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Biomedical subjects

R M De Santo

Publications and source records attributed to R M De Santo.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Sleep disorders in hemodialyzed patients--the role of comorbidities.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disorders are very frequent in hemodialyzed patients, but the relationship between these disorders and water withdrawal, urea removal and comorbidities has not been sufficiently clarified. METHODS: The study comprised a group of 88 patients in good nutritional condition, with target hemoglobin concentration, good control of blood pressure and optimal dry weight. After answering a questionnaire (SDQ) based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) patients were assigned to one of 3 groups: those with no disturbances (no.20), those with subclinical disorders (n.35) and insomniacs (n.33). Yearly fluid and urea withdrawal by dialysis and the Charlson Comorbity Index were measured. RESULTS: Sleep disorders were observed in 77.27% of the patients. There was no difference in body fluid and urea withdrawal between groups. In the group of patients with no sleeping disturbances, the Charlson Comorbidity Index was significantly lower (p<0.001) than in patients with subclinical disorders or insomnia and emerged as a strongly associated with sleep disturbances. The study also attributes a predictive role to age, dialytic age, dialysis shift, antihypertensive drugs. The data indicate that, in evaluating sleeping disorders in patients on maintenance hemodialysis, comorbidities should be assessed.

Age Factors↗

The heart in uremia: role of hypertension, hypotension, and sleep apnea.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in end-stage renal disease. Causes include those usually found in the general population, those related to the uremic status, and those related to dialytic treatment. Hypertension, hypotension, anemia, hypoalbuminemia, malnutrition, dyslipidemia, reactive C protein, calcium-phosphate product, dialysis modalities, and hyperhomocysteinemia are discussed extensively. Special emphasis is put on hyperparathyroidism as a traditional toxin. The emergent role of sleep apnea has been confirmed in animal models as well as in humans studied using polysomnography. There are difficulties in diagnosing coronary disease, because angiography is not risk-free, is expensive, and should be reserved for patients having symptoms of heart failure and/or patients having diabetes mellitus, and/or patients entering a transplantation list. This allows patients with coronary disease to undergo coronary artery bypass (preferably) or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Patients for whom surgery is not appropriate should be treated using more traditional medical procedures.

Adult↗

Erectile dysfunction in uremic dialysis patients: diagnostic evaluation in the sildenafil era.

The two words that mean sexual dysfunction, impotence and erectile dysfunction (ED), express two different concepts. Impotence is a general male sexual dysfunction that includes libidinal, orgasmic, and ejaculatory dysfunction. ED is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient to allow satisfactory sexual intercourse and is part of the general male sexual dysfunction termed impotence that includes libidinal, orgasmic, and ejaculatory dysfunction. Uremic men of different ages report a variety of sexual problems, including sexual hormonal pattern alterations, reduction in or loss of libido, infertility, and impotence, conditioning their well-being status. In evaluating and treating sexual dysfunction, a nephrologist must consider factors involved in its pathogenesis, such as hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis alterations, psychological problems related to chronic disease, secondary hyperparathyroidism, anemia, autonomic neuropathy, derangements in arterial supply or venous outflow, and the normal structure of cavernous body smooth muscle cells. The introduction of sildenafil to treat impotent patients has completely changed the approach to evaluating these subjects because this drug is considered an effective well-tolerated treatment for men with ED. In the past, we proposed an algorithm that gave the opportunity to explore the previously mentioned factors using such instrumental interventions as the nocturnal penile tumescence test, penile echo color Doppler, nervous conduction velocity, and cavernous body biopsy, addressed to prescribe needed surgical or medical interventions. The complexity of the proposed algorithm requires many diagnostic procedures and much time and economic resources to localize the pathological lesions responsible for ED. Because of the new oral drug sildenafil, we propose a new algorithm to test the possibility of obtaining an erection and classify patients as responders or nonresponders to the sildenafil test.

Bromocriptine↗

Insomnia is associated with systolic hypertension in uremic patients on hemodialysis.

A newly developed questionnaire was administered to 140 hemodialyzed patients (82 M and 58 F) who have achieved adequate anemia correction according to the best guidelines with the aim: to evaluate the prevalence of clinical/subclinical dyssomnias in these patients; to study the influence of the dialytic shift (morning versus afternoon schedules) on sleep duration and disturbancies; and to evaluate the relationship between clinical sleep disorders and blood pressure values in uremic patients. Results indicated that 85% of uremic patients undergoing hemodialysis complain of clinical insomnia (frequent, persistent and associated with daytime consequences) or sub-clinical sleep disorders; patients dialyzing in the morning sleep significantly less during the night preceding the treatment, than those dialyzing in the afternoon; older patients complaining of clinical insomnia have a higher risk of failure to achieve target-optimal values in systolic blood pressure.

Adult↗

Berengario da Carpi.

Berengario da Carpi was magister of anatomy and surgery at the University of Bologna from 1502 to 1527. Eustachio and Falloppia defined him as 'the restaurator of anatomy'. He was a great surgeon, anatomist and physician of illustrious patients including Lorenzo II dei Medici, Giovanni dalle Bande Nere, Galeazzo Pallavicini, Cardinal Colonna, and Alessandro Soderini. He had strong links to the intellectuals of his time (Forni, Bonamici, Manuzio, Pomponazzi) as well as with the Medici family. He was respected by the Popes Julius II, Leo X and Clement VII. His main contributions are the Isogogae Breves, De Fractura calvae sive cranei, and the illustrated Commentaria on the Anatomy of Mondino de Liucci, a textbook utilized for more than 200 years, which Berengario aimed to restore to its initial text. The Commentaria constitutes the material for the last part of this paper which concludes with a personal translation of some passages on 'The kidney', where the author gives poignant examples of experimental ingenuity.

Anatomy↗

The symbolism of salt in paintings.

Many artists have used the symbol of salt in both religious and profane works, yet very few studies have explored the symbolism of salt as used in works of art. In this study, Panofsky's method has been adopted to evaluate works of art through an organic process articulated into three stages: (1) pre-iconographic, (2) iconographic and (3) iconological. The method was used for (a) religious paintings of the Old and New Testaments and (b) mythological and profane themes. Various salt-cellars were also studied. In particular, the paper examines the following themes: Isaac blessing Jacob, the return of Esau, Samuel consecrating David, the Last Supper, the suppers at Emmaus and at the house of Simon, the birth of St. John the Baptist, the Baptism of Constantine, the prodigal son, Bacchus-Apollo, the nuptial banquet of Love and Psyche, the death of the Cavalier of Celano, the king drinks, the landlord's visit, 'Phitopolis faisant servir des mets en or au roi Pithès', certain still life paintings and various salt-cellars including those of Cellini and Giulio Romano. The paper discusses the works of many artists including Raphael, Leonardo and his school (Boltraffio, Giampietrino, d'Oggiono, Solario), Hendricksz, Corenzio, Jean-Baptiste and Philippe de Champaigne, Damaskinos, Tintoretto, Titian, Romanino, Rubens, Bellini, Bloemaert, Veronese, Sustris, Just of Ghent, Jan Van Hemessen, Poussin, Loir, Giotto, Jordaens, Brueghel and Mimmo Paladino with his enchanted mountain. From the data examined it emerged that salt is a primary iconological presence in various works of art.

Christianity↗

Salt: a sacred substance.

Salt is the last relic of the ocean where life was born. Its presence has influenced the whole gamut of history and its name is linked to hundred of geographical locations. Its importance for nutrition is supported by the discovery of Aeneolithic salt cellars. Salt cellars and pyramids of salt have been included in paintings and other works of art. In Japan where salt was and still is obtained from the sea, a salt culture has developed that can be traced in the rituals of everyday life, including meal preparation, sports, and Shinto ceremonies.

Art↗