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Biomedical subjects

M Gasperi

Publications and source records attributed to M Gasperi.

44 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Effects of chronic neuroleptic therapy on human PRL secretion and testicular function.

Correlation between secretion of testicular steroids and plasma prolactin (PRL) levels, before and during bromocriptin treatment, was studied in 20 psychiatric patients under neuroleptic therapy for two years or longer. Eleven of them were under additional treatment with antiparkinson drugs (AP group). Plasma PRL, testosterone (T), 5 alpha dihydrotestostérone (DHT), 17 beta-estradiol (E2), 17 alpha OH-progestérone (17 alpha OHP), and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (D-S) were measured by specific RIA both at basal level and in response to testicular stimulation by hCG. Mean basal PRL levels were normal in the patients under neuroleptic treatment along (Ne group), and slightly elevated in the AP group. In the Ne group, an unexpected, significant increase occurred in mean plasma PRL during the hCG stimulation, before bromocriptine treatment. Mean basal steroid levels were normal in both groups. The testicular responses to hCG, as reflected by the T, E2, 17 alpha OHP, and DHT mean plasma levels, were within the normal ranges in the AP group; in the Ne group, however, T and DHT displayed a subnormal mean increase, while E2 and 17 alpha OHP responses were within the normal range. These results suggest that some modifications of the enzymatic activity for testicular steroidogenesis could be induced in the patients under neuroleptic treatment alone. Moreover, a significant reverse correlation was found between PRL and T basal in both group; this correlation disappeared during the bromocriptine treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Influence of conjugated oestrogens on circulating oestradiol, oestrone, LH, FSH and prolactin levels in postmenopausal women.

The effects on plasma 17-beta-oestradiol (E2), oestrone (E1), LH, FSH and prolactin (PRL) levels of 1.5 mg conjugated oestrogen, administered daily per os for 20 consecutive days, was investigated in six postmenopausal women aged 60-68. Both E2 and E1 increased progressively and significantly (p less than 0.001) from 18 and 28 pg/ml to 32 and 108 pg/ml, respectively, at the end of treatment; five days after the last dose both E2 and E1 had fallen to pretreatment levels (p greater than 0.05). LH and FSH decreased progressively and significantly (p less than 0.001) from 114 and 105 mlU/ml (before therapy) to 43 and 36 mIU/ml, respectively, after oestrogen administration. One week after interruption of treatment, both LH and FSH were significantly higher (p less than 0.001) than that obtained at the end of therapy. No significant variation (0.05 greater than p greater than 0.02) was observed for plasma PRL during and after oestrogen administration. Such results indicate that in postmenopausal women the specific enzymatic mechanism of oestrogen interconversion are maintained and that there is no increase of prolactin. IN this was, the possible effects on the development of breast cancer by elevated levels of this hormone, usually observed during long-term oestrogen therapy, would be avoided.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Serum prostate-specific antigen concentration is increased in acromegalic women.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a serine proteases produced by prostatic epithelial cells detectable in male serum and seminal plasma. PSA is also expressed in some female tissues and fluids and is increased in hirsute women showing a positive correlation with androgens. Accordingly, it has been suggested that PSA might be a marker of androgen action in women. The aim of this observational study was to assess serum PSA concentration in acro megalic women with active disease, in remission or during somatostatin analogs therapy. Forty-four acromegalic women, 15 with active disease, 10 in remission and 19 under long-acting somatostatin analogs therapy were enrolled in the study; 273 normal women matched for age, body mass index, with no signs of hirsutism, served as controls. Serum PSA, 3a-androstanediol (3alpha-AG), total testosterone (T), DHEAS, LH, FSH and estradiol were assessed. No patient or control had been given estrogen or antiandrogen drugs; no acromegalic women had hyperprolactinemia or hypopituitarism. Serum PSA concentration was significantly higher in acromegalic patients than in control subjects (p < 0.0001). Patients with active acromegaly or under somatostatin analogs therapy had significant higher serum PSA concentration than controls, while patients in remission after adenomectomy did not differ. Serum PSA was detectable in serum of 75% acromegalic women and 45% of controls. In addition 24% of acromegalic women had serum PSA concentrations higher than the mean +/- 2SD of control subjects. Differences in serum PSA levels did not reach statistical significance in the different acromegalic subgroups possibly because of the small number of subjects, but patients with active acromegaly had higher serum PSA levels than patients under somatostatin analogs therapy or in remission. Acromegalic women had significantly higher serum PSA concentrations than controls both before and after menopause (p < 0.01). 3alpha-AG (p < 0.05) and T (p < 0.01) were higher in acromegalic than in control subjects in pre-menopause (PM) but not in post-menopause (M). A correlation was found in the whole group of acromegalic patients between serum PSA and 3a-AG concentrations (r = 0.3, p < 0.01). In conclusion, acromegalic is associated with an increase in serum PSA concentrations as a group, although this increase is observed, at an individual level, in only 24% of cases. Patients whose disease is controlled by somatostatin analogs or has been cured by pituitary adenomectomy tend to have lower serum PSA levels than patients with active disease. M patients tend to have lower PSA values than PM women, consistent with the main androgen control of PSA production. However, the observation that M women still have higher serum PSA levels than controls suggest that in acromegaly PSA is regulated not only by androgens but also by the GH/IGF-I system itself.

Acromegaly↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Octreotide treatment does not affect the size of most non-functioning pituitary adenomas.

The somatostatin analogue, octreotide (OC) has commonly been used in the management of growth hormone- and thyrotropin-secreting pituitary tumors, and shown to be effective both on hormone production and tumor size. Because OC receptors may be expressed also in some nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas, it has been postulated that OC might play a role in the treatment of these tumors as well. In the present study, the morphological effects of OC administration, as assessed by computer tomography (CT) scan, were evaluated in 8 patients (5 men, 3 women, age range 25-79 yr) affected by non-functioning pituitary tumors. The drug was given sc at the dose of 100 micrograms tid for 3-6 months. No significant change in visual field or tumor size occurred after OC treatment in 7 patients, whereas one showed a significant improvement of visual field associated with a decreased tumoral mass. These data suggest that OC is not an effective drug in the management of nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas.

Adenoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Amplification of LH response to LHRH by dopamine infusion in eugonadal women.

Although the role of biogenic amines in the regulation of gonadotropin release has been studied extensively, the precise role of dopamine (DA) in stimulating LHRH and/or LH release is still controversial. In the present study 6 eugonadal women, aged 20-30, were given an LHRH infusion on day 6 of the menstrual cycle and the pattern and magnitude of LH and FSH responses were estimated. On day 6 of the next cycle, the experiment was repeated and DA was also infused beginning 60 min after the start of the LHRH infusion. Following LHRH infusion plasma LH showed a marked and significant rise with a mean peak increment at 4 h, and with a cumulative response (CR) of 9136 +/- 955 mIU/ml/6h. The pattern of FSH response tended to parallel that of LH; however, mean peak increment at 4 h and a CR of 2640 +/- 169 mIU/ml/6h were markedly lower. Plasma prolactin levels remained unchanged. Addition of DA to LHRH at 60 min evoked a significantly greater mean peak LH increment at 4 h and a CR of 15514 +/- 1836 mIU/ml/6h (p less than 0.001). There were no significant changes in either mean FSH peak at 4 h or in the CR (3257 +/- 309 mIU/ml/6h). As expected, a highly significant (p less than 0.001) decrease in circulating PRL from 12.1 +/- 3.1 to 3.0 +/- 1.5 ng/ml was seen during DA infusion. In conclusion, DA given by iv infusion enhancement LH response to LHRH in eugonadal women under the conditions of the present investigation, supporting a role for a dopaminergic component in the control of LH release in women.

Adult↗