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Biomedical subjects

A Zoli

Publications and source records attributed to A Zoli.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Bone GLA protein (BGP) levels and bone turnover in rheumatoid arthritis.

Bone GLA protein (BGP) and other biochemical indices of bone turnover were measured in 42 female patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in a group of normal subjects matched for sex and age. Mean serum BGP concentrations were significantly higher in patients with active arthritis than in patients with mild activity (p less than 0.01) and controls (p less than 0.01). No significant difference was found in serum BGP levels and in other parameters of bone turnover when the patients were stratified according to functional class or duration of disease. There was a correlation between BGP and alkaline phosphatase levels only in RA patients with high activity of disease. Our data suggest an accelerated bone turnover in patients with active RA. We infer that in such patients the impairment of bone metabolism is a determinant of RA-associated osteopenia. Disease activity rather than functional impairment or duration of arthritis should be regarded as a factor in the bone loss of RA.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Nimesulide in the treatment of osteoarthrosis and extra-articular rheumatism].

Nimesulide is a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug which seems to be characterized by a low inhibitory action on prostaglandin synthesis and a high inhibitory action on oxygen free radicals production. The aim of this trial was to determine the effect of Nimesulide on degenerative joint disease and on non-articular rheumatism. One hundred and forty, 64 females and 76 males aged 51.9 +/- 1.2 years, affected with osteoarthritis or non-articular rheumatism (fibromyalgia, periarthritis, tendinitis, tenosynovitis, bursitis and enthesitis) were studied. Nimesulide was administered at a daily dosage of 200 mg. A significative improvement in the clinical parameters studied was observed in all the patients, but a more remarkable progress was noted in the group with non-articular rheumatism. The incidence of adverse reactions was irrelevant: 2 patients complained of epigastralgia that subsided reducing the daily dosage to 100 mg.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Impaired growth hormone response to clonidine in obesity.

Clonidine, an imidazoline derivative, is an antihypertensive agent which reduces sympathetic tone by acting in the central nervous system to stimulate alpha-2 adrenoceptors. There is evidence that dopamine and norepinephrine modulate the secretion of GH. Stimulation of GH release is a well-known effect of clonidine in man. Obesity is characterized by an impairment of GH release in response to various stimuli. The aim of this work is to study GH release in response to alpha-2 adrenoceptors stimulation by clonidine in obesity. 12 volunteer obese subjects were studied. 10 normal weight subjects, sex and age matched, were controls. The GH responsiveness was tested with a single oral dose of clonidine (0.15 mg). Blood was sampled for GH radioimmunoassay at 0', 30', 60', 90', 120', 150', 180'. Serum GH basal levels were not significant different in obese subjects compared to controls. In obese subjects, no significant changes occurred in blood GH concentration after clonidine. In normal weight controls, instead, a significant increase of GH values was reached at 90' (P less than 0.05) and at 120' (P less than 0.05) after clonidine. The impairment of GH release after clonidine in obese subjects might be in a reduced serotonin release or in a failure of the hypothalamic-pituitary system to stimulate plasma GH caused by a diminished GH releasing factor stimulatory effect or by an excessive endorphin or somatostatin secretion in obesity.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1988

Influence of diet with different lipid composition on neutrophil chemiluminescence and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Neutrophil chemiluminescence was determined in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. Twelve patients were randomly assigned either to a diet high in polyunsaturated fatty acids supplemented with eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids or to a diet high in saturated fatty acids. A correlation with clinical and laboratory parameters is also reported. No statistical difference was observed in neutrophil chemiluminescence and in clinical parameters in the group of patients treated with a diet high in saturated fatty acids. Fish oil ingestion resulted in subjective alleviation of active rheumatoid arthritis and reduction of neutrophil chemiluminescence. This study corroborates the hypothesis of an anti-inflammatory role for polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Effect of fenfluramine on insulin/growth hormone ratio in obese subjects.

Obesity is characterized by increased levels of insulin and by subnormal growth hormone (GH) release. Insulin/GH ratio is significantly higher in obese than in lean individuals. Fenfluramine, an anorectic drug, may have some effects on hypothalamic-pituitary function and on insulin secretion, possibly through a serotonergic stimulation. The aim of this work was to study the effects of fenfluramine on the insulin/GH ratio after arginine in obese subjects. Ten volunteer obese females were studied; 10 volunteer women were the normal weight controls. All subjects were given placebo and fenfluramine (60 mg p.o.) in a randomized order and after 120 min underwent arginine infusion (25 g i.v. for 30 min). Blood samples were taken every 30 min until 270 min for GH and insulin radioimmunoassay. In the obese group the GH response to arginine was significantly lower than in controls. Fenfluramine administration restored the subnormal GH response to arginine in obese subjects. Arginine infusion provoked a greater insulin secretion in obese subjects than in lean individuals. Fenfluramine administration diminished the insulin response to arginine. Fenfluramine did not modify the insulin/GH ratio in controls while it significantly lowered the insulin/GH ratio in obese subjects. Because insulin promotes fat and carbohydrate storage while GH stimulates lipolysis, the combination of high insulin and low GH concentrations may worsen the obese condition. A lower insulin/GH ratio can be useful in the treatment of obesity.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Effect of fenfluramine on growth hormone and prolactin secretion in obese subjects.

Obese subjects show a subnormal growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) release in response to a variety of stimuli. Fenfluramine, an anorexiant drug used in obesity therapy, may have some effects on hypothalamic-pituitary function mediated by serotoninergic stimulation. The present investigation in obese subjects was carried out to study the effects of fenfluramine (60 mg orally) on GH and PRL secretion after intravenous arginine infusion. Ten volunteer obese females were studied and compared with 10 volunteer normal weight controls. In the obese group the GH response to arginine was significantly lower than in control group. Fenfluramine administration restored the subnormal GH response to arginine in obese subjects. The PRL response to arginine in obese women was subnormal. Fenfluramine administration restored the response of PRL to arginine infusion to normal. In conclusion, fenfluramine--under acute circumstances--enhances the hypothalamic-pituitary response to arginine in obese subjects. The decreased GH and PRL output in obese subjects is not due to an absolute hormonal deficiency and this effect of fenfluramine on GH secretion may--due to its lipolysis stimulation--be useful in obesity treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Clinical experience with thymostimulin (TP-1) therapy. Preliminary findings].

In order to verify the immunostimulant effect of thymus humoral factors, a bovine thymic extract (TP 1-Thymostimulin) was given to 9 patients affected by primary immunodeficiency (mild deficit T/B combined) and to 8 patients affected by acquired immunodeficiency because of old age, lung neoplasm or with recurrent herpes simplex labialis. 6 patients affected by chronic hepatitis HBsAg+ and 1 patient affected by Behçet's syndrome were also studied. At the end of the study, after six months, all the patients with primary or acquired immunodeficiency showed a normalization of their immunological parameters and a clinical improvement. A clinical improvement was also observed in the patients affected by lung neoplasm. Instead, patients suffering from chronic active hepatitis HBsAg+ showed unsatisfactory results; the study did not reveal any clinical or immunological improvement in these cases. The patient affected by Behçet's syndrome showed a decreased recurrent uveitis.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1986

The role of cAMP and prostaglandins in gastric acid secretion after pentagastrin administration.

The role of cAMP and prostaglandins as specific intracellular effectors of gastrin action at the level of the parietal cells has not been sufficiently clarified. For this reason we studied the responses of the parietal cells to stimulation with pentagastrin (6 micrograms/kg i.m.) during theophylline infusion (which causes an increase in the intracellular cAMP) and during acetylsalicylic acid infusion (which inhibits the prostaglandin synthesis) in 28 healthy volunteers. Both theophylline and acetylsalicylic acid provoked a significant increase of gastric acid secretion after pentagastrin. Our results suggest that: 1. an increase in intracellular cAMP may be the basis of the stimulatory effect of gastrin on gastric acid secretion 2. a decrease in the synthesis of prostaglandins may lead to a greater gastric acid response after pentagastrin.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

The effect of lysine acetylsalicylate on somatostatin inhibition of insulin secretion induced by arginine.

The inhibitory effect of somatostatin (SRIF) on immunoreactive insulin release and on many other hormonal secretions has been widely studied in both animal and man. However, the mechanism by which SRIF acts on these functions remains poorly defined. Aim of this study is to determine the inhibitory effect of SRIF on insulin secretion induced by arginine after the administration of lysine acetylsalicylate (LAS) in a dose which inhibits the endogenous synthesis of prostaglandins. Ten healthy informed volunteer subjects were studied. Four studies were carried out in randomized order, each one separated by a three day interval. The first study was a test of arginine (25 g i.v. in 30 min). The second study was a test of arginine with SRIF infusion (150 micrograms bolus followed by 100 micrograms/h for 120 min). The third study was a test of arginine with an infusion of SRIF and LAS (66 mg/min for 120 min). The fourth study was a test of arginine with LAS infusion. Plasma insulin levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. After arginine administration the typical biphasic insulin response was observed with a precocious peak at 3 min and a late peak at 30 min. This response is not significantly modified under LAS infusion. With the infusion of SRIF at a dose of 100 micrograms/hr after arginine administration only a very modest insulin response was observed. The addition of LAS does not modify the inhibitory effect of SRIF on insulin secretion induced by arginine. This result demonstrates that the inhibitory action of SRIF on the secretion of insulin is not dependent upon the activation of the endocellular prostaglandin system.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Stimulatory effect of pentagastrin on growth hormone and prolactin secretion in normal subjects.

Gastrin-like immunoreactive substances have been reported as occurring in both digestive tract tissues and nervous system, including the hypothalamus and the anterior and posterior pituitary. The carboxyterminal tetrapeptide shared by gastrin and cholecystokinin, which represents the bioactive site of both hormones, has been shown to be a secretagogue for insulin and glucagon and it might have a neurotrasmitter function. As small gastrin-like peptides may also play a role in the regulation of anterior pituitary hormones, the present study deals with the in vivo effect of pentagastrin on the release of growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL). Six healthy volunteer males and six healthy volunteer females were studied. All females subjects were in the early follicular phase of the normal menstrual cycle and all subjects were not taking or had been taking any drug known to affect GH or PRL secretion. A continuous intravenous infusion of pentagastrin (1.5 micrograms/kg/h) was administered to all the subjects for a time of 3 hours. In males pentagastrin infusion resulted in a significant increase in GH concentration from basal values (P less than 0.01 at 60 min). In females pentagastrin infusion did not affect GH levels. PRL levels were not affected at all by intravenous pentagastrin infusion both in males and females. The exact understanding of pentagastrin action on GH release awaits further investigation. The different pattern between male and female subjects suggests a sexual hormone influence on the hypothalamic-pituitary sites of action of pentagastrin in vivo. Our data did not confirm a stimulatory effect of pentagastrin on PRL secretion in normal subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Behavior of GH and prolactin during enflurane anesthesia and neuroleptoanesthesia in man].

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of neuraleptanesthesia (NLA) and enflurane (Ethane) anesthesia on plasma levels of growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) in man. A total of 18 patients aged between 20 and 65 years scheduled for elective open-heart surgery were divided in two groups. In the first group (9 patients) general anaesthesia was induced with sodium thiopental (TPS) (3-5 mg/kg) and was maintained with enflurane administered with an inspired concentration of 1.5% in nitrous oxide (2 litres/min) and oxygen (2 litres/min). In the second group (9 patients) anaesthesia was induced with dihydrobenzopyridol (BPS) (0.1-0.2 mg/kg), fentanyl (5-8 gamma/kg) and TPS (3-5 mg/kg) and was maintained with fentanyl (0,65 mg in average). The patients had neither hepatic, renal or endocrine disease nor did they have a history of steroid therapy. All subjects received atropine (0.01 mg/kg) and diazepam (0.2 mg/kg) i.m. 2 hours before induction of anaesthesia. Blood samples for GH and PRL was collected before induction of anaesthesia (0) and at 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after induction: the 90' sample was taken immediately after sternal incision. The sampling was stopped at the start of the cardiopulmonary by-pass. A significative reduction of GH at 60' and of PRL at 30' was observed in both groups. Surgical stress at 90' does not evoke a significant increase of PRL and GH levels in both groups. In conclusion NLA and enflurane induced a decrease of GH and PRL plasma levels; in both groups the anaesthetic agents, at the dosage used during anaesthesia, blocked the response of these hormones to the surgical stress likely due to a block of the hypothalamic-pituitary response.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Gastroenterologic aspects of connective tissue diseases].

The connective tissue disorders are a protean group of acquired diseases which have in common widespread immunologic and inflammatory alterations of connective tissue. The acquired connective tissue diseases generally include the following clinical entities: rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, polymyositis, polyarteritis nodosa, scleroderma, mixed connective tissue disease, Sjögren's and Behcet's sindromes. These entities have certain features in common which include sinovitis, pleuritis, myocarditis, endocarditis, pericarditis, peritonitis, vasculitis, myositis, changes in skin, alteration of connective tissue and nephritis. Gastrointestinal and hepatic involvement in connective tissue disorders are not the most important features, nevertheless appear almost regularly. Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, malabsorption may affect patients suffering by rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and other collagenophaties. In some cases mesenteric vasculitis may cause intestinal ischemia which may result in bowel infarction, mucosal ulceration, hemorrhage, perforation. After an extensive review of the existing literature the Authors make an accurate evaluation of gastrointestinal and hepatic alterations in connective tissue diseases.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1985

Thrombosis, recurrent abortions and intrauterine foetal death in a patient with lupus anticoagulant.

The authors describe a case report of a patient suffering from thrombosis and recurrent abortions. Routine coagulation screening was abnormal and investigation showed the presence of a circulating anticoagulant. High titres of anticardiolipin antibodies were demonstrated. Antinuclear antibodies were slightly positive and antinative DNA antibodies were present. Lupus anticoagulant activity and anticardiolipin antibodies seem to be strong markers of a thrombotic tendency.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1984

[Serum bile acids in dyslipidemic patients].

The sensitivity of total serum bile acid concentration as an index of hepatic damage has long been recognised. In addition serum bile acid measurement is significantly more specific than conventional hepatic function tests. However the concentration might be affected by factors other than hepatic dysfunction. Several authors have reported variations in the synthesis of serum bile acids in dyslipidaemic patients. This might potentially reduce the value of concentration measurement in the diagnosis of hepatic diseases especially considering the relative prevalence of hyperlipidaemia. The present article reports on radioimmunological serum bile acid measurement before and after meals in 10 patients with dyslipidaemia and in 22 controls. No difference was revealed between the two groups. Therefore dyslipidaemia appears not to affect the specificity of the test nor does it invalidate the use of radioimmunological measurement of total serum bile acids in the study of hepatic function.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Concentration of serum bile acids as an index of hepatic damage in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The aim of this work is to evaluate the concentration of serum bile acids (SBA) as an index of impaired liver function in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients versus usual laboratory tests of hepato-biliary system diseases. In patients with SLE the mean fasting SBA concentration was 9.6 +/- 1.4 mumol/L; in normal subjects the concentration was 2.9 +/- 0.6 mumol/L (P less than 0.01). In patients with SLE, mean gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP) concentration was 31.5 +/- 5.9 mU/ml versus 10.05 +/- 1.1 mU/ml in controls (P less than 0.01). The bromsulphalein (BSP) excretion test, 45 minutes after injection, was 6.8 +/- 1% in SLE patients versus 2.8 +/- 0.4% in controls (P less than 0.02). No significant difference was found between these two groups of subjects with respect to leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), alkaline phosphatase (AlPh), glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), bilirubin serum rates. SBA rate was abnormal in 50% of the SLE patients; GGTP rate and the BSP excretion test were abnormal in 38% and 27% respectively. Our findings show the presence of an actual liver impairment in SLE patients, significantly demonstrated by fasting SBA concentration, GGTP rate and BSP excretion test. Other liver function tests are less useful in evaluating hepatic damage in SLE.

Adolescent↗