Multiple forms of hypogonadism of central, peripheral or combined origin in males with Prader-Willi syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Hypogonadism in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is generally attributed to hypothalamic dysfunction or to primary gonadal defect, but pathophysiology is still unclear. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the aetiology of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis dysfunction in PWS males. METHODS: Clinical examination and blood sampling for luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, inhibin B and sexhormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were performed in 34 PWS patients, age 5·1-42·7 years, and in 125 healthy males of same age range. All participants were divided into two groups : < or ≥13·5 years. RESULTS: Pubertal PWS patients showed an arrest of pubertal development. Patients <13·5 years had normal LH, FSH, testosterone and 7/10 had low inhibin B. Among those ≥13·5 years, 8/24 patients had normal LH and testosterone, high FSH and low inhibin B. 5/24 had low FSH, LH, testosterone and inhibin B; one showed normal LH and FSH despite low testosterone and inhibin B; 4/24 had low testosterone and LH but normal FSH despite low inhibin B; 6/24 showed high FSH, low inhibin B and normal LH despite low testosterone. Compared with controls, patients <13·5 years had lower LH, inhibin B, similar FSH, testosterone, SHBG levels and testicular volume; those ≥13·5 years had smaller testicular volume, near-significantly lower LH, testosterone, SHBG, inhibin B and higher FSH. CONCLUSION: PWS patients display heterogeneity of hypogonadism: (i) hypogonadotropic hypogonadism of central origin for LH and/or FSH; (ii) early primary testicular dysfunction (Sertoli cells damage); and (iii) a combined hypogonadism (testicular origin for FSH-inhibin B axis and central origin for LH-T axis).

Antifungal activity of essential oils from leaves and flowers of Inula viscosa (Asteraceae) by Apulian region.

Some essential oils from several plants (Artemisia verlotorum, Lavandula augustifolia, Ocimum gratissimum) have proved to have acaricidal, antifungal and antibacterial activity. Inula viscosa Ait. (Asteraceae), a plant growing spontaneously in the Mediterranean area, is currently used by popular medicine for its therapeutic effects. Flavonoids, azulenes, sesquiterpenes, and essential oils have been isolated and identified from its leaves. This paper reports the results of the composition and antifungal activity in vitro against dermatophytes and Candida spp. of the four essential oils obtained by steam distillation of the leaves, flowers, whole plant and whole plants without flower extracts of I. viscosa. All the extracts proved to have a significant antifungal activity against dermatophytes even at low concentrations (0.01 mg/ml). The leaf extracts exhibited the greatest antifungal efficacy. The high concentration of the sesquiterpene (carboxyeudesmadiene), occurring in the leaf extracts, may explain its greater antifungal activity.

Spectrophotometric determination of manidipine dihydrochloride based on formation of charge-transfer complex with iodine.

A new spectrophotometric method for determining manidipine dihydrochloride has been developed. The method was based on the formation of charge transfer complex between this drug as n-donor and iodine the s-acceptor. The iodine was found to form charge-transfer complex in a 1:1 stoichiometry with absorption bands at 290 and 353 nm. Conformity to Beer's law enabled the assay of dosage forms of this drug, the concentration range for the best accuracy is 3-11 micrograms/ml. The method can be applied successfully to the analysis of commercially available manidipine dihydrochloride tablets.

[Fungistatic activity of a sesquiterpene lactone (tomentosin) isolated from fresh Inula viscosa (Asteraceae) flowers from the Puglia region]. / Attività fungistatica di un sesquiterpene lattone (tomentosina) isolato dai fiori freschi di Inula viscosa (Asteraceae) della regione Puglia.

A sesquiterpene lactone, tomentosin, has been isolated and identified form Inula viscosá Ait (Asteraceae) flowers. The molecule, at 1 mg/ml concentration, showed to be active in vitro against Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes.

[Research on antifungal activity of flowers and leaves of Inula viscosa (Asteraceae)]. / Ricerche sull'attività fungistatica di fiori e foglie di Inula viscosa (Asteraceae).

The authors carried out a preliminary screening about the in vitro antifungal activity of some extracts of flowers and leaves of Inula viscosa obtained with different solvents. All extracts showed antifungal activity against dermatophytes and Candida species. The best results were obtained with Inula viscosa flowers extracts. These results may be ascribed to the different flavonoids and different flavonoid concentrations in our samples.

Antifungal activity of Apulia region propolis.

A study was carried out to assess the in vitro antifungal activity of some natural Apulian propolis extracts of different origin. Their antifungal activity was compared to the antifungal activity of conifers and commercial propolis extracts. All extracts revealed antifungal activity against dermatophytes and Candida species. The antifungal activity differences found depended on the origin of the propolis and the solvent used for extraction. The best antifungal activity was given by the 'Orimini' propolis. The antifungal activity may have been influenced by the presence of different cinnamic and flavonoid components and their different concentration in the extracts. Further investigations are needed to validate this hypothesis.

[Synthesis and in vitro antimicrobial activity of N-substituted derivatives of phenylpiperidine and phenylpiperazine]. / Sintesi ed attività antimicrobica in vitro di derivati N-sostituiti di fenilpiperidine e fenilpiperazine.

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of some N-substituted aza- and diaza-phenylcycloalkanes are reported. All the compounds screened in vitro show significant antibacterial and antimycotic activities. Particularly, compounds of the N-(ethoxymethyl)phenylpiperidine series, show activity towards S. aureus 1,2-1,9 superior to ampicillin. Furthermore the microbiological results indicate that the latter activity depends on the position of the phenyl-substituent.