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Biomedical subjects

I Ricciardi

Publications and source records attributed to I Ricciardi.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Tamoxifen-induced regression of benign breast lesions.

Sixty-three patients with severe breast dysplasia were treated with tamoxifen, 10 mg/day from day 5 to day 25 of the menstrual cycle for 4 months. Lesions were assessed by mammography, thermography, and echography (A- and B-mode scanning). In 45 patients (71.43%) there was complete remission of symptoms and disappearance of lesions as assessed by echography and clinical examination. Some improvement was seen in 12 patients. In all but 2 of those in whom lesions disappeared completely, no recurrence was seen in 12 months after treatment was discontinued. Estrogen receptors were assayed in 10 patients, but were detected in none. A decrease of doubtful statistical significance was observed in some patients in basal and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-stimulated levels of prolactin during the treatment period. No other significant or unequivocal change in endocrine parameters was observed during tamoxifen treatment.

Breast Diseases

The growth-hormone in long-term steroid-treated patients with chronic active hepatitis.

To determine whether the hypothalamo-pituitary axis (HPA) became suppressed in patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) treated with prednisone or long-activity synthetic corticotrophin (L.A.S.C.) for at least 12 months 36 patients with CAH were assessed for growth hormone release following insulin hypoglycemia test (IHT). Sixteen out of the 36 patients were treated with steroids, 11 with L.A.S.C. and 9 were untreated. Sixteen patients were less than 12 years old of whom 8 were treated with prednisone and 5 with L.A.S.C. and 3 untreated. Suppression of HPA was observed only in two patients of whom one was treated with prednisolone for 24 months and the other one received L.A.S.C. for 23 months. Normal HPA was observed in all the other 34 patients. Two patients aged 6 and 8 years were treated with steroids for 3 and 6 years respectively and showed impairment of the growth in height and remained permanently stunted even when steroids had been discontinued. Our data suggest that both steroids and L.A.S.C. treatment does not impair HPA in patients with CAH when administered for less than two years.

Adolescent

Abnormal steroid sulfate in plasma of women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

Concentrations of numerous sulfate steroids were checked in the plasma of 10 women in normal pregnancy (NP), 21 women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) and 10 pregnant women suffering from viral hepatitis with jaundice (VHP). A considerable increase in 5 alpha pregnane and 5 beta pregnane 3 alpha, 20 alpha diols, mono- and disulfates and in 5 alpha pregnane 3 beta, 20 alpha diols disulfates was observed only in ICP and not in VHP. This observation permits us to hypothesize that these hormone changes can have a causative role in the pathogenesis of ICP.

Alanine Transaminase

Relationship between germinal cells function and dynamics of FSH secretion.

Tubular histology was correlated to FSH levels assayed under basal conditions (8 cases) or in response to Gn-RH (24 cases) in 32 infertile males, in whom a testicular biopsy was indicated as part of the work-up. A good correlation was found between number of spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes and levels of FSH, under basal conditions or, even more, in response to Gn-RH; correlation was less close with respect to spermatids 1 and 2 and nonexistent with respect to Serotoli cells. In spite of those findings, when taking into account only mean counts of spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes, some overlapping of values in individual cases still existed. On the other hand, when correcting the above perameters for tubular diameter and number of tubules per LPF, a much closer correlation between parameters of tubular function and dynamics of FSH regulation was obtained; the overlapping of values was found only in 1 out of 32 cases.

Biopsy

A case of hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism with anosmia (Kallmann's syndrome) in a male, with familial incidence of a small metacentric chromosome (47,XX, mat?+).

A case of Kallmann's syndrome in a male is reported. Besides the classical picture of hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (demonstrated both by endocrine investigation and a testicular biopsy) with anosmia, a number of other unusual features are present including gynaecomastia, agencies of the anterior brachial muscles, some dental abnormalities, and dyschromatopsy. The karyotype, studied on peripheral lymphocytes, shows, in the propositus as well as in his mother, the presence in all mitoses of an extra small metacentric chromosome; its derivation is uncertain.

Adult

Effect of quinestrol on plasma and urinary gonadotropins of postmenopausal women.

Ten postmenopausal women were given a 4-mg load of quinestrol by mouth and plasma FSH and LH were serially determined at monthly intervals. By bioassay, total urinary gonadotropins were also measured at the same times. Plasma FSH and apparent total gonadotropin levels in the urine were depressed to very low levels up to 3 months, while plasma LH was slightly affected. Tentative explanations of this discrepancy are presented.

Administration, Oral