摘要:

The influence of a local injection of 0.05 ml/kg weight of 8 mg/ml methotrexate (MTX) was evaluated in 6 rabbit oviducts and compared with saline injections to the contralateral oviducts. Cell cultures of bovine oviducts were incubated in vitro for 7 days and then incubated for 24 h with 100-nmol MTX. Forty-eight and 72 h following the exposure to MTX, the treated and control cultures were harvested. Specimens and cultures were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. In the in vivo cohort, no differences were observed between MTX and control groups. However, in MTX-treated cell culture, ciliated cells demonstrated partially adherent cilia in about 30% of the cells. The effect of MTX observed only in vitro treated cells may be due to the rapid proliferation of epithelial cells in culture which does not represent the physiological role of the oviduct in vivo.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000294850

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Lectin cytochemistry was used to determine whether phase-specific changes could be detected in the smears of mouse vagina taken during the different phases of the estrous cycle. The strongest and most specific lectin reactivity was seen in the proestrus phase of the cycle. Several lectins reacted with mucinous cells typical of the proestrus phase and stained either diffusely the entire cytoplasm or only the cytoplasmic granules of desquamated cells. Nucleated squamous epithelial cells showed reactivity of the cell membrane or the entire cytoplasm in late metestrus and diestrus phase. Cornified squamous cells were essentially unreactive with the lectins tested in this study. Lectin cytochemistry is a reliable method for identification of mucinous cells in mouse vaginal smears and for establishing the cyclicity of the mouse estrous cycle.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000294851

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The results of Doppler ultrasound studies on the uteroplacental circulation show considerable variations which might be well explained by differences in methods. Using pulsed wave Doppler ultrasound, we studied the uteroplacental circulation in 45 normal pregnancies. Flow velocity waveforms were obtained at three different sampling sites: in the uterine artery near its origin, near the crossing with the external iliac artery and in arcuate arteries near the placenta bed. Significantly lower pulsatility index (PI) values were found in the arcuate arteries near the placenta bed compared to the uterine artery at the point where it crosses the external iliac artery. Between the origin and the crossing site of the uterine artery, no significant difference was found. The influence of placental site upon the PI in uterine arteries near the crossing was investigated longitudinally in 18 normal pregnancies. Lower PI values were found in uterine arteries near the placental site only at 16 and 20 weeks of gestation.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000294852

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

In the present study we have measured the concentrations of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in preovulatory follicular fluid (FF) samples obtained from patients undergoing ovulation induction with human menopausal gonadotropin/human chorionic gonadotropin. In 13 of the 24 (54%) FF samples obtained from 20 patients, TNF-α was detected. In contrast, IL-1β was observed in none of the 16 samples assessed. In the samples with detectable levels of TNF-α, the mean concentration was 40.1 pg/ml (range 20-74 pg/ml). In addition, we found an association between the presence of TNF-α in the FF and the serum level of 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P). The E2 and P levels were significantly lower in patients with detectable levels of TNF-α in FF than in patients with no detectable TNF-α in FF. In summary, the present study shows the presence of TNF-α and the absence IL-1β in hyperstimulated human preovulatory FF. In addition, our results show an association between the presence of TNF-α in FF and low E2 and P levels in serum, suggesting a role for TNF-α in the regulation of human s

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000294853

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

In view of the temporal relation between elevated concentrations of glucocorticoids and prostaglandins (PG) at the time of parturition, we have examined the effects of dexamethasone on PGE2 output by mixed cell preparations from human placentae at term maintained in short-term (48 or 96 h) culture. Dexamethasone inhibited placental PGE2 output in a dose-dependent fashion. The effect on placental cells was more marked than on short-term cultures of amnion cells and was not influenced by the presence of progesterone. Dexamethasone also inhibited stimulated PGE2 output after addition of arachi-donic acid. These results suggest that glucocorticoids inhibit placental PG output by a mechanism involving attenuation of PG synthase activity or expression and do not support a direct causal role for elevated maternal or fetal glucocorticoids at term on increased placental PG biosynthesis.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000294854

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

It has been postulated that male twin pregnancies, in contrast to male singleton pregnancies, differ in some distinctive biologic sense, leading to a shorter gestational duration and a lower individual birth weight than is the case in female twin pregnancies. To test this hypothesis in a relatively large dataset, information on gestational duration and birth weight for nearly all twins born in Sweden during a 4-year period (n = 3,472 twin pairs) was collected from the Medical Birth Registry, National Board of Health and Welfare. Included in the Medical Birth Registry are all pregnancies with a duration of at least 28 completed gestational weeks, or less if the newborns are alive at birth. Male-male pregnancies had a gestational duration similar to female-female pregnancies (median difference < 2 days). The proportions of twins with a gestational age < 36 weeks did not differ between male-male and female-female twin pregnancies (27.3 vs. 25.3%; χ2 0.05). Male-male pairs were heavier than female-female pairs (median difference 0.1 kg), and a significantly higher proportion of female-female twin pairs weighed < 2,500 g (45.0 vs. 39.2%; χ2 = 17.7, p < 0.001). The results of this study in an unselected relatively large twin population seem to indicate that fetal sex does not influence gestational duration to any significant extent. Males are heavier than females indicating that the sex has a similar effect on birth weight in twin and in singleton pregnanc

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000294855

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Determination of density distribution of erythrocytes in preeclampsia in late pregnancy was performed using a method in which blood cells are separated according to their density by differential flotation. The cumulative density distribution curve of the erythrocytes of preeclamptic patients was evidently shifted to the left, representing a denser cell population as compared with healthy women prior to delivery. The density distribution curve of preeclamptic women resembled the curve of nonpregnant young women. The largest differences were observed in separating fluids No. 9 of specific gravity 1.106 (p = 0.0351), No. 11 of specific gravity 1.098 (p = 0.0018) and No. 13 of specific gravity 1.090 (p = 0.0026). The resemblance of the density distribution curve of erythrocytes of preeclamptic patients with that of nonpregnant women may indicate a similar age distribution of erythrocytes or may reflect cellular dehydration resulting in higher density of erythrocytes in preeclampsia.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000294856

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The association between plasma calcitonin and β-endorphin has been shown in various studies with analgesic and thermoregulatory effects. In the present study, we sought a similar association between those chemicals and physiological menopausal hot flush. Plasma calcitonin and β-endorphin levels were measured in 5 women in physiologic menopause who suffered from frequent episodes of hot flushes. An increase in plasma calcitonin levels was noted during the hot flushes, although it was not significant. In contrast, plasma β-endorphin levels fell significantly at onset of the hot flush, as compared to their levels 5–20 min earlier (p < 0.005), and rose 5–15 min following the hot flush e

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000294857

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The relationship between age and urodynamic parameters was studied cross-sectionally in a group of 28 women in whom clinically and urodynamically both stress incontinence and detrusor instability were excluded (no .proven incontinence, NPI) and in a group, matched for age, with genuine stress incontinence (GSI). At all ages the maximal urethral closing pressure (MUCP) was higher in the NPI than in the GSI group; in both groups there was, however, a similar decrease in MUCP with age. The transmission rate increased significantly with age in the NPI group; this was not found in the women with GSI. These data indicate that in older women loss of MUCP is compensated by an increase in transmission rate (presumably because of active contraction of the pelvic floor muscles); this mechanism fails in women with GSI.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000294858

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Women who grew up in Turkey, where undercooked meat is part of the usual diet, have an increased risk of toxoplasmosis. This study covers treatment and prognosis of 33 cases with chronic toxoplasmosis. The study group was selected among the patients with a history of repeated abortions, recurrent preterm labor, stillbirths and babies with congenital anomaly after all other causative reasons were ruled out. IgG and IgM antibody titers were detected by Sabin-Feldman’s dye test and indirect fluorescence antibody test. 33 patients, who had negative IgM and IgG antibody titers above 1/64, were accepted as having chronic toxoplasmosis and were included in our study group. These patients were treated with our pyrimethamine treatment protocol (Dinçer Formula) for 36 days before their pregnancies. IgG antibody titers were repeated in the 8th and the 20th week of pregnancy. With the exception of 7 cases, 24 patients (72.7%) still had IgG antibody titers of more than 1/64 and were given the same treatment protocol in the 8th week of pregnancy. Very early abortions occurred in 2 cases. Of 24 patients, 8 had antibody titers still above 1/64 and were treated with spiramycine. While 28 cases (84.8%) had healthy and living infants, pregnancies of 3 cases are still continuing. No teratogenic effects of pyrimethamine on the fetuses were seen. As a result, we can say that a patient who presents with complaints of repeated abortions, recurrent preterm labor or stillbirth should be investigated for toxoplasmosis during pregnancy; even if the IgG antibody test is normal before pregnancy, she should be treated with the protocol mentioned above before pregnancy and in the 8th week of pregnancy when chronic toxoplasmosis is diagnos

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000294859

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger