Biomedical subjects

E Maniccia

Publications and source records attributed to E Maniccia.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1986

Labor in humans: 1. Progesterone, 20 alpha-dihydro-progesterone, estrone and 17 beta-estradiol in near placental and most distant human amnion and chorion laeve in various stages of labor at term.

In some species the onset of labor is regulated by changes in the estrogen/progesterone ratio. The same change in fetal membranes has been suggested to be one of the triggering mechanisms of labor in humans. In order to examine if a gradient in steroid concentration existed in fetal membranes and if changes in concentrations could be observed with the onset and advancing labor, the concentration of progesterone (P), 20 alpha-dihydro-progesterone (20 alpha-OHP), estrone (E1) and 17 beta-estradiol (E2) were determined by specific radioimmunoassay in the near placental and most distant regions of human amnion and chorion laeve obtained at term, before, at the onset and in advanced labor. Both estrogen and progestin concentrations in the chorion were higher than in the amnion. No gradient in the concentration of steroids was found. No statistically significant differences in estrogen and progestin levels were associated with the onset of labor.

20-alpha-Dihydroprogesterone↗

PubMed1986

Ovarian and peripheral androgen and oestrogen levels in post-menopausal women: correlations with ovarian histology.

Ovarian and peripheral plasma levels of oestrone (E1), oestradiol (E2), androstenedione (A) and testosterone (T) were assayed in 58 post-menopausal women who underwent hysterectomy and oophorectomy (35 for endometrial carcinoma and 23 for benign gynaecological diseases). No significant difference between the two groups was seen when they were matched for percentage of ideal weight. However, significant differences were found between the ovarian and peripheral levels of the four steroids investigated. To facilitate analysis of the data, 40 of these women were classified into three groups (1, 2 and 3) according to degree of stromal hyperplasia of the ovary. Group 1 comprised those with atrophic ovaries, group 2 those with slight stromal hyperplasia and group 3 those with moderate or marked stromal hyperplasia. Ovarian levels of A and T were significantly higher than peripheral levels in all three groups, but the ovarian/peripheral oestrogen differences were significant only in groups 1 and 2. The ovarian steroid levels in group 3 were significantly higher than those in groups 1 and 2 in the cases of E1 (P less than 0.01), E2 (P less than 0.001) and A (P less than 0.001), but not in that of T. It was concluded that ovaries showing marked stromal hyperplasia can produce significant amounts not only of androgens but also of E2, and hence that any evaluation of the hormonal pattern in post-menopausal women must also take into account the microscopic characteristics of the ovary.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1985

Corpus luteum function during the early puerperium.

Progesterone and 17 beta-estradiol peripheral plasma levels have been determined during labor and after 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120 and 144 h from delivery in a group of 7 women, whose corpus luteum had been removed at delivery and in a corresponding control group with intact corpus luteum. In both groups the results indicate a progressive fall of progesterone and 17 beta-estradiol, that is evident until 144 h for progesterone and 72 h from 17 beta-estradiol. The analysis of the two groups with the Student's t test has shown significantly lower levels in the group of women, whose corpus luteum had been removed, at the 6th h (p less than 0.01), 12th h (p less than 0.02) and 24th h (p less than 0.05) for progesterone and at 3rd h (p less than 0.01) and 6th (p less than 0.01) for 17 beta-estradiol. The significant difference for progesterone appearing later than for 17 beta-estradiol could be due to the fact that progesterone is also dismissed by the adipose tissue, where it is stored. A further statistical elaboration of the results, carried out by calculating the regression line and the transfer function, confirmed the different pattern in time of progesterone and 17 beta-estradiol plasma levels after delivery in the two groups of patients considered.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

Amniotic membrane diffusion chambers: a new possibility for pancreatic islet transplantation.

In order to avoid the host foreign-body reaction which is probably responsible for the long-term failure of the artificial membrane diffusion chambers currently used for protecting the implanted islet tissue from rejection, we tested the human amniotic membrane as a possible new tool for enclosing transplanted islets of Langerhans. Bag-shaped chambers were made with human amniotic membranes and the diffusion of 125 I-Insulin out and of D-glucose into the chambers was measured. The diffusion patterns of insulin and glucose were shown to be better than those described for the best artificial membranes, the 50% diffusion being reached at min 42 for 125 I-Insulin and at min 11 for D-glucose. Moreover, it was shown that no lymphocytes diffused into the amniotic membrane chambers. These results, together with the already known characteristics of the human amniotic membrane, induce us to propose it as a suitable material for further experimental work in islet tissue transplantation.

Amnion↗

PubMed1984

Ovarian and peripheral plasma levels of progestogens, androgens and oestrogens in post-menopausal women.

Ovarian and peripheral plasma concentrations of oestrone (E1), oestradiol (E2), androstenedione (A), testosterone (T), progesterone (P) and 17 alpha-hydroxy-progesterone (17 alpha OH-P) were assayed in 20 healthy post-menopausal women undergoing hysterectomy because of uterine fibromatosis. Significant differences were found between the ovarian and peripheral levels of E1 (P less than 0.01), E2 (P less than 0.001), A (P less than 0.01), T (P less than 0.001) and P (P less than 0.001). Analysis of the possible relationships between peripheral and ovarian levels of the six steroids considered and the patients' clinical characteristics revealed a positive correlation in only three cases, viz. between body weight and peripheral levels of E1 and E2, between E1 and E2 peripheral levels and between body weight and the E1/A ratio. The ovarian-peripheral gradient was calculated for each patient and was considered significant only if the ovarian peripheral difference exceeded the sum of each concentration multiplied by twice the maximal coefficient of variation of the assays used (12%). This gradient was significant in 75% of patients for T, in 45% for A, in 35% for E2, in 25% for E1, in 35% for P and in 30% for 17 17 alpha OH-P. Our findings confirm that circulating oestrogens in post-menopausal women originate mainly from the peripheral conversion of ovarian and adrenal androgens and that the ovary still continues to produce androgens. They also provide evidence that the ovary, at least in some post-menopausal subjects, can be a potential source of oestrogens and progestogens.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Incidence of genital tuberculosis in infertile patients submitted to diagnostic laparoscopy: recent experience in an Italian university hospital.

The incidence of genital tuberculosis is decreasing in industrialized countries. The authors report their experience in 254 patients with primary or secondary infertility. Out of 101 patients with a tubal factor of infertility, two patients were diagnosed as having tuberculosis by both endometrial biopsy and endometrial culture. In a third patient, even in the presence of laparoscopic findings suggesting genital tuberculosis Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated only from the urine.

Adult↗