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S Coaccioli

Publications and source records attributed to S Coaccioli.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Study of lymphocyte subpopulations in chronic autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases. II. Polymyalgia rheumatica: behaviour of lymphocyte subpopulations during treatment with two different corticosteroids].

AIM: The aim of this paper was to study the distribution of CD8+ subsets, of soluble receptors of CD8 and IL-2 during a steroid treatment with prednisone and deflazacort. METHODS: Forty-eight patients (9 males and 39 females, mean age 69.4(6.5 years) with active polymyalgia rheumatica (ESR 74 (18 mm, 1(st) h) were studied. In order to determine the distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations a panel of monoclonal antibodies was utilised. Flow cytometry with a FACSCAN machine and ELISA method were utilized. RESULTS: At base-time in comparison with normal subjects: reduction (P<0.05) of CD4(-)/CD8(+) (356+/-112/mL vs 564(132/mL), due to reduction (P<0.001) of CD8(+)bright (224(86/mL vs 426+/-124/mL) and CD8(+)bright/CD57(-) (123+/-44/mL vs 256(58/mL); increasing (P<0.001) of sCD8 (514+/-123 U/mL vs 312+/-102 U/mL) and (P<0.005) sIL-2r (984(346 U/mL vs 244+/-58 U/mL). Group-PDN: significant (P<0.001) reduction of CD4(-)/CD8(+) (466+/-102), CD89(+))bright (302(74), CD8+bright/CD57- (186+/-51), sCD8 (418+/-96) and of sIL-2r (450+/-163) at 1(st) week, and toward the normal range at 1(st) month. Group-DFZ: normal values at 6th month: CD4(-)/CD8(+) (497+/-133), CD8(+)bright (401+/-98), CD8(+)bright/CD57(-) (240+/-64), sCD8 (317+/-82), while sIL-2r è (P<0.0005) higher vs group-PDN. Group-PDN: VES <50 at 1st week, normal value (14+/-7) at 3(rd) month; PCR, 2.2+/-1.2 at 3(rd) month and 1(0.8 at 6th month. Group-DFZ: VES >20 (24+/-5) at 6th month e PCR increased. CONCLUSIONS: PDN shows a faster action vs DFZ. DFZ does not seem to be able in reducing sIL-2r probably showing a persistent inflammation and immune activation status.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

[Evaluation of the peak bone mass by quantitative heel ultrasound in young women of the centre of Italy].

OBJECTIVE: To measure the reference young adult mean values in healthy women of the centre of Italy by Quantitative heel UltraSound (QUS). METHODS: The study group was composed by 70 caucasian women: mean age was 25.4 years (Standard Deviation 4.7), mean weight was 58 Kg (SD 8.2), mean height was 166 cm (SD 5.8), mean BMI was 20.9 kg/m 2 (SD 2.5). Every subject was evaluated firstly with an original questionnaire to discover risk factors (like for example steroids consumption, recent fractures of the lower limb), then was measured by quantitative heel ultrasonometry Hologic Sahara. RESULTS: Mean extimated Bone Mineral Density (BMD) 0.588 g/cm 2 (SD 0.124) mean Quantitative Ultrasound Index (QUI) 105.0 (SD 19.6), mean Speed of Sound (SOS) 1564.2 m/s (SD 31.4), mean Broadband Ultrasound Attenuation (BUA) 84.8 dB/MHz (SD 17.4). No significant correlation was found between QUS parameters and anthropometric data. A correlation was found between every QUS parameters. No significant differences were found about QUI and extimated BMD, between our results and Hologic normative data for European women. CONCLUSIONS: It is very important to develop specific reference values for any measurement device and site of skeleton especially in the age of reaching the peak bone mass because the T score is then measured referring to these data. Usually the normative data are supplied by manufacturer and are based on large multicentric study. In our opinion it could be helpful to verify if these data are compatible with the population examined in every region.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

[Study of lymphocyte subpopulations in chronic autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases. I) Polymyalgia rheumatica].

AIM: The polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disorder, characterised by pain and stiffness on the shoulder and pelvic girdles, increasing of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and good clinical and laboratory recovery by steroid therapy with a good outcome of the disease. There is now a wide agreement about an alteration of the distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations, characterised by a decreasing of CD8+ subset, at the onset of PMR. The aim of this paper is to study the distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations and their soluble receptors and the distribution of CD4+ and CD8+ subsets in patients with active PMR. METHODS: Forty-eight patients (9 males and 39 females, mean age 69.4+/-6.5 years) with active PMR (ESR 74+/-18 mm, 1st hour) were studied. In order to determine the distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations a panel of monoclonal antibodies was utilised. Flow cytometry was performed with a FACSCAN machine. RESULTS: The absolute number of CD4-/CD8+ cells were reduced (p<0.05) in comparison to normal subjects (356+/-112/ml vs 564+/-132/ml); the reduction was due to a decrease (p<0.001) of CD8+bright cells (224+/-86/ml vs 426+/-124/ml) and of CD8+bright/CD57- subset (123+/-44/ml vs 256+/-58/ml); an increase (p<0.001) of sCD8 (514+/-123 U/ml vs 312+/-102 U/ml) and an increase (p<0.0005) of sIL-2r (984+/-346 U/ml vs 244+/-58 U/ml) were also observed in comparison to normal subjects. No alterations of CD4+/CD8, CD8+bright/CD57+, CD8+dim/ CD57+/- cells and sCD4 were observed. CONCLUSION: Our study seems to confirm that in early and active PMR there are significant alterations of lymphocyte subpopulations and their subsets as well as of soluble receptors.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

[The usefulness of the quantitative ultrasound to diagnose glucocorticoids induced osteoporosis].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utilization of heel ultrasonometry in the diagnosis of glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis. METHODS: The study group included 108 caucasian women, ranging in age from 30 to 81 years. They were all affected by inflammatory disorders (rheumatoid arthritis and other connective tissue diseases) and had been in chronic glucocorticoid therapy for at least 8 months, at an average daily dosage of not less than 7.5 mg of prednisolone. The control group was composed of 112 women. Every subject was evaluated by a heel ultrasonography (Hologic Sahara). RESULTS: The ultrasonometry data average values noted were: QUI (Quantitative Ultrasound Index) 71* (86); SOS (Speed of Sound) 1324 m/sec* (1541); BUA (Broadband Ultrasound Attenuation) 61 dB/MHz (62). The asterisk shows a statistically significant difference in comparison to the value in brackets. QUI/Stiffness and SOS had reached a significant statistic value in all the age groups, with regard to average values of patients not on glucocorticoid therapy. The BUA values did not demonstrate a significant difference, even if they always appeared inferior to the average observed (except in the range 60-70 years age group). CONCLUSIONS: The concept that osteoporosis is a disease characterized exclusively to a reduction in bone density, now leaves room for consideration that corresponds with the concepts of quantitative and quality elements. Chronic glucocorticoid therapy is one of the major causes of osteoporosis. The use of glucocorticoids increases the risk of fractures, independently from the bone ùineral BMD in the various ages, which therefore cannot be explained solely by the reduced BMD. Ultrasound may provide information on the bone structure, and so its eventual modification, after chronic glucocorticoid therapy. Our results show that bone ultrasonometry is able to detect a population in chronic glucocorticoid therapy in comparison with those not treated. BUA and SOS are reduced in all the patients. Our experience derives that in the chronic glucocorticoid therapy patients, a major prevalence is noted of SOS which may provide information on the modification of the bone structure.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis in diabetes mellitus, impaired glucose tolerance and obesity.

BACKGROUND: Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a rheumatic disease characterized by a significant association with metabolic alterations, such as an impaired lipidic profile. METHODS: One-hundred-thirty consecutive patients and 40 normal subjects were studied. The patients were affected by type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, impaired glucose tolerance and obesity. The diagnosis of DISH was performed by clinical examination and X-ray study of the thoracolumbar spine. The determination of total cholesterol, triglycerides, HLD-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol was realized by routine biochemical methods; an oral glucose tolerance test was performed in order to determine the levels of C-peptide and blood glucose. RESULTS: We demonstrate a high incidence of the disease in a cohort of patients affected by overt and non-overt diabetes mellitus (T1DM and T2DM) as well as in obese subjects and a correlation between this disorder and hypertryglyceridemia (T1DM, obese-T2DM and obese patients), hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia (obese-T2DM, non-obese-T2DM and obese patients) and hyper-LDL-cholesterolemia (obese patients). In obese-T2DM patients, as well as in obese patients, we observed 40% of DISH, in non obese-T2DM patients the presence of DISH was 30%, while in T1DM patients and impaired glucose tolerance 26.6% and 22.2, respectively. However, a correlation between DISH and the relative hyperinsulinemia in obese patients during an oral glucose tolerance test is not documented. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms the prevalence of DISH in diabetes mellitus and obesity, the association with an impaired lipidic profile and the low percentage of symptomatic patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Impaired cutaneous cell-mediated immunity in newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by an impaired immune response and a defective cutaneous cell-mediated immunity has been reported. This study was realised in order to determine the characteristics of cutaneous cell-mediated immunity in patients affected by recent-onset and untreated rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: Forty-eight patients affected by newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis were studied by skin testing with seven common recall antigens. The skin tests were performed before the administration of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (methotrexate, cyclosporine-A, hydroxychloroquine) and were repeated after four months of therapy. RESULTS: 43.75% of the RA patients (21 out of 48) were defined as anergic compared with 2% of the normal control subjects and the rate of depression of cutaneous cell-mediated immunity was not related either with the markers of disease activity or with the clinical assessment. The impaired cutaneous cell-mediated immunity shows a slight improvement after methotrexate therapy, while cyclosporine-A and hydroxychloroquine were not able to achieve the same result. CONCLUSIONS: Rheumatoid arthritis shows a defective cutaneous cell-mediated immunity when the patients are studied in the early phase of the disease and before a second-line of therapy with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. The anergy does not correlate either with the disease activity or with the short-term response to treatment. The prognostic significance of these data remains uncertain.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Onset of myasthenia gravis in a patient affected by rheumatoid arthritis never treated with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.

We describe a patient affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that developed myasthenia gravis (MG) after 20 years of illness. The peculiarity of this case concerns both the rare association between these diseases and the fact that the patients had never assumed disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. These treatments have been associated in some clinical reports with the onset of MG during the clinical course of RA. To our knowledge this is the first case described in medical literature up to now.

Antirheumatic Agents↗
PubMed1998

Galactosaminoglucuronoglycan sulphate in the treatment of osteoarthritis: clinical efficacy and tolerance of oral and intra-articular administrations.

The clinical efficacy and the tolerance of galactosaminoglucuronoglycan sulphate (GGGS), administered both orally and intra-articularly were evaluated for the treatment of generalized and localized osteoarthritis (OA). The study included 154 patients: 52 treated orally with GGGS, observed during three periods of three consecutive months of therapy followed by eight weeks of withdrawal, 52 treated only with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and 50 patients treated two times in a year with a total of twelve (6 x 2) knee intra-articular weekly injections. The tolerance to GGGS was excellent, and the monitoring of the clinical measurements revealed a significant improvement of the articular data with a decreasing of NSAID's consumption.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1998

Clinical efficacy and tolerance of nabumetone in articular and non-articular rheumatic disorders: personal experience during 12 weeks of treatment.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the clinical efficacy and the tolerance of Nabumetone (N), in comparison with a pool of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), in a cohort of patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, non-articular rheumatisms and primary fibromyalgic syndrome. METHODS: One hundred and seventy patients were observed in an open-non randomized study. The patients have been recruited alternatively and subdivided into two groups: 84 patients that received N and 86 patients that received one of the other NSAIDs. All the patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis received a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (OH-chloroquine, d-penicillamine, auranofin, cyclosporine-A); while benzodiazepines are administered in the patients suffering from primary fibromyalgic syndrome. A follow-up not inferior to 12 consecutive weeks was realized and the following clinical parameters were studied: spontaneous pain, provoked pain, pain on active movement, pain on passive movement, pain at rising, pain at bed time, morning stiffness, limited joint mobility, number of tender points, number of affected joints and number of swollen joints. All the patients were monitored for hematological, biochemical, urinary and clotting tests. RESULTS: The results revealed an excellent tolerability of nabumetone with a clinical efficacy not inferior to the NSAIDs' pool. Moreover, the number of drop-outs in the N-group were significantly inferior in comparison to the NSAIDs'-pool group. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that N can be considered as effective as other NSAIDs. Moreover it seems to be better tolerated that the other NSAIDs utilized in our study.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Intra-articular administration of galactosaminoglucuronoglycan sulfate in moderate primary gonarthritis. A pilot study].

BACKGROUND: The present study has been carried out in order to assess the clinical and functional efficacy and tolerability of galactosa-minoglucuronoglycan sulphate (GGGS). The molecule has been intra-articularly administered in patients affected by moderate primary gonarthritis, according to clinical and functional parameters. METHODS: At the beginning and at the end of each period of treatment the following parameters have been evaluated: spontaneous pain, provoked pain, pain during active movement, pain during passive movement, pain at rising (7-8:00 a.m.) pain at bed time (10:00 p.m.), execution time (expressed in seconds) of up-down from a chair (five times), execution time (expressed in seconds) to walk 15 meters. Fifty patients affected by osteoarthritis of the knee were treated weekly, during one year, for two periods of six weeks each with a total amount of 12 injections. RESULTS: Treatment with Galactosaminglucuronoglycan sulphate (GGGS) seems to be effective in the therapy of osteoarthritis of the knee. The pain scores decreased and the functional levels significantly (p < 0.01) improved in a large proportion of patients and GGGS was very well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that intra-articular treatment is a substantially new way for GGGS administration in the therapy of osteoarthritis of the knee.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Hunger sensation in patients with compensated and and uncompensated type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetic patients (DP) refer increased hunger sensation (HS) when hyperglycemic but not yet ketogenic. As HS shows a within-day (ultradian cyclicity) and intra-day (circadian cyclicity) repetitivity, its recursive pattern was investigated in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), in compensated and uncompensated metabolic stage. METHOD: HS was approached in its cyclic structure by means of spectral analysis (SA), and in its circadian rhythmicity by means of Single Cosinor analysis (SCA), applied to self-rated scores of HS given every 30 min to their HS (orexigram) by DP. RESULTS: Exaggerated periprandial, interprandial, and/or nocturnal peaks of HS were seen in the orexigram of both the type I and type II DP. Specific alterations in HS periodogram were detected, structurally denoting a relative prevalence of the ultradian components along with the deamplification and loss of the circadian harmonics. DISCUSSION: The increase of HS (hyperorexia) in nonketotic DM may be formally attributed to a mechanism of frequency multiplication and amplitude demodulation in the multifrequency bioperiodic structure which physiologically regulates the recursive pattern to the daily HS in human beings.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Beta thalassemia: motivation for screening in Terni].

There are no definitive data on the frequency of beta-thalassaemia in the Province of Terni; a mass screening programme has not been carried out. Preliminary studies confirm that there is a strong incidence of beta-thalassaemia heterozygotes. A theory can be put forward for the presence of beta-thalassaemia trait, based on the notion of the multicentric genesis of the disorder: the malaria may have been the dominant selective factor.

Heterozygote↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Artificial nutrition in the patient with hyperglycemia].

The stress of critical illness evokes insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. Artificial nutrition is commonly considered one of the main causes of hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients. Patients with newly diagnosed hyperglycemia had a significantly higher mortality rate and a lower functional outcome than patients with a known history of diabetes or normoglycemia Intensive insulin treatment to normalize blood glucose during feeding has been shown to improve morbidity and mortality in patients in intensive care. Insulin glargine may contribute to improving the glycemic values in patients receiving artificial nutrition with hyperglycemia.

Critical Care↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Proposal of a questionnaire to evaluate the foot in the rheumatic diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To compile a simple questionnaire, named 'Foot Health Questionnaire-1' (FHQ1), which would evaluate the state of the foot in rheumatic diseases, such as osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-three consecutive subjects entered the study: 25 with RA; 14 with OA; 10 with CTD and 14 healthy control subjects. RESULTS: It was possible to establish that the highest mean value of FHQ1 refers to RA patients (median FHQ1 value, 41) and OA patients (median FHQ1 value, 37) whereas for CTD patients the mean value was 14 and for healthy subjects was = 0, as expected. It results that 72% of RA patients and 65% of OA patients enter classes III and IV of FHQ1, whereas 70% of CTD patients were in class I. CONCLUSIONS: An evaluation questionnaire regarding the algo-functioning of the foot could be a useful tool in routine rheumatologic clinical practice.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Short term efficacy of intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid in osteoarthritis of the first carpometacarpal joint in a preliminary open pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: The use of hyaluronic acid (HA) in osteoarthritis (OA) is based on the findings that viscoelasticity of the synovial fluid is entirely due to its HA content and that HA itself may influence the disease by interacting with components of the synovial fluid. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy of HA in OA of the first carpometacarpal joint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was performed on 43 patients with 56 total joints. Five parameters were been relieved: spontaneous pain; provoked pain; joint performances and related pain; algofunctional index of Dreiser; assumption of drugs. The administrations of HA have been performed with 0.5 ml of HA at each injection. RESULTS: The behaviour of pain shows a significant (p < 0.0005 for all the comparisons) reduction from base time to the end of the study and the Dreiser Index decreased as well. At base time 81.4% of the patients assumed NSAIDs and only 13.8% analgesics. During the following weeks a smaller requirement of NSAIDs (from 81% to 23%) and a greater number of patients without analgesic therapy were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Intra-articular HA seems to be effective in OA of CMC joint. This short term study suggests to observe and to treat these patients during a longer period of time in order to evaluate not only the efficacy but also the clinical safety.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Osteoporosis prevention: a reasoned examination of food habits and physical activities in a schoolchildren population in central Italy.

OBJECTIVE: The dietary intake of calcium is fundamental for prevention of osteoporosis, especially in the first three decade of age to gain a valid peak bone mass; moreover physical activity is important for the same reason. The objective of our research is to examine the food habits and the way to practice sport in a homogenous population of schoolchildren. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected by an original questionnaire in 500 schoolchildren (238 males, 262 females, 9-12 yrs) living in the centre of Italy. RESULTS: Data show that the calcium intake decreases while the age increases. According to the recommended daily calcium dose, the percentages of insufficient calcium intake were 21% in the 6 years old group, 35% in the 7 to 10 years old group and 52.5% in the 11 to 14 years old group. Milk and dairy products cover 57% of the calcium needs (17% and 40% respectively), water covers 24% and the other foodstuffs 19%; moreover most children (43.5%) practice non competitive sports with a preference (58.3%) for no-weightbearing sports (mainly cycling) over weightbearing sports (mainly football). CONCLUSIONS. This survey suggests that a high percentage of young people do not take the recommended daily dose of calcium (especially interesting that becoming older with consequent lower parental control over the diet, the higher the incidence of poor calcium intake increases), then it would be recommendable to establish a national health program promoting appropriate physical exercise plus a correct calcium intake as early as the primary school.

Adolescent↗