Use of contraception by women with induced abortion in Italy.

Aim: Aim of the present study was to investigate type of contraception, if any, used by women with induced abortion.

Methods: Retrospective analysis on the medical records of 1782 women with induced abortion performed at the University Hospital of Modena (Italy) between 2009 and 2011.

Results: Some kind of contraception was used by 81.

Modification of 24-h ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate during contraception with the vaginal ring: a prospective study.

Background: Hypertension is recognized as a major risk factor for coronary, cerebral and renal vascular disease. Hormonal methods of contraception may increase the risk for cardiovascular events. We evaluated whether the combined hormonal contraceptive vaginal ring that releases 15-mcg ethinylestradiol and 120 mcg of etonogestrel each day influences 24-h ambulatory blood pressure.

Combined oral contraceptive containing drospirenone does not modify 24-h ambulatory blood pressure but increases heart rate in healthy young women: prospective study.

Background: Hypertension is a primary cardiovascular risk factor. Oral contraceptives (OCs) may increase blood pressure and cardiovascular events. We evaluated whether an OC containing ethynylestradiol (EE) in association with the spironolactone-derived progestin drospirenone (DRSP) influences 24-h ambulatory blood pressure of normotensive women.

Relation between body mass index and endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in healthy postmenopausal women.

Objective: To evaluate whether endothelium-dependent vasodilatation is related to anthropometric parameters in 105 healthy postmenopausal women 47-68 years of age.

Methods: Flow-dependent, endothelium-dependent vasodilatation was considered as the maximal dilatation following deflation of a cuff placed on the forearm and inflated to supra-systolic blood pressure values for 4 min. Endothelium-independent vasodilatation was considered as the maximal dilatation induced by sublingual nitroglycerine (400 microg).

Tibolone and estradiol plus norethisterone acetate similarly influence endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in healthy postmenopausal women.

In healthy postmenopausal women, E(2) plus norethisterone acetate (1 mg + 0.5 mg) or tibolone (2.5 mg) similarly modify flow-mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilatation.

Prolonged melatonin administration decreases nocturnal blood pressure in women.

Background: The nocturnal decline of blood pressure (BP) is almost coincident with the elevation of melatonin, which may exert vasodilatating and hypotensive effects. In this study we investigated whether prolonged nocturnal administration of melatonin could influence the daily rhythm of BP in women.

Methods: In a randomized double-blind study, 18 women, 47 to 63 years of age and with normal BP (N = 9) or treated essential hypertension (N = 9), received a 3-week course of a slow-release melatonin pill (3 mg) or placebo 1 h before going to bed.

Sexual dimorphism in the levels of amniotic fluid leptin in pregnancies at 16 weeks of gestation: relation to fetal growth.

Objective: To investigate whether in the first half of pregnancy levels of leptin in amniotic fluid are sexually dimorphic, and are related to fetal growth.

Study Design: Samples of amniotic fluid were collected during amniocentesis from 211 pregnancies with a single fetus with a normal karyotype (107 from male fetuses). Fetal growth was evaluated at 16 and 32 weeks of gestation, by sonography, and in a subset of 137 women at delivery.

Interplay between maternal weight and seasons in determining the secondary sex ratio of human offspring.

When gender of 9,284 single fetuses, which were delivered at term in the Policlinic of Modena between 1997-2001, was stratified for month of conception and for quartiles of pregravid maternal weight, it showed that the ratio of male to female fetuses (secondary sex ratio) was characterized by a clear seasonal variation that was modulated by pregravid maternal weight. Two seasonal peaks of sex ratio (March and October +/- 31 days) were observed in mothers in the lowest two quartiles of prepregnancy body weight (< or =62 kg), and one single peak (October +/-36 days) was observed in mothers with preconception weight in the upper two quartiles.

A comparison of the central effects of different progestins used in hormone replacement therapy.

Objective: To evaluate the central effect exerted by different progestins used for hormone replacement therapy.

Methods: Randomised, placebo-controlled study. One hundred-twenty postmenopausal women on continuous hormonal replacement therapy with transdermal estradiol (50 microg per day) associated, for 10 days every 28 days, with four different progestins: dydrogesterone (DYD; 10 mg per day; n = 20), medroxyprogesterone acetete (MPA; 10 mg per day; n = 20), nomegestrol acetate (NMG; 5 mg per day; n = 20) or norethisterone acetate (NETA; 10 mg per day; n = 20).

Administration of tibolone decreases 24 h heart rate but not blood pressure of post-menopausal women.

Objective: Elevation of blood pressure and heart rate increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Administration of estrogens does not affect heart rate but may decrease 24 h blood pressure. In this study, we tested the effect of the estro-progestogenic compound tibolone.

Influences of maternal weight on the secondary sex ratio of human offspring.

Background: Less than optimal reproductive conditions may be associated with a secondary sex ratio biased towards females. Body weight represents a critical determinant of reproduction. Accordingly, we evaluated whether preconception body weight and weight gain during pregnancy influence the sex ratio of human offspring.

Relation of homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 to bone mineral density of postmenopausal women.

Genetic hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with skeletal abnormalities and osteoporosis. We tested whether levels of homocysteine and critical co-enzymes of homocysteine metabolism, such as vitamin B12 and folate, are related to lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) measured by DEXA in 161 postmenopausal women. Folate but not homocysteine or vitamin B12, was lower in osteoporotic than normal women (7.

Early outcome of myomectomy by laparotomy, minilaparotomy and laparoscopically assisted minilaparotomy. A randomized prospective study.

Background: To compare in the first 7 days after surgery the outcome of myomectomy performed by three laparotomic approaches: laparotomy (LT), minilaparotomy (MLT) and laparoscopically assisted minilaparotomy (LA-MLT).

Methods: Fifty-one women with 5-15 cm total myoma diameter were randomized blindly using a computer randomization list, to LT (n = 17), MLT (n = 17) or LA-MLT (n = 17).

Results: Mean operation length was similar in the three groups.

The male disadvantage and the seasonal rhythm of sex ratio at the time of conception.

Background: In accordance with a presumed greater fragility of male versus female pregnancies, we tested whether sex ratio (male/female ratio) of vital pregnancies is higher in seasons more favourable for reproduction.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 14,310 births which had occurred in our institute between 1995-2001. For each single pregnancy the time of conception was calculated by the last menstrual period recall and confirmed or redefined by ultrasound in 95.

Raloxifene does not influence flow-mediated endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilatation of osteopenic postmenopausal women.

Objective: The study was undertaken to evaluate whether raloxifene influences endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilatation in women.

Study Design: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study, 30 osteopenic but otherwise healthy postmenopausal women received either placebo (n = 15 with one dropout) or raloxifene (60 mg/d, n = 15). Brachial artery flow-mediated endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilatation was evaluated by ultrasound before and after 6 months of treatment, along with lipid and glucose metabolism.

Endothelin-1 and nitric oxide levels are related to cardiovascular risk factors but are not modified by estradiol replacement in healthy postmenopausal women. A cross-sectional and a randomized cross-over study.

Objective: To evaluate whether in healthy postmenopausal women endothelial substances such as endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide are related to cardiovascular risk factors and can be influenced by estradiol replacement.

Design: A cross-sectional evaluation and a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with cross-over.

Methods: In 20 healthy postmenopausal women it was investigated the relation of ET-1 and NOx with age, BMI, 24-h blood pressure, lipid and glucose metabolism, and coagulation parameters.

Kava-Kava administration reduces anxiety in perimenopausal women.

Objective: Disturbances of mood, such as anxiety and depression, increase in the perimenopausal period. Hormone replacement therapy or neuroactive drugs represent useful treatments for these disturbances but may be contraindicated or not accepted. Herein it was investigated the efficacy of Kava-Kava, an extract of Piper Methysticum, on mood of perimenopausal women.

Raloxifene does not modify insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism in postmenopausal women.

Insulin sensitivity (Si), glucose tolerance, and lipid metabolism were investigated in osteopenic postmenopausal women before and after 6 months of treatment with raloxifene (60 mg/d) or placebo. In a group of women (n = 34), glucose metabolism was evaluated by means of an oral glucose tolerance test (75 g). In another group of women (n = 24), Si and peripheral glucose utilization not dependent on insulin were evaluated by means of a frequently sampled iv glucose tolerance test associated with the minimal model method.

Regulation of the 24h body temperature rhythm of women in luteal phase: role of gonadal steroids and prostaglandins.

An investigation into whether the rise in the 24h body temperature rhythm observed in the luteal menstrual phase is antagonized by the administration of prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors has been made. Intravaginal body temperature was monitored continuously for 24h, once in the follicular and twice in the luteal phase. In the luteal phase, women were studied both without and with the simultaneous administration of a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor (lysine acetylsalicylate; 1.

Acute modifications in the levels of daytime melatonin do not influence leptin in postmenopausal women.

Melatonin shows a clear circadian rhythm with peak values at night, and may act directly with fat cells. Leptin, the anorexic hormone synthesized mainly by adipocytes, is produced in a circadian fashion, similar to that of melatonin. Accordingly, in the present study, we investigated whether melatonin may contribute to the rise in circulating leptin.

Influence of transdermal estradiol in the regulation of leptin levels of postmenopausal women: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Objective: To investigate whether the administration of transdermal estradiol is capable of modifying circulating levels of leptin.

Design: Forty postmenopausal women randomly received in a double-blind fashion, a transdermal patch containing either placebo or estradiol (50 microg/day). After 2 months of treatment, they were switched to the alternate treatment for another 2 months.

Insulin sensitivity in women: a comparison among values derived from intravenous glucose tolerance tests with different sampling frequency, oral glucose tolerance test or fasting.

Objective: To determine the correlation between insulin sensitivity (S(I)) obtained by the minimal model method applied to a frequently sampled (n=33) intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIGT(33)), and values obtained by reduced FSIGTs, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), or fasting.

Design: Retrospective analysis on tests performed in prospective studies.

Methods: A total of 78 FSIGT(33), and 59 OGTT were performed in non-diabetic women of which 10 were young cyclic females in the early follicular menstrual phase, 10 were young non-obese subjects with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and 30 were in post-menopause.

Continuous combined hormone replacement therapy with oral 17beta-estradiol and norethisterone acetate improves homocysteine metabolism in postmenopausal women.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a continuous combined oral hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on basal and post-methionine load homocysteine levels in postmenopausal women.

Design: Twenty-two postmenopausal women (PMW) were randomly allocated to receive either continuous combined oral HRT (2 mg of estradiol plus 1 mg of norethisterone acetate; n = 11) or no treatment (controls, n = 11) for 6 months. A methionine oral load (0.

Influence of melatonin administration on glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity of postmenopausal women.

Objective: The effect of melatonin on human carbohydrate metabolism is not yet clear. We investigated whether melatonin influences glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in aged women.

Patients: Twenty-two postmenopausal women of whom 14 were on hormone replacement therapy.

Effect of exogenous melatonin on vascular reactivity and nitric oxide in postmenopausal women: role of hormone replacement therapy.

Objective: Several effects of melatonin are modulated by gonadal steroids and are reduced in ageing women. Administration of melatonin reduces internal carotid artery pulsatility index (PI), and blood pressure in young individuals. Whether these effects are conserved in postmenopausal women and are influenced by hormone replacement therapy (HRT), was herein investigated.