Malnutrition Diagnosis and Food Consumption in Subacute Post-Stroke Patients During Rehabilitation.

Background: Stroke survivors frequently encounter malnutrition, adversely impacting clinical outcomes. Nevertheless, malnutrition and food consumption in post-stroke patients have not been frequently assessed, and their correlation with rehabilitation outcomes remains inadequately explored. The objective of this observational study was to evaluate malnutrition at admission in these patients, assess food consumption during a six-week rehabilitation program, and analyze their correlation with rehabilitation outcomes.

Oxidative Stress Status in Post Stroke Patients: Sex Differences.

After a cerebral stroke insult, there is an overproduction of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which overcome the antioxidant defenses, causing further tissues damage. The status of oxidative stress in stroke patients over time, particularly in those undergoing rehabilitation treatments, has been poorly investigated. We analyzed the oxidative stress status in 61 subacute stroke patients (33 females and 28 males) admitted to our rehabilitation center by measuring, in serum: hydroperoxides levels (d-ROMs), antioxidant activity (BAP test), and the relative antioxidant capacity (OSI index).

Is there a relationship between stature and age of onset of type 2 Diabetes?

Aims: MSP1A and MSP1B polymorphic sites located in the GH genomic area have been found associated with GH response to insulin stimulation, with familiar short stature and with age at onset of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). These observations prompted us to search for a possible relationship between stature and age at onset of the disease.

Methods: We have reexamined the data of 272 subjects with T2D mellitus.

The effect of genetic variability on the correlation between blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels.

The disturbing results of recent clinical trials aimed to control cardiovascular risk of diabetes by aggressive control of blood glucose prompted us to analyze the effect of genetic variability of 2 polymorphic enzymes abundant in red blood cells on the correlation between blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (Hb). Two hundred eighty subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus were studied. Adenylate kinase locus 1 (AK₁) and acid phosphatase locus 1 were determined.

Phosphoglucomutase genetic polymorphism and body mass.

Background: We have searched for a possible association of the genetic polymorphism of Phosphoglucomutase locus 1 (PGM1), a key enzyme in carbohydrate metabolism, with body mass.

Methods: Adults (n = 257) with type 2 diabetes, 74 children referred for "obesity," and 740 consecutive healthy newborn infants were studied. Body mass index, body weight, birth weight, and PGM1 phenotype were determined.

Genetic polymorphism within human growth hormone gene region and BMI in type 2 diabetes.

Currently there is a surge of interest in the association of obesity with growth hormone (GH). Our hypothesis is that genetic variation within the hGH area could predispose to obesity in type 2 diabetes. We examined 68 Caucasian subjects with type 2 diabetes from the central area of Continental Italy.

Type 2 diabetes and the genetics of signal transduction: a study of interaction between adenosine deaminase and acid phosphatase locus 1 polymorphisms.

Acid phosphatase locus 1 (ACP1) is a highly polymorphic enzyme that has an important role in flavoenzyme activity and in the control of insulin receptor activity and band 3 protein phosphorylation status. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is a polymorphic enzyme that catalyses the irreversible deamination of adenosine to inosine and has an important role in regulating adenosine concentration. Based on the hypothesis that ACP1 counteracts insulin signaling by dephosphorylating the insulin receptor and that adenosine has an anti-insulin action, we reasoned that low ACP1 activity (low dephosphorylating action on insulin receptor) when associated with high ADA activity (low adenosine concentration) would result in a cumulative effect towards an increased glucose tolerance.

RH blood groups and diabetic disorders: is there an effect on glycosylated hemoglobin level?

Recent cloning of RH genes has elucidated their structure, suggesting that RH proteins are part of an oligomeric complex with transport function in the erythrocyte. This observation prompted us to investigate a possible relationship between the RH system and the glycosylated hemoglobin level (Hb A(1c)) in diabetes. This compound is considered an important indicator- of glycemic control in diabetic disorders.

A study of human growth hormone and insulin gene regions in relation to metabolic control of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

The possible association of human growth hormone (hGH) and insulin (INS) gene regions with metabolic control in diabetes was investigated in 98 subjects with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM); 54 control subjects from the same population were also studied. Two polymorphic restriction sites in the region of the hGH cluster (BGLIIA and BGLIIB) show significant association with both glycemic and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels. Mean values for plasma glucose and HbA1c show a maximum in the BGLIIA *1/*1 genotype and a minimum in the BGLIIA *2/*2 genotype.

Phosphotyrosine-protein-phosphatase and diabetic disorders. Further studies on the relationship between low molecular weight acid phosphatase genotype and degree of glycemic control.

We have studied a new sample of 276 NIDDM patients from the population of Penne (Italy). Comparison of the new data with those of 214 diabetic pregnant women from the population of Rome reported in a previous paper has shown that the pattern of association between low molecular weight acid phosphatase genotype and degree of glycemic control is similar in the two classes of diabetic patients. Among nonobese subjects the proportion of ACP1*A (the allele showing the lowest enzymatic activity) is lower in diabetic patients with high glycemic levels (mean value greater than 8.

Diabetic complications and the genetics of signal transduction. A study of retinopathy in NIDDM.

Cytosolic low molecular weight acid phosphatase (ACP1) is a high polymorphic phosphotyrosine-protein-phosphatase involved in signal transduction. In NIDDM subjects we have found that ACP1 genotype is a highly significant predictor of retinopathy, suggesting that genetic variability of signal transduction may have an important role in the susceptibility to this complication. Adenosine deaminase, ABO blood groups and several clinical variables have been also considered.

Low-molecular-weight acid phosphatase (ACP1), obesity, and blood lipid levels in subjects with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Low-molecular-weight acid phosphatase (ACP1) is a polymorphic protein-tyrosine phosphatase present in all human tissues, including adipocytes. A positive association between the low-activity ACP1*A/*A genotype and extreme body mass index has previously been shown by us in obese subjects from the population of Rome. We have now studied a sample of 265 subjects with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) from another Italian population.

Phosphotyrosine protein phosphatases and diabetic pregnancy: an association between low molecular weight acid phosphatase and degree of glycemic control.

Low molecular weight acid phosphatase encoded by the highly polymorphic locus ACP1 is a member of the protein-tyrosin phosphatase family (PTPases) which plays an essential role in the control of receptor signalling through phosphotyrosine pathways. Recent experiments have shown that purified rat liver ACP, corresponding to human ACP1, is able to hydrolyze a phosphotyrosine-containing synthetic peptide corresponding to the 1146-1158 sequence of the human insulin receptor, and shows a high affinity for it. This prompted us to analyze the degree of glycemic control in relation to ACP1 genetic variability in a sample of 214 diabetic pregnant women including IDDM, NIDDM and gestational diabetes.