Plasma beta-endorphin and beta-lipotropin levels increase in well trained athletes after competition and non competitive exercise.

Plasma beta-endorphin (beta-EP) and beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH) levels were measured in 15 healthy trained marathon runners. These hormones were evaluated in two different conditions: 1-before (1h) and after a marathon race (n = 10); 2-before, during and after a prolonged (90 min) submaximal exercise (bicycle ergometer at 50% VO2 max) (n = 5). In these latter group plasma beta-EP and beta-LPH levels were measured every 15 min for 165 min. In all the athletes, both plasma beta-EP and beta-LPH levels were significantly higher after the end of the marathon race than in basal conditions (p less than 0.01). The prolonged exercise with bicycle ergometer significantly stimulated plasma beta-EP and beta-LPH levels. Starting 60 min after the beginning of the exercise, plasma beta-EP and beta-LPH levels resulted significantly higher than basal values until the end of the exercise (p less than 0.01 at 60, 75 and 90 min). These data confirming that marathon running is a potent stress stimulus, showed that the duration and related factors but not the work load may be considered critical in stimulating beta-EP and beta-LPH release during physical exercise.

Effects of ovariectomy on blood and plasma viscosity, fibrinogen and whole blood filterability.

Blood and plasma viscosity, fibrinogen concentrations and whole blood filterability (VB) were evaluated before surgery and 7 and 30 days postoperatively in 2 groups of subjects, one of which comprised 10 hysterectomized women and the other 14 women who had undergone both hysterectomy and ovariectomy. Oestrogens and various metabolic haematological parameters were measured and correlated with the haemorrheological data. By day 7 after surgery fibrinogen concentrations and plasma viscosity had increased, while VB had decreased. Plasma viscosity and fibrinogen levels correlated negatively with VB in the non-ovariectomized women. Three weeks later almost complete normalization of all parameters was observed in all of the subjects, except for the persistence of low oestrogen concentrations and a further decrease in VB values in the ovariectomized patients, these parameters showing a positive correlation. This study demonstrates that haemorrheological alterations occur after hysterectomy (with or without ovariectomy) in the early post-operative period. The striking decrease in VB values and its correlation with the oestrogen concentrations observed 1 mth after ovariectomy suggest that the fall in oestrogen levels might be responsible for the decrease in whole blood filterability.

[Ultrasonic diagnosis of fetal ovarian cysts]. / Diagnosi ultrasonica di cisti ovarica fetale.

A clinical case of fetal ovarian cyst diagnosed at the 22nd week of pregnancy and disappearing at the 34th week is reported. The echographic and clinical criteria underlying diagnosis and obstetrical conduct in cases of fetal abdominal tumescence of probable ovarian origin are discussed.

[Biopsy of the chorionic villi in the early diagnosis of chromosomal diseases]. / La biopsia dei villi coriali nella diagnosi precoce di malattie cromosomiche.

In the first trimester of pregnancy two simple chorionic villus sampling method, carried out under ultrasound guidance, with transabdominal or transcervical aspiration, was evaluated in 257 cases at risk for chromosomic diseases. The high efficacy of the transabdominal aspiration was demonstrated by obtain villus tissue for karyotyping in all but one case. In only one sample the abnormalities detected were not confirmed (one case of false positive).

[Predictive value of biometry in early pregnancy in comparison with birth weight]. / Predittività della biometria della gravidanza iniziale nei confronti del peso alla nascita.

The authors have compared the biometric measurement of the first trimester of gestation (CRL, gestation sac volume, GS vol./CRL ratio) with the respective weights at birth, in order to determine possible correlations. The result have showed no newborns SGA with biometric measurement greater than the 90 degrees percentile in the first trimester of pregnancy, and also no newborns LGA with biometric measurements smaller than the 10 degrees percentile. The authors nevertheless conclude for an insufficient prediction of the parameters considered, cause the high percentage of false positives and false negatives.

[Thermal therapy in gynecology]. / Terapia termale in ginecologia.

The Authors consider the importance of Thermal Therapy in a large part of gynaecological diseases. They emphasize of its utility mostly in the chronic flogosis of the female genitalia. However other indications emerged from this research, such as female sterility, pelvic vascular disease, climaterie syndrome and post-operatory affects.