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Biomedical subjects

B di Natale

Publications and source records attributed to B di Natale.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Pancreatic endocrine function in leukemic children treated with L-asparaginase.

The effect of arginine infusion on blood glucose and plasma levels of insulin, C-peptide and glucagon has been studied in leukemic children before and after treatment with L-asparaginase (10,000 U/m2/day for 10 days). Therapy induced a significant reduction in basal and peak blood glucose, insulin and C-peptide levels, while glucagon was unmodified. The conserved C-peptide-insulin molar ratio suggests the interference of L-asparaginase with proinsulin synthesis. In conclusion our results prove a decreased insulin reserve with a preserved, although reduced, beta-cell function.

Asparaginase↗

Effect of somatostatin on blood sugar, plasma growth hormone, and glucagon levels in diabetic children.

In nine children with clinically overt insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus the authors injected cyclic somatostatin (3 mug./kg. bolus, followed by infusion of 13 mug./kg. in 60 minutes) and measured blood glucose, plasma growth hormone, and glucagon concentrations throughout the infusion. The rapid administration produced no significant changes of these parameters. With the prolonged infusion there was a significant reduction of blood glucose from a mean of 148 +/- 19.7 to a mean of 88.5 +/- 18.1 mg./100 ml. (P less than 0.005) and of plasma glucagon from a basal mean of 33.3 +/- 2.4 to a minimum mean of 22.1 +/- 1.7 pg./ml. (P less than 0.01). There was a statistically significant correlation between the two parameters (0.01 less than P less than 0.05). Plasma GH values also diminished during the infusion, but the reduction was not statistically significant. These results show that somatostatin lowers blood glucose concentrations as a secondary effect of inhibition of glucagon secretion. Somatostatin is not suitable for therapy in diabetes. We speculate that a similar substance with a more prolonged and specific action on glucagon might prove of practical value in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Blood Glucose↗

Effect of physical exercise on secretion of growth hormone, glucagon, and cortisol in obese and diabetic children.

The effect of muscular exertion of moderate intensity on blood sugar (BS), plasma levels of growth hormone (GH), glucagon, and cortisol (F) has been studied in endocrinologically normal children with short stature and compared with children with clinical diabetes mellitus and obese children with normal and diminished carbohydrate tolerance. In diabetic children, physical exertion induces a rise in plasma GH levels comparable to that in controls; in obese children with normal or with diminished glucose tolerance, the rise is considerably smaller. Physical exertion caused no change in F levels in the groups tested, although basal level in the obese children was significantly higher than in the controls. Basal glucagon levels were similar in all groups and showed no change on physical exertion. The behavior of GH and glucagon in diabetic children was comparable to that in the controls even where blood sugar level was high.

Adolescent↗

The effect of alpha1-24-corticotropin on growth hormone release in prepubertal children.

The effect of alpha1-24-corticotropin-Zn on the results of pituitary stimulation tests (moderate standardized physical exercise, arginine infusion, insulin-induced hypoglycemia) was studied in 27 prepubertal children with non-endocrine retardation of growth and development. After administration of 1 mg alpha1-24-corticotropin, the basal blood glucose and plasma cortisol levels rose significantly. However, the growth hormone increase after the three stimulation tests was significantly lower than without the corticotropin injection. The results demonstrate the inhibiting effect of alpha1-24-corticotropin on growth hormone secretion.

Adolescent↗

Unusual renal involvement during diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in a newly diagnosed type I diabetic child.

A 10-year-old boy, in a precomatose state, was admitted to our Endocrine Unit for diabetic ketoacidosis. It took unusually long to reequilibrate the acidosis despite a bicarbonate drip. On the 4th day the patient suddenly complained of an acute abdominal pain associated with macrohematuria and oliguria; ankle edema was evident. No radio-opaque image was detected along the urinary tract. An intravenous pyelogram (IVP) showed an almost totally silent left kidney. Ten days later a control IVP showed complete normality of both kidneys. We postulated that the serious and protracted dehydration might have resulted in the formation of a blood clot along the renal tract and that the rehydration may have subsequently removed it.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

[Non-endocrine growth retardation. Diagnostic and therapeutic indications].

We analyze the most frequent conditions of non endocrine short stature divided into two groups by phenotypic criterion (dysmorphic or not). Furthermore we consider the different causes of short stature in relation to the appearance of stunted growth. The most recent etiopathogenetic advances in knowledge and the main auxologic features of each kind are reported. In the end we evaluate the current therapeutical measures and we analyse the usefulness of non specific treatments.

Alcohol Drinking↗