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Biomedical subjects

M Marchini

Publications and source records attributed to M Marchini.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Enhanced pre-ovulatory progesterone levels in fertile cycles during clomiphene citrate treatment.

We compared ovulatory changes in fertile and preceding infertile cycles in 21 patients with unexplained infertility conceiving after clomiphene citrate treatment. No significant differences were observed in follicular growth, cervical score and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. Progesterone was higher (P less than 0.05) in the 2 days preceding ovulation in fertile cycles, luteinizing hormone (LH) higher (P less than 0.05) the day before, and 17-beta-estradiol lower (P less than 0.05) 4 days before. Stimulating progesterone secretion by systematic LH administration before ovulation could improve secretory endometrial transformation and thus reproductive prognosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Collagen fibril surface structures: freeze-etching data and computer modelling.

In order to investigate the correlation between primary structure and surface profile of collagen, freeze-fractured and deep-etched (dehydrated) collagen fibrils have been compared with a fibril model built directly from the amino acid sequence. The model appeared to be almost identical to the freeze-etched collagen fibril with respect to the most relevant features, such as the gap-overlap ratio and the location of the two main intraperiod ridges (X3 and X2). However, it did not show the minor ridges observed in the gap zone (X1 and Y1), thus suggesting that these structures, although consistently present in collagen fibrils, may in fact be due to post-translational modifications or to non-collagenic material adhering to the fibril.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Effect of peritoneal fluid on sperm motility and velocity distribution using objective measurements.

The aim of this study was to analyze in vitro the effect(s) of peritoneal fluid (PF) on sperm motility. Seventy PFs obtained during laparoscopy were tested on motile-rich sperm suspensions. Proportion of motile sperm and velocity distribution were evaluated by multiple-exposure photography technique. At time (t) = 0, PFs increased both sperm parameters as compared with control (P less than 0.01). Maximum effect was observed at t = 5 hours: 32 (45%) PFs increased and 5 (7%) decreased the proportion of motile sperm, while 8 (11%) PFs increased and 4 (6%) decreased sperm velocity. No correlation was found between a particular infertile group and a definite negative effect. However, 70% of PFs from fertile women maintained or increased the proportion of motile sperm at t = 5 hours, compared with 36% in the total infertile group. Comparison of the sperm motility effect(s) of a given PF on different ejaculates revealed that the effects observed also were influenced by the sperm sample tested. In conclusion, PFs can maintain or increase the motility of spermatozoa as function of time. However, some PFs can inhibit sperm motility and these effect(s) can be influenced by the sperm sample.

Body Fluids↗
PubMed1989

Enhanced preovulatory progesterone levels in clomiphene citrate-induced cycles.

We measured basal body temperature, cervical mucus, follicular diameter, and serum LH, FSH, 17 beta-estradiol, and progesterone daily in 40 spontaneous ovulatory cycles in 27 infertile women and in 40 clomiphene citrate-induced ovulatory cycles in 31 women. The cervical score was significantly lower and the serum FSH, LH, and 17 beta-estradiol levels were significantly higher during the follicular phase in induced compared with spontaneous cycles. Serum progesterone was significantly higher on the 3 days preceding ovulation and the day of ovulation in the induced cycles. These increased preovulatory serum progesterone levels could contribute to the lower cervical mucus score in the induced compared with spontaneous cycle, whereas their effect on the endometrium is still unclear.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Recovery of Chlamydia trachomatis from the endometria of women with unexplained infertility.

Fifty-two women with unexplained infertility and 55 controls with recently proved fertility were screened for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection in the blood and genital tract. Serum antibody titration was performed with indirect fluorescence. Cell cultures were performed to screen for CT in urethral and endocervical swabs, in endometrial samples taken without endocervical contamination and in salpingeal and/or peritoneal fluid samples. Anti-CT serum antibodies were detected in 36.5% of the patients; CT was isolated in urethral cultures in 26.9%, endocervical cultures in 23.1%, endometrial cultures in 25% and endosalpingeal and/or peritoneal fluid cultures in 1.9%. Comparison of the results in the patients and controls showed a significant difference in the incidence of CT infection in endometrial, urethral and endocervical cultures. Chlamydial endometritis could have been the direct cause of infertility in the patients studied or merely might have indicated endosalpingitis that was not detectable at laparoscopy.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Endometrial reconstruction after hysteroscopic incisional metroplasty.

Endometrial reconstruction after hysteroscopic metroplasty of a septate uterus was studied by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy when the uterus was removed 13 days after metroplasty for a histologic diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma. We observed a retraction of the margins of the incised septum, which could prevent the formation of intrauterine adhesions. Reepithelialization of the cut surface seemed to proceed both centripetally, by proliferation of the surrounding normal endometrium, and centrifugally from the bottom of the glands present at the base of the septum.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Ultrastructure of endosalpingeal biopsies in infertile patients: correlation with reproductive success.

We calculated the percentage of ciliated cells (PCC) in salpingeal microbiopsies of 41 patients with tubal infertility and ampullary microbiopsies of 36 fertile women, using the planimetric method at 500-1000 x at the scanning electron microscope. No relation was found between PCC and fertility after surgery. Thus normal ciliation does not seem to be essential for reproductive success and other factors such as the state of preservation of the tubal wall may be important.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1988

Prediction and self-prediction of ovulation in clomiphene citrate-treated patients.

We studied 15 infertile patients for a total of 25 cycles in order to compare the predictive value of the following parameters in timing ovulation: basal body temperature (BBT), cervical mucus, serum E2 and LH, follicular growth as shown by ultrasonography, and urinary LH. The patients themselves tested urinary LH at home using Clearplan kits. BBT had low value as a predictive test for the time of ovulation, whereas ultrasonography had a predictive value of 9%, serum E2 50%, cervical mucus 59%, serum LH 63.6% and Clearplan kits 63.6%. The best predictive reliability in timing ovulation was obtained by considering both serum LH and E2 measurements. The Clearplan kits were as reliable as serum LH measurements and have greater practical advantages.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Protection by opioids against gastric lesions caused by necrotizing agents.

The synthetic opioid met-enkephalin analog [D-Ala2, MePhe4, Met(0)5ol] enkephalin (DAMME) and the opiate morphine injected intraperitoneally to rats at doses of 0.5-2 and 5-20 mg/kg, respectively, showed a protective effect on gastric damage induced by oral administration of necrotizing agents (0.6 N HCl or 0.2 N NaOH solutions, 1 ml/rat). The protection was prevented by naltrexone (10 mg/kg s.c.), an opioid antagonist with long-lasting activity. Histological sections of mucosal samples from animals pretreated with morphine (10 mg/kg i.p.) and DAMME (1 mg/kg i.p.) showed less alteration of the columnar epithelium, with a normal glandular structure, than untreated rats. A mediation of prostaglandins is suggested, since indomethacin (10 mg/kg s.c.) significantly reduced the protective effects of opioids.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Structural and ultrastructural patterns of the human preovulatory endometrium following clomiphene citrate treatment.

To investigate ultrastructural modifications in the endometrium of women receiving clomiphene citrate (CC) treatment, we performed endometrial biopsies in the preovulatory phase in 17 patients with anovulatory infertility and 16 normo-ovulating women with tubal or male sterility. Histology, scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) revealed midproliferative phase aspects in 11.7% of the treated group and 6% of the controls, late proliferative aspects in 76.4% and 82%, and postovulation days 1-3 characteristics in 11.7% and 12% respectively. No significant differences were observed between the patients and controls; our data indicate that CC taken in a dose not exceeding 100 mg/day from day 3 of the cycle can induce endometrial maturation that is almost identical with that of a spontaneous preovulatory phase. This type of endometrium should therefore allow implantation of a fertilized egg and maintain unmodified the complex biohumoral relations with the embryo.

Clomiphene↗
PubMed1988

Localization of different alcian blue-proteoglycan particles in the intervertebral disc.

A histochemical investigation was carried out on proteoglycans of bovine intervertebral disc. Samples obtained from the "annulus fibrosus" (A.F.) and "nucleus pulposus" (N.P.) were treated with Alcian blue (AB) diluted in solutions of MgCl2 at critical electrolyte concentrations (CEC); some samples were incubated in testicular hyaluronidase before AB treatment. At least four types of elongated AB-proteoglycan particles were recognized: a) in A.F. lamellae and N.P., 1 nm rod-like particles were arranged orthogonally to the collagen fibrils and spaced at a distance equivalent to the fibril D-period (Figs. 1-5); b) within the A.F. lamellae, other 16-20 nm particles formed a close network among the collagen fibrils (Figs. 1,2,3,5); c) in the A.F. interlamellar crevices, 30-50 nm leaf-like particles were present (Fig. 6); d) in the N.P.Z., 20-30 nm leaf-like particles formed a wide-mesh (Fig. 4). The alcianophylic particle sizes suggest they may correspond to proteoglycan monomers in the A.F. lamellae and mostly proteoglycan aggregates in A.F. interlamellar crevices and N.P.. Both alcianophylia degrees at MgCl2 CEC solutions and enzymatic susceptibility indicate the presence of chondroitin sulphate and keratan sulphate and that the large particles in the A.F. interlamellar crevices are the keratan sulphate richest proteoglycans. The features of the observed AB-proteoglycan particles are consistent with previous morphological data reported for other tissues as well as some biochemical data for the intervertebral disc and may be correlated to the composite mechanical properties of this tissue.

Alcian Blue↗