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Biomedical subjects

C Romanini

Publications and source records attributed to C Romanini.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Modifications of ultradian and circadian rhythms of fetal heart rate after fetal-maternal adrenal gland suppression: a double blind study.

In order to verify whether fetal and maternal adrenal gland suppression induces effects on fetal behaviour, triamcinolone was administered to five healthy pregnant women at 35 weeks of gestation. Five patients of the same gestational age were used as control. Fetal heart rate (FHR) and fetal movements were recorded continuously over 2-h interval by means of cardiotocography. After 3 weeks (38 weeks of gestation) the recordings were repeated without drug administration. Cortisol, adrenocorticotropin hormone, 17 beta-estradiol and unconjugated estriol were measured at the same time every 2 h in maternal peripheral plasma. At 35 weeks we found a loss of circadian rhythms of the hormones investigated and modifications of ultradian and circadian patterns of FHR in the treated group with respect to the control. No differences in hormonal and biophysical parameters were found between the two groups after the end of treatment (38 weeks). These data suggest that the inhibition of fetal and maternal adrenal glands could cause modifications of FHR patterns.

Activity Cycles↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of Ca2+ on structure and fluidity of microvillus membranes of human placenta.

This investigation shows the effect of a Ca2+ addition on the structural and physiochemical properties of microvillus plasma membranes obtained from human placenta. Ca2+ addition induces an increase in microviscosity, as shown by the increase of order parameter and rotational correlation time of 5- and 16-doxylsterate derivatives and by the increase of fluorescence polarization of diphenylhexatriene. All the effects were obtained in a wide temperature range. The morphometric analysis of the ultrastructural images shows that the vesicle profiles of syncytiotrophoblast membranes decrease both area and form factor (FF) in the presence of Ca2+ with respect to the controls. The freeze-fracture results also show that Ca2+ induces an enhanced tendency to IMP clusterization. The Ca2+-induced changes were observed in both E and P faces. Our results underline the important role of Ca2+ in the cell membrane structure per se and in modulating interactions between cytoplasmic and extracellular microenvironments. The results of morphometric analysis of the ultrastructural images agree with biochemical data showing an increased stability induced by calcium on plasma membranes.

Calcium↗
PubMedDate not supplied

bcl-2 protein expression in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: no evidence of a prognostic significance in mild and moderate lesions.

BACKGROUND: The bcl-2 proto-oncogene codes for a protein which appears to block apoptosis. In our study, we examined bcl-2 protein expression in cervical squamous metaplasia, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and microinvasive squamous carcinoma with the aim of identifying a relationship between bcl-2 protein expression and neoplastic development and progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cervical bioptic samples were obtained from 86 white women, selected consecutively from our Colposcopic Service from January 1993 to June 1994, because of abnormal pap- smear suspicious for cervical dysplasia and/or human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. Upon histologic evaluation, 41 women had CIN, 23 cervical condyloma, and 22 squamous metaplasia. Ten patients with microinvasive squamous carcinoma, matched for age and demographic characteristics, were selected from our series of invasive cervical carcinomas and immunohistochemically analyzed. The expression of primary tumor bcl-2 protein was immunohistochemically evaluated by antihuman bcl-2 monoclonal antibody (diluted 1:100, Dako, Copenhagen, Denmark) on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue. Positive staining was expressed as a percentage of positive cells per 1000 counted dysplastic cells for each case. RESULTS: Bcl-2 immunostaining was found in all the 22 squamous metaplasias, limited to the basal layer. Nineteen of the 41 CINs (46%) were bcl-2 immunoreactive, and 2 of the 10 microinvasive carcinomas (20%). By analysing CIN lesions, the bcl-2 protein showed a striking increase in the rate of positivity with increasing severity of CIN; the bcl-2 protein expression in CINs III was significantly higher than for CINs I, CINs II or microinvasive carcinomas (P = 0.03, P = 0.02, and P = 0.03 respectively). No relationship was observed between bcl-2 immunostaining and HPV infection. bcl-2 protein expression was not useful for predicting CIN I and II evolution, although the rate of persistence/progression was higher in bcl-2 positive dysplasias (7 of 9 cases, 78%) than in negative ones (13 of 21 cases, 62%) (p = 0.88). CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, it seems possible that the increase in bcl-2 expression in higher grade of CINs implies an increasing protection against programmed cell death, but also the induction of genetic instability in dysplastic epithelial cells and a greater capacity to evolve into invasive carcinoma.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Transvaginal echography in the evaluation of the grade of myometrial invasion in locally advanced endometrial carcinoma].

Neoplastic myometrial invasion is an important prognostic factor in local advanced endometrial carcinoma, conditioning therapeutic choice. In 34 patients with stage I and II endometrial carcinoma, the depth of myometrial invasion was evaluated by transvaginal sonography (TVS). In comparison with pathological findings, TVS showed an overall accuracy of 82.3% with a sensitivity of 82.6% and a specificity of 81.8%. The principal error was related to the underestimation of the lesion: negative predictive value of 49.2% vs positive predictive value of 90.4%. In conclusion, TVS is an accurate imaging method for staging of local advanced endometrial carcinoma.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Homologous intrauterine insemination: our experience].

Sixty-five couples with male infertility or unexplained infertility or infertility due to cervical factor underwent 156 cycles of homologue intrauterine insemination. The overall pregnancy rate was 16.5% with 2.4 mean value of insemination cycles for each couple. The highest pregnancy rate was observed in cases of cervical factor infertility. The mean age of patients who had pregnancy was 30 years (overall mean value 34 years) and the mean time of sterility was 3 years (overall mean value 4.4 years).

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Prognostic significance of diagnostic delay in carcinoma of the endometrium: our experience].

Although endometrial carcinoma is characterized by a precocious symptomatology, in 28.4-22.6% of cases at the time of diagnosis it is found to be at clinical stage higher than I. In the present study the diagnostic delay is related to the stage of disease. Our data suggest that diagnostic delay can cause a higher risk of advanced-stage disease; all the cases of stage III and IV disease, in fact, were diagnosed after more than 7 months. Diagnostic delay was also directly related to depth of myometrial invasion; the mean diagnostic delay was significantly shorter in patients with stage I disease and superficial myometrial invasion (3.92 vs 8.76 months) (p < 0.001). Therefore, diagnostic delay is directly related to well-established prognostic variables as well as to clinical stage and depth of myometrial invasion.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fetal behavioural states and hypertensive pregnancy.

Delay in fetal maturation in diabetic and accelerated fetal maturation in hypertensive pregnancies have been reported in the past. The spontaneous activity of fetal nervous system during pregnancy was followed longitudinally in a group of 29 normal pregnancies from 28 x th to 40 x th week of gestation by means of fetal behavioural states determination. 1 F state (quiet sleep) progressively increases from median values of 5.0% to values of 22.5-25% at term of pregnancy. This state represents the positive activity of inhibitory centers has been related to a positive evolutionary process of brain maturation according to preceding experiences conducted on experimental models and preterm babies followed with EEG and direct observation in the early neonatal period. The method of behavioural states determination has been applied to a group of 33 gestational diabetes (GDM) pregnant women followed longitudinally, and a clear reduction of development of 1 F state has been evidentiated, with significant differences (p less than 0.001) at 35-36 weeks of gestation versus the control group. The normal values are reached in concomitance with L/S value of maturity. In 30 pregnant women affected by gestational hypertension (GH) different result are obtained: 1 F state seems to develop earlier, and is increased (p less than 0.001) around 30-32 weeks versus the control group if a fetal growth reduction is present. The value of 1 F behavioural state in the evaluation of fetal condition of pathological pregnancies is discussed.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Telephone transmission of the cardiotocographic recording from the office to the obstetrical clinic].

The authors describe their experience in telephonic transmission of cardiographic recordings. With a Corometrics 116 and 410 unit installed in a remote facility, 61 CTG recordings were tele transmitted and received by a Toshiba personal computer. The comparison between original and transmitted CTG record was excellent and a very low percentage of signal loss during transmission (3.2%). The advantages of telephone transmission of CTG in peripheral areas are stressed.

Cardiotocography↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Computerized cardiotocographic assessment with the "8000 System". I. Construction of normal curves].

The construction of referral curves for the computerized ctg parameters may increase the clinical efficacy of the examinations in tracings of unfavourable interpretation. With the help of "System 8000" software, the longitudinal variation of computerized parameters fetal movements/hour, fetal movements in high and low variability, accelerations, length of high and low variability periods, mean range and value of short variability have been analyzed in a group of 12 low risk patients followed biweekly from the 24-26th week of gestation through term. While accelerations, minutes of low and high variability showed an absence of significative variation during pregnancy (F = 1.78; F = 9.3, F = 4.5 P = n.s.), significant (p less than 0.001) variation showed the other parameters. Number of movements/h and movements in high variability had an increase from 24-26 weeks to 32-34 weeks and a progressive further decrease till term; movements in low variability disappear after 32-34 weeks of gestation; mean range and short variability increase until 34 weeks and remained stable till end. Therefore the results obtained are in use for the high risk fetuses that perform a computerized ctg registration: nevertheless, the longitudinal evaluation reveals the maturation of fetal central nervous control on heart rate and fetal movements after the 34-36th weeks of gestation as a shown from behavioural states evaluation.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Role of platelet microaggregates in thrombocytopenia in normal and hypertensive pregnancy].

Platelet count and parameters (mean volume, MPV; volume distribution width, PDW; percent of large elements, PLCR) were examined at the third trimester, at delivery, at days 1 and 4 puerperium, in 9 primigravidae with idiopathic thrombocytopenia and 11 with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) with associated thrombocytopenia, and compared with those from 27 PIH and 22 normotensive, normothrombocytemic primigravidae. All hypertensive women were treated with nifedipine alone or associated to methyldopa, clonidine or labetalol. Platelet count tends to a progressive fall during normal pregnancy, and to rough rise in puerperium, the remaining parameters being unchanged. In idiopathic thrombocytopenia the reduced count remains unchanged even in puerperium, and the increased MPV and PLCR are consistent with the presence of large, immature, circulating elements, in pregnancy as well as in puerperium. When thrombocytopenia is associated to PIH, puerperal recovery is maximum. In this case, the drop in MPV and PLCR is consistent with the resolution of microaggregates that may produce artifact in the evaluation of platelet parameters. The presence of platelet microaggregates may therefore cause overestimation of thrombocytopenia associated to PIH.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Tumor markers in the early diagnosis of recurrence in gynecologic neoplasms: combined determination of CA-125, CA 15-3, CA 72.4, SCC, 90 K].

In 156 patients with gynecologic neoplasia the sieric levels of tumor markers (CA 125, CA 15-3, CA 72.4, SCC and 90 K) before the primary treatment and during the follow-up have been evaluated. In the patients with ovarian cancer elevated levels of CA 125 (80%), CA 72.4 (62%), 90 K (49%) and CA 15-3 (16.6) were found. The integrated evaluation of CA 125 and 90 K sieric levels was positive in the 86% of cases. The evaluation of CA 125 in combination with 90 K seems to facilitate the earlier detection of ovarian cancer recurrences. Elevated levels of SCC (89%) were found in the patients with cervical cancer. In the patients with endometrial or vulvar cancer the evaluation of these tumor markers was not significant.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunitary system in pregnancy hypertension.

Several Authors demonstrate changes in maternal immune system in women with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH). In this study peripheral mononuclear cells were isolated in fifteen primigravid women with PIH and tested with monoclonal antibodies Leu 4, Leu 3, Leu 2 and Leu 7; in four women were studied monoclonal antibodies anti-Tac. The results were compared with a normotensive pregnant control group. T helper and T suppressor were increased but showed no statistical difference. The difference was statistically significant only for th NK cells. Tac antigen was expressed only on the Leu 3 induce subset. The PIH occurs because of a failure of maternal immune system.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

What are the implications of melatonin in the peritoneal fluid?

The Authors evidence the presence of melatonin (MT) in the peritoneal fluid (PF). They researched possible correlations between MT and other protein and steroid hormones in the PF and in the plasma. The only significant correlation found was a "negative" one between plasma MT and plasma E2. The Authors exclude an ovarian source for peritoneal fluid MT. They believe that MT may have a role in menstrual cycle regulation, directly modulating ovarian steroid production. To determine if MT has indeed such a role, they feel it important to study the possible presence of ovarian MT receptors.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Induction of ovulation with pulsatile gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) in anovulatory women.

In this study we employed pulsatile GnRH therapy in different anovulatory disorders to test its real efficacy on ovulation induction. Ten adult women, 25-35 years old with primary or secondary infertility, underwent our study; all women showed anovulatory disorders such as Secondary Amenorrhea (n. 4), PCOD (n. 3) or Oligomenorrhea resistant to Clomiphene Citrate (n. 3). Pulsatile gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) was given intravenously via automatic micropump, with a pulse interval of 90' and a pulse dose of 5 mcg/day. Ovulation was achieved in 7 cases (70%), whereas the failure of therapy was observed in 3 patients (30%), all affected by PCOD. The mean duration of follicular phase was 15 days and the ovulatory cycles did not need the luteal phase support. The maximum length of infusional therapy was 20 days with a low incidence of adverse side effects such as phlebitis; only in one patient a mild ovarian hyperstimulation was observed. Our results confirm that infusional pulsatile GnRH therapy is a very important tool to ovulation induction and it is more successful in primary or secondary amenorrhea and in hypothalamic disorders than in PCOD.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Intracellular potassium in normal and pathological pregnancy. II. Experimental results].

Intraerythrocyte potassium was determined on samples from 198 physiologic, 88 hypertensive and 92 diabetic pregnant women. An increasing trend was observed during puerperium after the day 3, but a significant difference among the groups was not detected. These results may be due to a wider involvement of other cations (sodium, calcium) in the pathophysiology of pregnancy.

Erythrocytes↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Intracellular potassium in normal and pathological pregnancy. I. Regulation of transport and concentration].

Potassium is the most represented intracellular cation. Its concentration is regulated by active and passive mechanisms: cellular capacity, diffusion, channels and active transport. The relationships among Potassium and other cell cations may be involved in the pregnancy adaptation, and in the pathogenesis of some diseases, among which hypertension and diabetes.

Body Fluids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Integrated neuropsychopathological approach in patients affected by amenorrhea.

A compared study of neurovegetative modifications (following stress stimula) and of psychopathological aspects in patients affected by amenorrhea was carried out. Such an integrated approach is useful for a better definition of clinical characteristic and for a selection of a suitable therapeutic approach.

Adolescent↗