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Biomedical subjects

P Monteleone

Publications and source records attributed to P Monteleone.

125 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Inhibition of septal hyperreactivity by testosterone and its reversion by an estrogen antagonist in weanling female rats.

Neonatal administration of testosterone inhibits emotional hyperreactivity to capture and tactile stimulation in female rats following septal lesions at 25 days of age. Testosterone, an aromatizable androgen, after metabolization to estrogen interacts with estrogen receptors in neonatal rat brain. In order to investigate whether the testosterone inhibited septal hyperreactivity via estrogen receptors rats were tested after pretreatment with the estrogen receptor antagonist tamoxifen. Weanling female rats pretreated with tamoxifen showed emotional hyperreactivity, while androgenized females showed no change. In addition, estradiol benzoate, neonatally administered, was able to inhibit emotional reactivity displayed after septal lesions. These results suggest that the action of testosterone on septal hyperreactivity might be mediated by estrogen receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Dexamethasone suppression test in major and minor depressive disorders.

The validity of the dexamethasone ofe suppression test was evaluated for the differential diagnosis of major and minor depressive disorders. Thirty-eight out-patients (14 major depressed, 14 minor depressed and 10 normal controls) were studied. The Research Diagnostic Criteria of Spitzer et al. (1978) were used to classify these patients. Six out of the 14 major depressed patients had an abnormally high plasma cortisol at 4 p.m. and at 11.00 p.m. after midnight 2 mg-dexamethasone. None of the 14 minor depressed patients and none of the 10 controls had an abnormal response to dexamethasone. Based on these results, the dexamethasone suppression test has a sensitivity of 43%, a specificity of 100% and a high predictive value.

Circadian Rhythm↗
PubMed1983

Evidence for a dose-dependent effect in the sex-specific plasma prolactin response to naloxone in humans.

In attempt to ascertain if the sex specific plasma PRL response to naloxone, that we suggested in previous studies, was a dose dependent effect, 26 healthy volunteers were studied. They received naloxone 2 mg and 4.8 mg or a volume matched of saline i.v. as a bolus. Blood samples were collected and plasma PRL was measured by double antibody RIA. Naloxone, at dose of 2 mg, was able to decrease significantly plasma PRL levels in normally menstruating women (p less than 0.05 at 60 min.; p less than 0.01 at 120 min.), but not in post-menopausal ones and in men. In addition, the dose of 4.8 mg of the drug did not change plasma PRL in any group. These results suggest a dose-dependent effect in the sex specific PRL response to naloxone in humans.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Type II Arnold-Chiari malformation with normal spine in trisomy 18.

A variety of anomalies of the central nervous system are observed in trisomy 18. The present case describes an infant having a type II Arnold-Chiari malformation without spina bifida. One previous case of an Arnold-Chiari malformation was reported in trisomy 18 but that infant also had a lumbar meningomyelocoele. Abnormalities of cerebral gyration, hydrocephalus, and agenesis of the corpus callosum were also found in the present case.

Arnold-Chiari Malformation↗
PubMed1976

Partial trisomy 5 with a carrier parent t(5p-;9p+).

The significance of partial trisomies of the B group is as yet unknown. An infant with multiple congenital anomalies was found to have a partial trisomy 5p+ syndrome. The father of this patient demonstrated a 5/9 translocation carrier state. A discussion of the relationship of the partial 5p+ syndrome to the Cri du chat syndrome is noted. Partial trisomy 5 would not appear, as yet, to represent a clearly definable syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prophylaxis of migraine attacks with a calcium-channel blocker: flunarizine versus methysergide.

In this study, flunarizine, a selective calcium-channel blocker, was employed in the prophylactic treatment of headache and was compared with methysergide in terms of efficacy. The trial was conducted with 104 patients (53 treated with flunarizine and 51 treated with methysergide) and lasted six months--one month of pretreatment and five months of therapy. Patients in both groups experienced a highly significant reduction in the number and duration of migraine attacks. Unlike those in the methysergide group, patients treated with flunarizine achieved a significant reduction in the intensity of attacks with very negligible side effects.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of acute corticotropin releasing factor on pituitary-adrenocortical responsiveness in elderly women and men.

Aging is related to critical changes of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal function. A decline in serum DHEA levels has been demonstrated in healthy elderly subjects, while ACTH and cortisol concentrations remain at normal values. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of aging on pituitary-adrenal responsiveness to hCRF in subjects of both sexes. A group of 12 physically and mentally healthy elderly subjects and a group of 12 young controls of both sexes have been selected. Blood samples were collected before and after i.v. bolus injection of hCRF; ACTH, cortisol and DHEA levels were then determined by RIA. Basal ACTH and cortisol levels did not result statistically different between controls and elderly subjects, while DHEA showed a clear and significant age-related decrease (p < 0.01). Following the hCRF injection, the responses of ACTH, cortisol and DHEA in aged subjects were higher than in young controls; ACTH (p < 0.03) and cortisol (p < 0.01) were higher in aged women than in men. The present study demonstrated that aging is associated with an increased responsiveness of ACTH, cortisol and DHEA to exogenous hCRF supply. A hyperactivation of the pituitary-adrenal secretory activity may explain the age-related of the same axis. Gender probably has a significant influence on basal and stimulated hormonal secretion. In conclusion, hCRF test may become a useful clinical tool in establishing a neuroendocrine correlation with central disturbances associated to aging.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Plasma levels of neuroactive steroids are increased in untreated women with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE: Animal data suggest that neuroactive steroids, such as 3alpha,5alpha-tetrahydroprogesterone (3a,5a-THP), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and its sulfated metabolite (DHEA-S), are involved in the modulation of eating behavior, aggressiveness, mood, and anxiety. Anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) are eating disorders characterized by abnormal eating patterns, depressive and anxious symptoms, enhanced aggressiveness, and endocrine alterations. Previous studies reported decreased blood levels of DHEA and DHEA-S in small samples of anorexic patients, whereas no study has been performed to evaluate the secretion of these neuroactive steroids in BN as well as the production of 3alpha,5alpha-THP in both AN and BN. Therefore, we measured plasma levels of DHEA, DHEA-S, 3alpha,5alpha-THP and other hormones in patients with AN or BN and explored possible relationships between neuroactive steroids and psychopathology. METHOD: Ninety-two women participated in the study. There were 30 drug-free AN patients, 32 drug-free BN patients, and 30 age-matched, healthy control subjects. Blood samples were collected in the morning for determination of hormone levels. Eating-related psychopathology, depressive symptoms, and aggressiveness were rated by using specific psychopathological scales. RESULTS: Compared with healthy women, both AN and BN patients exhibited increased plasma levels of 3alpha,5alpha-THP, DHEA, DHEA-S, and cortisol but reduced concentrations of 17beta-estradiol. Plasma testosterone levels were decreased in anorexic women but not in bulimic women. Plasma levels of neuroactive steroids were not correlated with any clinical or demographic variable. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate increased morning plasma levels of peripheral neuroactive steroids in anorexic and bulimic patients. The relevance of such hormonal alterations to the pathophysiology of eating disorders remains to be elucidated.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

One course versus two courses of antithymocyte globulin for the treatment of severe aplastic anemia in children.

PURPOSE: The aim of the therapeutic trials was to optimize the treatment of severe aplastic anemia (SAA) and moderate aplastic anemia in children who lack a suitable bone marrow donor, using immunosuppressive therapy in the most effective combination and dose. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two sequential therapeutic trials for the treatment of severe and moderate aplastic anemia in children were conducted by 10 institutions. The treatment protocols included antithymocyte globulin (ATG), prednisone, and cyclosporine A (CSA); patients entered on the first protocol, 0190 (ATG X 2), were given two courses of ATG, and those enrolled on the second protocol, 0190B (ATG X 1), were given only one course of ATG. Ten patients were evaluable on ATG X 2. All patients had SAA; three had hepatitis-induced severe aplastic anemia (HI-SAA). Twelve patients were evaluable on ATG X 1; all had SAA, one of whom had HI-SAA. RESULTS: Seven of 10 patients on ATG X 2 responded, and eight of 12 patients treated on ATG X 1 responded. CONCLUSION: Treatment with immunosuppressive therapy using ATG, CSA, and prednisone was very well tolerated. The response rates in both protocols were similar, and results compare favorably with those of previous therapeutic trials, suggesting that a second course of ATG is not necessary.

Adolescent↗