girl with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and in a 41-year-old man with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. In the first patient the plasma cholesterol level was reduced from 890 mg/dl to 532 mg/dl and 666 mg/dl 1 and 7 days after plasma exchange. In the second patient plasma cholesterol decreased from 596 mg/dl to 342 mg/dl and 480 mg/dl, respectively. Leg arterial flow increased from 8.5 ml/min/l of leg volume to 19.1 and 19.5 ml/min/l in the first patient and from 6.6 ml/min/l to 18.0 and 21.8 ml/min/l in the second. No change was observed in haematocrit and total globulin concentration, which are known to play an important role in blood viscosity and flow. It is concluded that plasma exchange, possibly by decreasing plasma cholesterol concentration in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia, is associated with improved arterial flow to lower limbs and it is suggested therefore that some beneficial effect might be found also in other vascular beds.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Risk factors for peripheral atherosclerosis in non insulin dependent diabetes.

Peripheral Atherosclerosis (PA) is a frequent complication of longstanding diabetes. Nevertheless uncertainty exists on defining risk factors (RF) for PA in diabetics. In order to elucidate this matter, at an early stage of the vascular complication, 54 non insulin dependent diabetic (NIDDM) patients, males, age range 40-59 years, without clinical signs of PA, were investigated by digital pulse plethysmography, measuring the inclination time (IT) of the pulse wave. A significant correlation was found between systolic blood pressure (BP) or fasting serum cholesterol (FSC) and IT (r = .28 p less than .05 and r = .34 p less than .05). IT was significantly higher in insulin treated patients compared with those on oral hypoglycemic treatment (154 +/- 41 msec; 122 +/- 25 msec; p less than .05) (M +/- SD). No significant effect on IT was induced by body weight, diastolic BP, serum triglycerides. A positive correlation was found between the number of RF (FSC greater than or equal to 220 mg/dl; systolic BP greater than or equal to 160 mmHg; insulin treatment) in each patient and IT (r = .55 p less than .001). In the absence of RF, IT was similar to that in non diabetic, normocholesterolemic, normotensive men of the same age (119 +/- 27; 116 +/- 15). FSC, systolic BP and insulin treatment are major RF for PA in male NIDDM patients. The condition is worsened by the simultaneous presence of two or more RF together.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Plasma lipoproteins in maturity onset diabetes.

Plasma lipoprotein abnormalities in maturity onset diabetes (MOD) reflect both enhanced production and impaired removal of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. Hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia lead to overproduction of very-low density lipoproteins by the liver. Fat tolerance is reduced in MOD patients: this might be due to low lipoprotein lipase activity (LLA) and/or to low incorporation of LLA-released fatty acids into adipose tissue glyceride. This finding of abnormal low-density lipoprotein composition, with relative enrichment in triglyceride, suggests remnant particle accumulation.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Fractional fatty acid incorporation into human adipose tissue (FIAT) in hypertriglyceridemia.

Two processes regulate the removal of lipoprotein triglycerides from plasma: (1) hydrolysis of triglycerides by lipoprotein lipase to fatty acids in the capillaries; (2) local uptake and esterification of fatty acids by adipose tissue, muscle and other tissues. This second process has been studied on needle biopsy specimens of adipose tissue from normotriglyceridemic and hypertriglyceridemic subjects. Hypertriglyceridemie was found to be associated to low fatty acid incorporation into adipose tissue.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1976

A micro-method for determination of fatty acid (FIAT) and glucose (GLIAT) incorporation and lipolysis in vitro in needle biopsies of human adipose tissue.

A method for determination of fatty acid (FIAT) and glucose (GLIAT) incorporation into adipose tissue in vitro in needle biopsy specimens of human fat has been developed. 20-150 mg of subcutaneous fat is incubated in an albumin buffer containing a physiological spectrum and concentration of fatty acids and glucose. Release of glycerol and fatty acids to the incubation medium and incorporation of labelled palmitic acid and labelled glucose into extracted adipose tissue lipids are determined simultaneously. The labelled fatty acids are found in the fatty acid part and the labelled glucose only in the glycerol part of extracted diglycerides and triglycerides. These glycerides are completely recovered and indicated FIAT and GLIAT values. Methodological errors for all vaiables are about 10%. All processes increase linearly with tissue weight and incubation time. FIAT and GLIAT increase linearly with increasing concentration of a physiological spectrum of fatty acids (=constant fractional incorporation). The method is simple, and several analyses from one subject can be performed on one day with a minimum of discomfort to the patient.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Noninvasive ultrasound evaluation of pressure gradients in aortic root of homozygotes for familial hypercholesterolemia.

The aim of this study was to measure noninvasively by Doppler ultrasound the blood flow velocity at the level of the aortic root in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) to detect abnormal pressure gradients. Seven patients with homozygous FH and seven healthy controls matched for age and sex were included in the study. Continuous-wave Doppler (2 MHz) was used to measure the highest detectable velocity from the aortic root; the probe was positioned in the suprasternal notch. When an abnormal velocity was detected, the corresponding pressure drop was calculated from the formula: Delta P = 4Vmax2. Each FH patient had an abnormal aortic velocity consistent with a pressure gradient across the valvular area. All the controls had normal aortic velocities (p less than 0.01). The measurement of the pressure drop across the aortic valvular area in FH patients gives an estimate of the lesions produced by cholesterol deposition in a crucial area of the cardiovascular system near the origin of coronary arteries. The noninvasivity of this method makes it an excellent method for obtaining parameters for follow-up and clinical trials.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Premature development of iliac artery stenosis in asymptomatic type II hyperlipoproteinemia.

There is conflicting evidence on the relationship between increased low density lipoprotein (LDL) concentration in Type II hyperlipoproteinemia and premature development of peripheral atherosclerosis of the lower limbs. We evaluated the early signs of iliac artery involvement in patients with asymptomatic Type II hyperlipoproteinemia. Of these, 23 were Type IIA, 12 were Type IIB. Thirty-five consecutive patients, ages 40 to 60 years, with asymptomatic Type II hyperlipoproteinemia (LDL cholesterol greater than or equal to 3.80 mmol/liter, 147 mg/dl) and 54 normocholesterolemic controls (plasma cholesterol less than 5.70 mmol/liter, 220.6 mg/dl) from a random sample of clinically healthy, 50-year-old men had a noninvasive examination to detect common and external iliac artery stenosis. Both Type II patients and the controls were examined by the echo-Doppler technique (Duplex Scanner III-ATL Mark V) with spectral analysis of the Doppler signals. This method is sensitive not only to severe stenosis or occlusion but also to non-flow-reducing stenosis (less than 50% narrowing of the lumen diameter) and to minor wall irregularities (1%-15% stenosis). In Type II patients, 19 of 70 limbs (27%) were abnormal as compared to 6 of 108 limbs (6%) in the controls (p less than 0.001). The premature development of an obliterating disease of the iliac arteries was demonstrated in persons asymptomatic for Type II hyperlipoproteinemia.

Adult↗