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Biomedical subjects

R Di Leo

Publications and source records attributed to R Di Leo.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Cardiovascular autonomic control in Becker muscular dystrophy.

Although autonomic symptoms are not prominent in dystrophinopathies, a reduced vagal activity and an enhanced sympathetic tone have been found in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Twenty patients with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) were investigated by a battery of six cardiovascular autonomic tests (beat-to-beat variability during quiet breathing and deep breathing, heart rate responses to Valsalva maneuver and standing, blood pressure responses to standing and sustained handgrip) and power spectral analysis (PSA) of heart rate variability. Although 11 patients revealed abnormal findings at some cardiovascular tests, none of them had a definite autonomic damage, as indicated by two or more abnormal tests. The mean results of the single tests did not differ from normal controls, except for the beat-to-beat variability during quiet breathing, which was significantly higher in BMD (p<0.05). Such finding was confirmed by a significantly higher total variance (p<0.05), indicating an increased parasympathetic activity. Spectral components were not significantly different from normal controls. PSA values were not influenced by age, functional ability score or presence of heart abnormalities. Our data suggest that autonomic involvement does not represent a major finding in BMD.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Peripheral neuropathy as the presenting feature of multiple system atrophy.

The authors report a case of multiple system atrophy (MSA) with an onset as a peripheral nerve involvement. Their patient, a 55-year-old man, had a 3-year history of distal weakness and atrophy in upper limbs with dysesthesia in the feet. Other identifiable causes of peripheral neuropathy were ruled out. The authors postulate that peripheral nervous system impairment can anticipate the typical appearance of MSA, and they suggest that, in peripheral neuropathies with autonomic system dysfunction, after excluding main causes of autonomic neuropathy, MSA may need to be suspected.

Autonomic Nervous System↗
PubMed2001

Autonomic dysfunction in uremia.

Autonomic nervous system dysfunction is a common feature in uremia and may have a number of clinical sequelae. Simple cardiovascular reflex screening can be performed in patients during conservative treatment, on periodic dialysis therapy, or after kidney transplantation to diagnose and follow up autonomic function impairment. Other approaches, such as heart-rate variability studies in the frequency domain by power spectral analysis, can provide a more accurate investigation of the disease.

Autonomic Nervous System Diseases↗
PubMed2000

Biliary tract cancer: our experience with gemcitabine treatment.

Biliary tract cancers are uncommon tumors, with a poor prognosis because most patients present an invasive cancer at diagnosis that makes them inoperable. Chemotherapy is a palliative treatment, but single drugs or combination schedules have demonstrated a response rate of 14-18%, with a duration of response of 8.5 months. We report a single center experience with gemcitabine in the treatment of patients with advanced biliary tract cancers. We report on four cases of chemonaive patients with advanced biliary tract cancers treated with gemcitabine 1 g/m q days 1, 8 and 15. After three cycles of treatment we observed one partial response and three stable disease (according to WHO criteria), with an increase in performance status and a complete relief of pain in all patients. The median time to progression observed was 10.7 months. Although this experience is limited to a small number of patients, it shows that gemcitabine appears to be worthy of clinical research in this neoplastic pathology and makes the drug a particularly interesting agent for investigation in patients with biliary tract malignancies.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1984

Demonstration of spotted fever group rickettsiae in the tache noire of a healthy person in Sicily.

A human case of rickettsial infection occurred in Sicily following tick bite. The patient did not have fever, the typical nodular rash, or other symptoms of illness other than development of a tache noire containing spotted fever group rickettsiae, which were demonstrated by immunofluorescence. A high titer of antibodies of the IgG class suggests that the patient may have had previous exposure to Rickettsia conorii or a related spotted fever group rickettsia. An anamnestic response may be hypothesized to have conferred partial immunity, with resulting containment of rickettsiae at the site of inoculation.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1983

[Enzymatic parameters in boutonneuse fever. II. Behavior and significance of lactic dehydrogenase].

Serum levels of Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined at weekly intervals, in 52 patients with Boutonneuse Fever: 33 adults (23 uncomplicated and 10 complicated cases) and 19 children (no complication occurred in these patients). In the first week of illness, LDH was increased in 86 and 100% of adults (uncomplicated and complicated cases respectively) and in 89% of children. Mean values were 419 and 472 U/l for adults (uncomplicated and complicated) and 423 for children (normal values until 240 U/l). In total (adults plus children), in the first week, pathological findings were observed in 90% of patients. In the second week, LDH was increased in 53 and 100% for adults, and 66% for children. Mean values were 252 and 306 for adults, and 291 U/l for children. The significance of this increase is related to the pathophysiology of rickettsial diseases. Rickettsiae cause endothelial injury with platelet aggregation, activation of inflammation as well as coagulation mechanisms and subsequently damage of various organ systems at various degree (from silent to evident forms). From a general point of view LDH increase appears in part of platelet origin, at first stage of illness, in part from other organ systems involved in the vasculitic process.

Adolescent↗