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Biomedical subjects

R Di Virgilio

Publications and source records attributed to R Di Virgilio.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Clodronate treatment increases serum osteocalcin in normocalcemic osteolytic bone metastases.

28 consecutive patients with multiple osteolytic bone metastases due to various types of cancer were treated with 300 mg/day of sodium clodronate given intravenously as a 3-hour infusion, 16 patients were treated for 10 days and 12 for 20 days. Our findings showed that clodronate administration causes an increase in serum osteocalcin (sBGP) in the group of patients treated for 20 days (p less than 0.05), a reduction in serum Ca in both groups of patients (p less than 0.01), an increase in serum alkaline phosphatase (p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.01), a reduction in urinary Ca (p less than 0.01) and a reduction in uOHP (p less than 0.05). The raise in sBGP may be attributed to the reduction of sCa and to the consequent secondary hyperparathyroidism. The increase in sBGP can be considered as the expression of osteoblasts stimulation following an adequate period of therapy with sodium clodronate.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Serum bone GLA-protein in hypercalcemia of primary hyperparathyroidism and malignancy.

Serum bone GLA-protein, a modern and sensitive marker of bone turnover, was measured in 15 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, 18 patients with hypercalcemia of malignancy, 41 patients with bone metastasis without hypercalcemia, and 29 healthy subjects. Serum bone GLA-protein was increased in primary hyperparathyroidism (17.6 +/- 3.9 ng/ml) and normal in hypercalcemia of malignancy (5.2 +/- 2.8 ng/ml; p less than 0.001 vs hyperparathyroidism) and in normocalcemic patients with bone metastases. In primary hyperparathyroidism parathyroid hormone correlated positively with urinary calcium excretion (p less than 0.05) and with urinary hydroxyproline excretion (p less than 0.001). The sensitivity of serum bone GLA-protein measurements in differentiating between primary hyperparathyroidism and hypercalcemia of malignancy was 91% and the specificity 84%. Thus this marker appears to be a useful tool for the differential diagnosis of hypercalcemias.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Hypercalcemia in malignancies: treatment with dichloromethylene diphosphonate (Cl2MDP).

Eleven hypercalcemic patients affected by various kinds of cancer were treated with dichloromethylene diphosphonate (Cl2MDP), 400 mg diluted in 500 ml of saline solution, i.v., during 3 h. Drug administration normalized plasma calcium levels in all treated patients, within 72 h for patients with lung cancer; within a longer period for other kinds of cancer. Moreover, Cl2MDP also reduced calciuria in treated patients. The use of the drug was not followed by side effects and was also well tolerated in patients with kidney insufficiency.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Serum osteocalcin in hyperthyroidism].

Several bone metabolism biochemical parameters were measured to evaluate the increased serum osteocalcin (sBGP) in hyperthyroidism. Twenty patients (19 women and 1 man, aged 22-69) and 20 age and sex-matched healthy subjects were examined. The following serum measurements were performed: calcium, phosphate, mid-molecule PTH, calcitonin, 25OH vitD, alkaline phosphatase, total and free thyroid hormones; urinary excretion of calcium, hydroxyproline and creatinine was also measured. The results (mean +/- standard error) show significant increases of sBGP (16.4 +/- 1.02 ng/mL; p less than 0.001), serum calcium (10.1 +/- 0.1 mg/dL; p less than 0.001), alkaline phosphatase (144.0 +/- 11.7 UI/L; p less than 0.001), urinary calcium (315.6 +/- 48.5 mg/g urinary creatinine; p less than 0.001) and hydroxyproline (43.0 +/- 6.1 mg/g urinary creatinine; p less than 0.001). A significant correlation between total and free thyroid hormones and sBGP was found. Accelerated bone turnover in hyperthyroid patients is therefore confirmed: both osteoclastic bone resorption, as suggested by increased serum and urinary calcium and urinary hydroxyproline, and osteoblastic bone formation, as suggested by increased serum osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase, are stimulated.

Adult↗