Immunoblotting characterization of CA 125 in biological fluids: difference between pregnancy and cancer CA 125 origin.

The CA 125 present in various biological fluids (serum, cyst, peritoneal and amniotic fluids, human milk, seminal plasma, cervical mucus and Wish culture medium), was characterized by gel chromatography and immunoblotting analysis. The elution profile of CA 125 from different sources was closely related. The antigen was eluted primarily in the void volume of a Sephadex G-200 column.

Amniotic fluid endothelin-1 levels are increased in pregnancy-induced hypertension and intrauterine growth retardation.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor released by vascular endothelium. Because endothelial cell damage is considered determinant in the pathophysiology of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), this study was conducted to evaluate the role of ET-1 produced by feto-placental tissues in PIH. Amniotic fluid samples obtained by amniocentesis from patients with PIH (N = 33), intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) (N = 16), and PIH associated with IUGR (N = 12) were evaluated for ET-1 and compared to 42 normotensive pregnancies using a specific radioimmunoassay.

Comparison of local injection of methotrexate and linear salpingostomy in the conservative laparoscopic treatment of ectopic pregnancy.

Study Objective: To compare local injection of metothrexate (MTX) and linear salpingostomy in the conservative laparoscopic treatment of ectopic pregnancy.

Design: Prospective, nonrandomized study, July 1991 to May 1994.

Setting: Department of obstetrics and gynecology in a university hospital.

Efficacy and tolerability of brodimoprim at two different dosage schedules in the treatment of acute uncomplicated bacterial cystitis: comparative study vs. pefloxacin.

In an open study, 172 male and female adult patients with acute uncomplicated bacterial cystitis were randomly allocated to three treatment groups. Two groups received brodimoprim 200 mg tablets as follows: a single dose of two 200 mg tablets on day 1, followed by one tablet per day on days 2 and 3 (58 patients); or a single daily dose of two tablets, for 2 days (63 patients). The third group received a single dose of pefloxacin, as two 400 mg tablets, for 1 day (51 patients).

Transvaginal ultrasonographic diagnosis of adenomyosis in female patients suffering from uterine fibromatosis.

Adenomyosis is an underestimated pathology frequently responsible of unknown origin pelvic pain and uterine enlargement. It is hyperestrinic condition with poor specific symptomatology and preoperative diagnostic tools are very few. The most important of them, ultrasound, has improved its diagnostic capacity with the introduction of transvaginal way of examination.

A comparison of the shake test, optical density, L/S ratio (planimetric and stechiometric) and PG for the assessment of fetal lung maturity.

Our aim was to determine the diagnostic accuracy and reliability of four tests for the assessment of fetal lung maturity (FLM): shake test, optical density at 650 nm (OD650), lecithin to sphingomyelin ratio (L/S) by planimetry and stechiometry, and presence of phosphatydylglycerol. Amniotic fluid was obtained from 74 patients at various gestational ages. The shake test and the OD650 were performed according to published methods L/S was determined by TLC (thin-layer chromatography) and the ratio assessed by planimetry and stechiometrically by measurement of organic phosphorus from the chromatographic spots.

Doppler velocimetry of different sections of the fetal middle cerebral artery in relation to perinatal outcome.

To assess the standard curves of pulsatility index (PI) in different segments of middle cerebral artery (MCA): initial segment (MI) and subcortical segment (M2); to determine the variation of the flow velocity waveforms (FVW) of the M1 and M2 segments of MCA in presence of fetal distress and to establish the possible correlation between the two segments of MCA. 50 normal pregnancies from 25 weeks of gestation to term and 20 pregnancy with alteration of fetal growth rate were investigated with serial records of the FVW of the M1 and M2 segments of the MCA and of the umbilical artery (UA) with a colour Doppler system. Severe fetal distress was associated to cerebral-placental ratio below 1 (C/P < 1).

Fractal analysis: a new method for evaluating fetal heart rate variability.

In this report we describe how the technique of "deterministic chaos" can be successfully applied to the study of fetal cardiotocography (CTG). The CTG tracings were analysed, after identification as "normal" or "pathological" by experts and by a computerised system, to evaluate the correlation dimension (D2), and the graphic analysis of the attractors which visualize the phase-space of the system that generated the signal (of the state of the underlying hypothetical system). Thanks to this analysis of the traces, it is possible to detect the existence of chaos in the system that generates a certain signal in this case the fetal heart rate.

Surfactant administration to the human fetus in utero: a new approach to prevention of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).

Supplementary surfactant (80 mg in 1 ml) was administered intra-amniotically in proximity of the fetal mouth to 4 preterm fetuses (28 to 32 wks) with immature amniotic fluid indexes and whose delivery was imminent. Administration was preceded by a aminophylline infusion (loading dose of 240 mg and maintenance of 0.8 mg/kg/min) to the mother in order to elicit sustained fetal breathing movements.

Laparoscopic treatment of ovarian endometrioma. One year follow-up.

Thirty-six women with ultrasonographic diagnosis of ovarian endometrioma (bilateral in nine of them), have been treated laparoscopically. After the surgical procedure the patients were assigned to one of the following regimes: Gn-RH-a for 3 months, oral contraceptives if they wanted to avoid pregnancy, or nothing. The follow-up consisted in 1-3-6-12 months ultrasound.

Transvaginal sonography of the yolk sac in normal and abnormal pregnancy.

A cross-sectional study comprising 117 consecutive first trimester singleton pregnancies was performed using transvaginal sonography (TVS) to evaluate size abnormalities of the secondary yolk sac (YS) vis-à-vis pregnancy outcome. In normal pregnancy outcome (NPO) the YS diameter showed an increase from the 5th to the 11th week, menstrual age, followed by a decrease and its disappearance after 12 weeks. A YS of abnormal size was statistically significant (p < 0.

Immunohistochemical localization of endothelin-1 in placenta and fetal membranes in term and preterm human pregnancy.

Problem: The aim of the study was to determine the ET-1 localization on human placenta and fetal membranes and to compare its distribution between term and preterm pregnancies in laboring and non-laboring tissues.

Methods: Tissues obtained from nine term elective cesarean section, eight spontaneous vaginal term delivery, and 13 preterm delivery from both cesarean section (N = 6) and vaginal delivery (N = 7) were studied by immunohistochemistry.

Results: Immunoreactive ET-1 (IR-ET-1) was detected in villous and nonvillous trophoblast in all groups, although laboring tissues showed strong staining in the syncytiotrophoblast of the villi.

Effect of low-dose oral triphasic contraceptives on blood viscosity, coagulation and lipid metabolism.

The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between hemorheological profile, i.e. blood viscosity, and other risk factors for cardiovascular and thrombotic diseases in women taking oral contraceptives and if blood viscosity may be considered a marker of cardiovascular risk in OC users.

No evidence of the hook effect in peritoneal fluid CA 125 measurement using immunoenzymatic second generation assays: comparison with immunoradiometric assays.

Objective: To monitor the occurrence of the hook effect in measurements of peritoneal fluid CA 125 levels using two different immunoenzymatic second generation assays (ETI-II and EIA-II), and to compare these results with those obtained using the respective immunoradiometric versions of the assays (IRMA-II and ELSA-II).

Study Design: CA 125 levels were determined in peritoneal fluid and serum samples obtained from 45 women with gynecological diseases. The assays were carried out using IRMA-II and ETI-II (Sorin Biomedica) and ELSA-II and EIA-II (CIS Bio International) assays.

Menstrual patterns, pain symptoms, body mass index and smoking habits in women with endometriosis.

Epidemiologic studies have investigated the risk factors for endometriosis, but currently the results are still controversial. The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence of some of the risk factors that have been involved with endometriosis to better understand the natural history and evolution of this disease. The medical records of 186 women with laparoscopic diagnosis of endometriosis were studied.

Evaluation of second generation CA 125 assays.

Objective: This study was performed in order to evaluate and compare the serum CA 125 values obtained using an immunoradiometric (IRMA-II) and an immunoenzymatic (ETI-II) second generation assay, and to establish whether or not the two methods may be used interchangeably.

Study Design: Serum CA 125 levels were measured in parallel using IRMA-II and ETI-II CA 125 assays (Sorin Biomedica), in 82 women with benign or malignant gynecological diseases. Statistical analysis was performed by linear regression analysis and Wilcoxon's test.

The cholesterol to phospholipids ratio (C/PL) of the erythrocyte membrane in normotensive, hypertensive pregnant and in cord blood as assessed by a simple enzymatic method.

The study described was conducted to evaluate a simple enzymatic method for the study of the cholesterol/phospholipids ratio in erythrocyte membrane (C/PL) in a group of normal pregnant, of hypertensive pregnant, in non-pregnant controls and in cord blood. Subjects consisted of 28 normotensive pregnant women (NT), 14 women with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), 10 non-pregnant normotensive women (Non-Preg) and 14 samples obtained from umbilical cord (C) at delivery from normotensive pregnant. Red blood cells were isolated from heparinated blood samples.

Management of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

More than 25% of postmenopausal women are at risk of osteoporosis. In order to avoid its consequences, it is necessary to find an appropriate prevention and/or treatment. We studied: (1) 15 postmenopausal women treated with percutaneous estradiol (50 micrograms/24 h) plus MPA (10 mg/10 days/month); (2) 15 postmenopausal women treated with synthetic calcitonin nasal spray at the daily dose of 100 IU; (3) 10 postmenopausal women treated with nandrolone decanoate (50 mg every 3 weeks); (4) 10 postmenopausal women treated with ipriflavone (600 mg/day); and (5) 10 postmenopausal women treated with sodium fluoride (20 mg) plus calcium (600 mg).

The effect of maternal ethanol intoxication on erythrocyte ghost fluidity in new-born rat pups.

We administered ethanol to pregnant rats and determined cholesterol, lipid phosphorus and fluorescence anisotropy of diphenylhexatriene (DPH) and of trimethylaminophenyl hexatriene (TMA-DPH) in erythrocyte ghosts of newborn pups and of their mothers. Cholesterol content was different in dams and pups and changed after treatment. Age, but not ethanol, affected lipid phosphorus.

Serum and peritoneal fluid CA-125 levels in patients with endometriosis.

Objective: To evaluate CA-125 in peritoneal fluid (PF) as an indicator of endometriosis.

Design: CA-125 levels in paired serum and PF were determined by the one-step immunoradiometric assay. For peritoneal samples, high dilution of the sample (1:100) was used to avoid false low results, caused by the "hook effect" phenomenon.