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Biomedical subjects

D Parrini

Publications and source records attributed to D Parrini.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Treatment of hirsutism: comparisons between different antiandrogens with central and peripheral effects.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical and endocrinologic effects of cyproterone acetate (CPA), an antiandrogen with progestational activity; flutamide, a nonsteroidal antiandrogen, and finasteride, an inhibitor of 5alpha-reductase. DESIGN: Randomized, open, controlled clinical study. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. PATIENT(S): Forty-five hirsute women were enrolled in the study: 29 were hyperandrogenic and 16 had idiopathic hirsutism. Three women dropped out of the study. INTERVENTION(S): Women were randomly treated with finasteride (5 mg/d; n = 14), CPA (25 mg plus ethinyl E2 (EE); n = 13), or flutamide (500 mg/d; n = 15) for 1 year. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Hirsutism was assessed using the Ferriman-Gallwey method. Levels of total and free T, androstenedione (A), DHEAS, sex hormone-binding globulin, dihydrotestosterone, and 3alpha-androstanediol glucuronide were evaluated at the beginning of the study and every 3 months. RESULT(S): Treatment with finasteride, flutamide, and CPA significantly decreased the Ferriman-Gallwey score. The percent decreases in the hirsutism score induced by the different treatments were similar. Treatment with CPA plus EE significantly decreased levels of total and free T, A, dihydrotestosterone, and 3alpha-androstanediol glucuronide. These parameters were unchanged with flutamide therapy. Finasteride significantly increased total T levels but reduced dihydrotestosterone and 3alpha-androstanediol glucuronide concentrations. CONCLUSION(S): Finasteride, CPA, and flutamide are equally effective in decreasing hirsutism, despite different mechanisms of action.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Endocrine, neuroendocrine and behavioral effects of oral dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate supplementation in postmenopausal women.

Aging in women and men is characterized by a progressive decline of circulating dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels and its sulfate ester (DHEAS). The improvement of wellbeing described in postmenopausal women treated with DHEA suggests that this steroid may exert specific actions on the central nervous system (CNS). The postmenopausal period is associated with several neuroendocrine modifications. The decrease of circulating levels of beta-endorphin is considered a hormonal marker of those changes. The aim of the present study was to investigate neuroendocrine and behavioral effects of three months of DHEAS supplementation in postmenopausal women. Postmenopausal women (n = 22) were divided in three groups: the first group was treated with oral DHEAS (n = 8) (50 mg/day), the second treated with the same dose of oral DHEAS + transdermal estradiol (n = 8) (DHEAS) 50 mg/day, estradiol 50 micrograms/patch) and the third with transdermal estradiol alone (n = 6) (50 micrograms/day). Before and after 1, 2 and 3 months of therapy, the following circulating steroid and protein hormone levels were evaluated: DHEA, DHEAS, androstenedione, testosterone, estrone, estradiol, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), beta-endorphin, growth hormone (GH) and cortisol, and a Kupperman score was performed. Before and after treatments, plasma beta-endorphin levels were evaluated in response to three neuroendocrine tests: (a) clonidine, an alpha 2-presynaptic adrenergic agonist (1.25 mg i.v.) (b) naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist (4 mg i.v.) and (c) fluoxetine, a serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor (30 mg p.o.). In both groups of women treated with DHEAS, mean basal serum DHEA, DHEAS, androstenedione, and testosterone levels significantly increased after treatment, while no changes were shown in the group receiving estradiol alone. Serum estradiol, estrone, GH and plasma beta-endorphin levels significantly increased progressively for the three months of treatment, with higher levels for estrone and estradiol in subjects receiving estradiol alone or plus DHEAS. Serum SHBG, cortisol, and 17-hydroxyprogesterone did not show significant variations under any treatment. Serum LH and FSH levels showed a significant decrease in groups treated with estradiol alone or plus DHEAS at the second and third months. The Kupperman score showed that all treatments were associated with similar and progressive improvement. Before therapy clonidine, naloxone and fluoxetine stimuli failed to modify circulating beta-endorphin levels. After each of the treatments, the beta-endorphin response was completely restored and was similar, independent of the kind of therapy. Restoration of the beta-endorphin response to specific stimuli suggests that DHEAS and/or its active metabolites modulates the neuroendocrine control of pituitary beta-endorphin secretion, which may support the therapeutic efficacy of the DHEAS on behavioral symptoms.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1997

Serum immunoglobulins E are related to menstrual cycle.

During a cross sectional epidemiological survey on a general population sample, 596 fertile women underwent total serum IgE determination. They completed an interviewer-administered standardized questionnaire and were categorized according to their menstrual period. They were divided into two groups: those from days 10 to 20, who were considered to be in the periovulatory phase, and those in the other phases. IgE mean values were significantly different (p = 0.01) in the two groups: particularly, lower IgE values were found in those in periovulatory phase, after accounting for smoking habit and atopic status. By multiple regression analysis, taking into account the independent effects of menstrual period, age, smoking habit, hours of fast, skin prick test reactivity and presence of cough, significantly lower IgE values in the periovulatory phase were found. We hypothesize the possibility that a decrease of IgE concentration occurs during midcycle: a reduced immune response might facilitate the ovuli implantation. Further studies are necessary to longitudinally investigate the trend of IgE in the same women, as well as the distributions and the trends of other immunoglobulins.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Effects of finasteride, a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, on circulating androgens and gonadotropin secretion in hirsute women.

An oral 5-mg dose of finasteride, a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, was administered for 3 months to 10 hirsute women to determine the effect on gonadotropin secretion, on basal and stimulated androgen secretion, and on hair growth. Hair growth was assessed by the Ferriman-Gallwey score. All of the above determinations were evaluated before and after 1 and/or 3 months of finasteride treatment. Basal and GnRH-stimulated gonadotropin secretions were not affected. Indeed, finasteride did not modify the pulsatility of LH secretion. No change was seen in estradiol, PRL, free testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and sex hormone-binding globulin concentrations. Serum concentrations of cortisol (F) were significantly reduced after 1 month of finasteride treatment. The F levels returned to pretreatment levels after 3 months. Plasma levels of dihydrotestosterone and 3 alpha-androstanediol glucuronide significantly decreased during finasteride treatment. A significant increase in testosterone concentrations was observed after 3 months. Finasteride did not modify the responses of testosterone, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate to ACTH-(1-24) injection. Conversely, finasteride blunted the F response to corticotropin stimulation. Three months of finasteride treatment significantly decreased the Ferriman-Gallwey score. In conclusion, finasteride significantly decreased dihydrotestosterone and hair growth in hirsute women without negatively affecting gonadotropin secretion.

5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors↗
PubMed1993

Effects of ipriflavone administration on bone mass and metabolism in ovariectomized women.

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of ipriflavone administration in the prevention of the rapid bone loss that follows ovariectomy in women. After 10-30 days from bilateral ovariectomy, patients received either the sole calcium supplementation (500 mg/day, n = 16) or ipriflavone (600 mg/day, n = 16) in addition to the same daily calcium supplement for 12 months. In calcium-treated subjects urinary hydroxyproline excretion, serum alkaline phosphatase and plasma bone Gla protein levels showed a substantial (p < 0.01) increase, while radial bone density significantly (p < 0.01) decreased 6 months after surgery. In ipriflavone treated group the patterns of biochemical markers indicated that ipriflavone can restrain the bone remodeling processes and radial bone density showed no significant modification during the 12 month study period. These results demonstrate that ipriflavone administration prevents the rapid bone loss that follows ovariectomy. Thus, ipriflavone can represent an attractive alternative for the prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women who present contraindications to the estrogen replacement therapy.

Bone Density↗
PubMed1984

[Correlation between presence of estradiol receptors and epidemiological and clinical data on breast cancer].

The aim of the study is to find an eventual correlation between the presence of Er receptors and epidemiologic (age, domestic anamnesis, weight, menarca) and clinicist factors (cancerous diameter, linfonodes, first symptoms). The presence of receptors is very important for the start of endocrine therapy. In conclusion we can affirm the absence of correlation between the presence of receptors and the factors we considered. The only exception is about the age of patients; very probably because too little number of patients was considered. On the contrary a correlation was observed between receptors and severity of cancerous receptors in neoplastic tissues was obtained with Poffanelli method using an Ultra-Turrax homogenization followed by a centrifugation at 3800 rpm; the separation was achieved with carbon-dextran.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Lack of correlation between amniotic fluid and maternal plasma contents of beta-endorphin, beta-lipotropin, and adrenocorticotropic hormone in normal and pathologic pregnancies.

Reported are the concentrations of beta-endorphin, beta-lipotropin, and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in the amniotic fluid and plasma of 40 healthy pregnant women at different stages of gestation. Moreover, the amniotic fluid levels of the three peptides were evaluated in 20 other pregnant women affected by different pathologic conditions (Cooley's disease, gestosis, diabetes, placental insufficiency, etc.). A silicic acid extraction procedure was performed on the samples. Each extract was subjected to Sephadex G-75 column chromatography, and the two fractions corresponding to beta-lipotropin and beta-endorphin were collected, freeze-dried, and assayed by two specific radioimmunoassays. Levels of ACTH were measured by radioimmunoassay directly on the extracts. Levels of beta-endorphin in amniotic fluid showed the highest values in the first trimester (173 +/- 30 fmol/ml, mean +/- SEM) but were significantly decreased in the second (75.2 +/- 14) and third trimesters (14.3 +/- 1.8). An inverse trend characterized plasma levels of beta-endorphin, which showed a progressive increase from the first trimester to term (10.4 +/- 11.1). Amniotic fluid levels of beta-lipotropin remained stable during the first (48.6 +/- 6.3) and second (54.6 +/- 11.1) trimesters, but decreased significantly in the third trimester (17.9 +/- 2.3). The plasma concentrations of beta-lipotropin showed the highest levels in the first trimester (10.9 +/- 0.9), and decreased significantly at term (8.9 +/- 1.3). Last, amniotic fluid levels of ACTH decreased from 55.3 +/- 4.75 fmol/ml in the first trimester to 12.5 +/- 1.16 in the second trimester, and rose again in the third trimester to 34.4 +/- 6.6 fmol/ml. Plasma levels of ACTH were characterized in the first two trimesters by values twice those recorded for nonpregnant women, and decreased at term to 8.9 +/- 1.4 fmol/ml. In the pregnant patients with fetuses affected by Cooley's disease (second trimester) and in those with edema-proteinuria-hypertension (EPH) gestosis (third trimester), amniotic fluid levels of beta-endorphin, beta-lipotropin, and ACTH were in the same range as those in healthy pregnant women.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1984

Impaired circadian rhythmicity of beta-lipotrophin, beta-endorphin and ACTH in heroin addicts.

The circadian rhythm of plasma proopiocortin-related peptides was studied in 15 heroin addicts and in 6 sex- and age-matched controls. ACTH, beta-lipotrophin, (beta-LPH), beta-endorphin (beta-EP) and cortisol were measured by RIA either directly (cortisol), or after plasma extraction (ACTH) and Sephadex G-75 gel chromatography (beta-LPH and beta-EP) every 4 h from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and again at 8 a.m. the next morning. The means of the two 8 a.m. measurements of beta-LPH (2.67 +/- 0.34 fmol/ml, mean +/- SE), ACTH (2.74 +/- 0.71) and cortisol (218 +/- 31 pmol/ml) levels in heroin addicts were significantly lower than those in controls (6.28 +/- 0.61, 10.1 +/- 0.74 and 364 +/- 27, respectively, P less than 0.01) while beta-EP concentrations in heroin addicts (5.1 +/- 0.6) were similar to those of healthy volunteers (6.44 +/- 0.56). In controls, all three peptides and cortisol show a circadian rhythm of secretion, the lowest values being in the evening and the highest ones in the morning. Heroin addicts partially lack this phenomenon showing constant levels of the three proopiocortin-related peptides throughout the day, with a slight but significant decrease of plasma cortisol. In the 7 subjects who took heroin throughout the study, no systematic changes were observed in the three proopiocortin-related peptides, while it seems that this group of addicts shows a cortisol decrease in the evening to a lesser extent than subjects receiving methadone maintenance only.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Beta-endorphin, beta-lipotropin and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels in cerebrospinal fluid, and brain damage in chronic alcoholics.

In 34 chronic alcoholics, subdivided into two groups according to the state of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH), beta-endorphin (beta-EP), ACTH and cortisol levels were determined in basal conditions in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Hormonal concentrations were correlated with brain damage and mnesic function. The results indicate the reduced CSF beta-EP content in chronic alcoholics and suggest that peripheral beta-EP may penetrate into the CSF compartment when there is BBB damage. They also sustain the different origins of central and peripheral pro-opiocortin-related peptides, and support the concept that beta-EP, beta-LPH and ACTH may be autonomously regulated at the central level. Moreover, both morphological brain damage and mnesic impairment in chronic alcoholics are unrelated to CSF peptide levels. The role of opioid peptides in the nature of alcohol-seeking behavior is supported.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1983

Simultaneous circadian variations of plasma ACTH, beta-lipotropin, beta-endorphin and cortisol.

The major objective of this study was to investigate the analogy existing between the typical circadian periodicity of ACTH and that recently described of beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH) and beta-endorphin (beta-EP) plasma levels. The determination of their concentrations, plus cortisol, has been performed on the same plasma samples of 6 healthy volunteers. All hormones were measured by radioimmunoassay. Those of beta-LPH and beta-EP were preceded by a purification of plasma through silicic acid extraction and Sephadex G-75 gel filtration. The highest values (mean +/- SEM) were found in the morning (ACTH: 10.3 +/- 0.9; beta-LPH; 6.3 +/- 0.7; beta-EP: 6.5 +/- 0.5 fmol/ml; cortisol: 378 +/- 30 pmol/ml) and the lowest values in the evening (ACTH: 6:1 +/- 0.7; beta-LPH: 3.3 +/- 0.4; beta-EP: 3.7 +/- 0.6 fmol/ml; cortisol: 130 +/- 23 pmol/ml). Statistical analysis using the Fourier method led to the evidence of a concomitant circadian secretory pattern of the three proopiocortin-related peptides. These results strongly suggest that the phasic secretion of ACTH, beta-LPH and beta-EP underlies a common central control.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1983

Proopiocortin-related peptide plasma levels throughout prepuberty and puberty.

The plasma patterns of ACTH, beta-lipotropin (beta LPH) and beta-endorphin (beta EP), in addition to those of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHAS), were studied in 139 prepubertal children (subdivided into different age groups) and 38 adolescents (subdivided according to Tanner's pubertal stages) aged 10-16 yr. The adult control group was composed of 23 females and 12 males aged 17-40 yr. No sex differences were found in ACTH, beta LPH, beta EP, and cortisol plasma levels. ACTH plasma levels were slightly lower in the 1- to 3-yr-old groups than in males at 4-5 yr and females at 8-9 yr. No further significant differences were observed in any of the age or pubertal groups, the concentrations being constantly in the adult range. beta LPH and beta EP plasma levels were lowest at 1-3 yr in both males (beta LPH: 2.1 +/- 0.25, beta EP: 1.85 +/- 0.59 fmol/ml, mean +/- SE) and females (beta LPH: 2.8 +/- 0.31; beta EP: 2.41 +/- 0.41 fmol/ml); plasma levels of both hormones increased progressively in both sexes until Puberty 1 stage of sexual maturation, at which time levels were 7.3 +/- 0.78 and 8.69 +/- 1.0 fmol/ml in males and 7.1 +/- 0.34 and 6.76 +/- 0.13 fmol/ml in females; these levels are similar to adult values. A highly significant linear correlation was found between both beta LPH and beta EP concentrations and the age of the subjects; this was not true for ACTH plasma levels. Cortisol plasma levels were similar in all groups. DHAS plasma levels increased progressively from 1-3 yr to the end of sexual maturation when adult values were reached. During prepuberty, DHAS levels were significantly correlated with both beta LPH and beta EP, but not ACTH. These data indicate that plasma beta LPH and beta EP concentrations, in contrast to ACTH levels, increase progressively throughout prepuberty and suggest that the processing of the parent proopiocortin molecule or secretion of the processed peptides from the anterior pituitary (or other sources) may change from early infancy to adulthood. Furthermore, the correlation between both beta LPH and beta EP with DHAS plasma levels in prepuberty suggests a role of proopiocortin-related peptides in adrenarche.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Fetomaternal opioid levels and parturition.

The present study evaluates the plasma level changes in beta-lipotropin and beta-endorphin in nine women at term throughout spontaneous labor, in ten pregnant women undergoing elective cesarean section in the absence of uterine contractions, and in ten women submitted to emergency cesarean section because of fetal distress occurring during labor. A basal plasma sample was taken before labor in the 39th week of pregnancy. Two subsequent samples were then obtained before and after parturition, together with umbilical cord samples at birth. beta-lipotropin and beta-endorphin were measured by radioimmunoassay after silicic acid plasma extraction and gel filtration. In cases of spontaneous labor, there was a progressive increase in opioid concentrations as labor progressed, the maximal values being observed after delivery. Cord values were similar to those observed in the mother, without showing any relationship to them. Pregnant women undergoing cesarean section in the absence of labor show constant beta-lipotropin and beta-endorphin concentrations both before and after fetal extraction, both values being significantly lower than those found at delivery after spontaneous labor. beta-Endorphin neonatal levels were significantly higher than in the respective mothers and were in the same range as those of infants born through vaginal delivery. In the third group (cesarean section performed at the first stage of labor), presurgical opioid levels were higher than in women at the same stage of spontaneous labor, whereas postextraction values showed a wide range, with mean values similar to those observed after spontaneous delivery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Apgar Score↗
PubMed1982

[Circulating opioid peptides in chronic renal failure: acute effect of dialysis treatment].

In 14 patients affected by chronic renal failure (7 males and 7 females) it has been evaluated the secretion of beta LPH, beta EP, ACTH and Cortisol in basal conditions and immediately after a dialytic treatment. For beta LPH and beta EP measurements on each thawed plasma a silic acid extraction and a successive peptides separation by a Sephadex G-75 column chromatography preceeded the two specific RIAs. Basal beta LPH plasma levels resulted significantly higher than in normal controls, while that of beta EP, ACTH and Cortisol were in the normal range. The dialytic treatment was able to increase ACTH and Cortisol plasma levels, without to modified beta LPH and beta EP plasma levels.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1982

Opioid plasma levels during labour.

6 healthy pregnant women, monitored with external cardiotocography, were studied. Blood samples were collected hourly throughout labour until delivery of the fetus and placenta, and again on the 5th day of puerperium. beta-Lipotropin (beta LPH) and beta-endorphin (beta EP) were determined by specific radioimmunoassays in each sample, after silicic acid plasma extraction and G-75 column chromatography. Both opioid plasma levels rise progressively during labour, reaching their highest values 1 h before delivery (beta LPH: 296.0 +/- 60.2 pg/ml; beta EP 106.2 +/- 40.6 pg/ml) as compared with values of 157.0 +/- 35.4 (beta LPH) and 57.0 +/- 7.3 pg/ml (beta EP) (mean +/- SE) at the beginning of labour. With the exception of 1 case, a significant correlation was observed between beta LPH and beta EP plasma levels. The two opioid plasma levels decrease after delivery of the placenta (272.5 +/- 59.6 and 118.2 +/- 68.4 pg/ml) and subsequently decrease further to levels of 105.6 +/- 46.4 (beta LPH) and 33.7 +/- 16.5 (beta RP) on the 5th day of puerperium. beta LPH and beta EP plasma levels showed a significant correlation throughout labour with the 'uterine contractility force/hour', which was calculated by the addition of tocographic areas of each uterine contraction at 1-hour intervals. These data demonstrate that the increase in plasma opioid concentrations during labor is directly related to the number and intensity of uterine contractions.

Endorphins↗
PubMed1982

Central deficiency of beta-endorphin in alcohol addicts.

Alcohol addiction may induce its dependence through a mechanism involving opiate receptors and opioid peptides. For these reasons, we measured ACTH, beta-lipotropin, and beta-endorphin in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 29 alcohol addicts and compared these values with those found in 8 normal volunteers. Although no significant differences existed in peripheral concentrations of the 3 peptides, alcohol addicts had beta-endorphin levels in CSF (mean +/- SE, 29.4 +/- 4.5 fmol/ml) that were 3-fold lower than those of the controls (98.4 +/- 10.5 fmol/ml; P less than 0.001) and ACTH levels 4 times higher than control values (30.0 +/- 1.8 vs. 7.4 +/- 1.1 fmol/ml in controls; P less than 0.001), while no difference was found in beta-lipotropin levels. These results suggest that alcohol addiction is associated with a marked alteration in the CSF content of proopiocortin-related peptides which may play a role in the alcohol-seeking behavior typical of the syndrome.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗