Biomedical subjects

Stefano Carughi

Publications and source records attributed to Stefano Carughi.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Melatonin and cortisol serum levels in lung cancer patients at different stages of disease.

BACKGROUND: Numerous interactions exist among the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems, mediated by neurotransmitters, hormones, and cytokines. Melatonin may modulate the integrated functions of a unique neuro-immune-endocrine system. Neoplastic diseases may be linked to progressive loss of integration among these systems. We investigated whether there are differences among healthy elderly people and elderly people suffering from lung cancer at different stages of disease in 24-hour melatonin and cortisol secretory profiles. MATERIAL/METHODS: In seventeen healthy subjects (mean age +/-S.E.: 68.8+/-1.92 years), seventeen patients with stage I and II lung cancer (mean age: 67.2+/-0.80), seventeen patients with stage III and IV lung cancer (mean age: 69.5+/-2.26), melatonin and cortisol serum levels were measured in blood samples collected every four hours for 24 hours. The area under the curve (AUC) and the presence of circadian rhythmicity were evaluated. RESULTS: The circadian rhythm of melatonin was present in all the groups, but serum levels were decreased in the subjects suffering from lung cancer (P<0.05). In these patients, cortisol serum levels were increased (not in a significant way), with a loss of the circadian rhythm of secretion. The melatonin/cortisol ratio was decreased in stage III and IV cancer patients (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The progressive decrease of melatonin secretion and altered cortisol secretion pattern with advancing stage of neoplastic disease may be an expression of a gradual alteration of the integrated function of the neuro-endocrine system in lung cancer patients.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

[Melatonin in the international literature of the last twenty years].

Melatonin was not considered for a long time in medical culture and scientific research for the difficulties encountered in study protocols and for the obscure relevance in clinical practice. Today the pineal hormone has reached a great popularity, may be not strictly corresponding to the important role played in the regulation of many system function and the commercial diffusion has become extremely wide in some countries.

Humans↗

PubMed2003

[Interstitial lung diseases].

Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) are an heterogeneous group of inflammatory diseases characterized by an anatomical distortion of peripheral airways and interstitium, determined by a first stage of alveolitis and a following stage of fibrosis. Natural history of several ILD is characterized by slow and progressive destruction of alveolar-capillary functional units, often with respiratory failure and death. For their smoldering evolution and not specificity of symptoms (exertional dyspnea and cough) ILD may remain not diagnosed and not treated for a long time.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

PubMed2003

[Non-invasive hemodynamic assessment with bioimpedance in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism before and after treatment with levo-thyroxin].

Subclinical hypothyroidism is characterized by normal serum levels of free thyroxine and triiodothyronine with increased serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) without symptoms. We evaluated by thoracic electrical bioimpedance cardiography the hemodynamic pattern of 38 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism, before and after 6-month therapy with levo(L)-thyroxine. We have not evidenced statistically significant differences for cardiac index, cardiac frequency and vascular peripheral resistances. TSH levels were decreased in a statistically significant way. Results obtained in our study show that hemodynamic pattern is not changed after hormone therapy in patients affected by subclinical hypothyroidism.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

[Cardiac metastasis of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of unknown primary site].

The finding of intracardiac masses is very uncommon. In this patient the early clinical picture was characterized by neurologic signs and symptoms as mild forgetfulness, blurred vision, a sensation of imbalance, anorexia, weight loss. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple metastatic lesions, computed tomography of the chest, abdomen and pelvis showed intraatrial masses and whole body nuclear scanning evidenced bone lesion. It was not possible to find the primary tumor by other instrumental or laboratory exams. Transesophageal echocardiography showed a mass originating from interatrial septum, with atrial invasion and risk of embolization from the left atrium. The patient was transferred to the operating room for cardiac surgery, the mass at risk for embolization was resected and the specimen consisted of fibrous and fibrino-necrotic tissue infiltrated by poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. The patient received brain and bone radiotherapy and chemotherapy with cisplatin and vinorelbin.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Neuroendocrine alterations in lung cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: A number of qualitative and quantitative changes in hormonal secretion pattern have been found in subjects suffering from neoplastic disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of alterations in neuro-endocrine system function and in the pattern of endocrine secretion in patients with lung cancer. METHODS: Cortisol, melatonin, growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), thyroid-stimulating-hormone (TSH), and free thyroxine (FT4) serum levels were measured on blood samples collected every four hours for 24 hours from ten healthy old subjects aged 65-79 years (mean age +/- s.e. 67.28 +/- 3.11) and from ten subjects suffering from untreated non small cell lung cancer aged 65-78 years (mean age +/- s.e. 68.57 +/- 1.81). Areas under the curve and mean diurnal and nocturnal levels were compared and the presence of circadian rhythmicity was evaluated. RESULTS: When hormone levels were expressed as area under the curve GH levels were higher (p=0.004) and IGF-I levels were lower (p=0.006) in patients with lung cancer than in normal subjects. The evaluation of melatonin/cortisol ratio in all subjects showed a significant difference between the control group and the group of cancer patients (p<0.05). When we compared mean diurnal levels (mean of 06.00-10.00-14.00h) GH levels were higher (p<0.0001) and IGF I levels were lower (p<0.0001) in cancer patients; when we compared mean nocturnal levels (mean of 18.00-22.00-02.00h) cortisol (p=0.03), TRH (p=0.02), and GH (p=0.001) levels were higher in cancer patients, while melatonin (p=0.04), TSH (p=0.04) and IGF I (p<0.0001) levels were higher in control subjects. A clear circadian rhythm was validated for time related changes of cortisol, melatonin, TRH, TSH and GH in control subjects and for time related changes of melatonin in cancer patients. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that lung cancer patients show alterations of hormone secretion and neuroendocrine system function.

Aged↗