PARTECIPAZIONE PUBBLICA IN VENETO: VERSO UNA TECNOLOGIA DEI PROCESSI DECISIONALI

Il contributo definisce alcuni fabbisogni legati ai \u201cprocessi e metodi per la partecipazione pubblica\u201d, intesi come strumenti di democrazia deliberativa a supporto del sistema di rap-presentanza politica, in generale, e del decision making, in particolare. Il contesto di riferi-mento riguarda politiche e esperienze in Veneto e nel contesto italiano (a titolo didascalico, saranno fatti alcuni riferimenti a casi europei ed extraeuropei). Sono presenti alcuni focus sull\u2019esperienza partecipativa toscana ed emiliana e sulle esperienze condotte in ambito o su questioni urbanistiche nella Regione del Veneto. L\u2019articolo si conclude con una proposta circa l\u2019opportunit\ue0 di introdurre in Veneto misure normative che adottino una \u201ctecnologia dei processi decisionali\u201d: dalla definizione di toolkit per la partecipazione alla costruzione dei piani urbanistici regionali, all\u2019adozione di una Legge per la Partecipazione

CORRELATIONS OF GROWTH HORMONE (GH) AND INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR I (IGF-I): EFFECTS OF EXERCISE AND ABUSE BY ATHLETES

The importance of hormones on body metabolism when physical exercise is carried out has been established for a long time. Growth hormone (GH) is crucial in energy metabolism as well as in body anabolism. Recent studies have increased our knowledge of GH's mechanisms of action. In particular, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), the main hormone mediating the principal GH effects and other protein structures (i.e, the binding proteins related to these two hormones), has been recognized as playing a crucial role. The biochemical aspects relating to the molecules of the GH/IGF-I axis have been described here. Furthermore, the belief that GH and IGF-I enhance performance has induced an 'abuse' of GH land possibly of IGF-I) by competitive sports athletes and amateurs. The present study outlines the best methods available to uncover abuse, as well as a series of potential research projects to recognize doping. The review also underlines the principal variables measurable in the laboratory and summarizes published reference ranges of these parameters. These biochemical and laboratory profiles describe principal experimental approaches, with the hope that this will stimulate new ideas on the subject of detecting doping practices. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

The measurement of Insulin-like Growth Factor-I (IGF-I) concentration in random urine samples

IF(2007):1.74

Effect of prolonged physical exercise on urinary proANP(1-30) and proANP(31-67).

Dynamic exercise strongly affects atrial natriuretic peptides (ANP), in particular the mature bioactive alphaANP and the proANP fragments, namely proANP1-98, proANP1-30 and proANP31-67. The proANPs influence kidney functions and their plasma levels increase after physical exercise. We measured urinary proANP1-30 and proANP31-67 levels before and at the end of physical exercise in 28 well-trained male cyclists. For the first time, the proANP1-30 and proANP31-67 urinary levels in athletes before and at the end of a prolonged agonistic bicycle race were measured. Urinary creatinine and total proteins were also measured. The urinary proANP31-67, creatinine and total protein levels were significantly higher at the end of exercise than before. In contrast, proANP1-30/protein and proANP31-67/protein ratios decreased after exercise. Even proANP1-30/creatinine and proANP31-67/creatinine ratios were lower after exercise. A significant correlation between proANP1-30 and proANP31-67 urinary levels at the end of exercise was found. The proANP31-67/creatinine ratio before and after exercise also showed a significant correlation. The variation of urinary proANP fragments confirmed their possible role in physical exercise. In particular, it could be interpreted as a response of the body or kidney to renal impairment occurring during exercise

A buck-boost DC-DC converter for single module photovoltaic application to vehicle recharge

Maximizing the photovoltaic generation requires efficient photovoltaic modules as well as suitable conversion systems. Additionally, the diffusion of recent photovoltaic technologies (e.g., CIGS), instead of Silicon-based cells, involves different voltage ranges. This, combined with the diffusion of small islanded systems (i.e. composed by one or a few modules), requires the study of a new conversion device. In this paper, the authors propose the use of a power electronic converter having a topology that is not usually found in PV applications, which is able to manage non-conventional voltage ranges and allows enlarging the operative interval of a small-scale plant

Urinary insulin-like growth factor-I measurement in an actual sport competition, an additional approach in laboratory antidoping tests

BACKGROUND: The insulin-like growth factor hormone (IGF-I) is an important protein hormone under investigation with physical exercise and for doping detection. Urinary IGF-I level in fact represents a relevant measurement when the postexercise proteinuria is under analysis. To verify the IGF-I level variation in the circulation and in urinary excretion in the occasion of a competition, the plasma and urine IGF-I in athletes before and after an actual competitive event were measured. METHODS: Twenty well-trained cyclists took part in a competition (102 km) and concluded the intense physical exercise in approximately 2(1/2) h. Urine and blood samples were collected from each athlete 10-20 min before and at the end of the competition. Plasma and urine total IGF-I (pIGF, uIGF), total urinary proteins (uPr), and creatinine (uCr) concentrations were measured. RESULTS: The uIGF [from 76.2+/-15.8 to 256.9+/-29.1 ng/l (p<0.001)], uPr [from 29.4+/-6.7 to 325.9+/-95.1 mg/l (p<0.005)], and uCr [from 6.3+/-1.0 to 10.0+/-0.8 mmol/l (p<0.005)] significantly increased. The pIGF was 262.6+/-14.3 and 247.3+/-11.8 microg/l before and end-exercise, respectively. A statistical correlation between uIGF and uPr was demonstrated (p<0.001). The pIGF/uIGF ratio was significantly (p<0.05) decreased comparing the end with before the competition. CONCLUSIONS: The pIGF/uIGF significantly decreased at the end, compared with before the competition, suggesting a changed uIGF excretion. This increment appeared to be increased, although not significantly, considering the ratio with uCr

GH/IGF-I System, Cirrhosis and Liver Transplantation

I.F.= 1.633 Abstract: The GH-related effects are primarily mediated by insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), a peptide hormone almost completely produced by the liver. Liver cirrhosis is usually accompanied by a fall in protein turnover. Furthermore, an important consequence of chronic liver disease (CLD) is growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor (GH/IGF) axis modification and growth failure. Nutritional status also suffers in this condition, and IGF-I has been proposed as a marker of hepatocellular dysfunction, malnutrition and survival. CLD is characterised by alterations of various clinical biochemistry laboratory parameters. Aminotransferases, bilirubin, plasma proteins, together with prothrombin time and gamma globulins, are usually examined for laboratory diagnostic and/or monitoring purposes. These traditional parameters are also used in the perioperative liver transplantation, but an early signal of graft functioning has still not been established. The aim of the present work is a review of the possibility offered by the clinical biochemistry laboratory GH/IGF investigation in the outcome of liver transplantation

Effects of acute, heavy-resistance exercise on urinary peptide hormone excretion in humans

IF(2007): 1.741To examine physical exerciserelated changes in urinary excretion of protein/peptide hormones and to correlate modifications with the general increase in postexercise proteinuria, urine Cpeptide, insulin and insulinlike growth factorI (IGFI) and their plasma concentrations were measured. Plasma and urinary Cpeptide, insulin and IGFI before (B-ex) and at the end (E-ex) of physical exercise (a 2.5-hour competition, 102 km) were analysed in 20 young cyclists. At Eex compared with Bex, concentration of urinary Cpeptide decreased slightly but significantly (21.3 +/- 2.7 vs. 13.5 +/- 1.7 nmol/l), but urinary insulin and urinary IGFI concentrations significantly increased at Eex (92.5 +/- 4.2 vs. 131.4 +/- 15.7 pmol/l and 10.0 +/- 2.1 vs. 33.6 +/- 3.8 pmol/l, respectively). Plasma insulin and plasma C-peptide significantly decreased, whereas plasma IGFI was unchanged. Urinary concentrations of total proteins and creatinine significantly increased. Both E-ex urinary C-peptide/urinary protein and urinary C-peptide/urinary creatinine ratios were significantly reduced. The correlation between C-peptide and insulin in plasma was confirmed at Bex as well as E-ex, but in urine only at Bex. An increased renal tubular reabsorption of C-peptide at the end of exercise might be suggested, but the expected values considering creatinine excretion were almost three times less. The E-ex urinary insulin concentration was higher than expected, considering the circulation levels, but lower when compared with the expected concentration considering creatinine excretion. Physical exercise proteinuria, related to an increased protein filtration and a saturation of the mechanisms responsible for the reabsorption, does not appear similar for all peptide hormone

Physiological and clinical implications of proANP(1-98) circulating levels in the prioperative phase of liver transplantation

BACKGROUND: ProANP(1-126), the prohormone synthesized and secreted by atrial myocites, generates an ANP peptide family, the main forms of which are proANP(1-30), proANP(31-67), proANP(1-98) and proANP(99-126). These molecular circulating forms are involved in hemodynamic and electrolyte homeostasis. In cirrhotic patients, volume homeostasis is almost impaired due to abnormal sodium retention, which results in ascites formation and hemodynamic changes, including high cardiac output and low systemic vascular resistance. During liver transplantation, in the anhepatic phase, hemodynamic instability may occur because of decreased venous return due to surgical manipulation of inferior vena cava, considerable blood loss or cross-clamping. Moreover, marked hemodynamic instability is often observed at the reperfusion of the graft. AIMS: The aims of present study are to investigate the changes of ANP during the perioperative phases of Orthotopic Liver Transplantation (OLTx) in end-stage cirrhotic patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From July to September 1999, 11 cirrhotic patients undergoing to OLTx were included in the study: seven males and four females (average age 46+/-10.4 years) affected by post-alcoholic cirrhosis [Hypertension 15 (1990) 9], post-hepatitis cirrhosis [D.G. Gardner, M.C. Lapointe, B. Kovacic-Milivojevic, C.F. Deschepper, Molecular analisys and regulation of the atrial natriuretic factor gene, in: A.D. Struphers (Ed.), Frontiers in Farmacology and Therapeutics: Atrial Natriuretic Factor, Blackwell, Oxford, England, 1991, pp. 1-22], Wilson disease [Life Sci. 28 (1981) 89] and polycystic disease [Life Sci. 28 (1981) 89], autoimmune cirrhosis [Life Sci. 28 (1981) 89]. In each patient, a hemodynamic assessment was achieved using a Swan-Ganz catheter. Periferical venous samples were performed during and immediately after OLTx for the determination of ANP(1-98) and other biohumoral parameters. RESULTS: Mean ANP(1-98) (pmol/ml mean+/-SD) basal levels resulted higher than that recorded in the group of healthy subjects. A significant correlation between 24-h post-reperfusion ANP and intra-operative RBC and RIS requirement was found (p<0.05). The basal values resulted significantly higher than that observed at phase II degrees (p<0.04) and lower than that at phase VI degrees (p<0.05); the anesthetic induction values were significantly lower than that observed at phase VI degrees (p<0.03). CONCLUSIONS: ANP(1-98) values may represent a useful marker of hemodynamic derangements during and after OLTx. Further clinical correlations will need a larger patient basis