Gian Pietro Emerenziani
Sapienza University of Rome
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Featured researches published by Gian Pietro Emerenziani.
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism | 2008
Luigi Di Luigi; Carlo Baldari; Paolo Sgrò; Gian Pietro Emerenziani; Maria Chiara Gallotta; Serena Bianchini; Francesco Romanelli; Fabio Pigozzi; Andrea Lenzi; Laura Guidetti
CONTEXT Physical exercise-related stress activates hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis; nitric oxide is one of the mediators of the HPA axis response to stress, and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors influences nitric oxide-linked biological activities. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to investigate whether a single oral long half-life phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (tadalafil) administration influences the HPA axis response to exercise-related stress. DESIGN This was a double-blind, cross-over trial. PARTICIPANTS Participants included nine healthy male athletes. INTERVENTIONS All subjects performed a maximal exercise test in normoxia, after which they received a single oral administration of tadalafil or placebo. Then after a 2-wk washout period, they were crossed over and repeated the exercise test. Each subject was his own control. Salivary collections, for steroid evaluations [cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), testosterone] and respective ratio calculation (DHEAS to cortisol, testosterone to cortisol, testosterone to DHEAS), were performed before each exercise (Pre-Ex), immediately after (Post-Ex), and at 30 min during recovery. RESULTS As expected, mean salivary cortisol concentration increased immediately after exercise after both tadalafil and placebo (P = 0.014 and P =0.036 vs. Pre-Ex, respectively); however, the cortisol increase was significantly higher after tadalafil administration (P = 0.034 vs. placebo). Furthermore, an increased salivary testosterone after exercise was observed only after tadalafil administration (P = 0.029 vs. Pre-Ex). No effects of either exercise and/or tadalafil administration on salivary DHEAS concentrations were observed. DHEAS to cortisol and testosterone to cortisol ratios significantly decreased after exercise after tadalafil administration (P = 0.037, and P = 0.02 vs. placebo, respectively). CONCLUSION Tadalafil administration amplified the salivary cortisol and testosterone responses to a maximal exercise-related stress in healthy trained humans.
British Journal of Sports Medicine | 2009
Carlo Baldari; L. Di Luigi; Gian Pietro Emerenziani; Maria Chiara Gallotta; Paolo Sgrò; Laura Guidetti
Objective: There is growing interest in the implementation and assessment of strength and conditioning programmes among young children. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between given anthropometric characteristics, pubertal development, salivary androgen hormones and explosive leg power in young soccer players. Methods: 51 (age range 10–14 years) soccer players were investigated. The relations between age, pubertal developmental stages, testicular volume, weight, height, body fat, fat free mass, salivary DHEAS concentrations, salivary testosterone concentrations and lower limb explosive power were evaluated. Results: Standing long jump length was positively correlated (p<0.05) with age (11.7 (SD 1.2) years, r = 0.66), pubertal developmental stages (mode and range: 1 (1–4), r = 0.64), testicular volume (8.8 (5.2) ml, r = 0.58), height (1.50 (0.10) m, r = 0.34), weight (43.7 (9.1) kg, r = 0.34), fat free mass (35.4 (7.2) kg, r = 0.67), salivary DHEAS concentrations (4.4 (1.2) ng/ml, r = 0.38) and negatively correlated with body fat (18.6 (7.0) kg; r = −0.49, p<0.05). There was no significant correlation between salivary testosterone concentrations (0.3 (0.1) ng/ml, r = 0.12) and standing long jump. Conclusions: Results of the present investigation demonstrated that age, pubertal developmental stages, testicular volume, weight, height, fat free mass, and salivary DHEAS concentrations were associated with standing long jump performance. In addition, salivary testosterone concentrations were not related to explosive leg power. Results of the present investigation suggest that the teacher/coach should evaluate long jump performance relative to the subject’s given biological characteristics, and not simply established standards based on chronological age.
British Journal of Sports Medicine | 2009
Laura Guidetti; Emanuele Franciosi; Gian Pietro Emerenziani; Maria Chiara Gallotta; Carlo Baldari
Background: Although athletes with mental retardation (MR) have achieved an important role, literature concerning the evaluation tests in basketball is still poor. Objective: To assess basketball ability before and after a 4-month training performed before championship for athletes with MR and to correlate ability variations with MR levels. Methods: 15 trained basketball players with MR (11 men and 4 women; age range 21–43 years; MR: 3 mild, 8 moderate, 8 severe and 1 profound). Athletes were tested before (pre) and after (post) 4 month training preceding the championship. The tests assessed 4 levels of ability, each one characterised by 4 fundamental areas of this game: ball handling, reception, passing and shooting. Each area was divided into 5 specific components. Results: The team average score, based on the score of each athlete’s 4 levels, improved by 6.6 points (41.6 (SD 11.9) vs 48.2 (14.7)). The comparison between pre and post scores in each level showed increases (p<0.01), especially in level II (14.4 (3.5) vs 16.5 (3.3)) and in level III (7.1 (5.7) vs 9.2 (6.6)). Within level II, ball handling (3.67 (1.2) vs 4.37 (0.5); p<0.05) and passing (3.20 (1.2) vs 3.97 (1.3); p<0.01) improved; in level III reception (3.21 (1.1) vs 3.73 (1.1); p = 0.01) and shooting (1.82 (1.1) vs 2.45 (1.3); p<0.05) increased. Conclusions: A 4 month training caused a general improvement, especially evident in levels II and III. Total score reached in level II was negatively correlated with MR level (r = −0.56; p<0.05), indicating that athletes with lower MR obtained higher scores.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience | 2015
Maria Chiara Gallotta; Gian Pietro Emerenziani; Sara Iazzoni; Marco Meucci; Carlo Baldari; Laura Guidetti
This study investigated the efficacy of a physical activity (PA) program to improve the attention span in normal weight vs. overweight/obese children. The study was designed as a cluster-randomized controlled intervention. One hundred fifty-seven normal weight and overweight/obese primary school children were randomly divided in three cohorts: Traditional PA, Coordinative PA and a Control group (not attending any PA). Before and after 5 months of intervention, children were administered the d2-R test of attention. Results showed that participants’ attentional performances were significantly affected by Time (pre vs. post; P < 0.01) and by Time × Group interaction (traditional vs. coordinative vs. control; P < 0.001), revealing significant different effects of intervention/exercise modality on children’s attentional performance, independently of their weight status. These data suggest that a 5-month school-based PA intervention can improve the cognitive performance in children. Further, the Coordinative PA intervention resulted in the most significant improvement in children’s attention.
American Journal of Physiology-endocrinology and Metabolism | 2012
Luigi Di Luigi; Paolo Sgrò; Carlo Baldari; Maria Chiara Gallotta; Gian Pietro Emerenziani; Clara Crescioli; Serena Bianchini; Francesco Romanelli; Andrea Lenzi; Laura Guidetti
Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors may influence human physiology, health, and performance by also modulating endocrine pathways. We evaluated the effects of a 2-day tadalafil administration on adenohypophyseal and adrenal hormone adaptation to exercise in humans. Fourteen healthy males were included in a double-blind crossover trial. Each volunteer randomly received two tablets of placebo or tadalafil (20 mg/day with a 36-h interval) before a maximal exercise was performed. After a 2-wk washout, the volunteers were crossed over. Blood samples were collected at -30 and -15 min and immediately before exercise, immediately after, and during recovery (+15, +30, +60, and +90 min) for adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), β-endorphin, growth hormone (GH), prolactin, cortisol (C), corticosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS), and cortisol binding globulin (CBG) assays. C-to-CBG (free cortisol index, FCI) and DHEAS-to-C ratios were calculated. Exercise intensity, perceived exertion rate, O₂ consumption, and CO₂ and blood lactate concentration were evaluated. ACTH, GH, C, corticosterone, and CBG absolute concentrations and/or areas under the curve (AUC) increased after exercise after both placebo and tadalafil. Exercise increased DHEAS only after placebo. Compared with placebo, tadalafil administration reduced the ACTH, C, corticosterone, and FCI responses to exercise and was associated with higher β-endorphin AUC and DHEAS-to-C ratio during recovery, without influencing cardiorespiratory and performance parameters. Tadalafil reduced the activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis during exercise by probably influencing the brains nitric oxide- and cGMP-mediated pathways. Further studies are necessary to confirm our results and to identify the involved mechanisms, possible health risks, and potential clinical uses.
Research in Sports Medicine | 2010
Alan C. Utter; John C. Quindry; Gian Pietro Emerenziani; J. Scott Valiente
Rooibos tea contains polyphenol antioxidants, including flavonoids and phenolic acids that are potent free radical scavengers and has purported benefits for accelerated rehydration. The objective was to evaluate the effects of three different drinks (rooibos tea, bottled water, and a carbohydrate beverage) on blood and urinary markers of hydration after acute dehydration in collegiate wrestlers. Twenty-three athletes were recruited and followed a randomized, cross-over design with three different study arms comparing the effectiveness of rooibos tea, carbohydrate beverage (6% or 60 grams l−1), or bottled water (placebo) in promoting rehydration after a 3% reduction in body mass. Urine specific gravity (Usg) urine (Uosm) and plasma osmolarity (Posm), and plasma volume were measured pre- and post dehydration and at 1-h after rehydration. Statistical analyses utilized a 3 (conditions) × 3 (times) repeated measures analysis of variance to test main effects. Significant interaction effects were found for Posm and Uosm, both of which remained below basleline after 1-h rehydration in the rooibos tea and water trials. No significant interaction effects were found for either urine Usg or plasma volume shift. The findings of this study demonstrate that rooibos tea was no more effective in promoting rehydration than plain water, with significant changes being found for Posm and Uosm in the carbohydrate/electrolyte solution, in collegiate wrestlers after a 3% reduction in body mass and a rehydration period of 1-h when consuming 100% of their body weight loss.
British Journal of Sports Medicine | 2007
Laura Guidetti; Gian Pietro Emerenziani; Maria Chiara Gallotta; Fabio Pigozzi; L. Di Luigi; Carlo Baldari
Objective: Given the therapeutic and non-therapeutic use of the tadalafil, (phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, PDE-5i), we examined its effects on anaerobic performance indices. Methods: In total, 12 well-trained subjects reported to the laboratory on two occasions 1 week apart to perform a 30 s Wingate anaerobic power test (WAnT) on a bicycle ergometer. The day before the WAnT, the subjects were double-blinded to receive an oral dose of tadalafil (20 mg) or placebo. Blood lactate value at rest and 1, 3, 6 and 10 minutes of recovery phase, mean power, peak power, time to peak power and fatigue index were assessed for each WAnT. Results: Blood lactate values at the 3-min recovery WAnT increased significantly in the tadalafil condition (mean (SD) 13.9 (1.7) v 12.8 (1.3) mmol/l; p<0.05) and time to peak power decreased significantly (6.3 (1.3) v 5.7 (1.5) s; p = 0.05). No differences were observed in any other parameters between the two conditions. Conclusion: The primary finding of this investigation was that the administration of a single dose of a long-term PDE-5i does not substantially influence anaerobic performance indices. However, results demonstrated both an increase in lactate values at the 3-min point of the recovery phase and a decrease in time to peak power.
International Journal of Endocrinology | 2015
Gian Pietro Emerenziani; Maria Chiara Gallotta; Marco Meucci; Luigi Di Luigi; Silvia Migliaccio; Lorenzo M. Donini; Felice Strollo; Laura Guidetti
In obese diabetic subjects, a correct life style, including diet and physical activity, is part of a correct intervention protocol. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of aerobic training intervention, based on heart rate at aerobic gas exchange threshold (AerTge), on clinical and physiological parameters in obese elderly subjects with type 2 diabetes (OT2DM). Thirty OT2DM subjects were randomly assigned to an intervention (IG) or control group (CG). The IG performed a supervised aerobic exercise training based on heart rate at AerTge whereas CG maintained their usual lifestyle. Anthropometric measures, blood analysis, peak oxygen consumption (V˙O2peak), metabolic equivalent (METpeak), work rate (WRpeak), and WRAerTge were assessed at baseline and after intervention. After training, patients enrolled in the IG had significantly higher (P < 0.001) V˙O2peak, METpeak, WRpeak, and WRAerTge and significantly lower (P < 0.005) weight, BMI, %FM, and waist circumference than before intervention. Both IG and CG subjects had lower glycated haemoglobin levels after intervention period. No significant differences were found for all the other parameters between pre- and posttraining and between groups. Aerobic exercise prescription based upon HR at AerTge could be a valuable physical intervention tool to improve the fitness level and metabolic equilibrium in OT2DM patients.
International Journal of Endocrinology | 2014
Francesca Wannenes; Vincenza Papa; Emanuela A. Greco; Rachele Fornari; Chiara Marocco; Carlo Baldari; Luigi Di Luigi; Gian Pietro Emerenziani; Eleonora Poggiogalle; Laura Guidetti; Lorenzo M. Donini; Andrea Lenzi; Silvia Migliaccio
Obesity and sarcopenia have been associated with mineral metabolism derangement and low bone mineral density (BMD). We investigated whether imbalance of serum factors in obese or obese sarcopenic patients could affect bone cell activity in vitro. To evaluate and characterize potential cellular and molecular changes of human osteoblasts, cells were exposed to sera of four groups of patients: (1) affected by obesity with normal BMD (O), (2) affected by obesity with low BMD (OO), (3) affected by obesity and sarcopenia (OS), and (4) affected by obesity, sarcopenia, and low BMD (OOS) as compared to subjects with normal body weight and normal BMD (CTL). Patients were previously investigated and characterized for body composition, biochemical and bone turnover markers. Then, sera of different groups of patients were used to incubate human osteoblasts and evaluate potential alterations in cell homeostasis. Exposure to OO, OS, and OOS sera significantly reduced alkaline phosphatase, osteopontin, and BMP4 expression compared to cells exposed to O and CTL, indicating a detrimental effect on osteoblast differentiation. Interestingly, sera of all groups of patients induced intracellular alteration in Wnt/β-catenin molecular pathway, as demonstrated by the significant alteration of specific target genes expression and by altered β-catenin cellular compartmentalization and GSK3β phosphorylation. In conclusion our results show for the first time that sera of obese subjects with low bone mineral density and sarcopenia significantly alter osteoblasts homeostasis in vitro, indicating potential detrimental effects of trunk fat on bone formation and skeletal homeostasis.
Journal of Sports Sciences | 2014
Gian Pietro Emerenziani; Marco Meucci; Maria Chiara Gallotta; Cosme Franklim Buzzachera; Laura Guidetti; Carlo Baldari
Abstract The aim of the study was to compare the effect of an unsupervised whole body vibration (WBV) training and two different supervised multi-purpose exercise programmes, with and without WBV, on body composition, functional fitness and self-reported well-being in middle-aged adults. Fifty-four healthy participants (age 48.6 ± 6.7 years) were randomly assigned to a vibration group (VG), a multi-purpose exercise group (MG) and a multi-purpose exercise with vibration group (VMG) and trained 3 days a week for 4 months. VG performed a standardised unsupervised WBV protocol, MG a supervised multi-purpose exercise and VMG a multi-purpose exercise including vibration. After training, drop out was significantly higher in VG group (P = 0.016) when compared to VMG group. In both MG and VMG, body composition, sit-up, push-up, sit and reach, agility test, hopping test and self-reported general health significantly improved (P < 0.05). No additive effects were generated by the vibration stimulus. Percentage of body fat and agility test in VG had a significant opposite trend compared to VMG group (P < 0.05). In summary, an unsupervised WBV training should not be chosen for training protocol. However, positive effects on physical fitness and the best results in adherence could be achieved integrating WBV practice into a multi-purpose exercise training.