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G Delitala

Publications and source records attributed to G Delitala.

140 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Does kidney transplantation normalise cortisol metabolism in apparent mineralocorticoid excess syndrome?

The syndrome of apparent mineralocorticoid syndrome (AME) results from defective 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (11beta-HSD2). This enzyme is co-expressed with the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) in the kidney and converts cortisol to its inactive metabolite cortisone. Its deficiency allows the unmetabolized cortisol to bind to the MR inducing sodium retention, suppression of PRA and hypertension. Thus, the syndrome is a disorder of the kidney. We present here the first patient affected by AME cured by kidney transplantation. Formerly, she was considered to have a mild form of the syndrome (Type II), but progressively she developed renal failure which required dialysis and subsequent kidney transplantation. To test the ability of the transplanted kidney to normalise the patient's cortisol metabolism, we gave, in two different experiments, 25 and 50 mg/day of cortisone acetate or 15 and 30 mg/day of cortisol after inhibition of the endogenous cortisol by synthetic glucocorticoid (methylprednisolone and dexamethasone). The AME diagnostic urinary steroid ratios tetrahydrocortisol+5alphatetrahydrocortisol/tetrahydrocortisone and cortisol/cortisone were measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Transplantation resulted in lowering blood pressure and in normalization of serum K and PRA. After administration of a physiological dose of cortisol (15 mg/day), the urinary free cortisol/cortisone ratio was corrected (in contrast to the A-ring reduced metabolites ratio), confirming that the new kidney had functional 11beta-HSD2. This ratio was abnormally high when the supra-physiological dose of cortisol 30 mg/day was given. After cortisone administration, the tetrahydrocortisol+5alphatetrahydrocortisol/tetrahydrocortisone ratio resulted normalised with both physiological and supra-physiological doses, confirming that the hepatic reductase activity is not affected. As expected, the urinary free cortisol/cortisone ratio was normal with physiological, but increased after supra-physiological doses of cortisone. The described case indicates a normalisation of cortisol metabolism after kidney transplantation in AME patient and confirms the supposed pathophysiology of the syndrome. Moreover, it suggests a new therapeutic strategy in particularly vulnerable cohorts of patients inadequately responsive to drug therapy or with kidney failure.

11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Successful treatment of retrograde ejaculation with the alpha1-adrenergic agonist methoxamine: case study.

We treated two patients affected by retrograde ejaculation (RE) with the pure alpha1-adrenergic agonist methoxamine; the drug was self-administered intramuscularly by the patients 30 min prior to intercourse or masturbation. A previous trial with oral imipramine had been ineffective in both patients. Sperm count increased substantially, particularly in the first patient who had insulin-dependent diabetes and was seeking fertility. In this patient, total ejaculated sperm increased from 22 millions to 488 and 419.5 millions on two different occasions, with good motility; two clinical pregnancies were obtained in the partner of this patient after 3 and 4 months of treatment, respectively. The second patient did not desire fertility. In both patients, no side effects were seen except for slight piloerection; blood pressure values increased slightly, and heart rate was unchanged. We conclude that self-administered methoxamine can be a useful, noninvasive and inexpensive treatment of RE, when oral agents are ineffective.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Incorporating Piaget's theories into behavior management techniques for the child dental patient.

This presentation reviews psychologist Jean Piaget's contributions to knowledge of cognitive development in children, relating it to behavior management techniques. Piaget theorized that children's knowledge about reality is realized by touching and observing; he termed this constructivism. He recognized that there are stages of development in knowledge acquisition. Practitioners should try to stimulate these needs to develop a positive dental experience. Another Piaget model is egocentrism, wherein a child views the world subjectively. The dentist should let the child patient know what's going on and have an active part in treatment.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Calcium ion and pituitary hormones: effect of calcium channel blockers on stimulated secretion of pituitary hormones.

The effects of two calcium channel blockers nifedipine (20 mg sublingual), and verapamil (10 mg i.v.) on growth hormone (GH), thyrotropin (TSH), prolactin (PRL) and gonadotropin (LH and FSH) secretion induced by growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH), hypoglycemia, thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), metoclopramide and gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), were studied in a group of normal volunteers (27 men and 8 women). Neither nifedipine nor verapamil had any effect on PRL, TSH or gonadotropin release. Verapamil did not cause variations in GH secretion following GHRH and insulin-induced hypoglycemia, whereas nifedipine significantly reduced the elevation in GH induced by GHRH; however the GHRH-mediated GH rise still remained within the normal range in all subjects. Our results suggest that neither nifedipine nor verapamil have important effects on stimulated pituitary hormone secretion, at least under conditions of acute administration.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Role of opiates in the physiological control of prolactin in man.

The Authors, for testing the opiate receptors role in human PRL secretion, performed the following experiment: they administered: 1) to 24 women during day 2 and 4 of the puerperium, divided into 3 groups of 8 subjects, respectively 5, 10, 20 mg naloxone. 2) to 16 women during day 3 and 4 of the puerperium, divided into 2 groups of 8 subjects, during mechanical breast stimulation with a breast pump (10 min for each breast), respectively 5, 10 mg naloxone. 3) to 12 women in physiological menopause, in basal condition and after administration of oestradiol 17-n-valerate 4 mg/die over ten days, 10 mg naloxone. 4) to 7 women in physiological menopause, in basal condition and after administration of ethinyl-oestradiol 50 micrograms/die over ten days, 5 mg morphine hydrochloride. They observed that naloxone is not able to reduce either basal PRL secretion in menopausal women, or puerperal hyperprolactinemia, or PRL release induced by mechanical breast stimulation. On the contrary, an exogenous opiate administration produced a PRL significant increase (P less than 0.01) and such increase has been affected in a statistically significant way (P less than 0.05) by the oestrogen rate.

Adult↗