Showing papers by "University of Milan published in 1978"
TL;DR: Two patients showing left unilateral neglect were asked to describe imagined perspectives of familiar surroundings, and left-sided details were largely omitted in the descriptions.
1,196 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that a constant prolongation of QTc in patients with myocardial infarction may help, with other risk factors, in defining a subgroup at higher risk for sudden death.
Abstract: Fifty-five patients with recent myocardial infarction and 55 healthy controls, matched for age, sex, race, height, weight, education and job, had an electrocardiogram taken every two months for seven years. Twenty-eight patients and one control had a sudden cardiac death. The QTc (mean of all values recorded) was found prolonged in one control (2%), five of 27 surviving patients (18%) and in 16 of 28 patients who had sudden death (57%). The difference between surviving and sudden death patients is significant (P less than 0.01). It is interesting that the only control with a long QT was the one when died suddenly of myocardial infarction. Among patients with previous myocardial infarction a prolonged QTc constitutes a 2.16 times greater risk for sudden death. We conclude that a constant prolongation of QTc in patients with myocardial infarction may help, with other risk factors, in defining a subgroup at higher risk for sudden death.
742 citations
TL;DR: The results indicate that hyperprolactinemia frequently induces hypogonadism in men, that bromocryptine ameliorates symptoms of disease previously unchanged by operation or radiotherapy, and that the impotence observed may not be solely the result of hypog onadism.
Abstract: We studied 22 men with prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors and hypogonadism. Twenty complained of impotence, nine had visual impairment, and three experienced galactorrhea. None of the 17 patients undergoing operation or radiotherapy, or both, were subsequently normoprolactinemic. In all 13 patients treated with bromocryptine major clinical improvement was associated with a decrease in serum prolactin levels and in nine with an increase in serum testosterone. Two patients receiving testosterone replacement therapy showed improved potency only after bromocryptine was administered. The results indicate that hyperprolactinemia frequently induces hypogonadism in men, that bromocryptine ameliorates symptoms of disease previously unchanged by operation or radiotherapy, and that the impotence observed may not be solely the result of hypogonadism.
436 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focused on Messinian-age erosional surfaces created by evaporitic drawdown of an isolated Mediterranean Sea and detected as discordances in seismic reflection profiles.
275 citations
TL;DR: Kinetic parameters ol metformin (N,N‐dimethylbiguanide), an anti‐diabetic reported to be associated with a lower number of episodes of lactic acidosis than phenformin, were determined in volunteers with normal renal function and in patients with different degrees ol renal impairment, to help explain the lower incidence of toxic effects.
Abstract: Kinetic parameters of metformin (N,N-dimethylbiguanide), an anti-diabetic reported to be associated with a lower number of episodes of lactic acidosis than phenformin, were determined in volunteers with normal renal function and in patients with different degrees of renal impairment. Drug in body fluids was measured by a highly specific and sensitive mass fragmentographic method, after the formation of a triazine derivative, obtained with heptafluorobutyric anhydride. The half-life (t 1/2) for the elimination of drug from plasma after intravenous injection in 5 normal subjects (1.52 +/- 0.3 hr) (mean +/- SD) was shorter than that reported for phenformin by a similar assay method (7 to 15 hr). The mean t 1/2 in 5 renal patients was 4.94 +/- 1.11 hr, and a correlation was observed between t 1/2 of drug from plasma and creatinine clearance. After oral administration of metformin tablets, drug recovery in urines was only 37.6%, possibly not as a consequence of low bioavailability (a similar low recovery was found after oral administration of the metformin solution used for the intravenous studies), but of binding to the intestinal wall, as shown in animal and clinical studies with metformin and other biguanides. Metformin is rapidly eliminated through active secretion by the kidney (mean renal clearance, 440.8 ml/min)--it is neither metabolized nor protein bound in plasma. The very brief plasma t 1/2 makes significant cumulation, with a standard tid regimen, unlikely. These findings may help explain the lower incidence of toxic effects, particularly lactic acidosis, than after phenformin.
212 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that the impairment of reassembly of zonulae by colchicine might be correlated with the disorder induced by the drug on the general organization of pancreatic exocrine cells and antimycin A could act by promoting the aggregation of a pool of free junctional strand components (or precursors) that might exist normally in pancreaticExocrine cells.
Abstract: Incubation of guinea pig pancreatic lobules in Ca++-free Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution (KRB) containing 0.5 mM ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate (EGTA) results in the progressive fragmentation of the occluding zonulae (ZO) with formation of multiple discrete junctions (fasciae occludentes) localized in the lateral and lumenal plasmalemma. After 1--2 h of such incubation, most ZO appear completely disassembled. This results in the disappearance of the heterogeneity in density of intramembrane particles on the P-fracture faces of the basolateral and lumenal plasmalemma. If Ca++ ions are reintroduced into the incubation fluid at this point, continous zonulae reform around the apices of the cells; in contrast, the density of intramembrane particles (imp) at the lumenal plasmalemma remains the same as in the basolateral region, at least for 3 h after Ca++ reintroduction. When added to the incubation fluid, cycloheximide (at a dose known to inhibit protein synthesis greater than 95%) and cytochalasin B (at doses which disrupt microfilaments and modify the cell shape) had no effect on the organization of ZO, on their disassembly in Ca++-free, EGTA medium, or on their Ca++-dependent reformation. Likewise, the organization and disassembly of ZO were unaffected by colchicine; however, after treatment with the latter drug the reassembly was defective, with formation of strand networks on the lateral surface and incomplete segregation of the lumenal region. Antimycin A, on the other hand, when added to the Ca++-EGTA medium, induced a large proliferation of long, infrequently anastomosed junctional strands, usually arranged to form ribbons, festoons, and other bizarre arrays. The possible relationship of these in vitro findings to the in vivo biogenesis and turnover of occluding junctions is discussed. It is suggested that the impairment of reassembly of zonulae by colchicine might be correlated with the disorder induced by the drug on the general organization of pancreatic exocrine cells. Moreover, antimycin A could act by promoting the aggregation of a pool of free junctional strand components (or precursors) that might exist normally in pancreatic exocrine cells.
186 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, it was shown that the approximation of a thin thermal boundary layer gives an accurate description of the growth of spherical vapour bubbles in a superheated liquid except for very small superheats.
Abstract: It is shown that the approximation of a thin thermal boundary layer gives an accurate description of the growth of spherical vapour bubbles in a superheated liquid except for very small superheats. If the further approximations of a linear variation of vapour pressure with temperature and of constant physical properties are made, then scaled variables can be introduced which describe the growth under any conditions. This scaled description is not valid during the early, surface-tension dominated, portion of the growth. The rate of bubble growth for large superheats is somewhat overestimated in the intermediate stage in which both inertial and thermal effects play a role. This overestimate does not lead to a serious error in the radius-time behaviour for ranges of practical interest. The asymptotic, or thermally controlled, stage of growth is accurately described by the scaled formulation.
180 citations
TL;DR: Comparisons suggest that, whereas the carotidbaroreceptor reflex remains active in hypertension, reflexes stemming from extracarotid baroreceptor areas are much diminished.
Abstract: We studied the control of arterial pressure by the carotid sinus baroreceptors in 35 hypertensive humans, using a variable pressure neck chamber to alter carotid sinus transmural pressure in a graded fashion. The results were compared with those obtained from 11 normotensives. As in normotensives, reduction in carotid transmural pressure caused a linearly related pressor response and vice versa. However, whereas in normotensives the pressure response was greater than the depressor, the reverse was the case in hypertensives. Furthermore, the pressor response decreased and the depressor response increased progressively with an increase in severity of the hypertension. Thus while in normotensives the carotid baroreflex is more effective in protecting against hypotension, in hypertensives the antihypertensive function of the reflex is favored. Similar differences between hypertensives and normotensives were found with respect to the carotid baroreceptor control of heart rate. In eight hypertensives, reflex changes in heart rate also were studied by injection of phenylephrine and trinitroglycerine to vary not only carotid baroreceptor activity, but also activity of extracarotid baroreceptors. The results were compared with results of similar studies on eight normotensives. These comparisons suggest that, whereas the carotid baroreceptor reflex remains active in hypertension, reflexes stemming from extracarotid baroreceptor areas are much diminished.
175 citations
TL;DR: The discovery of a high-energy γ-ray source at α(1950) = 12h 29 min±6 min, δ(1950)= +3°±15° is reported in this paper.
Abstract: THE discovery of a high-energy γ-ray source at α(1950) = 12h 29 min±6 min, δ(1950)= +3°±15° is reported here Arguments are given for the identification with 3C273 If this identification is correct, the γ-ray luminosity of 3C273 in the energy range 50–500 MeV is 2×1046 erg s−1 for H0 = 60 km s−1 Mpc−1
154 citations
TL;DR: A new form of mechanical pulmonary ventilation, low-frequency positive pressure ventilation with extracorporeal CO2 removal (LFPPV-ECCO2R) is described, able to maintain normal blood gases and normal lung volumes and lung mechanics even at the lowest ventilator rate with tidal volumes of 10 or 15 ml kg−1.
Abstract: We describe a new form of mechanical pulmonary ventilation, low-frequency positive pressure ventilation with extracorporeal CO2 removal (LEPPV-ECCO2R). In a series of animal studies the rate of mechanical ventilation was 0.66, 1, 2, and 4 min-1 at a tidal volume of 3, 10, and 15 ml kg-1. We were able to maintain normal blood gases and normal lung volumes and lung mechanics even at the lowest ventilator rate with tidal volumes of 10 or 15 ml kg-1. Each experiment lasted 7 hours. Our data suggest a possible new dimension in the management of a difficult patient on mechanical pulmonary ventilation.
149 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that the mechanism of centrally induced CT analgesia may be opiate-independent and CT and morphine synergized in vivo when administered ICV in combination.
TL;DR: Cocaine, nomifensine and d-amphetamine increase 3-MT concentrations while gamma-butyrolactone, alpha-methyltyrosine and apomorphine decrease it, and drugs believed to increase or decrease DA content in the synaptic cleft produce predictable changes of striatal 3- MT.
TL;DR: Analytical isoelectric focusing of peptides in 0.7-mm thick gel slabs is made possible by staining the gel directly in Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250 dissolved in 1 N H2SO4—12% trichloroacetic acid solution, hypothesized that the dye crosslinks different peptide chains by binding to basic residues via its SO3− groups.
TL;DR: Findings demonstrate the existence of a profound derangement of AP responsiveness to hypothalamic neurohormones in depressed patients and suggest that a primary alteration in the physiologic links between the central nervous system and the AP may be at the origin of the neuroendocrine disturbance.
Abstract: • Abnormal anterior pituitary (AP) responsiveness to acute administration of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and luteinizing hormone-follicle stimulating hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) was investigated in 14 patients (two men and 12 women) suffering from primary affective disorders. In ten, TRH, 500 μg given intravenously, induced a rise in plasma growth hormone (GH) level, while in eight patients it induced a rise in plasma levels of FSH or LH or both. When LH-RH, 150 μg was administered intravenously to ten patients, it induced a rise in plasma GH level in one patient and increased plasma prolactin level in three patients. Collectively, in only three of 14 patients was conventional AP responsiveness to hypothalamic neurohormones present. These findings demonstrate the existence of a profound derangement of AP responsiveness to hypothalamic neurohormones in depressed patients and suggest that a primary alteration in the physiologic links between the central nervous system and the AP may be at the origin of the neuroendocrine disturbance.
TL;DR: Systemic hypertension is associated with elevation of pulmonary arterial pressure and of PAR which is not necessarily a consequence of impairment in LV function; LV hypertrophy isassociated with enhanced performance of either ventricle; in coincidence with development of ECG signs of LV strain, the performance of both sides of the heart deteriorates.
Abstract: Pulmonary and systemic hemodynamics in 16 hypertensive subjects (group I) with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (ECG and echo criteria) and in 17 hypertensive subjects with ECG signs of LV strain (group II), were compared with those in 14 normal individuals. An augmented pulmonary arteriolar resistance (PAR) in group I and to a larger extent in group II accounted for the pulmonary pressure elevation in both groups. Increase in PAR was unrelated to pulmonary blood flow and volume, pleural pressure, arterial PO2, PCO2 and pH, and could not be explained entirely by the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure changes. In group I, left (L.MSEJR) and right (R;MSEJR) mean systolic ejection rate, stroke index (SI) and mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (VCF) were enhanced in spite of the heightened pressure load on both sides of the heart. In group II, a large reduction of SI, L.MS.EJR, R.MSEJR and VCF, as well as the relationship between ventricular filling pressures and SI, documented a compromised performance of both ventricles, Findings indicate that: systemic hypertension is associated with elevation of pulmonary arterial pressure and of PAR which is not necessarily a consequence of impairment in LV function; LV hypertrophy is associated with enhanced performance of either ventricle; in coincidence with development of ECG signs of LV strain, the performance of both sides of the heart deteriorates. A functional interdependence of the two ventricles is suggested.
TL;DR: A new ganglioside, provisionally named GLIVa, was isolated in pure form from pig cerebellum, containing fucose and its basic neutral glycosphingolipid core is the gangliotetraose ceramide.
Abstract: A new ganglioside, provisionally named GLIVa, was isolated in pure form from pig cerebellum. Ganglioside GLIVa is a disialoganglioside containing fucose. Its basic neutral glycosphingolipid core is the gangliotetraose ceramide: Gal, β 1 3 GalNAc, β 1 4 Gal, β 1 4 Glc, β 1 Cer.
Fucose is α-glycosidically linked to the 2-position of external galactose and one N-acetylneuraminic acid is linked to the other one by an α, 2 8 linkage. Thus the total structure of ganglioside GLIVa is the following: Fuc, α 1 2 Gal, β 1 3 GalNAc, β 1 4 (NeuAc, α 2 48 NeuAc, α 2 3) Gal, β 1 4 Glc, β 1 Ceramide. According to the IUPAC-IUB Commission on Biochemical Nomenclature is indicated as II3α(NeuAc)2 IV2αFuc-GgOse4Cer.
TL;DR: A major erosional phase is recorded south of the Alps after the deposition of the Gonfolite Formation (a synorogenic to postorogenic sedimentary wedge representing a deep-sea fan, ranging in age from Late Oligocene to Middle Miocene) and prior to the Pliocene transgression as mentioned in this paper.
TL;DR: A decrease of S-Adenosyl- l -methionine levels and of the activity of its synthesizing enzyme is demonstrated in liver of rats treated with d -galactosamine and these effects appear to be reversed by the i.m. administration of SAMe.
TL;DR: Whether GABA levels in hypothalamus and other brain areas undergo circadian variations which might be correlated to hormone secretion is investigated and GABA was determined with a mass fragmentographic method recently described.
Abstract: THE CNS is involved in the regulation of the secretion of most endocrine glands and a major portion of this control is exerted via the hypothalamic regulation of the pituitary. This control is triggered by chemical agents secreted into the portal vessels (GANONG 1974). The cells that release hypothalamic hormones are probably innervated by fibers of the afferent ncuronal system converging on the hypothalamus. The neurotransmittcrs that are presumably secreted at the endings of the afferent fibers include catecholamines. serotonin. acetylcholine and GABA (ROSE & GANONG, 1976). Experimental evidence indicates the existence of a circadian rhythm of anterior pituitary hormones (SCAPAGNIXI ef a/., 1976). Total brain levels of catecholamines, serotonin (COCCHI et u/., 1976) and acetylcholine (HANIN rt a/., 1970) have also been shown to present circadian periodicity. Since brain monoamines play an important role in the neuroendocrinc control of hypothalamus and anterior pituitary functions, attempts have been made to correlate the circadian variations of brain monoamine lcvcls with the circadian rhythm of hypothalamic and pituitary hormones (ASANO 1971; SIMON & GEORGE, 1975). Recently, an inhibitory effect of GABA on ACTH secretion has been demonstrated (MAKAKA & STAKK, 1Y74). The presence of high levels of GABA in the hypothalamus has been well documented (KURIYAMA & KIMURA, 1976). However, an involvement of GABA in the hypothalamic regulatory mechanisms has not yet been established. As a first approach to this problem, we have investigated whether GABA levels in hypothalamus and other brain areas undergo circadian variations which might be correlated to hormone secretion. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (Charles River) weighing 120-15Og were used. The animals were kept at constant temperature (23-25'C) and housed 5 per cage in an air conditioned room for I S days prior to study, to allow adjustment to controlled conditions of light (06.0&21.00). Food and water were allowed ud lib. Animals were killed by exposing their heads for 3-4s to high energy microwave radiations (Oven: 2.0 kW. 2.45 GHz, 75 W/cm*, Med. Ing. Consult.. U.S.A.) GUIDOTTI et ul.. 1974). This procedure completcly inactivates thc post-mortem increase of GABA concentrations in the brain (CATTABEN1 rl d., 1975). Striatum, cortex. cerebellum and hippocampus were dissected according to GLOWINSKI & IVERSEN (1966). Substantia nigra was dissected after mounting the brain on a microtomc stage. Sections 400pm thick were then cut through whole substantia nigra. The brain slices were kept frozen and substantia nigra punched out with stainless steel tubing ( I mm, i.d.). Hypothalamus was dissected starting 400 pm after the disappearance of substantia nigra up to A 7,500 pm and 2 mm deep, according to the KONIG & KLIPPH (1967) stcrcotaxic atlas of the rat brain. GABA was determined with a mass fragmentographic method recently described (CATTABENI et a[., 1976). Tissues were homogenized in 1 ml of 0.1 M-Formic acid containing the internal standard 4-amino-valeric acid ( 2 pmol/ml). The homogenate was centrifuged at 15,OOOg for 15 min. An aliquot of lop1 was transferred and evaporated under reduced pressure. Thirty microlitres of a mixture of SilPrep and BSTFA (3: l ) (Applied Science, Lab. Inc. State College, Bellefonte. Penn.) was added. After 2 h at room temperature an aliquot of the reaction mixture was injected into a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (Finnigan 3000 E), focused on m/e 304 and 174 for GABA-trimethyl-silyl derivative and 318 for the internal standard (CATTABENI el a/., 1976). Proteins were measured according to LOWRY et a/. (1951). Table 1 shows the distribution of GABA in different brain regions in animals killed at 9.00 a.m. A concentration gradient was dctected. with the highest levels in substantia nigra and the lowest in the cortex. The hypothalamus is the region with the second highest concentration. These findings arc in agreement with previous results reported by others (ROBERTS et a/., 1958; FAHN 1976). Figure 1 shows that during the 24 h cycle, GABA levels In cortcx, striatum, cerebellum, hippocampus and substantia nigra remained constant, without significant peaks and troughs. In contrast, in the hypothalamus the pattern of GABA concentration during the 24 h cycle shows a biphasic variation, with two peaks: one at 7.00a.m. and the other at 1l.00a.m. These results indicate that the hypothalamus is the only brain region, of those investigated, where GABA levels are not maintained at a steady-state level throughout the day. Since GABA is differently distributed in the various hypothalamic nuclei (KURIYAMA & KIMURA, 1976) we shall examine the possibility that individual nuclei are responsible for the observed changes. The physiological meaning of this finding in connection to the role of GABA in the hypothalamus still remains to be investigated. However, some working hypotheses can be put forward.
TL;DR: It is concluded that TRP increase is the haemodynamic factor responsible for MAP rise during growth, the hypothesis that the growth of the tissues and reduction of their metabolic needs represents the natural stimulus determining precapillary constriction and consequently a remodelling of the circulatory dynamics during development.
Abstract: The circulatory events determining the physiological rise of arterial blood pressure (BP) from infantile to adult levels were investigated in five unanaesthetised healthy puppies. Monthly haemodynamic studies were performed during the development of the animals from the age of one month (infancy) to the age of 9 months (maturity). During the follow-up, body weight (W) increased by 730%, heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO/W), plasma volume/W (PV/W) and mean central venous pressure (CVP), decreased respectively by 58%, 44%, 27%, 75%. Stroke volume/W (SV/W), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and total peripheral vascular resistance (TPR) increased respectively 37%, 91%, 308%. MAP almost doubled its initial value in spite of the drop in CO /W indicating the presence of arteriolar constriction during growth. Upon the dogs reaching maturity the following sequence of events based on their different rate of change (from the highest to the lowest) was found: W increase → TRP rise → MAP rise → CO/W drop. Significant correlations were found between W increase and TPR and MAP rise, and between MAP rise and CO/W reduction.
We thus conclude that TRP increase is the haemodynamic factor responsible for MAP rise during growth. We advance the hypothesis that the growth of the tissues and reduction of their metabolic needs represents the natural stimulus determining precapillary constriction and consequently a remodelling of the circulatory dynamics during development.
TL;DR: In this article, a linear problem associated with the equations of motion of supersymmetric sine-Gordon and alike theories, in a way reminiscent of the inverse scattering method, was determined, and the existence of infinitely many currents for such models was derived.
TL;DR: These results, which are indicative of differences in the primary structure of the heavy chains, allow us to identify these heavy chains as the main site of heterogeneity among myosins in human muscles.
Abstract: Myosins isolated from individual human muscles (primarily normal muscles) were investigated with respect to their structural and catalytic properties. The results indicate unexpected elements of uniformity shared by the several myosins, such as a three-banded, electrophoretic pattern of light chains in sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) gels and a low degree of alkaline lability. The pH activity profile and the effect of KCl on myosin ATPase activities were also found to be the same for the myosins from predominantly fast (e.g., vastus lateralis and rectus abdominis) and slow (e.g,, soleus and pectoralis minor) muscles. Coelectrophoretic experiments lend further credence to the interrelationship between human myosin light chains and the light chains of rabbit fast-muscle myosin. However, several kinds of circumstantial evidence, such as that derived from the study of myosin in nemaline myopathy, suggest that one shoould exercise caution in interpreting these results. On the other hand, human muscle myosins, like those of other mammalian species, can be divided into two main categories according to the peptide composition of tryptic heavy meromyosin (HMM) and the banding pattern of light meromyosin (LMM) paracrystals. These results, which are indicative of differences in the primary structure of the heavy chains, allow us to identify these heavy chains as the main site of heterogeneity among myosins in human mucles.
TL;DR: Pinealectomy in the rat induces a significant increase of the arterial blood pressure within 15 days from the surgical procedure; this hypertension is still present 30 and 60 days after pinealectomy while after 90 days it returns to the normal range.
Abstract: Pinealectomy in the rat induces a significant increase of the arterial blood pressure within 15 days from the surgical procedure; this hypertension is still present 30 and 60 days after pinealectomy while after 90 days it returns to the normal range. Histological examination of the kidneys of pinealectomized hypertensive rats shows wall thickening and lumen narrowing of the arterioles, adventitial and periadventitial fibrosis, dense glomeruli. The vascular lesions are not diffuse but patchily distributed. Body weight is higher in pinealectomized rats compared with normal and sham-operated animals: this difference becomes significant about 40 days after pinealectomy and gradually decreases until it disappears at the end of the third month. Food and water intake is higher in pinealectomized rats up to the 7th week; during the 8th week they return to the normal range.
TL;DR: By performing electrphoresis perpendicular to a stationary pH gradient generated by focused carrier ampholytes in a gel slab, a pictorial representation of a protein titration curve is obtained.
TL;DR: The effect of calcitonin administration on basal and arginine-stimulated growth hormone and insulin plasma levels was investigated and the intramuscular injection of synthetic salmon calciton in five normal subjects produced a significant decrease in insulin concentration.
Abstract: The effect of calcitonin administration on basal and arginine-stimulated growth hormone and insulin plasma levels was investigated. The intramuscular injection of synthetic salmon calcitonin (100 U MRC) in five normal subjects produced a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in insulin concentration. The same amount of calcitonin given 15 min before an arginine infusion test in seven normal subjects significantly reduced the response of growth hormone (p < 0.025) and insulin (p < 0.005) to the stimulus.
TL;DR: Ten acromegalic patients GH‐responsive to TRH were reinvestigated following trans‐sphenoidal surgery and radiotherapy; four of these ten patients also showed a normal GH response to l‐Dopa after treatment, and five responded normally to insulin‐induced hypoglycaemia.
Abstract: Eighteen acromegalic patients GH-responsive to TRH were reinvestigated following trans-sphenoidal surgery and radiotherapy. Basal serum GH decreased below 10 microgram/1 in thirteen cases; nine of them became GH-unresponsive to TRH 1 month after operation, and another one following conventional pituitary irradiation. Four of these ten patients also showed a normal GH response to L-Dopa after treatment, and five responded normally to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia; two patients had a normal GH secretory pattern after both these stimuli. No recurrences were observed over a follow-up period of 15-80 months among the ten patients who became GH-unresponsive to TRH following operation, while one of the three subjects still responsive to TRH in spite of normalized basal serum GH concentration relapsed 10 months after surgery. Three patients with normalized TRH test following operation were repeatedly reinvestigated over a 3-6 years period and always found unresponsive. The present study shows that the 'paradoxical' GH responses to TRH and L-Dopa frequently disappear after surgery, that complete normalization of GH secretory pattern may rarely be attained, and that the disappearance of GH response to TRH probably indicates satisfactory treatment of acromegaly. These data suggest that the 'paradoxical' GH responses frequently found in acromegaly are dependent on the adenoma per se and not on hypothalamic dysfunction.
TL;DR: PGI2 showed biphasic response both in uterus and fallopian tubes qualitatively and quantitatively similar to that induced by PGE2 and PGD2; prostacyclin was also able to inhibit the spasmus inducing by PGF2alpha but not that inducing by BaCl2 and vasopressin.