No changes of peripheral insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome after long-term reduction of endogenous androgens with leuprolide.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between plasma insulin levels, peripheral insulin sensitivity and androgen secretion in ten patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and in six obese women as compared with six normal-weight control subjects. During a euglycemic-hyper-insulinemic clamp no significant change of testosterone, androstenedione or dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate plasma levels was observed in the two groups of patients or in the control subjects; insulin sensitivity was clearly reduced and was similar in polycystic ovary patients and in obese women, in spite of the different plasma androgen levels. A long-term (5 months) androgen suppression with the gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist leuprolide was not able to improve significantly the insulin sensitivity.

The effect of intra-articular ACL reconstruction on the growth plates of rabbits.

We performed intra-articular reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) with the semitendinosus tendon placed in 2 mm diameter tunnels in 21 skeletally immature rabbits. The operation caused 11% damage to the physis of the femur on the frontal plane and 3% of its cross-sectional area but no alteration of growth or axial deviation of the bone resulted. In the tibia, the operation caused 12% damage to the physis in the frontal plane and 4% of the cross-sectional area.

Age-related distribution of elastic fibers in the rabbit knee.

The distribution and histochemical properties of elastic fibers in the knee of newborn, young, adult, and old New Zealand White rabbits were studied. In the growing rabbit, elastic fibers, especially oxytalan fibers, are abundant in the perichondrium and the fibrous layer of the periosteum. They are homogeneously distributed in tendons, ligaments, and menisci, and are absent in the epiphyseal cartilage and growth plate and at the enthesis.

No changes of insulin sensitivity in cystic fibrosis patients with different degrees of glucose tolerance: an epidemiological and longitudinal study.

Plasma glucose and insulin responses to oral glucose and insulin sensitivity by the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique were investigated in 30 cystic fibrosis patients with normal fasting blood glucose levels and normal (N = 12), impaired (N = 12) or diabetic (N = 6) glucose tolerance, and in 12 control subjects. In a subgroup of 10 cystic fibrosis patients with non-diabetic glucose tolerance both oral glucose tolerance test and clamp were performed again 48-52 months later. Following oral glucose, glycemic responses were higher in cystic fibrosis patients than in controls, whereas insulin responses were reduced significantly only in the patients with diabetic glucose tolerance.

First-phase insulin response to intravenous glucose in cystic fibrosis patients with different degrees of glucose tolerance.

The aim of our study was to determine whether first-phase insulin response to intravenous (i.v.) glucose could be used as a simple and rapid test to identify cystic fibrosis (CF) patients at risk to develop diabetes mellitus.

Patellofemoral malalignment in adolescents. Computerized tomographic assessment with or without quadriceps contraction.

Twenty-seven adolescents with anterior knee pain with or without patellar instability were studied by computerized tomography to detect patellofemoral malalignment. The examination was performed with and without quadriceps contraction with the knee flexed to 15 degrees. Congruence angle, patellar tilt angle, sulcus angle, and trochlear depth were measured.

Critical analysis of intramedullary nailing by the Ender method in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures.

A retrospective study was carried out to evaluate the results of intramedullary fixation by Ender nailing in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures. During the period 1980-1989, 85 patients were treated with this method at the Orthopedic Department of the Università Cattolica in Rome. Evaluation of the cases took into account the patient's characteristics (age, sex, weight, height, obesity, previous or concomitant illness, level of autonomy, mental condition, type of fracture, time elapsed before operation and laboratory tests), details of the operation (length, accuracy of reduction and mechanical fixation stability, post-operative hospitalization period and general and local complications) and follow-up evaluation (X-ray examination, functional examination and evaluation of the results).

Clinical and pathological aspects of solitary spinal neurofibroma.

Four cases are described of solitary spinal neurofibroma, a rare tumour of the spinal cord or nerve roots. Computerised tomography provided an accurate topographical definition of the tumour. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an increased T2-weighted signal and multiple areas of decreased T1- and T2-weighted signals centrally.

The role of instrumental diagnostic methods in the staging of Sudeck's disease.

Forty patients with Sudeck's atrophy were assessed in order to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of x-ray, scintigraphy and telethermography in staging the 3 phases of the disease. The dynamic and early static phases of scintigraphy were the most sensitive and specific instrumental tests for detecting the early stage, whereas telethermography was fairly sensitive but not very specific. Radiographic examination was not sensitive in detecting slight changes in bone density, but it was the most reliable index for recognizing the transition to stage II of the disease.

Insulin secretion, glycosylated haemoglobin and islet cell antibodies in cystic fibrosis children and adolescents with different degrees of glucose tolerance.

In comparison with 12 weight-matched controls, 39 children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF) showed higher fasting glycaemic levels and both delayed and enhanced blood glucose responses to OGTT. Glycaemic response was normal in 30/39 patients (76.9%), impaired in other 7 cases (18%) and diabetic in the remnant two (5.

Fibrin-antibiotic mixtures: an in vitro study assessing the possibility of using a biologic carrier for local drug delivery.

An in vitro study assessing the kinetics of drug release from antibiotic-fibrin seal compounds and the antibacterial efficacy of the delivered drug has been performed. Antibiotic sensitivity and the amount of drug released was measured by means of agar diffusion test. Standard and experimental curves were established for each antibiotic and each bacterial test in order to evaluate the quantities of the drug released during each 24 h period.

Effects of chronic alcohol intake on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in subjects with type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes.

Purpose: To study the effects of chronic alcohol intake on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in subjects with non-insulin-dependent (type II) diabetes (NIDDM). To also evaluate the effect of alcohol withdrawal on metabolic control.

Patients And Methods: The study group consisted of 46 alcohol-consuming patients with NIDDM (NIDDM-B group), 35 non-alcohol-consuming patients with NIDDM (NIDDM group), and 40 normal control subjects.

[Surgical treatment of diaphyseal fractures of the forearm during pre-adolescent age].

The results of treatment of 10 both-bone unstable diaphyseal fractures of the forearm in children by open-reduction and intramedullary fixation with Kirschner wiring of the radius are presented. All fractured healed in perfect alignment. No complications occurred.

Different daily blood glucose control and free insulin levels during treatment with mixtures of soluble and lente or soluble and NPH semisynthetic human insulins.

To compare daily blood glucose and free-insulin profiles after the administration of two different mixtures of semisynthetic human insulins (soluble + lente or soluble + NPH), 8 well-controlled insulin-dependent diabetic patients with identical basal blood glucose levels were studied. At the beginning of the first daily period of study, each subject was connected to an Artificial Pancreas to achieve a standard blood glucose (100 mg/dl); after at least 4 hours of normoglycemia, feed-back control was interrupted and the insulin mixture injected, at 8 p.m.

[Oral hygiene motivation in orthodontic patients].

The task of the present study has been to verify experimentally if prolonged motivation may produce better oral hygienic conditions in orthodontic patients. Applying oral hygienic index modified, gingival index and saliva lactobacilli's concentration count, the A.A.