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Biomedical subjects

A Ruffie

Publications and source records attributed to A Ruffie.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

[Comparison of different protocols of ovulation induction, by GnRH agonists and chorionic gonadotropin].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the best way of using a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) for triggering ovulation and to analyse the reasons for short luteal phases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen different regimens of GnRH-a administration were used to trigger ovulation using different dosages and either one, two or three administrations: triptorelin, buserelin spray, buserelin subcutaneously, leuprolide and nafarelin in 231 treatment cycles. Pregnancy rate and luteal phase duration were compared with those of a control group for whom ovulation was triggered with hCG. RESULTS: Ovulation with supraphysiologic elevation of both FSH and LH was achieved in the 13 GnRHa groups. For the five main groups analysed, GnRHa produced shorter and inadequate luteal phases than did hCG but no difference was found between agonists. Pregnancy rates were not statistically different between the agonist groups or in comparison with the hCG group. CONCLUSION: The use of GnRHa to trigger ovulation is efficient, despite short luteal phases, and has proven its utility in comparison with hCG. As the different modes of stimulation appear to yield comparable results, the cost of treatment should be a significant element to take into consideration.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Rapid leptin decrease in immediate post-exercise recovery.

OBJECTIVE: Leptin concentrations in humans are known to decrease in response to fasting. The aim of this work was to investigate whether leptin levels might also be modified by exercise-induced negative energy balance. SUBJECTS: Eight male runners reported in the morning from 0800 to 1200 h for (i) one resting session (sitting) and (ii) one exercise-and-rest session (2 h run and 2 h rest). MEASUREMENTS: Plasma leptin, free fatty acids (FFA), glycerol, cortisol and salivary cortisol were assayed in both sessions at 1200 h. RESULTS: After exercise-and-rest the leptin concentrations were lower than after rest (1.7 +/- 0.1 vs 2.5 +/- 0.2 micrograms/l, P < 0.05), i.e. a mean decrease of 30.3 +/- 4.5% (range 9.5-45.8). Plasma FFA, glycerol and cortisol concentrations increased: FFA 0.78 +/- 0.08 vs 0.18 +/- 0.04 mmol/l, glycerol 0.13 +/- 0.01 vs 0.04 +/- 0.01 mmol/l, and cortisol 428 +/- 36 vs 279 +/- 27 nmol/l. A negative correlation was found between plasma FFA and leptin levels (r = -0.5, P < 0.05) and between plasma glycerol and leptin levels (r = -0.05, P < 0.05). No correlation was found between leptin and cortisol levels. CONCLUSIONS: In normal subjects with low body fat, a strenuous exercise-and-rest lowers leptin levels by a mean of 30%. A role of lipolysis possibly via increased plasma free fatty acids and glycerol levels is suggested. Cortisol does not seem to be involved.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Evaluation of 3 diagnostic methods in premature rupture of membranes: diamine-oxidase assay, alpha-fetoprotein assay, colorimetric method evaluating the pH].

The authors set out to assess the three diagnostic methods available which can detect early breaking of the membranes: radio-enzymatic assay of diamine-oxidase (DAO), radioenzymatic assay of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), colorimetric method for determining pH (Amnicator). Between June 1991 and March 1992, 114 samples of vaginal secretions were taken from 104 pregnant patients being followed up at Maternity Unit A, Bordeaux (France). The results of the assays were expressed in quantitative terms (microU/ml for DAO and ng/ml for AFP); ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) curves were used to determine the positivity threshold in terms of the sensitivity and specificity (20 microU/ml for DAO and 15 ng/ml for AFP). The sensitivity of the pH test was 97.5%, which was significantly better than that of DAO (90.2%) and even that of AFP (82.9%). However, there was no difference between the specificities of the pH, DAO and AFP tests (93.3%, 96.6% and 93.5% respectively). The data were compared with those in the literature. The problems in collecting the vaginal secretions probably accounts for the better results of the colorimetric test. This is a reliable, fast and easily reproducible test; these qualities make it the preferred test in EBM, and it can be completed using a radioenzymatic method (DAO) or immunoradiometric test (AFP).

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Triggering ovulation with endogenous luteinizing hormone may prevent the ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

In a series of 126 therapeutic cycles in 48 patients with primary infertility and treated with HMG for anovulation or preparation to insemination, ovulation was triggered by endogenous LH instead of HCG when the patient was considered to be at high risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHS), (plasma oestradiol greater than 1200 pg/ml) and/or multiple pregnancy (greater than 3 follicles greater than 17 mm in diameter). The endogenous LH surge was provoked and maintained by intranasal buserelin 200 micrograms three times at 8-hourly intervals. In the 37 cycles with buserelin, no OHS occurred despite high preovulatory levels of oestradiol; a single twin pregnancy was recorded despite the presence of numerous mature preovulatory follicles. Conception results (21.6% pregnancy per therapeutic cycle) compared favourably with HCG administration (16.8%). It is concluded that, when ovulation must be triggered in a hazardous situation, the use of endogenous LH through the administration of a short-acting GnRH analogue prevents the complications of exaggerated follicular stimulation.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1990

A placebo-controlled trial of intranasal growth hormone-releasing hormone [GHRH(1-44)-NH2] administration in normal young adults.

Growth hormone-releasing hormone, GHRH(1-44), was administered intranasally to 16 healthy young adult male volunteers in a placebo-controlled study using a dose of 1,000 micrograms dissolved in two different solvent vehicles: water alone and water with the surface tension-lowering agent Tween 80 (0.12%). The growth hormone (GH)-releasing effects of intranasal GHRH as well as that of the vehicle were established and compared to the effects of 80 micrograms intravenous GHRH. Plasma GH response was assessed by frequent blood sampling over an 180-min period, using both peak response and area under the curve (AUC). The results show that the GH-release effects of intranasal GHRH are comparable whichever vehicle is used, and are similar, with the dose of 1,000 micrograms, to the response obtained following the administration of 80 micrograms intravenous GHRH. Peak GH responses to GHRH (means +/- SEM) were 25.6 +/- 4.2 ng/ml (1,000 micrograms GHRH with water), 32.9 +/- 9.1 ng/ml (1,000 micrograms with water plus Tween 80) and 36.3 +/- 7.8 ng/ml (80 micrograms i.v. administration) (not significant). There was no significant GH response to placebo. Mean peak GH responses occurred after approximately 30 min in all three active treatments (29.2 +/- 2.7, 33.9 +/- 3.2 and 30.9 +/- 3.9 min, respectively). The AUC values (ng.min.ml-1) were not statistically different: 1,914.4 +/- 386.7 (water), 2,176.2 +/- 599.9 (water plus Tween 80) and 2,419.2 +/- 506.9 (i.v.) (not significant). Intranasal GHRH administration was well tolerated in all subjects. Occasional local reactions consisted of a prickly sensation in the nostrils or sneezing irrespective of the vehicle used.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1989

[Normal values of osteocalcin in the blood over the course of life].

This study tends to settle the standard values of BGP circulating amount, which - attesting osteoblastic activity - varies according life periods. The lowest amounts are to be found in twenty five to forty five years adults; though varying all the day and night long, these amounts remain included between 3-7 ng/ml; particularly if the blood-test took place between 8 and 10 a.m.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Rapid determination of plasma progesterone. Its value in ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization].

Plasma Progesterone levels show definite variations during the periovulatory period of the superovulated cycle similar to those of the physiological cycle. The question arises whether the pattern of these variations is of significance with regard to the success rate of the IVF cycle. This prospective study was conducted with a rapid and highly sensitive radioimmunoassay of plasma progesterone labelled with Iodine 125. A total of 452 cycles were initiated in 328 patients (280 cycles using a clomiphene citrate-HMG regimen, 272 cycles using an association of LHRH analogues with HMG according to three different protocols). Ovarian response was monitored with sonography and rapid plasma radioimmunoassays of 17 beta-estradiol, progesterone and LH (in non-analogue cycles). Plasma progesterone in particular was assayed 17 hours before, at the time, and 7 hours after the administration of HCG. 10,000 UI IM for triggering ovulation. During the Clomiphene-HMG therapy when LH levels are instable, the plasma progesterone assay is highly discriminant between the beginning of a true LH peak (with concomitant rise of progesterone greater than 1 ng/ml, 15.7% of the cycles) and hectic variations of LH (no concomitant rise of progesterone, 4.3% of the cycles); the progesterone assay was also able to detect the occurrence of ovulation in 3 cycles without sensible variation of plasma LH (1.1% of the cycles). Pre- and post-ovulatory levels of plasma progesterone also demonstrate a prognosis significance with regard to the chances of success of the cycle, with all the different types of ovarian stimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Osteocalcin in children of short stature and its nocturnal variations].

Serum osteocalcin (Gla-P) was measured in 65 children with normal stature for age and in 116 children with growth retardation, excluding endocrine disorders, in matched groups according to age: 1-6 years (n = 33); 7-10 years (n = 49); 11-14 years (n = 72); 15-18 years (n = 27). Thirty of these patients were retested at 2 weeks interval. In addition, Gla-P and growth hormone (hGH) were assayed in blood samples obtained every 20 minutes during sleep in 12 children with growth retardation. In younger children, Gla-P levels were significantly lower in patients with growth retardation, when compared with normal children. In contrast, this difference was no longer significant in children above 11, with either normal or delayed puberty. However, important intra-individual variations of Gla-P levels were observed on blood samples obtained at 2 weeks interval. A nocturnal periodicity in Gla-P was found; Gla-P rose slightly during sleep in the patients studied, maximum concentration being reached between 4 and 6 AM. No correlation between integrated concentrations of hGH and Gla-P was found. Gla-P determination may be of interest in the evaluation of young children with short stature. Standardized conditions of blood sampling for Gla-P use in children remain to be determined.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Clomiphene test and clomiphene therapy in idiopathic male infertility.

Clomiphene citrate, 50 mg/day, was administered to 105 patients with idiopathic azoospermia or oligoasthenospermia. Plasma FSH, LH, testosterone, and in a few cases estradiol were evaluated on day 0 and day 15 of therapy. Twelve other patients with no treatment were assayed in the same way. Statistical analysis demonstrated that, as a group, the infertile male population responds normally to clomiphene administration. On the other hand, three types of individual responses were recorded: complete positive response, dissociated positive response, and negative response. Sixty-nine patients were randomly selected for clomiphene therapy, 50 mg/day for 100 days; however, of 54 who completed the treatment schedule, only 11 showed elevated sperm counts. A study of correlations between hormonal and semen responses to clomiphene indicates that a complete or dissociated endocrine response is not an accurate predictor of possible semen amelioration on long-term therapy; on the other hand, sperm characteristics did not improve in those patients who did not demonstrate a positive hormonal response, mainly testosterone, on the 15th day of therapy.

Adult↗