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Biomedical subjects

M Pizzichini

Publications and source records attributed to M Pizzichini.

120 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Properties of rat liver L-threonine deaminase.

We have studied several properties of rat liver L-threonine deaminase: (1) the affinity for the two substrates, L-serine and L-threonine; (2) the threonine/serine activity ratio which changes with increasing pH; (3) the activation, by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate which is linked to the nonprotonated form of the coenzyme and to at least an -SH group of the enzyme, and (4) the reactivation by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate after dissociation of the coenzyme. The mechanism of the reactivation by pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate is the most interesting problem opened by the present research.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of amalgam fillings on Hg levels and total antioxidant activity in plasma of healthy donors.

In order to evaluate the influence of mercury (Hg) levels on antioxidant power in human plasma, 26 healthy people were evaluated by a dentist and their plasma analyzed for Hg content by atomic absorption and total antioxidant activity (TAA) by FRAP method. Hg plasma concentration correlated with number of amalgam restorations, suggesting that Hg released from fillings is a source of Hg in non-occupational exposed people. Fish consumption, in fact, showed no influence on Hg plasma levels, perhaps because Italian subjects examined in the present group used low quantity of fish at week or kinds of fish with light contamination. TAA negatively correlated with Hg plasma revealing a pro-oxidant role of Hg released from amalgam fillings.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Salivary mercury levels in healthy donors with and without amalgam fillings.

Dental amalgam (AMG) is the most diffused dental filling material. Since it is constituted for at least 40-45% of Hg, many questions have raised about its safe use. Hg particles from dental amalgam dissolve in saliva and, being ingested, they reach the blood stream through the intestinal mucosa. It has been demonstrated that amalgam fillings continuously release Hg vapour and that there is detectable Hg in expired and inspired air of amalgam owners. It is not yet fully accepted that AMG fillings represent the principal source of Hg for man and the aim of this study was to evaluate if the mercury level in saliva: 1) was higher within people bearing dental amalgam restorations than in people with no restorations; 2) was different between males or females; 3) increased in relation to the surface of amalgam restorations. The results showed a correlation between number of fillings and salivary Hg, between amalgam surface and salivary Hg. The Authors could finally assert that AMG fillings represented the principal source of salivary Hg in the subjects studied.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Release of mercury from dental amalgam and its influence on salivary antioxidant activity.

Dental amalgam fillings are known to release significant levels of mercury (Hg) in saliva which could represent a continuous source of oxidative damage to tissues. The present investigation was aimed at verifying this hypothesis by determining a possible correlation between salivary Hg levels and salivary total antioxidant activity (TAA), used as an index of oxidative stress. Samples of saliva from 34 healthy donors were analyzed for Hg content, through vapor atomic absorption spectrometry, and for TAA, by determining the ferric reducing ability ('FRAP' method). A significant correlation between Hg and the number of amalgam restorations or total amalgam surface was evident in both the male and female subjects. A significant negative correlation between TAA and Hg levels or number of amalgam restorations or amalgam surface was evident in females, indicating that small increases in salivary Hg were sufficient to produce a decrease in salivary TAA. On the other hand, no significant correlation was found in the males. The present study provides, for the first time, evidence of a pro-oxidant role of the amalgam Hg chronically released in saliva.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The hormonal regulation of purine nucleotide turnover. Influence of testosterone in rat liver.

An influence of testosterone on de novo purine nucleotide synthesis has been demonstrated in rat liver of adult and prepubertal castrated rats, showing that the action of the hormone is not limited to sexual organs. Castration accelerated the turnover of purine nucleotides in adults rats and reduced it in prepubertal castrated rats. Administration of testosterone tended to restore normality in both cases with opposite mechanisms, lowering the reaction rates in the first group, enhancing them in the second one. An action of the hormone on the inosinic branch-point and specifically on GMP synthesis, was evident, which was again different according to the age of the animal. The observed changes in purine nucleotide metabolism could be responsible for variations in RNA and DNA metabolism, in cellular size and number--which probably occur in the liver--after orchiectomy and following androgen administration.

Adenine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of testosterone on RNA and DNA synthesis in rat perineal muscle.

Nucleid acid metabolism in the LAM of the rat, both before and after castration, and during testosterone treatment, was investigated. RNA synthesis was increased by testosterone treatment, to varying degree, in adult and in prepubertal castrated rats, and was not merely dependent on the degree of hypertrophy of the LAM. The DNA content and the incorporation rate of formate-14C into DNA showed a characteristic profile under the same conditions: the atrophy of LAM following castration and its subsequent restoration appeared to be accompanied by variations in nuclei number. The possible role of testosterone in DNA duplication and in cell mitosis is hypothesized here; further investigation must be integrated by careful morphometric observation.

Aging↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Behavior of plasma and urine purines, after a purine-free diet, in normal subjects and patients with gout].

Plasma and urine oxypurines (hypoxanthine and xanthine) and uric acid, were evaluated in normal subjects and in gouty patients before and after a purine free diet. After a 7-days period, plasma oxypurines were remarkably higher in normal subjects, while they did not undergo variations in gouty patients, which showed higher in basal conditions. No significant changes in urinary excretion were observed in both cases. The interpretation of the observed variations is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Clearance of oxypurines and uric acid in patients with gout].

The clearance of uric acid, hypoxanthine and xanthine has been examined in gouty patients and in normal subjects comparatively to the creatinine clearance. The clearance of the three purine compounds was lower in the gouty patients, while the creatinine clearance showed a normal behavior. These results indicate that either the tubular excretion or the carriers of the considered metabolites probably undergo specific alterations in the gout.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Catabolism of purine ribonucleotides and glucocorticoid hormones in the rat.

We have studied, in vivo, the catabolism of purine nucleotides (inosinic, guanylic and adenylic acid) in the rat and its regulation by the glucocorticoid hormones, following the behavior of liver xanthine oxidase and the incorporation of formate-14C into urinary allantoin. An original method for purification of urinary allantoin has been developed. A slight acceleration of purine catabolism in adrenalectomized rats--both treated and untreated with corticosterone--was observed, while the normal behavior was restored during cortisone and cortisol treatment. The liver xanthine oxidase activity is unchanged in the different conditions. We conclude that the glucocorticoid hormones have only a slight, not relevant and probably not specific effect on purine catabolism in the whole body.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The regulation of purine ribonucleotide biosynthesis by glucocorticoid hormones.

The influence of the glucocorticoid hormones (cortisone, cortisol, corticosterone) on the biosynthesis of purine nucleotides (inosinic acid, guanylic acid and adenylic acid) in different organs was investigated in vivo, by following the incorporation of formate-14C into the acid-soluble nucleotides, after administration of the hormones to adrenalectomized rats. Cortisone and corticosterone show a remarkable and comparable increase of the incorporation of formate-14C only in the purine bases of the liver: cortisol is much more effective, increasing the incorporation of formate-14C into the purine bases even ten times over the basal values. No specific effect is evident either in the kidney or in the heart after glucocorticoid administration. Results are interpreted considering that the action of an individual hormone is specifically restricted to the purine nucleotide synthesis in the liver, and that cortisol seems to be the most efficient from this point of view.

Adrenalectomy↗