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Biomedical subjects

R Giunta

Publications and source records attributed to R Giunta.

68 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Restoration of sensitivity to sulfonylurea after strict glycaemic control with insulin in non-obese type 2 diabetic subjects.

Ten non-obese type 2 diabetic patients with secondary failure to sulfonylureas received an intensive insulin therapy (four doses schedule) for 90 days. The glycaemic control was poor at entry (HbA1c = 11.7 +/- 1.2%) and ameliorated significantly after insulin (HbA1c = 7.1 +/- 0.7%, p less than 0.01). The reintroduction of the sulfonylurea after insulin withdrawal resulted in a persistent satisfactory long-term control (300 days) in all, but two diabetics responded no more after about 3 and 4 months of clinical remission (good control on sulfonylurea). Both basal and stimulated (iv glucagon and mixed meal) beta-cell secretory activity increased significantly at 3 months and declined thereafter without falling below baseline values. Three months of strict metabolic control seem to restore the sensitivity to sulfonylurea by enhancing beta-cell secretory activity in non-obese type 2 diabetic patients.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pulsatile rather than continuous glucagon infusion leads to greater metabolic derangements in insulin-dependent diabetic subjects.

The present study aimed at investigating the respective effects of continuous and pulsatile intravenous delivery of glucagon in insulin-dependent diabetic subjects. The study was performed in seven insulin-dependent diabetic subjects proven to have no residual insulin secretion. In random order and in different days each subject was submitted to glucagon delivery given continuously (58 ng/min) and in a pulsatile (377 ng/min during 2 min followed by 11 min during which no glucagon was infused) manner. In this conditions plasma glucose levels were significantly higher during pulsatile glucagon delivery. In particular in the last 65 min plasma glucose levels reached 10.8 +/- 0.3 vs 12.9 +/- 0.4 mmol/l (p less than 0.05) during continuous and pulsatile glucagon delivery respectively. Similarly plasma lipid changes also evidenced a greater effects of pulsatile rather than continuous hormone administration in producing the metabolic derangements classically encountered in insulin-dependent diabetic subjects. In conclusion, pulsatile glucagon delivery seem to produce greater metabolic effects than continuous hormone delivery.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Air pollution by gasoline exhaust fumes: effect on platelet function and blood viscosity.

Air pollution induced by automobile exhaust fumes seems to be involved in increased cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity. The effects of inhalation of such pollutant gases on platelet function and blood viscosity have not been sufficiently investigated, even if these parameters seem to be in strict correlation with cardiovascular function. Twelve healthy non-smoking volunteers were exposed for 30 minutes in a closed room to air polluted by automobile fumes. Platelet aggregation, blood viscosity, HbCO levels and P50 STD were determined before and after exposure. Cardiovascular parameters (blood pressure, heart rate and ECG) were also measured. At the end of the test, HbCO levels were significantly increased, but P50 STD was significantly reduced; an impairment of both platelet function and blood viscosity was observed. No significant changes in cardiovascular parameters were recorded. The decreases in platelet aggregation and blood viscosity were not directly correlated with either the increase in carbon monoxide levels or with the reduced P50 STD levels. It can be reasonably concluded that gasoline exhaust fumes could have been responsible for the observed alterations.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Beta-endorphin and islet hormone release in type-2 diabetes mellitus the effects of normoglycemia, enkephalin, naloxone and somatostatin.

The present study was aimed at characterizing the effects of beta-endorphin on plasma glucose, insulin and glucagon plasma levels in subjects with type-2 diabetes mellitus. Infusion of 0.5 mg/h human beta-endorphin produced significant and simultaneous increments in both insulin and glucagon concentrations and decreased plasma glucose levels (-18 +/- 4 mg/dl, 60 min level, p less than 0.01). When the same diabetics were rendered euglycemic by an insulin infusion (1 mU/kg/min), beta-endorphin did not produce the expected decrease in plasma glucose concentrations nor raise plasma insulin levels; only the response of glucagon was preserved. Normal subjects were rendered hyperglycemic by an intravenous glucose infusion to match the plasma glucose levels of diabetic subjects. In this condition, beta-endorphin produced a significant increase of insulin concentrations, whereas glucagon remained suppressed. The intravenous administration of the long-acting met-enkephalin analogue DAMME (0.25 mg) blunted the hormonal responses to the subsequent beta-endorphin infusion in diabetic patients, although the inhibition was short-lived (30-40 min). Naloxone (5 mg), an opiate antagonist, did not produce any significant change in the insulin and glucagon responses to beta-endorphin, while somatostatin (0.25 mg/h) completely abolished the hormonal responses to the opioid.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Blood Glucose↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Behavior of hemodynamic and blood-gas parameters after intravenous salbutamol].

The haemodynamic effects of salbutamol were studied in 14 patients with chronic obstructive lung disease with a single dose of 100 and 200 gamma, administered by i.v. injection. The results of study revealed salbutamol intravenous injection significantly increases heart rate, cardiac index and decreases vascular systemic resistance. There was no significant change in blood gas tensions. This study indicates that salbutamol produces variation in preload and afterload by a direct action on vascular smooth muscle.

Albuterol↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Polygraphic study of systolic rates after intravenous administration of salbutamol].

The effects of salbutamol on the polygraphic pattern were studied in 10 patients with chronic obstructive lung disease. Salbutamol, administered by i.v. injection in a single dose of 100 gamma, caused an increase of heart rate, a decrease of PEP (by decrease in the TCI), a decrease of the Wessler's index and an increase of ejection fraction. These results suggest that salbutamol produces an improvement in cardiac function either by a direct inotropic action or by an afterload decrease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular function after intravenous administration of salbutamol].

Changes in the main parameters of left ventricular function by comparison with the baselines were examined echocardiography in 11 patients after a single i.v. dose of salbutamol. The results suggest that salbutamol certainly has peripheral vascular effects leading to changes in ventricular volumes. The drug also appears to exert a positive intropic action, as shown by the changes it induced in EF and, more particularly VCF values.

Adult↗