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Biomedical subjects

C Zuppi

Publications and source records attributed to C Zuppi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Association between cutaneous melanoma, Breslow thickness and vitamin D receptor BsmI polymorphism.

BACKGROUND: Literature data report an association between some vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms and different kinds of tumours, including malignant melanoma (MM). Only three VDR polymorphisms (FokI, TaqI and A-1012G) have been investigated in association with the presence of cutaneous MM or the development of metastases. OBJECTIVES: The present paper analyses for the first time the association between BsmI polymorphism and MM prevalence together with Breslow thickness. In addition, the FokI single nucleotide polymorphism was also determined. METHODS: One hundred and one patients with MM and 101 healthy donors matched for age and sex were enrolled. Molecular VDR typing was performed by means of restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. RESULTS: All cases and controls were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for BsmI, FokI and A-1012G. Significant associations were found between the BsmI bb genotype frequency and MM (P = 0.02) along with Breslow thickness (P = 0.001). This same behaviour was not observed for the FokI or A-1012G polymorphisms. Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed these significant results after correction for age, gender, skin type and MM localization. CONCLUSIONS: Although the biological meaning of the effects exerted by BsmI polymorphism is still under debate, the statistical association found in the present study suggests that further work should be done to verify this variant as a possible risk marker for MM and its aggressiveness, also considering that the real association may be due to other unknown genes linked to the BsmI b allele.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Boxing and "commotio cordis": ECG and humoral study.

The objective of the study was to analyze the presence of myocardial damage in relation to official boxing matches. Low-energy chest wall impact could be responsible for sudden cardiac death, i.e. commotio cordis. As boxing is a traumatic sport in which thoracic hits usually occur, it seems interesting to know if there are any significant cardiac changes during official bouts. Fifteen amateur boxers, participating in the semifinals of the Italian Championship were investigated. A standard ECG before, immediately after, 1 hour and 12 hours after the match were obtained from each athlete to analyze atrio-ventricular conduction, QRS axis and duration, and ventricular repolarization. A blood sample was also obtained before and 12 hours after the match for analysis of total-creatin-phosphokinase, myoglobin, and T-troponin. After the fight, the following significant changes were encountered: higher QRS voltages, lowering of J-point and ST segment in lateral leads, higher ST-slope, lower T-wave amplitude, shorter T-wave peak time, and shorter QT interval. When the last 2 parameters were corrected for heart rate, no differences were observed for QTc, while T-wave peak time significantly increased. All these changes persisted until one hour after the match. Moreover, 3/15 boxers (20 %) showed marked ventricular repolarization anomalies in lateral leads after the contest, persisting for 12 hours in one case. However, no athlete had clinical and humoral signs of myocardial damage following the match. It was concluded that no clinical and humoral signs of myocardial damage were found after amateur boxing matches, although ventricular repolarization abnormalities can be found on ECG in 20 % of boxers, probably due to sympathetic hyper-activity related to the agonistic event.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Determination of the post-translational modifications of salivary acidic proline-rich proteins.

Human salivary acidic proline-rich proteins were analyzed by electrospray-ion trap mass spectrometry and by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. All acidic-PRP isoforms share a common N-terminal region, which contains a pyroglutamic acid residue at the N-terminus, and two phosphorylation sites on Ser 8 and 22. At the same time, HPLC-MS spectra revealed isoforms of PRP-1 and PRP-3 having a different number of phosphoserine residues, namely, a mono-phosphorylated form of PRP-1 and PRP-3 and a tri-phosphorylated form of PRP-1. The analysis of the masses of tryptic digests suggested that the third phosphate residue should be located on Ser 17. Another protein with a mass of 30,923 amu was detected along the HPLC pattern and MS data of its tryptic digest suggested that it corresponds to the dimer of Pa, the isoform of PRP-1 with a substitution Arg-Cys at 103 position. Finally, structural identification is pending for another post-translational modification of acidic-PRP that provides an increase of 111-114 amu.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Role of ergothioneine on S-nitrosoglutathione catabolism.

Ergothioneine (ESH) is a low-molecular-mass thiol present in millimolar concentrations in a limited number of tissues, including erythrocytes, kidney, seminal fluid and liver; however, its biological function is still unclear. In the present study we investigated the role of ESH in the catabolism of S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO). The results show that: (1) GSNO decomposition is strongly influenced by ESH (k"=0.178+/-0.032 M(-1) x s(-1)); (2) ammonia is the main nitrogen-containing compound generated by the reaction; and (3) nitrite is practically absent under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. These findings are markedly different from those reported for the GSH-induced decomposition of GSNO, in which the nitrogen-containing end products are nitrite, ammonia and nitrous oxide (N(2)O) under aerobic conditions but nitrite, ammonia, nitric oxide (NO) and small quantities of hydroxylamine under anaerobic conditions. Considering the high concentration of ESH in specific cells, the reaction with GSNO should be considered as an important molecular event occurring in the cell.

Ergothioneine↗
PubMed2000

Troponin I serum concentration: a new marker of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with essential hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Troponin I, a specific cardiac muscle protein, has proven to be very helpful in detecting myocardial damage in ischemic heart disease. In order to assess if this laboratory test may also characterize some hypertensive subjects with proven cardiac damage, we compared troponin I serum concentrations of a group of patients affected by systemic hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) with troponin I serum concentrations of hypertensive patients without LVH and with normal controls. METHODS: Of 100 hypertensive patients consecutively enrolled in the study, 27 had an increased left ventricular mass by M-mode/two-dimensional echocardiographic examination. Of these, 4 were excluded for significant Holter ST-segment modification. Troponin I was measured in the remaining 23, in 23 age- and sex-matched hypertensive patients with normal left ventricular mass and in 23 normal controls. RESULTS: Troponin I serum concentration was higher than the upper limit of the normal values (0.5 ng/mi) in 12 of the 23 hypertensives with LVH. On the contrary, all hypertensives without LVH and all normal controls had troponin I serum concentration below the upper limit of the normal values. Consequently, the mean troponin I serum value was significantly higher in the group of hypertensive patients with LVH than in the group of patients without LVH (0.88 +/- 0.93 vs 0.27 +/- 0.08 ng/ml, p = 0.002) and in normal controls (0.88 +/- 0.93 vs 0.22 +/- 0.04 ng/ml, p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that a significant proportion of patients affected by essential hypertension with LVH have slightly elevated troponin I serum concentrations. This test seems to identify two subgroups of hypertensive subjects with LVH, and, considering that troponin I is a marker of myocardial damage, higher serum values probably indicate a more important cardiac involvement in the setting of a hypertensive disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Influence of feeding on metabolite excretion evidenced by urine 1H NMR spectral profiles: a comparison between subjects living in Rome and subjects living at arctic latitudes (Svaldbard).

Urines from 25 normal subjects living in Rome and 25 normal subjects living in Ny-Alesund (Svaldbard) were analysed by 1HNMR spectroscopy. The observed differences in the concentration of the major metabolites were correlated to the composition of the diet. It was found that a diet rich of carbohydrates, such as the Italian diet, is responsible for an increased excretion of citrate, lactate, alanine, and glycine. Thus, a correct diagnostical interpretation of urinary metabolites needs to consider feeding habits.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectral profiles of urine in type II diabetic patients.

Serial urine samples of 33 type II diabetic patients and 20 control subjects were examined by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Metabolites including lactate, citrate, glycine, alanine, hippurate, trimethylamine-N-oxide, and dimethylamine were identified in all subjects although in higher concentrations in diabetic patients. Other analytes, such as creatine, acetate, betaine, and ketone bodies, were found more frequently and in greater concentrations in diabetics than in controls. In addition, although lactate, citrate, alanine, and hippurate concentrations increased with increasing glycosuria and glycohemoglobin, trimethylamine-N-oxide and dimethylamine were present at high concentrations even in diabetics with good metabolic control. 1H NMR spectroscopy permitted us to explore the relationships among the metabolites present in the urine samples and to obtain information about the disease status in type II diabetic patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

The priming effect of gemfibrozil on reactive oxygen metabolism of phagocytic leucocytes. An intriguing side effect.

Gemfibrozil is an antihyperlipidaemia agent used in therapy to reduce the occurrence of coronary heart disease. Considering the biochemical and pharmacological peculiarities of this class of drugs, we investigated the influence of a single oral therapeutic dose of gemfibrozil on the reactive oxygen metabolism of phagocytic leucocytes. Analysis was carried out adopting a chemiluminescence assay. Results clearly indicate that gemfibrozil, acting as a primer, significantly enhances the induced reactive-oxygen-species (ROS) production by overall blood phagocytes (increment of Stimulation Index (SI) = +52% with respect to time 0 values; P < 0.01), by polymorphonuclear leucocytes (increment of SI = +28% with respect to control values; P < 0.01) and by monocytes (increment of SI = +83% with respect control values; P < 0.001), when these cells are stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate. This iatrogenic derangement of ROS metabolism could explain, at least in part, the occurrence of some side effects that occur in treatment with fibrates.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

1H NMR spectra of normal urines: reference ranges of the major metabolites.

Serial urine samples from 50 normal subjects were studied by 1H NMR spectroscopy operating at 300 MHz. Analyses of the spectra have shown the presence of the following metabolites in 100% of the normal subjects: Creatinine, lactate, alanine, citrate, dimethylamine, trimethylamine-N-oxide, glycine and hippurate. Other analytes, such as creatine, valine, betaine, leucine and isoleucine, were sometimes found. All metabolites were quantified on the basis of peak heights and were expressed as mmol/mol of creatinine. The study of metabolic profiles in serial samples allowed us to evaluate intra-individual variability and physiological changes due to feeding. The aim of our report is to define standard conditions for this analytical technique and to calculate confidence intervals for the major metabolites in normal urine samples, such as preliminary and mandatory stages for clinical diagnostic 1H NMR utilization.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Human erythrocyte metabolism is modulated by the O2-linked transition of hemoglobin.

The metabolic behaviour of human erythrocytes has been investigated with particular regard to the effect of their oxygenation state. Experiments performed at high phosphate concentration (80 mM) within the pH range 7.0-7.8 on erythrocytes at high (HOS) and low (LOS) oxygen saturation showed that at any pH value: (1) glucose consumption was independent of the oxygenation state; (2) pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) flux was about 2 times higher in the HOS than in the LOS state. At low phosphate concentration (1.0 mM) the PPP flux doubled in HOS as well as in LOS erythrocytes, whereas the decrease in glucose consumption was more marked in the HOS state. Metabolism of LOS erythrocytes approached that of HOS erythrocytes under the following conditions: (1) erythrocytes having band 3 modified by 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid; (2) CO-saturated erythrocytes. These data support the hypothesis of a modulation of the relative rates of PPP and glycolysis achieved through competition between deoxy-hemoglobin (deoxy-Hb) and glycolytic enzymes for the cytoplasmic domain of band 3.

4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid↗
PubMed1996

Prognostic relevance of lipoprotein cholesterol levels in acute lymphocytic and nonlymphocytic leukemia.

We studied serum lipid and lipoprotein changes before and after induction treatment in 25 acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) and in 18 acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) patients in order to investigate their relationship with disease activity and their prognostic relevance. ANLL at diagnosis is associated with significantly low levels of all lipid parameters, the same applies to ALL patients apart from plasma triglycerides and very-low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) which are significantly higher than in the normal population. In ANLL responders, after effective chemotherapy, a significant increase of total cholesterol, low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and apolipoprotein B levels, without changes of high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) values, is observed. A further decrease of total cholesterol and LDL-C was found in nonresponders and in ANLL responders treated with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), known for its cholesterol-lowering action; in fact after the completion of GM-CSF therapy, these parameters returned progressively toward normal values. In ALL responders an increase of total cholesterol, HDL-C and apolipoprotein A1 with a simultaneous decrease of triglycerides and VLDL-C is evident; no variation was found in the nonresponder group. These results suggest a close correlation between serum lipids and acute leukemia: total cholesterol and LDL-C in ANLL, and HDL-C and VLDL-C in ALL may be considered reliable markers of complete remission and may be useful in the follow-up of leukemic patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Effects of gemfibrozil on the oxygen transport properties of erythrocytes.

1. In the present study we have investigated the effects of the relatively low plasma concentrations of gemfibrozil (GFZ) found in clinical practice on the oxygen dissociation curve (ODC) of erythrocytes. 2. ODCs were measured at 30 degrees C and 37 degrees C and at pH 7.4: a) both on HbA solution and erythrocytes incubated in vitro with gemfibrozil and clofibric acid; b) on erythrocytes from healthy volunteers treated with a single oral dose of gemfibrozil. 3. These experiments showed a significant drug-induced shift of the ODC towards lower O2 affinity values without any significant modification of metabolic parameters of erythrocytes such as intracellular pH and intraerythrocytic levels of ATP and DPG. 4. In our experimental conditions gemfibrozil appears to lower both in vitro and in vivo, the partial pressure of oxygen required to give 50% of the haemes saturated with oxygen (P50) of erythrocytes from the control value of 24 +/- 0.5 mm Hg to 29 +/- 0.5 mm Hg (mean +/- s.d.; P < 0.02 by ANOVA). 5. These data clearly indicate that therapeutic doses of gemfibrozil may influence the oxygen transport properties of red cells. This effect could have relevant pharmacological and toxicological implications.

2,3-Diphosphoglycerate↗
PubMed1995

Choice of time for urine collection for detecting early kidney abnormalities in hypertensives.

The aim of this study was to determine the most appropriate urine collection for detecting differences in the excretion rates of albumin, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAGA) between normotensive subjects and hypertensive patients on treatment. Twenty treated hypertensive patients, mean (SEM, standard error of mean) age; 52.2 (6.2) years and 20 normotensive subjects, mean age 49.2 (4.2) years, were studied in a consecutive sampling design. Urinary excretion rates of albumin, GGT and NAGA were determined in consecutive timed urine samples collected overnight and during 3-5 h the next morning. Mean (SEM) overnight excretion rates for albumin, GGT and NAGA for normotensive subjects were 11.05 (1.18) micrograms/min, 17.00 (2.20) mU/min and 6.55 (0.39) mU/min, respectively, which were significantly lower than those of hypertensive subjects which were 20.77 (2.14) micrograms/min, 21.84 (1.65) mU/min and 10.92 (0.87) mU/min, respectively (P < 0.05). The mean (SEM) percentage increases in urinary albumin, GGT and NAGA in morning urine collections of normotensive subjects of 15.22 (3.88)%, 34.04 (6.45)% and 11.54 (3.63)%, respectively were significantly lower than 107.03 (15.04)%, 121.96 (16.71)% and 72.75 (7.50)% found in hypertensive patients (P < 0.05). These data suggest that were urinary albumin and tubular enzyme excretion to be used as correlates of hypertensive renal damage, ambulatory urine collections may be more sensitive than overnight collections.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Lipids and lipoproteins in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).

Current studies suggest a derangement of the cholesterol homeostasis in certain types of leukaemia. The low serum cholesterol levels observed in patients with AML have been related to the tumoral mass and to the disease activity. Only a few studies have taken into consideration a possible change of the serum lipids in ALL. The aim of this study was to evaluate a possible prognostic significance of serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C, VLDL-C, apolipoproteins A1 and B and lipoprotein (a), investigated in 10 newly diagnosed ALL patients before and after induction treatment. At diagnosis all these parameters were not significantly different in our patients vs control group except cholesterol and HDL-C levels, which were significantly lower. After the induction treatment, we found a significant increase of HDL-C and Apo A1 values only in those patients that achieved a complete remission. These results support the idea that some serum lipids, such as HDL-C and Apo A1, may have a role as early and reliable markers of the effectiveness of chemotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Aminotransferases and lactate dehydrogenase in saliva of diabetic patients.

Although inflammatory or degenerative changes in salivary glands have been demonstrated in genetic animal models of diabetes mellitus and in experimental diabetes, no information is available in diabetics on the possible leakage in saliva of cytosolic enzymes as markers of salivary cell injury. Aspartate (GOT) and alanine (GPT) aminotransferases and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined in saliva samples collected by the Salivette method from well-controlled insulin-dependent (IDDM n = 11) and non-insulin-dependent (NIDDM n = 18) diabetic patients and from age-cross-matched healthy subjects (n = 33). In IDDM salivary concentrations of GOT (112.55 +/- 23.94 UI/L) and LDH (1120.27 +/- 168.31 UI/L) were similar to those found in the NIDDM (90.94 +/- 19.64, and 1255.43 +/- 221.40 UI/L respectively), but higher (p < 0.05) than those observed in normal subjects (33.09 +/- 3.71, and 423.58 +/- 39.94, UI/L respectively). GPT was higher in NIDDM than IDDM, which in turn was higher than in normal subjects (42.78 +/- 14.72, 16.45 +/- 3.74 and 6.85 +/- 1.52 UI/L respectively). Salivary and serum values of GOT, GPT and LDH were not correlated. Determination of cytosolic enzymes in saliva may be useful for monitoring the diabetic involvement of salivary glands.

Adult↗