Mucin-like carcinoma-associated antigen in paired serum and breast milk samples of lactating mothers and sera of their neonates in the early postpartum period.

Objective: To evaluate postpartum MCH changes in the early postpartum period, and to examine whether neonatal MCA is related to that in maternal serum (MS) or milk.

Study Design: MCA was measured by EIA on the second and fifth postpartum day in serum and BM from 30 lactating women and their single term neonates. Sera from 20 healthy women (controls), were also analyzed.

sCD31/sPECAM-1 levels in breast milk and sera of mother-infant pairs in the early postpartum period.

Immunomediators seem to have a central role in the immune system of both human milk and newborn infants. CD31/PECAM-1 is an adhesion molecule, member of Ig gene superfamily, mediating cell-cell adhesion in both homophilic and heterophilic ways. Levels of the soluble form of PECAM-1 (sPECAM-1) were evaluated on the 2nd and 5th day postpartum in breast milk and serum paired samples from 20 lactating women as well as in time-matched serum from their single, term, healthy neonates.

Homocysteine and folate levels in postmenopausal women.

Objectives: To assess total homocysteine (tHcy) and folate levels in postmenopausal women and investigate whether age, menopause duration, kind of menopause and tobacco use had an effect on these levels.

Methods: Total homocysteine and folate levels were measured in fasting blood samples of 200 postmenopausal women with normal thyroid and renal function tests. Patients were not receiving vitamins or hormone replacement therapy.

Mucin-like carcinoma-associated antigen (MCA) during normal pregnancy.

Objective: To assess the usefulness of Mucin-like carcinoma-associated antigen (MCA) in monitoring pregnant patients with breast cancer.

Study Design: Maternal serum (MS) and amniotic fluid (AF) antigen values were measured by an enzyme immunoassay in 30 pregnant women during the second trimester, in 28 during the third and in 26 at parturition. Sera only from 26 women in the first trimester and from 26 healthy, non-pregnant women (controls) were also analyzed.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroidal axis dysfunction and cortisol secretion in patients with nonclassical congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate thyroid function and TSH and cortisol (F) secretion in hyperandrogenemic women with nonclassical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NC-CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (Group A) when compared with women with hyperandrogenemic symptoms (menstrual irregularities, hirsutism, acne, seborrhea and sterility) of other etiologies (Group B).

Methods: Seventy-two women were subjected to stimulation of the adrenal cortex with i.v.

Serum leptin concentrations during the perinatal period.

We aimed to study maternal and infant serum leptin concentrations during the perinatal period and their relationship to the body weight of mothers and newborns. Serum leptin values were measured by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) (R&D systems) in 26 healthy, term neonates during the first (N1) and fifth (N5) day after birth and were compared with serum leptin values in maternal blood (MS), amniotic fluid (AF), and umbilical cord (UC) at delivery. Twenty-five healthy, nonpregnant women, age and body weight-matched to the mothers, were used as controls (C).

Soluble form of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E- and L-selectin in human milk.

In breast milk and paired serum from 70 lactating women and 40 of their term, infection-free neonates, on the 2nd and 5th day postpartum slCAM-1, sVCAM-1, sE- and sL-selectin were measured by ELISA and compared with those in 26 healthy adults (controls). Seven infant formulas and fresh milk from five cows were also analyzed. Human colostrum values of slCAM-1, sVCAM-1 (similar to those in maternal and control serum), sE-selectin and sL-selectin (-10 and -100 times lower than in maternal and control serum) were significantly higher than those in milk, while they varied widely.

Serum soluble E- and L-selectin in the very early neonatal period.

Both E- and L-selectin are cell adhesion molecules. E-selectin is expressed by activated endothelial cells, whereas L-selectin by quiescent leukocytes and is rapidly cleaved off after activation. Both selectins take part in the first step of the 'adhesion cascade', the 'rolling of leukocytes', leading to the extravasation of the white cells to the sites of inflammation, infection or damage.

Tissue polypeptide specific antigen (TPS) throughout normal pregnancy.

Aim: TPS concentrations were measured throughout normal pregnancy in maternal serum (MS) and amniotic fluid (AF), in order to evaluate the usefulness of TPS in the follow-up of pregnancy breast cancer patients.

Patients And Methods: Following informed consent, 30 pregnant women during the 2nd trimester, 28 during the 3rd and 26 at parturition were included in the study. For comparison, 28 women in the 1st trimester and 28 healthy, non pregnant women (controls) were also studied.

A comparative study of serum soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in preeclampsia.

Objectives: Maternal serum soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) were evaluated in preeclampsia to investigate whether these molecules could be helpful with regard to this pregnancy complication.

Study Design: The study population was composed of 30 preeclamptic patients with a mean gestational age of 35.5 +/- 4.

Breast cancer markers during normal pregnancy.

Aim: To measure MCA and CA153 concentrations in maternal serum (MS) and amniotic fluid (AF) paired samples during normal pregnancy, in order to evaluate the usefulness of these markers in monitoring pregnant patients with a history of breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: Serum and AF MCA and CA153 values were measured in 20 pregnant women during the 1st trimester, 29 cases in the 2nd, 26 in the 3rd and 20 at parturition and compared with those of 20 healthy, age-matched, non pregnant women (controls).

Results: MS values of MCA increased significantly with gestational age (p < 0.

Patterns of inflammatory cytokine serum concentrations during the perinatal period.

Inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured in the serum of healthy, term neonates on the first (N1), fifth (N5) and 40th (N40) day after birth, compared with those in maternal serum (MS), umbilical cord (UC) and in adult controls. All three cytokines were significantly elevated in N1 and N5, compared with those in UC and adults (P < 0.0001).

Inflammatory cytokines in newborn infants.

Serum levels of IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha were measured in 48 healthy, termed neonates on the 1st (N1), 5th (N5) and 40th (N40) day after birth, compared with those in maternal serum (MS), umbilical cord (UC) and adult controls. Cytokine values in N1 and N5 were significantly elevated, than those in UC and in controls (P<0.0001).

The incidence of 21 alpha-hydroxylase deficiency in Greek hyperandrogenic women: screening and diagnosis.

The purpose of this prospective study was to determine the incidence of any form of 21 alpha-hydroxylase deficiency among Greek women with hyperandrogenic symptoms, and to test the predictive value of basal serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) in the early follicular phase as a screening index for patient preselection to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) testing. Eighty-eight unselected women with hyperandrogenic symptoms were examined in the Gynecological Endocrinology Unit of the Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Athens University. Using the ACTH-stimulated 17-OHP values at 60 minutes (17-OHP60) the study population was divided into four groups (A, B, C and D).

Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in newborn infants.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of increasing postnatal age on soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), a very early and sensitive marker of immune activation and response in the serum of newborn infants. Serum sICAM-1 was measured by EIA (T Cell Diagnostics) in 20 healthy adults (controls) and in 43 (24 females/19 males) healthy neonates, of whom 28 were full term, and 15 were born at a gestational age between 35 and 38 weeks of pregnancy, on the 1st, 5th and 30th day of life. Neonatal serum sICAM-1 values showed a very significant increase (P < 0.

Tumour-associated antigens CEA, CA125, SCC and TPS in gynaecological cancer.

Pretreatment values of CEA, CA125, SCC and TPS were measured in 130 women with 1) ovarian carcinoma (n = 25), 2) breast cancer (n = 20), 3) endometrial cancer (n = 14), 4) cervical squamous cell carcinoma (n = 20), 5) cervical adenocarcinoma (n = 9) and 6) benign gynaecological diseases (n = 42) in order to evaluate the usefulness of multiple markers in diagnosing and monitoring patients with gynaecological cancer. Antigen values were significantly higher in the cancer groups than those in the benign one (p < 0.0001).

Cytokines in gynecological cancer.

Background: Cytokines are considered as part of host defence to infection or injury.

Material And Methods: Pretreatment values of TNF and sIL-2R were measured in 132 women with a) ovarian carcinoma (n = 25), b) breast cancer (n = 20), c) endometrial cancer (n = 15), d) cervical squamous cell carcinoma (n = 19), e) cervical adenocarcinoma (n = 11) and f) benign gynecological diseases (n = 42) in order to evaluate whether these cytokines could be useful in the discrimination of malignant from benign gynecological diseases.

Results: Both TNF and sIL-2R were significantly higher in all cancer groups together (mean +/- SD: 30 +/- 11 pg/mL and 1293 +/- 465 U/mL respectively), than those in the benign group (16.

Comparison between steroid hormones and cortisol in serum and follicular fluid in stimulated and unstimulated cycles of in vitro fertilization patients.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of the concentrations of serum and follicular fluid steroids and cortisol levels on the establishment of pregnancies in in vitro fertilization (IVF). Our study group consisted of 42 women (group A) who received gonadotropins for induction of ovulation for IVF. The control group included 23 women (group B) who underwent in vitro fertilization without stimulation.

Changes of angiogenin serum concentrations in the perinatal period.

The polypeptide angiogenin, a normal constituent of human plasma, might be involved in endothelium homeostasis, angiogenesis, and neovascularization accompanying various diseases. This study aimed at determining angiogenin serum concentrations in the perinatal period of healthy newborns and at forming a baseline for this protein, which in the future may serve as a diagnostic index in developmental errors of the placenta and/or newborn. One milliliter of blood was drawn on d 1 and 4 of life from 30 healthy full-term neonates, and angiogenin serum concentrations were measured by an enzyme immunoassay using a commercially available kit.

Cyclic and individualized administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists plus progestogens: an alternative protocol for contraception.

Twenty-one women presenting with different diseases, with absolute or relative contraindications to hormonal contraception or the use of intrauterine devices, received 300-600 micrograms/day buserelin intranasally from the 1st to the 21st day, and 5 mg/day norethisterone acetate orally from the 16th to the 23rd day of the cycle for a total of 245 cycles. Serum luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol and testosterone were determined on days 3-5 and 13-15 of the cycle, while progesterone determinations and ovarian sonography were performed during the second half of the cycle. According to progesterone values, 92.

Vaginal fluid and serum CEA, CA125 and SCC in normal conditions and in benign and malignant diseases of the genital tract.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA125, and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) were evaluated in paired vaginal fluid and serum samples from 69 women, mean age 40.6 (20-78) years. Fifteen of the subjects were normal females (controls), 12 were pregnant, 20 had benign gynecological diseases, 5 presented severe cervical dysplasias and 17 suffered from cancer of the genital tract.

A comparative study of serum alpha-beta A immunoreactive inhibin and tumor-associated antigens CA125 and CEA in ovarian cancer.

alpha-i.r Inhibin, has been recently proposed as a useful tumor marker for mucinous ovarian carcinomas (Ca), as the widely used tumor marker for ovarian malignancies, CA125 is efficient only in nonmucinous ovarian Ca, and, together with CEA, fails to detect minimal disease and show long half-life in serum after successful surgery. Moreover, conflicting evidence has been reported as to whether inhibin in ovarian malignancies is the biologically active dimer alpha-beta A inhibin or the inactive free alpha-subunits and inhibin precursors.

Serum markers of immune activation in women undergoing in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

We evaluated serum concentrations of two early and sensitive markers of immune activation, interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in two age-matched groups of in-vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer women, group I (n = 26) without and group II (n = 40) with methylprednisolone (MPD) supplementation of the luteal phase, on the days of oocyte retrieval (sample A) and embryo transfer (B), and second (C) and 13th (D) days post-transfer and in 20 normally cycling women (controls) on the day of luteinizing hormone (LH) peak. No difference in the outcome of the IVF-embryo transfer was observed between groups I and II. In sample A, both immunomarker concentrations showed no significant difference between the two groups of IVF women, while they were significantly higher (P < 0.