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Biomedical subjects

A Pagani

Publications and source records attributed to A Pagani.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Double-blind crossover study of acarbose in type 1 diabetic patients.

The addition of acarbose to insulin treatment was evaluated in 14 Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients assessed conventionally (blood glucose profile and HbA1c measurement) and with an artificial B-cell. Their metabolic control was poor, fasting blood glucose 10.7 +/- 0.3 (+/- SE) mmol l-1, mean daily blood glucose 9.7 +/- 0.3 mmol l-1, and HbA1c 9.6 +/- 0.2% (normal range 5.0-6.1%). They were of normal body weight (body mass index 22.5 +/- 0.3 kg m-2), and were C-peptide deficient (fasting 0.08 +/- 0.02 nmol l-1). In addition to their usual insulin therapy (46.9 +/- 3.5 U day-1 in three pre-meal injections), they received 100 mg acarbose or placebo three times a day for 6 weeks in a randomized double-blind crossover design. On the last day of either acarbose or placebo treatment, the usual insulin therapy was discontinued and an artificial B-cell was used for insulin delivery, programmed for euglycaemia. Placebo or acarbose was continued before meals. Acarbose reduced mean daily blood glucose concentrations (8.5 +/- 0.3 vs 9.7 +/- 0.3 mmol l-1, p = 0.002) and HbA1c levels (8.3 +/- 0.1 vs 9.6 +/- 0.2%, p less than 0.001). A significant reduction in insulin requirement after meals was found with the artificial B-cell, 25.1 +/- 2.5 (first treatment acarbose) and 24.1 +/- 2.9 U (first treatment placebo) with acarbose and 40.0 +/- 2.5 and 35.6 +/- 2.9 U with placebo (p less than 0.001). These results suggest that acarbose could usefully be administered to Type 1 diabetic patients to ameliorate glucose control and reduce insulin requirement.

Acarbose↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Indoor allergens in office. Evaluation of the work station].

House dust mite and other indoor allergens play a prominent role in the pathogenesis of asthma and other allergic diseases. Several studies have shown a close relationship between sensitisation and/or onset of asthmatic symptoms and levels of indoor allergen exposure. Aim of the study was to investigate the concentration of specific markers of the indoor allergenic pollution, such as Der p 1, Der f 1, Mite Group 2, Fel d 1 and Bla g 2. Dust samples were taken using a standard method by means of a 1200 W vacuum cleaner connected with a dust-sampling device (MITEST). A standard A4 size area has been vacuumed four times during 2 min. The concentrations of Der p 1, Der f 1, Mite Group 2, Fel d 1 and Bla g 2 were determined in dust samples from 53 different sources (office chair and carpet) using a commercial kit (DUSTSCREEN). House dust mite allergens were not always detectable in the offices. Indoor allergen concentrations (Der p 1, Der f 1, Mite Group 2, Fel d 1) were significant higher in the work station (chair) than in the carpet (p < 0.0001). Der 1 exceeded the current threshold for sensitization in about 1/4 of the samples. Der f 1 was predominant over Der p 1 according to other studies. A good correlation between the results of Der p 1 and Der f 1 was observed both in carpet and work station. Cat allergen was ubiquitous and predominantly detected in the chairs because of the employees' clothes. No appreciable levels for Mite Gr 2 and Bla g 2 were detected. Such an exposure for 8 hours in every working day may be an important occupational risk for the development of sensitization/elicitation symptoms to house dust mite. To reduce mite allergen levels are necessary preventive measure by means of specific techniques and products as barriers for preventing the direct contact with allergens.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Determination of serum bilirubin fractions using gel-filtration].

Serum bilirubin has been fractionated by means of a gel-filtration technique, on Bio-Gel P-10 columns and with caffeine solution as eluent. When sera containing high concentration of direct-reacting bilirubin were applied to the column, a bilirubin fraction was eluted with the protein. This bilirubin fraction is not set free from protein in the presence of urea, guanidine and sodium dodecyl sulfate; moreover it exhibits peculiar behaviour in the direct and indirect diazo-reaction and in enzymatic oxidation by bilirubin-oxidase as well. On the basis of these data, such bilirubin fraction has been identified with the previously described delta-bilirubin. A method for the quantitative measurement of delta-bilirubin, based on gel-filtration separation followed by diazo-reaction, has been worked out. Results by this method satisfactorily compared with the Kodak Ektachem method.

Bilirubin↗