Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A): concentration in uterine fluid and immunohistochemical localization in the endometrium.

Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) was localized immunohistochemically in the endometrium and measured in uterine fluid of non-pregnant women. The variations of PAPP-A concentrations in uterine fluid during the menstrual cycle paralleled those found in the endometrium. In patients receiving hormone therapy there was a significant correlation between the uterine fluid PAPP-A concentration and the progestogen to oestrogen potency ratio of the hormonal treatment.

[Change in the concentration of lipoprotein parameters following swimming training in health resort patients].

On 197 patients who were admitted to a sanatorium for the purpose of a heart and circulation cure the influence of a daily swimming training, 20-30 minutes 6 times a week with intensities of about 50-60% VO2 max, on the lipid and lipoprotein spectre, respectively was investigated. In the whole group of patients HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) did not change. In patients with increased risk n = 40 (initial HDL-C: lower than 0.

RU 486: a steroid with antiglucocorticosteroid activity that only disinhibits the human pituitary-adrenal system at a specific time of day.

RU 486 is a synthetic steroid hormone antagonist which acts at the receptor level. It has both intrinsic anti-progesterone and antiglucocorticosteroid properties in animals. We investigated the antiglucocorticosteroid activity in humans by evaluating the pituitary-adrenal response to RU 486 in men and in pregnant and nonpregnant women.

[Modification of lipoprotein parameters in the initial phase of physical exercise in middle-aged cardiovascular patients].

The effect of a daily swimming-training of 20--30 minutes for four weeks (six times a week with intensities of 50--60% VO2 max) on the lipid and lipoprotein spectrum, respectively, was investigated in 40 elderly male patients in a heart-circulatory cure (on an average 48,7 years old). At the beginning all patients had an HDL-cholesterol level lower than 0.91 mmol/l which rose significantly towards the end of the cure.

Metastasizing APUD cell tumours of the human gastrointestinal tract. Light microscopic and karyometric studies.

A total of 11 metastasizing gastrointestinal APUD cell tumours from biopsy and autopsy files were reclassified according to Soga and Tazawa as well as to WHO Histologic Classification of Tumours. The much higher proportion of APUD cell tumours in autopsies (11 cases from 1000 autopsies in comparison with 22 cases from 22 000 biopsies) demonstrate that the majority of them will not be discovered during the patient's life. EC cell carcinoids (type A) predominate in both non-metastasizing and metastasizing gastrointestinal APUD cell tumours.

[Serum antibodies against Ixodes ricinus Spirochaeta in acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (Herxheimer)].

Using indirect immunofluorescence, IgG antibodies against the recently detected Ixodes-ricinus-spirochaeta, which causes erythema chronicum migrans could be demonstrated in all 21 persons with acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans. Titers were from 1 : 64 to 1 : 1024, specific IgM antibodies were demonstrable in only 5 patients in a titer of 1 : 64. Even after treatment with penicillin high IgG antibody titers of up to 1 : 1024 were found.

Cartilage ultrastructure after high pressure freezing, freeze substitution, and low temperature embedding. I. Chondrocyte ultrastructure--implications for the theories of mineralization and vascular invasion.

Electron microscopic examination of epiphyseal cartilage tissue processed by high pressure freezing, freeze substitution, and low temperature embedding revealed a substantial improvement in the preservation quality of intracellular organelles by comparison with the results obtained under conventional chemical fixation conditions. Furthermore, all cells throughout the epiphyseal plate, including the terminal chondrocyte adjacent to the region of vascular invasion, were found to be structurally integral. A zone of degenerating cells consistently observed in cartilage tissue processed under conventional chemical fixation conditions was not apparent.

Circulating beta-2-microglobulin levels during pregnancy and their possible relationship with feto-maternal histocompatibility.

Plasma beta 2 microglobulin (beta 2m) levels have been measured by radioimmunoassay in normal pregnant women, in two successive pregnancies of a woman who shares HLA antigens with her husband, in normal twin pregnancies, in toxemic pregnancies and in hydatidiform moles. During normal pregnancy, plasma beta 2m levels decrease reaching a minimum at week 14 and increase thereafter to a maximum at week 34. In the two successive pregnancies of the one patient with HLA compatibility, beta 2m concentrations were significantly lower than in normal pregnancies.

Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and immunosuppressive activity in split ejaculates.

Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced lymphocyte transformation were measured in split ejaculates of 17 normal volunteers. The concentration of PAPP-A was identical in both fractions of the ejaculate but the first fraction was twice as immunosuppressive as the second fraction. The origin of PAPP-A in men as well as its possibility of being an immunosuppressor is discussed.

Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) specifically inhibits the third component of human complement (C3).

Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A), a macromolecular glycoprotein associated with pregnancy, was shown to inhibit complement-induced haemolysis and to bind heparin reversibly. Because of the inhibitory effects of heparin on the complement cascade it was not clear if the inhibition of complement activity observed with PAPP-A (isolated from heparin plasma) was attributable to the heparin moiety bound to PAPP-A. This work demonstrates that heparin exerts an inhibitory effect on complement activity but that heparin-free PAPP-A is also inhibitory.

In vitro production of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A by human decidua and trophoblast.

Immunohistochemical techniques and direct measurements of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) have demonstrated the presence of PAPP-A in trophoblast and decidua. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the possibility that these tissues are capable of producing PAPP-A in vitro. Trophoblast and decidua were obtained from term deliveries and from legal surgical terminations of pregnancy (7 to 12 weeks).

Are vaginal fluid concentrations of prolactin, alpha-fetoprotein and human placental lactogen useful for diagnosing ruptured membranes?

Vaginal fluid levels of prolactin (Prl), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human placental lactogen (hPL) were assayed to investigate their usefulness in the diagnosis of ruptured membranes. Fifty-two patients at term were divided into those with intact membranes, and those with ruptured membranes. In patients with intact membranes the concentration of all three substances was low with few exceptions.

Circulating levels of pregnancy proteins and depression of lymphoblastogenesis during pregnancy.

Plasma was obtained from 287 normal pregnant women at different times of gestation. Alpha-foetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), human placental lactogen (hPL) and pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) were measured by radioimmunoassay. The capacity of those plasmas to inhibit phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) induced lymphocyte transformation was also tested.

Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) inhibits thrombin-induced coagulation of plasma.

Concentrations of immunoreactive PAPP-A have been found significantly lower in the serum as compared to heparin or EDTA plasma from the same patients. After coagulation significant amounts of PAPP-A remain associated with the clot. Purified PAPP-A inhibits thrombin induced coagulation of plasma.

[Clinical significance of arteriosclerosis indices of lipid metabolism and age dependence].

Age, arteriosclerosis indices, HDL-cholesterol, hyperlipoproteinemia, lipoproteins In 193 normal persons, 86 patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans of the lower extremities, 170 HLP patients, 87 adiposity patients and 22 chronic alcoholics were determined the arteriosclerosis indices (formula; see text) The arteriosclerosis indices increase in healthy males from the age of 30 and healthy females from the age of 45. In case of peripheral arterial occlusion HLP and adiposity the arteriosclerosis indices are elevated and give diagnostic and prognostic hints as to increased arteriosclerotic risk for these diseases.

An absolute must in clinico-pharmacological research: pharmaco-electroencephalography, its possibilities and limitations.

During drug development effects on blood cells, metabolism or function of heart and circulation are routinely examined. In case there is evidence of influence on such systems, examinations in clinical pharmacology are done. For the organ central nervous system the same rules should be followed, independently whether a substance is primarily a psychotropic drug or developed for other indications.

Inhibition of denuded mouse oocyte meiotic maturation by forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase.

Forskolin, a diterpene that activates rapidly adenylate cyclase activity in several somatic cell systems, prevents spontaneous meiotic maturation of denuded mouse oocytes (ED50 of inhibition approximately 2.5 microM), unlike cholera toxin. The oocyte is sensitive to the action of forskolin during the period preceding germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD).

[Lipid and apoprotein profile without and with oil load].

In 20 normolipaemic patients and 1 patient with hyperlipoproteinaemia (HLP type IV) the lipid profiles without and with oil load are taken (triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein A and B). For the oil load test at 7.00 a.

Ruthenium hexammine trichloride (RHT)-mediated interaction between plasmalemmal components and pericellular matrix proteoglycans is responsible for the preservation of chondrocytic plasma membranes in situ during cartilage fixation.

Treatment of cartilage tissue with the cationic dye ruthenium hexammine trichloride (RHT) prior to fixation has been shown to prevent the detachment of chondrocytic plasmalemmata from the pericellular matrix and the aqueous extraction of proteoglycans during the subsequent fixation procedures. However, plasmalemmal rupture is prevented only by the simultaneous addition of RHT and the dialdehydic fixative glutaraldehyde. It is proposed that RHT forms an electrostatic cross-linkage between anionic components within the chondrocytic plasmalemma and proteoglycans of the pericellular matrix; experimental support for this hypothesis is presented.