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Biomedical subjects

A Volpe

Publications and source records attributed to A Volpe.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Continuous combined hormone replacement therapy with oral 17beta-estradiol and norethisterone acetate improves homocysteine metabolism in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a continuous combined oral hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on basal and post-methionine load homocysteine levels in postmenopausal women. DESIGN: Twenty-two postmenopausal women (PMW) were randomly allocated to receive either continuous combined oral HRT (2 mg of estradiol plus 1 mg of norethisterone acetate; n = 11) or no treatment (controls, n = 11) for 6 months. A methionine oral load (0.1 g/kg body weight) was performed in each subject at time 0 and after 6 months. Serum homocysteine levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography in samples collected at time 0 and at 4, 8, and 24 h after the methionine load, while levels of vitamin B6 (by high-performance liquid chromatography) and B12 and folate (both by ELISA) were assayed in samples collected at time 0. RESULTS: Serum levels of glucose and body mass index increased in treated PMW, whereas folate decreased in controls. In treated PMW, basal homocysteine tended to decrease (10.6 +/- 3.3 micromol/L vs. 9.62 +/- 2.8 micromol/L, p = 0.062), whereas in controls it significantly increased (10.7 +/- 2.65 micromol/L vs. 12.17 +/- 3.89 micromol/L, p < 0.05). This increase was not significant after correction for vitamin status (p = 0.072). Homocysteine values 4 h (31.9 +/- 13.53 micromol/L vs. 39.83 +/- 22.53 micromol/L, p < 0.05) and 8 h (35.1 +/- 13.13 vs. 43.34 +/- 22.15 micromol/L) after methionine, and integrated homocysteine response to methionine (392.5 +/- 133.8 micromol/24 h vs. 458.8 +/- 104.8 micromol/24 h; p < 0.05), were significantly reduced in HRT-treated, but not in untreated, PMW. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous combined oral HRT with17beta-estradiol plus norethisterone acetate reduces homocysteine levels, mainly after a methionine load. This effect seems to be independent of vitamin status and may have positive implications for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in PMW.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Stress-response in male partners of women submitted to in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

BACKGROUND: In a previous work, we have reported the relationship between women and the outcome of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). The goal of the present work is to evaluate the association between vulnerability to stress and treatment outcome in male partners of couples submitted to IVF-ET. METHODS: The day of semen collection at the Assisted Reproduction Unit of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Modena, 45 subjects were submitted to Stroop Color Word Conflict, a task measuring the ability to cope with a cognitive stressor, involving the attentional and sympathoadrenal system. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as heart rate (HR), were measured at baseline, during the test and 10 min after the end of testing. The evidence of pregnancy (betahCG >250 mIU/ml 12 days after ET) is the main outcome measure; the couples were classed in either a 'success' or a 'failure' group. RESULTS: Thirteen couples became pregnant. Pregnancy progressed until term in 6 cases, while 7 cases showed only a preclinical evidence of pregnancy. Age, education, causes and duration of infertility were similar in the success and failure groups. No difference was found in the number and motility of spermatozoa both at baseline and after capacitation (a technique improving sperm motility). Moreover, the success group showed a higher number of both fertilized oocytes and embryos transferred compared with the failure group. The area under the curve of the cardiovascular parameters was calculated. The failure group showed a higher value for HR (50.6 +/- 36.7 of percent total change) than the success group (31.8 +/- 16.9; p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: The cardiovascular response to stress is a good correlate of success in infertile males submitted to the IVF-ET program.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Stress mediators in the amniotic compartment in relation to the degree of fetal distress.

In an attempt to locate biochemical markers specific for fetal distress we measured the amniotic concentrations of beta-endorphin, ACTH, cortisol, dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine with its major metabolite metanephrine (MN) in pregnancies with documented fetal well-being and pregnancies complicated by hypertension and fetal distress. While higher levels of cortisol and MN were found only in a selected subgroup of highly compromised subjects (p < 0.001 and p < 0.005, respectively), beta-endorphin increased significantly under conditions of moderate or severe intrauterine sufferance (p < 0.001 in both cases). Due to higher levels of the opioid even during the initial stage of fetal discomfort we evaluated its characteristics as a possible clinical marker. Specificity was 88.5%, whereas the sensitivity of 65.6% in the moderately compromised subgroup increased to 88.9% in severely suffering fetuses. Although more accurate and mainly real-time information on the fetal health status is obtained by means of biophysical methods, the determination of amniotic fluid beta-endorphin might be of clinical usefulness in prenatal diagnosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Double-breasted alloplasty in the treatment of a midline laparocele].

The authors describe a new original surgical technique in repairing midline incisional hernias with polypropylene mesh, considering technical and functional advantages. Twenty-six cases are presented as well as early and late postoperative complications after 12 months follow-up.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Transdermal administration of estradiol and norethisterone: effect on the uterus and uterine arteries.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short- and long-term effect on the uterus, endometrium, and vascular reactivity of uterine arteries of sequential transdermal estradiol (50 microg/day) and norethisterone (0.25 mg/day in the last 14 days of each cycle). DESIGN: An intravaginal ultrasound evaluation was performed in 48 postmenopausal women before and at the 3rd and 12th month of treatment, during the last 3 days of both estradiol alone and estradiol plus norethisterone. An endometrial biopsy was also performed before and at the end of treatment. In 11 participants, intravaginal ultrasound and endometrial biopsy were repeated after 48 months of treatment. RESULTS: Uterine volume (33.7 +/- 3.3 cm3 to 56.8 +/- 3.7 cm3; p = 0.001) and endometrial thickness (3.07 +/- 0.48 mm to 5.74 +/- 0.41 mm; p = 0.001) increased within 3 months, with no further increases. Thickness was similar in the estradiol and estradiol-norethisterone phase. Endometrial hyperplasia was found in one participant at 12 months of treatment. A significant decrease (p = 0.002) in the pulsatility index of uterine arteries was observed only during the estradiol phase. After 48 months of treatment, the pulsatility index of uterine arteries was lower than at baseline (2.78 +/- 0.24 vs. 2.23 +/- 0.33; p = 0.044) even when evaluated in the combined phase. CONCLUSIONS: The transdermal administration of sequential estradiol and norethisterone reduces uterine artery resistance and induces a self-limiting growth of the uterus and endometrium.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Diaphysary resection using Colzi's method in the treatment of Volkmann's syndrome].

The AA, report one case of Volkmann's contracture in a patient 8-1/2 years old treated by shortening of the ulna and radius according to Colzi's procedure. The reasons why such method was chosen are explained and the excellent result obtained described. In the light of their experience the AA. deem that the Colzi's procedure is still valid, also on the account that does not preclude the possibility to perform other procedure.

Angiography↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical comparison of the anticalculus efficacy of three commercially available dentifrices.

A three-month, double-blind, parallel and unsupervised clinical study was conducted to compare the effects on supragingival calculus formation of the following four dentifrices: 1) A placebo dentifrice containing 0.243% sodium fluoride in a silica base. 2) A commercially available anticalculus dentifrice containing 5.0% soluble pyrophosphate in a 0.243% sodium fluoride silica base. 3) A commercially available anticalculus dentifrice containing 1.3% soluble pyrophosphate and 1.5% of a Gantrez copolymer in a 0.243% sodium fluoride silica base. 4) A commercially available anticalculus dentifrice containing 3.3% soluble pyrophosphate and 1.0% of a Gantrez copolymer in a 0.243% sodium fluoride silica base. The three-month results indicated that the three commercially available anticalculus dentifrices provided statistically significant reductions (at the 99% level of confidence) in supragingival calculus formation of 43.87%, 46.60%, and 51.32% respectively, as compared to the placebo dentifrice. There was no statistically significant difference among the three commercially available anticalculus dentifrices.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Roundish opacity of the right lung (a clinical case)].

The authors describe a rare case of pulmonary hamartomyxoma observed by them as a secluded roundish opacity (coin lesion) in the middle right thoracic region. After reporting an accurate anatomic-radiology can description of the lesion, they expose the histogenesis and the classification attempts concerning the chapter about "hamartomas" through an ample revision of the cases reported in the last years.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A right paracardiac roundish opacity (a clinical case)].

The authors describe the clinical case relative to an adult subject with right basal paracardiac opacity, clinically asymptomatic, occasionally checked following up a thorax radiograph. After the surgical neoplasm extirpation, the histologic examination evidenced it was a thymic cyst. Consequently, the question about the differential diagnosis with other mediastinal opacity is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Diffuse pulmonary microlithiasis (a clinical case)].

The authors present a clinical case pertinent to a patient suffering from persistent dry cough and dyspnea by effort. It is described the diagnostic course that enables to identify a diffuse pulmonary microlithiasis, of rare cheeking, whose pathogenetic hypotheses and differential problems are tackled.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Longitudinal study of 5 patients with "primary empty sella" (author's transl)].

The clinical symptoms and the radiographic findings of five female patients with "primary empty sella" were studied. The patients were treated with corticosteroid therapy and the clinical syndrome, with the exception of optic subatrophy of the left eye in one patient and of both eyes in another patients, improved in all of them. In subsequent controls, the radiographic findings did not show any evolution suggesting that the cause of the empty sella syndrome is a potentially regressive element (endocranial hypertension?). The small number of our cases does not prove with any certainty that corticosteroid treatment, was beneficial but as improvement occurred and in all the subjects this therapy should be tried in other patients with "empty sella" syndrome. The possible improvement of the empty sella syndrome has to be taken into account before deciding on surgical intervention.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗