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Biomedical subjects

A Caruso

Publications and source records attributed to A Caruso.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Assessment of the adrenal-ovarian contribution by short-term dexamethasone and ACTH tests in hyperandrogenized patients.

Fifty-four hyperandrogenized women were studied to evaluate the importance of the adrenal or ovarian contribution to androgen secretion. Forty-six had the polycystic ovarian (PCOD) syndrome. Eight normal women represented a control group. The endocrine study was performed during the follicular phase. The plasma samples were collected at 7.00 am (A1) and at 11.00 pm (A3). Dexamethasone 2 mg was administered orally at 11.30 pm and blood samples were collected the day after, at 7.00 am (B). The adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) was injected, 250 micrograms i.v. and samples were collected after 60 min. Cortisol dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS), androstenedione, testosterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) were measured. The hyperandrogenized patients had A1 androgen levels higher than the controls (p less than 0.01). 17OHP and androstenedione A3 values showed a cortisol-related decrease. After dexamethasone, androgen levels, since DHEAS, were normalized in all patients. We found that baseline androgen levels and circadian and dexamethasone-inhibited amounts were strongly correlated (p less than 0.01). The ACTH test revealed five cases of enzymatic adrenal deficiencies. Moreover, the amplitude of the response of 17OHP and androstenedione to ACTH is predictable in relation to both circadian and dexamethasone-inhibited amounts (p less than 0.01). In conclusion, our study confirms and makes quantifiable the importance of the adrenal contribution to androgen secretion in hyperandrogenized patients. The ACTH test is important for detecting the presence of mild enzymatic adrenal defects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Cyclosporin A, effect on cytoskeleton and glycosaminoglycans in human gingival fibroblasts. Immunohistochemical and biochemical evaluation.

The effect of Cyclosporin A (CyA) in culture of human gingival fibroblasts was assessed. Extracellular and intracellular glycosaminoglycans decrease in treated cells. The ratio of non sulphated over sulphated GAGs (glycosaminoglycans) increased only in the medium. Cytoskeleton organization of treated fibroblasts was also studied by immunohistochemical means and by ultrastructural observations. Minor alterations were documented in the structure and distribution of cytoplasmic organelles. The organization of tubulin and vimentin filaments did not change in Cy A treated cells either. This study confirms the capability of Cyclosporin A to induce alterations of GAG production and synthesis with no interference in cytoplasm organization. Normal pathway GAG secretion is suggested.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Serum CA-125 levels in the diagnosis and management of endometriosis.

The value of CA-125 for the diagnosis and management of endometriosis (EN) was investigated by assaying the marker in the serum and peritoneal fluid (PF) from patients with the disease in comparison with control subjects. Of women who underwent 270 consecutive laparoscopies, 81 with various stages of EN (18 stage I, 13 stage II, 35 stage III and 15 stage IV) and 38 with normal pelvic findings were studied. CA-125 serum values increased progressively in relation to the severity of the disease. The levels in stages III and IV EN were significantly higher (P less than .01) than in stages I and II or control patients. The latter two groups did not differ from each other. High CA-125 PF values were found in all the patients investigated. Twenty-two patients with EN were treated with a gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist for six months before second-look laparoscopy or laparotomy. CA-125 values decreased significantly after one month of medical treatment and remained unchanged during the course of therapy. No significant relationship was found in the outcome after therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Evaluation of melanoma/skin cancer screening in Massachusetts. Preliminary results.

Although screening for melanoma/skin cancer is theoretically of value, few data are available to evaluate its effectiveness or the value of a visual exam by a dermatologist as a cancer screening tool. From the 2560 persons screened for melanoma/skin cancer in Massachusetts in 1986 and 1987, the authors followed the positive screenees to determine their final diagnosis. The authors obtained information on 85% of these persons, and found nine malignant melanomas, 91 non-melanoma skin cancers, 39 dysplastic nevi, and three congenital nevi. The sensitivity of the visual exam by a dermatologist was 89% to 97% and the predictive value positive was 35% to 75% for skin cancer. The authors conclude that the yield of screening is equivalent to that of other major cancer screening efforts and that the sensitivity and predictive value of the visual examination by the dermatologist is appropriate for a cancer screening tool.

Carcinoma in Situ↗
PubMed1990

Natural antibodies to IFN-gamma in man and their increase during viral infection.

Natural antibodies to IFN-gamma were found in healthy individuals ranging from newborn babies to adults and, at higher levels, in patients suffering from different viral infections. During a viral infection, the titer of anti-IFN-gamma antibodies was observed to be correlated with the stage of the disease. Antibodies specific to IFN-gamma were affinity purified both from sera taken from healthy individuals and sera from viral-infected patients, by using a rIFN-gamma-coupled CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B column. The antibodies were found to be of the IgG class, and maintained their ability to bind rIFN-gamma. They were then tested for neutralizing activity and none of the IgG preparations we analyzed impaired the antiviral activity of rIFN-gamma. This finding suggests that the antigenic determinants recognized by these antibodies on the IFN-gamma molecule are located outside the site, on the IFN-gamma molecule, responsible for its antiviral activity.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1990

Proteinuria and outcome of 444 pregnancies complicated by hypertension.

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of proteinuria on pregnancy outcome in 444 hypertensive women with singleton pregnancies. The patients were divided into three hypertensive groups: 98 with chronic hypertension, 199 with nonproteinuric gestational hypertension, and 147 with proteinuric preeclampsia and chronic hypertension with superimposed proteinuric preeclampsia. The presence of increased proteinuria (greater than 0.3 gm/L) predicted an adverse pregnancy outcome. Furthermore, the majority of small-for-gestational-age infants occurred in the group with proteinuric preeclampsia (52%), whereas the rate of small-for-gestational-age infants was 18% and 12% in the group with nonproteinuric gestational hypertension and chronic hypertension, respectively. The group with chronic hypertension did not show any increased risk for fetal outcome. Perinatal mortality rate was extremely poor in the group with proteinuric preeclampsia at 129 per 1000, four times higher than those of the other two groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Serum CA-125 levels do not depend on ovarian steroidogenesis.

To investigate the relationship between CA-125 production and ovarian steroidogenesis, serum CA-125 levels were evaluated in patients with normal pelvis in different ovarian endocrine situations: (1) during the menstrual cycle, (2) during stimulatory treatment with gonadotropin for the induction of ovulation, and (3) during suppression treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists. In spite of the spontaneous or the markedly induced variations of estradiol (E2) or ovarian volume, CA-125 levels remained unvaried in all patients. Moreover, CA-125 serum levels did not correlate with the increasing values of the plasma E2 or ovarian volume. In conclusion, steroidogenetic activity of the ovary is unlikely to affect CA-125 production.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Interferon-gamma marks activated T lymphocytes in AIDS patients.

Lymphocytes expressing interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on their surface were evaluated in 61 patients, all IV drug abusers, infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), and in 85 healthy subjects (61 of whom were blood donors and 24 HIV-1 seronegative IV drug abusers). Data obtained demonstrated that IFN-gamma-expressing T lymphocytes, mostly CD8+ cells, were present in HIV-1-infected patients, and that their percentage, always higher in HIV-1-infected patients than in healthy subjects (p less than or equal to 0.001), increased with progressive stages of HIV-1 infection. At the same time other markers of T-cell activation, namely interleukin-2 receptor (rIL-2), transferrin receptor, and HLA-DR were also found to be positive in some of the HIV-1-infected subjects. The presence in the HIV-1-infected patients of activated CD8+ T cells, which are resistant to HIV-1 infection, may suggest that these cells are able to respond to continuous and progressive viral expression (HIV or/and other viruses) and may be a component of the specific response to HIV-1.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

Insulin secretion in polycystic ovarian disease: effect of ovarian suppression by GnRH agonist.

Nine obese and ten non-obese women with polycystic ovarian disease (PCO), and seven obese and eight non-obese normal women, had an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) before and after treatment with GnRH agonist (buserelin 400 micrograms/day s.c. for 8 weeks) in order to investigate the effect of ovarian suppression on their insulinaemic secretion. Luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), oestradiol (E2), androstenedione (A), testosterone (T), DHEAS, cortisol and insulin (I) were measured at time 0 of OGTT; in all samples of OGTT, E2, T, A and I were also assayed. PCO patients showed higher basal androgen levels than control patients. All subjects showed a normal glycaemic response to OGTT. The mean fasting and areas under the curve (ISA) of plasma I were significantly greater in the obese PCO women than in non-obese PCO, the normal obese and non-obese women. All PCO patients showed significantly higher fasting I and ISA values in respect to all control patients. Hyperinsulinaemic responses were 89% in PCO obese, 30% in non-obese PCO and 29% in obese control patients. After buserelin treatment, these values did not change significantly in respect to pretreatment in all groups, in spite of a significant decrease of androgen secretion. During OGTT, no variations of steroid plasma concentrations were seen in both normal or hyperinsulinaemic PCO patients. The data of this study show that hyperandrogenism, hyperinsulinism and obesity were associated with different modalities in PCO patients and that a marked decrease of androgen secretion did not restore a normal insulinaemic response to OGTT, suggesting that hyperandrogenism does not produce hyperinsulinism.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonist (buserelin) in the treatment of endometriosis: changes in the extent of the disease and in CA 125 serum levels after 6-month therapy.

Twenty-two women with endometriosis were treated with the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist buserelin for 6 months. At second-look laparoscopy the mean score of endometriosis had decreased from 23.1 (SD 17.0) to 17.2 (SD 20.2) (P less than 0.05). CA 125 serum levels decreased from 38.4 (SD 32.2) U/ml at diagnosis to 15.5 (SD 7.0) at second look (P less than 0.005). CA 125 levels correlated at diagnosis with total score of endometriosis (P less than 0.05) and with active score of endometriosis (P less than 0.05), but not with the adhesion score. CA 125 levels were not correlated with endometriosis scores at second look laparoscopy, thus suggesting that mechanisms other than the change in the extent of the disease may be involved in the CA 125 decrease during therapy. CA 125 levels may therefore not be a reliable indicator for monitoring the efficacy of LHRH agonist treatment of endometriosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Growth hormone and somatomedin-C secretion in patients with polycystic ovarian disease. Their relationships with hyperinsulinism and hyperandrogenism.

Nineteen women with polycystic ovarian disease (PCO; 9 obese) and 15 normal ovulatory women (7 obese) were studied at their follicular phase. All patients had an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) before and after treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist (Buserelin 400 micrograms/die s.c. for 8 weeks) to investigate the relationship between ovarian steroidogenesis and insulin and growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor (SmC) secretion. Luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating, estradiol, androstenedione, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, cortisol, insulin, GH and SmC were measured basally at the time of OGTT. PCO patients showed higher androgen basal levels than control patients. All subjects showed a normal glycemic response to OGTT. The mean fasting level and area under the curve of plasma insulin were also significantly greater in PCO than in control patients (p less than 0.05), while GH and SmC plasma concentrations did not differ between the groups. Despite a considerable decrease in androgens and the similar levels in both PCO and control women, buserelin treatment did not determine any significant changes of insulin and GH-SmC secretion. GH and SmC did not correlate with ideal body weight (IBW), insulin or androgens, whereas insulin correlated with both testosterone and androstenedione levels (p less than 0.05) and with IBW (p less than 0.01); after the buserelin regimen only IBW remained related to plasma insulin (p less than 0.01). In conclusion results of this study confirm that hyperinsulinism is a characteristic picture of PCO and is related in an unclear way with hyperandrogenism and obesity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Use of ultrasonography to estimate fetal weight in premature infants. Development of a new mathematical formula].

In 73 pregnant patients at a gestational age under 36 weeks, who gave birth within 72 hours from the last US examination, mathematical equations were elaborated. The equations were aimed at predicting fetal weight by measuring the main US biometric parameters; the results were compared to the actual birth weight. A statistical analysis was performed using the "backward elimination" method. The linear equation that has provided with the best estimation of fetal weight is the following: fetal weight = 12.9875 BPD +29.5642 AD +28.8023 FL -3496.1265. According to this equation, about 95.22% of the variability of the unknown quantity (i.e. birth weight) can be ascribed to its correlation to the variables: biparietal diameter (BPD), abdominal diameter (AD) and femur length (FL). Estimated fetal weight by US, as calculated on the basis of biparietal diameter, abdominal diameter and femur length measurements, showed, in our study, a standard error of 143 g (9.02%) (R = 0.95).

Body Weight↗