Biomedical subjects

V Fiorica

Publications and source records attributed to V Fiorica.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1989

Increased lead absorption and lead poisoning from a retained bullet.

A young man was found to have elevated blood lead and erythrocyte protoporphyrin levels seven years after he had been shot in the foot with a .22 caliber bullet. Although clearly evident in radiographs obtained at the time of the accident, the bullet had never been removed. Over the course of the intervening years the radiographic appearance of the projectile changed dramatically. The patient underwent a surgical debridement procedure with some resolution of his lead intoxication. This case was reviewed in the context of the literature describing the disposition of retained lead projectiles. Lead bullets or fragments lodged within joints are slowly disintegrated and, as absorption accelerates, predispose the patient to the risk of lead poisoning which may occur many years after the original incident. Prompt removal of any lead projectile entering a joint space is strongly recommended.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Parathyroid adenoma in patient with prostatic carcinoma and hypercalcemia.

A sixty-seven-year-old white man with prostatic carcinoma was noted to be hypercalcemic and was subsequently found to have a parathyroid adenoma. Review of the literature revealed only 13 prior cases of hypercalcemia in patients with prostate malignancy. In none of those recorded cases was a parathyroid abnormality found, although a complete evaluation was not made in most of the patients. Because of the infrequent occurrence of hypercalcemia and prostatic carcinoma, it is suggested that patients with both disorders be evaluated for causes of hypercalcemia other than those generally associated with malignancy.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1985

Plasma norepinephrine, blood pressure and heart rate response to graded change in body position.

In this study, 44 human subjects underwent either an orthostatic postural change (supine to stand, n = 17) or a graded change in body position (head-up) on a tilt-table (n = 27). No significant changes in systolic blood pressure or mean blood pressure were observed during either maneuver; significant increases, under both conditions, were observed in diastolic blood pressure and heart rate. Plasma norepinephrine concentrations after orthostatic position change increased significantly (supine 181 +/- 14 (S.E.M.) pg X ml-1; stand, 472 +/- 35 pg X ml-1, p less than 0.01). Plasma norepinephrine concentrations during graded postural change increased proportionately with increasing degrees of tilt (r = 0.76, p less than 0.01). A significant correlation between plasma norepinephrine and heart rate was observed during both positional change maneuvers (graded tilt-table, r = 0.80, p less than 0.01; orthostatic, r = 0.50, p less than 0.01). These results suggest that the degree of sympathetic nervous system activity for blood pressure regulation during graded postural change is appropriately reflected by plasma norepinephrine concentrations.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

Plasma norepinephrine levels of elderly men on a controlled sodium intake diet.

Plasma levels of norepinephrine were compared between young (n = 5) and old (n = 5) men maintained for five days on a diet providing a controlled and uniform sodium intake (2 mEq/kg body weight). The groups were compared after an overnight period of recumbency and fasting (10 hours) and after postural stimulation (20 minutes standing). Plasma norepinephrine concentrations were slightly, though not significantly, higher in older men after prolonged recumbency (older men, 232 +/- 39 pg/ml; younger men, 183 +/- 24 pg/ml). After postural stimulation, the plasma norepinephrine levels were elevated in both groups, but the measured increase of the older group was significantly greater than that of the younger group (older men, 607 +/- 72 pg/ml; younger men, 393 +/- 51 pg/ml; P less than 0.05). The results of this study suggest the greater response of plasma norepinephrine to postural stimulation observed in elderly men occurred even though the extracellular fluid volume statuses of the older group were comparable to those of the younger group. Whether the exaggerated plasma norepinephrine response of the older men represented a higher degree of sympathetic activity or a diminished plasma clearance of norepinephrine was not established.

Adult↗

PubMed1983