Publications (17) View all
-
Article: Testosterone and cardiovascular risk.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Cardiovascular (CV) disease is one of the most common causes of death in the western populations and, nowadays, its incidence is increasing even in the developing countries; although CV disease affects both sexes, it is more frequent in males in whom it shortens the average life expectancy. In this regard, this difference has been wrongly attributed for many years to the negative effects of testosterone (T); however, nowadays, a large amount of evidence suggests that this hormone may have protective effects on the CV system and that, indeed, the low levels of T could be associated with an increased CV risk and with an augmentation of morbidity and mortality in males. Such an aspect gains great relevance in light of the consideration that T decrease, besides occurring as a consequence of rare pathological conditions, can often take place with natural aging, causing a state of "male menopause", also called late-onset hypogonadism. In this review, we aimed to summarize the present state of the art concerning the association between T deficit and CV disease by analyzing the protective role of T on CV system and the relationship of this hormonal lack with metabolic syndrome, CV morbidity and mortality, and with the CV complications, such as ischemic heart disease, heart failure and stroke, that frequently occur in T deficiency.Internal and Emergency Medicine 03/2013; · 2.06 Impact Factor -
Article: Gingival advanced glycation end-products in diabetes mellitus-associated chronic periodontitis: an immunohistochemical study.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) seems to play an important role in the development of diabetes mellitus (DM)-associated periodontitis; however, some aspects of this issue are still scarcely known, such as the expression of AGEs in type 1 DM-associated periodontitis and the clinical factors able to affect their accumulation. This study aimed to clarify these points by evaluating the expression of AGEs in DM-associated periodontitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixteen systemically and periodontally healthy subjects and 48 subjects suffering from generalized, severe, chronic periodontitis (16 with type 1 DM, 16 with type 2 DM and 16 systemically healthy subjects) were studied clinically, periodontally and metabolically. The immunohistochemical expression of AGEs in gingival tissues was also evaluated. RESULTS: Subjects affected with type 1 DM presented a significantly higher percentage of AGE-positive cells than did subjects affected with type 2 DM, not only in the epithelium, but also in vessels and fibroblasts. A positive and significant correlation was found between gingival expression of AGEs and length of time affected with DM both in type 1 and type 2 DM; glycated hemoglobin, lipid profile, body mass index and age did not correlate significantly with gingival AGEs in any of the classes of subjects studied. CONCLUSIONS: Gingival AGEs are increased in both type 1 and type 2 DM-associated periodontitis; however, the clinical parameter that determines their accumulation, and therefore their degree of influence on the development of DM-associated periodontitis, may be the duration of DM.Journal of Periodontal Research 09/2012; · 1.69 Impact Factor -
Article: Advances in the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and management of Cushing's syndrome complications.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Cushing's syndrome (CS) is a clinical condition resulting from chronic exposure to glucocorticoid excess. As a consequence, hypercortisolism contributes significantly to the early development of systemic disorders by direct and/or indirect effects. Complications such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypercoagulability cause premature atherosclerosis and increase cardiovascular mortality. Impairment of the skeletal system is a relevant cause of morbidity and disability in these patients especially due to the high prevalence of vertebral fractures. In addition, muscle weakness, emotional lability, depression, and impairment of quality of life are very common. Clinical management of these patients is complex and should be particularly careful in identifying global cardiovascular risks and aim at controlling all complications. Although the primary goal in the prevention and treatment of complications is the correction of hypercortisolism, treatment does not completely eliminate these comorbidities. Given that cardiovascular risk and fracture risk can persist after cure, early detection of each morbidity could prevent the development of irreversible damage. In this review we present the various complications of CS and their pathogenetic mechanisms. We also suggest the clinical management of these patients based on our extensive clinical experience and on the available literature.Journal of endocrinological investigation 04/2012; 35(4):434-48. · 1.57 Impact Factor -
Article: Possible efficacy of Lavender and Tea tree oils in the treatment of young women affected by mild idiopathic hirsutism.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Background. Hirsutism is defined as the presence of excessive terminal hair in androgen-dependent areas of a woman´s body. Regarding this it has been demonstrated that Lavender and Tea tree oils have antiandrogenic activities. Aim. To evaluate therapy based on Lavender and Tea tree oils in women suffering from mild idiopathic hirsutism. Subjects and Methods. A prospective, open-label, placebo controlled, randomized study was performed: women affected by mild idiopathic hirsutism were randomly assigned to receive oil spray containing Lavender and Tea tree oils (group T) (n=12) or placebo (group P) (n=12) twice a day for 3 months in areas affected by hirsutism. Evaluation of hirsutism was carried out at baseline and after 3 months by Ferriman- Gallwey score and by measuring hair diameter taken from some body areas. A hematological and hormonal evaluation was carried out at baseline and after 3 months. Results. No significant variations were found in any of the hormones studied in groups T and P between baseline and after 3 months. A statistically significant decrease of hirsutism total score and of hair diameter was found in group T, while no statistically significant difference in these two parameters was observed in group P; in group T percentual reduction of hair diameter was significantly greater than in group P. Conclusions. Lavender and Tea tree oils applied locally on skin could be effective in reducing mild idiopathic hirsutism; this treatment could represent a safe, economic and practical instrument in the cure of this disease.Journal of endocrinological investigation 11/2012; · 1.57 Impact Factor -
Article: Fine-needle aspiration cytology of adrenal masses: a re-assessment with histological confirmation.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of adrenal masses is a method currently indicated in lesions suspected of being extra-adrenal in origin; even though its diagnostic reliability has already been determined in many studies, few have used histological examination obtained after adrenalectomy for diagnostic confirmation. To analyze the diagnostic performance of adrenal FNA in subjects with an available histological confirmation. Fifty subjects (26 benign adrenal lesions, 9 primary malignant lesions, and 15 metastatic lesions) who had undergone ultrasound (US)-guided adrenal FNA and then adrenalectomy were re-analyzed retrospectively. FNA guaranteed a sensitivity of 85.7% and a specificity of 100% in all subjects; after having divided the subjects into oncologic and non-oncologic groups, the sensitivity of the test in oncologic patients (100%) increased significantly compared to non-oncologic (57.1%) with no difference in specificity (100% in both groups). Considering also non-diagnostic samples in our analysis (no.=11; 22% of all samples studied), FNA correctly diagnosed malignancy only in 75% of the cases and benignancy only in 66.6%; however, even after including non-diagnostic samples, the percentage of correct malignancy diagnosis remained significantly higher in oncologic (93.3%) than in non-oncologic patients (44.4%) without significant statistical difference between the 2 groups regarding the percentage of correct benignancy diagnosis (respectively 100% and 63.6%). Our study, based on histological confirmation, underlines the low discriminant value of US-guided adrenal FNA, though the method may have value in oncologic patients.Journal of endocrinological investigation 10/2011; 35(6):590-4. · 1.57 Impact Factor
