Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis hormones and cortisol in both menstrual phases of women with chronic fatigue syndrome and effect of depressive mood on these hormones

BACKGROUND: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a disease which defined as medically unexplained, disabling fatigue of 6 months or more duration and often accompanied by several of a long list of physical complaints. We aimed to investigate abnormalities of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis hormones and cortisol concentrations in premenopausal women with CFS and find out effects of depression rate on these hormones. METHODS: We examined follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, progesterone and cortisol concentrations in 43 premenopausal women (mean age: 32.86 ± 7.11) with CFS and compared matched 35 healthy controls (mean age: 31.14 ± 6.19). Patients were divided according to menstrual cycle phases (follicular and luteal) and compared with matched phase controls. Depression rate was assessed by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and patients with high BDI scores were compared to patients with low BDI scores. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in FSH, LH, estradiol and progesterone levels in both of menstrual phases of patients versus controls. Cortisol levels were significantly lower in patients compared to controls. There were no significant differences in all hormone levels in patients with high depression scores versus patients with low depression scores. CONCLUSION: In spite of high depression rate, low cortisol concentration and normal HPG axis hormones of both menstrual phases are detected in premenopausal women with CFS. There is no differentiation between patients with high and low depression rate in all hormone levels. Depression condition of CFS may be different from classical depression and evaluation of HPG and HPA axis should be performed for understanding of pathophysiology of CFS and planning of treatment

Rilevazione dell'attività di Pronto Soccorso nella Regione Abruzzo - Anno 2010

La valutazione ed il miglioramento della qualità dei servizi rappresentano degli obiettivi fondamentali in qualsiasi sistema sanitario. Nella cura della salute, come in altri ambiti, ciò che non può essere misurato difficilmente può essere migliorato. La presente rilevazione, oltre a descrivere una serie di dati riguardanti l’attività svolta dalle Unità Operative (UU.OO.) di Pronto Soccorso (P.S.) della Regione Abruzzo nel corso dell’anno 2010, utilizza anche una serie di indicatori già descritti e validati nella relazione finale del Progetto Mattone “Pronto Soccorso e Sistema 118” al fine di mettere in atto un’indagine conoscitiva in merito alle prestazioni erogate all’interno dei P.S. (weblink:http://www.nsis.salute.gov.it/mattoni/documenti/MDS_MATTONI_SSN_milestone_1.2.4_Formazione_PS_v1_0.pdf) 2

Cytomegalovirus Infection in Heart-Transplant Recipients in a Central Region of Italy

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection occurs very often after solid organ transplantation and is often a life-threatening complication of long-term immunosoppressive therapy. Actually it is unknown which type of drug is indicated to control the infection in immunocompromised patients. We studied 10 consecutive patients who had undergone heart-transplantation and in which CMV infection was the commonest post-transplant infectious disease. Our results suggest a careful monitoring of IgG seropositivity in heart transplant patients, especially when it is not possible to know the serum status of the donor

Rilevazione dell'attività di Pronto Soccorso nella Regione Abruzzo - Anno 2011

Dopo il report “Rilevazione dell’attività di pronto soccorso della Regione Abruzzo – Anno 2010”, da noi pubblicato lo scorso anno (wlink: http://www.asrabruzzo.it/pubblicazioni/report-epidemiologici/doc_download/76-reportprontosoccorso.html), si è proceduto alla rilevazione dei dati di attività delle Unità Operative (UU.OO.) di Pronto Soccorso (P.S.) della Regione Abruzzo anche per il 2011. La presente analisi, oltre a descrivere una serie di dati riguardanti l’attività svolta dalle Unità Operative (UU.OO.) di Pronto Soccorso (P.S.) della Regione Abruzzo nel corso dell’anno 2011, utilizza anche una serie di indicatori già descritti e validati nella relazione finale del Progetto Mattone “Pronto Soccorso e Sistema 118”, al fine di confrontare le prestazioni erogate all’interno dei P.S. nel 2010 e 2011

Psychophysical distress and alexithymic traits in chronic fatigue syndrome with and without comorbid depression

Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) often report a comorbid depressive disorder. Comorbid depression may negatively influence the long-term outcome of CFS therefore it must be correctly diagnosed and treated. The aim of the present study is to provide a clinical and psychometric assessment of CFS patients with and without depressive features. A comparative analysis between 57 CFS subjects (CDC, 1994), 17 of whom with a comorbid depression, and 55 matched healthy volunteers was assessed to evaluate the presence of any psychophysical distress and alexithymic traits, by means of Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90R) and Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). The severity of fatigue was also assessed in all CFS patients using the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS). With regard to psychiatric comorbidity, the SCL-90R scores showed higher levels of somatic complaints in CFS patients than in healthy subjects, whereas augmented depressive and obsessive-compulsive symptoms were observed only in the depressed CFS subgroup. When comparing the TAS-20 scores, we observed a selective impairment in the capacity to identify feelings and emotions, as measured by the Difficulty in Identifying Feelings subscale (DIF), non-depressed CFS patients showing an intermediate score between depressed CFS and healthy controls. Finally, in terms of FIS scores, a statistical trend versus a higher fatigue severity in depressed CFS patients, with respect to non-depressed ones, was observed. In conclusion, comorbid depression in CFS significantly increased the level of psychophysical distress and the severity of alexithymic traits. These findings suggest an urgent need to address and treat depressive disorders in the clinical care of CFS cases, to improve social functioning and quality of life in such patients

Rilevazione dell'attività di Pronto Soccorso nella Regione Abruzzo - Anno 2011

Dopo il report “Rilevazione dell’attività di pronto soccorso della Regione Abruzzo – Anno 2010”, da noi pubblicato lo scorso anno (wlink: http://www.asrabruzzo.it/pubblicazioni/report-epidemiologici/doc_download/76-reportprontosoccorso.html), si è proceduto alla rilevazione dei dati di attività delle Unità Operative (UU.OO.) di Pronto Soccorso (P.S.) della Regione Abruzzo anche per il 2011. La presente analisi, oltre a descrivere una serie di dati riguardanti l’attività svolta dalle Unità Operative (UU.OO.) di Pronto Soccorso (P.S.) della Regione Abruzzo nel corso dell’anno 2011, utilizza anche una serie di indicatori già descritti e validati nella relazione finale del Progetto Mattone “Pronto Soccorso e Sistema 118”, al fine di confrontare le prestazioni erogate all’interno dei P.S. nel 2010 e 2011

Could S-100b be a marker of the neurologic involvement in HIV-affected patients?

Could S-100b be a marker of the neurologic involvement in HIV-affected patients

Determinati della salute della donna, medicina preventiva e qualità delle cure: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome CFS

sintesi delle più recenti e validate acquisizioni scientifiche sulla Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis CFS/M

Influence of melatonin on fatigue severity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and late melatonin secretion.

Contains fulltext : 50868.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)The effect of melatonin, a chronobiotic drug, was explored in 29 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and Dim Light Melatonin onset (DLMO) later than 21.30 hours, reflective of delayed circadian rhythmicity. The patients took 5 mg of melatonin orally, 5 h before DLMO during 3 months. Their responses to the checklist individual strength (CIS), a reliable questionnaire measuring the severity of personally experienced fatigue, were assessed twice with a 6-week interval immediately before the treatment and once after 3 months treatment. In the pre-treatment period the fatigue sub-score improved significantly. After treatment, the total CIS score and the sub-scores for fatigue, concentration, motivation and activity improved significantly. The sub-score fatigue normalized in two of the 29 patients in the pre-treatment period and in eight of 27 patients during treatment. This change was significant. In the patients with DLMO later than 22.00 hours (n=21) the total CIS score and the sub-scores for fatigue, concentration and activity improved significantly more than in the patients (n=8) with DLMO earlier than 22.00 hours. Melatonin may be an effective treatment for patients with CFS and late DLMO, especially in those with DLMO later than 22.00 hours