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Biomedical subjects

A Cianci

Publications and source records attributed to A Cianci.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Treatment of hirsutism with flutamide and a low-dosage oral contraceptive in polycystic ovarian disease patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and hormonal response of the antiandrogen flutamide (Eulexin, Schering Plough, Milan, SA, Italy) associated with a low dosage oral contraceptive (OC) in a group of hirsute women who were unresponsive to OC treatment. DESIGN: Twenty-two polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) patients with hirsutism were treated with flutamide (250 mg twice/d) in association with ethinyl-E2 (0.030 mg/d) plus desogestrel (0.150 mg/d) (Practil 21; Organon, Rome, Italy) for 21 d/mo. SETTING: Patients were recruited in the Institute of Obstetrical and Gynaecological Pathology, St. Bambino Hospital, University of Catania, Italy. Hormonal assays were performed in the Hormone Laboratories of St. Bambino Hospital, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Every 2 months the hirsutism score was evaluated using the Ferriman-Gallwey hair density index. Mean plasma concentrations of LH, FSH, E2, total T, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), androstenedione (A), sex hormone-binding globulin, DHEAS were determined. RESULTS: After 8 months treatment with flutamide and low dosage OC, the Ferriman-Gallwey score improved in all patients, mean values decreasing from 25.4 +/- 3.96 to 14.6 +/- 1.92. Plasma levels of total T and E2 were unchanged, whereas LH, FSH, A, and DHT values decreased significantly. Sex hormone-binding globulin levels showed a marked increase. CONCLUSION: Flutamide, associated with low dosage OC, favorably influence the hirsutism in PCOD women who are unresponsive to OC treatment alone.

Adolescent↗

Female genital tissue concentrations of roxithromycin.

A new macrolide, roxithromycin, appears to have some interesting pharmacokinetic characteristics dissimilar to those of erythromycin, e.g. it has the unusual property of a long serum half-life and the possibility of once daily dosing. Moreover tissue levels are higher than those obtained with other macrolides, and the drug is still present in the tissues up to 24 h. after dosing. The pharmacokinetics of roxithromycin were studied in 36 women undergoing gynecological surgery, and divided by means of the time of sampling into six different groups. Each group received an initial 300 mg dose followed by 8 successive doses of 150 mg at 12 h intervals. Blood and tissues samples were taken during surgery at 2, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 h after the last dose of roxithromycin and the patients were then allocated to one of the six groups by means of the sampling time. Tissue fragments were obtained from ovary, fallopian tubes, endometrium, myometrium, cervix and vagina immediately after the surgical resection of the organs. Tissue and serum concentrations were determined by the microbiological method using Sarcina lutea ATCC 9341; the lowest limit of detection was 0.01 microg/ml or 0.01 microg/g. Roxithromycin reached the highest concentration at the 9th hour after last administration and its tissue levels would encourage a wide use of this drug as a satisfactory alternative to tetracyclines for the therapy of some gynecological infections.

Administration, Oral↗

In-vitro and in-vivo activity of roxithromycin against Chlamydia trachomatis.

The object of study was the evaluation of both the in-vitro and in-vivo activity of roxithromycin against Chlamydia trachomatis. In-vitro activity against C. trachomatis was achieved by means of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determinations and was recorded as 0.05 mg/l. In vivo activity was tested in 15 of 60 women, attending the Planning Clinic, who were positive for C. trachomatis. Microbiological diagnosis of chlamydial infection was achieved by using a monoclonal direct smear test (Biomerieux-C trachomatis direct IF). All the patients and their partners were treated with 150 mg of roxithromycin twice a day for 15 days. All the patients were requested to avoid unprotected sexual intercourse up to the end of the therapy. The criterion for clinical efficacy was defined as disappearance of clinical signs and the criterion for microbiological efficacy was evidence of eradication of C. trachomatis at the follow-up (mean time: 30 days). A clinical cure and chlamydial eradication was recorded for all the patients at the end of the treatment and at follow-up. Clinical safety was also satisfactory.

Administration, Oral↗

Some pharmacokinetic data on miocamycin II. Concentrations in gynaecological tissues.

The gynaecological tissue levels of miocamycin were studied in ten female patients after pre-operative administration. The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of the scheduled sampling time. All the patients received 4200 mg of the drug, divided in 7 tablets of 600 mg each every 8 h, last administration 2 or 3 h before surgery. The tissue levels, obtained by means of the microbiological method (Sarcina lutea 9341), were frequently higher than those obtained in the serum at the same time. Miocamycin reached the highest concentration in the endometrium (2.5 micrograms/g) and the lowest in the vagina (1.1-0.8 micrograms/g).

Biological Assay↗

The role of anti-herpes specific serum IgA levels as a marker in cervical oncogenesis.

In the last few years, a great effort has been made with the aim of discovering cervical cancer etiology factor(s). At present, both HSV and HPV have been demonstrated strictly associated with cervical premalignant and malignant lesions. Nevertheless problems do exist in achieving the definitive evidence of a causative role exerted by herpes virus and/or by papilloma virus. Starting from 1984, our group studied the humoral immune response against herpes virus type two, in patients affected with CIN and invasive cervical cancer, as well as with atypical metaplasia and papilloma virus cytopathic effect at pap test, giving in 1985, the first evidence that serum levels of specific anti-herpes IgA strictly correlates both with infections and viral shedding, even when asymptomatic, as with various stages in cervical oncogenesis. This study updates our previous reports showing that IgA serum levels may be a useful marker in herpes related human diseases. Finally, data show the preliminary evidence that IgA, when levels are determined in the male partners of patients, is also useful in the screening and detection of "high risk males". These data, if further confirmed, will be of great advantage in the clinical monitoring of cervical cancer treatments, as well as in management and follow-up of preinvasive epithelial lesions of the cervix.

Adolescent↗

Ashley's hypothesis revisited.

Nowadays it is widely accepted that cervical cancer is a virus related, sexually transmitted disease, but no complete agreement exists about its etiological factors. They may be identified in HSV or in HPV or in both. Moreover, its is accepted that cervical cancer does not arises ex abrupto from normal epithelium, but often arises from the epithelia with well codified morphological lesions now defined as "Cytohistological Cervical Cancer Precursors". Epidemiological data available at the moment, also concerning risk age, suggest that two different risk classes do exist. They range respectively between 20 and 40 years and between 50 and 70 years of age. When considering sexual promiscuity, younger patients refer a higher and more intensive level than that referred by older; the latter often claim for a low level of sexual activity. Starting from this observation, as well as from clinical and histological evidence, Ashley first suggested in 1965 the existence of two different types of cervical cancer. In the Ashley hypothesis the first type, slow-growing, is often preceded by a precursor, non-invasive stage, while the second, fast-growing, rapidly invades, often without evidence of a previnvasive stage. In our series of 1,010 invasive and 210 in situ cervical cancers, indeed, two different ranges of risk-ages exist, fulfilling Ashley's hypothesis. Morphological evaluation of lesions shows that in the younger patients, invasive cancer is, in a high percentage, associated with HPV-VCE and CIN in the surroundings, while in the older, this feature is less evident.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Metergoline in the management of hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea and anovulation.

84 patients with elevated serum PRL levels, ranging from 25 to 253 ng/ml, were treated with an antiserotonin agent, metergoline, at the dose of 12 mg/day for 90 days. The clinical complaint was of amenorrhea in 70 cases (plus galactorrhea in 44 cases) and of anovulation in 14 cases (plus galactorrhea in 6 cases). Hyperprolactinemia was due to a pituitary adenoma in 18 cases; in 53 cases it was of unknown origin, while in 7 cases it followed treatment with neuroleptics or with oral contraceptives and in 6 cases it followed a puerperium. In patients with amenorrhea, metergoline induced the appearance of menses in 61 cases (94%), and of ovulation in 46 cases (82%). In 13 of the 14 patients with anovulation, ovulation was restored. Galactorrhea disappeared in 40 out of 50 patients. Metergoline normalized serum PRL levels (less than 20 ng/ml) in 46 cases and significantly reduced serum PRL levels in all but 3 of the remaining patients. In spite of suggested nonhormonal contraceptive measures, 14 patients became pregnant; 2 had abortions and the remaining 12 patients completed by vaginal delivery, uneventful pregnancies. These results indicate metergoline as a safe and effective drug in the management of hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea and anovulation. 49 patients were followed for 2 additional months, receiving no treatment (24 cases) or metergoline at a reduced daily dosage (8 mg/day, 25 cases). Within 60 days, 60% of the first group had relapse of the clinical condition and a rebound elevation of serum PRL levels while only 20% of the second group experienced relapse of amenorrhea and rebound elevation of serum PRL levels (p less than 0.01).

Amenorrhea↗

Human fetal insulin secretion in response to maternal glucose and leucine administration.

Maternal and fetal serum insulin response to glucose, leucine and leucine plus glucose was examined by infusions to normal pregnant women at term immediately before cesarean section. The maternal infusion of glucose (50 g) for 30 or 60 minutes was associated with a marked hyperglycemia and with a rise in serum insulin in mother and fetus. The fetal insulin response to the administration of glucose for 60 minutes was higher (p less than 0.01) than when the same dose was given for 30 minutes, while the blood glucose was lower (p less than 0.01). The maternal infusion of a smaller dose of glucose (25 g) or leucine (15 g) for 60 minutes produced an increase in serum insulin only in the mothers. However the simultaneous administration of these substances stimulated maternal and fetal insulin secretion. The fetal insulin level produced was similar to that seen after the maternal infusion of 50 g of glucose for 60 minutes, while the cord blood glucose was slightly higher but significantly different (p less than 0.01) than that seen in the saline infused group.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗

[Delivery under general anesthesia with the sequence of althesin and lysine acetylsalicylate; a clinical contribution].

Personal experience in the use of Althesin in painless childbirth is reported. The anaesthetic is held to have no effect on the foetus and the technique using Althesin and acetylsalicylate of lysine is considered the correct one. If properly applied, it offers the foetus complete wellbeing during labour and enables the mother to overcome the psychophysical stress of an event which is too often accepted with inherited feelings of ancestral fear.

Adolescent↗

Concerning a new pathogenetic hypothesis of the E.P.H. gestosis (note I).

The Authors, after having evaluated the literature data, report, on the basis of their clinical experience, a new pathogenic hypothesis of the E.P.H. gestosis which would be: "Disease due to missed materno-foetal adaptation:, correlated to the activation of the maternal immunocompetent system against the "not self" antigens, carried by the trophoblast and codified by the genoma of the father's origin. It is also due to missed destruction of the tunica media of the placental bed arteries and to the thromboplastinic activity of the trophoblastic cells damaged by the immunologic reaction. This disease, clinically represents, the appearance of a "temporaneous" (pre-eclampsia) or "definitive" (eclampsia) defeat of the fibrinolytic control mechanisms against a disseminated intravascular coagulopathy.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗

Auditory brainstem response in postmenopausal women treated with hormone replacement therapy: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To research the nongenital audiological target for gonadal steroids in postmenopausal women who are treated with hormone replacement therapy. DESIGN: Fifty postmenopausal volunteers were treated with hormone replacement therapy. Women with an intact uterus had sequential weekly transdermal estradiol plus nomegestrole acetate 5 mg orally for 12 days per month or a continuous daily oral dose of conjugated estrogen 0.625 mg and medroxyprogesterone acetate 5 mg tablet. Eighteen surgically postmenopausal women received a weekly transdermal estradiol system. Twenty-five postmenopausal volunteers-5 with a natural menopause and 10 with a surgical menopause-and 20 premenopausal normally cycling women were used as a control group. Each woman performed auditory brainstem response by auditory-evoked potentials for waves I, III, and V and for interpeak I-III, I-V, and III-V intervals. RESULTS: Women who were treated with hormone replacement therapy showed wave latencies and interpeak latencies shorter than those for postmenopausal women in the control group (p < or = 0.05), overlapping those of the premenopausal women (p > 0.05). Women who were treated with estrogen replacement therapy showed shorter time latencies than those treated with combined hormone replacement therapy (p < or = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that fluctuating hormone levels cause changes in auditory brain-stem response waves, even if the exact mechanism of activity of the gonadal steroids is not clear. However, we believe that estrogen may influence the neuronal plasticity, the metabolic levels of neurotransmitters, and thus the neuronal conduction time into the audiological system.

Administration, Cutaneous↗