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Biomedical subjects

F Leonetti

Publications and source records attributed to F Leonetti.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Ligand binding to I2 imidazoline receptor: the role of lipophilicity in quantitative structure-activity relationship models.

A series of 2-trans-styryl-imidazoline (tracizoline) congeners were designed and tested to develop 2-D and 3-D QSAR models for their binding to imidazoline (I2) receptor. The important role of lipophilicity was assessed by classical 2-D QSAR study (Hansch approach) and by comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) with the inclusion of the molecular lipophilicity potential (MLP), as an additional descriptor, besides standard steric and electrostatic fields. Results from these studies were compared to those obtained in a previous modeling study of I2 receptor ligands and integrated into a new, comprehensive model, based on about sixty I2 receptor ligands. This model revealed, at the three-dimensional level, the most significant steric, electrostatic, and lipophilic interactions accounting for high I2 receptor affinity.

Animals↗

Dietary and urinary risk factors for stones in idiopathic calcium stone formers compared with healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND: The high social-economic cost of nephrolithiasis wholly justifies the attempts to understand its mechanism and avoid recurrences. The influence of dietary habits and urinary risk factors has been evaluated, but the results were discrepant, probably because of differences in the methodologies used to compare patients and controls. METHODS: The aim was to assess dietary and urinary risk factors for urinary stones by comparison between 108 calcium stone formers (SF) and 210 healthy subjects (HS). All subjects were recruited during the same 1 year period. Personal characteristics, dietary habits (evaluated through a food frequency questionnaire) and urinary biochemical parameters were collected. The high predominance of men in the SF group led us to focus on the 79 SF and the 96 HS men. RESULTS: A familial history of stones was reported more frequently in SF than in HS, 42.9% vs 17.6%, P<0.005. Body weight was higher in SF, 76.8+/-12.2 kg vs 72.8+/-9.6 kg, P=0.02; and calcium intake was lower in SF, 794.8+/-294.1 mg vs 943.6+/-345.4 mg, P<0.01. For urinary parameters, calcium and oxalate output were significantly higher in SF. Urinary urea, as a reflection of daily protein intake, and uric acid were also higher in SF. Urinary citrate excretion related to body weight was lower in SF. Calciuria was significantly correlated with urinary urea in both SF and HS, but the correlation was stronger for SF. Calciuria correlated significantly with natriuria only in HS. CONCLUSIONS: The main differences between SF and HS were that SF had a family history of stones, a higher body weight, a lower daily intake of calcium, and a higher urinary output of calcium and oxalate. These results underline the combined role of genetic and nutritional factors in the pathogenesis of urinary stone formation.

Calcium Oxalate↗

Increased OB gene expression leads to elevated plasma leptin concentrations in patients with chronic primary hyperinsulinemia.

Leptin, a hormone secreted by adipocytes, decreases food intake and increases energy expenditure. The role of insulin in the regulation of leptin secretion is poorly understood and is still a topic of debate. Insulin increases leptin mRNA synthesis in rodents, but in humans, the available data are discordant. To investigate the role of chronic hyperinsulinemia in the regulation of plasma leptin concentrations, we studied 13 patients with surgically confirmed insulinoma before and after tumor removal, along with 15 healthy control subjects matched for sex, age, and BMI. Immunoreactive plasma leptin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay; leptin mRNA levels were also determined by reverse transcription-competitive polymerase chain reaction in a subgroup of six patients with insulinoma and six control subjects. All determinations were made with subjects in the fasting state. Plasma leptin concentrations correlated positively with leptin mRNA levels (r = 0.880, P < 0.001). Leptin levels, both plasma protein and mRNA, were significantly higher in the insulinoma patients than in the control subjects (plasma protein: 17.5 +/- 3.6 vs. 2.9 +/- 0.4 ng/ml, respectively, P < 0.001; mRNA: 0.98 +/- 0.33 vs. 0.19 +/- 0.064 amol/microg RNA, respectively, P < 0.05), and they correlated positively with fasting plasma insulin levels in the patients with insulinoma (plasma protein: r = 0.686, P < 0.01; mRNA: 0.796, P < 0.05). Finally, removal of the insulin-secreting tumor was followed by the normalization of plasma leptin levels. In summary, in patients with insulinoma, 1) plasma leptin levels and leptin mRNA are elevated; 2) a direct relationship exists between leptin, both circulating protein and mRNA, and insulin concentrations; and 3) plasma leptin returns to normal levels after tumor removal. These data, therefore, support a role for insulin in the chronic regulation of leptin gene expression.

Adipose Tissue↗

Studies on the mass action effect of glucose in NIDDM and IDDM: evidence for glucose resistance.

UNLABELLED: The ability of hyperglycaemia to enhance glucose uptake was evaluated in 9 non-insulin-dependent (NIDDM), 7 insulin-dependent (IDDM) diabetic subjects, and in 6 young and 9 older normal volunteers. Following overnight insulin-induced euglycaemia, a sequential three-step hyperglycaemic clamp (+ 2.8 + 5.6, and + 11.2 mmol/l above baseline) was performed with somatostatin plus replacing doses of basal insulin and glucagon, 3-3H-glucose infusion and indirect calorimetry. In the control subjects as a whole, glucose disposal increased at each hyperglycaemic step (13.1 +/- 0.6, 15.7 +/- 0.7, and 26.3 +/- 1.1 mumol/kg.min). In NIDDM (10.5 +/- 0.2, 12.1 +/- 1.0, and 17.5 +/- 1.1 mumol/kg.min), and IDDM (11.2 +/- 0.8, 12.9 +/- 1.0, and 15.6 +/- 1.1 mumol/kg.min) glucose disposal was lower during all three steps (p < 0.05-0.005). Hepatic glucose production declined proportionally to plasma glucose concentration to a similar extent in all four groups of patients. In control subjects, hyperglycaemia stimulated glucose oxidation (+4.4 +/- 0.7 mumol/kg.min) only at +11.2 mmol/l (p < 0.05), while non-oxidative glucose metabolism increased at each hyperglycaemic step (+3.1 +/- 0.7; +3.5 +/- 0.9, and +10.8 +/- 1.7 mumol/kg.min; all p < 0.05). In diabetic patients, no increment in glucose oxidation was elicited even at the highest hyperglycaemic plateau (IDDM = +0.5 +/- 1.5; NIDDM = +0.2 +/- 0.6 mumol/kg.min) and non-oxidative glucose metabolism was hampered (IDDM = +1.8 +/- 1.5, +3.1 +/- 1.7, and +4.3 +/- 1.8; NIDDM = +0.7 +/- 0.6, 2.1 +/- 0.9, and +7.0 +/- 0.8 mumol/kg.min; p < 0.05-0.005). Blood lactate concentration increased and plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) fell in control (p < 0.05) but not in diabetic subjects. The increments in blood lactate were correlated with the increase in non-oxidative glucose disposal and with the decrease in plasma NEFA. IN CONCLUSION: 1) the ability of hyperglycaemia to promote glucose disposal is impaired in NIDDM and IDDM; 2) stimulation of glucose oxidation and non-oxidative glucose metabolism accounts for glucose disposal; 3) both pathways of glucose metabolism are impaired in diabetic patients; 4) impaired ability of hyperglycaemia to suppress plasma NEFA is present in these patients. These results suggest that glucose resistance, that is the ability of glucose itself to promote glucose utilization, is impaired in both IDDM and NIDDM patients.

Adult↗

Impaired nonoxidative glucose metabolism in patients with liver cirrhosis: effects of two insulin doses.

Glucose intolerance is encountered in the majority of cirrhotic patients. This alteration has been attributed to a defective insulin-mediated glucose uptake in peripheral tissue, where nonoxidative glucose disposal seems to be chiefly impaired. To further investigate insulin action under euglycemic conditions, we studied how physiological (100 microU/mL) and pharmacological (1,000 microU/mL) plasma insulin concentrations affect whole-body insulin-mediated glucose uptake, as well as oxidative and nonoxidative glucose disposal, in cirrhotic patients and controls. To this aim, a sequential two-step insulin euglycemic clamp combined with indirect calorimetry was performed in eight cirrhotic patients and six control subjects. During the first step of the clamp, total glucose uptake was reduced by 40% in cirrhotic patients versus controls (4.42 +/- 1.39 v 7.63 +/- 1.60 mg/kg/min, P = .002). By increasing insulin to pharmacological levels, glucose disposal increased in both groups. However, the maximum rate of glucose metabolism achieved in cirrhotic patients was lower than in controls at all times (10.29 +/- 2.04 v 12.82 +/- 0.51 mg/kg/min, P = .012). Glucose oxidation was lower in cirrhotics in the basal state, but similar in both groups during insulin/glucose infusion. On the other hand, the reduced nonoxidative glucose disposal observed in cirrhotic patients was not normalized even by increasing insulin to pharmacological levels. In conclusion, in liver cirrhosis a reduced insulin sensitivity is associated with a reduced insulin responsiveness that is mainly caused by defective nonoxidative glucose disposal.

Adult↗

2-D and 3-D modeling of imidazoline receptor ligands: insights into pharmacophore.

A 3-D quantitative structure-activity relationship (3-D QSAR) study was carried out using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) on both imidazoline (I2R) and alpha 2 receptor binding affinities of a large series of 2-substituted imidazolines. Significant cross-validated correlations, having promising predictive ability, were obtained along with 3-D pharmacophore models that defined the spatial regions where steric and electrostatic interactions may modulate the in vitro binding affinities and indicated possible physicochemical and structural requirements for I2/alpha 2 receptor selectivity.

Computer Simulation↗

Effects of spontaneous chronic hypoglycemia on central and peripheral nervous system in insulinoma patients before and after surgery: a neurophysiological follow-up.

To investigate the effects of spontaneous chronic hypoglycemia on the peripheral and central nervous system, a multimodal neurophysiological evaluation [median somatosensory (mSEP), brain stem auditory (BAEP), and visual (VEP) evoked potentials recordings] was performed in seven insulinoma patients before and 3 and 6 months after surgical removal of tumor. Before surgery, mSEP findings showed abnormal reduction in peripheral wrist-Erb conduction velocity in three patients as well as a pathological increase in Erb-N13, N13-N20, and Erb-N20 conduction times in five cases. BAEP and VEP recordings gave pathological results in two patients. Moreover, during hypoglycemia, the III-V and I-V interpeak latencies of BAEPs were significantly prolonged (P < 0.01 and P < 0.005, respectively) compared to recordings in euglycemia. After 6 months, a mSEP recovery, even if partial was noted in four patients, BAEPs were normalized in one case, and VEPs were unmodified. Compared to presurgery data, these recordings showed a significant (P < 0.05), but incomplete, shortening of BAEPs (III-V and I-V interpeak latencies) and mSEPs (Erb-N13 and Erb-N20 conduction times). Our findings demonstrate that multiple and selective neurophysiological abnormalities are present in insulinoma patients, confirm that hypoglycemia impairs suddenly brain stem function, and show that after tumor removal, long recovery times for improvement of some neurophysiological anomalies are requested.

Adolescent↗

Chronic primary hyperinsulinaemia is associated with altered insulin receptor mRNA splicing in muscle of patients with insulinoma.

Alternative splicing of the 36-base pair exon 11 of the human insulin receptor gene results in the synthesis of two insulin receptor isoforms with distinct functional characteristics (the isoform containing exon 11 has lower insulin binding affinity and lower internalization rate). Altered expression of these insulin receptor isoforms has been previously demonstrated in skeletal muscle of patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). However, this observation was not confirmed by other studies and is still a matter of controversy; furthermore, it is not known whether it represents a primary event or is secondary to hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance. In order to address this issue in patients with pure non-genetically determined hyperinsulinaemia, we examined the alternative splicing of insulin receptor mRNAs in skeletal muscle of eight patients with surgically confirmed insulinoma and insulin resistance and in eight healthy subjects, using the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction technique. The insulinoma patients displayed a significant increase in the expression of the insulin receptor isoform containing exon 11 (75.7 +/- 2.3%) when compared with normal subjects (57.9 +/- 1.5%); furthermore, this increase was positively correlated with plasma insulin concentration and negatively correlated with in vivo insulin sensitivity (glucose clamp). In conclusion, the increased expression of the insulin receptor isoform with lower insulin binding affinity in patients with primary non-genetically determined hyperinsulinaemia supports a role for insulin in the regulation of alternative splicing of insulin receptor pre-mRNA and suggests that in NIDDM an altered receptor isoform distribution might be secondary to the ambient hyperinsulinaemia rather than representing a primary defect.

3T3 Cells↗

Increased nonoxidative glucose metabolism in idiopathic reactive hypoglycemia.

Idiopathic reactive hypoglycemia (IRH) is responsible for postprandial hypoglycemia. Normal insulin secretion and reduced response of glucagon to acute hypoglycemia, but mostly increased insulin sensitivity, represent the metabolic features of this syndrome- The present study has two aims: first, to investigate the fate of glucose utilization inside the cells to assess whether increased glucose disposal in IRH is due to the oxidative and/or nonoxidative pathway; and second, to evaluate glucagon response to prolonged insulin-induced hypoglycemia. In eight patients with IRH and eight normal (N) subjects, we performed two studies on different days: (1) 120-minute euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic (1.0 mU . kg-1 . min-1 regular human insulin) clamp associated with indirect calorimetry; and (2) 180-minute hypoglycemic (2.22 to 2.49 mmo/L achieved through 0.85 mU . kg-1 . min-1 intravenous [IV] regular human insulin) clamp. The results showed an increased insulin-mediated glucose uptake in IRH (9.10 +/- 0.19 v 6.78 +/- 0.18 mg kg-1 . min-1, P < .005). Glucose oxidation was similar in IRH subjects and controls both in basal conditions (1.39 +/- 0.16 v 1.42 +/- 0.15 mg . kg-1 . min-1 and during the clamp studies (2.57 +/- 0.21 v 2.78 +/- 0.26 mg . kg-1 . min-1. In contrast, nonoxidative glucose disposal was significantly higher in IRH than in N subjects (6.53 +/- 0.30 v 4.00 +/- 0.21 mg . kg-1 . min-1, P < .001). During insulinization, fat oxidation was reduced slightly more in IRH than in control subjects. During the hypoglycemic clamp, a significant (P < .01) increase in plasma glucagon concentrations was observed in normal subjects as compared with baseline, whereas no change occurred in IRH patients. In conclusion, in IRH: (1) increased insulin-mediated glucose disposal is due to the increase of nonoxidative glucose metabolism; and (2) glucagon secretion has been confirmed to be inadequate. The increase of insulin sensitivity associated with a deficiency in glucagon secretion can widely explain the occurrence of hypoglycemia in the late postprandial phase.

Adult↗

Tolerance of haemodialysis: a randomized cross-over trial of 5-h versus 4-h treatment time.

BACKGROUND: Many factors can impair haemodialysis (HD) tolerance. Some such as age and diabetes mellitus are linked to the patient. Others, such as dialysate, machine, and membrane are linked to the treatment characteristics. The duration of the HD sessions may represent another factor in tolerance since it influences the rate of ultrafiltration. However, its influence has not been studied independently of the type of membrane or dialysate buffer. METHODS: In a randomized crossover study, the incidence of intradialytic symptoms was compared during 4-h and 5-h HD sessions in 38 patients. The study period was 2 weeks for each dialysis time. The influence of age and diabetes was also analysed. Sessions requiring more than 4 litres of ultrafiltration were excluded. RESULTS: During the 5-h period, the incidence of headache, nausea, chills, back pain and pruritus was significantly greater. On the contrary, the incidence of hypotension and postdialytic orthostatic hypotension was significantly less. We also demonstrated that ultrafiltration rate and orthostatic hypotension were correlated, and that age over 65 years and diabetes influenced HD tolerance. The incidence of hypotension was significantly less in patients over 65 receiving 5-h HD treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Although some symptoms were more frequent during the 5-h HD sessions, the incidence of hypotension and postdialytic orthostatic hypotension was significantly less. This resulted in an improvement in acute haemodynamic HD tolerance, which could also influence long-term morbidity and mortality, especially in patients over 65 years.

Adult↗

In vivo effects of glucosamine on insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity in the rat: possible relevance to the maladaptive responses to chronic hyperglycaemia.

We tested the hypothesis that glucosamine, a putative activator of glucose toxicity in vitro through acceleration of the hexosamine pathway, may determine in vivo the two key features of glucose toxicity in diabetes, namely, peripheral insulin resistance and decreased insulin secretion. Two groups of awake rats were studied either with intraarterial administration of glucosamine (5 mumol.kg-1.min-1) or saline. Insulin secretion was determined after arginine, glucose (hyperglycaemic clamp), and arginine/glucose infusions, while insulin-mediated glucose metabolism was assessed by the euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp in combination with [3-3H]-glucose infusion. Glucosamine had no effects on arginine-induced insulin secretion both at euglycaemia and hyperglycaemia, but significantly (40-50%) impaired glucose-induced insulin secretion (both first and second phases). During euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp studies, glucosamine decreased glucose uptake by approximately 30%, affecting glycolysis (estimated from 3H2O rate of appearance) and muscle glycogen synthesis (calculated from accumulation of [3H]-glucosyl units in muscle glycogen) to a similar extent. Muscle glucose 6-phosphate concentration was markedly reduced in the glucosamine-infused rats, suggesting an impairment in glucose transport/phosphorylation. Therefore, an increase in hexosamine metabolism in vivo: 1) inhibits glucose-induced insulin secretion, and 2) reduces insulin stimulation of both glycolysis and glycogen synthesis, thereby mimicking in normal rats the major alterations due to glucose toxicity in diabetes.

Animals↗

SPECT imaging with 111In-octreotide for the localization of pancreatic insulinoma.

We evaluated the sensitivity of 111In-Octreotide scintigraphy in the diagnosis of pancreatic insulinoma in a selected number of patients. In addition, we compared the results of scintigraphy with those of other conventional diagnostic techniques. Seven patients with surgically confirmed insulinoma (< 1.5 cm in diameter) of the pancreas were studied. Before surgery, patients underwent arteriography with Ca-gluconate, CT scan, and 111In-Octreotide scintigraphy. 111In-Octreotide scintigraphy showed a higher diagnostic specificity (85%) than selective arteriography (83%) or CT scan (57%). We conclude that 111In-Octreotide scintigraphy should always be performed before surgery in cases of pancreatic insulinoma and that a SPECT acquisition should be performed both 6 and 24 hours post-injection in order to increase the diagnostic sensitivity of the test.

Adolescent↗

Effect of sustained physiologic hyperinsulinaemia and hyperglycaemia on insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity in man.

Two study protocols to examine the effects of chronic (72-96 h) physiologic euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemia (+ 72 pmol/l) and chronic hyperglycaemic (+ 1.4 mmol/l) hyperinsulinaemia (+ 78 pmol/l) on insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion were performed in 15 healthy young subjects. Subjects received a three-step euglycaemic insulin (insulin infusion rates = 1.5, 3, and 6 nmol.kg-1.min-1) clamp and a hyperglycaemia (6.9 mmol/l) clamp before and after chronic insulin or glucose infusion. Following 4 days of sustained euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemia whole body glucose disposal decreased by 20-40%. During each insulin clamp step, the defect in insulin action was accounted for by impaired non-oxidative glucose disposal (p < 0.01). Chronic euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemia did not alter insulin-mediated suppression of hepatic glucose production. Following insulin infusion the ability of hyperglycaemia to stimulate insulin secretion was significantly diminished. Following 72 h of chronic glucose infusion (combined hyperglycaemic hyperinsulinaemia), there was no change in whole body glucose disposal. However, glucose oxidation during each insulin clamp step was significantly increased and there was a reciprocal decline in non-oxidative glucose disposal by 25-39% (p < 0.01); suppression of hepatic glucose production by insulin was unaltered by chronic hyperglycaemic hyperinsulinaemia. Chronic glucose infusion increased the plasma insulin response to acute hyperglycaemia more than twofold. These results demonstrate that chronic, physiologic hyperinsulinaemia, whether created by exogenous insulin infusion or by stimulation of endogenous insulin secretion, leads to the development of insulin resistance, which is characterized by a specific defect in the non-oxidative (glycogen synthetic) pathway. These findings indicate that hyperinsulinaemia should be considered, not only as a compensatory response to insulin resistance, but also as a self-perpetuating cause of the defect in insulin action.

Adult↗

Plasma endothelin in haemodialysis patients treated with recombinant human erythropoietin.

Predialysis plasma endothelin (ET) values were followed during the first 8 weeks of rHuEpo treatment in 12 patients on routine haemodialysis. Mean plasma ET was significantly increased in uraemic patients before rHuEpo (27.9 +/- 11.4 pmol/l), as compared to 40 healthy controls (16.5 +/- 5.7 pmol/l) (P < 0.0001). Under rHuEpo treatment, predialysis values remained unchanged although diastolic blood pressure increased after 2 and 6 weeks. We found no correlation between ET and haemoglobin or blood pressure before or under rHuEpo treatment. These results confirmed the high levels of plasma ET in haemodialysis patients, but no increase was observed during rHuEpo treatment.

Adult↗

Acute transplant artery thrombosis induced by angiotensin-converting inhibitor in a patient with renovascular hypertension.

Acute renal failure due to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) usually results from a marked fall in renal perfusion pressure in patients with renovascular disease. We report herein one case of acute kidney transplant artery thrombosis in a patient with renovascular hypertension. The thrombosis occurred immediately after a single dose of ACEI for evaluation of a renal transplant artery stenosis by renal scintigraphy. The dramatic fall of arterial pressure observed in our patient probably played an important role in the thrombosis. The risk of the administration of a single dose of ACEI coupled with renal scintigraphy in diagnosing renovascular hypertension is stressed.

Adult↗

Chronic Q fever in hemodialysis patients.

We describe two cases of chronic Q fever in hemodialysis patients (HD). In the first case, we discovered chronic Q fever when looking for the cause of an unexplained fever. In the second case, Q fever was diagnosed in a patient who complained of an unexplained shoulder arthritis. To our knowledge these are the first reported cases of chronic Q fever in HD.

Adult↗

Regulation of rat insulin receptor tyrosine kinase by hypoglycemia.

To investigate the effect of hypoglycemia on the regulation of muscle-derived insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity, four groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were studied: two groups in which either insulin (4 mU/kg.min) or phloridzin (3 mg/kg.min) was infused to acutely reach hypoglycemia (mean, 3.2-3.5 mM); and two control groups in which either saline or phloridzin (3 mg/kg.min) was infused, while maintaining euglycemia. Plasma glucose was maintained constant for 40 min in the hypoglycemic group and for 60 min in the phloridzin-infused euglycemic groups by a variable glucose infusion. Insulin receptors were isolated under conditions designed to preserve their in vivo phosphorylation state, and their tyrosine kinase activity toward poly(Glu-Tyr) was measured in the absence and presence of in vitro exposure to insulin. Insulin infusion resulted in an enhanced in vivo tyrosine kinase activity. Surprising was the finding of a slight increase of the in vivo tyrosine kinase activity in the phloridzin-infused hypoglycemic rats. The in vitro insulin dose-response curves of tyrosine kinase activity showed no significant differences between insulin-infused and control rats. In contrast, there was a marked increase of the insulin-stimulated kinase activity in phloridzin-infused hypoglycemic rats; at 100 nM insulin, tyrosine kinase activity was 1.8-fold more responsive when compared with either insulin-infused rats or control groups. Moreover, in phloridzin-infused hypoglycemic rats, the half-maximal stimulation of tyrosine kinase activity was greater than 10-fold (0.36 +/- 0.01 nM) more sensitive to insulin than both insulin-infused (3.8 +/- 0.03 nM, mean +/- SE) and control groups (4.2 +/- 0.05 and 4.1 +/- 0.04 nM in saline- and phloridzin-infused euglycemic rats, respectively, mean +/- SE). In conclusion, hypoglycemia associated with low plasma insulin concentrations determines a hypersensitization of the intrinsic tyrosine kinase of the insulin receptor.

Animals↗