Search results for "HM"

Evidence for a dysfunction and disease-promoting role of the circadian clock in the diabetic retina.

2021

Diabetic retinopathy is a major complication of chronic hyperglycemia and a leading cause of blindness in developed countries. In the present study the interaction between diabetes and retinal clocks was investigated in mice. It was seen that in the db/db mouse - a widely used animal model of diabetic retinopathy - clock function and circadian regulation of gene expression was disturbed in the retina. Remarkably, elimination of clock function by Bmal1-deficiency mitigates the progression of pathophysiology of the diabetic retina. Thus high-fat diet was seen to induce histopathology and molecular markers associated with diabetic retinopathy in wild type but not in Bmal1-deficient mice. The d…

Association between chronic dental infection and acute myocardial infarction.

2008

Introduction: In patients with cardiovascular diseases several risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and drinking habits, genetic disposition, and chronic inflammation must be considered. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a correlation between dental origin infections and the presence of an acutemyocardialinfarction(AMI).Methods:Atotalof125 patients who had experienced a myocardial infarction and 125healthyindividualswereincludedinthisstudy.Theoral examination was carried out following the consent of the ethics committee and the National Board for Radiation Protection and included the number of teeth, endodontically treated teeth, periodontal sc…

Ventricular remodelling in rabbits with sustained high-fat diet.

2013

Aim Excess weight gain and obesity are one of the most serious health problems in the western societies. These conditions enhance risk of cardiac disease and have been linked with increased prevalence for cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death. Our goal was to study the ventricular remodelling occurring in rabbits fed with high-fat diet (HFD) and its potential arrhythmogenic mechanisms. Methods We used 15 NZW rabbits that were randomly assigned to a control (n = 7) or HFD group (n = 8) for 18 weeks. In vivo studies included blood glucose, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic measurements. Optical mapping was performed in Langendorff-perfused isolated hearts. Results Body weight (3.69 ±…

Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Physical Activity, and Insulin Resistance in Children

2020

Purpose Few studies have investigated the independent and joint associations of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and body fat percentage (BF%) with insulin resistance in children. We investigated the independent and combined associations of CRF and BF% with fasting glycemia and insulin resistance and their interactions with physical activity (PA) and sedentary time among 452 children age 6 to 8 yr. Methods We assessed CRF with a maximal cycle ergometer exercise test and used allometrically scaled maximal power output (Wmax) for lean body mass (LM) and body mass (BM) as measures of CRF. The BF% and LM were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, fasting glycemia by fasting plasma glucos…

The effects of 12-week progressive strength training on strength, functional capacity, metabolic biomarkers, and serum hormone concentrations in heal…

2018

Previous findings suggest that performing strength training (ST) in the evening may provide greater benefit for young individuals. However, this may not be optimal for the older population. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a 12-week ST program performed in the morning vs. evening on strength, functional capacity, metabolic biomarker and basal hormone concentrations in older women. Thirty-one healthy older women (66 ± 4 years, 162 ± 4 cm, 75 ± 13 kg) completed the study. Participants trained in the morning (M) (07:30, n = 10), in the evening (E) (18:00, n = 10), or acted as a non-training control group (C) (n = 11). Both intervention groups performed whole-body strengt…

A Multiple Local Models Approach to Accuracy Improvement in Continuous Glucose Monitoring

2011

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices estimate plasma glucose (PG) from measurements in compartments alternative to blood. The accuracy of currently available CGM is yet unsatisfactory and may depend on the implemented calibration algorithms, which do not compensate adequately for the differences of glucose dynamics between the compartments. Here we propose and validate an innovative calibration algorithm for the improvement of CGM performance.CGM data from GlucoDay(®) (A. Menarini, Florence, Italy) and paired reference PG have been obtained from eight subjects without diabetes during eu-, hypo-, and hyperglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamps. A calibration algorithm based on a dynamic glo…

Influence of traditional Chinese anti-inflammatory medicinal plants on leukocyte and platelet functions.

2003

Abstract The enzymes 5-lipoxygenase and elastase are therapeutic targets in dermatological disorders such as psoriasis. Fifteen extracts from traditional Chinese medicinal plants used to treat topical inflammations were screened for their inhibitory effect on lipoxygenase, cyclooxygenase and elastase activity in intact leukocytes and platelets. Astragalus membranaceus, Forsythia suspensa and Poria cocos inhibited 5-lipoxygenase, with IC50 values of 141, 80 and 141 μg mL−1, respectively. The latter two species, along with Angelica dahurica and Angelica pubescens, also inhibited elastase (IC50 values of 80, 123, 68 and 93 μg mL−1, respectively), while A. pubescens, Atractylodes macrocephala, …

Screening sierologico per Leishmania infantum su donatori di sangue e HIV+ asintomatici residenti in area endemica [Serological screening for Leishma…

2008

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is endemic in Sicily (48 new cases in 2004, of which nine were in Agrigento). In southern Europe between 25-70 per cent of adult VL cases are related to HIV infection. The HIV cases have a high risk (1.5-9%) of developing VL either as a new infection or as the revival of a latent infection. We therefore carried out serologic screening to detect antibodies against L. infantum by IFAT in 1449 blood donors in Agrigento and the surrounding area (May-December 2005) and in 120 HIV+ in western Sicily, all of whom were asymptomatic and had no history of VL. L. DNA was assessed by nested PCR in blood samples of some seropositive donors. Of the 1449 blood donors, 11 (0.75%…

The hybrid algorithm (Hbmr) to fight against blood doping in sports

2010

Home blood pressure control is low during the critical morning hours in patients with hypertension: the SURGE observational study

2011

Background. The morning blood pressure (BP) surge is associated with a peak increase in vascular events. Objective. The aim of this observational study was to evaluate morning BP control in treated hypertensive patients using home BP (HBP) monitoring and to compare these findings with clinic BP control. Methods. Clinic BP was measured twice during a 2-week period, prior to medication. Seated HBP was measured, using a BHS-validated device, three times per day over a 2-week period. Assessments included morning (06:00–11:59), lunchtime (12:00–14:00) and evening (18:00–22:00) HBP control (all <135/85 mmHg) and clinic BP (<140/90 mmHg) control. Results. A total of 15 618 patients were assessed. …