Biomedical subjects

R Antonicelli

Publications and source records attributed to R Antonicelli.

44 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Vasopressin, prolactin and growth hormone in Alzheimer's disease: their evaluation after metoclopramide stimulation.

Recent studies have shown that there is a relationship between an alteration of central neurotransmitters and the modification of some biohumoral parameters in Alzheimer's Disease (AD). In this study the authors evaluated, after metoclopramide (MTC) stimulation, the concentration curve of vasopressin (AVP), prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (HGH) in the plasma of 34 subjects (20 males and 14 females, mean age 70.5+/-6.9 years; 17 were AD patients, the others constituted the control group). MTC increased AVP serum concentration in healthy (P <0.001), but not in AD patients. This result seemed to be due to the lack of 'procholinergic' action of the drug in the AD patients probably due to an alteration in their cholinergic pathways. The PRL response to MTC was reduced only in the AD female group (P <0.005), suggesting an alteration in dopaminergic control. Lastly, the HGH response in AD did not differ in the two groups, neither in basal conditions, nor after MTC stimulation. The absence of HGH response both in AD and in healthy subjects, demonstrated the ineffectiveness of MTC stimulation. We can conclude that AVP and PRL responses to MTC stimulation efficiently separated the two groups (AD and controls); the former test showing a higher discriminant power than the latter.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Aging impairs membrane potential responsiveness as well as opening of voltage and ligand gated Na+ channels in human lymphocytes.

Depolarizing effects of increasing concentrations of extracellular K(+), as well as the repolarizing effect of bretylium tosylate (BT) were evaluated in human lymphocytes from young and elderly volunteers. Cells from elderly volunteers were less responsive to depolarization induced by increased extracellular potassium concentrations than those from young volunteers. Upon a near complete depolarization induced by 140 mM K(+) in the extracellular space, a significant amount of non-responding cells were found in samples from elderly volunteers. BT, which opens the otherwise silent Na(+) channels of partially depolarized cells, with subsequent activation of the Na(+)-K(+) pump (Pieri et al., 1989). repolarized both young and old lymphocytes. However, the degree of the repolarization was only 40% in the case of lymphocytes from elderly volunteers than from that of the young. It is suggested that an increase of membrane microviscosity, characteristic of old cells, may be at least partially responsible for the decreased responsiveness of plasma membrane functions which were observed.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Epidemiological aspects of isolated systolic hypertension in the elderly population as cerebrovascular risk factor.

A large number of studies indicate that isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) is an important cerebrovascular risk factor. This clinical state is very common in elderly people who are the most exposed to stroke risk. Therefore, it is important to know the real prevalence of ISH, in order to predict the possible incidence of cerebrovascular disease in the elderly population. In the Camerano study on hypertension, we have verified the prevalence of ISH in the elderly. ISH has been considered clinically when the systolic arterial pressure (SAP) was higher than 160 mmHg, and the diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) was lower than 90 mmHg. In our study population, an ISH prevalence of 11.9% was found in the elderly (above 60 years of age); whereas in the adult population (between 30 and 60 years), it amounted only to 4.5%.

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PubMedDate not supplied

Arterial hypertension in the elderly: a review.

Arterial hypertension in the elderly is an argument of growing interest and relevance in our society for many reasons, the main ones being: (i) Progressive aging of the population with a particularly high number of very old subjects. (ii) The high prevalence of arterial hypertension found mainly as an isolated systolic form or a prevalently systolic one in the elderly population. (iii) Acknowledgement of the significant impact of hypertensive disease on elderly people, e.g., on the cardiovascular risk factor and on the quality of life. (iv) Results of important clinical trials have demonstrated that, using an adequate therapy, it is possible to reduce both cardiovascular morbidity and mortality even in elderly persons.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sexual dimorphism in arterial hypertension: an age-related phenomenon.

Epidemiological, clinical and experimental evidence is available indicating that male subjects develop hypertension with a higher probability than age-matched females. The sexual dimorphism of blood pressure (BP) has been observed both in normotensive and hypertensive subjects. In order to analyze the presence of sexual dimorphism of arterial hypertension (AH) and its relationship to the aging process - particularly to the menopause - the population screened in the Camerano Study has been examined. In addition, to evaluate sex-related differences in the AH, another sample of 3765 patients from our Hypertension Centre has also been considered. Our samples displayed a real cross-over in the prevalence of arterial hypertension, hypercolesterolemia, hyperglycemia and obesity in women versus men, after the menopausal period. In fact, in the adult group (20-54 years) the prevalence of arterial hypertension was significantly higher (P<0.005) in males (9.2%) than females (6.4%), whereas in the older group (>54 years), we observed a significantly higher prevalence (P<0.001) in females (46.6%) than in males (34.7%). These results suggest that the menopause and age can play a separate role in the sexual dimorphism of arterial hypertension. A significant gender-related difference in hypertensive patients was found only in hypercholesterolemia above the age of 50 years, namely, females have this disorder more frequently.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Hypercholesterolemia in the aged: rational approach to the problem].

While there are definite data showing the correlation between cholesterol level and cardiovascular disease in adults, so far we lack reliable evidence showing hypercholesterolemia to be an important risk factor in the elderly as well. Having examined all available data, the authors come to the conclusion that in elderly subjects, too, hypercholesterolemia should be treated after careful clinical evaluation of every individual case. Whenever possible therapy should be dietary but in light of recent results obtained with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors which are effective and well tolerated also in the elderly, adequate pharmacological management should also be feasible in this type of patient.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Simvastatin in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in elderly patients.

Twenty elderly (mean age, 69 years), hypercholesterolemic patients (low-density lipoprotein [LDL] levels greater than or equal to 160 mg/dl) were supplied a lipid-lowering diet for one month and then received 10 mg of simvastatin daily for 12 months. Total cholesterol levels fell significantly, from 304.6 mg/dl at baseline to 277.4 mg/dl after one month on the diet, to 245.9 mg/dl after one month of simvastatin, and to 216.1 mg/dl after two months of simvastatin; total cholesterol levels remained significantly lower (221.6 mg/dl at month 12). LDL levels decreased significantly, from 217.6 mg/dl at baseline to 130.4 mg/dl at month 12. High-density lipoprotein levels increased significantly only at months 2 and 3. Apolipoprotein (apo) A levels increased significantly, from 147.2 mg/dl at baseline to 217.9 mg/dl at month 12. There were no significant changes in triglyceride or apo B levels. No changes in blood pressure, heart rate, or body weight or in results of laboratory tests were noted. Few side effects were reported. It is concluded that simvastatin is safe and effective in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in elderly patients.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Hyperuricemia and cardiac risK factors: epidemiologic study in the aged].

The aim of our study is to evaluate whether hyperuricemia may be considered a cardiovascular risk factor also in the elderly. 370 subjects over 60-years-old of both sexes were examined of which 148 presented an ischemic heart disease and 222, age and sex homogeneous, were considered as control group. Serum uric acid was determined. A strong difference among the two groups (p < 0.001) was statistically demonstrated. Such modifications were sex independent. A strict correlation of hyperuricemia and hyper trygliceridemia was present; in fact high uric acid levels were mostly found in the group with triglycerides > 200 mg/dl (p < 0.02). In the whole group and in males a stability of uric acid was noted. In females a significant increase among the first (60-69 years) and the second (70-79 years) age class was present. In conclusion, a positive role of hyperuricemia in the ischemic heart disease pathogenesis is possible.

Age Factors↗