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L M Chiechi

Publications and source records attributed to L M Chiechi.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

[Phytoestrogen-containing food and prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases].

Food phytestrogens and prevention of postmenopausal osteoporotic and cardiovascular disease. Phytestrogens are diphenolic compounds, widely found in plants and foods, with structural and biological estrogen-like similarities. Their anti-estrogenic effects are well known and studied due to the possibility to prevent some tumors such as breast and prostate cancer. In menopause they have an estrogenic-like action on lipidic and bone metabolism. Phytestrogens rich foods can positively affect the postmenopausal osteoporotic and cardiovascular pathology.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

[Ultrasonic evaluation of endometrial changes induced by cyclic sequential hormone substitution therapy].

BACKGROUND: At present the hormonal replacement therapy on postmenopausal women with uterus needs the use of progestins additionally to estrogens, to eliminate the risk of endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma connected with the use of estrogens alone. The check of the endometrium during these therapies can be made by transvaginal ultrasound that permits the evaluation of the thickness, structure, and contour of the endometrial rima. The aim of this study was to establish the changes of endometrial thickness during cyclic sequential hormonal replacement therapy on healthy postmenopausal women with transvaginal ultrasound. METHODS: The endometrial thickness with transvaginal ultrasound has been evaluated during the cyclic sequential hormonal replacement therapy on 20 healthy women in physiological menopause before the treatment, during the phase of treatment with estrogens alone and during the phase of treatment with the addition of the progestins. RESULTS: Significant differences during the estrogenic phase compared to before treatment have been underlined (5.7 mm vs 3.5 mm p = 0.002), but not during progestinic phase compared to estrogenic (6 mm vs 5.7 mm p = 0.712). CONCLUSIONS: Transvaginal ultrasound is a useful investigation to evaluate the modifications of the thickness and structure of the endometrium during hormonal replacement therapy and can help early diagnosis of endometrial diseases during these treatments.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[The multipara today: a socio-biological analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if and in which way work affects the choice of pregnancy and what is the outcome of pregnancy in multipara. METHODS: A retrospective study of 820 women who delivered at the Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology II at the University of Bari, in the period 1993-1996 was performed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The results show that work and its problems influence the choice of having more children and that multiparity is related to a greater incidence of premature deliveries.

Female↗
PubMed1997

Expression of prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthase 1 and 2 in human placenta at term.

Prostaglandins play an important role in reproduction, particularly in pregnancy and parturition. We investigated the expression of prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthase (PGHS) 1 and 2, key enzymes in prostaglandin biosynthesis, in the human placenta at term. Northern blot analysis of placenta total and poly(A)+ RNA failed to detect significant levels of PGHS-1 mRNA, using a human PGHS-1 specific DNA probe. In contrast, definite PGHS-2 mRNA bands, with a calculated size of about 4.5 kb, were observed in Northern blots of placenta poly(A)+ RNA, using a PGHS-2 specific DNA probe. Moreover, PGHS-1 and PGHS-2 expression was assessed at the translational level by Western blot analysis. Thus, using three highly specific antibodies, we found a selective expression of PGHS-2 immunoreactive protein. These results indicate that PGHS-2 is the PGHS isoform prevalently expressed in the human placenta at term and support the hypothesis that PGHS-2 plays a prominent role in the maintenance of pregnancy, in line with the proposed anti-apoptotic and growth promoting properties of this enzyme.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed1997

Smoking and menopause.

A retrospective study on 293 women who attended the Physiopathology of Human Reproduction menopausal out-patient clinic at Bari University Hospital throughout 1995, has been carried out to evaluate correlations between smoking and climacteric syndrome. From the data we have discovered an earlier onset of menopause in the smokers. Fewer smokers were married and they worked more, drank more, and were more educated. The incidence of climacteric syndrome did not differ between smokers and non-smokers.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Delivery in nulliparous women aged < or = 18 years].

METHODS: A retrospective study of 733 nulliparous women who gave birth at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Bari, in the period from 1-1-1994 to 31-12-1995, was performed to evaluate the outcome of pregnancy and neonatal outcome in adolescents < or = 18 years old. The sample was subdivided into two subgroups; the first of 114 girls < or = 18 years old; the latter of 619 women 22-34 years of age, and they were compared. RESULTS: We have found a more lengthy term of pregnancy (39.66 weeks vs 39.27 weeks p = 0.008) and a greater incidence of vacuum extraction (VE) in the group of < or = 18 years old (7.89% vs 3.23% p = 0.03).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Sexuality in the climacterium.

A retrospective study on 421 women who spontaneously attended the Menopausal Center of Physiopathology of Human Reproduction at Bari University has been carried out to evaluate the incidence of the decrease of libido in climacterium and factors that affect it. The results show a high incidence of decreased libido (46%) and a correlation with age, dyspareunia and housewife status.

Aging↗
PubMed1997

Climacteric syndrome and body-weight.

A retrospective study on 181 women who attended the menopausal out-patient clinic of Physiopathology of Human Reproduction at Bari University Hospital throughout 1995, has been carried out to evaluate the relation between body-weight (valued as BMI) and the climacteric syndrome. From the data we have discovered that hot flushes and sweating are more common in women with greater body-weight. Also, women with BMI > 23.8 were found to have a lower level of education.

Body Mass Index↗
PubMed1996

[Pregnancy in women over 35 years of age. What risk?].

A retrospective study of women who are delivered at the Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Bari, in the period 1991-1994, was performed to evaluate if over 20 week pregnancies in women aged 35 years and over were at higher risk for maternal and neonatal complications than pregnancy in women aged 20 to 29 years. The results of these 4 years show that pregnancy in women aged 35 and over is burdened with a greater incidence of maternal complications and cesarean sections, but age is not a risk for neonatal outcomes. Moreover, most working women were obliged to delay the first birth child, but work does not increase the number of complications.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Incidence of climacteric syndrome].

A retrospective study on 300 women who attended the menopausal out-patient clinic of Physiopathology of Human Reproduction at Bari University Hospital from 1994 to 1995, was carried out to evaluate the incidence of climacteric syndrome in premenopause together with its correlations with the social and cultural environment. The results don't show differences between spontaneous and surgical menopause, and minor differences with premenopause. No relationship has been discovered between the onset of the menarche and the onset of spontaneous menopause. The hot flushes are more frequent in women with low level of learning.

Climacteric↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Factors of risk for breast cancer influencing post-menopausal long-term hormone replacement therapy.

The advantages of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are well documented in contrasting the symptomatology of climacterium and in reducing morbidity and mortality associated with coronary heart disease and osteoporotic fractures of postmenopausal age. However, growing evidence points to increased breast cancer risk in HRT long-term users, and the adverse effect would, obviously, overwhelm any other benefit. At present, the risk/benefit ratio of HRT is an object of hot debate, and we feel it necessary and urgent to select women who can safely benefit from HRT and women whose risk of breast cancer can be perilously increased by the raised hormonal levels related to HRT. We have reviewed studies on the breast cancer risk in HRT users and data on the interaction between steroid hormones and breast cancer. Reasoning that the outcome of mammary cancer can be increased by hormonal overstimulation of the breast, we have focused on those factors of risk that could be further enhanced by the exogenous hormonal stimulus of HRT, so as to cause a further significant increase in the risk of breast cancer. We conclude that some biologic and clinical markers, namely android obesity, bone density, mammographic density, androgen and estrogen circulating levels, alcohol consumption, benign breast disease, and familiarity, should be carefully considered before prescribing long-term HRT. Our analysis suggests that HRT could increase the risk of breast cancer and useless in preventing coronary heart disease and osteoporotic fractures when administered in women with positivity for one or more of these markers.

Bone Density↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Recruitment strategies for a randomized clinical study].

BACKGROUND: To value the level of acceptance of the Memphis Study, (a random clinical study suggested verifying the efficacy of a diet enriched with phytoestrogens to prevent menopausal problems), and underlining the reasons which induce the acceptance or refusal of the study. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. METHODS: Meeting groups have been held with 82 women needing Day Hospital treatment for Menopause at III Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University of Bari. The features of women and the reasons that induce these++ acceptance or refusal of the study were valued by an anonymous questionnaire with a precoded reply. RESULTS: 92.9% of the women accepted participation in the study. The main reasons for acceptance were: 1) believing that the study was drawn up for women; 2) it was done by expert physicians; 3) it was not done for financial gain. The random standard was the main reason for refusal. CONCLUSIONS: With this method we had a very high acceptance, talking over the goals and problems that study aimed to address and to resolve. The chance offered to judge the reliability and competence of physicians is important.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Territorial research on the availability of phytoestrogen rich foods].

BACKGROUND: To verify the availability of foods containing phytoestrogens, the quality of available products, the degree of knowledge of these foods by dealers, the willingness of dealers to give cooperation in preparation of the MENFIS study, a study assessing the efficacy of a phytoestrogen rich diet on the long term effects of menopause. METHODS: Perspective research by questionnaires carried out in the herbalist's shops of Bari. RESULTS: For the aims of the study the herbalist's shops resulted in being the most suitable, because they were the most supplied with these products and with natural foods, with a high degree of knowledge of these foods and a helpfulness towards the users, perhaps because of the strong motivation towards this type of diet. CONCLUSIONS: The easy availability of these products, the good preparation of managers of the herbalist's shops and their good experience is a sound basis for those intending to start dietary programs with phytoestrogen rich foods.

Diet↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Breast cancer in pregnancy. Resistance to screening].

BACKGROUND: An increasing number of women decide to become pregnant after 30 years of age, an age which begins to superimpose that of greater incidence of breast cancer, and therefore an ever-increasing number of women are destined to become pregnant during the growth of their cancers. Pregnancy associated breast cancer has a worse prognosis, but this prognosis is caused mainly from a delay in the diagnosis; for this reason the aims of this study have been to ascertain the reasons for this delay. METHODS: A sample of 500 pregnant women at term at the age of over 30 years spontaneously applied to the II Dept of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Bari, were perspectively examined through a questionnaire about non-instrumental breast checks carried out during the pregnancy. RESULTS: Only the 7.4% of the women have been subjected to breast examination during pregnancy, most (67.6%) without troubles. The habit of self-examination has fallen from 28.4% to 6.2%. A greater care for cervical carcinoma has been underlined. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy is a moment of less attention for the physician and patient about breast cancer, and this causes a delay in the diagnosis with consequent prognostic worsening. For this reason there must be a greater interest to this problem and a different diagnostic approach.

Adult↗