Relationship between cefalo-ophthalmic haemodynamics and visual function in patients affected by carotid stenosis. Possible links with critical low tension glaucoma pictures.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to C Gastaldi.
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The aim of the study was to elucidate the role of the neuropeptide galanin in the regulation of somatotropic and gonadotropic function in normal women. Thirteen normally ovulating (aged 28 to 40 years), non-obese (body mass index, 18.4 to 27.1 kg/m2) women with infertility due to a tubal or male factor were studied. Each woman underwent three tests: (1) bolus intravenous (IV) injection of growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone (GHRH) (1-29)NH2 1 microgram/kg plus gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) 100 micrograms at time 0; (2) IV infusion of porcine galanin 500 micrograms in 100 mL saline from -10 minutes; and (3) bolus IV injection of GHRH(1-29)NH2 1 microgram/kg plus GnRH 100 micrograms at time 0 plus IV infusion of porcine galanin 500 micrograms in 100 mL saline from -10 to +30 minutes. All results are expressed as the mean +/- SEM. GH peak after GHRH was 14 +/- 5 micrograms/L; porcine galanin significantly increased serum GH (GH peak, 7.3 +/- 1.2) with respect to baseline levels. No significant differences were observed between either GH peak or GH absolute values after galanin as compared with GHRH alone. Porcine galanin significantly enhanced GH response to GHRH (peak, 31.4 +/- 4.4 micrograms/L) with respect to either GHRH or galanin alone. Luteinizing hormone (LH)/follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) peaks after GnRH were 16.5 +/- 5.3 and 17.4 +/- 4 IU/L, respectively. Porcine galanin did not cause significant increases in serum LH and FSH levels with respect to baseline.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
We have combined intrauterine insemination (IUI) and controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH), for the treatment of infertility due to different aetiologies, prior to performing GIFT. To date, we have treated 186 patients over a total of 489 cycles. The mean age of the patients was 34.1 +/- 4 years and the mean duration of infertility was 4.8 +/- 2.8 years. Follicular development was induced with human menopausal gonatrophin (HMG). Patients were monitored using serum oestradiol determinations and ovarian ultrasound. Two intrauterine inseminations were performed 12 and 36 h after HCG injection. Semen samples were prepared utilizing one of two techniques, swim-up or Percoll gradient. A total of 33 pregnancies have occurred, the gross pregnancy rate being 17.7% per patient and 6.7% per cycle. The cumulative pregnancy rate was 30%. Thirty-one pregnancies (94%) occurred within the first four cycles of treatment. During the same period of time, the pregnancy rate per cycle in patients treated with gamete intra-Fallopian transfer (GIFT) was 32.9%. Our data suggest that IUI combined with COH can result in pregnancy in a significant proportion of patients, but that the efficiency per cycle of the technique is significantly lower than GIFT.
An inclusion fluorescent-antibody assay (IFA) with McCoy cells infected with Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L2 was compared with a single-antigen (L2) microimmunofluorescence (MIF) assay for the detection of antichalmydial antibodies. A total of 562 serum specimens were tested by both assays, and sera representing a range of titers were tested for their ability to neutralize the infectivity of C. trachomatis. Overall, there was poor correlation between the two assays (r2 = 0.62). With most sera the inclusion IFA was more sensitive. There was better correlation between IFA titer and ability to neutralize the five serovars tested (L2, L3, C, E, and F) than between the MIF assay and neutralization. In summary, the IFA appeared to be more sensitive than the MIF assay for detecting antibodies to C. trachomatis.
Transvaginal follicular aspiration (TVA) with ultrasonically guided needles allows the transfer of in vitro generated embryos to the fallopian tubes (TET), performing only one surgical procedure in the process. Up to now, this approach has been used to treat 16 couples with infertility due to severe male factor. Follicular development was induced with a combination of clomiphene citrate and human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) or follicle-stimulating hormone and hMG. Follicles were aspirated by TVA 36 hours after an injection of human chorionic gonadotropin 10,000 IU intramuscularly. A total of 169 oocytes were recovered (10.5 +/- 6.9 X +/- SD) from the 16 patients. There was failure of fertilization in 6 cases. In the remaining 10, a TET was performed 44 to 50 hours after TVA, utilizing embryos at the pronuclear stage. Six pregnancies resulted from the 10 transfers. This technique combines the advantages of proof of fertilization with a more adequate tubal embryo development and entrance to the uterine cavity that may determine and increase chance of implantation.
To date the main limitation of in-vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) programmes is that transcervical transfer of embryos results in a rate of low implantation. On the other hand, the technique of gamete intra-Fallopian transfer (GIFT) does not contribute to information on oocyte fertilization rates, and the time of oocyte exposure to sperm may be limited. The development of ultrasonically guided follicular aspiration will allow transfer of embryos generated in vitro to the Fallopian tubes performing only one surgical procedure in the process. We have performed 25 intra-tubal embryo transfers in the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis). Ovarian stimulation, follicular aspiration and IVF procedures have been reported previously by Balmaceda. ETs were performed via laparotomy. Embryos at the 2-, 4- or 9-cell stage were loaded into a tom-cat catheter in 5 microliter of culture medium and delivered to the mid-ampullary portion of the tube. Seven ETs performed during stimulated cycles resulted in one pregnancy, and 18 ETs performed in synchronized recipients resulted in six pregnancies. Ten ETs were performed 0-24 h, eight performed 24-48 h and seven performed 72-110 h after follicular aspiration or ovulation, and resulted in 4, 3 and 0 pregnancies respectively. Our results demonstrate that intra-tubal embryo transfer can result in normal intra-uterine pregnancies and suggest that both ovarian stimulation and cycle synchronization affect the probability of embryo implantation.
Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) was performed in eight patients with premature ovarian failure (POF), using donated oocytes. The steroid replacement protocol consisted of the administration of increasing dosages of 17 beta-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P). Hormonal replacement was maintained until day 100 of gestation. All patients underwent an evaluation cycle in which serum levels of E2 and P were monitored and an endometrial biopsy was performed on day 21 or 22. All cases of GIFT were performed between days 12 and 15. Six clinical pregnancies were achieved in eight cycles (75% success rate). Three patients delivered and three are in their second or third trimester. No ectopics or miscarriages occurred. These results offer a promising approach for the establishment of fertility in agonadal patients.
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The authors compared the three most commonly used sperm preparation techniques--swim-up, fall-down, and Percoll gradient--for their ability to recover highly motile sperm and minimize bacterial contamination. Eleven human semen samples collected by masturbation were used and run in parallel with the three methods. A semiquantitative bacterial analysis was performed in all samples and results expressed in colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/ml). The Percoll gradient technique resulted in an average sperm concentration of 5.81 +/- 4.4 X 10(6) ml, and the average bacterial concentration dropped from 8.66 +/- 12.96 X 10(3) CFU/ml in semen to 0.01 +/- 0.03 X 10(3) CFU/ml. The bacterial count was not significantly different when the raw semen was compared with the swim-up or the fall-down preparations. The authors conclude that the Percoll gradient method yields an adequate sperm concentration, with high motility and improved morphology, while eliminating bacterial contamination.
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Twenty biochemical parameters have been studied in 94 athlets of Marcialonga in basic conditions and after 30 min from the end of the competition. Urea, uric acid, creatinin, total proteins, albumin, sodium, calcium, phosphorus and several enzymes (AST, ALT, LAD, CK and ALP) have shown statistically significant increasings. It is, above all, clear the increasing of CK. On the contrary triglycerides have undergone a significant decreasing. The AA. try to explain the results obtained, considering some pathogenetic theories.
72 strains of Salmonella, belonging to 23 different serum types have been isolated during the last three years. These strains come from adult patients admitted to the Infective department of St. Chiara hospital in Trento and from three asymptomatic carriers found among the hospital staff, who have been regularly submitted to microbiological checks. Among the most frequent strains the AA. have found: S. enteritidis and S. typhi murium. Salmonellas, never isolated before, have spread, but they have shown poor adaptation to the environment: among these S. panama, S. infantis, S infantis, S. münchen. S. wien has not found, in the Province of Trento, environing conditions fit for its colonization. S. agona has shown a certain tendency to create a situation of asymptomatic carrier.
The authors treated 28 patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with the new preparation SH B 209 AE consisting of 0.035 mg of ethinylestradiol and 2 mg of cyproterone acetate (EE + CPA) throughout 12 months. From the analysis of the endocrine and clinical modifications induced by the drug along with the negligible incidence of side effects the conclusion can be drawn that this new estro-progestational association is indicated in the therapy of PCOS.
The Authors propose a new direct method for the determination of free Testosterone (F.Te). Our study was made following this method: 1) on a control group composed of 12 healthy men and 21 healthy women, and 2) on a group of 29 patients suffering from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) with clinical signs of hyperandrogenism. This pathological group presented acne and hirsutism in 95% of the cases. The Authors demonstrate how the determination of F.Te permits a 93.1% correct endocrinological diagnosis of hyperandrogenism.
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