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Biomedical subjects

G Caimi

Publications and source records attributed to G Caimi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Chronic renal failure: leukocyte rheology and polymorphonuclear cytosolic Ca2+ concentration.

In a group of subjects with chronic renal failure (CRF), we evaluated the leukocyte rheological activity, expressed as the filtration rate, the polymorphonuclear (PMN) membrane fluidity and the PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content. Using the St. George's Filtrometer, we determined the filtration rate of unfractionated, mononuclear and PMN leukocytes. Using the fluorescent probe 1.4-(trimethylamino)-phenyl-4-phenyl-hexatriene (TMA-DPH), we examined the PMN membrane fluidity and, using the Fura 2-AM, the PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content. From the results obtained, it is evident that only the initial relative flow rate of unfractionated leukocytes was significantly reduced in subjects with CRF, while the filtration parameters of mononuclear and PMN cells did not distinguish normals from CRF subjects. No variation was evident for the PMN membrane fluidity, while the PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content was significantly increased in CRF subjects. In these subjects no correlation was found between leukocyte filtration parameters, PMN membrane fluidity, PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content and plasma parameters (blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine), reflecting the degree of the CRF. In conclusion, in CRF subjects the abnormality of the leukocyte flow properties was restricted to the initial flow rate of unfractionated leukocytes, whereas the increase of PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content might be attributed to PMN activation.

Calcium↗
PubMed1999

Haemorheological profile in subjects with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

In a group of subjects (n = 35) with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) subdivided according to the presence (n = 16) or absence (n = 19) of left atrial spontaneous echocontrast (SEC), demonstrated using transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, we evaluated the principal haemorheological determinants: whole-blood viscosity, plasma and serum viscosity, haematocrit, whole-blood filtration (VBC) and mean erythrocyte aggregation (MEA). From the obtained data it was evident that in subjects with nonvalvular AF there was an impairment of the haemorheological profile that seemed more evident in AF subjects with SEC, although no significant haemorheological difference was present between AF subjects with and without SEC. These findings need to be underlined considering that this clinical condition is associated to a major thromboembolic risk.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ concentration in diabetes mellitus.

We evaluated polymorphonuclear membrane (PMN) fluidity in 32 subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus, 38 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 38 normal control subjects, by marking intact and unstimulated PMN cells with the fluorescent probe 1-[4-(trimethylamino)phenyl]-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (TMA-DPH). We also evaluated PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content by marking intact and unstimulated PMN cells with the fluorescent probe Fura 2-AM. PMN membrane fluidity differentiated normal subjects from type 1 and 2 diabetic subjects. The PMN cytosolic Ca2+ concentration did not discriminate type 1 and 2 diabetic subjects from normal control subjects. No statistical correlation was found between PMN membrane fluidity and PMN cytosolic Ca2+ concentration in any of the groups of subjects, nor were significant correlations found between PMN membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ concentration in several plasma parameters (serum glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides). In conclusion, in type 1 and 2 diabetic patients we found a decrease in PMN membrane fluidity and this decrease, which was greater in type 2 diabetic patients, may be a marker of PMN dysfunction.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Type II diabetics with macrovascular complications: polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) filtration, PMN membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ content after activation.

We evaluated polymorphonuclear (PMN) filtration parameters, membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ content in 21 normal subjects and in 18 type II diabetics with macrovascular complications (MVC). Evaluations were carried out at baseline and after in vitro activation prolonged for 5 and 15 min. PMA (4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate) and fMLP (N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine) were used as stimulating agents. TMA-DPH (1-[4-(trimethylamino)phenyl]-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene) was used as fluorescent probe for the membrane fluidity tests and Fura 2-AM for the cytosolic Ca2+ content. A significant variation was evident in PMN filtration parameters at 5 and 15 min. No variation was present in PMN membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ content in normals. In type II diabetics with MVC, we found an increase solely in PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content after PMA activation and an early decrease in PMN membrane fluidity and a late increase in PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content after fMLP activation. After PMA activation alone (at 15 min), PMN filtration distinguishes normals from type II diabetics with MVC. The PMN filtration parameters behave similarly in the two groups, but PMN membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ content behave differently.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

[Clinico-functional respiratory assessment of the athlete with exercise-induced asthma or bronchospasm].

Asthmatic subjects can only be allowed to take part in sport activities after a careful functional evaluation of pulmonary function. For sport disciplines which require a mainly anaerobic metabolism it is enough to evaluate the respiratory function at rest, while for sport disciplines which require a mainly aerobic metabolism it is necessary to use an exercise tolerance test. The functional tests used must be able to demonstrate not only the suitability of the subjects to take up a sport, but also to recommend an appropriate sport discipline.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1998

Essential hypertension: leukocyte rheology and polymorphonuclear cytosolic Ca2+ content at baseline and after activation.

In 24 hypertensives we evaluated, at baseline, the leukocyte filtration parameters (using the St. George's Filtrometer), polymorphonuclear (PMN) membrane fluidity (with the fluorescent probe 1-[4-(trimethylamino)phenyl]-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene [TMA-DPH]) and PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content (with the fluorescent probe Fura 2-AM). In a subgroup of hypertensives (n = 17) the PMN filtration parameters, PMN membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ content were evaluated after in vitro chemotactic activation (prolonged for 5 and 15 min) with two stimulating agents (4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate [PMA] and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine [fMLP]). It was evident, from the baseline data, that there was a significant difference in the mononuclear (MN) initial relative flow rate (IRFR), clogging rate (CR) and clogging particles (CP), and in PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content. There were, however, no differences in the filtration parameters of unfractionated leukocytes and PMNs or in PMN membrane fluidity. After activation, in normals and in hypertensives, a significant variation in PMN filtration parameters was evident. In normals no variation was present in PMN membrane fluidity or cytosolic Ca2+ content after activation. In hypertensives, however, we found an increase solely in PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content after fMLP activation. After PMN activation (at 15 min) one parameter (IRFR) of PMN filtration distinguished normal subjects from hypertensives. No difference between the two groups was found in PMN membrane fluidity or PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content after PMN activation.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Leukocyte flow properties, polymorphonuclear membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ content in subjects with vascular atherosclerotic disease.

In a group of subjects with monovascular atherosclerotic disease (MVAD) and in a group of subjects with polyvascular atherosclerotic disease (PVAD) we evaluated white blood cell (WBC) filtration (unfractionated, mononuclear -MN-, polymorphonuclear -PMN- cells), using the St. George Filtrometer and considering respectively the initial relative flow rate (IRFR) and the clogging rate (CR), the polymorphonuclear leukocyte membrane fluidity, employing the fluorescent probe 1.4-(trimethylamino)-phenyl-4-phenylhexatriene (TMA-DPH) and calculating the fluorescence polarization degree, and the polymorphonuclear leukocyte cytosolic Ca2+ content, adopting the fluorescent probe Fura 2-AM. Only the filtration parameters (IRFR, CR) of unfractionated WBCs discriminate normals from MVAD and PVAD subjects, and also monovascular and polyvascular VAD subjects between them. The filtration parameters of mononuclear and polymorphonuclear leukocytes do not distinguish normals from MVAD and PVAD subjects. PMN membrane fluidity does not differentiate normals from MVAD and PVAD subjects, while PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content discriminates normals from MVAD and PVAD subjects, but does not distinguish the two groups of VAD subjects. In conclusion, in subjects with vascular atherosclerotic disease we noted an alteration of the unfractionated leukocyte flow properties, more evident in PVAD subjects, and an increase of the PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Leukocyte flow properties, polymorphonuclear membrane fluidity, and cytosolic Ca2+ content in subjects with vascular atherosclerotic disease with and without noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

The aim of this research was the evaluation of white blood cell (WBC) filtration, reflecting WBC flow properties, polymorphonuclear cell membrane fluidity, and cytosolic Ca2+ content in subjects with vascular atherosclerotic disease (VAD) and in VAD subjects with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), in good hemodynamic balance. The authors examined WBC filtration (unfractionated, mononuclear [MN], polymorphonuclear [PMN] cells), using the St. George Filtrometer and considering, respectively, the initial relative flow rate (IRFR) and the clogging rate (CR); the PMN membrane fluidity, employing the fluorescent probe TMA-DPH and calculating the fluorescence polarization degree; and the PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content, adopting the fluorescent probe Fura 2-AM and considering the ratio between the Fura 2-Ca2+ complex and the unchelated Fura 2 fluorescence intensity. The obtained data showed that only the filtration parameters (IRFR, CR) of unfractionated WBCs discriminated normal subjects from VAD groups, whereas the filtration parameters of MN and PMN cells did not demonstrate any distinction. PMN membrane fluidity did not distinguish normal subjects from VAD groups, whereas PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content was significantly increased in VAD groups in comparison with normal subjects. No relationship was evident between WBC filtration and plasma metabolic parameters; the correlations obtained between PMN filtration and other PMN parameters need further investigation.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Resting metabolic rate and postabsorptive substrate oxidation in morbidly obese subjects before and after massive weight loss.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of resting metabolic rate (RMR) and postabsorptive oxidation of carbohydrates (CHO), lipids (LIP) and proteins (PT) in morbidly obese subjects after long-term stable massive weight reduction. DESIGN: Longitudinal, intervention study of a bilio-pancreatic by-pass. SUBJECTS: Ten (Four men, six women) obese subjects (BMI: 53.7 +/- 2.1 kg/m2, mean +/- s.e.m.) and 12 (three men, nine women) control subjects (BMI: 21.4 +/- 1.0 kg/m2). MEASUREMENTS: RMR and substrates oxidation (indirect calorimetry), body composition (bioelectrical impedance), plasma concentrations of glucose, FFA, insulin and thyroid hormones before (T0, prior to surgery), during (T1: 1-3 months, and T2: 9-16 months following surgery) and after (T3: 36-42 months following surgery) massive weight loss. RESULTS: At T3 BMI proved to be stably reduced to 32.9 +/- 1.3 (P < 0.0001). The RMR progressively reduced both in absolute value (T3: -2566 kJ/24 h; P < 0.0001 vs T0) and normalized for fat-free mass (FFM; T0: 123 +/- 3.8, T1: 109 +/- 3.3, T2: 112 +/- 7.1, T3: 105 +/- 4.6 kJ/kg-FFM.24 h; P < 0.05). At T3 the normalized RMR became significantly lower than the corresponding value of a control group (118 +/- 2.5 kJ/kg-FFM.24 h; P < 0.01). The long term trend in substrates oxidation showed that CHO oxidation increased while LIP oxidation decreased; PT oxidation did not significantly change for the whole of the study. CONCLUSION: Previously morbid obese subjects have an energy sparing metabolism and a normal postabsorptive oxidation of LIP and CHO.

Absorption↗
PubMed1995

Platelet membrane fluidity and platelet membrane lipid pattern in essential hypertension.

In a group of subjects with essential hypertension platelets were studied in resting conditions: platelet membrane fluidity was measured with the fluorescent probe 1.4-(trimethylamino)-phenyl-4-phenylhexatriene (TMA-DPH), platelet membrane cholesterol/phospholipid ratio was evaluated separating the membrane lipids with column chromatography, and platelet membrane individual phospholipids were determined using two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography. From the obtained results, it is evident that platelet membrane fluidity does not differentiate normals from hypertensives; platelet membrane cholesterol/phospholipid ratio is increased in hypertensives, while of the platelet membrane individual phospholipids, only the phosphatidylcholine is increased. In normals and hypertensives, no relation is evident between platelet membrane fluidity, platelet membrane lipid pattern, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure values.

Adult↗