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Biomedical subjects

C Albano

Publications and source records attributed to C Albano.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of pivagabine in neurasthenia.

One hundred and eighteen patients with neurasthenia, as defined by ICD 10 (International Classification of Diseases), participated in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of pivagabine (4-[(2,2-dimethyl-1-oxopropyl)amino]butanoic acid, CAS 69542-93-4, Tonerg). Pivagabine 1800 mg/d was administered orally for four weeks. At the end of the trial, active medication was significantly superior to placebo on the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) improvement of illness scale. In addition, pivagabine treatment reduced the physical and mental fatigability of patients, and increased their sense of well-being.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

The immunogenicity of influenza virus vaccine in solid organ transplant recipients.

We monitored the responses of solid organ transplant recipients (SOTs) to influenza vaccine during consecutive influenza seasons. Standard 1993-1994 trivalent influenza vaccine was given to 68 SOTs and 29 healthy young adults, and hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody titers were determined pre- and post-immunization. Significant rises in geometric mean antibody titers occurred post-immunization for all three antigens in both groups. However, the magnitude of the rise was lower in SOTs (1.5-2.3-fold vs. 8.7-10.4-fold, depending on the antigen) (P < .05), and significantly fewer SOTs had protective HI titers (> or = 1:40) for B/Panama/45/90 antigens (50% of SOTs vs. 76% of healthy subjects) and for A/Texas/36/91 (H1N1) antigens (60% vs. 90%). After exclusion of persons with high preimmunization titers, SOTs had significantly reduced frequencies of > or = 4-fold antibody responses compared with those of healthy subjects (23%-38% vs. 86%-100%) (P < .05 for each antigen). When a series of two injections of standard 1994-1995 vaccine was given to 23 SOTs, there was no significant improvement in vaccine response with the second dose. Some SOTs have deficient responses to inactivated influenza vaccines.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Hormonal profile during the follicular phase in cycles stimulated with a combination of human menopausal gonadotrophin and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonist (Cetrorelix).

A third generation gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonist (Cetrorelix) was used during ovarian stimulation in 32 patients undergoing assisted reproduction, in order to prevent the premature luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. In all patients, ovarian stimulation was carried out with two or three ampoules of human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG), starting on day 2 of the menstrual cycle. In addition, 0.5 mg of Cetrorelix was administered daily from day 6 of HMG treatment until the day of ovulation induction by human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). A significant drop in plasma LH concentration was observed within a few hours of the first administration of Cetrorelix (P < 0.005). Moreover, no LH surge was detected at any point in the treatment period in any of the 32 patients. A mean oestradiol concentration of 2111 +/- 935 ng/l was observed on the day of the HCG administration, indicating normal folliculogenesis. Like LH, progesterone concentration also dropped within a few hours of the first administration of Cetrorelix (P < 0.005). A 0.5 mg daily dose of Cetrorelix prevented a premature LH surge in all the 32 patients treated.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Subtle progesterone rise after the administration of the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonist cetrorelix in intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles.

In the present study, subtle serum progesterone rise (>= 1.1 ng/ml) during the late follicular phase is reported, for the first time to our knowledge, in patients using a potent gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist, Cetrorelix, in combination with human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) for ovarian stimulation prior to intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In five out of 24 patients (20%) serum progesterone levels were >/= 1.1 ng/ml. The cycle characteristics of the patients were similar in both groups. No premature endogenous luteinizing hormone (LH) surge occurred and the serum LH concentrations were constantly low during the follicular phase. The 17-beta oestradiol and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) exposure were higher in cycles with premature luteinization. The greater oestradiol and FSH exposure confirm that one of the possible factors inducing subtle serum progesterone rise is the increased oestradiol and FSH-induced LH receptivity in granulosa cells.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Pregnancy and birth in an in-vitro fertilization cycle after controlled ovarian stimulation in a woman with a history of allergic reaction to human menopausal gonadotrophin.

We report a case of allergic reaction to i.m. injections of urinary human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) and a successful management of the problem by using recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (rFSH) administered i.m. The patient underwent two zygote intra-Fallopian transfer (ZIFT) cycles, in which ovarian stimulation was carried out by a combination of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) and HMG. A twin pregnancy was achieved after the first cycle. The patient delivered two premature boys at 28 weeks one of whom died after 25 days from severe respiratory distress. During the second ZIFT cycle the patient developed an allergic reaction with redness and swelling in many parts of her body 30 min after every HMG injection. Despite the allergic reaction, the cycle was completed with a second ZIFT. No pregnancy was achieved in this cycle. The patient came back to our centre for a third attempt during which ovarian stimulation was accomplished with a combination of GnRHa and rFSH. Adverse reaction as well as general discomfort were not reported by the patient during ovarian stimulation with rFSH. A successful singleton pregnancy was achieved after intrauterine embryo transfer with the birth of a healthy girl after 38 weeks. If any allergic reaction is present after injection of HMG it is advisable to stimulate a subsequent cycle with rFSH.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Embryo quality and pregnancy potential of fresh compared with frozen embryos--is freezing detrimental to high quality embryos?

To determine the effect of cryopreservation on embryo quality and the pregnancy potential of embryos, donated oocytes from the same donor (n = 24) were randomly allocated, with subsequent transfer to two or more different ovum recipients resulting in at least one fresh and one frozen embryo transfer cycle from the same cohort of oocytes. Endometrial receptivity was controlled in all ovum recipients, and male factor patients were excluded. The number of embryos transferred, mean embryo grade transferred, number of high quality embryos (grade < or = 2.5, grade 1 being best) transferred and embryo implantation and live birth rates are reported. Significantly more embryos (4.4 +/- 1.2 versus 3.3 +/- 1.2, P < 0.00003) of higher quality (1.9 +/- 0.5 versus 2.1 +/- 0.5, P < 0.013) and of a more advanced cell stage (3.0 +/- 0.6 versus 2.6 +/- 0.7, P < 0.019) were transferred fresh than after cryopreservation respectively. Implantation rates/embryo [19/151 (12.6%) and 9/111 (8.1%)] and live birth rates/transfer [11/42 (26.2%) and 6/45 (13.3%)], from fresh and frozen transfers respectively, were not significantly different despite the larger number of high quality embryos transferred fresh. Embryo cryopreservation adversely affects embryo quality, but does not have detrimental effects on the implantation or pregnancy potential of high quality embryos. Because of the loss of embryos during freeze-thawing during frozen embryo cycles, every effort should be made to attempt a fresh transfer.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Anticonvulsant effect of fluoxetine in humans.

We report an unblinded, open-label, add-on trial of fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, in 17 patients with complex partial seizures with and without secondary generalization (mean follow-up duration, 14 +/- 1.1 months). Six patients showed complete disappearance of their daily seizures; in the others the seizure frequency was lowered by 30%. No patient reported side effects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Thyroid-stimulating hormone and prolactin responses to thyrotropin-releasing hormone in common migraine.

Intravenous administration of 50 micrograms or 200 micrograms thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) to men with common migraine elicited blunted prolactin (PRL) responses, when compared with healthy controls. The thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) response was enhanced after 50 micrograms TRH in the migraineurs, but not after 200 micrograms. The physiologic TSH dose-response relationship was abolished in migraine sufferers. The data may be interpreted in the light of dopaminergic and noradrenergic supersensitivity, for PRL and TSH, respectively. The TSH response in migraine differs from the one that occurs in depression.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Effect of fenfluramine in Huntington Chorea].

Serotoninergic function has been evaluated in 15 H.C. patients. Therapeutic results obtained with an inhibitor of 5 HT reuptake (Fenfluramine) were evaluated in comparison to the effects of L-5HTP, CSF-5HIAA measurements were performed is each case before and after treatment. The pathological role of 5HT impairment in H. C. can not be excluded by the behavioral effects and CSF-5HIAA modifications that were observed.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗
PubMed1982

Neuroendocrinological and clinical data upon trazodone treatment in depressed patients.

Prolactin and somatotropin secretory rhythmicity was studied in 7 inhibited depression male patients, evaluated by the Hamilton Rating Scale for depression, before and after trazodone (400 mg i.v. once daily) treatment. The mean 24-hour hormone levels of the patients were comparable to the controls. Trazodone enhances the prolactin value, increasing chiefly the titres during sleep which were lower in respect to controls before treatment. The drug decreases the mean 24-hour somatotropin levels, mainly the values during sleep. A serotoninergic effect is possibly involved. An improvement of mood has been observed in all cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

CSF-MHPG in depressive syndromes: basal values and imipramine-induced modifications.

The levels of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene-glycol (MHPG) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), before and after treatment with imipramine, were determined in 12 patients with endogenous depression. No significant change as observed in the whole group of patients, but patients with higher CSF-MHPG basal values showed better therapeutic results and a significant decrease of the norepinephrine catabolyte. The possible relevance of norepinephrine system imbalance to the therapeutic response to imipramine is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: treatment with trazodone.

Central monoaminergic pathways dysfunction has been shown in the alcohol withdrawal syndrome of experimental animals: noradrenergic hyperfunction and serotonin transmission impairment is suggested by many studies. Trazodone is a new psychotropic drug which has a marked norepinephrine receptor blocking power; moreover, it inhibits serotonin reuptake and was fully effective in the treatment of man's withdrawal syndrome (17 alcoholic inpatients). The good therapeutical results make it conceivable that monoaminergic pathways dysfunction has an important pathophysiological role in the alcohol withdrawal syndrome of man also.

Adult↗