25 research outputs found
Longitudinal Growth and Body Composition of Twins versus Singletons in the First Month of Life
Background. Although twin gestation is well recognized to be associated with impaired fetal and postnatal growth, specific data about body composition of twins in the first month of life are scarce. Objective. The aim of this study was to compare the body composition of twins, evaluated with air-displacement plethysmography, to that of singletons of similar gestational age and adequacy of growth, during the first month of life. We tested the hypothesis that the quality of growth would be similar. Methods. Anthropometric and air-displacement plethysmography measurements were performed in 18 pairs of twins and in 36 singleton neonates, longitudinally, from birth to the 30th day of life. Each twin was matched to a singleton infant of similar gestational age and birth weight z-score. Results. With regard to anthropometric measures, the only difference was a lower weight in twins versus singletons on the 15th day of life. With regard to body composition, we did not find any difference between groups at any time point. Fat mass increased significantly from day 1 to day 30 in both twins and singletons. Conclusion. In terms of body composition, twins do not differ from singletons of similar gestational age and weight, either at birth or in early postnatal life
A physiologically-oriented mathematical model for the description of in vivo drug release and absorption
This paper focuses on a physiologically-oriented mathematical model aimed at studying the in vivo drug release, absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination (ADME). To this purpose, the model accounts for drug delivery from an ensemble of non-eroding poly-disperse polymeric particles and the subsequent ADME processes. The model outcomes are studied with reference to three widely used drugs: theophylline, temazepam and nimesulide. One of the most important results of this study is the quantitative evaluation of the interplay between the release kinetics and the subsequent ADME processes. Indeed, it is usually assumed that in vivo drug release coincides with in vitro so that the effect exerted by the ADME processes is neglected. In addition, the proposed model may be an important tool for the design of delivery systems since, through proper changes, it could also account for different oral delivery systems
Singhiozzo, mio singhiozzo
Il singhiozzo \ue8 una contrazione spasmodica intermittente del diaframma e dei muscoli inspiratori accessori, accompagnata da una violenta inspirazione interrotta dalla chiusura improvvisa della glottide che causa il caratteristico rumore che lo caratterizza
immediatamente, meglio di ogni descrizione pi\uf9 o meno scientifica
General guidelines for the optimal economic aggregation of prosumers in energy communities
Differences in time course activation of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex associated with low or high risk choices in a gambling task
Prefrontal cortex plays an important role in decision making (DM), supporting choices
in the ordinary uncertainty of everyday life. To assess DM in an unpredictable situation,
a playing card task, such as the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), has been proposed. This
task is supposed to specifically test emotion-based learning, linked to the integrity of
the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC). However, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
(DLPFC) has demonstrated a role in IGT performance too. Our aim was to study, by
multichannel near-infrared spectroscopy, the contribution of DLPFC to the IGT execution
over time. We tested the hypothesis that low and high risk choices would differentially
activate DLPFC, as IGT execution progressed. We enrolled 11 healthy adults. To identify
DLPFC activation associated with IGT choices, we compared regional differences in
oxy-hemoglobin variation, from baseline to the event. The time course of task execution
was divided in four periods, each one consisting of 25 choices, and DLPFC activation was
distinctly analyzed for low and high risk choices in each period. We found different time
courses in DLPFC activation, associated with low or high risk choices. During the first
period, a significant DLPFC activation emerged with low risk choices, whereas, during
the second period, we found a cortical activation with high risk choices. Then, DLPFC
activation decreased to non-significant levels during the third and fourth period. This study
shows that DLPFC involvement in IGT execution is differentiated over time and according
to choice risk level. DLPFC is activated only in the first half of the task, earlier by low
risk and later by high risk choices. We speculate that DLPFC may sustain initial and more
cognitive functions, such as attention shifting and response inhibition. The lack of DLPFC
activation, as the task progresses, may be due to VMPFC activation, not detectable by
fNIRS, which takes over the IGT execution in its second half
Clinical Study Longitudinal Growth and Body Composition of Twins versus Singletons in the First Month of Life
Background. Although twin gestation is well recognized to be associated with impaired fetal and postnatal growth, specific data about body composition of twins in the first month of life are scarce. Objective. The aim of this study was to compare the body composition of twins, evaluated with air-displacement plethysmography, to that of singletons of similar gestational age and adequacy of growth, during the first month of life. We tested the hypothesis that the quality of growth would be similar. Methods. Anthropometric and air-displacement plethysmography measurements were performed in 18 pairs of twins and in 36 singleton neonates, longitudinally, from birth to the 30th day of life. Each twin was matched to a singleton infant of similar gestational age and birth weight z-score. Results. With regard to anthropometric measures, the only difference was a lower weight in twins versus singletons on the 15th day of life. With regard to body composition, we did not find any difference between groups at any time point. Fat mass increased significantly from day 1 to day 30 in both twins and singletons. Conclusion. In terms of body composition, twins do not differ from singletons of similar gestational age and weight, either at birth or in early postnatal life
Deletion of Glutathione-S-Transferase M1 Reduces Azathioprine Metabolite Concentrations in Young Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
GOALS:
To investigate, in young patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treated with azathioprine, the association between genetic polymorphisms of thiopurine-S-methyl-transferase (TPMT), inosine-triphosphate-pyrophosphatase (ITPA), and glutathione-S-transferases (GST), involved in azathioprine metabolism, the concentration of the main metabolites of azathioprine, thioguanine nucleotides (TGNs) and the methylated nucleotides (MMPN), and the dose of the medication.
BACKGROUND:
Azathioprine is widely used in IBD as an immunosuppressive agent, particularly to maintain remission in patients with steroid refractory disease. Azathioprine is a prodrug and requires conversion to its active form mercaptopurine, which has no intrinsic activity, and is activated by the enzymes of the purine salvage pathway to TGNs. Polymorphisms in genes of enzymes involved in azathioprine metabolism influence the efficacy and toxicity of treatment.
STUDY:
Seventy-five young patients with IBD treated with azathioprine at least for 3 months were enrolled and genotyped for the selected genes; for these patients, TGN and MMPN metabolites were measured by high performance liquid chromatography in erythrocytes.
RESULTS:
GST-M1 deletion was associated with lower TGN/dose ratio (P=0.0030), higher azathioprine dose requirement (P=0.022), and reduced response to therapy (P=0.0022). TPMT variant genotype was associated with lower MMPN concentration (P=0.0064) and increased TGN/dose ratio (P=0.0035). ITPA C94A polymorphism resulted in an increased MMPN concentration (P=0.037).
CONCLUSIONS:
This study describes the effect of candidate genetic polymorphisms in TPMT, ITPA, and GST-M1 on azathioprine pharmacokinetics in IBD patients, showing, for the first time, relevant effects of GST-M1 genotype on azathioprine metabolites concentration
Orofacial granulomatosis in children: Think about Crohn's disease
BACKGROUND:The term orofacial granulomatosis is conventionally used to describe patients with granulomatous lesions affecting the orofacial tissues, in absence of intestinal lesions. Lip swelling and facial swelling are the most common clinical signs. Despite the fact that histologically it is not distinguishable from Crohn's disease, and that both diseases have a chronic/recurrent course, the relationship between orofacial granulomatosis and Crohn's disease is still debated.
METHODS:Herein we present five cases of orofacial granulomatosis.
RESULTS: All patients presented concomitant Crohn's disease, supporting the hypothesis that orofacial granulomatosis and Crohn's disease may be one single disease. Thalidomide was effective in inducing remission of oral and intestinal symptoms in all five cases and could be considered a valid treatment opportunity for these patients.
CONCLUSIONS:Orofacial granulomatosis and Crohn's disease may be part of the same disease; both may respond to thalidomide
Delayed Diagnosis of Glycogen Storage Disease Type III
A case of a delayed diagnosis in adult age of a glycogen storage disease type III is describe