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Biomedical subjects

M Cignarelli

Publications and source records attributed to M Cignarelli.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Influence of free testosterone on antigen levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in premenopausal women with central obesity.

Women with upper body obesity are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Several studies have demonstrated a reduced fibrinolytic activity in these patients, mainly due to an enhanced activity of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). Since an increase of androgenic activity is a feature of central obesity in women, the present study was aimed at evaluating the possibility of a relationship between androgens and PAI-1 (antigen and activity) in 20 premenopausal women, 10 with upper body obesity and 10 controls. In obese women, PAI-1 antigen showed a positive Pearson correlation with free testosterone (FT), insulin, c-peptide, triglycerides (TG), and waist to hip ratio (WHR) (P less than .01), whereas PAI-1 activity correlated positively only with insulin and WHR (P less than .01). In control women, PAI-1 antigen and activity were positively related only to TG (P less than .01). When we applied the multiple regression model with stepwise backward method to our data, both PAI-1 antigen and activity did not maintain any significant association. However, when the data from both the groups were pooled (n = 20), and PAI-1 antigen was considered as the dependent variable, body weight (Sig T = 0.0001), TG (Sig T = 0.0053), FT (Sig T = 0.013), and luteinizing hormone (LH) (Sig T = 0.0474) met the stepwise criteria, suggesting an independent effect of each of these parameters on PAI-1 antigen. On the other hand, when PAI-1 activity was tested as the dependent variable, only body weight maintained a significant relationship with this parameter (Sig T = 0.0006).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

C-Peptide↗
PubMed1992

Increased free testosterone but normal 5 alpha-reduced testosterone metabolites in obese premenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate whether the absence of increased 5 alpha-reductase activity explained the absence of hirsutism in premenopausal obese women with increased free testosterone (FT) levels. DESIGN: As in hyperandrogenicity there generally exists evidence for increased 5 alpha-reductase activity, we measured, as parameters of 5 alpha-reductase activity, plasma levels of 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha,17 beta-diol glucuronide (ADG) and androsterone glucuronide (ADTG) as well as their precursor levels in obese women without hirsutism, obese hirsute women, non-obese hirsute women, and non-obese, non-hirsute women. PATIENTS: Eighty-two premenopausal women (20-45 years old) were studied, in four age matched groups: 39 controls, 18 obese without hirsutism, 11 non-obese hirsute and 14 obese hirsute women. MEASUREMENTS: Blood samples were taken between days 5 and 7 of the menstrual cycle. Steroid hormone levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Free testosterone levels were measured by equilibrium dialysis. RESULTS: Compared to controls, mean free testosterone levels were increased (P less than 0.01) in obese, obese hirsute and hirsute patients, whereas mean DHEAS levels were increased in hirsute and obese hirsute (P less than 0.01), but not in obese, women. Mean androstanediol glucuronide levels were markedly increased in hirsute and obese hirsute patients (P less than 0.01), but not in obese women. Plasma androsterone glucuronide levels were increased in hirsute (P less than 0.01), in the normal range in obese hirsute, and decreased in obese women (P less than 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results show that, despite the presence of higher free testosterone levels, neither 5 alpha-reductase activity (as suggested by normal androstanediol glucuronide levels) nor adrenal androgen precursor levels (DHEAS) are increased in obese women without hirsutism.

3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase↗
PubMed1992

Gallbladder volume and emptying in diabetics: the role of neuropathy and obesity.

Gallbladder (GB) volume was monitored by real-time sonography in diabetics (n = 21) and healthy volunteers (n = 55) after a test meal. Seventeen controls and seven diabetics were obese; six patients had both autonomous and somatic neuropathy, and four had somatic neuropathy. Fasting GB volume was similar in controls and diabetics with and without autonomic neuropathy; it was correlated with body mass index (controls, r = 0.43, P less than 0.002; diabetics, r = 0.46, P less than 0.04), and was increased in obese subjects. Post-prandial GB emptying was decreased in diabetics. Those with autonomous neuropathy exhibited larger residual volumes than controls (P less than 0.03). Post-prandial GB emptying was slower and less complete in (non-diabetic) obese subjects and deteriorated further in diabetic obese subjects. GB fasting tone was normal, but GB kinetics were impaired in diabetics; obesity and autonomous neuropathy were correlated with GB hypomotility.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

High systolic blood pressure increases prevalence and severity of retinopathy in NIDDM patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the severity of retinopathy is higher in a group of NIDDM patients with sBP greater than or equal to 140 mmHg compared with NIDDM patients with sBP less than 140 mmHg. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Ophthalmoscopy and FAG were conducted among a group of NIDDM patients with either a sBP above (n = 54) or below (n = 55) 140 mmHg. The groups were matched according to diabetes duration, metabolic control (HbA1c), and AER. RESULTS: Patients with sBP greater than 140 mmHg had a higher prevalence of retinopathy, as established according to a rating scale (4.9 +/- 3.8 vs. 3.2 +/- 3.3, P less than 0.02); furthermore, their BMI values were higher (28.1 +/- 4.5 vs. 24.9 +/- 4.1 kg/m2, P less than 0.001). The group of normotensive subjects showed the highest rate of low grading (0-2) values. However, the highest prevalence rates of 8-10 grading values (proliferative retinopathy) were found in the hypertensive group. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that sBP values greater than or equal to 140 mmHg favor the onset of retinopathy in NIDDM patients during their 1st 10 yr of disease.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1991

Low dehydroepiandrosterone circulating levels in premenopausal obese women with very high body mass index.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has an anti-obesity effect in rodents and reduces body fat in normal men. Therefore, the plasma levels of DHEA were evaluated in nine premenopausal healthy women and in 13 menstrually active nondiabetic obese women, including patients (n = 6) with body mass index (BMI) over 40. In the obese group, a significant inverse correlation between DHEA levels and BMI was found. These results suggest that patients with severe obesity are unable to increase the DHEA adrenal production rate in order to parallel the increase in the hormone metabolic clearance rate (due to enlargement of body fat mass per se). The deficiency of this mechanism might itself contribute to the progressive fat accumulation in severe obesity.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1991

Inverse relationship between cortisol excretion rate and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) antigen and activity in premenopausal obese women.

The present study was undertaken in order to investigate the possibility of a relationship between plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and cortisol excretion rate in 15 obese women. We found a highly significant linear inverse correlation between cortisol excretion rate and both PAI-1 antigen (r = 0.79, P less than 0.001) and activity (r = 0.77, P less than 0.001). In addition, stepwise regression analysis showed that cortisol excretion rate maintained a strong negative relationship with PAI-1 antigen (significance level 0.03) and activity (significance level 0.003), when adjusted for other variables taken in examination (waist to hip ratio, body mass index, insulin, DHEAS, age). Even though this study only demonstrates a negative correlation, the possibility of a direct inhibitory effect of cortisol on PAI-1 production should be considered. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates an inverse correlation between cortisol excretion rate and PAI-1 antigen and activity, suggesting a possible role for cortisol in protecting obese women from reduced fibrinolytic activity.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

D-(-)-beta-hydroxybutyrate inhibits catecholamine-stimulated lipolysis and decreases beta-adrenoceptors' affinity in human fat cells but not in lymphomonocytes.

The effect of D-(-)-beta-hydroxybutyrate, at concentrations commonly achieved during ketoacidosis in humans (10 mmol/l), on human fat cell lipolysis in vitro was the aim of this study. The basal lipolysis was not modified and beta-hydroxybutyrate did not affect forskolin- or dibutyryl-cAMP-stimulated glycerol release, whereas it markedly inhibited isoproterenol-stimulated lipolysis. In membranes of intact adipocytes exposed to D-(-)-beta-hydroxybutyrate for 1 h, we found a decrease in beta-adrenoceptor affinity in saturation experiments and a shift to the right of the isoproterenol-mediated radioligand [( 125I]-cyanopindolol) displacement curve. These findings suggest that beta-hydroxybutyrate inhibits catecholamine-stimulated lipolysis by decreasing beta-adrenoceptor affinity. No effect of beta-hydroxybutyrate was found on beta-adrenoceptor binding of intact mononuclear cells of peripheral blood. In conclusion, the beta-adrenoceptor affinity lowering effect of beta-hydroxybutyrate is seemingly specific to human fat cells and might represent a feed-back mechanism that prevents an uncontrolled breakdown of triglycerides and indirectly regulates its own production rate.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗
PubMed1990

Changes in overall plasma norepinephrine turnover and lymphomonocyte beta-adrenoceptor number during combined caloric and sodium restriction in normotensive obese subjects.

The aim of the study was to evaluate in eight normotensive obese patients the influence of low sodium intake (9 mEq/day) on the sympathetic activity modifications induced by caloric restriction (2511 kJ/day). As compared to the isocaloric salt balanced diet, 7 days of normosodic underfeeding induced a decrease in the overall norepinephrine turnover (clearance and appearance rate) and 24 hours urinary output, whereas the combined caloric and salt restriction significantly increased the norepinephrine appearance rate and even more the norepinephrine clearance but, on the other hand, decreased the beta-adrenergic receptor number on the lymphomonocyte surface, suggesting a reduced peripheral sensitivity to catecholamines. Therefore, the utility of the combined sodium and caloric restriction in the treatment of the normotensive obese patients remains still questionable.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

[Effect of phenethylbiguanide on the respiratory activity of liver mitochondria of rats treated with glucagon].

The effect of PEBG on respiration and oxidative phosphorilation (succinate as substrate) has been studied in liver mitochondria of rat treated with glucagon. The results obtained indicate that, while glucagon, as reported by others, induce a significant increase of respiration rate in state 3 (+ ADP), PEBG, at pharmachological dose, antagonizes this effect. The conclusion is that PEBG exertes its hypoglycemic activity by inhibiting the gluconeogenic reactions promoted by glucagon. This is strongly evident in diabetic or starwed conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

[Various types of reducing diets].

It must be readily understood that the only possibility of fighting obesity is by bringing about a reversal in the energy balance so that inputs are smaller than outputs. At least theoretically, then, obesity's special quality is that it does not present any therapeutic problem. Restriction in food intake is currently the treatment of choice; to be effective, food intake must be cut so that the energy provided is below the obese person's daily consumption, on average below 1200 calories per day, while at the same time holding a comparatively high intake of indispensable elements (proteins, vitamins, certain minerals and oligo-elements). The physician has a choice of various possibilities represented by fasting, a variety of free or controlled diets, protein diets or diets with low carbohydrate content and with a variable fat content; dissociated, zig-zag, one food diets etc. Substantially all these tend to limit the total quantity of glycides and boost the feeling of satiety by increasing the total volume of good while keeping total calories unvaried. It is clear that each of them has specific indications and clear-cut contraindications. The aim is to produce a calory shortfall, not cause denutrition. The diet must therefore be suited to the individual directed during subsequent stages of weight loss in relation to the patient's specific requirements (number of meals, etc.).

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Adenylate cyclase response to beta-adrenergic agonists in heart and brown adipose tissue].

Some sympathomimetic compounds (i.e. BRL37344) increase brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis with minimal cardiac effects. They act through an "atypical" beta-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR). Since beta-AR responses involve Adenylate Cyclase (AC) activation, we investigate the AC answer to isoproterenol and BRL37344 in rat plasmamembranes of heart (beta 1-ARs) and BAT (atypical beta-ARs). AC dose-response curves were obtained by incubating membrane fractions with different concentrations of isoproterenol and BRL37344 (1 nM-100 microM) at 25 degrees C for 15 min. In our study BRL37344 is 40-times more potent than isoproterenol in stimulating AC activity of BAT (EC50s: BRL37344 = 0.02 microM, isoproterenol = 0.7 microM). Furthermore it is more potent in stimulating BAT AC than heart AC (BRL37344 EC50 ratio heart/BAT = 38). However on BAT membranes, BRL37344 intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (ISA) vs. Isoproterenol is 0.87. Since isoproterenol and BRL37344 show a similar ISA for BAT respiration and lipolysis, we may argue that AC maximal activity is not required for maximal lipolytic and thermogenic responses.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗