Nonhormonal management of postmenopausal women: effects of a red clover based isoflavones supplementation on climacteric syndrome and cardiovascular risk serum profile.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: The aim of this prospective randomized study was to evaluate a red clover based isoflavones supplementation in the treatment of climacteric syndrome and its effects on cardiovascular risk serum profile. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 150 healthy postmenopausal women that were randomly assigned to receive phytoestrogens tablets, amounting in a total daily intake of 60.8 mg red clover isoflavones plus 19.2 mg soy isoflavones (n = 75), or placebo (n = 75). The authors evaluated teh following: daily number of hot flushes and Kupperman Index at baseline and after one and three months; serum total, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), fibrinogen, and antithrombin III (ATIII) at baseline and after three and six months. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-eight patients completed the study: 67 in the active group and 61 in the placebo group. The treatment led to a progressive significant reduction (p < 0.05) of the number of hot flushes in the active group compared to placebo already after one month, while Kupperman Index was statistically reduced after three months. No significant variation in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, PT, PTT, fibrinogen, and ATIII were found. CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that a red clover based isoflavones supplementation in healthy postmenopausal women is promptly effective on climacteric syndrome, improves neurovegetative symptoms, safe on cardiovascular risk serum profile, and does not modify lipids and coagulation.

Low-dose estrogen and drospirenone combination: effects on metabolism and endothelial function in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome.

PURPOSE: Metabolic syndrome and endothelial dysfunction play a relevant role in the cardiovascular risk in post-menopause. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of a low-dose hemihydrate estradiol and drospirenone combination on cardiovascular risk parameters in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight healthy women (group A) and 28 women with metabolic syndrome (group B) were treated with hemihydrate estradiol one mg + drospirenone two mg. At recruitment and after six months, clinical and laboratory parameters of metabolic syndrome were evaluated. Endothelial function was assessed measuring the flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery and the intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery. RESULTS: After six months an overall improvement of metabolism was observed in both groups reaching statistical significance for triglycerides, total cholesterolemia, and systolic pressure in group B. A trend to lower baseline flow-mediated dilatation was also found in group B. CONCLUSIONS: Drospirenone improves cardiovascular risk factors and does not impair endothelial function in menopausal women with metabolic syndrome.

Arterial hypertension and female sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women.

PURPOSE: To evaluate female sexual dysfunction in hypertensive postmenopausal women and the effects of antihypertensive therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female sexual dysfunction was assessed by the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) in three groups of postmenopausal patients: normotensive women (group A: 240 women), hypertensive women without therapy (group B: 220 women), hypertensive women on therapy (group C: 80 women). RESULTS: The incidence of female sexual dysfunction was increased in group B compared to groups A and C. Healthy patients showed higher FSFI scores compared to hypertensive patients (groups B and C). Hypertensive-treated patients accounted for higher scores in all items compared to hypertensive patients without therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Essential hypertension significantly affects female sexual function. Physicians should recognize and properly manage FSD in hypertensive women.

Colorimetric investigation of the reaction between p-phenylendiamine and meta-substituted derivatives of benzene on a model support.

The aim of this work was the employment of colorimetric techniques in the analysis of the color formed, on a proteic substrate, by the reaction between p-phenylendiamine and some meta-substituted benzene derivatives in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and in media at different pH values. In particular we investigated the chromatic variations that take place on the substrate in dependence on different reaction conditions. The obtained results show that for each couple of reagents the colorimetric data, namely the reflectance of the formed color, change considerably with the pH of the reaction medium and demonstrate how this parameter can be considered a good descriptor of the composition of the formed pigment.

Model lipophilic formulations of retinyl palmitate: influence of conservative agents on light-induced degradation.

Vitamin A is widely employed in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. The all-trans (AT) isomer (100% of biological potency) is sensible to different factors, such as light, heat and formulation components, leading to its degradation or isomerization. The main objective of this work was to study, in model cosmetic lipophilic vehicles, the degradation of retinyl palmitate (RetP) to the less active cis-isomers in presence of widely used conservative agents (propyl gallate and Vitamin E). Two lipophilic phases were used (liquid paraffin and almond oil) because liquid paraffin, almost composed of satured hydrocarbons, is not degraded by light exposure, while almond oil, containing several double bonds, could interfere with light-induced degradative process of RetP. In the first phase, the more suitable analytical method was chosen between normal and reverse phase HPLC to follow the degradation of RetP. In the second phase, RetP light-induced degradation was studied to simulate storage condition effect on cosmetic products ageing. The results showed that: (a) the reverse phase HPLC technique, unable to separate the all-trans from the 13-cis and 9-cis isomers, derived by Vitamin A isomerization, leads to an incorrect quantitation of RetP; (b) the lipophilic vehicle influences the isomerization-degradation process; (c) the conservative agents do not protect from degradation.

Study of interaction effects of polyacrylic acid polymers (carbopol 940) on antimicrobial activity of methyl parahydroxybenzoate against some gram-negative, gram-positive bacteria and yeast.

Cosmetic or pharmaceutical formulations containing hydrophilic polymers of natural or synthetic origin, may be more exposed to successful microbial contamination because of a polymer-preservative interaction. The experimental data reported in this paper relate to the possible interference of Carbopol 940 with methyl parahydroxybenzoate. Results show that this hydrophilic polymer, widely employed in many formulations, exerts, on the contrary, an interesting synergism on microbicidal activity of the preserving agent against E. coli and P. Aeruginosa. A reduction in microbicidal activity against S. aureus and C. albicans is observed for a polymer concentration higher than that needed for anti-Gram-negative synergy.

Antimicrobial activity of electrochemical silver ions in nonionic surfactant solutions and in model dispersions.

The microbicidal effectiveness against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and Candida albicans of electrochemical silver ions in aqueous solutions containing nonionic surfactants was investigated. From the perspective of the possible use of anodic silver as a preservative in cosmetic or pharmaceutical preparations, microbicidal efficacy was also studied in oil/water model dispersions. Surfactants and botanical extracts partially inhibited the microbicidal effectiveness of anodic silver. Nevertheless in all the experimental conditions, silver ions reduced the microbial concentration up to 4 log units of the starting inoculum in less than 6 h. The wide microbicidal spectrum and the high rate of kill of silver ions appear, therefore, attractive enough to suggest a possible utilization of anodic silver as a preserving agent.

Studies on anti-Candida agents with a pyrrole moiety. Synthesis and microbiological activity of some [(1-alkyl),(1-aryl) and (1-benzyl)-5-aryl-3-carboxamido-2-methyl]pyrrole derivatives.

The synthesis of some [(1-alkyl),(1-aryl) and (1-benzyl)-5-aryl-3-carboxamido-2-methyl]pyrrole derivatives is reported. Their activity against Candida strains has been assessed and the structure-activity relationships for these compounds are discussed.

[Substances with antibacterial and antifungal activity. VI. Synthesis and microbiologic activity of new derivatives of 1,5-diarylpyrrole and 1,4-pyrrolphenylene]. / Richerche su sostanze ad attività antibatterica ed antifungina. Nota VI--Sintesi ed attività microbiologica di nuovi derivati dell'1,5-diarilpirrolo ed 1,4-pirrolfenilene.

New 1,5-diarylpyrrole and 1,4-pyrrolphenylene derivatives were prepared to study influence on the microbiological activity of an unsubstituted pyrrole nucleus or of a double identical molecular structure. Antimicrobial data in comparision with antifungal antibiotic pyrrolnitrin showed that all tested compounds exhibited very poor antifungal and antibacterial activity. Only some derivatives showed a selective activity against strains of Candida sp. and against strains of gram-positive or gram-negative bacteria.

[Substances with antibacterial and antifungal activity. VII. Synthesis and microbiologic activity of new derivatives of 1,5-diarylpyrrole]. / Ricerche su sostanze ad attività antibatterica ed antifungina. Nota VII--Sintesi ed attività microbiologica di nuovi derivati dell'1,5-diarilpirrolo.

The synthesis and antifungal activities of new 1,5-diarylpyrrole derivatives are reported. Antimicrobial data in comparison with pyrrolnitrin show that N-methylpiperazinylamides exhibit very poor activity against Candida albicans and Candida sp. while acid and ester derivatives are inactive. Vice-versa many acid or amide derivatives show interesting antibacterial activity. The results obtained are discussed on the basis of structure-activity relationships.

Chemotherapeutic agents with an imidazole moiety. II. Synthesis and biological activities of new 1,4-diarylimidazoles.

The synthesis, antifungal and pharmacological activities of new 1,4-diarylimidazoles are reported. Antimicrobial data in comparison with antifungal antibiotic pyrrolnitrin pointed out that the 1,4-diaryl-2-mercaptoimidazole derivatives were inactive and all 1,4-diarylimidazoles exhibited a weak antifungal activity. Some compounds showed a selective activity against strains of Candida sp. Instead pharmacological data did not evidence any significant antiinflammatory activity. The tested compounds were prepared by reacting appropriate phenacylanilines with potassium thiocyanate in acidic medium to afford 1,4-diaryl-2-mercapto imidazoles which were then transformed into title compounds by treatment with nitric acid.

[Substances with antibacterial and antifungal activity. I. Synthesis and microbiologic activity of imidazolylmethylanilines]. / Ricerche su sostanze ad attività antibatterica e antifungina. Nota I. Sintesi ed attività microbiologica di derivati dell'imidazolilmetilanilina.

The synthesis and antifungal activities of many derivatives of 1-(2-imidazolylmethyl)aniline and of 1-(4-imidazolylmethyl)aniline are reported. Antimicrobial data in comparison with miconazole show that many compounds containing chlorine atoms and nitro group exhibit an interesting antimycotic activity. The results obtained are discussed on the basis of structure-activity relationships.