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Simone Ferrero

Publications and source records attributed to Simone Ferrero.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Haptoglobin beta chain isoforms in the plasma and peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the expression of haptoglobin (Hp) beta chain isoforms in the peritoneal fluid (PF) and plasma (PL) of women with and without endometriosis. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENT(S): Seventy-two patients with endometriosis and 35 controls. INTERVENTION(S): Peritoneal fluid and PL samples were subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, silver stained, digitally captured, and compared by semiquantitative computerized analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Expression of Hp beta chain isoforms. RESULT(S): No significant difference was observed in the frequency of expression of the Hp beta chain isoforms between the two groups. One beta chain isoform (HpbetaE; molecular weight, 38.40 +/- 0.94 kD; and isoelectric point, 5.63 +/- 0.17) had significantly higher expression in both the PF and PL of women with endometriosis than in the PF and PL of controls. No significant difference was observed in HpbetaE expression between women with mild (revised American Fertility Society [rAFS], stage I-II) and severe (rAFS, stage III-IV) endometriosis. In the control group, HpbetaE expression was correlated with the phase of the menstrual cycle. CONCLUSION(S): Women with endometriosis have higher PF and PL levels of HpbetaE. Further investigation should be aimed at producing antibodies against the HpbetaE-specific epitopes to determine whether its measurement may improve the clinical diagnosis of endometriosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Vitamin D binding protein in endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis is a powerful method for identifying post-translationally modified molecules in biological fluids. We examined the presence and expression of vitamin D binding protein (DBP) in the peritoneal fluid (PF) and plasma (PL) of women with endometriosis. METHODS: PL and PF samples were obtained from 36 women with untreated mild endometriosis (revised classification of the American Fertility Society [rAFS] stage I-II), 52 women with untreated severe endometriosis (rAFS stage III-IV), 17 women with endometriosis treated with the oral contraceptive (OC), and 40 controls (infertility, n = 23; tubal sterilization, n = 12; pelvic pain, n = 5). PF and PL samples were analyzed by quantitative, high-resolution 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: The expression of one DBP isoform (DBPE) in the PF of patients with untreated endometriosis was significantly lower than in the control group (P <.05). The levels of PF DBPE in patients with endometriosis using OC were significantly higher than in women with untreated endometriosis (P <.05). No significant difference was observed in PL DBPE expression between women with and without endometriosis, while it was significantly increased in patients with endometriosis using OC (P <.05). DBP expression was not correlated with the stage of endometriosis (rAFS classification) or the phase of the menstrual cycle. CONCLUSION: The decreased level of DBPE in the PF but not in PL of women with untreated endometriosis suggests that this molecule may be relevant in the pathogenesis of this disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Future perspectives in the medical treatment of endometriosis.

UNLABELLED: In the last few years, our understanding of the pathogenesis of endometriosis at the cellular and molecular levels has improved significantly. This may give us the opportunity to use new, specific agents for the treatment of this disorder. Despite the effectiveness of the available treatments, novel therapeutic strategies may improve our ability to eliminate endometriotic lesions when present and to prevent the recurrence of endometriosis after surgical treatment. This review focuses on the new, experimental approaches to the medical treatment of endometriosis and its symptoms. The blockage of aromatase activity in endometriotic lesions with an aromatase inhibitor may represent a new step in the medical treatment of endometriosis. Preliminary clinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of third-generation nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors (ie, anastrozole and letrozole) in reducing the intensity of pain symptoms associated with the presence of endometriosis. The new selective progesterone receptor modulators may represent a valid hormonal treatment option. Therapeutic manipulation of the immune system through TNFalpha inhibitors may be beneficial in women with endometriosis. New pharmaceutical agents affecting inflammation, angiogenesis, and matrix metalloproteinase activity may prevent or inhibit the development of endometriosis. Further clinical trials may determine if these new therapies are superior to current medical treatment strategies for endometriosis. TARGET AUDIENCE: Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Family Physicians Learning. OBJECTIVES: After completion of this article, the reader should be able to describe the new experimental medical treatments of endometriosis, state that the clinical use of nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors for endometriosis appears to be efficacious but is based on preliminary clinical data, and recall that the drugs used for endometriosis in the future may include manipulation of the immune system.

Drugs, Investigational↗
PubMed2004

Multiple sclerosis: management issues during pregnancy.

Care of pregnant women with multiple sclerosis (MS) is challenging because of the multiple physiological changes associated with pregnancy and the need to consider the impact of any intervention on the foetus. Pregnancy is associated with clinical MS stability or improvement, while the rate of relapse rises significantly during the first three months post-partum before coming back to its level prior to pregnancy. Gestational history has no influence on long-term disability and MS does not seem to influence pregnancy or the child's health. Apart from methotrexate and cyclophosphamide, most drugs used regularly to treat MS can safely be used by pregnant women. Intravenous steroids may be used with relative safety during pregnancy. Maternal use of azathioprine is not associated with an increased risk of congenital malformations, though impaired foetal immunity, intrauterine growth retardation and prematurity are occasionally observed. Cyclosporin is not teratogenic, but may be associated with growth retardation and prematurity. Pregnancy should be avoided in women treated with methotrexate because of its known abortifacient effects and risk of causing typical malformations. Cyclophosphamide is teratogenic in animals, but population studies have not conclusively demonstrated its teratogenicity in humans. Until information is available regarding safety, glatiramer acetate, mitoxantrone, interferon-beta-1a and interferon-beta-1b should be discontinued before an anticipated pregnancy. Women with MS are no more likely to experience delivery complications than are women without MS and the mode of delivery should be decided strictly on obstetrical criteria. Spinal, epidural and general anaesthesia can all be used safely in MS patients. Young women with MS who desire children can be reassured that their infants are not at increased risk of malformations, preterm delivery, low birth weight, or infant death. The progressive nature of the disease may motivate affected women to start or complete their families as soon as possible.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗
PubMed2004

Adenomyosis in a patient with mosaic Turner's syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Few case reports describing endometriosis in patients with gonadal dysgenesis have been published, but none has reported the presence of adenomyosis in a patient with Turner's syndrome. CASE: A 31-year-old woman with mosaic Turner's Syndrome (45,X/46,XX/47,XXX) was referred to us because of severe iron deficiency anaemia due to hypermenorrhea and persistent lower abdominal pain for more than six months. She presented normal secondary sex development, normal breast, normal pubic and axillary hair. The external genitalia were also normal. Laboratory examination showed normal gonadotropin, 17beta-estradiol, plasma androgens and cortisol levels. At transabdominal ultrasound a myoma (15 x 8.5 x 8 cm) arising from the posterior uterine wall was suspected. The mass was removed during laparotomy. Histologic examination confirmed the presence of the myoma and revealed the presence of focal adenomyosis. CONCLUSION: Adenomyosis and leiomyomata are separate entities but they share a common pathology in that they develop primarily in women of reproductive age and their growth is oestrogen dependent. To our knowledge, this is the first case report in the literature of adenomyosis in a woman who had the Turner's syndrome.

Adenomyoma↗