Diagnostic rate of primary aldosteronism in Emilia-Romagna, Northern Italy, during 16 years (2000-2015).

Background: Although primary aldosteronism is considered the most common form of endocrine hypertension, the diagnostic rate of primary aldosteronism in the territory is unknown.

Objectives: The aims of the current study were to compare the number of patients discharged with International Classification of Diseases 9 Clinical Modification codes compatible with primary aldosteronism from all the hospitals in Emilia-Romagna during 16 years (from 2000 to 2015) with the number of expected cases of primary aldosteronism, and to compare the number of patients with primary aldosteronism who underwent adrenalectomy in the period 2000-2015 with the number of expected cases of unilateral primary aldosteronism.

Methods: We accessed the Database of the Emilia-Romagna Health Service to select all patients from the age of 20 years discharged with International Classification of Diseases 9 Clinical Modification codes compatible with primary aldosteronism and, among them, those who underwent adrenalectomy in the same period.

Intraprocedural cortisol measurement increases adrenal vein sampling success rate in primary aldosteronism.

Background: Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is the gold standard for the identification of unilateral primary aldosteronism (PA), but is technically difficult. The aim of our study was to assess whether intraprocedural cortisol measurement (IPCM) increases AVS success rate.

Methods: Twenty-five consecutive PA patients underwent cosyntropin-stimulated AVS.

A clinical phenotype mimicking essential hypertension in a newly discovered family with Liddle's syndrome.

Background: Liddle's syndrome (LS) is a monogenic form of hypertension simulating a mineralocorticoid excess, and is currently suspected in young hypokalemic hypertensives. The aims of the study were: (i) to evaluate the clinical phenotype of LS in a newly identified Italian family of Sicilian origin carrying a gain-of-function mutation of the β subunit of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) (P617L) previously reported by our group in an apparently unrelated Sicilian patient presenting the typical phenotype of LS including hypokalemia; (ii) to determine whether an unknown biological relationship exists between the newly identified family and the family of the proband previously reported.

Methods: Genetic analysis was performed in the present family, in the individual in which the βP617L mutation was first observed, and in his relatives.

Cryopreservation of immature bovine oocytes to reconstruct artificial gametes by germinal vesicle transplantation.

Joining immature gamete cryopreservation and germinal vesicle transplantation (GVT) technique could greatly improve assisted reproductive technologies in animal breeding and human medicine. The present work was aimed to assess the most suitable cryopreservation protocol between slow freezing and vitrification for immature denuded bovine oocytes, able to preserve both nuclear and cytoplasmic competence after thawing. In addition, the outcome of germinal vesicle transfer procedure and gamete reconstruction was tested on the most effective cryopreservation system.

Developmental competence of gametes reconstructed by germinal vesicle transplantation from fresh and cryopreserved bovine oocytes.

Objective: To evaluate the use of fresh or frozen bovine oocytes as an animal model for reconstructing artificial gametes by germinal vesicle transplantation (GVT), to study nucleocytoplasmic interaction and define clinical procedures for ooplasm donation in humans.

Design: Prospective experimental study.

Setting: University-based experimental laboratory.