摘要:

The aim of this study was to determine the relative abundance of prostaglandin G/H synthase-1 (PGHS-1) mRNA in human amnion, choriodecidua and placenta obtained before (n = 5), during (n = 5) and after spontaneous-onset labour and delivery at term (n = 5). PGHS-1 mRNA relative abundance was not affected by labour status (p > 0.1) nor differently expressed between gestational tissues (p > 0.05). These data are consistent with the hypothesis that PGHS-1 is a constitutively expressed isozyme and that an increase in the relative abundance of mRNA encoding this enzyme is not necessary for the labour-associated increase in prostaglandin formation.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000292383

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1995

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Serum complement (C’) activity in recurrent spontaneous aborters and primiparous controls with successful and unsuccessful pregnancies was quantified so as to define the dynamics of C’ activation in early pregnancy loss. C’ hemolytic activity was shown to be stable throughout the first trimester of pregnancy and did not differ from preconception levels in all of the successful pregnancies of recurrent aborters and controls and in the majority of pregnancy losses. However, 30% of recurrent aborters and 20% of controls with a pregnancy loss demonstrated activation of C’ by the alternate pathway as early as the 7th week with a progressive decline in C activity until abortion was clinically completed. Circulating levels of C3 dropped from 1.34 to 0.53 mg/dl, and factor B levels declined from 0.34 to 0.14 mg/dl in these hypocomplementemic women. Pregnancy loss is therefore associated with C’ activation in a subset of both recurrent and nonrecurrent aborters and this occurs largely before loss of fetal viability.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000292384

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1995

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

In this cross-sectional study of 178 pregnant women between the 7th and 42nd week of pregnancy, we analyzed correlations between erythropoietin (EPO) and vitamin B12 (B12) in different stages of pregnancy and in relation to hemoglobin (Hb) levels. Patients with hypertension, fetal growth retardation and severe systemic diseases were excluded. EPO (by ELISA), B12 (by RIA) and Hb were assayed in the same blood sample taken on admission. On the basis of weeks of pregnancy, EPO levels and B12 levels, the 178 subjects were found to fall into two clusters, before and after the 27th week of gestation. The correlation coefficient between EPO and B12 was highly significant in the first group but not in the second (R = ––0.33; p < 0.01). When the patients were divided on the basis of Hb levels ( 11 g/dl (R = ––0.44; p < 0.001) and not in the 72 anemic subjects. Moreover, in the former group the correlation between EPO and B12 was high before and after the 27th week, unlike in the latter group for which no significant correlation was found. These results suggest that EPO and B12 act together to establish normal erythropoiesis in pr

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000292385

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1995

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Endothelin (ET) is a potent vasoconstrictor peptide. In this study, we investigated maternal venous plasma ET levels measured by Sandwich-enzyme immunoassay within a week before the onset of labor, and measured plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone concentration by radioimmunoassay in normal and severely preeclamptic pregnancies. Also, we determined umbilical cord blood pH and gas concentrations after spontaneous vaginal deliveries and cesarean sections. There was a significant (p < 0.01) negative correlation between maternal ET levels within 1 week before the onset of labor and birth weights. There was no significant correlation between maternal ET levels and umbilical gas concentrations. These data suggest that the correlation is the result of decreasing uteroplacental blood flow. We speculate that increased maternal ET expresses not only maternal renal vascular endothelial injury but also other vascular endothelial injuries. These vascular injuries may occur at least 1 week before the clinical manifestation in the preeclamptic mothers and their fetuses.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000292386

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1995

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

We measured three selected components of the fibrinolytic system in amniotic fluid of 36 parturient women, i.e. the antigen of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and antigens of plasminogen activator inhibitor of type 1 (PAI-1) and type 2 (PAI-2). The ELISA method was used. During labour, the level of each of the studied antigens increases; tPA antigen increases over five times (0.91 ± 0.32 ng/ml before labour and 5.92 ± 1.83 ng/ml after childbirth), which is statistically significant, while at the same time the increase in PAI-1 and PAI-2 antigen levels is small and thus statistically insignificant. As the result of unequal changes, the prelabour dominance of PAIs over tPA decreases intra partum (tPA/PAIs ratio 1:1,038 before labour and 1:164 after childbirth), and yet the multiple dominance of PAIs over tPA remains.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000292387

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1995

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

We studied the impact of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis on the clinical features of eclamptic patients (n = 20) in Bangladesh. The variables used were edema, proteinuria, blood pressure, number of convulsions, level of consciousness at the time of admission, thrombin antithrombin complexes (TAT), antithrombin (AT) III (%) activity and antigen, D dimer fibrin degradation product and α2-plasmin inhibitor-plasmin complex (PIC) in plasma. Canonical correlation analysis was made to obtain clinical index, eclampsia index and two coagulation indices. On admission, the mean values of coagulation parameters were AT III activity: 83.2% (range 57–108), TAT complex: 47.6 ng/ml (range 11.5–60), D dimer: 1,693 ng/ml (range 417–8,276) and PIC 1.4mg/ml (range 0.4–3.3). We found a significant correlation between the eclampsia index and clinical index (r = 0.601; p = 0.01). Gestosis index, clinical index, and eclampsia index have also a strong correlation with the coagulation index (r = 0.695, p < 0.005; r = 0.871, p < 0.0001 and r = 0.805, p < 0.0001, respectively). Coagulation and fibrinolysis were markedly activated in eclampsia. The correlation between the clinical status and coagulation status in this study suggested a close relation between the coagulation and the development and progression of the disease.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000292388

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1995

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Background: To study the etiology of late fetal death in Maputo. Patients: Stillbirths (n = 163) in Maputo were compared to 207 live births. Results: A probable cause of fetal death could be determined in 112 cases (69%). Hypertension was the most common factor associated with stillbirth and occurred in 14% of the fetal deaths, followed by abruption of the placenta (13%), syphilis (8%), clinical intrauterine infection (6%), malaria (4%), fetal malformation (4%), umbilicial cord complications (4%) and anaemia (4%). Mothers of stillborns and referent mothers differed in the following parameters: fetal weight, gestational age, numbers of previous stillbirths, haemoglobin, packed cell volume (p < 0.001), age, number of pregnancies (p < 0.01), parity, number of live children and skinfold thickness (p < 0.05). In the stillborn cases where no probable cause of fetal death was established, newborn weight was significantly lower and estimated gestational age significantly shorter (p < 0.001), number of previous pregnancies and number of previous stillbirths were significantly larger (p < 0.05) than in the referent group, but otherwise no significant differences were found. In two randomly selected subgroups, 28 mothers with stillbirth without probable diagnoses, and in 24 referent mothers, selected serum proteins and acute-phase reactants were determined. There were no statistically significant differences in the mean values of haptoglobin, pre-albumin, retinol-binding protein and α1-antitrypsin in the two subgroups. The stillbirth subgroup had significantly higher mean values of C-reactive protein and serum orosomucoid than the referent group (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Signs of maternal illness were present in one third of the mothers with stillbirth, and half of them required medical care. In one third there was no final diagnosis, but these mothers showed significantly higher mean values of acute phase reactants, suggesting low-grade infection.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000292389

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1995

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Cotinine levels in blood, urine and cervical fluid of smokers and nonsmokers were analyzed by capillary-column gas chromatography. The sensitivity of this method appeared to be 100%. The specificity was lower (87.5% in blood, 25% in urine and 75% in cervical fluid). Nonsmokers exposed to smoke by others had low but detectable cotinine levels in the three body fluids. The highest cotinine levels in cervical fluid were detected during the proliferative phase of the cycle. Cotinine levels in cervical fluid and blood correlated well, but the correlation was less during the proliferation phase. Cotinine measurement in cervical fluid proves to be a reliable method to quantify exposure to tobacco smoke, even when induced by others.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000292390

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1995

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Thirty-four perimenopausal women with uterine leiomyomas were treated with intramuscular injections of leuprolide acetate depot each 28 days for 6 cycles, and 12 of them after 168 days of no medication underwent a second 6-month therapy cycle. At the end of the observation period the expected improvement during treatment was maintained at cessation of therapy in 15 patients, due to the effect of the natural postmenopausal estrogen deficiency. Only 3 women underwent hysterectomy, due to the regrowth to baseline values of uterine size. It is concluded that the therapy with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs in perimenopause offers an effective alternative to surgery in the treatment of uterine leiomyomas.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000292391

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1995

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Background. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the Ki-67 immunostaining method on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded endometrium and to use the method on endometrial biopsies from 30 postmenopausal women treated with 2 mg estradiol and different doses of natural micronized progesterone (50, 100 or 200 mg). Methods. Two technicians prepared the immunostaining of slides from each of 12 endometrial specimens and 3 different observers estimated the Ki-67 immunostaining. One observer estimated all the slides 3 times on different occasions. The percentage of immunopositive nuclei in glandular epithelium was evaluated. Results. The dominating component of variation for this method was between observers, with a median standard deviation of 20%. A total median variation including all components rendered a standard deviation of 23%. No significant effects of different technicians, preparations, or from the same observer on different occasions were found. In the major part of the biopsies from women on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), only 0–10% of the glandular epithelium was Ki-67 stained. Conclusion. Ki-67 immunostaining is an adequate technique to use when evaluating the effects of HRT on the endometrium. The main source of variation is between observers and not the technique of preparing the slides.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000292392

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1995

数据来源: Karger