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V Brancato

Publications and source records attributed to V Brancato.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Fetal lung maturity in pregnancies complicated by insulin-dependent and gestational diabetes: a matched cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To study fetal lung maturity (FLM) as determined by amniotic fluid (AF) tests in diabetic pregnancies (DP) under euglycemic metabolic control, in comparison with matched controls (C). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 514 consecutive pregnancies where amniocentesis was performed for FLM assessment, we selected 45 glycemic controlled DP. Nineteen DP were Type I (IDDM) and 26 pregnancies were diagnosed Type III (GDM). Cases were matched to C by therapy with corticosteroids, gestational age at amniocentesis, pregnancy complications other than diabetes and gender. FLM was determined by the shake test and lamellar bodies (LB) count, lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio (planimetric and stechiometric) and phosphatidylglycerol presence (PG). DP were further sub-divided according to gestational age period at amniocentesis, type of diabetes, associated therapy and fetal malformations. RESULTS: RDS (n=2) and neonatal wet lung (n=5) were diagnosed in neonates from diabetic mothers. We found no statistical difference when comparing FLM indices between DP and C groups: shake test 3.1:1+/-1.2 vs. 2.7:1+/-1.2, P<0.40; planimetric L/S 3.4+/-1.4 vs. 3.1+/-2.0, P<0.27; stechiometric L/S 8.2+/-7.4 vs. 7.1+/-6.1, P<0.54; percentage of PG positivity 57% vs. 46%, P<0.13; lamellar bodies count (X10(3)/microl) 42.8+/-36.9 vs. 41.5+/-30.4, P<0.72. No differences were found between DP and controls for subgroups according to gestational age, type of Diabetes (IDDM or GDM), congenital lesions and associated therapy. CONCLUSIONS: In euglycemic, metabolically controlled diabetic patients FLM is not delayed, however an increased risk for neonatal wet lung should be considered.

Amniocentesis↗
PubMed1999

The effect of primary cytomegalovirus infection on fetal lung maturity indices.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection on fetal pulmonary surfactant production as assessed by different tests for the diagnosis of fetal lung maturity (FLM) on amniotic fluid (AF). A cross-sectional cohort study. AF samples from 11 pregnant women with primary CMV infection were examined for FLM between the 26th and 37th week of gestation. Normal pregnancies (n = 11) were matched for gestational age at amniocentesis and at delivery, birth weight, Apgar score and gender sex. FLM was assessed by planimetric and stoichiometric lecithin to sphingomyelin ratio (L/S), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) presence and lamellar bodies count (LB). Maternal immunological parameters (T-cells, natural killer [NK] activity) were also considered. Mean planimetric L/S ratio (4.2+/-2.1 vs 2.3+/-0.7, P < 0.01) and LB count (42.6 x 10(3)+/-19.0 x 10(3) vs 16.8 x 10(3)+/-11.5 x 10(3), P < 0.004) were higher in controls when compared to CMV infected patients. Moreover, planimetric L/S ratio was higher in five CMV non-infected babies compared to six CMV-infected babies (3.1+/-1.3 vs 1.9+/-0.8, P < 0.05). When FLM was related to maternal immunological results, planimetric and stoichiometric L/S and LBs count were negatively correlated with CD8+ T-cells (r = -0.8, P < 0.05; r = -0.9, P < 0.05; r = -0.9, P < 0.01, respectively); LBs was also negatively correlated with CD14+ T-cells (r = -0.8, P < 0.03). In contrast, a positive correlation was found between stoichiometric L/S and NK activity (r = 0.9, P > 0.01). Maternal primary CMV infection impairs FLM indices as a possible result of reduced surfactant release and/or production. Significant correlations were found between immunity status of CMV-infected mothers and FLM tests.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1995

DSM-III-R brief reactive psychosis and personality disorders.

DSM-III and DSM-III-R defined the diagnostic criteria of brief reactive psychosis (BRP) identifying some personality disorders (PDs) as predisposing factors: up to now no experimental data support this hypothesis. In this research, the authors studied the link between BRP and PDs, assessing axis II diagnosis (SIDP-R), after recovery of BRP in a group of 23 patients. Eighty-seven percent of the patients (n = 19) received at least one diagnosis of PDs. The widespread presence of PDs and, particularly, the high prevalence of cluster C (n = 11, 47.8%), are only partially in accordance with the hypothesis of DSM-III. A possible alternative model of interaction is suggested.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Tardive dyskinesia outcomes: clinical and pharmacologic correlates of remission and persistence.

Reversible tardive dyskinesia (TD) outcomes have been reported in long-term neuroleptic (NL)-treated patients. In this study the course of TD outcomes was followed-up for 3 years in a population of 125 institutionalized schizophrenic patients (mean age 57.8 years) receiving continuous NL treatment. Tardive dyskinesia occurrence and severity were assessed by means of the Rockland Simpson Scale (RSS). The prevalence of TD rose from 39.2% at the first examination to 52.8% at last follow-up examination; however, 28.6% of TD-affected patients recovered and 30% improved. Significant risk factors for a persistent TD outcome result included age over 56 years, duration of illness over 30 years, and a total RSS score over 22. Cumulative NL exposure, over 3550 g of chlorpromazine equivalents, was also a significant risk factor for TD. Results from this study confirm that there is the possibility of improvement and remission in an aged, long-term institutionalized population of TD patients. In this report we point out prognostic factors for positive outcome.

Antipsychotic Agents↗
PubMed1991

[Mortality and HIV infection in a group of intravenous heroin addicts from 1985 to 1989].

One hundred and eighty-seven heroin addicts resident in Valle Seriana Superiore were monitored from July 1985 to July 1989. This sample was representative of a total population of drug addicts estimated at some 350 subjects, 90 of whom (48.1%) were HIV-positive in Elisa assays and Western blot control tests. Six patients (3.2%) died; 3 of whom (3%) were HIV-positive and 3 (3.3%) were HIVab-negative. The most frequent cause of death (59%) was heroin overdose, which occurred in both HIV-positive and negative subjects, showing that the fear of contracting the disease or its possible evolution is not a deterrent in modifying risk behaviour. During the four years of the study, 5 (5.5%) of the HIV-positive patients developed confirmed AIDS. Only one patient died from AIDS, thus confirming the current risk of death as being 1.1% in seropositive patients. An increase in mortality due to AIDS is expected in the future, in line with the current prevalent mortality rate due to heroin overdose.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

Red blood cell plasma Li ratio variability in affective patients.

In the light of the existence of controversial reports on the stability of Li ratio, we investigated a group of affective patients wishing to verify intraindividual stability of this parameter in the different phases of the disease, that is normothymia and manic and depressive episodes. We found lower Li ratios for the periods preceding any relapse. Further, we analyzed whether or not some epidemiological factors, such as polarity, sex, actual age, age of onset, might affect interindividual variability of the Li ratio. We found that they did not as single factors. Interaction between polarity and the presence of relapses appeared to significantly affect the Li ratio.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Effects of neuroleptic treatments on peripheral opioid secretion.

The effects of short- and long-term neuroleptic therapy on peripheral secretion of beta-endorphin (beta-EP) and beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH) were examined in 25 chronic schizophrenic patients. Haloperidol was given to 8 patients for 10 days (group A: 0.1 mg/kg b.w./day) and to another group of 8 patients for 30 days (group B: 10-18 mg/day). The other 9 patients were given a combination of haloperidol (6-30 mg/day) with either chlorpromazine (25-75 mg/day), clotiapine (40-60 mg/day), or fluphenazine decanoate (25-75 mg/month) for 14-18 months (group C). beta-EP and beta-LPH levels were assayed before and after each treatment. Haloperidol plasma levels were assayed in group B patients at the end of treatment. beta-EP mean basal levels were higher in patients than in controls; however, beta-LPH mean basal levels were higher only for group A patients. After treatment, the mean levels did not differ from those prior to therapy in groups A and B, while beta-LPH levels were significantly higher in group C. Level increases or decreases in single patients did not correlate with drug dose or duration of treatment, with baseline peptide levels or with the clinical effects of the various treatments.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Treatment of chronic constipation by a bulk-forming laxative (Fibrolax).

Seventy-five patients affected by chronic constipation were treated for 4 weeks with an Ispaghula Husk preparation (Fibrolax), a bulk-forming laxative. Frequency, stool consistency, abdominal pain and signs of venous stasis improved after treatment. No important side-effect was recorded. Cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides did not show significant changes.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The nature of depression in borderline depressed patients.

The symptomatology of 15 borderline (BDL) depressed and 45 non-BDL depressed consecutive inpatients was assessed using the Hamilton depression scale (HAM-D) and the 90-item Symptoms Checklist (SCL-90) self-rating questionnaire. No significant differences were found in the total scorings of the two instruments in the two groups of patients. However, while non-BDL depressive rated significantly higher in items related to melancholic forms of depression, BDL depressives showed less specific symptoms, and the persistence, or possibly the magnification, of their maladaptive personologic structure. Two discriminant analyses, performed on the ratings at the HAM-D and SCL-90 of the two groups of patients, suggested that although the total degree of severity may be the same, the depressive episodes of BDL patients are qualitatively different from those of patients with less maladaptive personologic traits.

Adult↗