Objective: To clarify the metabolic effects of an overnight i.v. infusion of unacylated ghrelin (UAG) in humans. UAG exerts relevant metabolic actions, likely mediated by a still unknown ghrelin receptor subtype, including effects on b-cell viability and function, insulin secretion and sensitivity, and glucose and lipid metabolism. Design: We studied the effects of a 16-h infusion (from 2100 to 1300 h) of UAG (1.0 mg/kg per h) or saline in eight normal subjects (age (meanGS.E.M.), 29.6G2.4 years; body mass index (BMI), 22.4G1.7 kg/m 2 ), who were served, at 2100 and 0800 h respectively, with isocaloric balanced dinner and breakfast. Glucose, insulin, and free fatty acid (FFA) levels were measured every 20 min.

Objective:To evaluate the incidence of nosocomial infection (NI) in pediatric patients who received cardiothoracic surgery and to identify possible associated risk factors.Design:Prospective observational study.Setting:The cardiac surgery and cardiac intensive care units at the Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Turin, Italy.Patients:All patients who underwent surgery from July 20,1998, to July 19,1999, were enrolled, except patients with operative catheterization only.Methods:Clinical data were collected daily from July 20, 1998, to July 19, 1999. NIs were diagnosed according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria.Results:104 patients were included in the present study, 80 (76.9%) of whom underwent extracorporeal circulation. The NI ratio was 48.1% (50/104); the percentage of patients with NI was 30.8% (32/104): 23.1% developed one infection, 7.7% two or more. The rate of NI was 2.17 per 100 days of hospitalization (50/2,304). The most common pathogen wasPseudomonas aeruginosa,Important risk factors were length of preoperative admission >5 days, total length of admission >10 days, open chest during postoperative phase, and cyanotic heart disease. There was a significant association between sepsis and central venous catheterization for 3 days or more. Rate of sepsis was 19 per 1,000 catheter days (16/852).Conclusion:NIs represent a frequent complication for children who undergo heart surgery. Based on our data, we suggest decreasing the preoperative stay as much as possible. The higher NI incidence in patients with an open chest postoperatively suggests that an alternative antibiotic strategy should be considered for these patients.

This is the author's final version of the contribution published as: Gramaglia E;Ramella Gigliardi V;Olivetti I;Tomelini M;Belcastro S;Calvi E;Dotta A;Ghigo E;Benso A;Broglio F. Impact of short-term treatment with benzodiazepines and imidazopyridines on glucose metabolism in healthy subjects.. JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION. 37 Conclusions: This study suggests that BZ and imidazopyridines have a rapid glucometabolic effect that is detectable as early as after 15 days treatment.3

This study shows that normal and diabetic subjects display similar levels of circulating obestatin in fasting condition. However patients with T2D look refractory to the inhibitory effect of meal on obestatin secretion.