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Biomedical subjects

M Zamboni

Publications and source records attributed to M Zamboni.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Alcohol consumption, smoking habits and body fat distribution in Italian men and women aged 20-60 years.

The study was performed on 601 patients (294 males and 307 females) of a general practitioner. Alcohol intake and smoking habits were compared with other anthropometric measurements including waist-to-hip girth ratio. Patients were divided into non-smokers and smokers (subdivided into three groups according to the number of cigarettes smoked per day) and into non-drinkers and drinkers (subdivided into three groups with different alcohol intakes). Ex-smokers were excluded from the study. Analysis of covariance using age, body mass index, physical activity and menopausal status as covariates, showed that: (1) cigarette smoking is not accompanied by a specific pattern for body fat distribution; (2) waist-to-hip ratio was significantly different for the four classes of alcohol intake for women (non-drinkers: 0.809, < 11 g: 0.805, 11-20 g: 0.809, > 20 g: 0.826; F = 2.8, P < 0.05) but not for men (non-drinkers: 0.944, < 20 g: 0.934, 21-40 g: 0.940, > 40 g: 0.943; F = 0.9); (3) increased alcohol intake corresponds to an increased lipid and energy supply.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1993

Plasma acetate levels in a group of obese diabetic, obese normoglycemic, and control subjects and their relationships with other blood parameters.

Acetate is a short-chain fatty acid derived from colonic fermentation of carbohydrate and dietary fiber, and from endogenous glucose and fatty acid metabolism in the liver. An impaired acetate metabolism has been reported in diabetic subjects. The aim of the study was to evaluate plasma acetate levels in a group of obese diabetic subjects, compared with obese normoglycemic subjects and normal control subjects. Eleven noninsulin-dependent diabetic patients taking oral antidiabetic drugs, eight obese normoglycemic subjects, and seven control subjects were studied. Liver, kidney, and gut functions were normal in all subjects. Blood acetate, glucose, insulin, and C-peptide were evaluated in all subjects. Acetate levels were significantly higher in the diabetic subjects than in obese normoglycemic and normal subjects. Significant correlations between HbA1c, glucose, and acetate levels, but not between acetate and C-peptide or insulin, were also observed.

Acetates↗
PubMed1992

Relation of body fat distribution in men and degree of coronary narrowings in coronary artery disease.

This study evaluates the relation between body fat distribution and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). The study sample comprised 33 patients with angiographically demonstrated CAD and 10 angiographically normal control subjects. Body fat distribution was estimated by computed tomography and degree of coronary narrowings by angiographic score. Body weight, body mass index and total and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue areas showed no statistical differences in the 2 groups; visceral abdominal adipose tissue area and the visceral to subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue area ratio were significantly higher in patients with CAD (p < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between visceral fat and triglycerides, apoprotein B and sum of glucose and insulin during glucose oral tolerance test. Sum of insulin during glucose oral tolerance test, visceral abdominal adipose tissue area and visceral/subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue area ratio correlated significantly with severity of CAD, as evaluated by coronary score in all subjects and in CAD patients alone. Stepwise multiple regression analysis using the coronary score as the dependent variable and anthropometric and metabolic parameters as independent variables shows that in all subjects and in CAD patients alone, visceral/subcutaneous abdominal adipose-tissue area ratio entered the regression first and the sum of insulin during glucose oral tolerance test second. The results suggest that visceral abdominal adipose tissue area and visceral to subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue area ratio may be cardiovascular risk factors.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1992

Exocrine and endocrine functional reserve in the course of chronic pancreatitis as studied by maximal stimulation tests.

Thirty patients suffering from chronic alcoholic pancreatitis (18 calcified) were entered into a study of exocrine and endocrine pancreatic function based on two maximal stimulation tests, namely the secretin-cerulein test and the glucagon test with serum assays of C peptide. The glucagon test was also performed in 19 control subjects. In addition, 10 chronic pancreatitis patients and nine controls were subjected to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with serum insulin determinations. C peptide basal values were decreased only in patients with severe pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (P less than 0.001), while delta C peptide values were also reduced in patients with moderate exocrine insufficiency (P less than 0.001). Lipase output correlated very well with delta C peptide values (P less than 0.001). While serum insulin levels during OGTT and C peptide basal values showed no significant differences between the chronic pancreatitis and control groups, delta C peptide values were significantly reduced in chronic pancreatitis patients (P less than 0.02). Both endocrine and exocrine function are impaired in chronic pancreatitis, as demonstrated by maximal tests, even in early stages of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Resting metabolic rate, body-fat distribution, and visceral fat in obese women.

Resting metabolic rate (RMR) was evaluated in 27 obese women aged 16-49 y [body mass index (in kg/m2) 27-51] by indirect calorimetry. Visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue areas, body fat, and fat-free mass (FFM) were measured by a single scan with computed tomography (CT); the waist-hip circumference ratio (W/H) was also used. Comparison between the lowest and the highest RMR quartiles--adjusted for age and FFM--revealed a higher W/H in the highest quartile (0.78 +/- 0.08 vs 0.88 +/- 0.08; P < 0.05). No difference was observed in CT indexes. No differences in W/H were observed after RMR was adjusted for age, FFM, and body fat. Our results point out that RMR, adjusted for FFM and age, correlates with body-fat distribution as evaluated by W/H, but not with visceral fat, as evaluated by CT. Correlations disappeared after RMR was adjusted for body fat as well.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1992

Evaluation of regional body fat distribution: comparison between W/H ratio and computed tomography in obese women.

Measurements of regional body fat distribution as determined by waist-to-hip ratio and visceral-to-subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio were compared in 63 obese women. Subjects were divided into three CT-evaluated tertiles on the basis of visceral-to-subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio (group I, 0.05-0.231; group II, 0.232-0.344; group III, 0.345-0.781). The three groups showed no appreciable differences in body weight, body mass index or total abdominal adipose tissue. Waist-to-hip ratio values were significantly lower in group I than in groups II and III. There was no statistically significant difference between groups II and III. Visceral abdominal adipose tissue was significantly and progressively higher in the three groups. Subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue was significantly lower in group III than in group I. All metabolic variables and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were higher when visceral-to-subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio cut-off values were increased. Waist-to-hip ratio was significantly correlated with total adipose tissue, body mass index, visceral abdominal adipose tissue and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue. Visceral-to-subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio was correlated with visceral abdominal adipose tissue (r = 0.84, P < 0.01) and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (r = -0.28, P < 0.05). There was no correlation between visceral-to-subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio and body mass index or total abdominal adipose tissue. Visceral-to-subcutaneous adipose correlated more closely with metabolic variables than did waist-to-hip ratio. Partial correlations between waist-to-hip ratio and visceral-to-subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio and metabolic variables, adjusted for body mass index, showed statistically significant relationships for visceral-to-subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio, but not for waist-to-hip ratio. Visceral-to-subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio correlated with waist-to-hip ratio in the study population as a whole, but only in group I did the correlation between visceral-to-subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio and waist-to-hip ratio prove statistically significant. The present study demonstrates that visceral-to-subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio is a better index of body fat distribution than waist-to-hip ratio.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1992

Body fat distribution in pre- and post-menopausal women: metabolic and anthropometric variables and their inter-relationships.

The aim of the study was to compare body fat distribution and metabolic variables in pre- and post-menopausal women. Body fat distribution was measured using abdominal circumference and computerized tomography. No significant differences were found between the two groups as regards body weight, body mass index, waist-hip ratio and total abdominal adipose tissue areas. Subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue areas were significantly higher in premenopausal women whereas visceral abdominal adipose tissue areas and the subcutaneous to visceral abdominal adipose tissue area ratios were significantly higher in post-menopausal subjects. After adjusting for body mass index, no significant differences emerged between the two groups as regards total abdominal adipose tissue areas, waist circumference, hip circumference and waist-hip circumference ratio; subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue areas were significantly lower and both visceral abdominal adipose tissue areas and visceral to subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue area ratios significantly higher in post-menopausal women (P less than 0.01). Basal glucose, sum of blood glucose values during oral glucose tolerance test and blood cholesterol values were significantly higher in the post-menopausal group (P less than 0.05), while no significant difference was observed in sum of blood insulin values during oral glucose tolerance test. Basal plasma insulin values, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were higher in post-menopausal women, though the differences were not significant. Only blood cholesterol was significantly higher in post-menopausal women after adjusting for visceral abdominal adipose tissue areas. Positive correlations emerged between age and waist-hip ratio (P less than 0.05), visceral abdominal adipose tissue areas and the visceral to subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue area ratio (P less than 0.001). A negative correlation was established between age and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue areas (P less than 0.01). There was a significant correlation between visceral abdominal adipose tissue areas and metabolic and haemodynamic variables in both pre- and post-menopausal women. In pre-menopausal women, body mass index correlated with basal glucose, basal insulin, sum of glucose during oral glucose tolerance test and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (P less than 0.05). When stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate the joint effect of anthropometric variables on metabolic variables, visceral abdominal adipose tissue area proved to be the most powerful variable for predicting metabolic disorders. Our data suggest that visceral abdominal adipose tissue areas and visceral to subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue area ratios increase with age. Obesity correlates directly with the amount of subcutaneous fat, but not with the distribution pattern.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1991

Elongation factor 2 from Artemia salina embryos and its affinity for ribosomes.

Crude extracts from Artemia salina undeveloped embryos do not contain detectable elongation-factor-2 (EF2) kinase and endogenous ADP-ribosylating activities. Accordingly, EF2 purified from this source is an enzyme relatively free from phosphorylated and ADP-ribosylated forms. Endogenous ADP-ribosyltransferase activity appears only after purification of EF2. The affinities of EF2 and of ADP-ribosyl-EF2 for ribosomes from A. salina undeveloped embryos have been calculated by measuring the ability of the factors to inhibit the N-glycosidase activity of ricin on ribosomes.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗
PubMed1991

Requirements for the inactivation of ribosomes by gelonin.

Inactivation of Artemia salina and rabbit ribosomes by gelonin requires ATP and a high-Mr factor present in the rabbit reticulocyte-lysate post-ribosomal supernatant. The kinetic constants of the gelonin-catalysed release of adenine from A. salina ribosomes are Km = 4.35 microM and Kcat. = 0.1 min-1 in the absence of cofactors, and Km = 1.15 microM and Kcat. = 108 min-1 in their presence. The last two values are similar to those measured for ricin A chain in the absence of cofactors (Km = 2.02 microM and Kcat. = 317 min-1).

Adenine↗
PubMed1991

Sonography detection of small intra-abdominal fat variations.

The aim of this study was to check the reliability of sonography in measuring small variations in quantities of subcutaneous and intra-abdominal fat. Twenty-six obese women (BMI 39 +/- 6) underwent a 15 day very low calorie diet. The study included, both before and after very low calorie diet, computed tomography measurements of total (AT), visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous (SAT) adipose tissue areas, visceral/subcutaneous area ratio (V/S), waist/hip circumference ratio measurements (W/H), and ultrasound measurements of abdominal subcutaneous skin-muscle thickness, intra-abdominal muscle-aorta thickness and intra-abdominal/subcutaneous thickness ratio. Weight reduction was from 101 +/- 17 to 95 +/- 16 kg (P less than 0.001). W/H dropped from 0.83 +/- 0.06 to 0.82 +/- 0.07 (n.s.). VAT dropped from 158 +/- 72 to 134 +/- 61 cm2 (P less than 0.005), SAT from 572 +/- 151 to 566 +/- 164 cm2 (n.s.) and V/S from 0.29 +/- 0.15 to 0.25 +/- 0.11 (P less than 0.01). Abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness decreased from 36 +/- 8 to 35 +/- 10 mm (n.s.), intra-abdominal thickness from 39 +/- 25 to 20 +/- 20 mm (P less than 0.001) and intra-abdominal/subcutaneous from 1.1 +/- 0.7 to 0.8 +/- 0.6 (P less than 0.005). VAT measurement accurately identified small intra-abdominal fat variations. W/H could not evaluate visceral fat loss, because of simultaneous decreases in waist and hip circumferences. Ultrasound was able to measure small reductions in intra-abdominal fat.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1990

The contribution of sonography to the measurement of intra-abdominal fat.

A study was conducted on a group of 50 obese females with a mean body mass index of 39 +/- 16, aged 19 years, in order to determine if sonography could be adopted as a direct means for measuring intra-abdominal fat deposits. Adipose tissue evaluation was performed by computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography (using 3.5-MHz and 5-MHz probes) at the L4 level. CT intra-abdominal fat area (VAT) and ultrasonography visceral thickness from abdominal muscle to aorta were the values mainly considered. Ultrasonographic intra-abdominal thickness correlated well with VAT (r = 0.669, p less than 0.001), supporting the hypothesis that ultrasonography could be useful in the direct evaluation of intra-abdominal fat deposits.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1990

Sister chromatid exchange in methotrexate resistant and sensitive C3H10T1/2 mouse cells.

Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) induction by methotrexate (MTX) was analyzed in C3H10T1/2 clone 8 mouse cells and in two MTX-resistant subclones with numerous double minute chromosomes (DM) present in the majority of cells. Significantly higher SCE levels were found, as expected, in sensitive cells after treatments with 10(-2) or 10(-5) M MTX but not in resistant cells permanently growing in the presence of a high concentration of MTX (2 x 10(-3) M) and characterized by a markedly lower cell cycle replication index (R.I.), i.e. in conditions that are known to otherwise favour SCE induction. These observations suggest, for the MTX-resistant cells under study, the existence of conditions limiting SCE formation.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Resting metabolic rate, body composition and thyroid hormones. Short term effects of very low calorie diet.

27 obese women (relative body weight 191 +/- 27%), aged 35 +/- 11, underwent a 15 day very low calorie diet (VLCD: 1337 kJ/day). Mean body weight loss was 6 +/- 1.5 kg. Resting metabolic rate (RMR), measured by indirect calorimetry, showed a significant decrease both in absolute values (from 1793 +/- 225 to 1569 +/- 231 kcal/day; P less than 0.001), and in keal/kg body weight/day (from 17 +/- 2, to 16 +/- 2, P less than 0.001). Serum triiodothyronine (T3) significantly decreased from 1.1 +/- 0.2 to 1 +/- 0.2 microgram/1 (P less than 0.001). Before VLCD the differences between measured RMR and theoretical RMR (RMR-T) were not significant. After VLCD RMR values were significantly (P less than 0.001) lower than RMR-T. It was concluded that fat-free mass loss, combined with periferic thyroxin (T4) reduced monodeiodination in its more active form mainly due to low calorie intake T3 could be responsible for the important reduction observed in the resting metabolic rate.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Systemic and renal effects of a new angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, benazepril, in essential hypertension.

Seventeen essential hypertensive patients with normal renal function were treated with a new non-sulphydryl orally active angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, benazepril, 10 mg given once or twice daily, according to diastolic blood pressure levels, for 6 weeks. In all patients, changes in blood pressure, systemic and renal hemodynamics, plasma renin activity and urinary aldosterone and albumin excretions were assessed at the end of a 2-week placebo run-in period and at the end of the study. Benazepril monotherapy controlled blood pressure well. No changes in cardiac output, heart rate or stroke volume were observed, while peripheral vascular resistance was significantly decreased (-11%, P less than 0.05). Plasma volume was unaltered. The glomerular filtration rate was stable, but effective renal plasma flow was increased because of the marked reduction in renal vascular resistance (-35%) and, therefore, the filtration fraction was decreased. Urinary albumin excretion remained unchanged. A significant increase in plasma renin activity (P less than 0.001) and a decrease in urinary aldosterone excretion were seen. No side effects were observed during the treatment period. In conclusion, our results suggest that benazepril alone is an effective antihypertensive agent in patients with essential hypertension. The blood pressure lowering effect is due mainly to systemic vasodilation and is observed up to 24 h after administration of the drug. The vasodilation appears to be more consistent in the renal than in the systemic circulation.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Modifications of abdominal fat and hepatic insulin clearance during severe caloric restriction.

Using computed tomography on 19 obese female subjects, we determined abdominal adipose tissue, both subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue, before and after 2 weeks of a very low caloric diet (VLCD). The following parameters were also determined before and after 15-20 days of VLCD: plasma glucose and insulin levels, oral glucose tolerance test, basal pancreatic insulin secretion estimated by fasting C peptide (Cp), and fasting insulin hepatic clearance calculated by Cp/insulin molar ratio. After VLCD the body weight and body mass index significantly declined (p less than 0.01); whereas abdominal adipose tissue and visceral abdominal tissue (VAT) significantly decreased (p less than 0.01), modifications of subcutaneous abdominal tissue (SAT) were not significant. Fasting insulin levels and plasma glucose response to oral glucose load significantly decreased (p less than 0.05). Insulin response remained unchanged. Cp immunoreactive insulin (IRI) significantly increased (p less than 0.01). A significant positive correlation was found between delta VAT and delta Cp/IRI before and after VLCD (p less than 0.01). Our data seem to suggest that the weight loss induced by VLCD fundamentally involves a decrease in VAT. The reduction in visceral fat could be associated with an increase in hepatic insulin clearance.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1990

Blood pressure, metabolic variables and adipose tissue distribution in pre- and post-menopausal women.

The study was performed on 289 female patients (aged 20-60) of a family doctor in Castel D'Azzano, a small town near Verona. The following variables were considered: body mass index (BMI), tricepital, subscapular, hypomesogastric, epimesogastric, supra-iliacal and epitrochanteric skinfolds, waist, umbilical and bitrochanteric circumferences, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, glycemia, uricemia and blood pressure. A significant worsening with age was observed in the mean values of the variables. This worsening was particularly evident in women over 50. The population was subdivided according to presence or absence of menopause; the two groups were then matched for age. None of the variables showed significant differences. Our results did not confirm any of the many effects that menopause is supposed to have regarding metabolic and blood pressure alterations.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1990

[The problem of false positives in bone scintigraphy in patients with breast neoplasms. A follow-up at 10 years].

Bone scanning plays a pre-eminent role in tumor staging procedures, but its reliability is often questioned because of the high incidence of false positive results; not even bone biopsy can always clarify these questionable findings. To verify what actually becomes of the pathological hot spots lacking radiological evidence, we studied 49 patients with this discrepancy and followed them for an average period of 10 years (range: 8-11). The patients were divided into 3 subgroups: 1) 13 N+ patients with multiple hot spots (greater than 2) (N+ IM); 2) 24 N+ patients with single hot spots (less than or equal to 2) (N+ IS); 3) 12 N- patients with single hot spots (less than or equal to 2) (N- IS). Bone metastasis-free survival rate (SLMO) was calculated, which was confirmed by radiology, and overall survival rate (SG). SLMO was considered to coincide with the percentage of "true" false positives. At 10 years SLMO was 7%, 65%, and 83%, whereas SG was 15%, 70%, and 90%, respectively, in the 3 subgroups N+ IM, N+ IS, and N- IS. The Log-rank test demonstrated a highly significant difference (p less than 0.001) between SLMO and SG in these subgroups, due to the poor prognosis of N+ IM patients. The cumulative examination of all N+ N- patients with single hot spots (36 patients) demonstrated 75% probability of "true" false positives at 10 years. Moreover, the risk of bone metastases resulted higher in the hot spots of the spine than in those of the skull and ribs. The possible role is discussed of microfractures and bone traumatisms in the genesis of "true" false positives.

Adult↗