322,841 research outputs found
Growth hormone secretion in premenopausal women before and after ovariectomy: effect of hormone replacement therapy
No full textOBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the GH response to growth hormone-releasing hormone (GH-RH) stimulation in premenopausal women before and after ovariectomy and after 1 month of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT).
PATIENTS:
Ten women 42 to 49 years of age awaiting combined hysterectomy and ovariectomy for a variety of benign gynecological conditions.
INTERVENTION:
Endocrine status was determined by assay of basal levels of gonadotropins (LH, FSH), E2, P, and PRL. Stimulation with GH-RH was performed before and 8 to 10 days after ovariectomy, and after a month of ERT.
RESULTS:
A significant reduction in GH response to GH-RH was observed after ovariectomy. Estrogen replacement therapy restored GH response to presurgical levels.
CONCLUSIONS:
The results support the role of E2 in the stimulated secretion of GH and suggest that ERT increases pituitary stores of GH
Updating the role of radiotherapy in the management of epithelial ovarian cancer
No full textThe usefulness of radiotherapy in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) has been questioned in recent decades, on the grounds of the outstanding performances of modern drugs in terms of immediate therapeutic results. However, complete remission of the tumour after surgery and chemotherapy does not always turn into a definitive cure, and more than 50% of the patients have a poor ultimate prognosis. Radiotherapy can still play a role in this disease, whose complexity requires a multidisciplinary approach. Principles, techniques and results of radiation therapy are outlined here, with reference to authoritative experiences. The most significant issues of the last decade are reviewed, dealing with results of radiotherapy compared with those of chemotherapy in early stages (adjuvant setting), and with multidisciplinary approaches including both drug and radiation management in high-risk or advanced presentations. There is sound and wide evidence for the efficacy of radiation therapy in EOC. Radiotherapy is a reasonable alternative to chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting (complete removal of tumour at first surgery, moderate risk for recurrence on the basis of Stage II or III presentations or histologic grade 2 or 3), and can improve the results of chemotherapy after an "optimal" response to drugs, that is, absent or minimal tumour residuals detected by clinical or surgical-pathological re-staging. In this last case, whether or not the results of the prosecution of chemotherapy are better than those of consolidation radiotherapy has not been satisfactorily demonstrated. Aspects concerning toxicity are analysed, as well as possible improvements of the results of radiotherapy
High concentrations of activin A in the peritoneal fluid of women with epithelial ovarian cancer
No full textThe aim of the present study was to evaluate the concentrations of activin A in the peritoneal fluid of women with epithelial (serous) ovarian cancer
Prolactin secretion after surgery or bromocriptine treatment of prolactinoma.
No full textIn prolactinoma patients, the unresponsiveness of prolactin (PRL) to dynamic tests with thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) or dopamine agonist or antagonist drugs suggests that the disease is caused by the failure of central dopaminergic inhibition. The absence of PRL secretory response to dopamine or TRH in prolactinoma patients also may be an effect of the disease. Twenty-six women diagnosed by dynamic tests and radiologic examination as having PRL-secreting adenoma were treated surgically (15) or with bromocriptine (11) and their condition was evaluated one to three years later by TRH, nomifensine, and domperidone tests. Basal PRL levels decreased after surgery and bromocriptine treatment. At the time of the follow-up study, PRL levels were elevated in six of the 15 surgically treated patients and in six of the 11 treated with bromocriptine. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone, nomifensine, and domperidone produced standard PRL responses in normoprolactinemic patients but not in hyperprolactinemic patients. These results indicate that the alteration of TRH or dopaminergic receptors in the regulation of PRL secretion in prolactinoma is related to the disease and disappears when the tumor is removed or treated successfully with bromocriptine
Prolactin secretion after surgery or bromocriptine treatment of prolactinoma
No full textIn prolactinoma patients, the unresponsiveness of prolactin (PRL) to dynamic tests with thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) or dopamine agonist or antagonist drugs suggests that the disease is caused by the failure of central dopaminergic inhibition. The absence of PRL secretory response to dopamine or TRH in prolactinoma patients also may be an effect of the disease. Twenty-six women diagnosed by dynamic tests and radiologic examination as having PRL-secreting adenoma were treated surgically (15) or with bromocriptine (11) and their condition was evaluated one to three years later by TRH, nomifensine, and domperidone tests. Basal PRL levels decreased after surgery and bromocriptine treatment. At the time of the follow-up study, PRL levels were elevated in six of the 15 surgically treated patients and in six of the 11 treated with bromocriptine. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone, nomifensine, and domperidone produced standard PRL responses in normoprolactinemic patients but not in hyperprolactinemic patients. These results indicate that the alteration of TRH or dopaminergic receptors in the regulation of PRL secretion in prolactinoma is related to the disease and disappears when the tumor is removed or treated successfully with bromocriptine
HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF ACTIVIN A IN THE PERITONEAL FLUID OF WOMEN WITH EPITHELIAL OVARIAN CANCER
No full textHigh Concentrations of Activin A in the
Peritoneal Fluid of Women With Epithelial
Ovarian Cance
Serum activin A and inhibin A. New clinical markers for hydatidiform mole
No full textBACKGROUND. Although human placenta is a well established, rich source of
proteins, hCG is the only measurement available to date in diagnosing the occurrence
of the hydatidiform mole. Serum levels of a new placental protein, immunoreactive
inhibin, were high in molar pregnancy, but the inhibin assay never
became of clinical use, due to its low specificity and reliability. Since specific assays
are now available for inhibin A, inhibin B, and activin A, the current study
evaluated whether and which of these placental proteins is increased in presence
of a molar pregnancy.
METHODS. Serum inhibin A, inhibin B, activin A, and hCG levels were assayed in:
A) 6 women with molar pregnancies, before and after evacuation; B) 37 healthy
pregnant women; and C) 22 healthy nonpregnant women.
RESULTS. Women with partial hydatidiform moles had significantly higher serum
levels of inhibin A (P 0.001) and activin A (P 0.001) than healthy pregnant
women, several fold higher than the 95% confidence interval of control values.
After evacuation, the levels of both inhibin A (P 0.001) and activin A (P 0.05)
declined significantly to the levels of nonpregnant controls. Molar hCG concentrations
were significantly higher than in normal pregnancy (P 0.001), but some
values within the 95% confidence interval of normal values. Despite a significant
decrease (P 0.05) after evacuation, hCG levels were still higher than in nonpregnant
women.
CONCLUSIONS. The present data strongly suggest that serum inhibin A and activin
A measurement may be of value in diagnosis and short-term follow-up of molar
pregnanc
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