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Biomedical subjects

F Manara

Publications and source records attributed to F Manara.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Correlation between psychometric and biological parameters in anorexic and bulimic patients during and after an intensive day hospital treatment.

This study describes: 1. The therapeutic effects on anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) patients of a psycho-nutritional intensive day-hospital program; 2. The possible correlation between the changes observed in the psychometric tests and the variations of a number of biological parameters. Forty-six female patients (24 AN and 22 BN) were assessed through a semi-structured clinical interview based on DSM-IV criteria for Eating Disorders (ED) and a number of psychometric tests (SCL-90R, BDI, EDI-2, EAT-40, BITE, BAT) at the beginning and at the end of treatment, and after a 6-month follow-up. At these three times, we also assessed the plasma level of leptin, cortisol, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and 17beta-estradiol together with body mass index (BMI) and menstrual cycle. From beginning to discharge, the scores on all psychometric tests improved in the whole sample, except for the Perfectionism subscale of EDI-2 in both groups (AN and BN), the Anger-Hostility, Phobic Anxiety and Paranoid Ideation subscales of SCL-90 and the Interpersonal Distrust subscale of EDI-2 in the BN group. At follow-up, there was a worsening of the BITE scores and of a number of EDI-2 subscales, especially in the AN subgroup - with these changes correlating with the trend of BMI. In AN patients, plasma leptin levels changed from the beginning to the end of treatment and at follow-up according to BMI changes. The mean plasma leptin level in the BN subgroup was higher than in the AN one. We found a statistically significant correlation with the scores of BDI, SCL-90R Depression and Ineffectiveness subscales, EAT-40, BITE-Symptom subscale and the trend of menses dividing these patients into two subgroups (according to the plasma leptin concentration, higher or lower than the top leptin level in the anorexics). These data seem to confirm that leptin secretion doesn't correlate univocally to BMI.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Hyperuricaemia: relationships to body fat distribution and other components of the insulin resistance syndrome in 38-year-old healthy men and women.

The aim of this work was to evaluate whether hyperuricaemia correlates with the cluster of metabolic and haemodynamic disorders closely associated with insulin resistance syndrome (IRS) in young apparently healthy individuals also, and, if so, whether hyperinsulinaemia itself or some other component of this syndrome, are independently associated with hyperuricaemia. The subjects were a random population sample of 181 (M = 94/F = 87) 38-year-old apparently healthy subjects, non-diabetic, without a history of gout. Obesity (overall and regional), serum lipid profile, uric acid, fasting glucose and insulin, 2 h insulin after glucose-load (only in men), blood pressure and main behavioural variables were measured. As expected, most parameters were statistically different between men and women. In particular, serum uric acid levels were significantly higher in the male group than in female group (348 +/- 59 mumol l-1 vs 277 +/- 59 mumol l-1, P < 0.0001). After adjustment for sex, in pooled individuals, serum uric acid concentration showed positive associations with BMI (r = 0.21; P < 0.001), waist/hip girth (WHR; r = 0.45; P < 0.0001), waist/thigh girth (WTR; r = 0.35; P < 0.0001) and subscapula/triceps skinfold ratios (STR; r = 0.30; P < 0.001). Furthermore, serum uric acid was also positively correlated with fasting insulin (r = 0.23; P < 0.001), serum triglycerides (r = 0.34; P < 0.0001), LDL cholesterol (r = 0.16; P = < 0.01), diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.26; P < 0.001), and negatively with HDL/total cholesterol ratio (r = 0.28; P < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1994

Relationships of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 to anthropometry, serum insulin, triglycerides and adipose tissue fatty acids in healthy men.

Increased plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), responsible for reduced fibrinolytic activity, have been shown to be an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. PAI-1 plasma levels are influenced by several factors which have not yet been fully clarified, including dietary fat intake. The relationships of PAI-1 with other cardiovascular risk factors are still not well known. In a random sample of 38-year-old healthy men (n = 94), the association of PAI-1 plasma levels (measured as activity and antigen) with anthropometric parameters, serum lipids, fasting and 2 h insulin and glucose concentration after oral glucose-load was analysed. Furthermore, the fatty acid composition of subcutaneous adipose tissue, as an objective and reliable index of dietary fat intake, was measured. The univariate analysis showed that plasma levels of PAI-1 were significantly associated with body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.37, P < 0.001), waist/hip ratio (WHR) (r = 0.26, P < 0.01), serum triglycerides (r = 0.47, P < 0.0001), HDL/total cholesterol ratio (r = -0.35, P < 0.001), fasting and 2-h insulin (r = 0.27, P < 0.01 and r = 0.34, P < 0.001) and glucose concentrations (r = 0.25, P < 0.05 and r = 0.28, P < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1978

2 [(methylsulfinyl) acetyl] pyridine (Oxisuran): a new immunosuppressive agent in EAE.

The authors discuss the effects of a new immunosuppressive agent on the development of EAE. Animals (albino rabbits) were inoculated with an encephalitogenic emulsion, according to Kies' method, whereas a control group was inoculated by a physiological saline solution. Some animals were treated by Oxisuran in the first day after challenge; some others after initial symptoms (18th day). Thirty days after challenge, the animals were sacrificed. No toxicity was found in thoracic and abdominal structures neither in blood count. Pharmacological effectiveness of Oxisuran is well documented either in pretreatment or in therapy; the course was positively influenced in animals, when treated after the appearance of initial symptoms.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Oral contraception and multiple sclerosis].

The uncertain question of the use of oral contraceptives by women with multiple sclerosis is discussed. Reference is made to results observed in animals with experimentally induced allergic encephalitis subjected to oestroprogestin management. The course of M.S. during pregnancy is examined and the effects of blood lipid changes produced by oestrogens and progesterone, on the assumption that M.S. is due to a deficiency of unsaturated fatty acids. Lastly, attention is directed to interference with immunity, clotting, and platelet changes, these being factors in the spread off the disease. The data point to a protective rôle on the part of oestrogens, while the picture for progesterone is less conclusive. It would seem that these biological and immunological findings justify the use of oral contraceptives in subjects with M.S., though due caution is imposed by the absence of clinical and epidemiological data.

Blood Coagulation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Biochemical aspects of lipid metabolism in multiple sclerosis].

The biochemical features of lipid metabolism in multiple sclerosis are discussed and the contribution made by work on the aetiopathogenesis of the disease is illustrated. Reference is made to diagnostic tests (E-UFA and MEM tests), whose premisses are based on lipid metabolism. A link between biochemical and immunological research in this field is put forward.

Arachidonic Acids↗