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Biomedical subjects

C Zara

Publications and source records attributed to C Zara.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Factors potentiating the smoking-related risk of fetal growth retardation.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the risk of fetal growth retardation resulting from the interaction between maternal smoking during pregnancy and other recognized risk factors. DESIGN: Case-control study of prospectively recorded data. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Pavia, Italy. SUBJECTS: Three hundred and forty-seven singleton pregnancies with diagnosis of fetal growth retardation and 694 control pregnancies with appropriately grown fetuses. RESULTS: The overall odds ratio for fetal growth retardation associated with maternal smoking was 2.87 (95% confidence interval, 2.17-3.80). In logistic models the factors which independently increased the smoking-related risk of fetal growth retardation were a male fetus, nulliparity, maternal age 20 years or less, a history of first trimester haemorrhage and low (less than 50 kg) pre-pregnancy weight. The combined effect of smoking and caffeine consumption on the risk of fetal growth retardation was found to be additive rather than multiplicative. CONCLUSIONS: Several factors can affect the risk of fetal growth retardation associated with maternal smoking. The prenatal identification of these factors could help detect subgroups of women at high risk of fetal growth retardation.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Pituitary and ovarian interleukin-1 alpha content changes according to estrous cycle and acute stress exposure.

A complex interaction between the immune and neuroendocrine systems has been established. In particular, cytokines are known to be one of the mediators of the stress response, and modulate hormone secretion by acting in the brain, pituitary and gonads. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether pituitary and ovarian interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) content changes according to the estrous cycle. In addition, the possible pituitary and ovarian IL-1 alpha changes in rats exposed to acute (5 min) or chronic intermittent (twice a day for 4 days) cold swimming stress were studied. The IL-1 alpha content of ovarian and pituitary homogenates was measured by a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay. Immunoreactive IL-1 alpha (irIL-1 alpha) was detectable only in ovaries collected in rats at proestrus and estrus while not in those collected at diestrus I and II. The highest values were found at proestrus. No significant changes were found in ovarian irIL-1 alpha content in rats exposed to acute or chronic intermittent stress in comparison to control rats. In the pituitary, no difference in IL-1 alpha content was found throughout the estrous cycle. Acute stress induced a significant increase in pituitary irIL-1 alpha content only at proestrus (p < 0.01), however, no significant differences were found in comparison to control rats after chronic intermittent stress. The proestrus-related changes of ovarian IL-1 alpha may constitute a hormone-dependent signal within the ovary that is involved in the ovulatory process.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Combined use of goserelin acetate and human menopausal gonadotropin in the induction of follicular growth in a program of fertilization in vitro and embryo transfer].

OBJECTIVE: to investigate the efficacy of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GN-RH-a) in combination with human menopausal menotropin (hMG) for in-vitro fertilization. METHODS: 30 infertile women aged 32 to 37 years received a combined treatment with a long-acting slow-releasing Gn-RH-a and hMG to perform ovarian stimulation in a program of in-vitro fertilization. Serum levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), 17-beta-estradiol (E2), Progesterone (P), were evaluated and transvaginal ultrasonographic examinations were performed during the treatment to assess the ovarian volume, the mean number and diameter of growing follicles and the endometrial morphology and thickness. Oocyte retrieval was performed by transvaginal-ultrasound-guided approach, 24-36 hours after the administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). RESULTS: our data suggest that the combined use of Gn-RH-a and exogenous gonadotropins is associated with a more uniform ovarian response and with the absence of premature LH discharge. Moreover, the Gn-RH-a as polymer implant provides a controlled delivery per day over a one-month period and avoids the inconvenience of a daily administration. CONCLUSIONS: this kind of Gn-RH-a formulation, in in-vitro fertilization programs, appears very effective in inducing a reversible hypogonadic state, easy to manage and well tolerated by the patient. Its association with exogenous gonadotropins appears to be effective in increasing the success rate of good quality oocyte retrieval.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Vaccination against hepatitis B in health workers and other staff in Barcelona].

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the results of a hepatitis B vaccination programme, in order to find the levels of acceptance of the programme and adherence to it, as well as the immunological response and the impact of age, gender and the index of corporal mass (ICM). DESIGN: This was a retrospective study. SETTING: Primary Care. PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS: 2,055 Primary Care professionals considered at risk (43.3% of the Area total). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Out of the total number of professionals at risk, 1,294 (63%) agreed to have the serological markers. The prevalence of markers of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) was 16.07% (208), which increased with age (p < 0.0001). 87% had three doses (961/1,106). 863 (89.8%) of these went through the post-vaccination controls and levels of HB antibodies above 10 IU/ml were found in 790 (91.5%). The fourth dose produced favorable results (66.7%) in individuals with HB antibodies between 10 and 100 IU/ml and unfavorable ones (3.8%) where the HB antibodies were below 10 IU/ml. CONCLUSIONS: The hepatitis B vaccination programme has not enjoyed total acceptance by Primary Care professionals, although a satisfactory level of adherence has been reached. Age is the variable linked most closely to the risk of a poor immunological response, though ICM and gender should not be ignored.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Hypothalamic amenorrhea: evidence for a central derangement of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortex axis activity.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) in patients with hypothalamic amenorrhea. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS: Amenorrheic women with a history of emotional stressful events and eumenorrheic women as control group were studied. DESIGN: Pulsatile cortisol (F) secretion over a 4-hour period of time and plasma F responses to various neuroendocrine tests (naloxone, fenfluramine, corticotropin-releasing hormone [CRH], adrenocorticotropic hormone) were investigated. RESULTS: Women with hypothalamic amenorrhea showed a F secretory pattern higher than normal women. In addition, the lack of naloxone or fenfluramine-induced release of F and a blunted F response to CRH test were observed. CONCLUSION: The increased activity of HPA in patients with hypothalamic amenorrhea is associated with an impaired activity of some central pathways (opioids and serotonin), suggesting multiple alterations in the hypothalamic control of pituitary-adrenal axis in amenorrheic women.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Use of restricted antibiotics in primary care.

The objective of this study was to detect and evaluate the use of restricted antibiotics (RAs) in our ambulatory care site. We retrospectively analyzed 1084 treatments of a selected group of intramuscularly administered antibiotics that are usually considered restricted for use in hospitals. Five cephalosporins, four aminoglycosides, and one acylureidopenicillin were analyzed. The study was conducted in 47 primary health centers over six months. We reported the information on a special order form for parenteral prescriptions and evaluated the selection and the dosing interval of each antibiotic. Of the 1084 treatments, cefonicid was the antibiotic most frequently prescribed (61.3 percent), followed by tobramycin (15.3 percent), cefotaxime sodium (6.7 percent), amikacin (3.8 percent), cefuroxime (3.8 percent), mezlocillin (3.7 percent), netilmicin sulfate (3.7 percent), ceftizoxime sodium (0.8 percent), cefoxitin (0.5 percent), and streptomycin sulfate (0.4 percent). Based on our survey criteria, 59 percent of the 710 orders that indicated diagnosis had a correct or possibly correct indication; the remaining percentage was considered unnecessary therapy or poor drug choice. Of the 1050 orders that indicated a dosing interval, 75.4 percent showed an appropriate dosing interval. We assume that most of the infections treated in our ambulatory care site could be resolved with or without common antibiotics. In this study we obtained objective data of the use of ten RAs in order to determine if their use in ambulatory patients was justified. We observed that a small number of prescriptions agreed with the recommended criteria stated in this survey for use of these antibiotics in outpatient infections.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1989

Effect of aluminum on bidirectional calcium flux in rat everted intestinal sacs.

The effect of aluminum on intestinal calcium absorption was determined in male Sprague-Dawley rats using an everted intestinal sac technique. Bidirectional calcium flux in the duodena and ilea of normal rats was assessed by means of dual calcium isotopes. Two micromolar aluminum significantly inhibited net calcium absorption (J net) in the duodenum through suppression of mucosato-serosa flux (J m----s). Jm----s was reduced from 2.21 +/- 0.50 mumol Ca.h-1.g wet wt-1 in controls to 0.93 +/- 0.35 mumol Ca.h-1.g-1 in aluminum exposed sacs, and Jnet was reduced from 1.88 +/- 0.14 mumol Ca.h-1.g-1 to 0.55 +/- 0.41 mumol Ca.h-1.g-1 (P less than 0.001). Serosa-to-mucosa calcium flux (Js----m) was not similarly influenced by aluminum. Inhibition of Jm----s occurred whether aluminum was initially present on the mucosal or serosal side of the duodenal sac and inhibition of Jnet calcium by 2 muM A1 occurred at all ambient concentrations of calcium studied. In the ileum, aluminum had no effect on any component of calcium flux. Aluminum did not induce any suppression of glucose transport in either the duodenum or ileum, suggesting that the effect on calcium transport is relatively specific. These results suggest that aluminum inhibits calcium absorption in the duodenum through an effect on active mucosa-to-serosa transport, but has no effect on ileal calcium absorption, which in the rat is not mediated by an active process.

Aluminum↗
PubMed1987

The role of suggestion in asthma. I. Effects of inactive solution on bronchial reactivity under bronchoconstrictor or bronchodilator suggestion.

Twenty-eight subjects affected by perennial asthma were selected in order to investigate the possibility of inducing or relieving an asthmatic attack by means of suggestion. Twenty-five were positive to methacholine challenge test and, among them, eleven reacted to an ultrasonic nebulized distilled water test. The effect of suggestion on airway response was assessed by eight inhalations of normal saline at 32 degrees C alternately presented as a bronchoconstrictor or as a bronchodilator drug. Eight inhalations of the same diluent without any psychic stimulus were used as control test. Seven patients reacted with bronchoconstriction to both positive and negative suggestion and to control test. Further, this group of patients showed a lower methacholine PD20 when compared with the other subjects. In this study, the effects of suggestion on bronchial reactivity were not observed and bronchoconstriction belonged to an individual hyperreactivity of the airways.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1983

Hypergammaglobulinemic purpura of Waldenström: characterization of circulating immune complexes.

Circulating immune complexes were detected in the sera of 7 patients with hypergammaglobulinemic purpura of Waldenström by the following methods: KgB-SP, mRF-LIA, Cc test, ClqBA. Analytical ultracentrifugation showed intermediate complexes between 7S and 19S (16S-19S); simple immunodiffusion of the complexes, purified by 2.5% PEG precipitation, revealed the presence of IgG3, IgA, IgM, Clq, C3 and C4. Constant high titers of rheumatoid activity in the sera in toto and after purification, and normal serum complement levels were also detected.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

PRL action on E2 ovarian secretion.

5 Amenorrhea hyperprolactinemic women in previous intermittent treatment with bromocryptine, received bromocryptine for three periods of 5, 4, 3 days; each treatment phase was followed by a ten days suspension. During treatment and during suspension FSH, LH, PRL and E2 were tested. There was no significative variation of FSH and LH; PRL lowered during treatment and reached basal values during suspension. Ovarian response (E2) varies with PRL levels. There was a statistically significative negative correlation between PRL and 17-beta-E2.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Serum prolactin levels during inhibition of lactation by cyclofenil.

Inhibition of lactation is now usually achieved by the use of dopaminergic or antiserotoninergic drugs. An interesting, alternative approach, however, is represented by the use of antiestrogenic agents, though their mechanism of action is still uncertain. We have given cyclofenil at daily doses of 1200, 800 and 600 mg to a total of 100 post-partum women who required not to lactate. The clinical results were excellent or good in 83 women, fair in 9 and poor in 8. After 3, 5, and 7 days of treatment serum prolactin levels of treated women, if compared with those of control group, showed a decrease ranging from 25 to 27%, from 42 to 44%, and from 60 to 64% respectively. Blood coagulation, as judged by several laboratory parameters, did not show abnormal changes in any subject treated with cyclofenil.

Cresols↗