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Biomedical subjects

F Facchini

Publications and source records attributed to F Facchini.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Relation between dietary vitamin intake and resistance to insulin-mediated glucose disposal in healthy volunteers.

The relation between the self-reported intake of various dietary constituents and insulin-mediated glucose disposal was evaluated in 52 healthy volunteers. Insulin-mediated glucose uptake was independently associated with degree of obesity (inversely) and estimates of level of physical activity (directly). An independent relation between increased intake of vitamin A and insulin action was shown, ie, the greater the intake of vitamin A, the more effective was insulin in stimulating glucose disposal. However, there was no independent relation noted between insulin-mediated glucose disposal and estimates of the intake of carbohydrate, protein, amount or kind of fat, fiber, or vitamins C and E. Furthermore, the 20 individuals with estimates of vitamin A consumption > 10 000 IU/d had significantly lower plasma glucose (P < 0.01) and insulin (P < 0.05) responses to oral glucose, and insulin-mediated glucose disposal values that were higher (P < 0.005) than those of the 20 individuals whose estimated vitamin A intake was < 8000 IU/d. These results suggest that vitamin A intake, but not intakes of vitamin C and E, fiber, fat, or carbohydrate is associated with enhanced insulin-mediated glucose disposal.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1996

Insulin resistance and sleep-disordered breathing in healthy humans.

Fifty healthy, normotensive individuals (34 women) with a mean age of 44.3 +/- 13.2 yr and a mean body mass index of 27.1 +/- 5.4 kg/m2 were tested for the presence or absence of insulin resistance and sleep-disordered breathing. The hypothesis of this investigation was that insulin resistance is associated with sleep-disordered breathing. In vivo insulin action with determination of steady-state plasma glucose (SSPG) and insulin was measured using simultaneous intravenous infusion of somatostatin, glucose, and insulin via a Harvard pump. Determination of sleep-disordered breathing was performed through clinical assessment and portable nocturnal monitoring using a validated sleep apnea recorder. Individuals with > or = 10 hypoxic respiratory events per hour of sleep were significantly more insulin-resistant than subjects without sleep-breathing disorders. After adjusting the relationship between insulin resistance and sleep-disordered breathing for potential confounding variables, it was found that this relationship was entirely dependent on body mass.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Leaching and corrosion of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tubes in a dialysis water distribution system.

PVC tubes, from the dialysis water distribution system of a 14 and a 7 year old plant, were analysed by scanner electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray microanalysis (EDAX). Results showed that the leaching of material occurs depending on time of use. The phenomenon does not modify the chemical composition of the material. Results suggest that PVC alterations, induced by time, could support bacterial proliferation thus reducing the quality of dialysate.

Corrosion↗
PubMed1994

Changes in glucose, insulin, lipid, lipoprotein, and apoprotein concentrations and insulin action in doxazosin-treated patients with hypertension. Comparison between nondiabetic individuals and patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Thirty patients with hypertension were enrolled in this study, 13 had non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and 17 were nondiabetic. Patients were treated with doxazosin for approximately 4 months, and blood pressure fell significantly (P < .001) in both nondiabetics (149/96 to 134/85 mm Hg) and in those with NIDDM (154/96 to 143/84 mm Hg). In the nondiabetic group, doxazosin treatment was associated with significant improvement in insulin-mediated glucose disposal (P < .05) and lower plasma insulin (P < .001), and triglyceride (P < .001) concentrations measured at hourly intervals from 8 AM to 4 PM (breakfast at 8 AM and lunch at noon). In addition, fasting total plasma (P < .001) and VLDL cholesterol (P < .01), and total plasma (P < .05), VLDL (P < .08), LDL (P < .01), HDL (P < .01) triglyceride concentrations were lower following doxazosin treatments in the nondiabetic group, as was the ratio of total to HDL cholesterol (P < .001). Finally, apoprotein B concentrations fell with doxazosin in the nondiabetic group (P < .01). Significant changes seen in the group with NIDDM included a decrease in the ratio of total to HDL cholesterol (P < .001) and a fall in apoprotein B concentration (P < .05). However, values for all other variables did not change significantly with treatment in this group. Thus, doxazosin treatment of nondiabetic subjects with high blood pressure was associated with a series of changes in glucose, insulin, and lipoprotein metabolism that should decrease risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in these individuals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Apolipoproteins↗
PubMed1994

Light-to-moderate alcohol intake is associated with enhanced insulin sensitivity.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that insulin-mediated glucose uptake is enhanced in light-to-moderate alcohol consumption. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This is a case-control study of healthy volunteers, divided into nondrinkers and light-to-moderate drinkers based on their history of alcohol consumption. The study was performed at the General Clinical Research Center at Stanford University Medical Center and involved 40 volunteers, 20 men and 20 women. Measurements were made of the plasma glucose and insulin responses to an oral glucose challenge, fasting plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations, and steady-state plasma insulin (SSPI) and steady-state plasma glucose (SSPG) concentrations in response to a continuous infusion of somatostatin, insulin, and glucose. RESULTS: Light-to-moderate drinkers (10-30 g/day) had lower integrated plasma glucose (17.8 +/- 0.8 vs. 19.8 +/- 0.9 mM/h, P < 0.02) and insulin (600 +/- 65 vs. 1,075 +/- 160 pM/h, P < 0.01) responses to the glucose challenge and higher fasting plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations (1.46 +/- 0.08 vs. 1.25 +/- 0.08, P < 0.02). Despite similar SSPI concentrations of approximately 300 pM, SSPG concentrations were lower (P < 0.01) in light-to-moderate drinkers (6.7 +/- 0.8 vs. 10.7 +/- 1.2 mM). Results were independent of age, body mass index, ratio of waist-to-hip girth, and estimates of level of habitual physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption in healthy men and women is associated with enhanced insulin-mediated glucose uptake, lower plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in response to oral glucose, and a higher HDL-cholesterol concentration. The changes in glucose and insulin metabolism may contribute to the lower risk of coronary heart disease described in light-to-moderate drinkers.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Deglutitive tongue action: volume accommodation and bolus propulsion.

BACKGROUND: Swallow function is best analyzed in components because discrete component failure may be compensated for with devised maneuvers, postures, or biofeedback techniques. The present investigation examined normal deglutitive tongue function. METHODS: Biplane videofluoroscopy synchronized with intraluminal manometry was performed in eight volunteers. Tongue surface motion was characterized as centripetal or centrifugal along seven equiangular rays emanating from the tongue center during 1-, 5-, 10-, and 20-mL swallows. RESULTS: The tongue perimeter remained in contact with the alveolar ridge while the central groove exhibited centripetal and subsequent centrifugal motion that, in conjunction with the pharyngeal walls, created an oropharyngeal propulsive chamber and then expelled that chamber's contents into the hypopharynx. Intrabolus propulsive pressure was generated when the initially expansive propulsive chamber volume contracted to the test bolus volume. Because pharyngeal chamber action cycle timing was relatively constant among bolus volumes, vigorous expulsion occurred with large volumes but relatively delayed, sluggish expulsion occurred with smaller volumes. CONCLUSIONS: Deglutitive tongue functions include bolus containment, volume accommodation, and the major contributor to bolus propulsion.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Removal of limulus reactivity and cytokine-inducing capacity from bicarbonate dialysis fluids by ultrafiltration.

Bicarbonate-based dialysate solutions support the rapid growth of bacteria. The long-term (360-h) efficacy of ultrafiltration by two polysulphone ultrafilters in removing not only endotoxin but also the cytokine(IL-1, TNF)-inducing capacity was evaluated using an experimental circuit contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa filtrates. One of the polysulphone ultrafilters was submitted to a standard sanitization procedure every 12 h (hypochlorite 1.2% solution for 5 min and rinsing for 20 min). Endotoxin was detected by the kinetic quantitative chromogenic limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) assay. Immunoreactive IL-1 and TNF were evaluated in the lysates of peripheral blood mononuclear cells containing 5 x 10(5) human monocytes. The results of the present studies show that although LAL-reactive bacterial products were significantly removed in post-ultrafilter samples, they remained detectable, albeit below the upper limit accepted by the present European pharmacopeias (< 0.125 EU/ml). The removal of cytokine-inducing capacity was time-dependent and correlated with time of use in the case of the sanitized ultrafilter. Beyond the time of use, two other factors emerged as possibly capable of reducing the efficacy of the ultrafilter in removing LAL-reactive bacterial components, namely the pressure and the cytokine-inducing activity in pre-ultrafilter samples. Preincubation with polymyxin B, an agent that irreversibly binds lipid A and blocks lipid A-induced biological activities, did not abrogate the cytokine-inducing capacity in all post-ultrafilter samples; this suggests that either low-molecular-weight endotoxin subunits or lipid A-unrelated components may be responsible for the residual biological activity in post-ultrafilter samples.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine↗
PubMed1993

Ultrafiltration and endotoxin removal from dialysis fluids.

Biocompatibility in hemodialysis is now regarded as a multifactorial problem and dialysate represents a main risk. Pyrogenic fractions mostly coming from gram-negative bacteria easily pass through dialysis membrane, either by backdiffusion or by backfiltration, and induce blood cell activation. To demonstrate the long-term efficiency of a 2 m2 polyamide ultrafilter in producing a pyrogen free solution, we used an experimental circuit ultrafiltering for 240 hours (500 ml/min) a bicarbonate dialysate contaminated (5 to 48 EU/ml) by a Pseudomonas aeruginosa filtrate. The efficiency was monitored by LAL-test and IL-1 PBMC so to detect not only lipid A containing endotoxins but also other cytokines inducing bacterial fractions. At the post-ultrafilter sampling port the LAL-test was < 0.005 to 0.034 EU/ml; IL-1 PBMC was below the detection limit (20 pg/ml) being 27 to 63 pg/ml at the pre-ultrafilter level. Polyamide ultrafiltration represents an efficient system to obtain an endotoxin-free dialysate and a single filter works up to 240 hours.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1993

Polymorphism of properdin factor B (Bf) in some Italian populations.

In order to contribute to the definition of a map of the distribution of Bf polymorphism in Italy, we typed numerous population samples (for a total of 2033 individuals) from several regions of Italy: provinces of Bologna, Potenza and Matera, middle Sangro valley (Chieti) and northern, central and southern Sardinia. A new method was used which consisted of cellulose acetate electrophoresis followed by immunofixation and staining with Coomassie blue. The results obtained highlight marked differences in the distribution of Bf phenotypes and allele frequencies in Italy. To be noted in particular are the relatively high incidence of the Bf*S allele and the low incidence of Bf*F in Potenza and the significantly different pattern of the Sardinian samples compared to those from mainland Italy. This may be due to the low incidence in Sardinia of the Bf*S allele and above all to the exceptionally high frequency of the Bf*F1 variant.

Alleles↗
PubMed1992

Insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, and dyslipidemia in nonobese individuals with a family history of hypertension.

Various facets of glucose, insulin, and lipid metabolism were compared in 76 normal volunteers--38 with and 38 without a family history of hypertension. The two groups were comparable in terms of age, gender distribution, and degree of obesity (both generalized and abdominal). Although the plasma glucose response to oral glucose was similar in both groups, glucose-stimulated insulin concentrations were significantly greater in volunteers with a family history of hypertension (P < .001). Furthermore, the steady state plasma glucose concentration during a constant infusion of glucose, insulin and somatostatin was significantly greater in subjects with a family history of hypertension (8.1 +/- 0.6 v 6.2 +/- 0.6 mmol/L, P < .001). Since the steady-state plasma insulin levels during the infusion were similar, these results indicate that normotensive individuals with a family history of hypertension are relatively insulin resistant. Finally, plasma very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) triglyceride and VLDL cholesterol were higher in those with a family history of hypertension, as was the ratio of total to high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Thus, normotensive individuals with a family history of high blood pressure are insulin resistant, hyperinsulinemic and dyslipidemic when compared to a matched group of healthy volunteers without a family history of hypertension.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Demonstration of a relationship between white blood cell count, insulin resistance, and several risk factors for coronary heart disease in women.

In order to evaluate the relationship between peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count, insulin-mediated glucose uptake, and several risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD), WBC, plasma glucose and insulin responses to a 75-g oral glucose challenge, fasting plasma cholesterol, high-density-lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, and triglyceride concentration, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were determined in 63 consecutive female volunteers with normal glucose tolerance. The results demonstrated the presence of statistically significant correlation coefficients between WBC count and both insulin-mediated glucose disposal (r = 0.50, P less than 0.001) and insulin response to oral glucose (r = 0.50, P less than 0.001). Furthermore, WBC count correlated with plasma glucose response to oral glucose (r = 0.48, P less than 0.001), fasting plasma triglyceride (r = 0.37, P less than 0.005) and HDL-cholesterol concentrations (r = -0.38, P less than 0.005), and systolic (r = 0.22, P less than 0.1) and diastolic (r = 0.27, P less than 0.05) blood pressure. However, the only two variables significantly correlated with WBC count in multivariate regression analysis were insulin resistance (r = 0.49, P less than 0.01) and insulin response (r = 0.35, P less than 0.05). These data indicate that WBC count is significantly correlated with changes in carbohydrate and lipoprotein metabolism and blood pressure that increase the risk of CHD. However, it appears that these relationships are secondary to resistance to insulin-mediated glucose uptake and hyperinsulinaemia.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Relationship between resistance to insulin-mediated glucose uptake, urinary uric acid clearance, and plasma uric acid concentration.

OBJECTIVE: To define the relationship, if any, between insulin-mediated glucose disposal and serum uric acid. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of healthy volunteers. SETTING: General Clinical Research Center, Stanford (Calif) University Medical Center. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-six presumably healthy individuals, nondiabetic, without a history of gout. MEASUREMENTS: Obesity (overall and regional), plasma glucose and insulin responses to a 75-g oral glucose load, fasting uric acid concentrations, plasma triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentrations, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, insulin-mediated glucose disposal, and urinary uric acid clearance. RESULTS: Magnitude of insulin resistance and serum uric acid concentration were significantly related (r = .69; P less than .001), and the relationship persisted when differences in age, sex, overall obesity, and abdominal obesity were taken into account (r = .57; P less than .001). Insulin resistance was also inversely related to urinary uric acid clearance (r = -.49; P less than .002), and, in addition, urinary uric acid clearance was inversely related to serum uric acid concentration (r = -.61; P less than .001). CONCLUSIONS: Urinary uric acid clearance appears to decrease in proportion to increases in insulin resistance in normal volunteers, leading to an increase in serum uric acid concentration. Thus, it appears that modulation of serum uric concentration by insulin resistance is exerted at the level of the kidney.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Reduction of insulin resistance by combined kidney-pancreas transplantation in type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients.

To evaluate the effect of combined kidney and pancreas transplantation on insulin action and glucose metabolism, 15 Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients who were undergoing combined kidney-pancreas transplantation were studied before transplantation by means of the euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp technique combined with 3-3H-glucose infusion and indirect calorimetry. Nine of the original 15 patients were studied again after four months and six after 12 months, successful combined kidney-pancreas transplantation with the same experimental protocol. Nine volunteers formed the group of normal subjects. Combined kidney-pancreas transplantation normalised hepatic glucose production and reduced peripheral insulin resistance in Type 1 diabetic uraemic patients, despite chronic immunosuppressive therapy. To further evaluate the hypothesis that residual insulin resistance was due to chronic steroid therapy. 11 additional subjects with chronic uveitis (six of whom were treated with only prednisone, and five treated only with cyclosporin) underwent the same protocol demonstrating a normal hepatic glucose production. The insulin-stimulated peripheral glucose uptake was reduced in the prednisone-treated group, but normal in cyclosporin-treated subjects. Four additional diabetic patients with a kidney transplant were also studied. They showed a peripheral insulin sensitivity intermediate between diabetic uraemic patients and patients after combined transplant. We conclude that short-term (one year) combined kidney-pancreas transplantation improves glucose metabolism by restoring normal rates of hepatic glucose production and reducing peripheral insulin resistance; chronic steroid therapy is the major determinant of residual reduced insulin action. Both kidney and pancreas substitution play a role in reducing peripheral insulin resistance.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Possible relations between sensitivity to phenylthiocarbamide and goiter.

Taste sensitivity to phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) using the Harris-Kalmus method was studied in 193 patients with thyroid disease and in a control sample of 311 individuals living in the Emilia area of Italy. The patients were classified according to the morphology of struma (mononodular, polynodular, diffuse) and to the toxic and nontoxic forms of goiter. Eighteen percent were nontasters in the control sample; 37.2% were nontasters in patients with polynodular goiter (toxic and nontoxic forms). Highly significant differences between the two groups were observed. The results obtained on this Italian sample agree with the conclusions of other studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

GPT polymorphism in the population of Bologna and linkage analysis with beta-thalassaemia.

GPT polymorphism was studied in 500 voluntary blood donors from the Bologna population. The following phenotype frequencies were obtained: GPT 1 = 29.60%, GPT 1-2 = 49.80% and GPT 2 = 20.60%. The frequencies of the alleles were: GPT1 - 0.545 and GPT2 = 0.455. Analysis of 24 informative families has excluded linkage between GPT and beta-thalassaemia.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1977

Chemical and physical methods in dating human skeletal remains.

Chemical and physical methods for dating skeletal remains were examined. Benzidine reaction, ultra-violet fluorescence, specific gravity and supersonic conductivity were carried out on 71 dated skeletal findings distributed over the span of the last 3,5000 years. Results given by benzidine reaction and ultra-violet fluorescence basically coincide, and positive readings were obtained up to about 200-350 years. Values, measured in specific gravity and supersonic conductivity testing show a parallel trend, pointing out a clear difference between samples of the three first centuries and the ones belonging to more ancient periods examined.

Benzidines↗