1,721,032 research outputs found
Prevalence and clinical picture of celiac disease in Turner syndrome
No full textPrevalence and clinical picture of celiac disease in Turner syndrome.
Bonamico M1, Pasquino AM, Mariani P, Danesi HM, Culasso F, Mazzanti L, Petri A, Bona G; Italian Society Of Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology (SIGEP); Italian Study Group for Turner Syndrom (ISGTS).
Author information 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Rome La Sapienza, 00161 Roma, Italy.
Abstract
A multicenter study of Turner syndrome (TS) patients was carried out to estimate the prevalence of celiac disease (CD) and to detect clinical characteristics and laboratory data of affected patients. Three hundred eighty-nine girls with TS were screened by IgA antigliadin antibodies and/or antiendomysial antibodies. Intestinal biopsy was offered to positive cases. CD was diagnosed in 25 patients. In celiac subjects, anemia, anorexia, and delayed growth (with respect to Italian TS curves) were frequently present; whereas distended abdomen, chronic diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting occurred more rarely. In addition, low serum iron levels, hemoglobinemia, and high values of aminotransferases were observed. Ten patients showed classic CD, 8 showed atypical symptoms, and 7 showed a silent CD. In 11 symptomatic patients, the diagnosis of CD was made at the onset of symptoms, whereas 7 of them showed a median delay of 79 months in diagnosis. Other autoimmune disorders were observed in 40% of the patients. Our study confirms the high prevalence (6.4%) of CD in a large series of TS patients. Moreover, the subclinical picture in 60% of the cases, the diagnostic delay, and the incidence of other autoimmune disorders suggest that routine screening of CD in TS is indicated
Statistical analysis in andrology
No full textThe authors began a statistical study on a file group of 9384 records of semen analyses and anamnestic data (P-1). From this file, they selected a group of 5191 patients having undergone analysis at least one time (P-2) and a file of 850 patients having undergone analysis at least three times (P-3). Finally a new group, derived from P-3, of 203 patients followed by their medical team was created (P-4). Two control groups-composed of 20 sperm-bank donors (DON) and 740 prevasectomy subjects (VAS)-were also created. Frequency distributions and cluster analyses were carried out. The multivariate statistical analysis allows a distinction to be made between fertile and infertile subjects regarding a patient's clinical condition. The most discriminating parameters appear to be sperm concentration and, above all, forward motility and sperm morphology
A comparison of the Direct Immunobead Test and other tests for sperm antibodies detection
No full textThe authors report the results of a correlation study between the direct Immunobead Test (d-IBT) and other techniques for antisperm antibodies detection. The Gelatin Agglutination Test (GAT) and Tray Agglutination Test (TAT) were used to detect antibodies in blood serum and seminal plasma ("indirect methods"). The Direct IgG Mixed Antiglobulin Reaction Test (d-MAR test) was used to detect sperm antibodies bound to the sperm surface ("direct method"). A good concordance between the methods, measured by phi and K tests, was found and satisfactory mathematical models were established by regression analyses
Placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over trial of glutathione therapy in male infertility.
No full textGlutathione therapy was used for 2 months in a placebo-controlled double-blind cross-over trial of 20 infertile patients with dyspermia associated with unilateral varicocele (VAR) or germ-free genital tract inflammation (INF). The patients received either glutathione (group 1) or placebo (group 2) for 2 months, then they crossed over to the alternative treatment for a further 2 months. The patients were randomly and blindly assigned to treatment (one i.m. injection every other day of either 600 mg glutathione or an equal volume of a placebo preparation). The standard semen analysis and the computer-assisted sperm motility analyses were carried out before treatment and during the trial. Statistical cross-over analysis, case-control study and treatment efficacy test were carried out on groups 1 and 2 and differences in the effects of therapy between VAR and INF patients with varicocele or inflammation were tested. Glutathione therapy demonstrated a statistically significant positive effect on sperm motility, in particular on the percentage of forward motility, the kinetic parameters of the computerized analysis and on sperm morphology. The findings of this study indicate that glutathione therapy could represent a possible therapeutical tool for both of the selected andrological pathologies
Glutathione therapy for male infertility
No full textEleven infertile men were treated with glutathione (600 mg/day IM) for 2 months. The patients were suffering from dyspermia associated with various andrological pathologies. Standard semen and computer analyses of sperm motility were carried out before treatment and after 30 and 60 days of therapy. Glutathione exerted significant effect on sperm motility patterns. Glutathione appears to have a therapeutic effect on some andrological pathologies causing male infertility
A Model for the Evaluation Trends Performance in Small and Medium Enterprises.
No full textThe purpose is to propose a model thanks to which the management, the owners and the stakeholders could assess the evolution in time of small and medium-sized enterprises’ state of health, in terms of different criteria during the considered three year period.
For this purpose, our framework is represented by a model developed in the previous publication (Giacosa and Mazzoleni, forthcoming), which distinguishes small and medium-sized enterprises into several typologies, in terms of above-mentioned criteria.
The originality of the research is consistent to the current context in which the companies operate, which is changing in a intensive way because of the world financial crisis. In particular, the company manifests the need to understand its situation and be encouraged to adopt a series of measures to improve its situation. Concluding, the companies could commit themselves to undertake a path toward virtuous positions, after determining the current starting condition
Statistical andrology: standard semen analysis and computer-assisted sperm motility analysis
No full textResults are reported of a statistical evaluation of the variables obtained by standard microscopic semen analysis and by computer-assisted sperm motility analysis. Descriptive statistical analysis and cluster analysis were carried out on both sets of data. A contingency table was created to compare the classifications obtained by the two clustering procedures. A canonical correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the classification power of the variables obtained by the two semen analyses. The results show that the two techniques of semen analysis are complementary and not substitutive and that the correlated variables “percentage forward motility” and “sperm velocity” are the most discriminating.
Read More: http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/01485019308987742?journalCode=aa
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