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Biomedical subjects

A Catania

Publications and source records attributed to A Catania.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Prevalence of late-onset adrenal hyperplasia in postmenarchal hirsutism.

The response of plasma 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) to exogenous ACTH was investigated in 85 consecutive women referred for postmenarchal hirsutism, in order to assess the prevalence of late-onset adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency and its relevance to the clinical practice. An exaggerated response of plasma 17-OHP to ACTH, indicating 21-hydroxylase deficiency, was found in only one patient with a prevalence of 1.1%. The patient with late-onset adrenal hyperplasia presented signs of virilism and had high basal levels of 17-OHP. On the basis of our results, late-onset adrenal hyperplasia accounts for a very small proportion of cases of hirsutism; moreover, from this and previous studies it is apparent that the determination of basal plasma 17-OHP may be sufficient to discover late-onset 21-hydroxylase deficiency. Therefore, we do not consider ACTH testing an advisable step in the routine screening for hirsutism.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Functionally reversible hepatic arteriovenous fistulas during pregnancy in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Two patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) who previously had only rare episodes of epistaxis had during pregnancy congestive heart failure and signs consistent with hepatic AV shunts. These were confirmed by angiography in one patient. After delivery the patients recovered spontaneously, and within six months congestive heart failure disappeared.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Blood rheology changes during bezafibrate treatment.

To evaluate the effect of bezafibrate on the haemorheological pattern, 30 atherosclerotic non-diabetic patients were enlisted in a double-blind, comparative, parallel group trial with bezafibrate (600 mg daily) or placebo being randomly assigned. The 45-day treatment period was preceded by a three week pharmacological wash-out. Haemorheological parameters such as whole-blood, plasma and serum viscosity, haematocrit, fibrinogen, fibrinogen/albumin ratio and erythrocyte filterability were evaluated before and at the end of treatment. The results showed no change in haemorheological determinants in the placebo-treated group but a significant reduction in whole-blood viscosity, in haematocrit, in fibrinogen and fibrinogen/albumin ratio was observed in the bezafibrate treated patients. No variation was present in the plasma and serum viscosity and in the erythrocyte filterability.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Red cell peroxide metabolism in diabetes mellitus.

In a group of normal controls and in a group of diabetics subdivided for type we evaluated the following red blood cell parameters: superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH.Px), catalase (C-ase), glutathione content (GSH) and membrane-protein-sulphydryl groups (P-SH). There was no difference in the enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase in normals and in the diabetics. However, the erythrocyte GSH content as well as membrane P-SH groups discriminate the normals from diabetics and also the diabetics subdivided for type. None of these parameters was related to the erythrocyte filterability considered as a reflection of the red blood cell deformability. These findings reveal that the diabetic red blood cell is less protected from oxidant agents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Screening for non-classic 21-hydroxylase deficiency in an HLA-B14 positive population.

To evaluate whether HLA-B14 positive individuals are at increased risk for non-classic 21-hydroxylase deficiency, the response of progesterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone to ACTH stimulation test was studied in a group of 27 apparently normal, HLA-B14 positive, blood donors. Four of these subjects showed a response typical of 21-hydroxylase defect. In the present series, the enzymatic defect was found to have a considerably lower prevalence than in a previous study of smaller size (15% vs 66%); however, considering the low frequency of the gene coding for the defect in the general population (0.015-0.057), the present results confirm an increased risk for non-classic 21-hydroxylase deficiency in HLA-B14 positive individuals. Therefore, in these subjects, a screening for 21-hydroxylase deficiency may be indicated.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗
PubMed1986

Improvement of diabetes after treatment with somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995 in an acromegalic patient.

The beneficial effects of long acting somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995 in an acromegalic patient affected by severe diabetes mellitus are reported. Neither human insulin alone nor human insulin plus bromocriptine allowed satisfactory metabolic control though, with the latter treatment, virtually normal plasma GH levels were reached. Conversely, addition of SMS 201-995 to insulin treatment led to normalization of blood glucose. This result was obtained with a dose of SMS 201-995 of 400 micrograms/day and only after 3 weeks of therapy.

Acromegaly↗
PubMed1986

Cushing's syndrome due to unilateral adrenal nodular hyperplasia with incomplete inhibition of the contralateral gland.

A 57-year-old woman was demonstrated to be affected by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-independent Cushing's syndrome. Computed-axial tomography of the abdomen demonstrated an expansion of the left adrenal. In apparent contrast with these findings, adrenal scintigraphy demonstrated radiocholesterol uptake also by the right gland. At surgery, the left adrenal was found to be hard and enlarged and was excised, while the right gland was found of normal appearance and left in place. Histologic examination of the excised gland demonstrated nodular hyperplasia. Early after surgery, plasma cortisol returned to normal values with a normal circadian rhythm and complete inhibition by low dose dexamethasone; the response of plasma cortisol to ACTH was normal. The patient represents a rare case of unilateral adrenal nodular hyperplasia. Radiocholesterol uptake by the contralateral gland and early recovery from adrenal atrophy after surgery are exceptional findings and suggest incomplete inhibition of endogenous ACTH.

17-Hydroxycorticosteroids↗
PubMed1985

Gonadotropin releasing hormone elicits abnormal hormone responses in schizophrenia.

We studied the non-specific responses of GH and PRL to gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) in eleven male patients aged 18-30 in whom a diagnosis of acute schizophrenia was made according to Crow's criteria. GnRH administration was followed by a significant increase in plasma GH in five patients; plasma PRL increased in two patients. The two prolactin responders were also GH responders. Non-specific GH response was confirmed on repeated testing in two patients in whom GnRH stimulation was performed twice. During saline control, non-specific hormone responses were not observed. The abnormal hormone responses observed in acute schizophrenia are probably due to the disordered monoamine regulation characteristic of this condition.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1985

Circulating thyroglobulin and antithyroglobulin antibodies after fine needle aspiration of thyroid nodules.

Circulating thyroglobulin and antithyroglobulin antibodies were assayed in fifteen patients affected by solitary "cold" nodules of the thyroid who had undergone fine needle aspiration for cytologic diagnosis. The aim of the study was to investigate whether a minor insult to thyroid tissue such as fine needle aspiration is able to release thyroglobulin into the circulation and to induce the formation of antithyroglobulin antibodies. The results obtained are as follows: 1. Circulating thyroglobulin increased substantially after fine needle aspiration in 11 out of 15 patients. 2. Antithyroglobulin antibodies did not appear in any patient during a follow-up period of two months. 3. The magnitude of basal thyroglobulin and thyroglobulin increase after needle aspiration were unrelated to cytologic diagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Evidence for differing dopaminergic activity in childhood- or adult-onset obesity.

In order to investigate dopaminergic activity in two types of human obesity, childhood- and adult-onset, we have studied the responses of plasma TSH and prolactin to domperidone, a dopamine receptor antagonist, in 12 patients obese since early childhood, 12 patients with adult-onset obesity, and in 12 lean controls. All subjects were females. In childhood-onset obese patients the responses of plasma prolactin and TSH to antidopaminergic stimulation were lower than those of adult-onset obese patients and lean controls. Conversely, the stimulus elicited a normal response of plasma prolactin and an exaggerated response of plasma TSH in adult-onset obese patients. These data indicate the presence of differing dopaminergic tone in the two types of human obesity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

[Blood filterability at various filtration pressures: a study conducted on normal and diabetic subjects].

Using the Reid et al. technique we have evaluated the blood cellular volume (VBC: ml/min) obtained by changing the negative filtration pressure. From the obtained data it is evident that at the three different filtration pressure values (-20, -15 and -10 cm of H2O) the VBC does not distinguish normal from diabetic subjects. Only at the negative pressure of 20 cm of water did the VBC distinguish diabetics, who were subdivided by type and vascular complications. We have also evaluated the relationship between the values of VBC calculated at the pressures of -20 and -10 cm of water. From this study it emerged that the relationship between the two values present in normals is not different from that present in diabetics and in diabetics subdivided by type and vascular complications.

Blood↗