摘要:

The occurrence of endothelin (ET), a recently discovered polypeptide with potent vasoconstrictor properties, was studied in maternal and umbilical blood and amniotic fluid. The level of ET-like immunoreactivity (ET-LI) in maternal plasma was in most cases below the detection limit of the radioimunoassay, i.e. < 2 pmol/l. The median concentration of ET-LI in the umbilical artery and vein before the initiation of breathing was 14.9 and 10.9 pmol/l, respectively. When sampling was performed after fetal breathing had begun, the arterial concentration increased to 93.7 pmol/l. Labor was not associated with increased concentrations of ET-LI, however, since neonates delivered by elective cesarean section had similar ET-LI in blood and amniotic fluid as after vaginal delivery. An approximately fivefold increase in the amniotic fluid ET-LI was seen at term as compared to early mid-trimester values. Reversed phase HPLC characterization revealed that the observed ET-LI mainly corresponded to ET-1. It is suggested that ET-1 may contribute to the fetal hemodynamic changes, e.g., closure of the umbilical vessels occurring at delivery.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000293236

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1990

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Relaxin has been localized in corpora lutea (CL) of pregnant NMRI mice using the avidin-biotin complex immunocytochemical procedure and an antiserum against highly purified porcine relaxin. The immunostaining was measured by immunodensitometry. Relaxin immunostaining was first observed in luteal cells of type I gestational CL on day 11.5 (D11.5), For each investigated day, all CL were identically stained, and immunostaining was evenly dispersed all over the CL. Seventy-five percent of cells were stained at D11.5, and nearly all cells were stained betweeen D13.5 and D18.5. The staining intensity increased throughout the last half of pregnancy, reaching a maximum at Dig. A few hours before parturition, at D18.5, relaxin immunostaining decreased dramatically and reached the background level shortly after delivery. From our results we may conclude that, in murine CL, the number of relaxin-secreting cells and the intracellular storage of the peptide increase during pregnancy. The disappearance of relaxin with the cells occurs rapidly ± 12 h before parturition.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000293238

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1990

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Fetal lung measurements were obtained by ultrasonographic examination on 103 normal pregnancies between 18 and 41 weeks’ gestation. A linear relationship between right, left and total lung circumference and gestational age was observed. The chest and heart circumference correlated well with gestational age (p < 0.001). The ratio of left lung circumference to right lung circumference remained virtually constant throughout gestation. However, the ratios of total lung circumference to chest circumference and heart circumference to chest circumference increased significantly (p < 0.001) with gestational ag

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000293240

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1990

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The concentration of dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), and its metabolites 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylethylene glycol (MHPG) and vanillyl mandelic acid (VMA), and prostaglandins E2, and F2α in amniotic fluid were measured at labor (1–3 cm of cervical dilatation), in uncomplicated and complicated pregnancies. The amniotic fluid concentration (mean ± SD) of MHPG in maternal smoking (S) (30.6 ± 11.9 nmol·mg creatinine––1) and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) (36.7 ± 15.2 nmol·mg creatinine––1) groups is significantly higher than in uncomplicated pregnancies (C) (22.9 ± 8.8 nmol·mg creatinine––1), or diabetes mellitus groups (D) (26.1 ± 10.9 nmol·mg creatinine––1) groups; VMA presents similar differences between groups S (145.8 ± 84.4 nmol·mg creatinine––1) and IUGR (173.0 ± 135.4 nmol·mg creatinine––1) higher than C (58.3 ± 26.1 nmol·mg creatinine––1) and D (76.8 ± 49.0 nmol·mg creatinine––1) groups. NE levels differ between groups in a similar way, but DA does not present significant differences between groups. Prostaglandin levels are higher in the S than in the C group. Nicotine action and/or hypoxia are proposed as a possible cause of NE, MHPG, and VMA rise in amniotic fluid of S, and IUGR versus C or D groups.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000293242

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1990

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The age population distribution of erythrocytes in late pregnancy was evaluated by the volume and density distribution of cells. This approach enables an evaluation of the life span of erythrocytes in the circulation without using radioactive elements. A younger cell population was found in the circulation of women in late pregnancy as compared to nonpregnant women of similar ages, which might be indicative of shortened life span of erythrocytes. This shortened life span might be explained by the fact that erythrocytes made under conditions of increased erythropoiesis and/or increased metabolic rate show acceleration of senescence. This indication of reduced life span of the erythrocytes in late pregnancy may contribute to the understanding of the increased erythropoiesis on the one hand, and reduced hemoglobin concentration on the other hand, which often occurs in late pregnancy.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000293245

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1990

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Conclusive evidence has been furnished that the β2-adrenoceptor density in circulating lymphocytes is related to that of β2-adrenoceptors in tissues from the same subjects. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of fetal hypoxia on lymphocyte β2-adrenoceptor density. The material consisted of 8 hypoxic newborns, 4 delivered by vacuum extraction and 4 by Caesarean section, after approximately 10 h parturition. The control group consisted of 8 vaginally delivered newborns without hypoxia. Umbilical plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline were significantly elevated in the hypoxic newborns. Their lymphocyte β2-adrenoceptor density was lower (p < 0.01) than that in the controls. A plausible explanation for this finding might be downregulation of β2-adrenoceptors because of elevated plasma catecholamine level.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000293246

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1990

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

A case control study was performed to examine possible morbidity associated with Chlamydiatrachomatis in 15 pregnant women with idiopathic preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PROM; group A), and in two control groups, 35 healthy preterm pregnant women (group B), and 43 healthy pregnant women at term (group C). Serum C. trachomatis IgG and IgA specific antibodies were determined using the single serovar (L2) inclusion immunoperoxidase assay. There were no significant differences in the prevalence rate of elevated levels of chlamydia IgG specific antibodies (titer ≧ 1:128) between pregnant women suffering from idiopathic preterm PROM, as compared to healthy preterm and term pregnant women (20, 28 and 26%, respectively). Nor were there any significant differences in the prevalence rate of elevated levels of chlamydia IgA specific antibodies (titer ≧ 1:16) between pregnant women with idiopathic preterm PROM, as compared to healthy preterm and term pregnant women (20, 20 and 17%, respectively). These findings do not support the assumption that C. trachomatis may play role in preterm P

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000293249

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1990

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Inguinal pelviscopy is a new approach for examining structures in the extra- and intraperitoneal pelvic cavity. The total number of patients studied was 70. The method was used to visualize and take biopsies from masses in the presacral area (3 patients) and in the ovaries (8 patients). Ovarian biopsies were taken from 26 patients (14 with primary amenorrhea and 12 with elevated follicle-stimulating hormone), and ovarian cyst aspiration and biopsy were performed in 12 patients. Tubal sterilization was done in 18 cases and lysis of pelvic adhesions in 3 infertile patients. The procedure comprises entry of the extraperitoneal pelvic cavity through the inguinal canal. Intraperitoneal pelvic cavity examination can also be done by piercing the peritoneum at the deep inguinal ring or close to the fallopian tube. No complications were encountered except urinary retention in 1 patient with presacral tumor and abdominal wall hematoma in another patient. The approach is safe, direct and easy. It is performed on an outpatient basis.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000293251

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1990

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The results of preoperative pelvic examination and eventual ultrasound examination were correlated with the laparoscopic findings in 316 women with acute pelvic pain. The predictive values of normal and abnormal findings at pelvic examination were 46.9 and 82.1%, respectively. 42.1% of the women had ultrasound examination performed. This investigation showed to be helpfull especially in patients with normal findings at pelvic examination. If ultrasonic findings were abnormal the results at laparoscopy were also abnormal in 90%. On the contrary, normal findings at ultrasound examination did not exclude abnormal pelvic findings. The predictive value of normal results at ultrasound examination was 50.0%. This discrepancy between ultrasonic and pelvic findings can be explained by the size of the pelvic masses. Ultrasound examination is a valuable tool in the evaluation of patients with acute pelvic pain, but it cannot replace laparoscopy.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000293253

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1990

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

In two separate prospective randomized series of 38 and 16 attempts of human in vitro fertilization (IVF), respectively, the fertilizing abilities of human spermatozoa capacitated in hyperosmotic media and in normosmotic medium were compared. Oocytes from each IVF attempt were divided into two equal groups and inseminated with spermatozoa incubated for 2h in medium with an osmolality of 285 mosm/kg or in hyperosmotic medium of 315 (first experiment) or 345 mosm/kg (second experiment). The fertilizing capacity of the spermatozoa was not affected by incubation in medium of 315 mosm/kg as compared to spermatozoa incubated in medium of 285 mosm/kg. However, the fertilizing capacity of the spermatozoa incubated in medium of 345 mosm/kg was significantly reduced. The present study indicates that there is no advantage in the use of hyperosmotic media of 315 or 345 mosm/kg for capacitation of spermatozoa in human IVF.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000293254

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1990

数据来源: Karger