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Biomedical subjects

G Minniti

Publications and source records attributed to G Minniti.

44 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Gastric emptying of a solid meal is accelerated by the removal of dietary fibre naturally present in food.

Exogenous fibre added to liquid meals delays gastric emptying. Its effect on solid meals is uncertain, and nothing is known of the effect on gastric emptying of fibre naturally present in food. This study therefore looked at gastric emptying of two different solid meals in eight healthy subjects and their blood glucose responses. The meals were exactly equivalent except for the total dietary fibre content (high fibre 20 g, low fibre 4 g of dietary fibre per 1000 kcal) and supplied 870 kcal (700 kcal women), 47% of which was from carbohydrates, 36% from fats, and 17% from proteins. Ultrasonography was used to measure antral diameters before the meal (basal), immediately after it (time 0), and at 30, 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300 minutes. In addition, subjects filled in a questionnaire on their feelings of hunger, epigastric fullness, and satiety before the meal and at hourly intervals after it. Basal and maximal postprandial antral sections were similar for the two meals (basal section: 283.9 (29.5) v 340.9 (44.7) mm2 for the low and the high fibre meal, NS; maximal postprandial section: 1726 (101.9) v 1593 (120.4) mm2, NS). Total gastric emptying time was significantly reduced by fibre removal (186.0 (15.6) v 231.7 (17.3) minutes after the low and the high fibre meal, p < 0.05). Blood glucose was higher after the low fibre meal, and the area under the glycaemic curve significantly greater (226 (23.1) v 160 (20.0) mmol/min/dl-1, p < 0.05). No difference was found in satiety or fullness feelings, but hunger returned more rapidly after the low fibre meal. In conclusion, fibre naturally present in food delays gastric emptying of a solid meal, reduces the glycaemic response, and delays the return of hunger.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Immunocytochemical and ultrastructural changes in the caudal neurosecretory system of a seawater fish Boops boops L. (teleostei:sparidae) in relation to the osmotic stress.

A combined immunocytochemical and ultrastructural study of the caudal neurosecretory system of a seawater fish, Boops boops, maintained in a freshwater environment for different periods, was carried out. Fishes collected directly from the sea of the Straits of Messina were used as controls. The observations carried out on the controls indicate a discrete amount of sauvagine/urotensin I immunoreactive material recognizable in the neurosecretory cells, called "Dahlgren's cells", localized along both the ventral and lateral sides of the caudal spinal cord segments, and often also in the inner part of the urophysis. An accumulation of immunoreactive material is also observed in the densely packed terminal enlargements of the neurosecretory cells in the urophysis where they are associated with a rich vascular bed. On the contrary, the specimens transferred in a hypoosmotic milieu show an evident and sensible increase of neurosecretory granules mainly in the neurohemal endings of the urophysis. These findings were also confirmed by observations at ultrastructural level using the immunocolloidal gold complex method. According to the size and the electron density of their granules two neurosecretory cell types can be differentiated. Granules of both types can be found in the same neurosecretory cell. The osmotic stress affect the activity of the caudal system, thus supporting its involvement in osmoregulatory mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Temozolomide in radio-chemotherapy combined treatment for newly-diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme: phase II clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Continuous research into new strategies and chemotherapy agents for the treatment of malignant high-grade gliomas have led to the synthesis of a new chemotherapy drug, temozolomide (TMZ), with a lower toxicity profile compared to conventional chemotherapy agents, such as nitrosoureas. Temozolomide is an oral alkylating chemotherapy agent licensed for the treatment of recurrent high-grade gliomas, anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Because of its favorable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties and improved tolerability, TMZ is now under investigation for concomitant use with radiotherapy in patients with newly-diagnosed GBM. We present a phase II clinical trial investigating the efficacy and safety of radio-chemotherapy combined treatment using TMZ, followed by six cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy with TMZ, in patients with newly-diagnosed GBM who have undergone debulking surgery or biopsy only. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-one patients with newly histologically-diagnosed GBM were enrolled into this phase II clinical trial. In phase I of the study, TMZ (75 mg/m2/day per 7 days/wk for 6 weeks) was orally administered to patients concomitantly with radiotherapy (RT) (2 Gy per fraction once daily, per 5 days/wk for 6 weeks). In phase II of the study, four weeks after completion of RT, a monochemotherapy using TMZ was administered at the dosage of 200 mg/m2/day per 5 days every 28 days for 6 cycles. Primary end-points were the safety and tolerability profile of this two-phase combined treatment and secondary end-points were the objective response and survival rates at twelve months and eighteen months from study entry. RESULTS: The one-year survival rate of patients treated with the investigated multimodality treatment was 58% and median survival time was 15.7 months. Concomitant RT plus TMZ (phase I) followed by adjuvant TMZ (phase 2) were well-tolerated; indeed, nonhematological adverse events were rare and mild to moderate in severity; grade 3 and 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were the major-related hematological side-effects observed in only 2 and 3 of all patients in phase I and 4 patients in phase II. We found that the combination of radio- and chemo-therapy, in phase I of the study did not significantly increase the incidence and severity of hematological toxicity caused by the adjuvant TMZ-based chemotherapy administered in phase II of the study. CONCLUSION: The investigated multimodality treatment regimen was well-tolerated and prolonged survival while improving patients' quality of life.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Calcitonin gene-related peptide in diabetes mellitus type 2: a possible etiopathogenetic role].

The Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) is a 37 aminoacid peptide displaying about 50% homology with amylin which is secreted from the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. The main form, the beta-CGRP, is produced by the enteric nervous system and perivascular nerves of the vasa vasorum. It represents the most powerful vasodilator yet discovered but its role is not yet completely clarified. Recently it has been implicated in the control of regional blood flow and some authors have hypothesized its role in the development of Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM). CGRP and amylin seem to inhibit the release of insulin from beta-cells and to play a role in local paracrine control of insulin secretion. In addition it is also shown to decrease the uptake of glucose by striated muscle. This has led to the suggestion that CGRP might be a circulating hormone implicated in the regulation of peripheral insulin sensitivity. In this review we examine the possible role of CGRP in the development of peripheral insulin resistance and altered insulin secretion which is characteristic of NIDDM.

Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide↗