Biomedical subjects

G Oriani

Publications and source records attributed to G Oriani.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Prediction of lean body mass from multifrequency segmental impedance: influence of adiposity.

The aim of the study was to determine the influence of adiposity on the relationship between bioelectrical impedance (BIA) measurements of body segments and estimation of body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Multiple frequencies of whole body and segmental impedances were measured in 68 normal-weight and obese subjects (46 women and 22 men), mean age 37.2+/-14.8 years (range, 18-69). Total and appendicular lean body mass (LBM) assessed by DXA correlated significantly with total and segmental impedance values adjusted for stature in both obese and normal-weight subjects. Best fitting equations for the prediction of appendicular LBM from segmental impedance measurements were derived for the arm and leg with and without the inclusion of adiposity (the percentage of body fat measured by DXA) in the regression models. Best prediction was obtained at low frequency for the arm and high frequency for the leg. Adiposity appears to significantly influence the prediction of leg LBM by BIA. These preliminary observations need further validation to provide an accurate assessment of appendicular LBM assessment by BIA.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed2001

Growth, slaughter and intra-muscular collagen characteristics in Garganica kids.

Growth performance, ossification of metacarpal growth plate, and intra-muscular collagen characteristics in three muscles of 10 intact male Garganica kids were studied. Each week, starting from the 47th day of age to slaughter (75th day of age), kids were weighed and blood samples taken for plasma non-protein hydroxyproline analysis. At slaughter, metacarpal, metatarsal bones and metacarpal growth plate thickness were measured. The semitendinosus (ST), semimembranosus (SM), and rectus medialis (RM) muscle samples were analysed for collagen concentration and hydroxylysyl pyridinoline (HP) cross-links. ST muscle had a collagen amount higher than SM and RM (P<0.01), and RM muscle had the highest (P<0.01) HP concentration. Tenderness index was the highest (P<0.01) in RM muscle. Animal growth rates slowed, starting from 61st day of age (P<0.01); this trend coincided with a marked reduction in concentration of plasma non-protein hydroxyproline (P<0.01). In addition, plasma non-protein hydroxyproline concentration was positively correlated (r=0.61, P=0.001) with growth rate of animals, suggesting that collagen turnover decreases during a slow growth phase. Based on the metacarpal growth plate width, the rate of bone ossification appears to be slower in goats than sheep.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

Oxidative status of plasma and muscle in rabbits supplemented with dietary vitamin E.

Thirty New Zealand white rabbits, mean weight 2 kg, were divided into three equal groups balanced for body weight and randomly assigned to a diet containing 60 (C), 150 (T1) or 375 (T2) mg/kg of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate. After 29 days, the animals were slaughtered. alpha-Tocopherol was assayed in muscle (longissimus dorsi) and plasma; triglycerides and cholesterol (total, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein) were analysed in plasma; reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) were analysed in serum; and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) were analysed in muscle. There were no body weight and food intake differences between the groups. The plasma vitamin E and vitamin E:lipid ratio were significantly higher in groups T1 and T2 than in C, but increases were not linearly related to dietary levels. Muscle alpha-tocopherol concentrations in the treated groups were significantly higher than in C, and linearly related (R =.67) to the vitamin E:lipid ratio. ROM and vitamin E levels in blood were inversely related (R =.74), with ROMs significantly lower in the treated groups than in C. The 60-mg/kg dose of C recommended by the National Research Council was unable to control ROM production. Lipid oxidation in muscle was significantly lower in T2 than in the other groups, and TBARS correlated significantly with muscle vitamin E (R =.61) and serum ROM (R =.73). These data suggest that vitamin E supplemented at 375 mg/kg diet can effectively control ROM production and improve muscle lipostability. ROM assay provides a useful indirect estimate of the oxidative status of muscle in vivo.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

Interactions between metabolic disorders (diabetes, gallstones, and dyslipidaemia) and the progression of chronic hepatitis C virus infection to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. A cross-sectional multicentre survey.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes, gallstones and dyslipidaemia are widespread, metabolically related, disorders that can affect the liver, often in a clinically silent fashion. AIM: To investigate whether the presence of these disorders may worsen chronic viral disease by inducing additional liver damage, revealed by variations in serum increases of aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase activities. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective, cross-sectional study involved 1,195 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection: 47.2% chronic hepatitis, 45.2% cirrhosis, and 7.6% hepatocellular carcinoma. 14.9% of patients had enzymatic cholestasis, defined as combined increase of alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase. A Log-linear statistical model was applied to the following variables: stages of liver disease, diabetes, cholelithiasis, hypertriglyceridaemia, hypercholesterolaemia, and enzymatic cholestasis. RESULTS: Log-linear analysis, applied to categorical variables, revealed, for the first time, a three-way interaction between the stages of chronic liver disease, diabetes, and enzymatic cholestasis. Two-way interactions demonstrated that liver disease stages correlated directly to the prevalence of cholelithiasis and inversely to hypercholesterolaemia. Irrespective of the liver disease stage, hypertriglyceridaemia correlated to hypercholesterolaemia. CONCLUSIONS: This study discloses a synergistic liver damaging effect of diabetes and hepatitis C virus. The three-way interaction obtained by our analysis suggests that diabetes is a risk factor for the progression of viral liver disease and that it contributes to disease evolution, at least in part, by induction of cholestasis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Contribution of weight cycling to serum leptin in human obesity.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate to what extent serum leptin concentrations in obese humans are influenced by a history of weight cycling. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study on serum leptin concentrations and body composition in a cohort of obese subjects in whom a retrospective recall of weight and diet history was made. SUBJECTS: One hundred and twenty-eight obese patients (89 females and 39 males), aged 18-61 y, body mass index (BMI) 31.2-63.4 kg/m(2). MEASUREMENTS: Serum leptin; various fatness and fat distribution parameters (by anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis); history of overweight at puberty; number, magnitude and timing of previous diet episodes and of consequent weight regain by interview. RESULTS: By univariate analysis, serum leptin concentrations were significantly correlated with weight, waist-hip ratio, percentage body fat, maximal percentage weight loss in a single diet episode, cumulative percentage weight loss in all diet episodes, cumulative weight regained in all diet episodes, but not with the number of diet episodes. All correlations related to anthropometric and body composition parameters were stronger for men, compared to women, although the male subgroup was smaller. On the contrary, there was a strong positive correlation between weight cycling parameters and serum leptin in women but not in men. Leptin concentrations were significantly higher in patients who were overweight at puberty than in those who were not overweight at puberty. After correction for percentage body fat, presence of overweight at puberty did not correlate any longer with leptin concentrations in either gender. In women, cumulative percentage weight loss in all diet episodes contributed an additional 5% to the variance of serum leptin in the overall model. CONCLUSION: The positive correlation between weight cycling and leptin concentration in obesity is mainly accounted for the higher percentage body fat in obese weight cyclers, although in women weight cycling per se independently contributes to the variance of serum leptin.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Multivariate discriminant function based on six biochemical markers in blood can predict the cirrhotic evolution of chronic hepatitis.

BACKGROUND: Serologic markers have been proposed for monitoring hepatic fibrosis in chronic active liver disease. Because none of these markers, when used singly, is totally satisfactory, we developed and evaluated a multivariate approach. METHODS: We studied two cohorts of chronic hepatitis (54 patients) and cirrhosis patients (49 patients) to identify a panel of biochemical markers that discriminates between the two diseases. Using multivariate discriminant analysis, we selected a function, based on the concentrations of six biochemical markers (fibronectin, prothrombin, pseudocholinesterase, alanine aminotransferase, manganese superoxide dismutase, and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase). We then prospectively validated this function on a second temporal cohort of patients. RESULTS: Multivariate discriminant analysis correctly classified 93.7% of patients (94.3% of chronic hepatitis and 92.9% of cirrhosis patients) in the first cohort and 85% of patients (89.5% of chronic hepatitis patients and 81% of cirrhosis patients) in the second cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Discriminant analysis of results of six inexpensive biochemical markers provides a high predictive value for differentiation between liver cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis. Consequently, these biochemical markers condensed into a multivariate discriminant analysis value for each patient provide information that can be contributory for subsequent options during the evolution of the natural history of chronic hepatitis.

Biomarkers↗

PubMed2000

Resting metabolic rate in Italians: relation with body composition and anthropometric parameters.

The objectives of this study were to obtain values for resting metabolic rate in Italians in relation to parameters of body composition, and to compare them to predicted values using the FAO/WHO/UNU equation. We performed a cross-sectional observational study of 131 healthy subjects (46 males and 85 females) at the Human Nutrition Unit, University Tor Vergata, Rome. Body composition was determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and resting metabolic rate was calculated using the Weir formula. Resting metabolic rate was 1,865 +/- 234 kcal/day in males and 1,354 +/- 154 kcal/day in females. These values decreased slightly with age. The relationships with weight and age were stronger than that with lean mass from DXA as independent variables in multiple regression analysis. Mean resting metabolic rates predicted with FAO/WHO/UNU and Harris-Benedict formula were not significantly different from measured values except for the Harris-Benedict value for females (p < 0.01). Individual differences between measured and predicted values were notably high. The measured values were higher than those reported in the literature. The prediction of resting metabolic rate is more accurate with simple anthropometric parameters than with fat-free mass obtained by DXA. The individual error in the predicted values can be so high that for individual use a measured value is preferred over an estimated value.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed2000

Body composition in italian and Danish women.

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to compare the body composition and fat distribution measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DPX, Lunar) in different age decades of age-matched Danish and Italian women. The subjects comprised 133 healthy Italian women (age 20-60 years) age-matched to a representative sub-sample of healthy Danish women (n=375). Total and abdominal body fat tissue mass were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Italian women were shorter and fatter compared with age-matched Danish women, but in middle-age, had a less abdominal fat distribution. There was no difference in total body bone mineral density.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed1999

Effects of intramuscular injection of alpha-tocopheryl acetate on fatty acid profile in lamb liver.

The effects of intramuscularly administrated vitamin E on total lipids, fatty acid profile, and lipid stability to oxidation was investigated in lamb liver. Twenty-four 5-day-old lambs were allotted to 4 groups of 6 each and given respectively 0 (control), 125, 200, 300 mg dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate weekly from day 5 to 33. alpha-Tocopherol stored in lamb liver at the end of experiment showed linear correlation with the level of injected vitamin E. No effect on total lipids was found. A decrease in the level of liver thiobarbituric-acid reactive substances (TBARS), significantly correlated with liver alpha-tocopherol content, was found in vitamin E groups. The amount of linoleic and linolenic acids significantly increased in the vitamin E groups as compared to control group, and were correlated with the liver alpha-tocopherol content. TBARS were negatively correlated with the concentration of unsaturated fatty acids. Finally, in the liver of the treated groups, vitamin E concentrations in the range 30-50 micrograms/g showed adequate for an efficient protection from peroxidation of membrane lipids, and determined an increase in the unsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Hyperbaric oxygen increases plasma exudation in rat trachea: involvement of nitric oxide.

This study investigates the microvascular permeability changes in tracheal tissue of rats exposed to hyperbaric oxygen (HBO). Rats, following exposure to HBO or ambient air (control animals) for 1.5, 3 and 6 h, were prepared for recording of nitric oxide exhaled (FENO) in air using a chemiluminescence analyser. The level of FENO was not statistically different in the two groups. Plasma exudation, evaluated by measuring the leakage of Evans blue (EB) dye into the tracheal tissue, was significantly elevated (48, 86 and 105% at 1.5, 3 and 6 h, respectively) in HBO-treated rats. Plasma exudation in the trachea of control rats was significantly increased (42%, P<0.05) by NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), whereas it was significantly reduced (31%, P<0.05) in rats exposed to HBO for 3 h. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and flunisolide significantly prevented the increase in plasma leakage in HBO-treated rats. In contrast, indomethacin was devoid of anti-exudative activity in these experiments. Western immunoblot showed a significant increase in the level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein in the tracheal homogenates of HBO-treated rats, as compared to basal levels. These results indicate that nitric oxide (NO) is involved in the maintenance of microvascular permeability in tracheal tissue of rats. The protective effect observed with the steroid seems to support this hypothesis. Furthermore, the beneficial action of NAC underlines that reactive oxygen species participate in the microvascular permeability changes observed in tracheal tissue of rats exposed to HBO.

Acetylcysteine↗

PubMed1999

Influence of dietary vitamin E supplementation on "heavy" pig carcass characteristics, meat quality, and vitamin E status.

Crossbred "heavy" pigs (average weight 120 kg, slaughter weight above 160 kg) were supplemented with all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate during the last 60 d of late finishing at doses of 25 (control), 50, 100, 200, or 300 mg/kg of diet. At the end of this period, the pigs were slaughtered. Carcass characteristics and the meat quality of pork chops from longissimus muscle (LM) at the last lumbar vertebra were evaluated on eight barrows from each dosage group. Alpha-tocopherol levels were determined in plasma during supplementation and in LM muscle after slaughter. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and drip loss were also evaluated in meat. Plasma alpha-tocopherol levels increased (P < .005) during supplementation in treated animals compared to controls, with a peak at 40 d. Alpha-tocopherol levels were higher (P < .05) in LM from pigs treated with 300 mg/kg than in controls (8.4 vs 5.6 microg/g). Dressing percentages correlated (P < .05) with the ratio of plasma alpha-tocopherol levels to the sum of cholesterol and triglycerides. Inhibition of TBARS during storage was related (P < .005) to vitamin E supplementation level, but drip losses in chops were not related to supplementation levels. We concluded that dietary vitamin E supplementation to heavy pigs during the last 60 d of finishing improves dressing percentage, reduces lipid oxidation, and increases the alpha-tocopherol concentration of tissues.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1999

Influence of multiple injections of vitamin E on intramuscular collagen and bone characteristics in suckling lambs.

We studied the influence of vitamin E on intramuscular collagen characteristics and on metacarpal growth plate evolution in suckling lambs. Twenty-four 5-d-old Ile de France suckling male lambs were divided into four equal weight groups, and weekly i.m. injections of DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (Control group, 0 IU; Group 1, 625 IU; Group 2, 1,000 IU; and Group 3, 1,500 IU) were given until the lambs were 33 d old. Blood samples were withdrawn for plasma alpha-tocopherol, cholesterol, and triglyceride analyses when the lambs were slaughtered at 40 d of age. Hot carcass weight, metacarpal and metatarsal bone characteristics, and metacarpal growth plate width were measured. After 24 h at 2 to 4 degrees C, semitendinosus muscles were removed for intramuscular collagen analyses. Weight was not influenced by treatment, but lambs in Group 1 had a higher (P < .01) intramuscular collagen content than the other groups. A positive quadratic correlation was found between total collagen and vitamin E doses (r = .511; P < .05). Amount and percentage of soluble collagen increased in muscles of all three vitamin E-treated groups compared with the control group. However, hydroxylysyl pyridinoline concentration decreased with vitamin E injection, but the difference compared to control lambs was only significant for the group injected with 1,000 IU. Amount of soluble collagen was strongly correlated to total collagen concentration (r = .879; P < .0001). It was also related to the alpha-tocopherol/(cholesterol + triglycerides) ratio in plasma (r = .431; P < .04). However, the correlation between soluble collagen percentage and alpha-tocopherol concentration in plasma was not significant (r = .369; P < .08). Bone length, weight, and diameter did not change, but the thickness of metacarpal growth plate increased as the DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate dose increased; in Groups 2 and 3, the growth plate was significantly wider than in Group 1 and the controls. Growth plate width correlated with alpha-tocopherol/(cholesterol + triglycerides) ratio in plasma (r = .481; P < .02).

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Epoetin alfa in low hematocrit patients to facilitate autologous blood donation in total hip replacement: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study.

We investigated the safety and efficacy of preoperative epoetin alfa used in conjunction with preoperative autologous blood donation (PAD) in 40 anemic orthopedic surgical patients undergoing hip replacement surgery [hematocrit (Hct) </=39%]. Patients were randomized 25-35 days before surgery to twice weekly intravenous (i. v.) epoetin alfa (300, 150, or 75 IU/kg) or placebo treatments supplemented with 200 mg i.v. iron. Epoetin alfa facilitated dose-dependent increases in PAD (4.3 units, 300 IU/kg; 3.4 units, 150 IU/kg; 3.0 units, 75 IU/kg; 2.1 units, placebo), and minimized reductions in Hct associated with repeated phlebotomy. All epoetin alfa doses were well tolerated and safe. Our results indicate that preoperative epoetin alfa dose-dependently stimulates erythropoiesis and facilitates PAD in anemic orthopedic patients, which may benefit patients by reducing their exposure to the risks of allogeneic transfusion, hastening recovery and discharge from hospital.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Hyperbaric oxygen worsens myocardial low flow ischemia-reperfusion injury in isolated rat heart.

In these experiments rats were exposed to hyperbaric oxygen (100% oxygen; 2.5 atmospheres absolute pressure) for 1, 3 or 6 h. At the end of these periods the hearts were removed and subjected to low flow ischemia (perfusion rate from 12 ml/min to 2 ml/min for 40 min) and reperfusion. Hearts excised from control rats were subjected to the same procedure of ischemia and reperfusion. The data obtained from these experiments clearly indicate that the ischemic picture observed in control hearts is worsened in hearts obtained from hyperbaric oxygen-exposed animals. In fact, after ventricular standstill of the ischemic phase, the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure increased significantly and proportionally according to the time of hyperbaric oxygen exposure. The vasopressor activity of angiotensin II on coronary perfusion pressure was significantly changed, as compared to that in the control preparation: these alterations, well correlated to the time of hyperbaric oxygen exposure, seem to suggest impairment of the vascular endothelium-dependent relaxant function. Furthermore N-acetylcysteine and defibrotide, given orally to the rats before hyperbaric oxygen exposure, prevented the aggravation of the ischemic damage induced in ex vivo hearts.

Acetylcysteine↗

PubMed1997

Elective conservative surgery for renal carcinoma versus radical nephrectomy: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify criteria with which to select candidates for conservative nephrectomy, and to compare the results of radical and conservative nephrectomy in two homogeneous groups of patients with renal carcinoma, in a prospective study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty patients (27 men and 13 women, mean age 49.9 years, range 23-76) with renal carcinoma (T1-T2 NOMO, < 4 cm in diameter) were enrolled in the study between 1988 and 1993 and followed for a maximum of 98 months (mean 70.1). The patients were divided into two groups: Group A comprised 19 patients (mean age 51.4, SD 13.7 years, mean tumor size 3.34, SD 0.64 cm) who underwent partial nephrectomy: Group B comprised 21 patients (mean age 48.7, SD 14.7 years, mean tumour size 3.21, SD 0.56 cm) who were selected for radical nephrectomy. The survival and progression of disease were assessed. RESULTS: Survival did not differ between the groups; one patient from each group died from distant metastases. There were no cases of local recurrence and multifocal neoplastic lesions were found in one patient during surgery. CONCLUSION: This prospective study confirms the results of retrospective studies that conservative surgery is as effective as radical surgery for renal carcinoma; however, its clinical application is limited by the risk that the renal carcinoma is multifocal.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Vitamin E nutritional status and serum lipid pattern in normal weanling rabbits.

In a 6-wk postweaning trial (Trial 1), 30 male New Zealand White rabbits were fed a starter diet with three different levels of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (60, 160, or 260 mg/kg diet). Plasma concentrations of alpha-tocopherol and serum concentrations of total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides were measured at 2, 4, and 6 wk. In a 20-wk postweaning trial (Trial 2), 48 male New Zealand White rabbits were divided into two groups; one group was fed a vitamin E-free diet, and the other was fed the same diet supplemented with 60 mg/kg of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate. Plasma concentrations of alpha-tocopherol and serum total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides were measured at 2, 4, 6, and 20 wk. In Trial 1, split-plot ANOVA showed that dietary all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate increased plasma alpha-tocopherol (P < .01); in addition, serum total cholesterol and triglycerides declined more rapidly (P < .01) and HDL cholesterol increased more rapidly (P < .005) in rabbits fed supplemental all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate than in controls. The all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate intake was significantly correlated with serum total cholesterol reduction and HDL cholesterol increase only when plasma alpha-tocopherol was relatively low (< 23.5 mumol/ L). In trial 2, the vitamin E-free diet caused an increase (P < .05) in total serum cholesterol and a reduction in HDL cholesterol (P < .05 at 6 wk and P < .01 at 20 wk). The overall results of this study suggest that vitamin E plays an important role in the regulation of serum concentrations of cholesterol and lipoproteins in weanling rabbits. Consequently, the maintenance of an adequate nutritional status of vitamin E in the postweaning period is important to avoid alterations of serum lipid pattern.

Aging↗

PubMed1997

Influence of acetylcysteine on aggravation of ischemic damage in ex vivo hearts of rats exposed to hyperbaric oxygen.

Rats were exposed to hyperbaric oxygen (HBO = 100% oxygen; 2.5 atmospheres absolute pressure) for 6 h. Isovolumic left heart preparations from these animals were subjected to global low flow-ischemia (perfusion rate from 12 ml/min to 2 ml/min for 40 min) and reperfusion. Hearts from rats not exposed to HBO underwent the same ischemic-reperfusion procedure (controls). As compared to control, HBO treatment caused in ex vivo hearts a significant aggravation of cardiac ischemic picture as indicated by a marked increase in left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and reduced post ischemic left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP). At the end of the ischemic and reperfusion periods LVEDP values were 6.8 (p < 0.001) and 8 (p < 0.001) times higher than the corresponding control values. Moreover, LVDP and coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) values were decreased (2.8 times; p < 0.001) and increased (56%; p < 0.001), respectively, as compared to control preparations. These events were also associated with a considerable impairment of the cardiac tissue to generate 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. Treatments of rats with different doses of acetylcysteine (N-acetylcysteine, CAS 616-91-1, NAC; 0.25-0.5-1 g/kg p.o.) before HBO displayed a clear-cut and dose-related protective activity in hearts subjected to ischemia-reperfusion. Also the generating capacity of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha from these hearts were restored according to the dose of NAC employed. When aortic rings from rats exposed to HBO were considered, they showed a reduced capacity to release 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and an increased sensitivity to endothelin-1. At the same time, the relaxant activity of acetylcholine in these tissues was almost lost. Again, NAC treatment of the animals before HBO restored in a dose-dependent way the capacity of the aortic rings to generate 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. This event was paralleled by normalized responses of the preparations to endothelin-1 and acetylcholine. Taken together these results clearly indicate that acute HBO treatment of the rats markedly aggravates the ischemic-reperfusion damage in ex vivo hearts. This event is coupled with a compromised integrity of cardiac and extracardiac endothelial cell functions. The protective activity of NAC observed in this study once more emphasises its therapeutic role in increasing antioxidant defence mechanisms.

Acetylcysteine↗

PubMed1996

Pseudouridine and 1-ribosylpyridin-4-one-3-carboxamide (PCNR) serum concentrations in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected patients are independent predictors for AIDS progression.

A prospective study was conducted with 161 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients to investigate the prognostic role of 10 serum-modified nucleosides with regard to some of the most widely used parameters of AIDS progression. Serum concentrations of pseudouridine (> 3.77 nmol/mL) predicted progression to AIDS in CDC stage A2 HIV-infected patients much better than did other widely used parameters (hazard ratio, 2.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.29-6.35; P = .01; median permanence time in stage A2, 17 vs. 30.5 months; P = .03). Serum concentrations of 1-ribosylpyridin-4-one-3-carboxamide (PCNR) and beta 2-microglobulin and the CD4:CD8 cell ratio, in decreasing order and used in combination, differentiated the overall survival time probability of AIDS patients; PCNR was the best and a new independent predictor (overall survival time, > 31 months, no positive parameters; 19.3 months, one positive parameter; and 5.5 months, two positive parameters.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗