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L De Cecco

Publications and source records attributed to L De Cecco.

79 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Rhythms in the ovulatory cycle. 2nd: LH, FSH, estradiol and progesterone.

The circadian profiles of LH, FSH, estradiol and progesterone were compared in a homogeneous group of 15 young normally cycling women, at 4 well characterized times of the menstrual cycle: early follicular (EF), late follicular (LF), early luteal (EL) and late luteal (LL) stages. The circatrigintan profiles of the same hormones were also evaluated. Population-mean cosinor analysis failed to demonstrate a circadian periodicity of LH in any of the 4 stages of the menstrual cycle; a circadian rhythm for FSH was present only in the 2 luteal phases (EL, LL); the same type of rhythmicity was present for estradiol only in the late luteal stage; on the contrary, a highly significant circadian rhythm of progesterone was present in each of the 4 menstrual stages considered (EF, LF, EL and LL). Population-mean cosinor analysis showed a highly significant circatrigintan periodicity of LH and FSH with the acrophases respectively between -109 degrees and -181 degrees and between -74 degrees and -125 degrees. Circatrigintan rhythmicity was also present for estradiol (acrophases between -161 degrees and -245 degrees) and progesterone (acrophases between -246 degrees and -296 degrees).

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Rhythms in the ovulatory cycle. 1st: Prolactin. Chronobiological Research Group on Synthetic Peptides in Medicine.

Circadian and circatrigintan profiles of prolactin (PRL) in young normally cycling women at 4 well characterized times of the ovulatory cycle have been compared. Circadian patterns of PRL (collected at 2-h intervals for 24h at each phase selected) change during the 4 phases, being higher in the luteal phase. In a consistent percentage of individuals, serum PRL rises notably during the night; in one half of the subjects a peak is located also in the afternoon or early evening. The statistically significant circatrigintan rhythm of PRL shows the acrophase approximately in the mid-luteal phase.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Biology of nidation and ectopic implantation.

The incidence of ectopic pregnancy has been steadily growing during the past decade; this fact can only partially be related to known factors (PID, use of IUDs, minipill, inductors of ovulation, sterilization reversal). Ectopic pregnancy is still a frequently misdiagnosed pathology; nevertheless, the recent advances in early diagnosis have allowed a decrease in the mortality rate and an improvement in subsequent fertility. In absence of obvious tubal abnormalities it is difficult to assess the cause of an ectopic implantation. Yet the factors regulating and nidation of the embryo in the human are far from clear. The transport of the embryo in the oviductal fluid depends on ciliary beat (generally regarded as the leading factor) and on muscle contractions mainly in the ampullary-isthmic and in the utero-tubal junction, where a sphincter action is stimulated by estrogens and relaxed by progesterone. Other substances (catecholamines, prostaglandins, oxytocin) are thought to be involved in ovum transport, although their role is unclear. Even less is known about local influence of the embryo on the oviduct. During preimplantation and implantation both the embryo and the mother engage in an elaborate interaction, elsewhere referred to as a 'conversation', involving long-and short-range signals. An essential role is played by the endocrine luminal milieu. A local action of estrogens on a progesterone-primed endometrium may be required for either the release of crucial signals for the blastocyst activation, or to make epithelial cells sensitive to the presence of the embryo, thus inducing the decidualization. In some animals, these estrogens are not ovarian, but synthesized by the blastocyst itself.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Efficacy of the association of 13-cis-retinoic acid (13cRA) and alpha-interferon 2a (alpha-IFN 2a) in moderate-severe cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN II-III): a pilot study.

Recent in vitro studies have suggested a possible therapeutic synergism between alpha-IFN 2a and 13cRA in certain neoplasias, while encouraging in vivo findings strongly support the enhanced effectiveness of the two agents when used in combination. The specific aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and the toxicity of the association of 13cRA and alpha-IFN 2a in patients with CIN II and CIN III who refused surgical treatment. Twenty-one patients (aged between 25 and 58 years), of which 14 were CIN II and 7 CIN III, entered the study. 13cRA (orally at 0.5-1 mg/Kg/day) and alpha-IFN 2a (intramuscular at 3x10(6) I.U./day for the first 15 days, then 3 times/week for the following four weeks) were administered simultaneously for eight consecutive weeks. 13/21 (62%) histologically verified objective responses (6 complete and 7 partial) were achieved. We also obtained 8 stable diseases. Compliance was generally good and no delays in therapy due to toxicity were recorded (except for two patients presenting WHO degree III cutaneous and mucosal toxicity which regressed one week after suspending treatment). Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) was initially detected in 16/21 (76%) patients, while HPV negativization after treatment was observed in 3/16 (19%). Although preliminary and requiring long-term assessment, the encouraging results of this study confirm the need for further investigation on the role of systemic medical therapy in the treatment of CINs.

Adult↗