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Biomedical subjects

S Bernasconi

Publications and source records attributed to S Bernasconi.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed1975

The effect of selective lesioning of brain catecholamine-containing neurons on the activity of various anorectics in thr rat.

An intraventricular injection of 6-hydroxydopamine to rats pretreated with pargyline, a procedure which produces a marked decrease of brain catecholamines without significant changes in the serotonin levels, significantly antagonizes the anorectic effect of amphetamine, phentermine, mazindol and diethylpropion, while the reduction of food intake induced by other drugs such as fenfluramine, p-chloroamphetamine, SE 780 and SKF 1-39728 is not significantly affected. The data suggest an involvement of brain catecholamines in the anorectic effect of amphetamine, phentermine, mazindol and diethylpropion whereas other mechanisms appear to be involved in the activity of the other anorectics studied.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

The effect of nomifensine on the depletion of brain serotonin and catecholamines induced respectively by fenfluramine and 6-hydroxydopamine in rats.

Nomifensine, at a dose of 10 mg/kg i.p., completely antagonized the decrease of brain dopamine induced by an intraventricular injection of 6-hydroxydopamine. The decrease of brain noradrenaline was also significantly antagonized by nomifensine. Desipramine antagonized the effect of 6-hydroxydopamine on noradrenaline but not on dopamine. The decrease of brain serotonin induced by fenfluramine was antagonized by chlorimipramine but not by nomifensine. The findings indicate that nomifensine specifically blocks the uptake mechanism for catecholamines in the brain without significant effects on serotonin.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Effect of selective lesioning of brain serotonin or catecholamine-containing neurons on the activity of oral steroid contraceptives in rats.

The effect of different dosage combinations of lynoestrenol and mestranol were studied in rats that have been subjected to selective lesioning of brain serotonin or catecholamine-containing neurons. Lesions of the midbrain raphe, which cause a marked decrease of serotonin in the forebrain, were without any effect on the estrus cycle, fertility and activity of the steroids under study. An intraventricular injection of 6-hydroxydopamine, which causes a selective decrease of noradrenaline and dopamine in the forebrain, produced a transient effect only on the estrus cycle but did not significantly change the fertility or the activity of the substances investigated. The data indicate that the integrity of monoaminergic neurons in the brain is not an essential condition for the aspects investigated in the present study.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

The effect of alpha-MSH on plasma growth hormone, cortisol and TSH in children.

The effect of synthetic alpha-MSH injected intravenously in a uniform dose of 3 mg was studied in 19 prepubertal children. A marked growth hormone (GH) response was seen only in 2 out of 8 constitutionally small children with a normal GH response to insulin and arginine stimulation. Three of of 11 children suffering from hypopituitarism with documented GH and other hormone deficiencies, unexpectedly, showed a significant rise of GH after alpha-MSH: all three had craniopharyngiomas. Alpha-MSH led to an increase of plasma cortisol in all except 3 patients who had secondary adrenal insuffciency. The increase of cortisol after alpha-MSH and after insulin was of the same extent: but the hypoglycemia and stress responsible for the insulin effect were not observed after alpha-MSH. It is possible that alpha-MSH acts by an ACTH-like direct stimulation on the adrenals. There was no effect of alpha-MSH on plasma TSH or on blood glucose.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

A comparative study of serum growth hormone and plasma cortisol levels in stimulation tests with insulin and propranolol-glucagon.

Insulin and propranolol-glucagon stimulation tests were carried out on 28 children and 5 adolescents and the results of their growth hormone and plasma cortisol estimations were compared. Twenty-nine subjects with normal growth hormone reserves showed a mean maximum rise of 17.4 muU/ml of serum growth hormone in the insulin test whereas the intramuscular injection of glucagon after oral premedication with propranolol produced a rise of 38.5 muU/ml. Five subjects with normal growth hormone reserves showed a reduced hormone output in the insulin stimulation tests but normal response in the propranolol-glucagon stimulation tests. Only one subject showed a poor response in the propranolol-glucagon but normal response in the insulin stimulation test. In 30 subjects with normal adrenocortical function the mean maximum increase of plasma cortisol was 15.6 muU/ml in the insulin - and 14.9 muU/ml in the propranolol-glucagon stimulation tests, respectively. Both methods are suitable for studying the pituitary-adrenocortical interrelationships. The mechanism of the release of glucagon-induced growth hormone is not clear but the fall in blood glucose does not seem to play a major role in the process. A stress-like mechanism is equally unlikely because vegetative symptoms occurred only i a small number of subjects after intramuscular glucagon administration. It is possible that glucagon possesses a releasing-like mechanism which operates in the pituitary itself.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

[Trisomy 10q24--10qter].

The syndrome of trisomy 10q24leads to 10qter is described from three patients studied by the authors and five cases reported from the literature. The characteristic dysmorphy of the syndrome, although different from that of trisomy 21, nevertheless is reminiscent because of euroasiatic facies. The facies is broad, round, because of euroasiatic facies. The facies is broad, round, and flat, with a prominent malar region and a high and convex forehead. Palpebral fissures are narrow with bilateral epicanthal folds, and the nasal bridge is hypoplasitc. Marked joint laxity allows spontaneous and reductible subluxations. Growth retardation is the rule, and mental retardation is severe. No specific dermatoglyphic abnormalities are noted; there is a gap between the first and second toes, with a marked plantar crease separating them. Although trisomy 10q24leads to10qter results from various terminal translocations or pericentric inversion in one case, the location of the breakage point in band 10q24 suggests a particular lability of this zone.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1975

Trisomy of the distal third of the long arm of chromosome 10. Report of a new case due to a familial translocation t(10;18) (q24;p11).

A new case of trisomy of the distal third of the long arm of chromosome 10 due to familial translocation t(10;18) (q24;p11) is described. The main clinical and radiological signs may be summarized as follows: growth at lower limits of normal; poor facial expression; round, flat face with high, broad forehead, fine, highly arched eyebrows, pseudohyperthelorism, microphthalmia, flat, broad bridged nose, hypoplasia of the bony structures of the central area of the face, "fish mouth", macroglossia, micrognathia; short neck; marked dextroconvex lumbar scoliosis; psychomotor delay of mild degree; selective, more pronounced speech delay. Our observation confirms the suggestion by Yunis and Sanchez that a clinical syndrome corresponds to this chromosomal alteration. However, some interesting differences from the previously reported cases, i.e., the absence of microcephaly and of severe impairment of growth and psychomotor development induce us to establish a more favorable prognosis in our case.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pituitary TSH response to TRH: interrelationships with gonadal activity.

A TSH radioimmunoassay is described, which was used to investigate the behaviour of the TSH pituitary response (as measured by the secretory area) to TRH in groups of subjects of both sexes and different phases of gonadal activity. It is concluded that the TSH pituitary response is in no way affected by physiological variations in the plasma gonadal hormones. This independent behaviour of the TSH response, uninfluenced by gonadal activity, was apparently confirmed by the results in some pathological conditions (ovarian agenesis and primary male hypogonadism of various types) characterized by very low plasma levels of gonadal hormones.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pattern of blood polyamines in healthy subjects from infancy to the adult age.

Blood polyamine levels have been determined in 161 healthy subjects from newborn to adult age. During the growth period spermidine concentrations are always higher than in adulthood. In the first days of life a typical pattern for spermidine and spermine appeared with an early increase in the first hours after birth and a maximum at 24 h; afterwards the levels of both amines gradually and progressively decreased. The levels reached by 10 days of life were maintained until adulthood, at which time a further decrease was evident. The high levels of polyamines during the period of body growth may suggest that also in humans these substances play a role in the process of cellular proliferation.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Is fasting insulin associated with blood pressure in obese children?

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: We tested whether fasting insulin levels are associated with blood pressure in a large sample of obese children. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Three hundred and fifty obese children (F:M ratio = 1.03) of 10.1 +/- 2.7 y of age (mean +/- SD) were consecutively enrolled at an Outpatient Paediatric Clinic. Obesity was diagnosed on the basis of a relative weight for age > 120% and hypertension on the basis of a systolic (SBP) or diastolic (DBP) blood pressure > 95th percentile for age after adjustment for height (Ht). MAIN OUTCOME AND RESULTS: Insulin was significantly higher in hypertensive (n = 202, 58%) than normotensive (n = 148, 42%) children (16 vs 14 microU mL(-1), geometric mean, p < 0.01, ANOVA) but the difference was not clinically relevant. Moreover, (log-transformed) insulin explained only 7 and 4% of SBP and DBP variance, respectively (p < 0.0001 for both) and this contribution disappeared after the confounding effects of age, weight or other anthropometric dimensions were taken into account (p = ns, ANCOVA). CONCLUSIONS: This study does not support the hypothesis of a clinically relevant association between fasting insulin and blood pressure in obese children.

Aging↗