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Biomedical subjects

V Castellani

Publications and source records attributed to V Castellani.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Echocardiographic evaluation of the dimensions and systolic properties of the left ventricle in freshman athletes during physical training.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the early anatomic and functional changes of the left ventricles in junior freshman non-professional athletes just beginning specific regular training programs for 6 different types of sport. Forty-nine males (mean age 20 +/- 6 years) and 9 sedentary controls were studied by means of sequential M-mode echocardiograms, before and after a 10 to 12 week training period: 13 athletes started bicycle-riding (aerobic category), 6 sprint (anaerobic category), 6 weight-lifting (strength category), 13 soccer (mixed category), 11 rifle-shooting (manual dexterity category). Resting heart rate, blood pressure, left ventricular diameter (LVID), left ventricular posterior wall and interventricular septum thickness (LVPWT, IVST), left ventricular mass (LVMI), relative wall thickness (h/r ratio) and fractional shortening (FS%) of the LVID, cardiac index (CI) and stroke volume (SV) were comparable in all groups initially. After the training period, the cyclists, the sprinters and the soccer-players showed an increased LVID, LVMI and FS%. The cyclists and the soccer players also showed a decreased h/r ratio. The weight-lifters showed a slight increase of their LVMI, with an increased h/r ratio. We have, thus, documented that even after a relatively short non-strenuous training period, specific anatomical and functional changes occurred in the hearts of young athletes practising sports for recreational purposes, according to the type of sport.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

The echo-Doppler (duplex) system for the detection of vertebral artery occlusive disease: comparison with angiography.

The reliability of the echo-Doppler (duplex) system for the visualization of the vertebral arteries was evaluated in 304 patients, in which 588 vertebral arteries had been investigated. Of these, 545 (92.69 per cent) arteries, either normal or diseased, were successfully visualized. However, the origin of the vertebral artery from the subclavian artery was localized in only 354 vessels (60 per cent of those visualized). Angiography was available for comparison in 33 arteries. The overall accuracy and the sensitivity of the duplex were 63.64 per cent and 38.46 per cent, respectively; they attained 86.67 per cent and 83.33 per cent in the vertebral arteries visualized from their origin, (a site early and most commonly involved by the atherosclerotic process). As the vertebral arteries can be visualized with a 92 per cent success rate, their examination should become a routine part of the duplex cerebrovascular study. In order to accurately detect diseased vertebral arteries, their origin from the subclavian artery should be localized.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

[Prevalence of atherosclerotic lesions of the carotid bifurcation found with echo-doppler (duplex) technic in patient candidates for aortocoronary bypass].

The association of an overt coronary artery disease with a cerebrovascular disease is frequently reported. However the real prevalence of atherosclerotic lesions at the carotid bifurcation in coronary patients is not well established. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of atherosclerotic involvement of the extracranial carotid arteries in a group of 141 patients undergoing coronary artery by-pass graft (CABG) and to verify whether any correlations between coronary and carotid artery disease exist. The extracranial carotid arteries have been studied by means of an echo-doppler (duplex) system, which combines a B-mode images with a pulsed doppler. A high prevalence (17.02%) of patients with a severe (greater than 50% diameter reduction) carotid involvement was detected (Tab. II). However, no correlations between the coronary and the carotid disease were found in terms of extension and severity (Tab. V). In conclusion, a systematic evaluation of the carotid arteries is recommendable in the coronary patients, candidates to CABG, even in the absence of cerebrovascular symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Prevalence of atherosclerotic lesions at the carotid bifurcation in patients with asymptomatic bruits: an echo-Doppler (duplex) study.

The prevalence of atherosclerotic lesions at the carotid bifurcation with asymptomatic Meck bruits has been evaluated in 71 patients, 42 males, ages ranging from 19 to 84 yrs, referred to our non-invasive vascular laboratory for an echo-Doppler (duplex) scan, associated with spectral analysis (Mark V ATL with Flow analyzer 459). Fifty-nine patients had mid-neck or high-neck bruits (30 bilateral), 12 had low-neck bruits (4 bilateral). The internal carotid arteries were classified as normal, minimal stenosis (diameter reduction 20%), moderate stenosis (20-49%), severe stenosis greater than or equal to 50%), total occlusion. Twenty-four of the internal carotid arteries homolateral to a mid- or high-neck bruit were normal, 84% had stenosis of various degree (16% severe), 2% were occluded. Stenoses of various degree were also present on the contralateral side of the bruit. No lesions above a diameter reduction of 20% were present in the internal carotid arteries corresponding to a low-neck bruit. The echo-Doppler (duplex) system, being capable of spanning the whole spectrum of the internal carotid occlusive disease, allows us to limit the number of the invasive diagnostic procedures in asymptomatic patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

The double pre-beta very low density lipoprotein lipoproteinemia (DPBL): a new dyslipoproteinemic state.

A new dyslipoproteinemic state, characterized by two populations of very low density lipoprotein particles giving the electrophoretic appearance of two pre-beta bands, the double pre-beta lipoproteinemia, is described. Based upon the lipid and apoprotein composition, it can be inferred that the slow moving pre-beta component is probably made up of remnant very low density lipoprotein particles; the absence of apo B 48 in the very low density lipoprotein fraction in these subjects rules out the intestinal origin of this remnant. Clinical interest in the double pre-beta lipoproteinemia relates to its potential atherogenicity; in fact it seems to be causally associated with such pathological conditions as hypothyroidism, uremia and dialysis, which are frequently accompanied by clinical complications of atherosclerosis. Double pre-beta lipoproteinemia also shows familial aggregation. Six years follow-up in a large family kindred has demonstrated that the family members carrying the double pre-beta lipoproteinemia, develop an incidence of coronary and cerebrovascular events higher than that of family members without the double pre-beta lipoproteinemia.

Apolipoproteins B↗
PubMed1976

[Twins in myth (author's transl)].

Twins have an important place in mythology and a sacred character appears to be attached to them since the most ancient times. In ancient Egypt, the royal placenta was worshipped, being considered as the Pharao's twin (a conception that is still alive among certain African populations), and actually everyone was considered to possess a spiritual twin, the Ka or astral body, through whom it was supposed to be possible to operate with magic rituals and hit enemies. Twin gods were worshipped by Babylonians and Assyrians (who even introduced them among astronomic constellations), and may be also found in the Persian and Veda religions. In the classic, Greco-Roman world, the examples of twin gods and heroes are innumerable: from the twin sons of Zeus, the Dioscuri, to the opposite-sexed twin gods Apollo and Diana, to Rome's founders, Romulus and Remus, etc. Since the most ancient times, a magic conception is connected to the twins, either in a positive or a negative sense, but often with some kind of a "fatidic" aspect. Such a two-faced approach to the phenomenon of twinning, that variously characterizes near-east, protomediterranean, classic, and other ancient civilizations, may still be found in contemporary primitive societies.

Female↗