Dose-dependent stimulation of melatonin secretion after administration of Agnus castus.

The circadian rhythm of melatonin secretion was measured in 20 healthy males (20 - 32 yrs.) after intake of placebo or various doses of a special extract of Agnus castus (AC: 120 - 480 mg/die) for 14 days. A significant (p < 0.

Effect of tibolone compared with sequential hormone replacement therapy on carbohydrate metabolism in postmenopausal women.

Objective: To investigate the effects of tibolone on carbohydrate metabolism, and to compare these effects with those of a sequential regimen of conjugated equine estrogens and medrogestone.

Methods: This was an open-label, multicentre, comparative study. Seventy-two postmenopausal women were randomized to receive either tibolone 2.

Variation of CYP1A2-dependent caffeine metabolism during menstrual cycle in healthy women.

Background And Objectives: The activity of the human cytochrome P450 CYP1A2 is decreased by female sex hormones during pregnancy or treatment with oral contraceptives. However, the influence of menstrual cycle on CYP 1A2 activity is not clear.

Methods: CYP1A2 activity was monitored in 15 women (13 with confirmed ovulatory cycles, 2 smokers, age (mean +/- SD) 27.

[Value of fetal lung maturity assessment in maternal diabetes].

Objective: Results of antepartal fetal lung maturity (FLM) testing in diabetics were compared to control patients. We analysed 274 patients by phospholipid profile and 219 by phosphatidylglycerol (PG), consisting of 73, respectively 54 diabetic and 201, resp. 165 normal control subjects.

Lamellar body counts in amniotic fluid for prediction of fetal lung maturity.

Objective: Comparison of three different methods of fetal lung maturity (FLM) testing in amniotic fluid (AF) to predict fetal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS): phospholipid concentration, phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and lamellar body count (LBC).

Study Design: 315 amniotic fluid (AF) samples were tested, 291 by determination of phospholipid, 237 by PG and 68 by LBC. Eighty one patients (26%) delivered within 3 days, incidence of RDS was 7% (n = 6).