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Biomedical subjects

P Di Rocco

Publications and source records attributed to P Di Rocco.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Skeletal muscle triglycerides lowering is associated with net improvement of insulin sensitivity, TNF-alpha reduction and GLUT4 expression enhancement.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between intramyocytic triglycerides levels, muscle TNF-alpha and GLUT4 expression and insulin resistance. METHODS: Insulin sensitivity was studied in 14 severely obese women (BMI>40 kg/m(2)), before and 6 months after low-dietary intake or bariatric malabsorptive surgery (bilio-pancreatic diversion, BPD), by the euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp technique, while the amount of intramyocytic triglycerides was chemically measured in needle muscle biopsies. Using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis, the muscle mRNA expression of TNF-alpha and GLUT4 was also investigated. RESULTS: The weight loss after surgery was 25.98+/-5.81 kg (P<0.001), while that obtained with the diet was 5.07+/-5.99 kg (P=NS). Marked decrease in TNF-alpha mRNA levels (76.67+/-12.59 to 14.01+/-5.21 AU, P<0.001) were observed in comparison with pre-treatment, whereas GLUT4 was significantly increased (62.25+/-11.77-124.25+/-21.01 AU, P<0.001) only in BPD patients. Increased glucose uptake (M) was accompanied by a significant decrease of TNF-alpha mRNA (76.67+/-12.59-14.01+/-5.21 AU, P<0.01) and an increase of GLUT4. The amounts of TNF-alpha mRNAs in skeletal muscle correlated inversely with GLUT4 mRNAs and directly with intramyocytic triglycerides levels. In a step-down regression analysis (r(2)=0.95) TNFalpha mRNA (P=0.0014), muscular TG levels (P=0.018), and GLUT4 mRNA (P=0.028) resulted to be the most powerful independent variables for predicting M values. CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION: These findings suggest that insulin resistance in morbidly obese patients is positively associated to the intramyocytic triglycerides content and to TNF-alpha gene expression and inversely correlated to GLUT4 expression.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis induced by carbamazepine and variegate porphyria.

A 42-year-old woman presented with acute bullous skin lesions and angio-oedema that had developed 3 months after initiation of treatment with carbamazepine for epilepsy. Chromatographic analysis of urinary porphyrins was compatible with variegate porphyria. This was manifested initially by neurological symptoms that were mistaken for epilepsy and later by cutaneous symptoms also. Histological findings excluded hepatic porphyria, but revealed severe fatty changes thought to be caused by idiosyncratic metabolism of carbamazepine. While the porphyrinogenicity of carbamazepine is well known, the presence of variegate porphyria has not been reported. The toxic hepatic effects of the drug on hepatic cytochrome P-450, which is involved in haem metabolism, could have aggravated the pre-existent porphyria, provoking the onset of skin lesions.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Cellular localization of hepatic cytochrome 1B1 expression and its regulation by aromatic hydrocarbons and inflammatory cytokines.

Cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) is an activator of several xenobiotics and is induced in the liver upon experimental exposure to aromatic hydrocarbons. Since its cellular localization and regulation are incompletely clarified, Cyp1B1 expression and inducibility by 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene (DMBA) and inflammatory cytokines were investigated in different rat liver cell populations in vitro and in the liver during hepatocellular injury. Expression of Cyp1B1 was studied by Northern blot analysis in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), myofibroblasts (MFs), Kupffer cells (KCs), and hepatocytes at various time points of primary cultures and in acutely damaged rat liver (carbon tetrachloride model). Enzyme inducibility was assessed by incubation of cells with DMBA as well as, in the case of HSCs, with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1). Cyp1B1 messengers were expressed at high levels by HSCs and MFs, whereas constitutive expression was not detectable in KCs or in hepatocytes. Cyp1B1-specific mRNA were expressed at highest levels in HSCs at an early stage of activation (2 days after plating) and were diminished upon further activation. DMBA strongly enhanced Cyp1B1 gene expression in HSCs, MFs, and in hepatocytes at day 3 of primary cultures, but not in hepatocytes at day 1, or in KCs. The inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha enhanced the Cyp1B1 gene expression in HSCs, either when administered alone or in addition to DMBA, while TGFbeta1 did not affect Cyp1B1 expression, even after DMBA induction. We conclude that HSCs and MFs seem to be the major cellular sources of hepatic Cyp1B1 expression and that the constitutive expression of the Cyp1B1 gene and the responsiveness to DMBA stimulation differ between mesenchymal and parenchymal liver cells, indicating a cell-specific regulation of Cyp1B1 gene expression. Interestingly, TNF-alpha is a potent stimulator of the Cyp1B1 gene in HSCs and acts in concert with DMBA.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗
PubMed1998

Antipyrine clearance in chronic and neoplastic liver diseases: a study of 518 patients.

Antipyrine metabolism is widely used as an index of the drug-metabolizing reserve of the liver. It is well known that metabolism of this drug is impaired in subjects with acute hepatitis or cirrhosis, but conflicting data have been reported regarding patients with chronic postinfectious hepatitis or liver cancer. We studied conventional liver-function parameters and antipyrine metabolism (antipyrine per o.s. 18 mg/kg) in 518 subjects. One hundred and one patients had liver metastases (various primaries). Based on the number and size of lesions, the hepatic involvement was considered minimal in 47 and massive in 54 (groups B1 and B2, respectively). One hundred and two had chronic active hepatitis (CAH); 51 patients with histological evidence of fibrosis/early cirrhosis and 51 patients were without histological evidence of fibrosis/early cirrhosis. Ninety-two had histologically confirmed cirrhosis (group D), and the remaining 120 had cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (group E). The control group was composed of 103 subjects with healthy livers (group A). Antipyrine clearance (AP Cl) in CAH patients with fibrosis (0.246 +/- 0.98 mL/min per kg) was similar to that observed in patients with cirrhosis (0.223 +/- 0.148 mL/min per kg), and both values were significantly lower than that found in CAH patients without fibrosis (0.406 +/- 0.159 mL/min per kg, P < 0.01). Antipyrine clearance in patients with liver metastases (0.426 +/- 0.174 mL/min per kg) was similar to that of the healthy group (0.489 +/- 0.210 mL/min per kg). Cirrhotics and cirrhotics with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presented similar degrees of impairment. Antipyrine clearance was positively correlated with serum albumin (r2 = 0.10, P = 0.01) and prothrombin time (r2 = 0.129, P < 0.01) in all groups, except those with liver metastases. In patients with CAH, the presence of fibrosis/cirrhosis is associated with impaired antipyrine metabolism. The lack of impairment in groups with liver metastases suggests that the functional hepatic reserve is maintained even in the presence of massive neoplastic invasion.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[The Gaslini Medical-Surgical Emergency Service. Organizational and functional aspects].

The Authors take into account the organization of the medical emergency service at Gaslini children's hospital. Emergency medicine has been developing as a pediatric subspecialty, involving medical surgical and intensive care units to meet the peculiar needs of the acutely ill child. Moreover epidemiological data regarding all kinds of activity have been collected; they show a decrease in admitted patients and an increase in outpatients. These data undertime how effectively the service can act as a filter as well.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro ciprofloxacin release from poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres.

Biodegradable microspheres of PLGA (75:25 and 50:50) containing Ciprofloxacin (CIPRO) were prepared by two different procedures based on: (i) solvent-evaporation, and (ii) evaporation-extraction of the organic phase. The encapsulation rates from the different formulations were quite variable, as well the release patterns of the drug from the microspheres. The evaporation-extraction method seems to be more efficient for the CIPRO encapsulation compared with the solvent evaporation method. The 50:50 PLGA composition released the drug faster and showed degradation signs after incubation in aqueous medium in both manufacturing methodologies.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The natural history and risk factors for progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and steatohepatitis.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition of increasing incidence in western Countries seldom associated to other diseases of high prevalence in general population (i.e. diabetes and obesity). NAFLD ranges from simple fatty liver to steatohepatitis (NASH), which may lead to cryptogenic cirrhosis and in some cases hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Natural history of NAFLD in humans is poorly understood and progression of liver disease seems to be due to interaction between hosting (i.e. genetic, gut flora, insulin resistance) and environmental factors (social and eating behaviours) that should be responsible of increased oxidative stress within hepatocytes. Even if we need non-invasive markers able to describe the progression of liver disease, only meaning of liver biopsy is useful to characterize the stigmata of worsening such as inflammation and fibrosis.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Plasma levels of fibronectin in patients with chronic viral and alcoholic liver disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Plasma fibronectin levels are reportedly decreased in patients with cirrhosis, while increases are associated with acute and chronic hepatitis. We studied 101 patients with chronic liver disease to determine the relationship between disease etiology and plasma fibronectin levels. METHODOLOGY: Plasma fibronectin levels and standard liver function parameters were measured in all patients and 11 healthy controls. Antipyrine metabolism was also evaluated in 39 patients. Results were analyzed according to etiology (HBV, HCV, alcohol abuse) and histological findings (chronic active hepatitis (CAH) with/without fibrosis, steatosis, cirrhosis). RESULTS: The fibronectin levels were similar in patients with HBV, HCV and alcohol-related disease. Analysis of the groups based on histological features showed that fibronectin levels in cirrhotics (mean 270.69 microg/ml) were significantly lower than those of the control (mean 372.00 microg/ml) and other patient groups (steatosis: 470.37 microg/ml; CAH: 417.93 microg/ml; CAH and fibrosis: 426.72 microg/ml). Plasma fibronectin displayed a positive correlation with antipyrine metabolism and parameters of hepatic synthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma fibronectin appears to be an index of hepatic parenchymal function but shows no relation to the etiology of the liver disease.

Adult↗