Nutritional supplements with oral amino acid mixtures increases whole-body lean mass and insulin sensitivity in elderly subjects with sarcopenia.

Decreases in whole-body lean mass can cause sarcopenia, a disease frequently found in the elderly. This condition is frequently associated with frailty and disability in aging as well as the onset and progression of several geriatric syndromes. Sarcopenia therefore must be managed with multidimensional approaches that include physical training, nutritional support, and metabolic and anabolic treatment.

Defect of a subpopulation of natural killer immune cells in Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis: normalizing effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate.

Background: The study of the natural killer (NK) immune compartment could provide important findings to help in the understanding of some of the pathogenetic mechanisms related to autoimmune thyroid diseases (Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT)). Within this context, it was suggested that alterations in NK cell cytotoxicity (NKCC) and NK production of cytokines might occur in subjects with GD and HT, whereas the normalization of NK functions could potentially contribute to the prevention of the onset or the progression of both diseases.

Objective: Due to the hypothesis of alterations in NK in autoimmune thyroid diseases, we were interested to evaluate NKCC in GD and HT patients and to modulate NK function and secretory activity with cytokines and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) in an attempt to normalize NK cell defect.

Decreased release of the angiogenic peptide vascular endothelial growth factor in Alzheimer's disease: recovering effect with insulin and DHEA sulfate.

Changes of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion have recently been demonstrated in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Since VEGF has been involved in brain angiogenesis, neuroprotection and cerebromicrovascular exchange of substrates and nutrients, the study of VEGF could have important relapses into the pathogenesis and treatment of AD. Within this context, 35 healthy subjects (16 of young and 19 of old age), 18 patients with dementia of the vascular type (VAD) and 22 with dementia of the Alzheimer's type (AD) were included in the study.

Metabolic effects of orally administered amino acid mixture in elderly subjects with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The reduction of muscle mass and increased protein catabolism in aging can determine the occurrence of metabolic alterations-such as hyperglycemia and reduced insulin sensitivity-in elderly subjects with diabetes mellitus. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of nutritional supplementation with oral amino acid mixture (OAAM) in elderly subjects with type 2 diabetes. This approach was conducted in an attempt to antagonize muscle catabolism by means of increased endogenous protein synthesis and to improve glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity.

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate decreases the interleukin-2-mediated overactivity of the natural killer cell compartment in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type.

Since dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) has been involved in the regulation of cellular immunity, the aim of the presence study was to evaluate whether the age-dependent reduction of DHEAS was associated with changes of natural killer (NK) immune function in healthy elderly subjects and in patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT). Circulating DHEAS was determined throughout 24 h (circadian profile). NK cytotoxic activity was measured as spontaneous and induced cytotoxicity during exposure with DHEAS (10(-7) M), interleukin-2 (IL-2; 100 IU) and IL-2 (100 IU) coincubated with DHEAS (10(-7) M).

Hyperviscosity and microproteinuria in central obesity: relevance to cardiovascular risk.

Objectives: To investigate the role of blood rheology changes in the occurrence of glomerular proteinuria in obese patients with central fat distribution.

Subjects: Fifty-nine obese out-patients (31 with central and 28 with peripheral body fat distribution) and 24 healthy subjects.

Measurements: Blood and plasma viscosity (Rotational viscometer CV100 HAAKE), erythrocyte deformability (whole-blood filtration time), fibrinogen (nephelometry), urinary excretion rates of albumin, IgG, transferrin and IgA (nephelometry).

Effects of diet-therapy on urinary protein excretion albuminuria and renal haemodynamic function in obese diabetic patients with overt nephropathy.

Twenty-four type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients with obesity and overt nephropathy were studied for 12 months after hypocaloric diet change from 1870 to 1410 kcal/day (without changes of protein:carbohydrate ratio). Several parameters were evaluated: arterial blood pressure, blood glucose, fructosamine, HbA1c, proteinuria, albuminuria, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), creatinine clearance, triglycerides, HDL and total cholesterol. A significant reduction of body weight (body mass index from 33 +/- 1.

Hemorheologic and hemostatic changes in long-standing insulin-dependent (type I) diabetic patients with peripheral and autonomic cardiovascular neuropathy.

Diabetic microangiopathy may be associated with the pathogenesis and progression of autonomic and peripheral neuropathy. In 17 long-standing type I diabetic patients with peripheral and autonomic cardiovascular neuropathy, several hemorheological and hemostatic alterations were found compared to 13 matched type I patients without neuropathy. In particular, increased plasma von Willebrand factor antigen (p less than 0.

Plasma beta-endorphin, free fatty acids and blood lipid changes in type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetic patients.

A lipolytic activity for beta-endorphin (beta EP) has been recently suggested both in vitro and in vivo. In our study we evaluated the relationship between beta EP and blood lipid pattern in Type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetic patients. Plasma beta EP, together with plasma beta-lipotropin (beta LPH), ACTH, cortisol and plasma insulin (IRI), was measured by RIA after silicic acid plasma extraction and Sephedex G-75 column chromatography.

Increased plasma apolipoprotein B levels and blood hyperviscosity in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients: role in the occurrence of arterial hypertension.

An association between arterial blood pressure and blood viscosity has been suggested in healthy and in diabetic subjects, and that the hemorheological pattern may be influenced by blood lipid alterations. In diabetic patients a relationship between arterial hypertension and blood lipid changes may therefore be suggested. This study concerns 19 type II diabetics with hyperlipidemia (triglycerides = 3.

Pentoxifylline, total urinary protein excretion rate and arterial blood pressure in long-term insulin-dependent diabetic patients with overt nephropathy.

A specific hemorheologic treatment might reduce urinary protein excretion and the decline in kidney function in diabetic patients with overt clinical nephropathy. Twenty-one insulin dependent (type I) diabetic patients were randomized and assigned to a treatment with conventional antihypertensive therapy (protocol I) or with pentoxifylline (Trental 400) (protocol II). A marked improvement of blood rheology pattern, together with a reduction of urinary albumin excretion rate and total urinary protein excretion rate, was demonstrated throughout a 1-year follow-up study with pentoxifylline.

Determination of albuminuria in type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients with microproteinuria and overt nephropathy. Comparative evaluation between a radial immunodiffusion procedure and a highly sensitive radioimmunoassay.

We have studied the correlation between urinary albumin excretion rate evaluated by a radial immunodiffusion technique and a highly sensitive radioimmunoassay in type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients with microproteinuria and overt clinical nephropathy. Several statistically significant correlations were found between urinary albumin excretion rate measured by radial immunodiffusion and by radioimmunoassay, both in patients with microproteinuria and overt nephropathy. Moreover, statistically significant correlations between urinary albumin excretion rate, albumin clearance and total urinary protein excretion rate were observed in each of the groups studied.

Pentoxifylline, albumin excretion rate and proteinuria in type I and type II diabetic patients with microproteinuria. Results of a short-term randomized study.

An association between renal microvascular complications and hemorheological alterations has been suggested in diabetes mellitus. Therefore, a hemorheologic approach in the treatment of diabetic microproteinuria has been proposed. Eighty-two type I and type II diabetic patients with microproteinuria were randomized and assigned to two different protocols: protocol A, patients treated with pentoxifylline (Trental 400); protocol B, patients without hemorheologic treatment, in whom hypoglycemic therapy was just more strictly enforced.