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Biomedical subjects

S Ortolani

Publications and source records attributed to S Ortolani.

63 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Body composition analysis by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and anthropometry in adults with childhood-onset growth hormone (GH) deficiency before and after six months of recombinant GH therapy.

Measurements of total body fat (BF) and fat free mass (FFM) obtained by anthropometry, using the Durnin and Womersley (DW) equations, and by total body dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were compared in 8 adults with childhood-onset GH deficiency (GHD) and in 9 healthy subjects. The sensitivity of these two methods in detecting the changes in body composition produced by six months of GH therapy in patients with GHD was also compared. Anthropometric determination of percent BF was calculated from the sum of biceps, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac skinfolds, using the appropriate DW and Siri equations for body density and percent fat estimation. FFM was calculated by subtracting BF from body mass (BM). BF and FFM were also determined by DXA (QDR 1000/W, Hologic Inc). The data obtained from the GHD patients were compared with those recorded in a control group of healthy males, matched for sex, age and physical activity. Body composition obtained by anthropometry: before GH treatment, significant differences existed between patients and controls in terms of BM (mean +/- SD: 45.8 +/- 10.0 vs 71.7 +/- 6.6 kg), percent BF (21.0 +/- 3.2 vs 17.1 +/- 3.7%) and FFM (36.0 +/- 6.5 vs 59.3 +/- 3.7 kg), while body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) values were similar in the two groups. Six months of GH therapy did not change BM and BMI, but caused a significant reduction of percent BF (from 21.0 +/- 3.2 to 18.6 +/- 4.0%) and a rise of FFM (from 36.0 +/- 6.5 to 38.0 +/- 6.7 kg). After treatment, no significant differences were found between percent BF values of patients and controls. Body composition obtained by DXA: BF (22.0 +/- 3.9%) and FFM (37.2 +/- 8.0 kg) of patients significantly differed from those of controls (16.8 +/- 3.7% and 59.8 +/- 3.7 kg) before treatment; after GH treatment, percent BF values (17.7 +/- 4.9%) of patients were similar to those of controls. Anthropometry vs DXA: high correlation (p < 0.001-0.0001, R2 = 0.784-0.988) was found between the percent BF and FFM determined by anthropometry and by DXA for both patients, before and after treatment, and controls. It is noteworthy that, for both BF and FFM, most values were evenly distributed along the identity line, showing no systematic overestimation or underestimation by anthropometry. The relation between DXA and anthropometry was maintained even after GH treatment. These results indicate that body fat and FFM assessment by anthropometry are comparable to those by DXA. GH-induced changes in body composition in hypopituitary adults are detected with the same level of accuracy by the two techniques. The reliability, practicality and low cost of anthropometry favour its use for the assessment of body composition even in GHD patients.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunoreactive calcitonin: a tumor marker for myelogenous leukemias.

In a series of 59 patients with chronic or acute myelogenous leukemia (CML, AML) we investigated whether circulating immunoreactive human calcitonin (i-hCT) levels correlate with diagnosis, response to therapy and clinical course. I-hCT was detectable in plasma samples of 88% of patients with CML in the chronic phase and in 100% of patients with CML in blastic transformation. In the AML patients, a significant relation was observed between the cytological subtype and i-hCT levels at diagnosis. In sequentially studied patients the i-hCT plasma concentration was related to the overall mass of leukemic cells, being lower when complete remission was achieved than at diagnosis and increasing at time of recurrence. These data suggest that circulating i-hCT levels can serve as a "tumor marker" in human myelogenous leukemias.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Research and evaluation of Internet resources for the practice and teaching of nursing].

Recent changes in the Italian health care system are causing a complex redefinition of the traditional principles of nursing. Among the new principles that are being proposed, the implementation of a clinical practice based on the evidence generated by the medical research community appears to be prominent. However, objective time constraints in finding and evaluating the available information have often hampered the achievement of this highly desirable goal. In this perspective, exploitation of the intrinsic quickness of the internet-based information retrieval systems has the potential to effectively circumvent the problem. To provide nurses with a proper training in a timely search and evaluation of on-line data, we have designed and developed a guide to those websites providing clinical information. This guide consists of (1) reviews of existing websites, and (2) proposal of a standardized model for selection, evaluation, and description of existing and newly appearing websites. We believe that this guide might increase the capability of nurses to effectively exploit the medical and scientific information resources available on the net.

Education, Nursing↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Short-term intravenous therapy with Neridronate in Paget's disease.

AIMS: To describe the effects of two consecutive intravenous infusions of aminohexane bisphosphonate (Neridronate) in patients with active Paget's disease of bone. METHODS: The study population included 83 patients, aged 41 to 85 years, randomized to 4 cumulative doses of Neridronate (25, 50, 100, 200 mg) given over 2 days, with a follow up of 180 days. The baseline serum alkaline phosphatase activity was at least 10% above the upper limit of the laboratory range. The response to treatment was assessed by changes in the serum total alkaline phosphatase (primary end point of the study), bone alkaline phosphatase and N-telopeptide urinary excretion. RESULTS: All Neridronate doses significantly suppressed the biochemical indices of disease activity. The nadir of total alkaline phosphatase levels ranged from -16 % to -57.5% of pretreatment values in the four groups, with a dose-response relationship that was apparent even between the two highest doses. The proportion of patients still maintaining a partial response (decreases in serum total alkaline phosphatase >25%) at the 6 month follow-up was also related to the dose: 98%, 67%, 57%, 21% in the patients given 200, 100, 50, 25 mg respectively. The proportion of responders in terms of bone alkaline phosphatase and N-telopeptide excretion changes was similar. Bone pain attributed to Paget's disease was significantly reduced. A typical acute phase reaction (fever and/or arthromyalgia) occurred in 16 out of 83 patients. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that all of the Neridronate doses tested here were well tolerated and effective in decreasing, in a dose-related manner the bone turnover parameters of Paget's disease. The highest dose (200 mg) resulted in the normalization of the markers of disease activity in more than 60% of the patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The fracture risk in the elderly subject: the determining factors].

Recent advancements in the field of bone mass measurements allow us a precise determination of bone mineral density values in various skeletal sites. At present, their determination gives the most valuable information on individual fracture risk. However, we sometimes to witness fragility fractures in presence of regular values of bone mineral density which suggest a satisfactory status of skeletal mineralization. These cases underline that the mechanical incompetence of the skeleton is not simply the result of a decrease in bone mineral density and that other factors are responsible for the increase of fracture incidence in the elderly. In this paper, several factors potentially involved in the occurrence of fragility fractures in elderly people have been considered on the basis of the most recent data of the current literature in this field. These factors, subdivided in bone tissue extrinsic and bone tissue intrinsic factors, include: muscle synergisms, reflex reactions and sensory status, soft tissue features, bone tissue features, structural properties and loading modalities in relation to structural orientation. Awareness and analysis on these factors are important for better management of preventive as well as therapeutic measures for fragility fractures in elderly.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical experience with two simple methods of measurement of 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate body retention in bone disease.

Whole-body retention (WBR) of 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate was measured in 15 control subjects and in 99 patients with various metabolic bone diseases (osteoporosis, Paget's disease of the bone, hyperparathyroidism). In all the subjects WBR was measured indirectly from urinary excretion and in 30 it was also measured directly using a simple detector. Mean WBR values did not differ between control subjects and osteoporotic patients, whereas patients with Paget's disease and patients with hyperparathyroidism had significantly higher mean WBR levels than the controls. However, overlapping of results among the groups was high, and consequently the diagnostic value in the individual patients was low. In the patients whose WBR levels were measured simultaneously by both the direct and the indirect urinary method, the results were essentially the same, provided urine losers were excluded. Comparison of the two detection methods showed that urine loss occurred frequently and this was probably partly responsible for the low diagnostic sensitivity of the WBR. When WBR was measured at different time intervals in untreated individuals, the values remained markedly constant. The method would probably be of value in monitoring treatments influencing bone turnover in metabolic bone diseases.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 in the treatment of idiopathic thrombocythemia and myelofibrosis.

The effect of treatment with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 administered at the dose of 1.50-3.00 ug/day for at least 12 months was evaluated in three patients with idiopathic myelofibrosis and in five patients with idiopathic thrombocythemia. This treatment did not cause any significant change in the hematological values or the clinical course of the myeloproliferative diseases in any of the patients. Based on these data, treatment with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in non toxic doses seems to be of doubtful benefit in patients with these disorders.

Adult↗