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Biomedical subjects

F Franchi

Publications and source records attributed to F Franchi.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

The cardiac electrophysiological effects of nifedipine.

A study was carried out on the electrophysiological effects of a sublingually administered antianginal drug: nifedipine (20 mg). The results show a significant shortening of sinus cycle length from 925 +/- 249 msec to 810 +/- 245 msec, (p less than 0.005) and the disappearance of some interpolation and echo zones. There are no significant effects on the other evaluated parameters of sino-atrial and AV-node function. In one case, during atrial pacing, a second-degree, Wenckebach type, A-V block was present only before nifedipine. The following conclusions were reached: 1. nifedipine has no significant electrophysiological effect on the human heart; 2. the electrophysiological effects observed are probably indirect and related to the vasodilating effect of the drug; 3. the absence of direct cardiac electrophysiological actions may be useful in patients suffering from coronary artery disease and presenting disturbances in the formation and/or conduction of the cardiac impulse.

Adult↗

Circulating prolactin and its response to TRH following administration of testosterone undecanoate in normal men.

To investigate the effect of orally administered testosterone undercanoate (TU) on circulating prolactin (PRL) and PRL response to TRH stimulation, 8 eugonadal male volunteers, aged 19--30, presenting with normal plasma levels of FSH, LH, testosterone (T), estradiol (E2) and PRL, were given 120 mg/day of TU for 6 days. Plasma PRL levels were measured daily during the pre-treatment phase (3 days), treatment phase (6 days) and post-treatment phase (3 days) by radioimmunoassay. The TRH Test (200 micrograms iv) was done on the 3rd day of the pretreatment phase and on the treatment phase. No significant changes in circulating PRL levels or in PRL response to TRH stimulation were observed. Plasma T and E2 levels showed a slight, but not significant tendency to increase, while gonadotropin levels remained unchanged.

Adult↗

Effect of epimestrol on gonadotropin and prolactin plasma levels and response to luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone/thyrotropin-releasing hormone in secondary amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea.

The effects of epimestrol (5 mg every 6 hours for 5 days) on basal levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (Prl), estradiol, progesterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and on the response to LH-releasing hormone (LH-RH) and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation, were studied in 18 cases of secondary amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea of hypothalamic-pituitary origin, in three cases of anorexia nervosa, in two cases of long-lasting progestin-induced amenorrhea, and in one case of precocious menopause. The results in the first 18 patients indicate that epimestrol treatment induces a significant increase in LH and Prl levels after 24 hours, while the FSH increase becomes significant only after 4 days of therapy. Twelve hours after discontinuation of treatment, all three hormone levels decreased significantly to values similar to the basal levels, while the pituitary response to LH-RH indicated a much more marked LH secretion than before treatment. A second test, performed 36 hours after the last drug administration, again showed a significantly higher LH response than that found under basal conditions. No significant variations were observed in the FSH response to LH-RH, nor in the Prl response to TRH. These data suggest that epimestrol interferes at the level of the centers responsible for Prl and gonadotropin secretion in the manner of a weak estrogen.

Adolescent↗

Plasma steroid dynamics in Cushing's syndrome.

The dynamics of five plasma steroids were studied by CPB and RIA in twenty patients with Cushing's syndrome of differing etiologies: pituitary induced adrenal hyperplasia (10), recurrence after adrenal surgery or pituitary irradiation (4), adrenal carcinoma (4) and adrenal adenoma (2). Basal mean values of plasma steroids, showed increase of cortisol in hyperplasia and cancer groups, increase of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OH-P) in recurrence and cancer groups and decrease of testosterone in male patients. In hyperplasia, the changes in 11-desoxycortisol and 17-OH-P (respectively by CPB assay and RIA after LH-20-Sephadex separation) were the reverse of those for cortisol 2 h and 24 h after metyrapone administration. Adrenalectomy determined in all but one patients, significant decrease of cortisol and in male patients, parallel gradual increase of testosterone.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Effects of orally administered oestradiol decanoate on plasma oestradiol, oestrone and gonadotrophin levels, vaginal cytology, cervical mucus and endometrium in ovariectomized women.

Six ovariectomized women with the uterus left in situ were given a daily oral dose of 0.5 mg of oestradiol decaneoate in oil for 14 days. After a single dose of oestradiol decanoate mean plasma oestradiol rose from 26.8 pg/ml to 66.8 pg/ml within 30 min. There was a further rise to 100-110 pg/ml (P less than 0.001) remaining at the same level over a 24 h period. On repeated daily administration of oestradiol decanoate this rise continued reaching the mean value of 187.1 pg/ml (P less than 0.001) at 2 weeks, while plasma oestrone remained at the same level (147.1 pg/ml) as it was at 24 h. The ratio of plasma oestrone:oestradiol was less than 1 at 2 weeks. Plasma FSH and LH fell progressively during the medication. Changes of the Maturation Index, cervical mucus Ferning and Spinnbarkeit demonstrated the strong 'peripheral' activity of this dose of oestradiol decanoate. All endometrial specimens showed late proliferative changes at 2 weeks. It was concluded that the favourable properties of oestradiol decanoate offer new possibilities for a more physiological oestrogen supplementation therapy.

Adult↗

The mechanism of action of a normophasic oral contraceptive 'Fysioquens'.

Six women with normal menstrual cycles were treated over six cycles with Fysioquens, a normophasic contraceptive consisting of 7 tablets of ethinyloestradiol (EE) 0-050 mg and 15 tablets containing 1-0 mg lynestrenol + 0-050 mg EE. In the 1st, 3rd and 6th treatment cycles and in the cycles before and after treatment, hormonal assays and other tests were carried out to determine whether ovulation had occurred. No treatment cycles showed any signs of ovulation, but it did occur in the pre-and post-treatment cycles. Blood pressures and liver function tests remained normal, but two of the six volunteers showed a slight increase in body-weight.

Adult↗

[Effects of oxyfedrine on sino-atrial function and on conduction in patients with sinus node and/or atrial dysrhythmias (author's transl)].

The electrophysiological effects of Oxyfedrine on sino-atrial function and on A-V junctional and subjunctional conduction have been studied in 16 patients with sinus node and/or atrial dysrhythmias. The following effects have been observed: --a positive chronotropic effect on the sinus node; --an essentially indirect (rate-dependent) shortening of the Functional and Effective Refractory Periods (FRP and ERP) of the atria without variation of the Intra-Atrial Conduction Time (HRA-LRA). There was no significant shortening of the Maximal Atrial Latency (max AL), of the Corrected Sinus Node Recovery Time (CSNRT) and of the Sino-Atrial Conduction Time (SACT). The limits of Zones I, II, III of the sinus node response to atrial extra-stimuli were reduced with no significant change in their duration, expressed as percentage of the Sinus Cycle Length (SCL); --an improvement in the A-V junctional conduction (shortening of the A-H interval for comparable cycle lengths) due to a relatively shortened A-V junctional ERP. The use of the drug in patients with sinus bradycardia and/or atrial dysrhythmias and conduction disturbances, is proposed.

Adult↗