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Biomedical subjects

F Cavagnini

Publications and source records attributed to F Cavagnini.

133 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

ACTH 1-17 and pituitary-adrenal function in human.

In this study we have compared the effects of the ACTH 1-17 analogue, alsactide (Synchrodyn 1-17,) and of the ACTH 1-24 fragment, on the dynamics of ACTH-cortisol secretion. In 2 healthy women, 100 micrograms alsactide injected i.m. at 07(00) caused a much greater and sustained cortisol secretion than 100 micrograms ACTH 1-24. However, adrenocortical stimulation effected by alsactide terminated within 24 h, since plasma cortisol levels recorded 24 h after alsactide injection were even lower than the corresponding values of the previous day. In 8 other women, daily administration of 100 micrograms alsactide at 07(00) for 15-days resulted in a significant blunting (p less than 0.05) of the ACTH secretion in response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia. This finding is even more meaningful in view of the more marked blood glucose fall (p less than 0.01) observed in the post treatment insulin tolerance test. Both baseline and insulin-stimulated cortisol levels were reduced after alsactide (p less than 0.02) so that cortisol increments above baseline were of comparable magnitude before and after treatment with the ACTH analogue. In 8 additional women, no significant changes in the cortisol response to hypoglycemia, in spite of more profound blood glucose fall (p less than 0.05), were noted after a 15-day treatment with 250 micrograms ACTH 1-24 daily. In all, these findings show that ACTH 1-17, compared to ACTH 1-24, effects a much more potent stimulation of cortisol secretion which, however, terminates within 24 h.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Impaired prolactin secretion in obese patients.

To investigate a possible hypothalamic alteration in obesity, we have studied the pattern of PRL secretion in response to insulin hypoglycemia, arginine infusion and TRH injection in 12 grossly obese patients and in 12 normal-weight controls. In the obese patients, PRL secretion was significantly lower than in normal subjects in response to insulin hypoglycemia and arginine infusion, while it was not significantly different from that in controls in response to TRH. The mean +/- SE values of the areas subtended by the PRL curves in the 3 above tests were 54.7 +/- 155.81 vs 3677.3 +/- 520.30 ng/2h, p less than 0,01, 210.3 +/- 148.93 vs 1034.8 +/- 203.15 ng/2h, p less than 0.05 and 1476.8 +/- 275.13 vs 2148.6 +/- 682.06 ng/2h, NS, respectively, in the obese and in controls. These results are compatible with the concept of impaired hypothalamic control of PRL secretion in obesity, although it is still unclear what role this may play in the pathogenesis of this disorder.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ineffectiveness of ceruletide to reduce food intake and body weight in obese women hospitalized for weight reduction and treated with a restricted diet. A double-blind study.

Ceruletide is a synthetic decapeptide closely resembling the 8-carboxy-terminal peptide of cholecystokinin (CCK-8) with which it shares several biological properties. In a double-blind study versus placebo, we evaluated the effects of ceruletide on self-rated hunger and food intake at lunch time, as well as on body weight in 14 obese women hospitalized for weight reduction and on a restricted diet. During two 6-day courses of treatment with ceruletide or placebo, ceruletide 0.3 microgram/kg b.wt. or an equivalent volume of its diluent were injected IM at 11.30 a.m., i.e., 30 min before lunch. Feelings of hunger were quantitated, using a visual analogue self-rating scale, prior to the injection of ceruletide or placebo and 30 min thereafter, i.e., just prior to the start of meal ingestion, as well as 2 hr after the start of the meal. Duration and caloric content of food ingested at lunch, as well as morning body weight, were recorded daily. Ceruletide, compared to placebo, did not significantly influence any of the above variables. However, in the first three experimental days, the increase in self-rated hunger from values before the injection to 30 min thereafter was less marked, though not significantly so (0.05 less than p less than 0.1), with ceruletide than with placebo. Thus, it appears that ceruletide, under the experimental conditions of the present study, was not effective in enhancing the patients' motivation to lose weight and to further restrict their food intake at lunch time.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗