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Biomedical subjects

Carlo Maria Rotella

Publications and source records attributed to Carlo Maria Rotella.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Cystatin C reference values and aging.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the reference values for serum cystatin C (CysC) with a particular focus on the effect of aging. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study was performed on a consecutive series of subjects (258 men and 396 women). Laboratory parameters and a detailed personal and family medical history were collected. RESULTS: CysC showed a significant correlation with age in both sexes, which was confirmed with multivariate linear regression after adjustment for SCr (serum creatinine). Age-related reference intervals were established for cystatin C (<45 years, <0.95 mg/L and >45 years, <1.20 mg/L). CONCLUSIONS: The use of CysC reference values adjusted for age should be carefully taken into consideration.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Increased nitric oxide production in eating disorders.

Animal studies showed that nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic-GMP (cGMP) pathway is involved in the modulation of eating behavior. To address its role in eating disorders (ED), plasma nitrite and cGMP levels were studied in 50 ED patients (25 with Anorexia Nervosa, AN; 25 with Bulimia Nervosa, BN) and 20 sex- and age-matched controls (C). Nitrites (nmol/mg protein, mean+/-S.E.M.: any ED 1.01+/-0.29; AN 1.15+/-0.47; BN 0.88+/-0.36; C 0.25+/-0.07; p<0.01) and cGMP (nmol/ml plasma, mean+/-S.E.M.: any ED 2.58+/-0.60; AN 2.81+/-1.10; BN 2.41+/-0.70; C 0.11+/-0.05; p<0.01) were significantly higher in ED patients than in C. Nitrite and cGMP levels inversely correlated with BMI in AN patients (nitrites: r=-0.62 p<0.01; cGMP r=-0.45 p<0.05) but not in BN patients (nitrites: r=-0.15 p=0.49; cGMP: r=-0.05 p=0.13) or in control subjects (nitrites: r=0.11 p=0.98; cGMP r=0.37 p=0.32). Significant correlations were also present in bulimic patients between nitrite levels, frequency of binges and several psychopathological dimensions, as assessed through the EDE. This is the first evidence of an alteration of the NO pathway in ED patients. Further studies are needed to ascertain whether an increase in NO levels plays a possible role in the pathogenesis of ED.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Low adherence of a clinically healthy Italian population to nutritional recommendations for primary prevention of chronic diseases.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Several data demonstrated that dietary habits significantly affect the health state of the population. During recent years all the major scientific associations have provided nutritional recommendations for primary prevention of chronic diseases but few data are available about prevalence of adherence to these recommendations in an otherwise healthy population. The aims of this study were to evaluate dietary habits, and to assess the adherence of the general population to the recommendations for correct nutritional behaviour. METHODS AND RESULTS: Dietary habits, anthropometric and biochemical parameters were evaluated in a population of 932 (367 M; 565 F) clinically healthy subjects living in Florence, enrolled in an epidemiologic study conducted between 2002 and 2004. By comparing the dietary pattern with the nutritional guidelines, the study population reported a hyperproteic and hyperlipidic nutritional pattern, with a considerably low contribution from polyunsaturated fats (PUFA). A low fibre intake is shown in both genders. In addition, food consumption pattern showed an increased consumption of some foods such as meat, both fresh and processed, and a low intake of some "healthy" foods like fruit and vegetables. CONCLUSIONS: We found several nutritional flaws in the dietary habits of a clinically healthy Italian population. In particular, we reported a high intake of animal protein and total fats with a very low contribution from PUFA.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Aggressiveness, anger and eating disorders: a review.

Anger and aggressive behaviours, especially those self-directed, are frequent in subjects suffering from anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. They increase the complexity of the clinical features, change the prognosis and cause a more difficult management of these disorders. In order to elucidate the complex relationships between eating disorders, anger and aggressiveness, the history of traumatic experiences, the prevalence of dissociative, obsessive, impulsive and compulsive symptoms, as well as the role of severe personality disorders in subjects suffering from anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and self-injurious behaviours are considered. In the final section of this paper, a model exploring such a relationship in the light of the undefined sense of self is described.

Anger↗
PubMed2005

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 and low affinity VEGF binding sites on human glomerular endothelial cells: Biological effects and advanced glycosilation end products modulation.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), binding to its receptor in endothelial cells, seems to modulate the increased blood flow in the early phase of diabetic renal disease. The aim of the study was to evaluate, in a diabetic milieu, the expression, biological function and modulation of VEGF binding sites in human glomerular endothelial cells (GENC). We demonstrated the presence of VEGF binding sites with high (VEGFR-2) and low (heparan sulfate proteoglycans, HSPG) affinity. VEGF165 and VEGF121 working through VEGFR-2 stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production at low doses (0.1-1 nM), whereas only VEGF165 at high doses (10-100 nM) increased thymidine incorporation. 1 nM VEGF165 and VEGF121 induced in GENC a significant peak of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) production and, at a lower level, of endothelial NOS (eNOS). The copresence of VEGF165 with aminoguanidine (iNOS inhibitor) determined an increase of eNOS and a significant increase in thymidine incorporation. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) working through specific receptors (RAGE) up-regulated the expression of VEGFR-2, decreased the expression of HSPG sites and reduced GENC growth. These results identify in GENC VEGFR-2 as a mediator of iNOS and eNOS release under control of VEGF, whereas HSPG binding sites seem to mediate the weak growth effect. The presence of AGEs, up-regulating the VEGFR-2 and decreasing HSPG sites might participate to the block of glomerular angiogenesis addressing the VEGF effects on glomerular permeability.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2004

Psychopathological traits and 5-HT2A receptor promoter polymorphism (-1438 G/A) in patients suffering from Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa.

Various studies have evaluated the possible role of the -1438G/A polymorphism within the 5-HT2A receptor gene in the susceptibility to Eating Disorders (EDs). One hundred and forty-eight ED patients (EDp) and 89 control subjects were interviewed by means of the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) and analyzed for distribution of the -1438G/A polymorphism. Patients with the AA genotype suffering from Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa showed higher Weight and Shape Concern (P = 0.003 and P = 0.010, respectively) scores and greater overall severity of the ED psychopathology (EDE total score) (P = 0.012). The obtained preliminary data suggest the use of dimensional psychopathological measures in ED genetic studies.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Expression and function of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor in human olfactory GnRH-secreting neurons: an autocrine GnRH loop underlies neuronal migration.

Olfactory neurons and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons share a common origin during organogenesis. Kallmann's syndrome, clinically characterized by anosmia and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, is due to an abnormality in the migration of olfactory and GnRH neurons. We recently characterized the human FNC-B4 cell line, which retains properties present in vivo in both olfactory and GnRH neurons. In this study, we found that FNC-B4 neurons expressed GnRH receptor and responded to GnRH with time- and dose-dependent increases in GnRH gene expression and protein release (up to 5-fold). In addition, GnRH and its analogs stimulated cAMP production and calcium mobilization, although at different biological thresholds (nanomolar for cAMP and micromolar concentrations for calcium). We also observed that GnRH triggered axon growth, actin cytoskeleton remodeling, and a dose-dependent increase in migration (up to 3-4-fold), whereas it down-regulated nestin expression. All these effects were blocked by a specific GnRH receptor antagonist, cetrorelix. We suggest that GnRH, secreted by olfactory neuroblasts, acts in an autocrine pattern to promote differentiation and migration of those cells that diverge from the olfactory sensory lineage and are committed to becoming GnRH neurons.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2003

Oxidative DNA damage in peripheral blood cells in type 2 diabetes mellitus: higher vulnerability of polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Since oxidative stress is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis and complications of diabetes, we used the comet assay (single cell alkaline gel electrophoresis) to evaluate DNA strand breaks and DNA base oxidation, measured as FPG (formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase)-sensitive sites, in peripheral blood cells (PBC) from type 2 diabetes patients and healthy controls. Oxidative DNA damage in leukocytes was increased in diabetic compared to normal subjects. However, no differences in the levels of DNA damage in isolated lymphocytes were found between the two groups. These data indicate a higher vulnerability to oxidative damage of polymorphonuclear as compared to mononuclear leukocytes in type 2 diabetes. Thus, the measurement of oxidative DNA damage in leukocytes by means of the comet assay is a suitable marker for the evaluation of systemic oxidative stress in diabetic patients.

Blood Cells↗
PubMed2002

5-HT2A receptor gene polymorphism and eating disorders.

Recent studies have reported a genetic association between the -1438 G/A polymorphism within the promoter region of the 5-HT(2A) receptor gene and eating disorders (ED), with conflicting results. To clarify the role of the -1438 G/A polymorphism in different ED categories we have analyzed the genotype and allele frequency distribution in 54 Italian patients with Binge ED (BED) compared to 132 obese non-BED subjects. No significant differences were found between obese BED and obese non-BED individuals, suggesting that this polymorphism does not genetically distinguish these two phenotypes. Moreover, the evaluation of 148 patients with anorexia nervosa and 86 patients with bulimia nervosa revealed an association of the A allele with both these disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Cortisol and ACTH response to oral dexamethasone in obesity and effects of sex, body fat distribution, and dexamethasone concentrations: a dose-response study.

There is increasing evidence that the abdominal obesity phenotype may be associated with multiple alterations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis activity in both sexes. Our hypothesis is that the lack of adequate cortisol suppression after the dexamethasone test may constitute an indirect marker of HPA axis hyperactivity in the presence of the abdominal obesity phenotype. A total of 34 normal-weight (13 men and 21 women) and 87 obese (36 men and 51 women), healthy, nondepressed subjects therefore underwent four different dexamethasone suppression tests randomly performed at varying intervals of at least 1 wk between each test. After a standard overnight 1-mg dexamethasone test, which served as a reference, three other tests were randomly performed at 1-wk intervals by administering 0.0035, 0.0070, and 0.015 mg oral dexamethasone per kilogram of body weight overnight. Blood samples were obtained for cortisol, ACTH, and dexamethasone. Results were analyzed separately in men and women as well as in normal-weight [body mass index (BMI) < or = 25 kg/m(2)] and overweight or obese (BMI > 25 kg/m(2)) subjects. The waist circumference and the waist to hip ratio (WHR) were used as markers of body fat distribution. After the standard 1-mg test, cortisol suppression was greater than 90% in all subjects. However, after each test, obese women had significantly higher values of percent cortisol and percent ACTH suppression than normal-weight women without any difference between obese and normal-weight men. Considering the response to the three variable-dose tests, a clear dose- response pattern (P < 0.001 for trend analysis) in percent cortisol and percent ACTH suppression was found in all subjects. After each test men had significantly higher dexamethasone levels than women, regardless of BMI. However, obese women, but not men, had significantly higher dexamethasone levels after each test than their normal-weight counterpart. Plasma dexamethasone concentrations were dose related (P < 0.001 for trend analysis) in all subjects, but the dose-related increase was significantly higher in normal-weight men than normal-weight women, whereas it was similar in obese subjects of both sexes. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that both percent cortisol and percent ACTH variations were significantly and negatively influenced by dexamethasone levels, as well as by waist circumference values in men, and independently by BMI and waist circumference in women. However, in contrast to what has been found in men, a divergent contribution of BMI and waist circumference was found in women indicating that, with increasing waist values, a smaller suppression of the HPA axis was found with respect to that expected on the basis of BMI values. In conclusion, this study provides data of both physiological and physiopathological relevance. Overall, our data indicated that adjustment of the dexamethasone dose to body weight does not seem to substantially improve the sensitivity of the test, even in obese individuals, particularly when near-maximal doses are administered. However, this study demonstrated a highly significant effect of dexamethasone blood level concentrations on cortisol and ACTH suppression to low-dose dexamethasone tests. In addition, a significant effect of gender on postdexamethasone cortisol concentrations, suppression of the HPA axis, and dexamethasone levels were found, which may be dependent on related differences in both cortisol and dexamethasone metabolism. We showed that pituitary sensitivity to feedback inhibition by dexamethasone is preserved in obesity in both sexes even at low dosages. On the other hand, our data suggest that, at least in women, abdominal fat distribution may partially counteract the progressively greater suppressibility of the HPA axis that would be expected according to increasing BMI.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Eating disorders and body image disturbances among ballet dancers, gymnasium users and body builders.

BACKGROUND: Eating disorders are frequent among elite performers of certain sports or physical activities; however, little is known about non-professional performers. METHOD: 113 female non-elite ballet dancers, 54 female gymnasium users, 44 male non-competitive body builders, 105 female controls and 30 male controls were evaluated using the Body Uneasiness Test, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Eating Disorder Examination 12th edition (EDE-12). RESULTS: Non-elite ballet dancers reported the highest prevalence of eating disorders (anorexia nervosa 1.8%; bulimia nervosa 2.7%; eating disorders not otherwise specified 22.1%), followed by gymnasium users (anorexia nervosa 2.6%; eating disorders not otherwise specified 18%). Significant differences (p < 0.01) between athletes and their controls were found in the following parameters (median values): Beck Depression Inventory (female dancers 5.7, gymnasium users 6.1, female controls 2.8, body builders 1.6, and male controls 1.3), Body Uneasiness Test (female dancers 1.08, gymnasium users 0.62, female controls 0.54, body builders 0.35, and male controls 0.27), EDE total scores (female dancers 1.6, gymnasium users 1.7, female controls 1.0, body builders 1.0, and male controls 0.4), EDE - restraint subscale scores (female dancers 0.8, gymnasium users 1.6, female controls 0.0, body builders 0.8, and male controls 0.0), EDE--eating concern subscale scores (female dancers 0.4, gymnasium users 0.2, female controls 0.0, body builders 0.0, and male controls 0.0), EDE--weight concern subscale scores (female dancers 2.1, gymnasium users 2.1, female controls 1.6, body builders 1.4, and male controls 0.5), and EDE--shape concern subscale scores (female dancers 2.7, gymnasium users 2.8, female controls 2.0, body builders 2.1, and male controls 0.9). EDE scores were highly related to Body Uneasiness Test scores, especially in non-elite ballet dancers and in non-competitive body builders (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Non-professional performers of sports emphasising thinness or muscularity, such as ballet and body-building, show a high degree of body uneasiness and inappropriate eating attitudes and behaviours.

Adolescent↗