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Biomedical subjects

A Attanasio

Publications and source records attributed to A Attanasio.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Rhythm development in pineal and circulating serotonin, N-acetylserotonin, and melatonin in Syrian hamsters.

The ontogeny of diurnal rhythm patterns in the pineal and serum levels of melatonin, serotonin, and N-acetylserotonin was studied in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) from birth to adulthood. The pineal and blood specimens were collected at 1100 h and 0200 h, and the compounds were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) procedures. Pineal melatonin and serotonin did not show any circadian rhythm at day 5 of postnatal age. At this age N-acetylserotonin was undetectable in the light phase but became manifest at night. By 10 days of age pineal serotonin registered an established rhythm pattern, with a higher level during the day. The occurrence of circadian rhythm in pineal melatonin was delayed and manifested first at 25 days of age. At this age, the first detectable daytime level of N-acetylserotonin also occurred. Circadian rhythm in serum melatonin was also established at this age. The serum serotonin did not evince any rhythm pattern throughout the observation period, except at day 17 of postnatal age. The massive concentration of daytime serotonin in the pineal was not reflected in the circulatory system. For serum N-acetylserotonin there was no discernable day-night rhythm in all age groups, except at 25 days of age. The results show that the timing of the appearance of various compounds in the neonatal pineal is variable; the release of the substances does not always reflect their synthesis; the ontogenesis of circadian rhythm is a part of the maturational process; and 25 days of age is a rather critical time in development.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

[Macroamylasemia or pancreatitis? A diagnostic problem].

Macroamylasemia is a condition characterized by a serum amylase activity increase due to complex macromolecules whose large size prevents its urinary excretion. It cannot be consistently correlated with any particular disease state, and should be regarded as a benign chemical derangement. The major clinical importance of macroamylasemia is the confusion of this condition with other causes of hyperamylasemia and its prevalence in the population, comprised between 1 and 2%. Macroamylasemia should be considered in any patient with elevated levels of serum amylase activity whose serum lipase and urine amylase levels are normal, in the face of unimpaired renal function. Confirmation rests on the demonstration of a macromolecular amylase component in the serum by means of chromatography, ultracentrifugation and electrophoresis. In this report, we, describe a patient with chronic liver disease caused by alcohol, occasional abdominal pain and persistent hyperamylasemia, though to be due to pancreatitis, but subsequently shown to be due to a macroamylase.

Amylases↗
PubMed1987

[Chemical and cytologic tests in the differential diagnosis of ascites].

The value of chemical (protein, LDH, glucose, total and differential cell count) and cytological examination of the ascitic fluid in the differential diagnosis of peritoneal ascites was assessed in a prospective study of 98 patients. The ascites caused by hepatic metastases and primary carcinoma were of the transudative type and could not be distinguished from the type caused by cirrhosis on the basis of the parameters examined. In contrast the ascites caused by peritoneal carcinosis was exudative presenting a highly significant (p less than 0.001 for all parameters) difference from the three preceding groups. However there was no clear-cut distinction between the groups: in fact cirrhosis patients may present exudative ascites (8% in the present series, 12-19% in the literature). There was a substantial decrease in ascitic fluid glucose (less than 60 mg/dl) only in peritonitis and its measurement is therefore of secondary importance. In contrast with reports by other authors the ratio between LDH and protein concentrations in the effusion and the serum was found to be insignificant. The cytological examination revealed a significantly higher total cell count in bacterial peritonitis with a prevalence of polymorphonuclear cells and in peritoneal carcinoma where mononuclear cells predominate. Finally cytology revealed malignant tumour cells in the ascitic fluid and neoplastic peritoneal effusions in 28% of the patients examined.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Plasma adrenocorticotropin, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone response to corticotropin-releasing factor in normal children during pubertal development.

The adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone responses to synthetic human corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) were studied in 28 endocrinologically healthy children (age 1-16 yr) and in six adult volunteers (age 24-42 yr). CRF was given as an intravenous bolus (1 microgram/kg body weight) between 0900 and 1000 hr. Significant increments in ACTH and cortisol levels after CRF were observed in all subjects, with an ACTH peak value of 48.2 +/- 3.4 pg/ml at 10 min (p less than 0.001). The ACTH and cortisol response patterns after CRF did not change with age or pubertal maturation and did not differ in children and in adults. In contrast, the dehydroepiandrosterone response to CRF clearly was related to the stage of pubertal development. The peak value after CRF significantly increased from puberty stage 1 to puberty stage 5 (164 +/- 18 versus 779 +/- 86 ng/100 ml, p less than 0.001). In adults, the mean dehydroepiandrosterone peak value after CRF did not differ from that of P5 children. These results show that CRF can be given safely to children. The absence of age-dependent ACTH and cortisol responses and a dehydroepiandrosterone response changing with pubertal maturation points to the existence of factors involved in the control of adrenal androgen production other than ACTH.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Growth hormone, somatomedin levels and growth regulation in Turner's syndrome.

In a total of 56 children and adolescents with Turner's syndrome (41 with karyotype 45,X) basal serum levels of somatomedin bioactivity, Sm-C/IGF-I (RIA), IGF II (RIA), GH response to arginine and GHRH (GRF(1-29)NH2), and spontaneous GH secretion during 5.5 h of deep sleep were determined in a cross-sectional manner. GH responses to GRF and arginine as well as IGF-II levels were found to be in the normal range. Levels of somatomedin bioactivity were higher than normal before a bone age of 10 years, in the low-normal range thereafter, and below normal in some patients. Levels of Sm-C/IGF-I were found normal before and low-normal after a bone age of ten years. There was a trend towards increasing Sm-C/IGF-I levels with age. In contrast to the normal pattern, spontaneous sleep-related GH secretion was declining with age and did not show the puberty-associated rise. These findings suggest a normally functioning growth hormone-somatomedin axis in Turner's syndrome with alterations of its functioning level occurring secondarily as a result of absent gonadal activation. In single patients abnormally low growth hormone and/or somatomedin secretion may be present.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

[Advantages and limitations of chemicomorphological study of pleural fluid].

A chemical-physical and morphological examination of 109 pleural samples taken from 66 patients showed that the most reliable laboratory tests for discriminating between an exudate and transudate were specific gravity, total effusion protein content and the effusion/serum protein ratio, while LDH and cell number seem less important. In the differential diagnosis of pleuritis, pleural fluid amylase assays are important only if certain well-defined diseases are suspected (particularly pancreatitis). In this case the assay is irreplaceable. Glucose assay may be carried out for a wider range of complaints although a review of the literature shows it to be always below 30 mg, particularly in cases of rheumatoid arthritis. A cytological examination offers a pathognomonic guide in the case of tumours and as a back-up to other checks for many other complaints.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Testing with growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF(1-29)NH2) and somatomedin C measurements for the evaluation of growth hormone deficiency.

Growth hormone (GH) responses to GRF (1 microgram/kg BW i.v.) were investigated. Comparison between GRF(1-40) and GRF(1-29)NH2 in 11 young adult volunteers gave identical results. One hundred and thirty-one children and adolescents (45 with idiopathic GHD) were tested with GRF (1-29)NH2. The maximal GH levels (max GH) in response to GRF during the 120 min test period were found suitable to characterize the response. In cases without GHD no correlation to age, sex and pubertal development was observed. A maximal GH level of above 10 ng/ml was found to be normal. In 3 out of 86 children without GHD (one with Turner syndrome; two with simple obesity) max GH fell short of 10 ng/ml, while 11 of 45 cases with GHD exceeded this margin. In GHD, max GH was inversely correlated with age. There was no difference in max GH between groups with or without perinatal pathology as a presumed cause of GHD. GH levels to GRF were positively correlated with maximal GH level during sleep in GHD, but not correlated with responses seen to insulin or arginine. The value of GRF testing for the confirmation of GHD is discussed in the light of other GH stimulatory tests and basal somatomedin C measurements. It is suggested that the combination of testing with GRF and the determination of a basal SmC level offers a safe and convenient way to diagnose GHD in clinically suspected cases, though in some cases further diagnostic tests may be needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Ontogeny of circadian rhythmicity for melatonin, serotonin, and N-acetylserotonin in humans.

The serum concentration of melatonin, serotonin, and N-acetylserotonin were measured by RIA procedures in 28 infants aged 1 week to 9 months. Blood specimens were obtained at 12:00 hr and 24:00 hr. A day-night difference in serum serotonin was present immediately after birth. A significant (P less than 0.001) decrease in serum serotonin concentrations at 12:00 hr and 24:00 hr was observed from the first month of age to the third to ninth month of age. A significant (P less than 0.05) difference in day-night N-acetylserotonin concentration is first seen at age 1-3 months. Serum melatonin concentrations, though detectable, did not show any day-night difference at birth. Melatonin concentrations progressively increased up to the third month of age, and a significant (P less than 0.01) day-night difference appeared thereafter. The results indicate that in humans the circadian organization for serotonin already exists at birth, and the circadian melatonin rhythm develops after birth.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

Effect on growth of patients with Turner's syndrome treated with low estrogen doses.

In 33 patients with Turner's syndrome growth during a one year period of treatment with low doses of estrogens was evaluated (group A: (N = 12) Presomen 5-9 micrograms/kg d; group B: (N = 9) Presomen 10-21 micrograms/kg d; group C: (N = 12) ethinylestradiol 45-155 ng/kg d) and compared to a group (N = 37) of untreated patients. The auxological evaluation was made using SDS derivations based on control data derived from 150 untreated patients. Based on chronological age (CA) SDS levels for height velocity and the increments in height at the end of treatment increased marginally. Compared to untreated patients no effect was seen when calculations were based on bone age (BA) due to an advancement in bone maturity. It is concluded that low doses of estrogens are not suitable to improve the height development in Turner's syndrome.

Age Determination by Skeleton↗
PubMed1985

Evidence for modulation of melatonin secretion in men with benign and malignant tumors of the prostate: relationship with the pituitary hormones.

The serum levels of the pineal hormone melatonin were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in 4-h intervals throughout a 24-h period in elderly men with different types of prostate tumors: benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, n = 13), incidental carcinoma (PCi, n = 5), and nonmetastasizing carcinoma (PC, n = 9), as well as in young men (YM, n = 10). Simultaneously, the pituitary hormones prolactin, growth hormone, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone were measured by RIA. All subjects were untreated and free of serious complaints, and they stayed in the same environment. The data were analyzed by the population mean-cosinor method, and linear correlation coefficients between the five hormones were calculated for each group. Melatonin showed significant circadian rhythms in young men and patients with BPH and PCi but not in patients with PC. Twenty-four-hour mean concentration (mesor) and amplitude were significantly increased in patients with PCi as compared to patients with PC. Prolactin showed significant circadian rhythms in young men and in patients with BPH, whereas patients with PCi and PC appeared to have ultradian variations. Growth hormone did not show significant rhythms in any of the groups; the mesors were elevated in all tumor groups as compared to young men. Gonadotropin mesors were elevated in all tumor patients as compared to young men; rhythms were not detected. Carcinoma patients showed different interhormonal correlations than all other groups. These results indicate that modulation of melatonin secretion, accompanied by changes in the pituitary hormone levels, may be related to development and growth of prostate cancer.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Circadian rhythms in serum melatonin from infancy to adolescence.

The circadian rhythm of circulating melatonin was determined in 38 children, aged 1-18 yr. Serum melatonin concentrations at 2400 and 0300 h in children aged 1-5 yr were significantly (P less than 0.001) higher than those in older children [6-10 yr, puberty stage 1 (P1)]. Nocturnal melatonin levels also were significantly (P less than 0.01) higher in P1 subjects than in P2 subjects aged 9-12 yr. A further small decline was found from P2 to P4/P5 (P less than 0.05). Thus, the decline in the nocturnal melatonin surge is not exclusively related to pubertal development, but begins in infancy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Effect of human chorionic gonadotropin on the plasma levels of testosterone, estradiol, sex hormone binding globuline and free testosterone in Klinefelter syndrome.

Preliminary experiments showed that a course of 3 X 5000 IU Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) every alternate day in 5 patients with Klinefelter Syndrome caused increment in the circulating levels of testosterone, estradiol, and Sex Hormone Binding Globuline (SHBG). The levels of free testosterone, however, declined in 3 subjects and recorded no change in the remaining two. Estradiol/testosterone ratio on day 0 showed high correlation (r = 0.853) with augmented SHBG. It has been postulated that higher amount of SHBG is perhaps potentiating a reduction in the bioavailability of testosterone.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Plasma testosterone in prepubertal cryptorchid boys under long-term HCG therapy.

Plasma testosterone concentrations were determined before and after 6 weeks of human chorionic gonadotropin treatment in 36 prepubertal boys with bilateral or unilateral cryptorchidism. Mean +/- SD basal and post-treatment values (ng/100 ml) in the bilateral group were: treatment successful (n = 14): 32 +/- 19 and 302 +/- 49, treatment unsuccessful (n = 12): 20 +/- 15 and 176 +/- 73. The figures for the unilateral group were: treatment successful (n = 6): 23 +/- 9 and 244 +/- 41, treatment unsuccessful (n = 5): 22 +/- 11 and 264 +/- 102. In the bilateral group significant differences in the T response emerged when successfully treated boys were compared to unsuccessfully treated ones. It is concluded that Leydig cell function may be impaired in some cases of cryptorchidism.

Child↗