Showing papers by "Elisabetta Meucci published in 2021"

Evaluation of Kisspeptin levels in prepubertal obese and overweight children: sexual dimorphism and modulation of antioxidant levels.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE Kisspeptin, neuropeptide involved in puberty beginning and regulation of pituitary-gonadal axis, has been shown to stimulate antioxidant defenses in murine models Its levels are greater in females than males and also in obese prepubertal girls Therefore, our aim was to evaluate sex-related differences in prepubertal obese patients and the relationships of Kisspeptin with metabolic/hormonal parameters PATIENTS AND METHODS We studied Kisspeptin concentrations in 54 children (22 males and 32 females, Tanner stage 1), 5-12 ys, classified according to Cole's criteria into 17 overweight and 37 obese; 25 normal-weight children, aged 6-12 years, were studied as controls We evaluated metabolic (glucose and insulin levels after oral glucose load, total- LDL- HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid) and hormonal (fT3, fT4, TSH, IGF-1, leptin) parameters Moreover, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was evaluated by spectrophotometric method, using the system H202-metmyoglobin-ABTS Kisspeptin levels were measured by RIA RESULTS We did not find significant differences between obese and normal-weight children, but obese males presented significantly lower levels than females Kisspeptin did not correlate with BMI, HOMA-IR, Insulin peak levels and TAC; a significant correlation was found between Kisspeptin and fT3 (r2=025; p=0003) in the obese group; leptin levels, significantly greater in obese vs overweight and control children, significantly correlated with TAC (r2=039; p=003) CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that both hormones could modulate antioxidants, Kisspeptin indirectly via influence on thyroid hormones, and Leptin by a direct effect This mechanism seems to be sex-related, not attributable to peripheral steroid levels Further studies can clarify the complex interrelationship between central and peripheral Kisspeptin secretion and oxidative stress in children obesity

Can plasma antioxidants prevent DNA damage in oxidative stress condition induced by growth hormone deficiency? A pilot study.

Abstract: Adult growth hormone deficiency (GHD), a condition characterized by increased oxidative stress, is related to augmented cardiovascular, metabolic and oncological risk. A case-control observational study has been performed to evaluate DNA oxidative damage analysing the production of thymidine-glycol in lymphocytes and its correlation with plasma antioxidant levels, evaluated as Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC). GHD was diagnosed using GHRH 50μg iv+arginine 0,5 g/Kg test, with peak GH response 30 kg/m2. Three groups were identified: total GHD (n = 16), partial GHD (n = 11), and controls (n = 12). Thymidine-glycol, TAC and IGF-1 have been determined respectively in lymphocytes, plasma and serum samples. When considering thymidine-glycol, we found a significant difference between total vs partial GHD and controls. Unexpectedly thymidine-glycol was lower in total GHD, also accompanied with a significant increase in plasmatic TAC. Our results showed that in adult GHD condition, the production of antioxidant species, in response to increased oxidative stress, could exert a protective effect on thymidine-glycol formation, and consequently on DNA intracellular damages. This pilot study could be inserted in the complex scenario of oxidative damage of GHD, a subtle, yet poorly defined condition, worthy of further insights.