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Biomedical subjects

G Marchini

Publications and source records attributed to G Marchini.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Cholecystokinin, a satiety signal in newborn infants?

This study was undertaken in order to describe circulating glucose and cholecystokinin (CCK) concentrations in relation to the spontaneous feeding behavior of the human newborn infant. Eighty-three, healthy, 3-days-old infants were studied in connection with breast feeding. Blood samples from the infants were cross-sectionally collected before feeding, 5 and 10 min after the start of sucking, and after the infants had sucked ad libitum. Before feeding, the infants presented a typical "hunger behavior", which changed in connection with breast feeding into a pattern associated with satiety. A significant increase in the plasma CCK concentration was found, 5 min (P = 0.004) and 10 min (P = 0.02) after the start of sucking, as well as after feeding (P = 0.04). Furthermore, a positive correlation between the CCK concentration and the volume of ingested milk was found 10 min after the start of sucking, when 91% of of the volume of milk had been ingested; Rs = 0.51, n = 19, P < 0.02. However, no change was found in the glucose concentration in connection with breast feeding. It is concluded that CCK may be important as a satiety factor in the regulation of food intake in the newborn infant.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1990

Plasma gastrin and somatostatin in newborn infants and their relationship to catecholamines.

We investigated the relationship between gastrin and somatostatin, and catecholamine concentrations in the cord blood of newborn infants. We also measured the levels of the two peptides during the first postnatal hours in the infants and furthermore characterized their molecular pattern. Twenty-two healthy infants who had been born at term were studied. Blood samples were collected from the umbilical cord and from the infants 0.5 h and 3.5 h after delivery. Peptides were measured with radioimmunoassay and further characterized by HPLC. Catecholamines were analysed by HPLC. We found that gastrin and somatostatin concentration in the umbilical cord blood was 106 +/- 40 pmol/l and 29 +/- 17 pmol/l, respectively. A significant relationship between the concentrations of somatostatin and noradrenaline in cord blood was found, (r = 0.7, n = 11, P less than 0.01). No such relation was found for gastrin. No change occurred in gastrin concentrations postnatally. Somatostatin concentration in the blood collected from the infant 0.5 h and 3.5 h after delivery was 19 +/- 11 pmol/l and 16 +/- 7 pmol/l, respectively. These concentrations were significantly lower (P less than 0.01) compared to the level measured in cord blood. Circulating gastrin was found to correspond to non-sulphated gastrin-34 and somatostatin to both somatostatin-28 and somatostatin-14. The proportion of somatostatin-28 was 30-40% and of somatostatin-14, 60-70%. We conclude that the somatostatin level, but not the gastrin level is influenced by the degree of fetal stress during labour, as evidenced by the relationship with noradrenaline. The gastrin level remained unchanged during the 3.5 h following delivery, whereas the somatostatin level decreased significantly during the same time.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Plasma gastrin and somatostatin levels in infants during the first four postnatal days.

This study was designed to measure plasma gastrin and somatostatin levels in infants and to simultaneously investigate the infants' metabolic status as reflected by the body weight as well as by the blood levels of FFA, D-beta-hydroxybutyrate and glucose. Healthy infants (n = 94) who were born at term were studied cross-sectionally during their first four days of life. We found that the gastrin concentration (mean +/- SD) on the first day of life was 118 +/- 37 pmol/l. Subsequently the concentration decreased and reached its lowest value on the third day; 94 +/- 27 pmol/l (P less than 0.05). On the fourth day the mean concentration increased to the same level as on the first day. There was a significant (P less than 0.01) increase in somatostatin concentrations from 18 +/- 6 pmol/l on the first day to 26 +/- 7 pmol/l on the fourth day and the concentrations were highly related (P less than 0.0001) to postnatal age. We conclude that the decrease in gastrin concentration is probably related to the low volume of breast milk ingested during the first days after delivery, and therefore to the low secretory activity of the gastrin-producing cells. The infants' catabolic condition during that time was evidenced by the reduction in body weight, the decrease in plasma glucose level and the increase in FFA and D-beta-hydroxybutyrate levels. The gastrin increase found on the fourth day reflects most likely, the change in breast milk availability which occurs with the establishment of lactation. The mechanisms controlling the release of somatostatin remains to be established.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗
PubMed1989

[Polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholine combined with vitamin B complex in the treatment of patients with disorders of the hepatobiliary function caused by unbalanced nutrition].

The above study was undertaken in order to assess the therapeutic activity of polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholine combined with vitamin B complex in 20 patients suffering from hepatobiliary disorders related to unbalanced diets with inappropriate caloric and/or macronutrient intake (another group of 20 subjects served as controls). The results obtained show that the combination used is apt to bring about desirable changes in the liver function parameters studied. These favorable changes are likely to be attributable to a reduction of damage to membranes and of changes in liver phospholipid synthesis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Comparison of different screening methods for the detection of visual field defects in early glaucoma.

The effectiveness of three different automated perimetry strategies for the screening of glaucomatous visual field defects was studied on 182 eyes of glaucoma suspects. The results were compared with those obtained with the Octopus G1 program. On this particular sample of population the results are as follows. Henson perimeter: sensitivity 59.4%, specificity 88%. Humphrey perimeter (Armaly full field test): sensitivity 64.2%, specificity 64.2%. Perikon perimeter (Genoa glaucoma screening): sensitivity 55%, specificity 90.4%. Octopus perimeter (G1 program): sensitivity 92.1%, specificity 83%.

Glaucoma↗
PubMed1989

Effects of intraocular dapiprazole in the rabbit eye.

Dapiprazole produces miosis by blocking the alpha 1 receptors in the radial muscle of the iris; its intraocular effect has not yet been investigated. In this preliminary experimental animal study, we investigated the intracameral use of 0.2 ml of 0.005%, 0.0075%, 0.01%, and 0.05% dapiprazole to reverse mydriasis by 10% phenylephrine plus 0.5% tropicamide. With the 0.05% dapiprazole concentration, the values (mean +/- S.E.) of pupillary diameter were as follows: prior to the experiment, 5.3 +/- 0.31 mm; after mydriatics, 8.7 +/- 0.22 mm; after intraocular dapiprazole, 5.6 mm +/- 0.29. The results showed a dose-related miotic effect of dapiprazole. No difference in the toxicity parameters (inflammatory score, corneal thickness, endothelial cell counting, aqueous humor protein concentration, and intraocular pressure) was found between dapiprazole-treated eyes and saline-solution-treated eyes. Intraocular 0.01% and 0.05% dapiprazole is an effective miotic agent that may be helpful during surgery when the reversal of sympathomimetic mydriasis is needed.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Fetal and maternal plasma levels of gastrin, somatostatin and oxytocin after vaginal delivery and elective cesarean section.

We measured the cord levels of gastrin, somatostatin and oxytocin with radioimmunoassay in plasma collected from the umbilical artery after vaginal delivery and after elective cesarean section. Maternal venous samples after the two labour modalities were also assayed for the same hormones. Fetal gastrin, somatostatin and oxytocin levels were significantly higher after vaginal delivery than after elective cesarean section. Independently of labour type, the fetal gastrin and somatostatin levels were always higher than the maternal levels. We suggest that the observed high levels of gastrin, somatostatin and oxytocin could be due to a stress-related stimulation of the oxytocin- as well as of the gastric gastrin- and somatostatin-producing cells, occurring particularly during vaginal delivery. The significant inverse correlation found between fetal pH and the recorded hormone levels is consistent with this hypothesis.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗
PubMed1988

Plasma concentrations of gastrin and somatostatin after breast feeding in 4 day old infants.

The plasma concentrations of gastrin and somatostatin were measured by radioimmunoassay before and after breast feeding in healthy 4 day old infants who had been born at full term. The mean (SD) concentrations of gastrin and somatostatin before breast feeding were 120 (30) pmol/l and 35 (12) pmol/l, respectively. Breast feeding in these infants was not followed by increased concentrations of gastrin and somatostatin in peripheral blood. High preprandial peptide concentrations, as seen during the neonatal period may limit the further release of peptide after feeding.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed1988

[Study of color perception using a new color test and desaturated panel D 15 in normal subjects and diabetics].

The authors used two tests (the Lanthony's New Color Test and the desaturated Panel D 15 test) to evaluate color vision in 235 subjects (235 eyes) of which 80 normal and 155 diabetic (85 with background retinopathy and 70 without retinopathy, as demonstrated by fluorescein angiography). The diabetic patients with maculopathy or macular oedema, with mixed or proliferative retinopathy, or with any form of advanced degenerative retinopathy were excluded from this study. The New Color Test was performed in accordance with Lanthony's standardized method, applying only the separation phase (to quantifying the color perception defect, if any) in photopic illuminance conditions at 250 lux. The desaturated Panel D 15 (qualitative classification test) has been performed at illuminance of 500 lux. Both normal and diabetic subjects were divided into two age groups (below and above 45 years) and the discriminatory value of two tests has been assessed in relation to age, diabetes and background retinopathy. The New Color Test showed a highly significant difference between normal subjects and diabetics of comparable age with background retinopathy. There was also a highly significant difference between diabetics with and without retinopathy. On the other hand, the difference between normal subjects and diabetics without retinopathy proved significant in the below-45 age group and no-significant in the above-45 age group. The results obtained in the desaturated Panel D 15 test have been similar: below the 45 years of age all differences among the three subject groups proved significant, whereas in the above-45 age group no significant differences were observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1987

The effect of non-nutritive sucking on plasma insulin, gastrin, and somatostatin levels in infants.

The aim of the present investigation was to study the effect of non-nutritive sucking on plasma levels of insulin, gastrin, and somatostatin in infants. These hormones were measured with radioimmunoassay in plasma collected from fullterm and preterm infants sucking a pacifier. In fullterm infants, sucking caused a significant increase of insulin levels from 13 +/- 10 microU/ml to 40 +/- 36 microU/ml and 21 +/- 17 microU/ml after 45 sec and 5 min respectively, from when the infants started sucking. A similar pattern was seen in preterm infants. In contrast, gastrin and somatostatin levels were not significantly affected. We suggest that sucking causes an activation of the vagal nerve, which results in the release of insulin. We also suggest that in infants, oral feeding is superior to bolus feeding, since in the latter case no vagal activation and consequently no release of hormones with anabolic properties occurs.

Gastrins↗
PubMed1987

Release of GI hormones in mother and infant by sensory stimulation.

It is well established that sensory stimulation is of great importance for the growth of and for the physiological and psychological development of infants. Supplementary sensory stimulation such as non-nutritive sucking and tactile stimulation has been shown to increase the growth rate and the maturation of premature infants. In human neonates non-nutritive sucking has a vagally mediated influence on the levels of some gastrointestinal hormones. In animal experiments afferent electrical stimulations of the sciatic nerves at low intensity leads to an activation of the vagal nerves and to a consequent release of vagally controlled gastrointestinal hormones such as gastrin and cholecystokinin. We therefore assume that both non-nutritive sucking and tactile stimulation trigger the activity of sensory nerves which leads to a release of vagally regulated gut hormones. Since gut hormones stimulate gastrointestinal motor and secretory activity and the growth of the gastrointestinal tract, and enhance the glucose-induced insulin release, they may contribute to the beneficial effects on maturation and growth caused by sensory stimulation. In the breast-feeding situation, the sucking of the child elicits similar reflexes in the mother leading to an activation of the maternal gut endocrine system and a consequent increase in energy uptake. These data indicate that many types of neurogenic reflexes induced in mother-infant interactions are of importance for the energy economy of both mother and child.

Female↗
PubMed1984

[Echographic study of the structure of a malignant melanoma of the choroid].

The case of a 74 yr. old male affected by a mixed cell choroidal melanoma is reported. Ophthalmoscopic examination suggested a choroidal melanoma; this diagnosis was confirmed by fluorescein angiography, ultrasonography and CT-scan. In particular, contact ultrasonography (A-mode and B-mode), following topographic, kinetic and quantitative diagnostic criteria, revealed a solid lesion with the typical features of a choroidal melanoma. Ultrasonography by differential selective echographic technique revealed that the lesion consisted of two components with different acoustic features : the first characterized by a 41 dB reflectivity (peripheral and superior portions), the second by a 23 dB reflectivity (central and inferior portions). Attenuation values were 1.2 dB/mm and 0.7 dB/mm, respectively. CT-scan did not show any significant change in density within the mass. Histopathologic evaluation confirmed a clear-cut edge between the epitheloid and the spindle-cell components. The more reflecting lesion (23 dB), located in the central-inferior portion of the lesion, was histologically less dense and was due to the epitheloid component. The superiorally located more attenuating lesion (1.2 dB/mm) was histologically more dense and due to the spindle-cell component.

Aged↗