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Biomedical subjects

G Di Fede

Publications and source records attributed to G Di Fede.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

[Glucose compensation, serum lipids and thyroid hormones (rT3 and rT3/T3 ratio) in insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetics: 1].

In 21 type 1 diabetics a significative positive correlation was found between plasma triglycerides (TG) and fasting blood glucose (G), HbA1c, reverse T3 (rT3), rT3/T3 ratio and relative body weight (R.B.W.); total cholesterol (C) and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) were not correlated. If you consider the R.B.W. during the correlation between TG and the other laboratory tests, the only correlation that remains significant is that between TG and HbA1c. Plasma hyperTG found in type 1 diabetics appears to depend upon poor diabetic control and overweight; HDL-C is within normal limits because the removal of TG was slightly involved.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Platelet sensitivity to prostacyclin and thromboxane production in hyperlipidemic patients.

In 13 type II hyperlipidemics (10 males and 3 females; mean age 50.2 +/- 10.6 years), in 10 type IV hyperlipidemics (7 males and 3 females; mean age 51 +/- 13.3 years) and in 23 healthy age- and sex-matched controls, the following parameters were measured: plasma cholesterol; plasma TG; plasma C-HDL; VLDL, separated in a preparative ultracentrifuge; C-LDL; Apo B, with immunoelectrophoretic method; platelet sensitivity to prostacyclin; TXB2 formation in PRP; TXB2 in serum. This study provides evidence for: 1. Reduced platelet sensitivity to prostacyclin, more evident in type II hyperlipidemia that provides an additional mechanism involved in increased platelet aggregation found in type II hyperlipidemia. 2. Enhanced TXB2 formation in PRP after thrombin stimulation (664.65 +/- 142.18 pmol/10(8) platelets) only in type II hyperlipidemics and such enhanced formation was positively correlated to C-LDL (r = 0.53; p less than 0.05) and to Apo B (r = 0.62; p less than 0.05); serum TXB2 formation rate was also increased in type II hyperlipidemia.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Apo-lipoproteic pattern in type II diabetics (I.I.D.) with macroangiopathy and with no apparent clinico-instrumental signs of microangiopathy.--Note I.

A significant increase of Tg, Tg-VLDL, C, C-VLDL, C-LDL and apo B, a reduction of C-HDL/C ratio and no difference in C-HDL were evidenced in 31 compensated macroangiopathic I.I.D.. No significant differences were noticed dividing the 31 I.I.D. in two groups according to their sex; C-HDL was higher in the females. Our results agree with those of Reckless and Schönfeld. In conclusion we think that an association between macroangiopathy and lipoproteic alteration in compensated I.I.D. can be stated according to our data.

Apolipoproteins↗
PubMed1982

Apo-lipoproteic pattern in type I complicated diabetes (I.D.D.) with microangiopathy and with no clinico-instrumental signs of macroangiopathy.--Note II.

No significant changes of C, C-HDL, C-VLDL, C-LDL, C-HDL/C, Tg, Tg-VLDL and apo B were evidenced in 12 compensated microangiopathic I.D.D. in comparison with 20 healthy controls. Instead the analysis of the data obtained comparing the same I.D.D. with 10 decompensated microangiopathic I.D.D., selected with the same criteria, has pointed out no significant changes between the two groups as regards C, C-HDL, C-VLDL, C-LDL, C-HDL/C and a statistically significant increase of Tg and Tg-VLDL in the 10 decompensated I.D.D.. Our results agree with those of Nikkila and we think we can conclude that it is not possible to evidence a characteristic lipidic or lipoproteic "marker" in compensated microangiopathic I.D.D.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Thromboxane B2 formation and platelet sensitivity to prostacyclin in insulin-dependent and insulin-independent diabetics.

TxB2 formation in PRP after thrombin stimulus, serum TxB2 and platelet sensitivity to prostacyclin and the correlation with ambient fasting plasma glucose and lipoproteins were determined in 20 insulin-independent diabetics (IID) with macroangiopathy, 10 insulin-dependent diabetics (IDD) with microangiopathy and 30 matched controls. Platelets obtained from insulin-independent diabetics synthetize significantly higher amounts of TxB2 than those of insulin-dependent diabetics and matched controls. IDD and IID patients required significantly higher concentrations of prostacyclin (p less than 0.001) for a similar degree of platelet aggregation inhibition. The amount of prostacyclin required for 50% platelet aggregation inhibition was correlated with fasting plasma glucose (r = 0.64, p less than 0.001) and HbA1% (r = 0.48, p less than 0.01) in all diabetic subjects. We conclude that: 1) only PRP, obtained from some insulin-independent diabetics with a concomitant macroangiopathy, shows an increased synthesis of TxB2; 2) platelet sensitivity to prostacyclin is highly dependent on the fasting ambient plasma glucose.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Enhanced platelet release reaction in insulin-dependent and insulin-independent diabetic patients.

Plasma beta thromboglobulin (BTG) and platelet factor 4 (PF4) levels were measured and correlated with plasma lipid and lipoprotein patterns in 20 insulin-independent diabetics, in 10 insulin-dependent diabetics and in 30 healthy controls matched to patients as to age, sex and weight. Increased plasma BTG and PF4 levels both in insulin-dependent and in insulin-independent diabetics indicate enhanced in vivo platelet activation and release reaction in these patients. No difference in BTG and PF4 values between these two groups of diabetic patients was observed in our study. A marked correlation between plasma PF4 values and plasma glucose levels was shown in insulin-dependent diabetics only whereas a significant positive correlation with plasma triglycerides and plasma triglyceride VLDL and a negative correlation with cholesterol-HDL was shown in insulin-independent diabetics.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

[Serum lipoprotein fractions in chronic liver diseases with and without alcoholism].

Total serum cholesterol (C) and triglyceride (TG) levels, C and TG-VLDL, C-LDL and C-HDL, total apoprotein B (apo B) and albumin (alb.) have been studied in three groups of patients with liver cirrhosis (CE), persistent hepatitis (EPS) and alcoholic chronic liver disease (EA) divided in two sub-groups of 4 EPS and 4 CE, and have been compared with controls values. In all cases the diagnosis was made on liver biopsy C, C-LDL and C-HDL levels were significantly lower in EPS, C and C-LDL in EA and CE; comparing the three groups each other, the only statistically significant difference was found for C-HDL values, more elevated in the 4 cases of EPS with alcoholism than in CE and EPS without alcoholism.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Correlation between different degree and duration of metabolic control and thyroid hormone levels in type 1 and type 2 diabetics.

Thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), reverse T3 (rT3) and HbA1c were assayed in 21 insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetics and in 45 non-insulin-dependent (type 2) diabetics with normal thyroid function and different levels of control, and were compared to values found in apparently healthy controls. rT3 and rT3/T3 ratio were significantly increased both in type 1 and type 2 diabetics. T3 and T4 were significantly lower in type 2 diabetics than in the controls. Significant positive correlations of HbA1c to rT3 (r = 0.63) and to rT3/T3 ratio (r = 0.53) were found in type 1, and in type 2 diabetics (HbA1c, rT3-r = 0.50), (HbA1c, rT3/T3-r = 0.37). There was no correlation between glycemia (BG), relative body weight (RBW) and thyroid hormones. These data suggest that the alterations of thyroid hormones in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus reflect the degree of control better than the hyperglycemia and the duration of metabolic unbalance.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Determinants of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in subjects with rhinitis.

Subjects with rhinitis but without asthma may have coexisting bronchial hyperresponsiveness, although the reasons for this are uncertain. To evaluate the factors that determine BHR in rhinitis we examined 410 patients with symptomatic rhinitis with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC)>or=80% of the predicted value. In all subjects a skin prick test (SPT) was performed, a determination of total serum IgE and an eosinophils count in the blood. Of the 410 subjects we found that 161 (39.3%) exhibited a methacholine PD20 of 800 mg or less (Group A), whereas 249 (60.7%) had a methacholine PD20 more of 800 mg (Group B). Despite the matched mean values for FEV1 and FVC, compared with Group B, Group A had a lower predicted forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75%(FEF25%-75%) (86.7 +/- 12.0 vs. 93.7 +/- 7.3, P < 0.0001). A great portion of the subjects of the Group Ain respect to subjects of the Group B were exposed to passive smoke (37.8% vs. 22.0%, P = 0.0008), reported having mothers with asthma (34.1% vs. 6.0%, P < 0.0001), presented a positive skin prick test (93.7% vs. 67.0%, P < 0.0001), had higher levels of total serum IgE (geometric mean of Log10 2.46 +/- 0.27 kU/L vs. 2.06 +/- 0.38 kU/L, P < 0.0001) and higher blood eosinophil counts (geometric mean of Log10 2.67 +/- 0.07 x 10(-3) mL vs. 2.57 +/- 0.09 x 10(-3) mL, P < 0.0001), and reported increased nasal obstruction (2.0 (95% CI 1.8 to 2.2) vs. 0.6 (95% CI 0.5 to 0.7), P < 0.0001). Logistic regression demonstrates that nasal obstruction (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.72 to 2.80) and the presence of positive SPT (OR 6.15, 95% CI 2.42 to 15.61) were the most available predictors to discriminate between subjects with BHR and subjects without BHR. In addition, BHR was positively related to blood eosinophil counts (OR= 2.80, 95% CI 1.54 to 5.07), FEF25%-75% values (OR= 2.72, 95% CI 1.23 to 5.99) and familiarity (mother) for asthma (OR = 2.45, 95% CI 1.10 to 5.46). Whereas passive smoke and total serum IgE were not positively related to BHR. Increased nasal obstruction and the presence of positive SPT were the most available predictors to discriminate between subjects with and without BHR. Finally, BHR was positively related to blood eosinophil counts, FEF25%-75% values and to familiarity (mother) for asthma.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro effects of aminobisphosphonates on Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cell activation and differentiation.

In this study we have evaluated the in vitro effects of four different aminobisphosphonates, alendronate, risedronate, neridronate and zoledronate, on Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cell activation and differentiation. All tested aminobisphosphonates induce an IL-2-dependent activation and expansion of Vgamma9Vdelta2 T lymphocytes in primary PBMC cultures of healthy donors. Most notably, they also determine a different distribution of Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cell subsets, with decrease of T(naive) and T(CM) cells and increase of T(EM) and T(EMRA) Vgamma9Vdelta2cells, indicating that in vitro treatment with aminobisphosphonates induces Vgamma9Vdelta2 T lymphocytes to differentiate towards an effector/cytotoxic phenotype. Accordingly, Vgamma9Vdelta2 T lymphocytes cultured with aminobisphosphonates and IL-2 showed a major content of IFN-gamma and acquired the ability to kill tumor target cells.

Bone Density Conservation Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Relationship between specific serum IgE to Ascaris lumbricoides and onset of respiratory symptoms in Bangladesh immigrants.

The role of helminths in asthma and/or rhinitis and in allergic sensitization is still unclear. We assessed the relationship between Ascaris-specific IgE, respiratory symptoms and allergic sensitization in Bangladesh immigrants. 246 individuals were examined from 1996 to 2001. Serum total IgE, Ascaris IgE, specific IgE to inhalant allergens, skin prick tests (SPT) and parasitological evaluation of the stool were performed. Total serum IgE were significantly higher in Ascaris-IgE positive (> 0.35 kU/L) individuals (806.5 [409.0-1436.0] kU/L vs. 207.0 [127.0-332.5] kU/L; P < 0.0001) and in subjects with respiratory symptoms (413.0 [239.0-1096.0] kU/L vs. 259.5 [147.0-387.0] kU/L), (P < 0.0001), but not in SPT positive subjects (413.0 [179.0-894.0] kU/L vs. 404.6 [305.0-1201.0] kU/L (P = 0.5). Ascaris-specific IgE were detected in 48 subjects with respiratory symptoms (40.0%) and in 46 subjects without respiratory symptoms (36.5%) (P = 0.5). The SPT positivity was similar between Ascaris-IgE seropositive (38.2%) and Ascaris-IgE seronegative (38.1%) subjects (P = 0.9). Total IgE and length of stay in Italy correlated with SPT positivity (OR 5.6 [CI 95% 1.5-19.8], P = 0.007, and OR 1.5 [CI 95% 1.3-1.7], P< 0.0001), and with respiratory symptoms (OR 13.7 [CI 95% 3.0-62.4];, P = 0.0007, and OR 2.4 [CI 95% 1.9-3.0], P < 0.0001). Ascaris-IgE were negatively associated with SPT positivity (OR 0.3 [CI 95% 0.1-0.8], P = 0.02) and with respiratory symptoms (OR 0.1 [CI 95% 0.04-0.7], P = 0.01). Our findings favour the role of environmental factors in the development of respiratory symptoms in immigrants, irrespective of Ascaris-IgE.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The clinical usefulness of cyclosporine therapeutic monitoring].

PURPOSE: To review the cyclosporine therapy indications and evaluate determine the incidence of cyclosporine blood levels outside the therapeutic range in patients under treatment, to evaluate the practical utility of the drug monitoring. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The blood concentration of monoclonal cyclosporine was monitored in 225 patients by FPIA method, using the trough concentration. RESULTS: 58% of patients had a drug blood level within the therapeutic range, 26% and 16% of them had respectively, a value below and down this range. After correcting the drug dosage, 75% and 68% of the patients of the two subgroups had a cyclosporine blood value within the therapeutic range. CONCLUSIONS: Cyclosporine is increasingly used in transplant recipients as well as in patients with other immunological diseases. Since the number of patients, with inappropriate serum levels of cyclosporine is high, therapeutic monitoring of blood levels of the drug are of paramount importance.

Cyclosporine↗