Feeding a diet contaminated with ochratoxin A for chickens at the maximum level recommended by the EU for poultry feeds (0.1 mg/kg). 1. Effects on growth and slaughter performance, haematological and serum traits.

The European Commission Recommendation 2006/576/EC, suggests that the maximum level of Ochratoxin A (OTA) in poultry feeds should be set at 0.1 mg OTA/kg. Thirty-six one-day-old male Hubburd broiler chickens were divided into two groups, a Control (basal diet) and an Ochratoxin A (basal diet + 0.1 mg OTA/kg) group. The growth and slaughter performance traits were recorded. The liver, spleen, bursa of Fabricius and thymus weights were measured. The erythrocyte and leukocyte numbers were assayed in blood samples, and the heterophils to lymphocytes (H/L) ratio was determined. Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), lysozyme, the total protein and the electrophoretic pattern were evaluated in serum samples. Liver enzymes (alanino aminotransferase, ALT and aspartate aminotransferase, AST) and kidney function parameters (uric acid and creatinine) were quantified. The results revealed that feeding a 0.1 mg OTA/kg contaminated diet to chicks caused a decrease in the absolute thymus weight (p < 0.05) and a lower total protein (p < 0.01), albumin (p < 0.01), alpha (p < 0.05), beta (p = 0.001) and gamma (p = 0.001) globulins serum concentration in the Ochratoxin A group. Moreover, the albumin-to-globulin (A/G) ratio of the OTA-treated animals resulted to be higher (p < 0.05). Feeding broiler chickens, a diet contaminated with the maximum level admitted by the European Commission Recommendation (0.1 mg OTA/kg), did not affect the animal performance, slaughter traits, organ weights, haematological parameters, liver enzyme or renal function parameters concentrations but had an overall immunosuppressant effect, with reduction in the thymus weight and of the total serum protein, albumin, alpha, beta and gamma globulins concentration.

[Photon densitometry in the diagnosis of osteoporosis]. / La densitometria fotonica nella diagnostica dell'osteoporosi.

The increased average life expectancy of the inhabitants of industrialised countries has led to a marked increase in degenerative pathologies, including osteoporosis. This has made it necessary to elaborate instrumental tests capable of identifying risk subjects in order to intervene as quickly as possible using appropriate prophylactic and therapeutic measures. Single and dual photon ray densitometry represents the first correct approach to quantitatively assess bone mineral content. It not only allows an early diagnosis to be made but also enables a longitudinal study to be made of patients receiving treatment. The main studies on the accuracy and precision of dual photon ray densitometry are reported together with the authors' findings regarding the definition of the fracture threshold and osteoporosis caused by metabolic and endocrinological disorders.

[Postmenopausal and senile osteoporosis. Prevention or therapy?]. / L'osteoporosi postmenopausale e senile. Prevenzione o terapia?

Pharmacological treatments of osteoporosis can improve bone mineral content, but are not able to restore trabecular bone structure in presence of microfractures. It is therefore necessary to carry out at the right moment some preventive actions to increase peak bone mass in premenopausal age: adequate calcium intake, systematic physical activity and, if necessary, oestrogen administration before menopause are correct prophylactic measures against osteoporosis; moreover risk factors identification allows to perform a preliminary screening. Serial bone absorptiometry at lumbar level is able to identify fast losers women by means of integrating densitometric data and some metabolic results. Utilizing these methods it is possible to activate proper preventive or therapeutic measures and prevent osteoporotic complications.

Mineralometry of the lumbar spine and histomorphometry of the iliac crest: preliminary results of a comparison of several parameters in the same individual.

Twelve patients affected with various bone pathologies (osteoporosis, renal osteodystrophy, osteogenesis imperfecta, hyperparathyroidism) were submitted to mineralometry of the lumbar spine with double photonic ray and transiliac biopsy for histomorphometry. A comparison of the values obtained for the mineralometric and histomorphometric parameters--despite the small number of cases--revealed a correlation between bone mineral content of the lumbar spine and trabecular and cortical bone volume of the iliac crest. The correlation is even more significant for the sum of these last two parameters. It may be concluded that: 1) both the methods have predictive values for an evaluation of osteopenia; 2) the measurement of cortical and subcortical bone volume increases the significance of the histomorphometric finding (which is usually limited to the trabecular bone volume); 3) there is a correlation between histomorphometry (iliac crest bone volume) and mineralometry (lumbar spine with double photonic ray) in the same individual.

[Effect on phospho-calcium metabolism of testosterone administration in hypogonadal males]. / Effetti sul metabolismo fosfo-calcico della somministrazione di testosterone nel maschio ipogonadico.

Many authors have shown that osteoporosis is an important complication in male hypogonadism, due to the chronic lack of androgens; but in hypogonadal males the pathogenesis of osteopenia isn't completely explained. In this work we examined in 10 hypogonadal males (4 with Klinefelter's Syndrome and 6 with Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism) lumbar bone mineral content (BMC) and the effects of testosterone (Sustanon) administration on BMC and other phosphocalcium parameters. We evidenced lower BMC levels in hypogonadal subjects if compared to those observed in the control age-matched group; moreover after 3 months of treatment a statistically significant increment of plasma bone gla protein, calcitonin and lumbar BMC was observed. On the contrary no significant variation was observed in osteoclastic indexes (PTH-MM, OHPU/CrU, CaU/CrU) after treatment. In addition both calcitonin basal levels and secretory reserve, measured with calcium infusion, were significantly increased after treatment. Our data confirm the hypothesis that androgen acts on bone principally directly at osteoblastic level, in a stimulatory manner, and indirectly, with calcitonin mediation, with inhibition of osteoclasts.

Vertebral bone loss in menopause.

A direct correlation between loss of ovarian function and reduction of bone mass is well established. The incidence of fractures sharply increases with age starting from the menopause. Therefore, it is very important to know the rate of bone loss occurring after menopause, at both trabecular and cortical levels. Several factors may contribute to the reduction of bone mass in menopause. Reduced estrogen secretion results in reduced intestinal calcium absorption, increased bone resorption, and probably a deficient production of calcitonin. Furthermore, in vivo and in vitro experimental data confirm that estrogen failure is associated with histologic changes, mirroring the biochemical changes described in postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Calcitonin and lumbar bone mineral content during oestrogen-progestogen administration in post-menopausal women.

It now appears to be accepted that oestrogens and progestogens can help to prevent post-menopausal bone loss. This study accordingly evaluated vertebral bone mineral content (BMC) patterns and changes in calcitonin (CT) secretion in 12 women who had been ovariectomized in the previous 6 mth and in 12 others who had had a natural menopause, all of whom received oestrogen-progestogen replacement therapy for 12 mth. We also studied 12 oophorectomized and 21 normal-menopause women who did not receive any treatment and hence constituted the corresponding control groups. A significant difference was found between the lumbar BMC in the treated women and the controls. Moreover, the CT levels rose significantly after replacement therapy in both the oophorectomized and the natural-menopause subjects. It was concluded that combined oestrogen-progestogen treatment can prevent post-menopausal bone loss and increase CT secretion.

[Osteoporosis: a new social disease?]. / Osteoporosi: nuova malattia sociale?

Main epidemiological studies about osteoporosis are described: the availability of sophisticated techniques as double photon absorptiometry permits to establish that in U.S.A. there is at least 1.2 million osteoporosis fractures each year, mainly at trabecular level and in postmenopausal women. Moreover the hip fractures induce a significant reduction in life expectancy (between 12% and 20%) with very important social costs. In Italy some recent data documented that the social costs in relation to osteoporosis fractures can be evaluated in 1983 between 80 and 153 milliard liras. Some data about annual bone density decrement in normal population are reported: 0.38%/year in females and 0.22%/year in males. Moreover the theoretical fracture threshold, defined as B.M.D. level 2.5 SD under the mean value founded in young age, was evaluated (0.67 gHA/cm2). Finally in 15% of our patients with more than 65 years almost one vertebral fracture was found.

[Clinical problems of osteoporosis]. / Il problema clinico dell'osteoporosi.

In this paper we summarize the main problems connected with the diagnosis of primary osteoporosis, after evidencing the remarkable social importance of the disease, linked to the great increase of aged population; finally the pathogenetic hypotheses more documented are described. From a diagnostic point of view common laboratory investigations are not mostly able to provide sufficient significant informations; recently the dosage of osteocalcin as index of osteoblastic activity and as marker of bone turnover has been suggested. Mainly traditional radiology does not provide sufficient information about the real demineralization rate, while the radiogrammometry can offer sufficiently reliable indications about bone mineral content. Of a greater diagnostic meaning can be considered the bone mineral absorptiometry and in particular the double photonic ray absorptiometry, effected at the level of lumbar spine, that is to say a side earlier affected by the osteoporotic process. With this methodology we are able to obtain precise information about the quantity of the bone mineral content, identifying, at an earlier stage, the patients at risk of osteoporosis.

Diagnostic notes--lumbar BMC reproducibility as evaluated by means of dual photon absorptiometry.

Three evaluations of lumbar bone mineral content (BMC) were carried out at different times at intervals of a few days in 10 normal volunteers aged between 18 and 60. The dual photon absorptiometry technique was employed (using gadolinium-153 as radioactive isotope). Data on 20 subjects aged from 23 to 62 were recorded on magnetic tape and processed ten times by the same operator. The data for individual subjects proved satisfactorily reproducible and the repeated processing of a single scan by the same investigator gave very satisfactory results. The findings demonstrate that the evaluation of lumbar BMC by dual photon absorptiometry can provide highly reproducible and acceptably accurate data.

[Recent diagnostic and therapeutic findings on postmenopausal and senile osteoporosis]. / Recenti acquisizioni diagnostiche e terapeutiche sull'osteoporosi post-menopausale e senile.

The incidence of osteoporosis in the West is considerable and its complications are such as to make it a common and disabling problem. Recent developments in the classification, pathogenesis and diagnosis of the disease are reported. Certain laboratory techniques have recently been developed that can provide adequate information about the degree of demineralisation present. Furthermore the accurate in vivo assessment of bone density is made possible by the development of double beam photon osteodensitometry that measures bone mineral content (BMC) with sensitivity and accuracy. On the treatment side, the various drugs available are reviewed with particular reference to estrogen, vitamin D, anabolisers (recently reassessed in radiogrammometric and densitometric studies) fluorides and calcitonin. Finally certain treatment protocols for post-menopausal and senile osteoporosis are proposed that should produce good results in a reasonably short space of time.

Osteoporosis in type II diabetes.

Double photon absorptiometry comparison was done of lumbar bone mineral content (BMC) values in 40 women with well-compensated non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type II) and on dietary and/or oral hypoglycemic treatment, and 35 age-matched non-diabetic women, to determine the presence and degree of osteoporosis in this type of diabetes by means of a highly precise and sensitive method. No difference between the two groups was noted as regards blood calcium, phosphorus, PTH and thyrocalcitonin, and urinary calcium and phosphorus. BMC, on the other hand, was significantly lower in the diabetics, both in L2,L3,L4 and in L4 alone. No significant difference could be discerned between patients on diet and those on drugs. It can thus be maintained that osteoporosis is a possible complication of type II diabetes and may appear even in the absence of its classical complications.