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Biomedical subjects

N Surico

Publications and source records attributed to N Surico.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Corticotropin-releasing hormone modulates cytokines release in cultured human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Immune and neuroendocrine systems interact at various levels. In particular, either cytokines activate the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) or corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) induces the release of beta-endorphin from peripheral human mononuclear cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether CRH may affect cytokine production and activity in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Primary cultures of human PBMC and monocytes were used. They were incubated in presence of different doses of synthetic human CRH. Media were collected and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured by ELISA, while interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) levels were measured by bioassay. In addition, phytohemoagglutinin-induced lymphocyte proliferation was evaluated by testing [3H]thymidine incorporation in the presence of various doses of CRH. CRH significantly increased IL-6 release from PBMC (p < 0.01). The addition of CRH to PBMC significantly decreased IFN-gamma levels, in a dose dependent manner (p < 0.01). No significant effect of CRH was observed on lymphocyte proliferation or IL-1 beta production. The present results suggest a role for CRH as a paracrine mediator for human immune cells, increasing the evidence of a clear correlation between immune and neuroendocrine system.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Opioid control of gonadotrophin secretion in humans.

Hypothalamus-pituitary-axis (HPA) is constantly under the modulatory effect of many substances, such as neurotransmitters, neuromodulators and steroid hormones. Recently, the involvement of endogenous opioid peptides (EOP) in the control of the neuroendocrine mechanism modulating gonadotrophin secretion has been supported by several authors. It has been demonstrated that acute morphine administration decreases luteinizing hormone (LH) plasma levels and this is due to an inhibitory modulation on gonadotrophin releasing hormone discharge from the hypothalamic neurons. EOP are usually increased by stressful situations. In stress-induced amenorrhoea, the presence of low LH plasma levels and an abnormal LH pulsatile secretion has been related to an increased opioid activity, thus supporting the integrative role of opioids between hormonal and neuronal afferences of brain.

Endorphins↗
PubMed1990

[Comparative analysis of therapeutic effects of carbocalcitonin and and conjugated estrogens in post-menopausal osteoporosis].

In order to assess the correlation between menopause and osteoporosis, both in pathogenetic and therapeutical terms, a study was carried out in four comparable group of patients at Department B of the Institute of Gynaecology and Obstetrics at the University of Turin. Patients were divided as follows: 24 patents affected by evident osteoporosis, 39 patients with the first symptoms of osteoporosis, 27 with hypercalcemia and 33 healthy controls. The following tests were performed in all subjects: serum assay of androstenedione, estrone, 17-beta-estradiol, PTH, calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase and creatinine. Laboratory tests were repeated monthly in all patients and control subjects. Dual chromatic ray bone densitometry was performed in all patients at the start and end of treatment. With regard to therapy, each group was subdivided into two equal subgroups which were treated with carbocalcitonin or conjugated estrogens. From the findings, it is clear that there is a non-significant difference between serum levels of androstenedione, estrone and estradiol in the three groups examined and control subjects. Although the possibility that the fall in steroid hormones might contribute to bone load cannot be excluded, it is not possible to demonstrate that this is the most important factor in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis given that many women do not develop osteoporotic symptoms after menopause. In addition, in therapeutic terms, all bone density parameters considered in patient osteoporosis improved after therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Maternal and embryonal/fetal beta-endorphin concentrations during the first trimester of pregnancy.

In this study, we have determined the beta-endorphin concentrations in the plasma of 11 cases during the first 3 months of pregnancy, as well as the corresponding products of conception, collected by hysterosuction, during the course of voluntary abortion. The purpose of this study is to compare the values obtained by the analysis of maternal plasma and the material collected by hysterosuction. The beta-endorphin concentrations were obtained by radioimmunologic methods using a kit which allows a separation from beta-lipotropin. The specimens obtained by hysterosuction (8 +/- 1.7 pmol/l) showed significantly higher levels of beta-endorphin than those observed in the maternal plasma (2.6 +/- 0.3 pmol/l). Thus, already in the earliest gestational period, the data are consistent with a feto-placental origin for this opioid peptide.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1987

Limited diagnostic value of lymphocytic karyotype in primary amenorrhea with streak gonads.

Cytogenetic data represent a first line diagnostic aid in gonadal dysgenesis. Generally, the results of a peripheral blood examination reflect the genotypic alteration of the patient. Nevertheless, on occasion one may encounter cases in which clinical and hormonal evidence suggestive of dysgenesis is not accompanied by an anomalous chromosomal finding, upon cytogenetic analysis of the peripheral blood. In these cases, a cytogenetic alteration may be present in cellular components of the ovary and the cutis. In the light of the above, two patients presenting with primary hypergonadotropic amenorrhea, streak gonads and normal peripheral karyotype are described. In one patient presenting with phenotype alterations, ovarian wedge biopsy via laparotomy followed by cytogenetic analysis of ovarian tissue and tissue from the cutis revealed a 45,X/46,XX-type mosaicism. In the other patient, the ovarian cytogenetic findings were unremarkable. Extending chromosomal analysis to several tissues, beyond the peripheral level, in selected cases, is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Non-mosaic isodicentric X-chromosome in a patient with secondary amenorrhea.

An isodicentric X-chromosome idic(X) (pter----q26.1::q26.1----pter) was found in lymphocytes and ovarian tissue of a 40-year-old female patient with secondary amenorrhea. No mosaicism was observed. The phenotype-karyotype correlation of our case and of previously described non-mosaic cases of idic(X) (q::q) with different breakpoints is discussed.

Adult↗