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Biomedical subjects

V Conti

Publications and source records attributed to V Conti.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

High levels of plasma atrial natriuretic factor and impaired left ventricular diastolic function in hypertensives without left ventricular hypertrophy.

OBJECTIVE: To seek possible correlations between plasma atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and left ventricular diastolic function (LVDF) in hypertensive patients. DESIGN: Since LVDF abnormalities can be detected in patients with normal left ventricular mass, we studied a group of hypertensive patients without left ventricular hypertrophy. METHODS: Untreated hypertensive patients (n = 23) and normotensive control subjects (n = 19) were studied. LVDF indices were obtained by M-mode and pulsed Doppler echocardiography. Blood samples for plasma ANF were taken in the recumbent position from subjects on normal-sodium intake. RESULTS: Plasma ANF levels were significantly higher in hypertensive patients than in normotensive subjects. All indices for systolic function were normal in both normotensive subjects and hypertensive patients. Left atrial diameter was significantly higher for hypertensive patients than for normotensive subjects. Considering LVDF, all indices for ventricular filling were found to be altered, on average, in hypertensive patients, the only exception being peak early velocity. In addition, significant correlations were found between plasma ANF and the pulsed Doppler parameters of left ventricular filling, peak atrial velocity and the peak early:peak atrial velocity ratio. Overall correlations between plasma ANF and left atrial diameter, and between left atrial diameter and left ventricular mass index were also observed. CONCLUSIONS: The high levels of plasma ANF observed in our hypertensive patients and their correlation with the LVDF indices (which mainly reflect the atrial contribution to ventricular filling) could be the result of an increased atrial stretch due to diastolic ventricular dysfunction. This may exist in hypertensive patients before the development of ventricular hypertrophy.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[The use of dynamic electrocardiographic monitoring in scleroderma patients].

A comparative analysis of arrhythmias by "basal" electrocardiogram (ECG) and by continuous 24-hour Holter electrocardiogram monitoring was performed in 17 patients with systemic sclerosis (16 women and one man). Our study confirms that rhythm disturbances are better detectable using Holter monitoring. In fact, no patients had ventricular arrhythmias detected by ECG; on the contrary, Holter monitoring revealed ventricular arrhythmias in nine patients (53.3%). This method also revealed a ventricular tachycardia, not detected by ECG. In two patients ventricular repolarisation abnormalities without symptoms was revealed.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Cardiovascular involvement and relative risk factors in systemic sclerosis. Personal contribution].

In systemic sclerosis (SS), cardiovascular commitment was recorded in an autopsy series, in widely different percentages, from 12 to 81%. On the other hand, clinical diagnosis of cardiopathy is made in far fewer cases. In addition, the coexistence of renal and/or pulmonary commitment makes difficult separation between primary and secondary heart damage. In 22 patients (2 m, 20 f) aged between 34 and 75 (average 55 +/- 11) with SS, a study has been made of the a) prevalence of cardiovascular commitment; b) the significance of the classic risk factors; c) the erythrocyte filtration time or TF (index of microangiopathic damage). Metabolic stability, fibrinogen, haematocrit and TF (Reid et al. method) were assessed in each patient. Nine patients (40.9%) presented ischaemic cardiopathy (myocardial infarction in three and effort angina in six), one (4.5%) presented hypertensive cardiopathy. Conduction disturbances were observed in five patients (22.7%). Whereas a statistically significant increase in TF was observed in cardiopaths, no differences in plasma levels of glucose, cholesterol or fibrinogen were observed. The incidence of smoking and the familial factor were also insignificant.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Plasma levels of atrial natriuretic factor in mild to moderate hypertensives without signs of left ventricular hypertrophy: correlation with the known duration of hypertension.

The relationship between plasma atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), blood pressure (BP), age, plasma renin activity (PRA) and urinary sodium excretion was studied in 64 normal subjects (mean age 48.7 +/- 2.1 yrs; BP: 126.5 +/- 1.6/79.5 +/- 0.9 mmHg) and in 104 untreated uncomplicated essential hypertensives (50.8 +/- 1.1 yrs; BP: 164.7 +/- 1.6/105.2 +/- 0.6 mmHg). ANF was measured by radioimmunoassay after extraction on C18 columns. ANF was significantly higher in the hypertensives than in the normal subjects (37.1 +/- 1.2 vs 29.7 +/- 1.5 pg/ml, P less than 0.01). In normals plasma ANF was significantly correlated with age (r = 0.72, P less than 0.001), Na excretion (r = 0.42, P less than 0.001) and PRA (r = -0.71, P less than 0.001) whereas in the hypertensives ANF plasma levels correlated only with systolic (r = 0.46, P less than 0.001) and diastolic (r = 0.51, P less than 0.001) BP. In addition in hypertensive patients, by multivariate linear regression analysis, a significant correlation was found between age, known duration of hypertension and plasma ANF. The partial correlation coefficient between duration of hypertension and plasma ANF was highly significant (r = 0.80, P less than 0.001). These findings suggest that in essential hypertension the level of arterial BP is a main determinant of the ANF plasma values offsetting the ability of other physiological factors to regulate plasma ANF levels.

Aged↗
PubMed1977

[Glycoprotein changes in acute myocardial infarction (author's transl)].

The changes of 11 plasma glycoproteins have been recorded during the first month in 22 patients with acute myocardial infarction; the quantitations have been performed by radial immunodiffusion on plates. The IgM proteins are significantly augmented and, with lesser degree, the alpha1 acid glycoprotein, the alpha1 antitrypsin and the haptoglobin are significantly augmented too. The peak is noted on the tenth day (the alpha1 acid glycoprotein only has its peak in twentieth day). To explain these changes we can consider: 1) the inflammatory reaction; 2) the repair reaction; 3) the autoimmune response. The complete explanation of these findings needs time: in the mean time we could use the IgM changes as a test in the second stage diagnosis of the acute myocardial infarction as well as the tests used so far.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Extrinsic compression of the left main coronary artery in pulmonary hypertension.

Compression of the left main coronary artery by a dilated pulmonary artery can be a life-threatening condition. It can present with angina, symptoms of left ventricular dysfunction, and sudden death. Diagnosis and treatment of this condition is very important. We demonstrate significant compression of the left main coronary artery on coronary angiography and thorax CT examinations.

Coronary Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sarcoidosis of the breast: a rare case report and a review.

Sarcoidosis is an idiopathic systemic inflammatory granulomatous disorder comprised of epithelioid and multinucleated giant cells with little necrosis. It usually invades the lungs with fibrosis and may also involve lymph nodes, skin, liver, spleen, eyes, phalangeal bones, and parotid glands. Breast involvement is extremely rare, but, when present, it could be confused with a benign or, more important, a malignant neoplasm. We have reported a case of sarcoidosis of the breast in a 51 years old woman with systemic manifestations of sarcoidosis (arthralgias and uveitis) associated with a breast mass and with a clinical history of fibrocystic mastopathy. A chest X-ray and a Computed Tomography (CT), with raised serum levels of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE), were compatible with a diagnosis of sarcoidosis. The mammography and ultrasonogram showed a solitary little nodular lesion localized in the breast. A breast cancer in a patient with sarcoidosis? To answer this question, the patient performed breast surgery under general anaesthesia and bioptic microscopic examination showed a typical sarcoid granuloma.

Biopsy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nitrendipine once daily compared with nicardipine in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension.

Twenty-four patients with mild to moderate hypertension were randomly assigned to 42 days of treatment with 20 mg of nitrendipine once daily or 20 mg of nicardipine thrice daily. In the nitrendipine-treated and nicardipine-treated patients, respectively, mean resting blood pressure decreased from 163 +/- 12 and 161 +/- 11 mmHg at baseline to 152 +/- 12 and 146 +/- 9 mmHg at six weeks (P less than 0.001). Blood pressures were reduced after one day of treatment, followed by an attenuation of the drug effect. In both treatment groups, blood pressures after cycloergometric, isometric, and cold-pressure tests were significantly lower at six weeks than at baseline; at six weeks, blood pressures were also significantly reduced two hours after drug administration, compared with those at or just before drug administration. It is concluded that nitrendipine taken once daily is safe and effective in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Dyslipidemia and hyperbaric osteonecrosis in the rat].

The authors subjected 149 adult Sprague-Dawley rats to repeated experimental dives, simulated to 160 m. Histopathological examination (femurs and tibias) revealed no evidence of osteonecrosis in either normal or dyslipidaemic animals. Study of the calcium metabolism using 45Ca revealed a significant drop in the levels of free and bound calcium and in the rate of exchange between the two compartments, in the dyslipidaemic animal placed in hyperbaric conditions.

Animals↗