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Biomedical subjects

N Conte

Publications and source records attributed to N Conte.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Hypercalcemia in malignancies: treatment with dichloromethylene diphosphonate (Cl2MDP).

Eleven hypercalcemic patients affected by various kinds of cancer were treated with dichloromethylene diphosphonate (Cl2MDP), 400 mg diluted in 500 ml of saline solution, i.v., during 3 h. Drug administration normalized plasma calcium levels in all treated patients, within 72 h for patients with lung cancer; within a longer period for other kinds of cancer. Moreover, Cl2MDP also reduced calciuria in treated patients. The use of the drug was not followed by side effects and was also well tolerated in patients with kidney insufficiency.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Radioimmunological assay of alpha-fetoprotein in maternal serum and intrauterine fetal growth retardation].

Maternal plasma alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was measured in fifteen women during first-mid-third-trimester of pregnancy. In three of these pregnacies by means ultrasound was relevable a condition of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). AFP was assayed by a double-antibody radioimmunoassay and values were compared with the median value of the normal range for the particular week of pregnancy. Plasma AFP levels were significantly higher in one subject with IUGR than in other patients.

Female↗
PubMed1984

Serum immunoreactive calcitonin in lung cancer.

Serum immunoreactive calcitonin (iCT) assay was performed in 92 patients suffering from different kinds of cancer of the lung and in 42 healthy control subjects. Gel filtration of serum of patients suffering from microcytoma was carried out on Sephadex G75 to study the forms of circulating iCT. The obtained results (pg/ml M +/- SE) were: 1) normal subjects, 73 +/- 3; 2) epidermoidal cancer, 105 +/- 19; 3) adenocarcinoma, 116 +/- 47; 4) anaplastic carcinoma with large cells, 156 +/- 74; 5) microcytoma , 354 +/- 74; 6) chronic obstructive bronchitis, 38 +/- 6. Gel filtration of serum of patients with microcytoma demonstrated the same behavior as in normal subjects. We can conclude that iCT increases significantly in microcytoma with extensive disease (84% of cases): in this condition, the iCT assay can be useful as a marker in follow-up of disease.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1984

Endocrine effects of tamoxifen in postmenopausal breast cancer patients.

The effects of tamoxifen on plasma concentration of gonadotropins, prolactin (PRL), estrone (E1), estradiol-17 beta (E2), and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were studied in 40 postmenopausal breast cancer patients. In addition, the changes induced by the drug on endometrium and vaginal epithelium were investigated. After 6-8 weeks of tamoxifen treatment, a significant decrease in FSH, LH and PRL basal levels was observed, whereas the concentrations of E1 and E2 were not significantly affected. A significant increase in SHBG levels was induced by prolonged treatment with the drug. In addition, tamoxifen caused a partial estrogenization of vaginal smears, and a weak stimulatory effect on endometrium was also apparent. These findings indicate that tamoxifen produced agonistic effects on some targets and antagonistic effects on the others.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Calcitonin in hepatoma and cirrhosis.

Plasma immunoreactive calcitonin (iCT) is elevated in primary liver cancer and its measurement has been proposed as a tumour marker. Since iCT is also frequently raised in alcoholic liver cirrhosis, it would be of practical relevance to distinguish this condition from primary hepatoma by measuring the plasma level of iCT. We measured plasma iCT levels in 23 subjects with primary liver cancer, in 27 with hepatic cirrhosis and in 42 healthy subjects who served as normal controls. A gel-chromatography analysis was carried out on the plasma of two cases of hepatoma, two of cancer and cirrhosis, and two of alcoholic liver cirrhosis. The subjects with primary liver cancer had values of plasma iCT (pg/ml; mean +/- SE) of 342 +/- 41; those with liver cirrhosis 159 +/- 22, and normal controls 73 +/- 3. The increase in primary liver cancer was significant in comparison both healthy subjects (P less than 0.001) and with cirrhotic patients (P less than 0.001). Twenty-two out of 23 patients with primary liver cancer and 13 out of 27 with liver cirrhosis had elevated iCT values (upper normal limit 113 pg/ml). There was no significant difference between plasma iCT values of patients with cancer and those with cirrhosis. However, we measured iCT values higher than 400 pg/ml only in patients with primary liver cancer. The gel-filtration analysis showed 3 or 4 peaks of iCT with a molecular weight higher than synthetic human calcitonin. The results suggest that plasma iCT levels can be considered a reliable marker of liver cancer, whereas its discriminating power between liver cancer and cirrhosis was not entirely satisfactory.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Study of a form of pulverulent cataract in a large kindred.

A large kindred (64 members in four generations), affected by a form of apparently congenital pulverulent cataract, was studied for linkage of its gene locus with that of the Fy blood group. No indication of linkage was found. The involvement of the cortex distinguishes this form from the zonular pulverulent cataract (total nuclear) of Nettleship and Ogilvie, the locus of which is probably linked with Fy. A correlation between morphological and genetic heterogeneity, based on the linkage with Fy, cannot be established because of the scarcity of published data.

Blood Group Antigens↗
PubMed1983

New perspectives in localizing enlarged parathyroids by technetium-thallium subtraction scan.

Double-tracer scanning (Tc-99m as pertechnetate and Tl-201 as chloride) with an Anger camera and computerized image subtraction was performed in 61 patients whose clinical and biochemical findings had suggested primary hyperparathyroidism. This study showed intra- or extrathyroidal focal uptake of thallium in 37 cases. Among these, 24 patients underwent surgery, and 18 parathyroid adenomas, five carcinomas, and one hyperplastic gland were found exactly in the sites predicted by scintigraphy. Among 24 patients with negative scans, only two underwent surgery; a hyperplastic parathyroid gland (diam less than 0.5 cm) was found in both. The success rate was 92% in the cases in which operation was performed. We believe that the new method may be useful in the preoperative detection of parathyroid enlargements.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1982

[Radioimmunologic determination of circulating parathyroid hormone in patients with primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism].

A radioimmunological evaluation was made of plasma parathormone (PTH), using an antibody against the C-terminal fraction, in 14 subjects with primary parahyperthyroidism, and in 19 anuric subjects with secondary forms on three-weekly dialysis. In all cases, values were significantly higher (p less than 0.01) than in a group of normal controls. In secondary forms, the same significance was also apparent on comparison with primary forms, probably due to an absence of renal clearance of the hormone.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

[Radioimmunologic and radioreceptor analysis of human chorionic gonadotropin for the diagnosis and control of ectopic pregnancy].

The authors report here their studies on the use of a radioreceptor assay study of HCG for the diagnosis and management of ectopic pregnancy. Seven blood samples were collected before, during and three days after the surgical intervention; their HCG content was assayed with a radioreceptor method and the results were compared with those of radioimmunological method. The radioreceptor assay, with a sensitivity of 200 mUI/ml, has provided 85% reliability in detecting pregnancy, the radioimmunoassay the 100%. A case of ectopic resorbing pregnancy showed a HCG content of 25 mUI/ml (RIA) and a RRA negative; the low concentration of hcg caused the negativity of RRA, the sensibility of which is too low in this case. A deeper analysis of the technical results shows some possible sources of error.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗
PubMed1982

[Radioimmunoassay of SP1 in obstetrics and gynecological oncology].

The authors by means of radioimmunoassay analyze SP1 values in selected obstetric and oncological samples. Seven amniotic fluid samples showed various degrees of positivity, but not strictly correlated to the gestational age (previous analysis by immunodiffusion were always negative). SP1 concentrations in ectopic pregnancy confermed similar investigations by other authors. In the oncological field only one serum was highly positive (440 ng/ml); negativity of others could be due to the long time of storage. The SP1 was assayed using a sperimental kit supplied by Boehringwerke A.G. (Marburg, W.G..). Assay procedure: preparation of a standard curve (7 - 440 ng/ml) from which the unknown SP1 content was determinated. Reaction time: 16 - 24 h/20 degrees C (first incubation) and 0.5 - 4 h/20 degrees C (second incubation).

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1981

Variations in some of the body fluid hormone levels currently used for endocrine monitoring during the third trimester of pregnancy.

We have investigated the variability of four hormonal parameters used for the endocrine monitoring of the third trimester of pregnancy (E3, E4, HPL, SP1). We have observed no circadian rhythm of Estriol, Estetrol, HPL, and SP1. The within-a-day and the day-to-day variations are much greater for E4 than for E3 and for HPL than for SP1. The standard deviations were great for the steroids, especially for E4 and much less for the protein hormones, especially SP1. This implies that it is necessary to have serial assays of the steroids to have any confidence in the levels, while good monitoring could be guaranteed with a smaller number of assays for HPL, and SP1.

Circadian Rhythm↗
PubMed1981

Alpha-fetoprotein and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin in amniotic fluid.

A series of data on amniotic fluid levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) are presented. Both hormones were observed to decrease with advancing gestational age. The diagnostic importance of AFP levels is confirmed, and the very high levels of beta-HCG in twin gestations are documented. A statistically significant correlation between the concentration of both hormones is demonstrated.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1980

[Basal prolactinemia and level after stimulation with TRH in juvenile gynecomastia].

TSH and PRL in basal conditions and after stimulus with TRH, gonadotrophin in basal conditions and after stimulus with GnRH, plasma testosterone, urinary oestrogens and peripheral thyroid hormones have been evaluated in 11 subjects with puberal gynaecomastia, 7 with post-puberal gynaecomastia and 14 normal controls. With respect to the normal controls, only patients with post-puberal gynaecomastia showed higher levels of basal PRL and after TRH stimulus. The behaviour of these patients could suggest that in subjects with post-puberal gynaecomastia there may be persistent endocrine imbalance, whereas in puberal gynaecomastia such imbalance is only transitory and is exhausted prior to the onset of mammary tumefaction.

Adolescent↗