Search

Background: Clinical and experimental evidence suggest that testosterone levels play a role in cardiac and vascular pathology. A long history of observational studies investigating serum testosterone level and cardiovascular risks, specifically mortality, reveals important associations between low testosterone and mortality, while higher serum testosterone level appear to be predictive in the majority of studies. On the other hand, it is well documented and accepted that endothelial dysfunction is expression of preclinical atherosclerosis and it is associated with an increased amount of CV events in the follow-up. Erectile dysfunction is also an early manifestation of arteriosclerosis associated with endothelial damage/dysfunction. Endothelial function plays a very important role in the process of erection. Moreover, erectile dysfunction and coronary artery disease (CAD) overlap in risk factors, etiology and clinical outcomes. Endothelial dysfunction is considered to be their shared etiological factor. There is growing evidence that patients presenting with erectile dysfunction should be investigated for CAD, even if with no symptoms of the problem. Earlier diagnosis of erectile dysfunction can facilitate prompt intervention, reduce long-term complications, especially the risk of CAD, and provide effective treatment for erectile dysfunction. Objectives: We aimed to assess whether baseline testosterone levels may be predictors of future CV events in a cohort of patients at intermediate cardiovascular risk. Methods: Our cohort included 802 adult subjects, males from 40 to 80 years (mean age of the whole population was 57.52±13.85 years old). Thy were at intermediate cardiovascular risk, according to the Framingham risk score and all referred between 2009 and 2014. Patients were excluded if they had a past history of peripheral artery disease, coronary revascularization, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, carotid surgery or cerebrovascular event. The study of the endothelial function was performed by using the method of flow mediated vasodilation. Moreover, it was administered a standard questionnaire for the evaluation of the erectile function and the dosage of the plasma testosterone was carried out. The median follow-up time for major CV events was 5.1 years. Results: Patients with lower serum testosterone levels (n=332) had a higher prevalence of traditional CV risk factors, such as hypertension (p=0.009), diabetes (p=0.03), dyslipidemia (p

AIM: Arrhythmogenic right ventrticular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) is an inherited cardiomyopathy characterized by fibrofatty replacement and a high risk of ventricular arrhythmias (VA) and sudden cardiac death (SCD). The aim of the present investigation is to examine the pathological profile and the clinical correlations in a group of ARVD/C patients. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter study evaluating 47 patients (31 men; mean age 37±14 years) with definite ARVD/C. Diagnosis was established according to the actual clinicomorphologic criteria at autopsy or clinically. We divided the study population in 2 different groups. First group included 28 alive patients and the second 19 patients dead suddenly. RESULTS: Age at presentation was different in the two groups (P=0.0015). We observed an important association regarding the risk of sudden death and the history of physical exercise (P=0.0017). Moreover patients with negative outcome (i.e., SCD, cardiac transplantation, congestive heart failure) had a significantly association with biventricular form of ARVD/C (P=0.0034) and age presentation (P=0.003). Left ventricular (LV) involvement was frequently observed in the two groups (17% and 32% respectively). Post-mortem examination revealed frequent inflammatory infiltrates (26%) indicating active myocarditis, which probably justify the fatal arrhythmic events occurred in these patients. CONCLUSION: Frequent LV involvement justifies the recent adoption of the broad term Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy. Early age presentation, sport activity and the biventricular form of ARVD/C represent important predictors of adverse outcome that can be useful to early identify patients at high risk.

Background. The value of testosterone levels and erectile dysfunction (ED) as early markers of atherosclerosis is not well understood. Objectives. To analyze the relationship between plasma testosterone levels in men with both endothelial function (F) and ED. Methods. We enrolled 802 asymptomatic, intermediate cardiovascular risk patients, according to the Framingham Risk Score, aged 40 to 80 years, who underwent the study of EF, evaluation of ED and dosage of plasma testosterone. Results. At linear regression, EF (t=9.40; 95% CI from 0.9318 to 1.4234; p

Materials and Methods. We evaluated a series of 802 patients with intermediate cardiovascular risk according to the Framingham Risk Score (FRS). The endothelial function through flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD), the erectile function (EF), and the total serum testosterone levels were assessed. Patients were followed for up to 5 years and the prevalence and predictors of MACEs were evaluated. Results. The levels of serum testosterone are related with both endothelial function (FMD) (t=9,4080, 95% CI= 0,9318 to 1,4234, p

Scopo del lavoro Il ruolo dei livelli di testosterone plasmatico e della disfunzione erettile come marcatori precoci di disfunzione endoteliale non è ben definito. Pertanto, abbiamo cercato di analizzare la relazione tra testosterone plasmatico e disfunzione erettile, in rapporto alla funzione endoteliale. Materiali e metodi Abbiamo quindi arruolato 802 pazienti in prevenzione primaria, con una stima di rischio cardiovascolare (CV) intermedio secondo la carta del rischio di Framingham, di età compresa fra 40 e 80 anni, che si sono sottoposti all’esame ecografico della dilatazione flusso mediata dell’arteria brachiale destra, alla valutazione della disfunzione erettile attraverso il questionario International index of erectile function-5 score (IIEF-5) , e al dosaggio dei livelli plasmatici di testosterone totale. Risultati All’analisi di regressione lineare, con l’aumentare dei livelli di testosterone, aumentavano in maniera statisticamente significativa sia la funzione endoteliale (t=9.40; 95% CI da 0.9318 a 1.4234; p < 0.0001) che la funzione erettile (t=8.96; 95% CI da 0.7642 a 1.1932; p< 0,001) sia con la disfunzione erettile severa (OR 0,78; CI 0,62 -0,86), e moderata (OR 0,85; CI 0,72 - 0,97) che con una peggiore funzione endoteliale [(OR 0,68; CI 0,59- 0,79) e (OR 0,76; CI 0,63 - 0,83) rispettivamente]. Invece, le forme più sfumate di disfunzione erettile come quella lieve (OR 0.94; CI 0.82 - 1.07; p=0.03) e lieve-moderata (OR 0,8; CI 0,69 - 0,94; p Discussione Abbiamo quindi dimostrato una correlazione significativa tra livelli più bassi di testosterone plasmatico totale, disfunzione erettile ed una peggiore funzione endoteliale in una popolazione di soggetti asintomatici e a rischio CV intermedio. In particolar modo, nel sottogruppo di pazienti con disfunzione erettile moderatasevera, abbiamo visto che coloro che hanno livelli più bassi di testosterone hanno anche delle percentuali di dilatazione flusso mediata inferiori, e quindi una peggiore funzione endoteliale. Conclusioni Sulla base di questi risultati, consigliamo la valutazione della disfunzione erettile attraverso l’IIEF-5, e il dosaggio dei livelli di testosterone totale plasmatico, per ottenere una stratificazione più accurata del rischio CV nei pazienti asintomatici, ma con rischio intermedio secondo le stime della carta di Framingham.

Non previsto perché trattasi di capitolo di libro

non presente (capitolo di libro)

Preme sottolineare il grande impatto sociale di molte patologie urologiche sulla popolazione, come le malattie prostatiche, l'anuria ostruttiva o l'ematuria o ancora le infezioni urinarie o il deficit erettile: non si può esercitare con coscienza la professione del medico senza conoscere le cause, i sintomi e la terapia di queste problematiche. Per tale motivo abbiamo voluto aggiornare la pubblicazione del I° vol. già pubblicato, in maniera che lo studente abbia un riferimento semplice e chiaro per preparare l'esame di Urologia, integrando i testi ufficiali.

VENGONO AFFRONTATI GLI ASPETTI EPIDEMIOLOGICI E LA FISIOPATOLOGIA CHE SOTTENDE LA CALCOLOSI URINARIA. LA CLINICA DELLA LITIASI URINARIA, LE SUE COMPLICANZE E LE DIVERSE STRATEGIE TERAPEUTICHE RICCA L''ICONOGRAFIA E LA PRESENZA DI TABELLE RIASSUNTIVE.

Background: The role erectile dysfunction (ED) coupled with low testosterone levels as early markers of atherosclerosis is not well understood. Objectives: To analyze the relationship between serum testosterone levels with both ED and brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), in a primary prevention sample of men. Methods: We enrolled 802 asymptomatic, intermediate CV risk patients, according to the Framingham Risk Score, aged 40e80 years, who underwent the ultrasound examination of FMD, the evaluation of ED and the assessment of total serum testosterone levels. Results: Testosterone levels correlated both with FMD (r ¼ 0.85; p < 0.0001) and IIEF-5 score (rs ¼ 0.65; p < 0.0001). Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that lower serum testosterone levels were strongly associated (p < 0.001) with severe (OR 0.78; 95% CI: 0.62e0.86), and moderate ED (OR 0.85; 95% CI: 0.72 e0.97), while impaired FMD percentages were strongly associated (p < 0.001) with severe (OR 0.68; 95% CI: 0.59e0.79), moderate (OR 0.76; 95% CI: 0.63e0.83) and mild to moderate ED (OR 0.8; 95% CI: 0.69 e0.94). Mild ED resulted statistically associated with lower FMD (OR 0.94; 95% CI: 0.82 e 1.07; p ¼ 0.03) but not with serum testosterone levels. These relations were not substantially affected by adjustments for further potential confounders including smoking status, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and body mass index. Conclusions: lower total serum testosterone levels are associated with impaired FMD and ED in this sample of intermediate CV risk men according to the Framingham Risk Score

LETTER TO EDITOR

The occurrence of left bundle branch block (LBBB) is quite common in clinical practice. The changes in cardiac repolarization, caused by this disorder of electric conduction, may mask the presence of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), delaying the diagnostic-therapeutic iter, with an important impact on prognosis. We describe the case of a woman of 59 years with LBBB, came to our observation for a constrictive chest pain associated with dyspnea. The diagnostic workup for suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS), initially conducted only on the analysis of the electrocardiogram (negative TnI at entry), showed the presence of coronary arteries free of stenosis. However, the diagnostic confirmation of AMI was completed after the rise of cardiac markers and the electrocardiographic changes. This case confirm the difficulty about the diagnosis of AMI in patients with LBBB and stresses, however, as the use of some criteria proposed in the literature [1-3] can guide to its identification, directing patient to an appropriate treatment.

Purpose: This dose-escalation study evaluated the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of the oral Src inhibitor saracatinib (AZD0530) in patients with advanced solid malignancies. Tumor biopsy samples were taken to investigate the effect of saracatinib on Src activity in tumors. Experimental Design: Part A of the study followed a multiple-ascending dose design to establish the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of saracatinib. Part B was a randomized, parallel-group, cohort-expansion phase to further assess tolerated doses. Safety, tolerability, and Src activity (immunohistochemistry and lysate-based methodologies) were assessed after 21 days of once-daily oral dosing. PK was assessed after single and multiple dosing. Results: In part A, 30 patients received once-daily saracatinib at doses of 60 to 250 mg; the MTD was established as 175 mg. In part B, 51 patients were randomized to receive 50 mg (n = 16), 125 mg (n = 16), or 175 mg (n = 19) of saracatinib. The most common grade ≥3 events considered to be treatment related were anemia, diarrhea, and asthenia. Tumor Src activity was reduced following saracatinib treatment. The area under the concentration-time curve and Cmax of saracatinib increased with increasing dose. Saracatinib accumulated 4- to 5-fold on once-daily dosing to reach steady-state exposure after 10 to 17 days of dosing. The half-life was ∼40 hours. Conclusions: Saracatinib was well tolerated in patients with advanced solid malignancies. A reduction in tumor Src activity was observed. PK data show that saracatinib is suitable for once-daily oral dosing. Based on this study, the recommended dose for the phase II studies was chosen to be 175 mg/d. Clin Cancer Res; 16(19); 4876–83. ©2010 AACR.

Background: Chemotherapy cardiotoxicity is an emerging problem and it is very important to prevent cardiac dysfunction caused by anticancer drugs. The aim of this study was to assess the alterations of the cardiac function induced by chemotherapy in a follow-up of 2 years and to evaluate the cardioprotective role of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) in the prevention of cardiac dysfunction. Methods: A prospective study was carried out using patients with breast cancer (85 women; median age 57W12years) and other inclusion and exclusion criteria. On the basis of treatment, patients were divided into six groups: fluorouracil-epirubicincyclophosphamide, FEC (group A); FEC and trastuzumab (B); trastuzumab (C); FEC and taxotere (D); FEC, paclitaxel and trastuzumab (E); and chemotherapy and cardioprotective drugs (F). Cardiological evaluation including electrocardiogram and conventional echocardiogram with tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) was carried out at T0 (before starting chemotherapy), T1 (after 6months from the start of chemotherapy) and T2 (2 years after the end of chemotherapy). Results: Significant changes in the TDI parameters of systolic and diastolic function were observed at T1 and T2 in all patients. A significant reduction of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was observed only at T2. In the patients treated with ACEI (F), these changes were less significant than in other groups and they do not have significant changes in the indices of diastolic function. Conclusion: TDI is more sensitive than conventional echocardiogram in the early diagnosis of cardiac dysfunction and ACEIs seem to have an important role in the prevention of cardiotoxicity.