ABSTRACT
Inflammation is believed to play a pivotal role in dementia, but its role is still unclear. The aim of our study was to analyze the interplay among markers of inflammation, such as fibrinogen and high CRP levels, and dementia. First, we performed a cross-sectional study comparing markers of inflammation between 99 patients affected by dementia (mean age: 83.0+/-0.6 years) and 99 controls (mean age: 83.9+/-0.7 years). Then, we analyzed the relationship between inflammation and dementia in the same population composed by 34 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients (mean age: 83.4+/-0.8 years), 64 vascular dementia (VaD) patients (mean age: 82.7+0.8 years) and 99 controls. Patients affected by dementia had higher CRP levels than controls (2.6+/-+/-0.2 vs. 0.7 + 0.1 p < 0.001, respectively). AD patients had higher CRP levels than VaD patients (4.2 + 0.6 vs. 1.7+/-0.2, p < 0.001, respectively). Stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis showed that dementia (odds ratio=OR=4.965, 95% confidence interval=Cl=1.402-13.23, p=0.004), fibrinogen (OR=1.011, Cl=1.007-1.015, p<0.001), and age (OR=1.158, Cl=1.063-1.261, p<0.001) are independently correlated with high levels of CRP. The study suggests that inflammation may have a pathogenetic role in AD.
Subject(s)
C-Reactive Protein/metabolism , Dementia/blood , Inflammation/blood , Aged, 80 and over , Alzheimer Disease/blood , Alzheimer Disease/complications , Biomarkers/blood , Confidence Intervals , Dementia/complications , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Inflammation/complications , Male , Odds Ratio , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
Having briefly analyzed the metabolism of ethanol in elderly subjects and the evidence of great resistance of the senile liver to alcohol-induced damage, the Author describes histological, clinical, biohumoral features of fibrosis and the necessary therapeutic measures. Eighty clinical cases of hepatic fibrosis are also illustrated, studied and observed during five years.
Subject(s)
Colchicine/therapeutic use , Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/drug therapy , Age Factors , Aged , Ethanol/metabolism , Ethanol/pharmacology , Female , Humans , Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/metabolism , MaleABSTRACT
Having briefly analyzed the role of molybdenum in the metabolism of living organisms, the author describes conditions induced by molybdenum deficit and poisoning due to this metal. The most recent acquisitions concerning the importance of this element for normal development of the human organism are also illustrated.
Subject(s)
Molybdenum/metabolism , Animals , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Growth , Humans , Molybdenum/deficiency , Molybdenum/pharmacokinetics , Molybdenum/toxicity , Trace Elements/metabolismABSTRACT
Having briefly analyzed the role of vanadium in living organisms, the author describes conditions induced by vanadium poisoning and deficit. The most recent acquisitions concerning the use of vanadium in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and its consequent role in the prevention of atherosclerosis are also illustrated.
Subject(s)
Vanadium/metabolism , Air Pollutants, Occupational , Arteriosclerosis/prevention & control , Diabetes Mellitus/drug therapy , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Humans , Metallurgy , Occupational Diseases/etiology , Vanadium/deficiency , Vanadium/poisoning , Vanadium/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Having briefly analyzed the metabolism of ethanol in man, the author describes hepatocellular damage induced by alcohol abuse and histological, clinical and biohumoral features of acute alcoholic hepatitis, chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. Seventy-five clinical cases of acute alcoholic hepatitis, chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis are also illustrated, studied and observed during five years.
Subject(s)
Alcoholism/complications , Hepatitis, Alcoholic/etiology , Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/etiology , Acute Disease , Alcoholism/metabolism , Chronic Disease , Ethanol/pharmacokinetics , Female , Hepatitis, Alcoholic/diagnosis , Hepatitis, Alcoholic/physiopathology , Humans , Liver/drug effects , Liver/metabolism , Liver/pathology , Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/diagnosis , Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/physiopathology , MaleABSTRACT
Having briefly analyzed the role of nickel in the living organism the author describes conditions induced by nickel poisoning and deficit. The most recent acquisitions concerning the importance of nickel in the stabilization of nucleic acids are also illustrated.
Subject(s)
Nickel , Adult , Animals , Female , Guinea Pigs , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Male , Neoplasms/chemically induced , Nickel/deficiency , Nickel/toxicity , Occupational Diseases/chemically induced , Organometallic Compounds/toxicity , Pregnancy , RatsABSTRACT
Having briefly analyzed the etiopathogenesis of silent myocardial ischemia, the author describes the most recent acquisitions concerning incidence, clinical significance and characteristics of three types of silent ischemia. Diagnosis, prognosis and treatment strategies are also illustrated. Further, three cases observed and studied are reported.
Subject(s)
Coronary Disease , Adult , Coronary Disease/diagnosis , Coronary Disease/therapy , Electrocardiography , Electrocardiography, Ambulatory , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , PrognosisABSTRACT
Having briefly analyzed the role of silicon specially in the metabolism of connective and bone tissue, the author describes conditions induced by silicon deficit and poisoning due to this metal. The most recent findings concerning the role of silicon in delaying the onset and reducing the extension of atherosclerotic processes are also illustrated.
Subject(s)
Silicon , Aging , Animals , Arteriosclerosis/prevention & control , Humans , Neoplasms/prevention & control , Silicon/physiology , Silicon/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Having briefly analyzed the metabolism of ethanol in man, the author describes hepatocellular damage induced by alcohol abuse and histological, clinical and biohumoral features of steatosis and fibrosis. One hundred clinical cases of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis are also illustrated, studied and observed during five years.
Subject(s)
Fatty Liver, Alcoholic/pathology , Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/pathology , Liver/pathology , Colchicine/therapeutic use , Drug Combinations , Fatty Liver, Alcoholic/metabolism , Fatty Liver, Alcoholic/therapy , Female , Humans , Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/metabolism , Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/therapy , Male , Prognosis , Pyridoxine/therapeutic use , Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid/therapeutic use , Tiopronin/therapeutic use , Vitamin K/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Having briefly analyzed the metabolism of ethanol in the human organism, the author describes hepatocellular damage induced by chronic alcohol abuse in old men. The evidence of great resistance of the senile liver to alcohol-induced damage is stressed as well as histological, biohumoral and clinical features of steatosis, chronic hepatitis, acute hepatitis and cirrhosis. Further, the author discusses the most suitable dietary and pharmacologic measures to be utilized in the above-mentioned phase of the liver disease due to chronic alcohol abuse.
