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Biomedical subjects

S Mancuso

Publications and source records attributed to S Mancuso.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Correlation between amniotic levels of alpha-MSH, ACTH and beta-endorphin in late gestation and labour in normal and complicated pregnancies.

alpha-MSH, ACTH and beta-endorphin were measured by radioimmunoassay in samples of amniotic fluid collected from the 32nd to the 38th gestational week and at labour from normal pregnancies and pregnancies complicated by gestosis. In normal pregnancies, the concentration of alpha-MSH, ACTH and beta-endorphin remained relatively constant during the last 7 gestational weeks, but increased at labour above the values of the 38th week by 88, 143 and 96%, respectively. A positive correlation between beta-endorphin and alpha-MSH (r = 0.92) or ACTH (r = 0.76) levels was found when labour values were considered in the regression analysis. In contrast, when labour values were excluded, only a poor positive correlation between beta-endorphin and alpha-MSH (r = 0.52) was found. In complicated pregnancies, alpha-MSH and ACTH concentrations were similar to those found in normal pregnancies: on the other hand, the level of beta-endorphin, was found to be 130% higher than normal. As in normal pregnancies, alpha-MSH, ACTH and beta-endorphin levels increased at labour, but only by 46, 44 and 23%, respectively. In contrast to in normal pregnancies, the correlation between beta-endorphin and alpha-MSH or ACTH was not significantly modified by labour values. The present results confirm and extend previous studies showing that beta-endorphin may be considered a marker of fetal distress and that the fetal pituitary is capable of reacting to stressful stimuli in normal and suffering fetuses.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Type II estrogen binding sites in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells: variations during the menstrual cycle.

We have previously reported that human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) contain type II estrogen binding sites (type II EBS). In this study, the fluctuations of type II EBS during the menstrual cycle were analyzed in 6 normally menstruating women. Approximately 3 times higher levels of type II EBS were found in the periovulatory period with respect to both follicular and luteal phases. In postmenopausal women the mean type II EBS levels were similar to those observed in the follicular phase of the cycle. However, in 3 postmenopausal patients a short course of estrogen or tamoxifen resulted in a marked increase of type II EBS levels. Tamoxifen was also found to compete with 17 beta-estradiol for type II EBS in PBMC, although to a lesser extent than diethylstilbestrol.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Functional assessment of uteroplacental and fetal circulations by means of color Doppler ultrasonography.

A study was made in order to assess whether the combined use of color flow mapping and conventional pulsed Doppler could improve the accuracy of blood flow velocity waveform analysis in fetal and placental circulations. Fifty patients were studied at 18 to 20 or 26 to 28 weeks of gestation by two trained investigators by means of either conventional Doppler or conventional Doppler plus color flow mapping. Recordings were performed at the level of the uterine arteries, umbilical artery, descending aorta, and internal carotid artery. The experimental procedure was repeated the following day with the patients undergoing the alternate technique of recording. In all the vascular districts investigated, color flow mapping allowed us to obtain a higher number of reliable recordings, to shorten the observation time, and to reduce the intra- and interobserver coefficient of variations.

Aorta, Thoracic↗
PubMed1990

Monitoring ovarian cancer using urine cyclic GMP. A two-centre study.

The usefulness of urine cyclic guanosine 3'-5'monophosphate (GMP (cGMP) as a cancer marker in ovarian cancer has been studied in two independent centres using specimens from 81 women. Serial specimens from 60 patients were monitored up to 2 years after the start of chemotherapy. Urine cGMP levels were significantly higher in those patients with poorly differentiated tumours. Levels were not associated with the tumour stage, histological type or residual tumour remaining after surgery. Pretreatment levels were of no value for predicting response to therapy or patient survival. During therapy, however, levels did confirm clinical observations and if a level was elevated then there was a 80-90% chance that the patient was not responding to therapy. Using serial measurements, it was possible to predict the recurrence of tumour in 16/25 patients prior to any other clinical signs.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed1990

Ovarian carcinoma: an ultrasound study.

Between March 1986 and March 1989, 65 epithelial ovarian carcinomas were studied by means of real time high resolution ultrasound. The sonographic findings were correlated with FIGO stage, histotype and histological grade. The echostructure was compared with that of a group of 141 benign controls. Moreover, some sonographic patterns, significantly more frequent in the malignant tumors (ascites, irregular borders, peritoneal growths), were identified. The diagnosis of malignancy was as accurate as 90.0%, sensitivity and specificity were 84.7% and 92.3% respectively. Our results, coupled with the low costs involved and the non-invasiveness of the method, thus confirm that ultrasound can still be considered a primary technique in the preoperative assessment of ovarian masses.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1990

Pelvic lymphocele following radical para-aortic and pelvic lymphadenectomy for cervical carcinoma: incidence rate and percutaneous management.

Thirty-six women, treated with radical hysterectomy (Piver types III-IV) plus systematic para-aortic and pelvic lymphadenectomy for cervical carcinoma, underwent serial postoperative ultrasound examinations to determine the incidence of lymphocele and the therapeutic efficacy of percutaneous catheter drainage. Pelvic lymphoceles, ranging in volume from 46-300 mL, occurred in eight patients (22.2%) between the 12-24th postoperative day. Percutaneous catheter drainage, inserted under local anesthesia, was used for a mean time of 14.5 days (range 4-32), resulting in a mean daily drainage of 92.2 mL and a mean total volume of 1727.5 mL per patient. Catheter drainage allowed complete clinical and sonographic remission in all cases, and only one asymptomatic recurrence was observed at 3-month and 6-month follow-up. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous catheter drainage has proved to be a well-tolerated, safe, and effective technique in the management of lymphocele that obviates the need for more invasive surgical procedures.

Drainage↗
PubMed1990

[Ultrasonic study of the predictability of fetal macrosomia].

Main fetal echobiometric parameters have been considered in 643 pregnant patients and evaluated for fetal macrosomia predictivity. Deliveries occurs within seven days after ultrasound examination. Malformative or other pathologic conditions with could have interfered with a correct ultrasound evaluation of the disease have been excluded. The single parameters are not reliable for a screening of fetal macrosomia. The A. suggest, for a greater accuracy, sequential ultrasound examination during pregnancy or mathematical correlation of several echobiometric parameters.

Female↗
PubMed1989

Hormone receptor status in human endometrial adenocarcinoma.

Steroid receptor levels were determined in 196 samples of endometrial adenocarcinoma: cytosol estradiol receptors (ERc) were measured in 171 samples, cytosol progesterone receptors (PRc) in all samples; nuclear estradiol receptors (ERn) and nuclear progesterone receptors (PRn) in 68 samples; total estradiol receptors (ERt = ERc plus ERn) and total progesterone receptors (PRt = PRc plus PRn) were measured in 68 samples. The ERc levels were 88.2 +/- 8.9 (mean +/- SEM) and ERn were 94.4 +/- 15.6 fmol/mg protein; PRc levels were 197.9 +/- 25.9 and PRn 178.3 +/- 55.9 fmol/mg protein. The ERt levels were 162.6 +/- 23.2 and PRt 249.8 +/- 75.7 fmol/mg protein. The presence of PRc was related to the ERc levels according to the cut-off used. Estradiol receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) were present in the cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions in 60.2% and 36.8% of cases, respectively. The simultaneous presence of both ERt and PRt was observed only in 27.9% of cases. In the normal endometrium ERc and PRc were negatively correlated (r = -0.525, P less than 0.005), whereas in endometrial adenocarcinoma the correlation was positive (r = 0.491, P less than 0.001). In contrast with the normal endometrium the correlation between ERc and ERn was positive (r = 0.582, P less than 0.001) in tumor tissue. In neoplastic tissue Scatchard analysis showed a single class of specific ERc sites with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 1.39 +/- 0.8 X 10(-9) mol/l, one tenth of that found in the normal premenopausal endometrium. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the receptor status showed that in 30% to 40% of cases studied the behavior of the neoplastic cell was similar to that found in the normal endometrial cell. In a 4-year follow-up of patients affected by endometrial adenocarcinoma there is better survival in the groups of patients with a simultaneous presence of ERt and PRt than in the group with their absence.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1989

Ovarian development of the female child and adolescent: I. Morphology.

Ovarian morphology of 180 randomly selected females, aged 8-21, was investigated, utilizing standard sector scanning ultrasound techniques, at -1 year (1 year before menarche), year 0 (menarche) and years +1 to +8 (1-8 years postmenarche). According to strict morphologic criteria, seven ovarian patterns were recognized which varied in dominance with age in reference to menarche. Prior to menarche a multifollicular ovarian pattern (Type 1) dominates which after menarche is substituted by a predominantly active ovarian pattern (Type 5). Approximately 20% of postmenarcheal females do not develop this active pattern. In a relatively persistent percentage of females a microcystic (Type 2) ovarian pattern was recognized throughout all postmenarcheal years, suggestive of a normal transitional pattern from Type 1 to Type 5 ovaries. In contrast, multicystic (Type 3), hyperthecosis (Type 4), polycystic ("Mickey Mouse") (Type 6) and silent (Type 7) ovaries appear to represent abnormal ovarian developments. Based on percentage distributions, it is tempting to speculate that multicystic (Type 3) and/or hyperthecosis (Type 4) ovaries represent precursor ovaries to Type 6 (polycystic) ovaries. Confirmation of this hypothesis would have major clinical importance for the early diagnosis of the polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Uterine myoma in pregnancy: ultrasound study.

In many cases the presence of a myomatous formation in pregnancy begins its effect in a symptomless way and is revealed only by a regular sonographic control or at the time of delivery. In other cases, however, it could represent the cause of several complications, such as increased incidence of abortion extrauterine pregnancy premature breaking of the membranes, premature delivery distocia during delivery or it could itself be the site of necrotic processes. The attitude towards this type of pathology during pregnancy has often varied. The authors report their experiences regarding 408 cases of pregnancies complicated by myoma that were followed with accurate sonographic monitoring and they evaluate the incidence of the principal complications during pregnancy at the time of delivery and the eventual influence on the fetal weight at the time of birth.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1989

Importance of echographic and endocrine monitoring for the assessment of ovulation by follicle stimulating hormone in polycystic ovarian disease.

Sixteen patients with polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) were treated for 39 cycles with pure follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) for the induction of ovulation. At ovulation time human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was administered. Twenty-one cycles were ovulatory. Twenty-three were classified as normostimulated (N): six pregnancies and three abortions were observed. In the remaining eight hyperstimulated (H) cycles there were four full-term pregnancies. Dosage and length of treatment were greater in patients with excess body weight (P less than 0.01). H cycles were characterized in respect to N cycles by: (1) higher baseline values of 17-hydroxy progesterone (17-OHP) plasma levels and LH/FSH ratios; (2) higher plasma concentrations and rate of increase of 17-OHP periovulatory levels. E2 plasma levels did not permit a clear differentiation between H and N cycles, and it was not useful for the timely recognition of hyperstimulation. Our data show that a slight controlled degree of ovarian hyperstimulation is beneficial to pregnancy rate and outcome.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗
PubMed1989

A primary amelanotic melanoma of the vagina diagnosed by immunocytochemistry.

A case of primary malignant melanoma of the vagina is discussed. The lesion consisted of a nodule in the middle third of the vagina that was histologically suspected of being an unpigmented malignant melanoma. The melanocytic origin of the lesion was confirmed by the pattern of reactivity to a battery of human melanoma associated antigens and to class 1 and 2 histocompatibility antigens. No secondary lesions or alternative primary sites were found. The patient underwent radical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingooophorectomy, total vaginectomy and vulvectomy, radical inguinal, pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy. The pathology report showed the presence of multiple neoplastic foci in the vagina. Although the removed lymph nodes were histologically free of metastases, microscopic foci of neoplastic cells were detected by immunohistochemistry in three lymph nodes. There is no evidence of recurrence at the twelfth postoperative month. Our results show that immunohistochemical techniques may usefully complement diagnostic histopathology in the diagnosis of female genital tract melanoma.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Predictive value of multiple tumor marker assays in second-look procedures for ovarian cancer.

Sera from 51 ovarian cancer patients in clinical remission undergoing a second-look operation were studied. CA 125, CA 15-3, and 90K assays were performed in the week preceding surgery. Twenty-seven patients (53%) had no evidence of disease; 3 (6%) and 21 (41%) had microscopic and macroscopic disease. All patients but two with no evidence of disease had normal CA 125 serum levels, as did the three cases with microscopic disease and 6 patients with macroscopically detectable tumor. Of 17 patients with high CA 125 values, 15 (88%) were found to have persistent disease. Hence, the sensitivity and specificity of a CA 125 assay were 62 and 93%, respectively. CA 15-3 levels were low in all patients with no evidence of disease, in 2 cases with microscopic disease, and in 2 cases with residual tumor greater than 1 cm. All patients with high CA 15-3 titers had a positive second-look. The sensitivity and specificity of assay were 69 and 100%, respectively. With the 90K assay, 4 false-positive and 4 false-negative results were found and the sensitivity and specificity were 69 and 67%, respectively. However, 3 of 4 cases with a false-positive 90K assay had recurrence of disease with 7, 9, and 20 months later. Combination of the three markers increased sensitivity to 79%. These data suggest that more effective surveillance of disease status at second-look is obtained by using a combination of tumor marker assays.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate↗
PubMed1989

Behavioural state transitions in healthy and growth retarded fetuses.

The transitions, i.e. time intervals between two different behavioural states, were studied in 10 healthy and 10 growth retarded fetuses (IUGR) in near term pregnancies. In healthy fetuses, transitions usually lasted less than 3 min whereas IUGR fetuses showed a longer duration when compared to healthy fetuses. Moreover, a significant trend in the change of state variables (fetal heart rate, fetal eye movements and fetal gross body movements) was evident in healthy fetuses: fetal heart rate was the first variable to change in transitions from 1F to 2F and the last variable to change in transitions from 2F to 1F. On the other hand IUGR fetuses showed a random sequence in order of change. These findings were substantiated by the intraindividual consistency evidenced in repeated recordings. In conclusion the analysis of transitions differentiates between healthy fetuses and those affected by IUGR.

Blood Flow Velocity↗
PubMed1989

Gonadotrophin response to releasing hormone in post-menopausal patients with ovarian tumours.

Gonadotrophin response to intravenous administration of 100 micrograms synthetic gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) was evaluated in 14 post-menopausal women (aged 53-77) with non-endocrine ovarian tumours and 11 post-menopausal control subjects. Neither in the case of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) or luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, was any significant difference seen between the mean basal levels in the tumour and the control subjects. No significant release was seen in either group as regards FSH response. The mean increases in serum FSH in the tumour patients were not significantly different from those in the control subjects. In the case of LH response, the mean percentage increases in the tumour group as well as the mean area under the curves were significantly greater (P less than 0.01) than those in the control subjects. Androstenedione and oestrone levels were also evaluated in the two groups. Significantly increased levels of these hormones were seen in the tumour group in relation to those in the control group (P less than 0.001). These data are consistent with an increased LH response to GnRH in post-menopausal patients with ovarian tumours. The augmented LH release may be related to increased steroid plasma levels.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

2,3-diphosphoglycerate in normal and pathologic pregnancy: relationship to neonatal weight.

2,3-Diphosphoglycerate levels were assayed in 154 pregnant women in third trimester (61 normal, 52 diabetic, 19 with gestational hypertension, 7 with fetal macrosomia, and 15 with idiopathic fetal underdevelopment). A correlation was found between 2,3-diphosphoglycerate levels and birth weight (absolute and relative birth weight or birth weight expressed as percentile), which was negative in normal patients evaluated in the last 7 days before delivery (r = 0.38; p = 0.04) and positive in diabetic patients (evaluated in the third trimester and in the last 7 days before delivery) and in patients with gestational hypertension (evaluated in the third trimester) (r and p values differ according to whether birth weight is expressed as absolute, relative, or a percentile). No correlation was found between 2,3-diphosphoglycerate levels and birth weight in patients with neonatal underdevelopment or macrosomia of unknown origin. On the basis of these results we hypothesize that in some conditions the fetus can influence maternal 2,3-diphosphoglycerate levels and hence its own oxygen supply and growth in utero.

2,3-Diphosphoglycerate↗