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S Glorioso

Publications and source records attributed to S Glorioso.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Predictive value of synovial fluid analysis in juvenile chronic arthritis.

To investigate the value of synovial fluid analysis in predicting the articular evolution of juvenile chronic arthritis, synovial fluid from 29 patients with oligoarticular onset juvenile chronic arthritis were examined prospectively. The patients were subsequently classified after a three year period of observation as having polyarticular (10 patients) or pauciarticular (19 patients) disease. The synovial fluid samples were analysed for total and differential white blood cell count, total protein, beta 2 microglobulin, and total complement activity. For comparison, synovial fluid samples from 95 patients with adult onset rheumatoid arthritis were also analysed. In patients with polyarticular disease polymorphonuclear cells and beta 2 microglobulin concentrations were higher than in the patients with pauciarticular disease (80 (29.2) v 58.1 (25.3), and 3.6 (1.2) v 2.2 (0.5) mg/l, respectively), but there was no significant difference from the patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Synovial fluid analysis may be useful in predicting the evolution of juvenile chronic arthritis and improve definition of its subtypes.

Arthritis, Juvenile↗

[Electrocardiographic disorders in diverse clinical variations of scleroderma].

The electrocardiograms of 130 patients affected by scleroderma, 117 with systemic sclerosis (67 with diffuse and 50 with limited form) and 13 with localized scleroderma were analyzed. ECG was normal in 44.6% of cases, respectively in 39.3% with systemic sclerosis and in 92.3% with localized scleroderma. The more frequent electrocardiographic abnormalities were supraventricular and ventricular premature beats, right bundle branch block, left anterior hemiblock, low QRS voltages, ST-T wave abnormalities and Q or QS aspects. All the abnormalities above resulted to be more frequent in the patients with diffuse systemic sclerosis in comparison to the patients with limited systemic sclerosis. Our results confirm that the cardiac involvement appears to be much more serious in the diffuse systemic sclerosis.

Adolescent↗

Oesophageal motility and lower oesophageal sphincter competence in progressive systemic sclerosis and localized scleroderma.

Oesophageal motility and lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) competence were investigated in 13 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) and in 16 patients with localized scleroderma (LS) by means of oesophageal manometry and 24-h pH monitoring of the distal oesophagus. Results were compared with those of a control group consisting of asymptomatic volunteers. Marked abnormalities in oesophageal motility and in acid exposure in the distal oesophagus were observed in PSS patients only. The mean resting pressure of the LOS was 10.1 +/- 1.5 mmHg in PSS, 21.4 +/- 1.1 mmHg in LS, and 23.8 +/- 2.0 mmHg in asymptomatic controls. Overall sphincter length was 24.1 +/- 3.4 mm in PSS, 31.1 +/- 1.6 mm in LS, and 39.0 +/- 2.0 mm in the control group. Spincter abdominal length was 12.1 +/- 2 mm, 15.4 +/- 1 mm, and 25.0 +/- 1 mm, respectively. The amplitude and duration of oesophageal waves were markedly reduced at 5, 10, and 15 cm above the LOS in PSS patients, with only the upper part of their gullet being spared. An abnormal acid exposure in the distal oesophagus was observed in 84.6% of PSS patients, whereas only 18.2% (2 of 11) of pH-tested LS patients had an abnormal 24-h pH test. These data show that a marked oesophageal involvement is present only in the systemic form of scleroderma. Oesophageal tests may be useful for a circumstantial diagnosis whenever the diagnosis of PSS is uncertain; however, their use does not seem to be justified as routine in patients with LS.

Adult↗

Anticentromere antibody in localized scleroderma.

Using metaphase chromosome spreads as substrate for indirect immunofluorescence technic, we observed anticentromere antibody in three of twenty-five patients affected with various clinical forms of localized scleroderma. Anticentromere antibody is generally considered a serologic marker of the CREST syndrome, a more benign subset of systemic sclerosis. However, none of the three anticentromere antibody-positive patients with localized scleroderma had Raynaud's phenomenon, acrosclerosis, or any signs or symptoms of systemic disease; on physical and laboratory examination, they showed only typical cutaneous features of localized scleroderma: two showed linear scleroderma, and one showed localized morphea. A 2-year 8-month follow-up of two patients did not disclose any clinical evidence of systemic sclerosis. The occurrence of anticentromere antibody in patients with localized scleroderma seems to offer supportive evidence that a relationship exists between localized scleroderma and systemic sclerosis.

Adolescent↗

Prevalence of anticentromere antibody in blood relatives of anticentromere positive patients.

Anticentromere antibody (ACA) was investigated in 116 blood relatives of 22 ACA positive patients affected with scleroderma and, for comparison, in 82 healthy subjects matched for age and sex who belonged to 25 families. No relative showed any evident scleroderma symptom although in 8 an unusual cold sensitivity of the extremities was present. ACA at a low titer (40), was found in 4 relatives (3.44%), while it was absent in control sera. The 4 ACA positive relatives were first as well as second degree relatives of probands. Two had familial disease: one idiopathic chronic hypoparathyroidism and the other mental retardation. The third had myasthenia gravis and the fourth unusual cold sensitivity and allergic dermatitis. At present we cannot explain the significance of ACA occurrence in relatives of ACA positive patients. Followup clinical and serological studies could show a possible association of low titer of ACA with subclinical scleroderma features in patients who later develop overt disease.

Adolescent↗

Double-blind multicentre study of the activity of S-adenosylmethionine in hip and knee osteoarthritis.

A randomized double-blind multicentre clinical trial was carried out to verify the effectiveness and tolerance of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) versus ibuprofen in 150 patients with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis. Both drugs were given orally 400 mg thrice daily for 30 days. SAMe exhibited a slightly more marked activity than the reference drug in the management of the various painful manifestations of the joint disease. Minor side-effects developed in five patients of SAMe group, and in 16 patients of ibuprofen group. No drop-outs occurred. No changes were observed in the routine laboratory tests.

Aged↗

A family study of ankylosing spondylitis.

Clinical, radiological and scintigraphic studies and HLA type assessment were performed in 38 subjects, constituting all the first-degree members of three generations of the families of six patients affected with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The families included both parents, all siblings and all children of the probands. Definite AS was found in three men and possible AS in another. In another man and in a woman, a diagnosis of asymptomatic bilateral sacroiliitis was made. These six subjects indicate a family prevalence of AS reaching 15.8%. HLA B27 was present in 20 individuals (52.6%), including those with definite and possible AS and the case with asymptomatic sacroiliitis. The woman with asymptomatic sacroiliitis lacked HLA B27 antigen. Our study confirms the familial occurrence of AS, but it shows the occurrence to be lower than that previously reported.

Adolescent↗

Electrocardiogram in progressive systemic sclerosis. Analysis of 73 cases.

Electrocardiographic abnormalities were found in 53 out of 73 patients (72,6%) affected with progressive systemic sclerosis or scleroderma. Along with some modifications of little value, like heart rate increase or decrease, sporadic premature beats, slight ST depression or T-wave flattening, other more important abnormalities were recorded. One patient had atrial fibrillation and one supraventricular tachycardia. In 21 cases (28.8%) conduction disorders were found, including A-V block, right bundle branch block, left anterior hemiblock and bifascicular block. Low QRS voltages were present in 15 cases (20,6%), confined in all but one to the peripheral leads. In 13 patients (17,8%) Q or QS aspects suggesting myocardial necrosis were observed, but a clinical history or clinical picture of myocardial infarction syndrome was lacking in all cases but one. Electrocardiographic patterns of myocardial necrosis in scleroderma may indicate not only myocardial infarction, which seems to be a rather rare occurrence in such disease, but also intraventricular conduction system defects or progressive replacement of myocardium by fibrous tissue.

Adolescent↗

Aortic valve replacement in rheumatoid aortic incompetence.

Cardiac valvular involvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is rare and seldom so severe as to require surgery. The present report is concerned with a case of rheumatoid aortic incompetence successfully treated by prosthetic valve replacement. As suggested by previous similar reports, surgery is the most effective therapy for clinically significant rheumatoid endocarditis.

Aortic Valve Insufficiency↗

Cardiac involvement in progressive systemic sclerosis.

The case of a patient with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) who developed electro- and vectorcardiographic patterns of myocardial necrosis without clinical picture of myocardial infarction is reported. The coronarography showed no obstruction of coronary arteries and cineventriculography a hypodynamic enlarged left ventricle. The analysis of electrocardiograms from 43 other patients affected with PSS revealed myocardial necrosis in 5 of them. The clinical syndrome of myocardial infarction was absent in all these cases. Moreover, the hemodynamic investigation in 13 cases allowed to record a dip-plateau figure on the right ventricle pressure curve in 3 of them. In PSS, the electrocardiographic aspects of "necrosis" as well as hemodynamic restrictive findings or ventricular enlargement at ventriculography could indicate myocardial disease.

Adult↗

Electrocardiogram, arterial and central venous pressure during laparoscopy under local anaesthesia.

Cardiovascular hazards of laparoscopy performed under local anaesthesia and with room air pneumoperitoneum are not well known. Therefore we have recorded electrocardiogram, arterial blood pressure and central venous pressure in 63 consecutive liver patients undergoing this procedure. Electrocardiographic changes were found in 34 cases, and consisted in transistory tachycardia and bradycardia, ectopic supraventricular and ventricular beats, ST segment depression and flattening of T wave. Blood pressure did not change significantly, but five patients had transitory hypotension during the procedure. Central venous pressure did not vary immediately after inflation, but a significant increase was found during the performance of laparoscopy and it was still observed after deflation. Our findings show that cardiovascular changes during laparoscopy under local anaesthesia are minimal, and that they are probably due to neurogenic factors.

Adult↗

[Epidemiological studies of blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in a school-age population of Veneto].

During the school year 1974-75 serum cholesterol has been evaluated in the whole school population (520 subjects, 268 males and 252 females, age ranging from 6 to 14 years) of Saccolongo, a village which is about 20 kilometers from Padova (Italy) and serum triglycerides have been further evaluated in a random population of 161 subjects (90 males and 71 females, age ranging from 6 to 11 years). Serum cholesterol values did not show any significant difference between males and females. Analysis of serum cholesterol in the various age groups revealed that it was significantly higher in females at age 6 (t = 2.2296; p less than 0.05). A significant reduction in serum cholesterol values has been found at age 11 both in males (t = 4.7810; p less than 0.001) and in females (t = 5.6134; p less than 0.001). Serum cholesterol and triglycerides values did not correlate (r = 0.404). Serum triglycerides were higher in girls than in boys (t = 2.1360; p less than 0.05). Analysis of the serum triglycerides values in the various age groups were constant in males (F = 0.4161) and inconstant in females (F = 3.8844; p less than 0.01) where age groups 8 (t = 3.5127; p less than 0.005) and 11 (t = 3.5238; p less than 0.005) showed higher than normal values.

Age Factors↗

[Clinical effects of a clonidine-chlorthalidone combination in the treatment of arterial hypertension].

Clonidine (0.075-0.225 mg/day) and chlorthalidone (0.15-0.45 mg/day) were associated in the management of 23 cases of arterial hypertension of varying nature and gravity. A significant and satisfactory decrease in pressure was accompanied by reduced cardiac frequency. Diuresis, body weight and the main biohumoral indices were not significantly affected. The mechanism of action of the two drugs is explained and the reason why success was obtained with their combination in less-than-normal doses is discussed.

Adult↗