PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Baglioni

Publications and source records attributed to A Baglioni.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Cigarette use by adolescents: attitude-behavior relationships.

Structural equation models were used to test the effectiveness of various theories in predicting cigarette smoking among adolescents. Maximum-likelihood estimation, as implemented in LISREL for Windows 8.12, was used to compare the theory of reasoned action (TRA), the theory of planned behavior, and a modified version of the theory of reasoned action incorporating past behavior. Respondents consisted of 225 high school students who were questioned in 1994 about their attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, past behavior, intentions, and actual behavior relating to the use of cigarettes. Results indicated that the modification of the TRA incorporating past behavior provided a marginally better fit than the other models. For this group of high school students, attitudes toward smoking, past behavior in relation to smoking, and perceptions of what significant others think they should do were significant predictors of their intentions to smoke. Intentions, together with past behavior, predicted their actual behavior. The models used in the present research show that this behavior can be explained with reference to a small number of key variables which are useful for furthering our understanding of the structure of adolescent smoking.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Effects of background noise on click-evoked otoacoustic emissions.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of increased levels of background noise on click-evoked otoacoustic emission (CEOAE) recordings and to compare the effectiveness of the default CEOAE program with the QuickScreen CEOAE program in increased levels of noise, using an Otodynamics ILO88 recording device. DESIGN: The right ears of 40 young adult women with normal hearing were assessed using CEOAEs under four different noise conditions and with two different methods of data collection. The noise conditions were in quiet, 50 dB A, 55 dB A, and 60 dB A of white noise. Data were collected at each noise level in the default mode and also using the ILO88 QuickScreen program. RESULTS: There was a significant change in a number of important CEOAE output parameters with increased noise. In the default mode, mean whole wave reproducibility was 89.2% in quiet but declined to 85% with 50 dB A of white noise, 65% at 55 dB A and 20% at 60 dB A. The QuickScreen program proved more robust to the effects of noise than the default. In that mode, mean whole wave reproducibility was 91.7% in quiet, 92.5% with 50 dB A of white noise, 82.5% at 55 dB A and 45% at 60 dB A. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the study indicate ambient noise levels for accurate CEOAE recording should not exceed 50 to 55 dB A of noise and alternatives to the default program should be considered in non-sound-treated situations.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1997

Models of alcohol use by young adults: an examination of various attitude-behavior theories.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of various attitude-behavior theories in explaining alcohol use among young adults. The theory of reasoned action (TRA), the theory of planned behavior and an extension of the TRA that incorporates past behavior were compared by the method of maximum-likelihood estimation, as implemented in LISREL for Windows 8.12. METHOD: Respondents consisted of 122 university students (82 female) who were questioned about their attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, past behavior and intentions relating to drinking behavior. Students received course credit for their participation in the research. RESULTS: Overall, the results suggest that the extension of the theory of reasoned action which incorporates past behavior provides the best fit to the data. For these young adults, their intentions to drink alcohol were predicted by their past behavior as well as their perceptions of what important others think they should do (subjective norm). CONCLUSIONS: The main conclusions drawn from the research concern the importance of focusing on normative influences and past behavior in explaining young adult alcohol use. Issues regarding the relative merit of various alternative models and the need for greater clarity in the measure of attitudes are also discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Superovulation and intrauterine insemination vs. superovulation alone in the treatment of unexplained infertility. A randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether intrauterine insemination (IUI) improves the fertility rates in women with unexplained infertility. STUDY DESIGN: We recruited 68 women with unexplained infertility and allocated them randomly to treatment with three to five cycles of superovulation plus IUI (36 patients) or superovulation alone (32 patients). Superovulation was obtained with clomiphene citrate, human menopausal gonadotropins and human chorionic gonadotropins. RESULTS: The cycle fecundity rate was 10% in patients who underwent superovulation alone and 19% in those treated with superovulation plus IUI (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that superovulation plus IUI is more effective than superovulation alone in the treatment of unexplained infertility.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Vaginal patterns during danazol and buserelin acetate therapy for endometriosis: structural and ultrastructural study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate histologic and ultrastructural changes of the vaginal mucosa in patients given buserelin acetate or danazol treatment for endometriosis. DESIGN: Controlled clinical study. SETTING: Infertility clinic of an academic unit. PATIENTS: Infertile women with endometriosis randomized to receive buserelin acetate or danazol and undergoing vaginal biopsies during treatment were selected. INTERVENTIONS: Buserelin acetate was administered IN 400 micrograms three times per day and danazol orally 600 mg/d. Vaginal biopsies were performed baseline and at 3 and 6 months of treatment, and specimens were examined by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. 17 beta-Estradiol and P levels were determined in each patient at the time of each biopsy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Structural and ultrastructural patterns of vaginal mucosa after 3 and 6 months of treatment. RESULTS: Buserelin acetate treatment induced early, marked hypotrophy of the vaginal mucosa with aspects typical of the menopause. The modifications caused by danazol occurred mainly in the intermediate layer, which was weakly hypotrophic only at the end of the treatment. CONCLUSION: Vaginal mucosa undergoes constant and well-defined modifications during both buserelin acetate and danazol treatment for endometriosis. The modifications are compatible with the biological effects of the drugs.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1992

[Cytochemical study of human sperm metabolism during in vitro capacitation after cryopreservation].

To study the effects of deep freezing on the energy metabolism of human spermatozoa, we investigated, by cytochemical quantitative methods, cytochrome oxidase and lactate dehydrogenase activities of fresh and frozen human spermatozoa during in vitro capacitation. Fresh and frozen human spermatozoa were incubated in Biggers, Whitten and Wittingham's medium supplemented with 15% heat-inactivated human serum. Both histoenzymological reactions can be quantitated and have been evaluated by microdensitometric method. The results indicate that human spermatozoa depend almost entirely on anaerobic glycolysis during in vitro capacitation and suggest that both aerobic and anaerobic metabolism in spermatozoa are only slightly impaired by freezing-thawing and storage.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Intranasal buserelin versus surgery in the treatment of uterine leiomyomata: long-term follow-up.

Forty-two women with symptomatic uterine myomas, candidates for myomectomy or hysterectomy, were randomized to 6 months' treatment with buserelin 1200 micrograms/day intranasally (n = 22) or immediate surgery (n = 20). After buserelin treatment or operation the patients were followed for at least 12 months. Buserelin was well tolerated, the uterine volume fell from 465 +/- 168 to 273 +/- 88 cm3, and hemoglobin values normalized in all anemic patients. Rapid myoma regrowth was observed in all patients in the buserelin group after treatment withdrawal. Pregnancy occurred during follow-up in one of five buserelin-treated myomectomy candidates. Menorrhagia recurred in eight of 15 buserelin-treated hysterectomy candidates, and a hysterectomy was required but no transfusion was needed. Two women entered natural menopause and were considered cured. In the surgery group all operations were uneventful: three women conceived after myomectomy, whereas four of the patients that underwent hysterectomy required transfusions. Thus buserelin treatment appears to be indicated for infertile patients when surgery is contra-indicated or could cause adhesions, and for hysterectomy candidates in perimenopausal age and/or with secondary anemia.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1990

Evaluation of histological and ultrastructural aspects of endometrium during treatment with gestrinone in women with amenorrhea or spotting.

Nineteen patients with a laparoscopic diagnosis of endometriosis were treated with gestrinone at a dosage of 2.5 mg twice a week for 6 months. In 7 who reported spotting in the first 3 months, the dose was increased to 2.5 mg three times a week during the second trimester. An endometrial sample was obtained from each patient at the time of laparoscopy (basal) and at 3 and 6 months of treatment. Endometrial structure and ultrastructure were studied. Areas of hemorrhage and of loss of surface epithelium and a lesser degree of involution of the surface epithelium were observed in the 3-month samples of 7 patients with spotting, compared with 12 with amenorrhea. It is hypothesized that incomplete endometrial involution could be due to differences in gestrinone pharmacokinetics in individual patients, in the quality and/or quantity of endometrial cytosolic receptors for sex steroids, or in endocrine compensation to administration of the drug.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Endometrial patterns during danazol and buserelin therapy for endometriosis: comparative structural and ultrastructural study.

We studied endometrial structure and ultrastructure in serial biopsy specimens from patients with endometriosis treated with danazol (N = 19) or intranasal buserelin (N = 13) for 6 months. Biopsies were performed before and at 3 and 6 months of treatment. The specimens were studied by light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. Six morphometric indices were evaluated. Danazol produced a progestational effect on endometrial glands and stroma associated with marked hypotrophy of the mucosa, and buserelin treatment resulted in weakly proliferative or inactive mucosa. Both drugs induced noncyclicity and hypotrophy of endometrium although with different mechanisms of action, and it is suggested that they may have similar effects on ectopic endometrium. Because the atrophic effect of danazol appeared earlier than that of buserelin, the former could be recommended for short-term therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Endometrium of cavitary rudimentary horns in unicornuate uteri.

The rudimentary horns removed from ten patients with unicornuate uterus, subclass A1b, were studied by light and scanning electron microscopy. Seven of the horns removed were small in volume (range 7.5-15.7 mL) and three were larger (range 20.8-39.7 mL). In four cases the endometrial cavity communicated with the tubal lumen, hematometra was present in three cases, and endometriosis was diagnosed in six. In six of the seven rudimentary horns without hematometra, the endometrial mucosa did not correspond to the cycle phase of the endometrium of the hemiuterus; however, in the three rudimentary horns with hematometra, the endometrium presented cycle-phase characteristics similar to those of the hemiuterus. The endometrio-myometrial junction, the underlying myometrium, and the arcuate arterioles were always altered. We consider that the absence of cyclic changes in the endometria of the smaller horns may be attributed to reduced vascular supply, to the absence of any isthmocervical structure, and to the qualitative and/or quantitative differences in endometrial mucosal receptors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Dental elements in mature teratomas of the ovary: scanning electron microscope ultrastructure.

Seventy-two teeth from 10 ovarian mature teratomas and 12 unerupted and erupted teeth from subjects aged 8 to 21 years were examined at the scanning electron microscope to evaluate the morphologic and histogenetic differences. The ultrastructure of the teratomatous teeth was similar to that of the corresponding orthotopic tissues. Despite this similarity the morphology of the teratomatous teeth was much less well defined, attesting to the inductive effect of the contiguous tissues that are normally present in the oral cavity.

Adolescent↗
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

What is the source of elevated serum levels of CA 125 in patients with endometriosis?

The presence of CA 125 was investigated in endometriotic tissue and endometrial mucosa using two different immunohistochemical methods, indirect immunofluorescence and the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique. Neither of the methods revealed the antigen in the 12 endometriotic fragments studied. The endometrial mucosa both of patients with endometriosis and of the control subjects was positive with indirect immunoperoxidase staining in all cases, whereas with indirect immunofluorescence it was positive in 75 and 67%, respectively. Thus the mechanism(s) responsible for distribution of the antigen in different tissues and its reported high serum levels in advanced endometriosis is still unclear.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Comparison of cyproterone acetate and danazol in the treatment of pelvic pain associated with endometriosis.

Twenty-three patients with laparoscopically diagnosed endometriosis and pelvic pain were allocated randomly to treatment with cyproterone acetate 27 mg plus ethinyl estradiol 0.035 mg/day (11 patients) or danazol 600 mg/day (12 patients). All women received treatment for 6 months, except for one in the cyproterone group who suspended treatment for nonmedical reasons and was excluded from analysis of the results. The clinical condition and pain symptoms were monitored in all patients for 1 year after treatment suspension. The intensity of pelvic pain at diagnosis, during treatment, and at follow-up was evaluated by a multidimensional verbal score and an analogue scale. At the end of treatment, a repeat laparoscopy was performed in those patients who agreed (four in the cyproterone group, five in the danazol group); the results showed a partial regression of endometriotic lesions in both groups, with no significant differences between them. Dysmenorrhea disappeared in all patients during treatment. At 6 months after suspension, dysmenorrhea recurred in 66% of the cyproterone group and 58% of the danazol group, and at 1 year in 89 and 92%, respectively. Intermenstrual pelvic pain improved markedly during treatment in both groups; 6 months after treatment withdrawal it was present in four cyproterone subjects and four danazol group patients, whereas after 1 year, only one woman in the danazol group did not have this symptom. Deep dyspareunia was less affected by treatment, and 6 months later had recurred in all the women.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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↗