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Biomedical subjects

G Lenti

Publications and source records attributed to G Lenti.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

[New thoughts on diabetes mellitus (author's transl)].

The significance of genetic factors in the origination of a diabetes mellitus is generally recognized. Besides this, the possibility of a virus etiology and an autoimmune etiology is discussed. The numerous very complex actions of insulin on the cells of liver, muscle and other organs take place with the assistance of special receptors, the number of available receptors probably being important. A great advance in therapy is the development of the monocomponent insulins. They are primarily indicated in the labile forms, especially in infantile and juvenile diabetes, in insulin resistance, for high antiinsulin titiers, insulin allergy, lipoatrophy and microangiopathy. We must wait and see how far transplantation of a pancreas or Langerhans islet cells or the "artificial" pancreas can be used in future treatment.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

[Clinical significance of the tests used in the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases].

Different methods available for investigating patients for pancreatic disease are discussed. They first include measurement of pancreatic enzymes in biological fluids. Basal amylase and/or lipase in blood are truly diagnostic in acute pancreatitis but their utility is low in chronic pancreatic diseases. Evocative tests have been performed to increase the sensitivity of blood enzyme measurement. The procedure is based on enzyme determination following administration of pancreozymin and secretin, and offers a valuable aid in diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis and cancer of the pancreas. They are capable of discerning pancreatic lesions but are not really discriminatory because similar changes are observed in both diseases. The measurement of urinary enzyme levels in patients with acute pancreatitis is a sensitive indicator of disease. The urinary amylase excretion rises to abnormal levels and persists at significant values for a longer period of time than the serum amylase in acute pancreatitis. The fractional urinary amylase escretion seems to be more sensitive than daily urinary measurement. The pancreatic exocrin function can be assessed by examining the duodenal contents after intravenous administration of pancreozymin and secretin. Different abnormal secretory patterns can be determinated. Total secretory deficiency is observed in patients with obstruction of excretory ducts by tumors of the head of the pancreas and in the end stage of chronic pancreatitis. Low volume with normal bicarbonate and enzyme concentration is another typical pattern seen in neoplastic obstruction of escretory ducts. In chronic pancreatitis the chief defect is the inability of the gland to secrete a juice with a high bicarbonate concentration; but in the advanced stage diminution of enzyme and volume is also evident. Diagnostic procedures for pancreatic diseases include digestion and absorption tests. The microscopic examination and chemical estimation of the fats in stool specimens in different conditions of intake are still important screening tests. Isotopic estimates of steatorrhea and distinction between labeled triolein and oleic acid absorption do not provide greater diagnostic discrimination than traditional procedures. 131I labeled proteins permit a good evaluation of a negative nitrogen balance. Sophisticated procedures to estimate exocrine pancreatic insufficiency are based on the study of endoluminal digestive processes at several times and different level of the small intestine. They permite esclusion of extrapancreatic factors interfering in digestion and absorption functions. The endocrin pancreatic function is evaluated by mean of oral tolerance test an radioimmunoassay of blood insulin. It is generally agreed that "diabetes" caused by insulin deficiency and digestion and absorption defects are the result of diffuse pancreatic destruction. Many methods are now available investigating patients with pancreatic disease but the single use of one of them is never satisfactory...

Amylases↗
PubMed1976

[Clinical Significance of Different Tests for the Diagnosis of Chronic Diseases of the Pancreas].

Enzymatic, functional and morphological test are used for the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases. The enzymatic tests-amylase is the enzyme activity most frequently investigated-are best suited to the diagnosis of acute diseases. In chronic inflammations of the pancreas the serum enzymes do not usually increase because of the destruction of the parenchyma. The provocation test with pancreozymin secretin is especially indicated in chronic diseases of the pancreas. Digestion and absorption are only disturbed in the late stages of the disease. It is important to investigate them to determine the necessary susbtitution therapy. No method should be used alone, only series of tests give satisfactory results.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1975

Effects of a xanthine derivative (BL 191) on insulin secretion in normal man.

A xanthine derivative, named BL-191, was administered iv in 8 healthy volunteers alone and in association with glucose (0.33 g/kg body weight iv) or glybenclamide (1 mg iv). BL-191 was infused iv at a constant rate in a dose of 200 mg during 45 minutes. Blood glucose, free fatty acids and immunoreactive insulin were measured during one hour. It was impossible to demonstrate neither a direct effect nor an enhancement of insulin secretion during drug administration; in another experiment (treatment F) a higher dosage of BL-191 (100 mg as a priming dose + 200 mg as infusion dose) was likely ineffective. It appears that some difference in insulin response may be present in the single subject (not evident in the mean), indicating a difference in the beta-cell cAMP-system sensitivity in individuals. These negative results allow some considerations on the importance of the beta-cell cAMP-system in healthy human beings.

Adult↗