Endocrine, metabolic, and clinical effects of gestrinone in women with endometriosis.

The effect of oral gestrinone, 2.5 mg twice weekly for 6 months, was studied in 11 women with mild or moderate endometriosis laparoscopically confirmed. The mean laparoscopic score decreased from 17.18 to 9.09 (P greater than 0.005). Painful symptoms were relieved in all patients within 2 months from start of therapy. Gonadotropins, prolactin (PRL) 17 beta-estradiol (17 beta-E2), estrone (E1), progesterone (P), androstenedione (A), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) remained in the follicular phase range. Total testosterone (TT) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) decreased, whereas free testosterone (FT) slightly increased. Metabolic studies showed a decrease of total triglycerides, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and VLDL cholesterol, parallel to the decrease of associated apoproteins. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apoprotein B increased during therapy. The results suggest that gestrinone possesses antiestrogenic, androgenic, and progestigenic effects at therapeutic dosages both by acting on central and peripheral steroid receptors. For its efficacy and good tolerance, gestrinone may be considered an option for treating endometriosis.

[Physiopathologic changes and morbidity in divers in saturation. Epidemiologic evaluation of 9 years' activities (1973-1982)]. / Alterazioni fisiopatologiche e morbilità di operatori subacquei in saturazione. Valutazione epidemiologica su 9 anni di attività (1973-1982).

An epidemiological study was made of 315 man-saturations over a period of 4508 days worked in saturation. The results were compared with those from 541 drillers working on a high-isolation site for periods of 30 days per shift making a total of 16,230 working days. Saturation was asymptomatic in 15,9%. The average length of conditions not interfering with diving or work was 3 days in the sample and 4 days in the controls. There were only two instances of type I decompression sickness in the divers (0,6%). These were both resolved without complications. Two subjects had to give up for health reasons (one case of parotitis and one anxiety-depression syndrome). It is felt that saturation is a very safe procedure as far as immediate pathological consequences are concerned, and that its minor pathological forms are of a significantly different type from those of the control series, especially with regard to ORL forms, upper airway conditions, sleep disturbances, and sensations of malaise and poor adaptation.

[Influence of alcohol intake and smoking on plasma HDL cholesterol in active and sedentary subjects]. / Interferenza dell'assunzione di alcool e del fumo sulla concentrazione plasmatica del colesterolo HDL in soggetti attivi e sedentari.

The effect of physical activity, of smoking habit and alcohol assumption on plasma HDL-cholesterol has been evaluated in 40 normolipidaemic male active subjects and in 43 non-active ones. The comparison have been performed after covariance adjustment for potentially confounding variables. Physical activity increases and smoking habit decreases HDL-cholesterol plasma levels; no effects depending on alcohol consumption have been found.

Lipoprotein changes induced by pantethine in hyperlipoproteinemic patients: adults and children.

Following a brief outline of current knowledge concerning atherosclerosis and its treatment, the authors describe the results obtained by treating with pantethine (900-1200 mg daily for 3 to 6 months) a series of 7 children and 65 adults suffering from hypercholesterolemia alone or associated with hypertriglyceridemia (types IIa and IIb of Fredrickson's classification). Pantethine treatment produced significant reduction of the better known risk factors (total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and apo-B) and a significant increase of HDL-cholesterol (signally HDL2) and apolipoprotein A-I. The authors conclude with a discussion of these results and of the possible role of pantethine in the treatment of hyperlipoproteinemia, in view of its perfect tolerability and demonstrated therapeutic effectiveness.