Biomedical subjects

V Guarnaccia

Publications and source records attributed to V Guarnaccia.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1997

Motivational and behavioral correlates of life satisfaction in an elderly sample.

This study examined the relationship between self-reported life satisfaction of elderly persons and their motivation for competence as assessed on self-ratings and indirect measures of needs for achievement and affiliation. Behavioral data relating to frequency of engaging in mastery-type activities, social interactions and exercise were also gathered. This sample described themselves as content with their lives and healthy relative to normative levels. As predicted, there was a marked discrepancy between self-report and implicit measures of motivation, with self-reported motives being significantly correlated with satisfaction (i.e., r = .33 for Achievement and r = .30 for Affiliation) and implicit motives not significantly correlated with satisfaction. Needs for achievement and affiliation on the whole did not significantly correlate with actual life circumstances. The results suggest that competence motivation may play a small part in the contentment which older individuals feel in their lives.

Achievement↗

PubMed1994

Early impairment of the cardiopulmonary exercise capacity of hypertensive patients.

A reduction of functional capacity has been reported in severe hypertension. However, the reduced peripheral vasodilation observed in the early stages of hypertension, could also impair the blood supply to exercising muscles in mild hypertensives presenting a normal left ventricular mass. In this paper the cardiopulmonary exercise capacity of early hypertensives has been investigated. Thirty mild hypertensives (9 in stage I and 21 in stage II according to WHO) and 36 normotensives divided into two age and weight-matched groups, were investigated. All subjects underwent a stress test according to the modified Bruce protocol with contemporary assessment of breath-by-breath expiratory gas analysis and measurement of the anaerobic threshold (AT) and of the oxygen consumption at peak exercise (PVO2). Exercise duration and maximal workload, in stage I hypertensives, were similar to controls but the O2 consumption was significantly reduced in comparison to controls (P = 0.043). On the contrary, in stage II patients exercise duration, maximal workload, PVO2 and AT were significantly lower than in normotensives. No relationship between myocardial hypertrophy and ergometric or ventilatory (PVO2, AT, VE) parameters was found. In conclusion an early impairment of the aerobic exercise performance is detectable in uncomplicated (stage I WHO) mild hypertensives.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Anaerobic metabolism in hypertensive patients during exercise stress test.

An impaired maximal vasodilating capacity has been reported in hypertensives. This study aimed to assess whether mild hypertensives depend on anaerobic metabolism more than do normal subjects during the exercise stress test. The oxygen uptake (VO2) and carbon dioxide output (VCO2) were measured at the anaerobic threshold (AT) and at peak exercise (VO2p and VCO2p) during the cardiopulmonary exercise test by breath-by-breath expiratory gas analysis in 21 mild hypertensives and 19 age-matched normotensives. AT was reached earlier in hypertensives than in normotensives, but with similar VO2 uptake, VCO2 output, and VCO2/VO2 ratio. At peak exercise, however, hypertensives showed lower VO2p than controls (29 +/- 5 v 33 +/- 5 mL VO2/kg/min, (P < .03) but similar VCO2p (36 +/- 6 v 39 +/- 6 mL VCO2/kg/min, P = .19). As a result, the slope of carbon dioxide output increase versus oxygen uptake after anaerobic threshold was steeper in hypertensives than in controls (P < .002). The higher CO2 production per unit of O2 in hypertensives as compared with controls seems to reflect a greater involvement of the anaerobic metabolism to supplement energy output.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Thrombin generation after physical exercise.

Many investigators have studied the influence of physical exercise on hemostatic system and it is well accepted that exercise causes an activation of coagulation as indicated by a shortening of aPTT and by an increase in plasma factor VIII activity and levels. A controversial point remains whether this clotting activation leads to a significant thrombin generation and fibrin formation. The type of physical exercise performed and the methods used to study blood coagulation may be two major sources of discrepancies in different studies. In the last years sensitive and reliable methods became available to evaluate prothrombin activation and thrombin generation. Thus in this study we have investigated the influence of a well standardized treadmill stress test, controlled by the measurement of cardiorespiratory and metabolic parameters, on plasma concentration of different markers of clotting activation in healthy untrained young subjects. Blood samples were also withdrawn just before anaerobic threshold to investigate a possible role of metabolic acidosis in changes of clotting system.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Contingent reinforcement effects on movement responses of prison inmates to the Holtzman Inkblot Technique.

Prison inmates were administered the Holtzman Inkblot Technique (HIT) under conditions of either verbal or nonverbal reinforcement of movement responses. Overall, there were no differences among the verbal, nonverbal, and control groups. Inmates charged with violent crimes were found to give the fewest movement responses. With crime category controlled, more movement responses were given under nonverbal conditions. There were no sex differences for movement responses but testing time increased significantly when administered by the female examiner.

Adolescent↗