Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Ghirlanda

Publications and source records attributed to G Ghirlanda.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

[Lactic acidosis, hyperamylasemia, and phenformin].

Phenformin is still used in the therapy of non-insulin dependent diabetes in association with sulphonylureas. The controindications to the use of this drug often are not kept in due consideration. It is therefore often possible to observe cases of irreversible lactic acidosis with lethal outcome. In this paper, three cases of lactic acidosis from phenformin administration are reported. Some characteristics of this clinical picture are underscored: accompanying ketoacidosis, hyperamylasemia. On the basis of their observation, the Authors conclude that those diabetic patients who can be treated with diet alone or with diet and sulphonylureas must not be treated with phenformin. Metformin is then proposed as a more flexible and safer drug.

Acidosis, Lactic↗
PubMed1992

Nicotinamide treatment in subjects at high risk of developing IDDM improves insulin secretion.

Nicotinamide (NCT) has been shown to be effective in preventing the onset of type 1 diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in mice with non-obese diabetic (NOD) and beta cell damage, mediated by the diabetogenic agents including streptozotocin. NCT therapy in man has been shown to have a beneficial effect on the remission phase of IDDM, and its use is safe. In this open pilot trial we therefore studied the effect of oral NCT administration on insulin secretion rate and islet-cell antibody (ICA) titres in IDDM high risk subjects. NCT (25 mg/10 kg bw) was administered in 6/13 high risk patients identified by a family screening programme. Those subjects tested after eight months without treatment showed a decreasing secretion in comparison to onset baseline (56,1 +/- 37.8 versus 35,5 +/- 12.2), whereas the treated subjects showed an increasing insulin secretion after treatment (26 +/- 10 versus 50.2 +/- 26.6), in spite of ICA persistence. Statistical analysis shows an increased insulin secretion in the treated group versus the untreated group (chi 2 = 3.899, P = 0.048). No side-effects were observed. We conclude that NCT may repair beta-cell function in high risk subjects too if damage is not too severe; furthermore, the effect seems not to be mediated by an immune mechanism.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Glucose, insulin and somatostatin infusion for the determination of insulin resistance in liver cirrhosis.

Twelve patients with liver cirrhosis and ten normal subjects were studied. Using a constant intravneous infusion of glucose, insulin and somatostatin over 2 1/2 hours we determined the stteady state plasma glucose level (SSPG) in order to measure insulin resistance. The results demonstrated that the cirrhotic patients were insulin resistant compared to normals and that plasma glucagon does not account for the insulin resistance in these patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Early insulin and glucagon response to subsequent pulses of arginine, glucose, and tolbutamide in normal man.

To determine the dynamics of insulin and of glucagon secretion in response to several sequential stimuli administered shortly after an arginine pulse (5 g), 20 nonobese, apparently healthy volunteers were given arginine (5 g), glucose (5 g), and tolbutamide (1 g) by rapid intravenous injection. The early insulin and glucagon area 0-8 min was studied. At the intervals and with the dosages used in this study, different stimuli with and without prestimulation with arginine did not lead to changes in early secretion of insulin. There was no exhaustion of the pool of insulin released after multiple sequential pulses. These results suggest a pattern in which stimulation induces a rapid release of insulin and activates the interchange between the stored and labile insulin pool; the 8-min interval is sufficient for the rapid return of the two compartments to a state of equilibrium. Also for glucagon, subsequent different stimuli did not exhaust glucagon release; nevertheless, glucagon is immediately suppressed by a submaximal glucose pulse.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

GH secretion in open-angle glaucoma.

Open-angle glaucoma is frequently observed in patients with acromegaly suggesting that the somatotropic hormone might facilitate a condition of glaucoma. The open-angle glaucoma patients studied, displayed higher plasma human growth hormone (HGH) levels than control subjects 60 min (30.3 +/- 1.7 against 16.8 +/- 2.7 ng/ml; p less than 0.001) and 90 min (19.0 +/- 1.9 against 9.3 +/- 1.2 ng/ml; p less than 0.001) after intravenous administration of arginine (25 g in 30 min). The authors support the hypothesis that the increased plasma HGH level may interfere with the regulation of ocular pressure by modifying the flow of aqueous humor from the eyeball via changes in the sclero-corneal trabecular meshwork; these changes are also found in diabetic subjects. The interplay between HGH and changes of carbohydrate metabolism (frequently occurring in glaucomatous patients) may be at the root of the variations of intraocular pressure in open-angle glaucoma.

Arginine↗
PubMed1979

Gastrin response to insulin in patients with cirrhosis of the liver.

Fasting gastrinemia in cirrhotics (48.35 +/- 2.77 pg/ml) was higher than in normal controls (32.93 +/- 0.75 pg/ml; P less than 0.001). After insulin-induced hypoglycemia, the mean increase of gastrin above basal level was 42.29 +/- 1.92 pg/ml in controls and 10.85 +/- 5.05 pg/ml in cirrhosis (P less than 0.001). BAO was 2.53 +/- 0.36 mEq/h in controls and 0.42 +/- 0.004 mEq/h in cirrhotics (P less than 0.001). After i.v. insulin, TAO was 8.42 +/- 0.72 mEq/h in controls and 3.06 +/- 0.26 mEq/h in cirrhotics (P less than 0.001). The authors suggest that the lack of an adequate gastrin and acid response to the hypoglycemic stimulus in cirrhotics might be accounted for by a decreased insulin sensitivity.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Serum gastrin in portal and peripheral veins after arginine in man.

Immunoreactive serum gastrin from portal and peripheral veins was determined in five controls and in five cirrhotic patients with indwelling portal catheters in basal conditions, during and after 30 min arginine infusion, in order to assess whether the human liver is involved in gastrin metabolism. A significant difference was found between portal and peripheral gastrin concentrations in controls at 0, 60 and 90 min; no significant differences were found in cirrhotics. Our findings support the hypothesis of an at least partial breakdown of endogenous gastrin in the human liver.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Hoffman's syndrome: a peculiar case.

The Authors describe the case of a 50-yr-old woman with painful muscular cramps and high muscular enzymes level secondary to adult-onset myxedema, and where no histological and ultrastructural muscle alterations could be detected, probably owing to the early observation of the patient.

Creatine Kinase↗
PubMed1976

[Changes in plasma insulin and growth hormone after intravenous glucagon in hepatic cirrhosis].

Decreased increases in blood sugar by comparison with control subjects was noted in patients with cirrhosis of the liver after i.v. administration of 1 mg glucagon. Insulin secretion was similar to that observed in the controls. Basal GH values were higher in the liver patients, whereas after glucagon they displayed a gradual and progressive increase with a peak at 60'. No significant differences in GH pattern were noted in the two groups, however.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

[GH secretion after L-dopa administration in hepatic cirrhosis].

A 500 mg L-Dopa administration in normal and cirrhotic subjects does not determinate a significant varation of plasma glucose and insulin level, while a peak plasma GH level in both cirrhotic and normal subjects occurred at 90' with a significantly greates values in cirrhotics. It is doubtful to affirm that a high plasma GH level is the only one factor which responsable of glucose intolerance in cirrhotic subjects, when there are many others factors contribute to it in synergic way. In order to elucidate the hypothesis on possible pathogenetic mechanism it is discussed some of our own experience and observations.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

[Secretion of GH and diabetic retinopathy].

Recently it has been studied a possible pathogenetic role of GH in diabetic angiopathy. The purpose of the present study was to verify whether the diabetic retinopathy is associated or not with a high plasma GH level. In an attempt to answer this question we did the dosage of plasma GH after a oral glucose load (110 g), Insulin (0,1 U/Kg) i.v., and arginin i.v. (25 g/30'). The plasma GH measurements were approximately the same as in normal patients. The Authors underline the importance of GH in pathophysiology of diabetic angiopathy and report all recent literature on this argument.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

[Plasma insulin and GH during oral glucose load in liver cirrhosis].

Blood sugar, insulin and GH values were examined in two groups of cirrhosis of the liver patients, with and without ascites, after the administration of 100 g glucose per os. No significant differences between the two groups were observed. Insulin values were higher than those in the controls, with a pattern similar to that noted in subjects with chemical diabetes. GH values were higher than in normal subjects and secretion was not suppressed.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

[The association of diabetic disease with Friedreich's disease in members of the same family].

Friedreigh's disease is only rarely associated with diabetes mellitus and only few cases are to be found in the literature, especially as regards siblings. Three cases of this association in members of two different families are reported. Two of the patients died from cardiovascular complication; the third case is that of a 32-yr-old woman who was able to complete a pregnancy. The pathogenesis of the association is discussed and a number of theories are put forward. The most generally accepted genetic hypothesis makes it possible to explain under a common metabolic denominator neurological disturbances and those in other systems. The association is not a purely casual event but is perhaps dependent on either two different genes or on a single gene with pleitropic effect. Heart signs are frequent in Friedreich's disease and brief mention is made of these.

Adult↗