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Biomedical subjects

P Bertello

Publications and source records attributed to P Bertello.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Appearance of severe jaundice after radiometabolical treatment of thyrotoxicosis.

The appearance of moderate jaundice with mildly raised levels of plasma bilirubin is an uncommon complication of thyrotoxicosis and is usually accompanied by signs of right heart failure. Some described cases were actually related, at least in part, to autoimmune chronic hepatitis. In this paper we describe a case of thyrotoxicosis accompanied by deep jaundice with very high levels of bilirubin occuring in the absence of cardiac failure and with no signs of hepatitis. Jaundice disappeared shortly after the start of thyrostatic drug treatment, supporting a possible detrimental effect of hyperthyroidism on the hepatic bilirubin metabolism.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1994

Plasma endothelin in NIDDM patients with and without complications.

OBJECTIVE: To measure plasma endothelin 1 (ET-1) levels in uncomplicated non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and investigate whether ET levels may be related to angiopathy, blood pressure, metabolic control, or duration of illness. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Plasma levels of ET-1 were measured in 44 NIDDM patients, of whom 24 had uncomplicated diabetes, 20 had angiopathy, and 10 had hypertension. In 21 patients, the duration of illness was > 10 years, and in 23 the duration of illness was < 10 years. Serum creatinine levels, microalbuminuria, and HbA1c were determined simultaneously. Thirty normotensive healthy (nondiabetic) individuals (20 men and 10 women) served as control subjects. RESULTS: No significant statistical differences in plasma ET-1 levels were found among all diabetic patients, diabetic patients with and without angiopathy, diabetic patients with different durations of diabetes, and normal subjects. No significant correlation of plasma ET-1 with blood pressure, age, serum creatinine level, duration of diabetes, HbA1c, or diabetic complications was found. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma ET-1 levels are similar in patients with NIDDM and healthy subjects and do not seem to act as a marker of diabetic complications.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Plasma endothelin in essential hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

This study was designed to determine plasma endothelin-1 levels in patients with essential hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Endothelin immunoreactivity was measured in normal controls (n = 30), mild-moderate essential hypertensives (n = 25), Type II diabetic normotensives (n = 25) and hypertensive patients (n = 20). In addition, in ten patients of each group we investigated the relationships of endothelin with other vasoactive hormones. Plasma endothelin concentrations were similar in healthy controls, in essential hypertensives and in diabetic patients with or without hypertension, averaging 8.23 +/- 1.68 pg/ml, 7.7 +/- 1.1 pg/ml, 5.05 +/- 0.94 pg/ml, 7.88 +/- 1.41 pg/ml, respectively. No correlations were observed between endothelin and concentrations of plasma renin activity, aldosterone, catecholamines, atrial natriuretic peptide and arginine-vasopressin. The present study suggests that Type II diabetic patients with or without essential hypertension do not have demonstrably higher values of plasma endothelin than essential hypertensives or healthy subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Short term ethanol ingestion can affect the testicular response to single-dose human chorionic gonadotropin in normal subjects.

Ten sober adult male subjects, with normal sexual development and function, were examined under basal conditions and after a short-term period (7 days) of alcohol ingestion (200 g/daily). Plasma concentrations of testosterone (T), 17 beta estradiol (E2), progesterone (P) and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OH P) were measured on blood samples drawn before and then every 24 h until the 96th h following a single dose of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, 2,000 IU im). Basal plasma T was significantly decreased after short-term ethanol ingestion (p less than 0.01) whereas E2, P and 17-OH P were comparable in both conditions. The magnitude of the T response to hCG injection was significantly lower after ethanol ingestion but still significantly higher than the corresponding one obtainable in chronic alcoholics. At the 7th day of ethanol ingestion plasma LH levels were higher than controls (p less than 0.05). These results demonstrate that short-term ingestion of 200 g ethanol daily can lead to altered testicular response to hCG in normal adult males and corroborate the view that ethanol is a gonadal toxin.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗
PubMed1985

Plasma testosterone, estradiol, progesterone and 17-hydroxy-progesterone responses to single-dose stimulation with human chorionic gonadotropin in chronic male alcoholics.

Ten chronic male alcoholics presenting with hypogonadism but without overt liver failure were examined under basal conditions and after stimulation of the testicular steroidogenesis with a single dose of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, 2,000 IU im). Plasma concentrations of testosterone (T), 17 beta-estradiol (E2), progesterone (P) and 17-OH progesterone (17-OHP) were measured between 08:00-09:00 prior to injection and then every 24 h at the same time in the morning until the 96th hour following the injection. Controls were 10 male adult volunteers, examined under the same conditions. Four alcoholics underwent a second hCG stimulation after 10 day controlled abstinence from alcohol. Basal plasma T and P were significantly decreased and increased respectively in the alcoholics (p less than 0.001) whereas E2 and 17-OHP were much the same in both groups. The magnitude of the T response to hCG injection was significantly lower in the alcoholics at any considered time (p less than 0.001). The E2 response, too, was lower, whereas the ratio E2 change/T change after hCG was higher. The response peak occurred earlier for E2 than for T both in controls and alcoholics. The mean percent change at 24 h and the mean maximum increase of 17-OHP were higher in the alcoholics (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.05 respectively). An increase in P after hCG was observed in only 5 alcoholics (responders), while some subjects displayed paradoxical decreases. Abstinence was always followed by an increased T response and a decreased 17-OHP response. The E2 response was unchanged and two P responders displayed an increased response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗
PubMed1983

Effect of ethanol infusion on the pituitary-testicular responsiveness to gonadotropin releasing hormone and thyrotropin releasing hormone in normal males and in chronic alcoholics presenting with hypogonadism.

Nine chronic male alcoholics presenting with hypogonadism but without overt liver failure were examined under baseline conditions and after acute injection of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH, 100 micrograms iv) and thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH, 200 micrograms iv), performed at 60 min of a 3-h infusion of saline and 0.4 g/kg ethanol, respectively. Controls were 10 male adult volunteers examined under the same conditions. Six alcoholics and six controls underwent a third test with the infusion of 0.8 g/kg ethanol. Subjects were hospitalized and the infusion was started after a 48-h period of abstinence from alcohol. Tests were performed in random order at intervals of at least three weeks, always at 15:00 following a standard meal in the morning. Plasma levels of FSH, LH, prolactin (PRL) and testosterone (T) were measured by radioimmunoassay. Significantly higher levels of FSH, LH and PRL, and significantly lower levels of T were recorded in alcoholics vs. controls on plasma samples drawn at about 08:00 for three consecutive days. Ethanol infusion at the dose of 0.4 g/kg did not change the pattern of response to GnRH and TRH of controls and alcoholics. Doubling the alcohol dosage yielded a significant reduction of LH response in normal subjects whereas did not result in a similar effect in alcoholics. The mean LH increment of alcoholics was significantly less than that of normals at all times during saline and infusion of 0.4 g/kg ethanol; significance was not attained when the dose of ethanol was 0.8 g/kg.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Circadian patterns of plasma cortisol and testosterone in chronic male alcoholics.

Twelve alcoholic men (28-55 yr) presenting hypogonadal features but without overt liver failure were hospitalized and examined still consuming alcohol regularly. Sleep was approximately from 2200 to 0600; three equicaloric meals were served at 0700, 1200, and 1800. Blood samples were drawn at 4-hr intervals throughout a 24-hr span starting from 0800. Measured levels of cortisol and testosterone were then analyzed by rhythmometric procedures in order to estimate parameters of the circadian oscillation such as mesor, amplitude, and acrophase, and the relevant confidence limits. Data were compared to those obtained in a matched group of 20 healthy controls. With regard to cortisol, the rhythmometric analyses allowed the demonstration of a normally synchronized circadian rhythm substantially superimposable in alcoholics and controls. With regard to testosterone, the results were compatible with a significant circadian oscillation only in the control group. Alcoholics did show ample interindividual variability of plasma testosterone levels, but the apparent lack of the circadian rhythm was independent of the steroid concentration. These data extend previous observations and are consistent with the occurrence of important abnormalities in the circadian pattern of plasma testosterone in chronic male alcoholics prior to liver failure.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

[A case of melanoderma erroneously considered to be addisonian].

A case characterized by a dark pigmentation of the skin with an initial hypotension and a lung tuberculosis in the remote anamnesis is described. The skin pigment was formed by lipofuscin and emosiderin, but only the former was found in the liver biopsy. Anyway, the pigment was not melanine and the surrenalic function of the patient was completely normal; therefore, an Addisonism syndrome is excluded. The patient was treated for a very long time with DOCA: this caused hypertension, probably supported by the hypervolemia triggered by the DOCA depending retenction of sodium and water. A sure diagnosis of the case was not made, but an Addisonism syndrome was certainly excluded.

Addison Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Hyperthyroidism and cholestasis: a case report].

Intrahepatic cholestasis has rarely been observed in patients with thyrotoxicosis and generally occurs in association with coexistent congestive heart failure. We report the case of a 63-year-old man who was referred to our Institution because of jaundice and hyperthyroidism. During his hospital stay, his plasma bilirubin level reached 27.41 mg/dL. Clinical, biohumoral, and instrumental examinations excluded heart failure and autoimmune or viral hepatitis. After the start of therapy with methimazole, thyroid hormone and plasma bilirubin levels decreased progressively and simultaneously, eventually returning to normal. Plasma bilirubin values as high as the ones we recorded, in the absence of congestive heart failure or autoimmune chronic hepatitis, have not, to our knowledge, been previously reported.

Bilirubin↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Circadian rhythm of urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids during metyrapone-induced ACTH release in normal subjects.

The circadian rhythm of urinary 17-OHCS was studied in nine normal subjects before and after oral metyrapone administration (750 mg every 4 hrs over a period of 24 hrs). The test was carried out twice in each subject with a shift of 12 hrs in the time of first administration (0800-test and 2000-test). For data from serial measurements of steroid metabolites on urine collected at 2-h intervals, the least squares fit of a 24-h cosine curve allowed the demonstration of a rhythm both in control conditions and during the 48-h span following metyrapone administration. Circadian acrophases were substantially similar. Total urinary 17-OHCS output in the first 24-h day following metyrapone was higher in the 2000-test as compared with the 0800-test (P less than .001). Conversely, in the second 24-h day, higher values were obtained in the 0800-test (P less than .025). The combined 48-h exretion, however, was identical in the two groups. The results suggest a time-limited action of metyrapone upon the pituitary-adrenal axis, since the increased excretion of 17-OHCS seems essentially accounted for by an exaggerated impulsive phase of ACTH secretion during the early morning hours.

17-Hydroxycorticosteroids↗