摘要:

We have previously demonstrated that gestational age can be estimated from a diagram in which the percentage of lipid-carrying cells (amniotic fluid cytology) and the creatinine concentration in the amniotic fluid are plotted. Using this diagram for the purpose of dating, a comparison was made with prediction of gestational age by early ultrasound (biparietal diameter, BPD). Dating by the two methods showed a high correlation (r = 0.72) in 53 samples from 48 pregnancies and the two methods were in agreement within 2 weeks in 94%. In one third of infants with a low birth weight for age, however, amniotic fluid tests overestimated gestational age in comparison with early BPD. It is suggested that this disparity may be due to a combination of influence of early growth retardation on the BPD and accelerated maturation accompanying intrauterine growth retardation. Prior to elective delivery in pregnancies with uncertain dates and when an early ultrasonic examination has not been performed dating by amniotic fluid tests is reliable and is particularly useful.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000299019

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1985

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The tumor antigen and cytoskeleton protein tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) have been determined in maternal serum throughout pregnancy. TPA levels in serum from pregnant women (n = 70) were not different from those in nonpregnant women (n = 61) until pregnancy week 28, from which time levels increased until parturition. Duplex pregnancies (n = 7) had higher serum TPA concentrations than simplex pregnancies, which was significant in pregnancy weeks 28 (p < 0.014) and 32 (p = 0.05). Maternal serum TPA concentrations did not change during abortion or parturition and the mixed umbilical blood concentration of TPA equaled that in the mother’s serum just after parturition. The correlation between placenta weight and maternal serum TPA levels was significant (p = 0.025). The decline of TPA after labor indicated a t½ for serum TPA of 7.5 days.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000299020

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1985

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

4-hour in vitro growth curves of a type III group B streptococcus (GBS) and Escherichia coli were examined in sterile term human amniotic fluid specimens. Both bacterial strains proliferated despite ratios of phosphate to elemental zinc in the range reportedly inhibitory for E. coli. After 4 h of incubation, despite comparable inocula, GBS numbers exceeded those of E. coli by 10-fold to 100-fold. The strikingly rapid growth of some GBS strains in amniotic fluid may represent yet another factor responsible for perinatal GBS infection of the human neonate.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000299021

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1985

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

β-Endorphin (β-EP), β-lipotropin (β-LPH) and cortisol plasma levels were measured during labor in 18 pregnant women. In 7 cases labor progressed spontaneously and in 11 cases oxytocin (5 mlU/min) was administered to stimulate uterine contractions. In control and oxytocin-treated subjects hourly blood samples were taken until delivery. In spontaneous labor all three hormones showed a progressive and significant increase until parturition. In oxytocin-treated patients, however, both β-EP and β-LPH remained constant until parturition. Cortisol levels in oxytocin-treated patients presented a significant increase but reached values significantly lower than in control patients. These results indicate that women with uterine hypocontractility during labor requiring oxytocin showed no rise in their plasma β-EP and β-LPH and a blunted cortisol rise during oxytocin administration.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000299022

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1985

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The identification of immunoreactive β-endorphin, β-lipotropin and ACTH from extracts of human placentas by radioimmunoassay suggests a probable synthesis of these peptides in the placenta. In this study we investigated the presence of β-endorphin and ACTH in placenta, amniotic membranes and umbilical cord using a peroxidase-antiperoxidase staining technique. Tissues were obtained immediately after delivery, fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin. As control tissues autopsy specimens of pituitary glands from adults and newborns were used. All sections of pituitary glands showed a positive reaction; negative results were observed in sections of placentas, umbilical cords and amniotic membranes. We conclude that no intracellular storage of β-endorphin and ACTH takes place in the examined tissues.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000299023

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1985

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

We studied the influence of elective cesarean section, under general and epidural anesthesia, on natural killer (NK) cell activity in 12 healthy parturients and in their newborns. The results of peripheral blood samples taken from the mothers before anesthesia and from the newborns 3 h after birth served as basal values against which the results of samples drawn on the 1 st and 5th days following delivery were compared. A significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the NK cell activity after surgery was found only in those mothers given general anesthesia. The differences between the studied groups were not, however, significant. NK activity in the peripheral blood samples of the newborns was not significantly different in the general anesthesia and in the epidural group during the follow-up period. The results show that the depression induced by operative stress on the NK cell function of parturients can be, at least partly, prevented by using epidural anesthesia.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000299024

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1985

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Direct administration of isoxsuprine to the rat fetus increases placental transfer of 35S-methionine and this increase is statistically significant on day 17 as compared with intraperitoneal administration and controls (p < 0.01; p < 0.05). In contrast, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups on day 16.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000299025

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1985

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

A small dermatan sulphate proteoglycan has been isolated from the human uterine cervix. The concentration of this proteoglycan has been shown to decrease during pregnancy. To study the mechanism behind this change fibroblasts from the human uterine cervix were established in culture. Their synthesis and secretion of proteoglycans were investigated by incubating the monolayer with 35SO4 and (3H) leucine for 48 h. Two dermatan sulphate proteoglycans and one heparan sulphate proteoglycan were isolated from the medium. The cell layer contained the same proteoglycans although in different proportions. The major dermatan sulphate proteoglycan accounting for 55% of the total macromolecular 35S was small with a molecular weight (MW) of 100,000 daltons. The side chains were calculated to be approximately 1–3 per protein core and included more than 50% iduronic acid containing disaccharides. This small dermatan sulphate proteoglycan is very similar to that isolated from the intact human uterine cervix. However, when cells were established in culture an additional larger dermatan sulphate proteoglycan with an MW of 400,000 daltons was synthesized. This proteoglycan was substituted for 4–8 polysaccharide side chains rich in glucuronic acid. 24% of the total macromolecular 35S were found in this proteoglycan.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000299026

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1985

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The histopathological findings recorded during 1 year in 101 women undergoing surgery for palpable ovarian tumors were analyzed with respect to patient age, medical history and presenting symptoms. Almost half of the women (43%) were younger than 30 years and functional cysts or normal ovaries were found in 66 out of totally 101 women. During the following 2 years 18 of these women were subjected to further gynecological surgery and 17 women were infertile. While surgical treatment of functional cysts in young women may be deleterious, 3 cases of ovarian cancer illustrate the diagnostic difficulties and the potential risk of neglecting surgery.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000299027

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1985

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The aim of our study was to evaluate the activity of opioid receptors involved in the regulation of prolactin secretion in different kinds of hyperprolactinemic states (puerperal, idiopathic and tumora subjects). Prolactin plasma level changes were measured after the acute administration of a met-enkephalin synthetic analogue. FK 33–824, and placebo. The prolactin-releasing effect of this drug, evident in control subjects, was blunted in patients affected by idiopathic hyperprolactinemia, and absent in puerperal and tumoral patients. These results indicate that hyperprolactinemia affects the activity of central opioid receptors, with the most evident effects in patients with highest prolactin plasma levels.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000299028

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1985

数据来源: Karger