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Biomedical subjects

A Campana

Publications and source records attributed to A Campana.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Peripheral CA 125 levels in patients with uterine fibroids.

CA 125, a marker of ovarian cancer, is also increased in otherwise normal women suffering from, for example, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis and adenomyosis. The tissues suspected of producing CA 125 in normal women include the endometrium, the ovary and the peritoneum. This study was based on the hypothesis that uterine myomata would distend the peritoneum covering the uterus and thereby increase the peripheral levels of CA 125. To verify this hypothesis we measured CA 125 by an immunoradiometric assay in eight normal women every second day throughout the cycle and in 26 women with uterine fibroids before and after hysterectomy and at 8 and 12 weeks during gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue therapy. In normal women no difference was observed between CA 125 levels in the follicular phase or in the luteal phase of the cycle. Over one-third (10/26) of the patients with uterine fibroids had increased (greater than 90th centile of the controls) levels of CA 125 before GnRH therapy or hysterectomy. Removal of the uterus or administration of GnRH significantly decreased peripheral concentrations of CA 125 to levels below those observed in normal women. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was observed between the levels of CA 125 and the volume of myomata as assessed by ultrasound. We conclude that in those cases of uterine fibroids where CA 125 is increased, monitoring this parameter during GnRH therapy is a good indirect measurement of regression of myomata.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Expression of extracellular matrix-degrading metalloproteinases by cultured human cytotrophoblast cells: effects of cell adhesion and immunopurification.

In vitro, invasion of basement membrane by human trophoblast can be blocked by metalloproteinase inhibitors. The purpose of our study was to characterize these enzymes by zymography, to define their cellular origin. First-trimester cytotrophoblast cells were prepared according to the method of Kliman et al. Half of the cell suspension was further purified with an antibody to leukocyte common antigen (CD45). Cytotrophoblast cells (immunopurified or not) were incubated in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium on different matrices. Progesterone, total human chorionic gonadotropin, and free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin were measured in the supernatant by radioimmunoassay or enzyme immunoassays. Secreted (in the medium) and cell-bound proteases were characterized by zymography on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels containing gelatin. Cytotrophoblast cell preparations contained 12% to 34% leukocyte common antigen-positive cells before and 0% after immunopurification. Large zones of digested matrices were observed after 48 hours of culture on Matrigel or rat tail collagen but not on agarose. Cells secreted progesterone, human chorionic gonadotropin, and free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin in vitro, but no difference was observed among cells grown on different matrices or between immunopurified and nonimmunopurified cells. By zymography, seven gelatin-degrading enzymes were seen in culture supernatants and five of them were present in cell lysates. The molecular weights of these proteases ranged from 59 to 230 kd. Immunopurification eliminated three of these enzymes, so they were clearly produced by bone marrow-derived cells (leukocyte common antigen positive) contaminating the cytotrophoblast cell preparation. Cells grown on Matrigel express a unique 59 kd gelatinase that was not seen in the supernatants of cells grown on other matrices. Zymography in the presence of inhibitors showed that these enzymes were neutral metalloproteinases, which might be responsible for the observed extracellular matrix degradation.

Cell Adhesion↗
PubMed1991

Pretreatment with bendazac attenuates retinal damage induced by intense light in rats.

Bendazac is a drug which protects proteins from denaturation induced by different agents. It is also effective in protecting rabbits from X-ray-induced cataract. This study deals with the effects of bendazac on the intense light-induced retinal damage in rats. Four groups of animals received orally 0, 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg of bendazac L-lysine salt three times a day for 3 days and once the fourth day, before 1 h exposure to intense-green filtered light. Fourteen days after housing in a dark room, the rats were sacrificed and the retinae were examined by light microscopy. Retinal damage was graded according to a score severity from 0 to 5. The mean score for control animals was 2.23, whereas a dose-related and statistically significant reduction of retinal damage was detected in bendazac treated rats, i.e. 1.72, 1.54 and 1.40. A protective activity in the distribution of the severity score, i.e. a higher incidence of no damaged retinae and a lower frequency in the most severely affected ones, was also observed in treated versus control rats. These results suggest a potential therapeutic value of bendazac in the treatment of those conditions, such as retinitis pigmentosa and senile macular degeneration, in which the light exposure plays a role as a co-factor.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Comparison of a rapid, quantitative and automated assay for urinary luteinizing hormone (LH), with an LH detection test, for the prediction of ovulation.

The prediction of ovulation is necessary for oocyte aspiration in a spontaneous cycle and can be reliably achieved only by measuring luteinizing hormone (LH). Since radioimmunoassays of LH take too long for repeated measurements on the same day, we evaluated the possibility of adapting a rapid and fully automated assay of serum LH for use with urine samples. The study group comprised spontaneously ovulating women (38 cycles) who requested artificial insemination. Their serum oestradiol (E2) levels, ultrasound profile (US) and thrice daily urinary LH levels were determined from day 10 of their menstrual cycle. These patients were followed until US signs of follicular rupture were recorded. In all patients, a well-defined LH peak was measured in the urine. This peak lasted 12-15 h and was followed in 35 cycles (no US available for 3) by follicular rupture 9-51 h later. The data were grouped according to the time of the LH peak on day 0. Patients experiencing an LH peak between 0300 h and 0700 h on day 0 had significantly lower levels of E2 on day 0 compared to those with an LH peak between 2200 h and midnight. This is due to the fact that in the patients with an LH peak between 0300 h and 0700 h, E2 levels were already decreasing (from day 1 to day 0), whereas in those with the LH peak between 2200 h and midnight E2 levels were still increasing on the morning of day 0. We conclude that the 30-min IMX LH assay is a reliable, rapid and readily acceptable method for measuring urinary LH and for the prediction of ovulation.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Lonidamine: a non-mutagenic antitumor agent.

Lonidiamine is a novel indazole-carboxylic acid with antitumour properties; it has been studied for potential mutagenicity in a comprehensive battery of tests. In assays for the induction of gene mutations in prokaryotes (Ames test) and eukaryotes (induction of HPRT mutations in CHO cells), negative results were obtained. There was no evidence of the induction of chromosomal damage in cultured mammalian cells in vitro. No mutagenic activity was observed in tests for chromosomal damage in vivo, in somatic cells (micronucleus test) or in germinal cells (dominant lethal test). These negative results are consistent with observations indicating that lonidamine affects cellular energy processes, rather than the mechanisms of cell division. The lack of mutagenic properties suggests that lonidamine may present significant advantages in treatment of some tumours, offering a reduced risk of resistant clones, secondary cancer and heritable genetic damage.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Linear and non-linear relationships between the 'swelling test' and conventional semen variables in men suspected of primary infertility.

The relationship and degree of association between the percentage of sperm swelling (HOS-test) and conventional semen variables was investigated in 263 consecutive ejaculates. The semen samples were exclusively obtained from men suspected of primary infertility. It was found that the correlation coefficients (Spearman's rho) followed the order: percentage of progressive motility at 3 h greater than count/ml greater than percentage of total motility at 3 h greater than percentage of normal spermatozoa. Of the three morphology sub-classes considered (sperm head, mid-piece and tail abnormalities), only mid-piece abnormalities correlated with the outcome of the HOS-test (rho = -0.409). Linear relationships between HOS-test results and sperm motility and morphology, but not sperm count, were indicated by LOWESS-smoothing. However, a linear relationship between the HOS-test, sperm count and a 'functional index' combining the conventional semen variables could be demonstrated after normalization of the data. Our findings suggest that the HOS-test may be of value in assessing the functional integrity and viability of spermatozoa; however, its prognostic power for fertility is probably not different from that of conventional semen variables.

Fertilization↗
PubMed1989

[Electromyography of those exposed to vibration].

Electrophysiological findings in the median and ulnar nerves of a group of ten workers who operate hand-held vibrating power tools are described. Motor conduction velocities, motor latencies and amplitude of evoked compound muscle action potentials were measured. We have observed statistically significant changes in the distal latencies and in the amplitude of evoked compound muscle action potentials of median nerves in all the subjects examined, whereas the motor conduction velocities were normal in both median and ulnar nerve. These findings are compatible with functional changes without a clinically manifest neuropathy and they are suggestive of a compression damage such as carpal tunnel syndrome: the possible pathogenic mechanism of these damages are discussed. It's necessary to emphasize the importance of further studies in order to estimate the type and entity of the exposure to vibrations to show a cause-effect relationship.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoprotein (SP1) after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

Recent reports indicate that SP1, a "pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoprotein", can be used as a biological marker for very early pregnancy and occult abortion. In this investigation, SP1 serum concentrations were measured in the luteal phase of 48 menstrual cycles stimulated for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer (ET). All patients received hMG for ovarian stimulation. Ovulation was induced by beta-hCG and also administered to support the luteal phase. In the 8 pregnancies arising after ET, SP1 (less than 0.5 ng/ml) was not detected before 13 to 19 days after laparoscopy. In contrast, the pregnancy-dependent beta-hCG increase was detectable earlier than SP1 despite the administration of hCG given for luteal support. However, low SP1 readings (0.5-1.1 microgram/ml) as early as 3 days after laparoscopy were observed in 11 cycles without a positive sign of beta-hCG production. Our results suggest that SP1 determinations cannot be used as a marker for occult abortion; also, positive SP1 readings without increase beta-hCG, especially during the early luteal phase after ET, have to be interpreted with caution.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗
PubMed1979

Prolactin and deficient luteal function.

The possibility of prolactin-dependent subfertility was investigated in a group of 8 women, with luteal insufficiency exhibiting moderately elevated plasma prolactin (PRL) levels and/or galactorrhea. Another group of 10 normal women volunteers served as the control group. A "luteal index" was elaborated by integration of the area below the curve of plasma progesterone (P) values recorded throughout the postovulatory period. The calculated index for normal women was 177 +/- 35 (SD) expressed as [(ng/ml) x time], and the value of 107 (--2 SD) was adopted as the lower limit of normality (97.5% confidence limit). All 8 patients had luteal indexes (range 20--105) below the established limit. Therapy with bromocriptine (CB 154), 5 mg/day, suppressed PRL to normal levels and prolonged the postovulatory hyperthermic phase in 6 out of 8 women. This was accompanied by an improvement in the luteal index, and 5 women conceived. It is concluded that prolactin may interfere with normal progesterone synthesis by the corpus luteum, as demonstrated by the prompt restoration of fertility by bromocriptine treatment in women with regular cycles and inadequate luteal function.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Comparative cardiovascular toxicity of trazodone and imipramine in the rat.

Several authors have associated the cardiotoxicity of the tricyclic antidepressants with their capacity to potentiate the response to catecholamines. Trazodone is a psychotropic drug with a clinically proven antidepressant activity. It differes from the tricyclic antidepressants under several aspects (chemistry, pharmacology, mode and mechanism of action, etc.), including interactions with catecholamines. Contrary to the tricyclic antidepressants, it does not potentiate the response to catecholamines, but, instead, has an adrenolytic activity. We therefore decided to compare the cardiotoxicity of trazodone and of a tricyclic antidepressant, i.e. imipramine in the rat. The experiments were conducted on anaesthetized Long Evans rats, the drugs being administered by i.v. infusion until cardiac arrest occurred; ECG (lead II) and blood pressure (BP) were recorded at the same time. The primary effect of trazodone was its hypotensive action. ECG changes, consisting of a lengthening of the PR interval, were observed only when there was a marked drop in BP. The primary effect of imipramine, instead, consisted of disturbances in cardiac conduction. It is concluded that trazodone and imipramine produce different cardiovascular effects.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Acute cardiovascular toxicity of trazodone, etoperidone and imipramine in rats.

The cardiovascular effects of trazodone, a broad-spectrum antidepressant and its analogue etoperidone, were compared with imipramine, following intravenous infusion in rats. Their effects on electrocardiogram and blood pressure were simultaneously recorded until cardiac arrest. Hypotension was the primary effect of trazodone and etoperidone. ECG changes, i.e. lengthening of the PR interval, were observed only when the blood pressure reached very low values. On the other hand, imipramine produced first the well known ECG changes and then a drop in blood pressure. As far as mortality was concerned, trazodone was the least toxic drug, followed by etoperidone, whereas imipramine was most toxic; these differences being in agreement with the LD50 values reported in rats by the i.v. route. It is concluded that trazodone and etoperidone produce in rats cardiovascular effects, which are different from those of imipramine. Moreover these differences are consistent with their pharmacological properties, particularly their interaction with catecholamines, which are inhibited by trazodone or etoperidone and potentiated by imipramine.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Teratological study of etoperidone in the rat and rabbit.

Etoperidone was administered to pregnant rats and rabbits during the period of organogenesis. The oral doses were 100 and 300 mg/kg in the rat and 5, 25 and 50 mg/kg in the rabbit. In the rat the dose of 300 mg/kg produced toxic effects on the mother, consisting mainly of behavioural changes and death in some cases; a slight increase in embryofetal mortality was also observed. The dose of 100 mg/kg still produced behavioural changes in the mother, but had no effect on the product of conception. Chlorcyclizine, on the other hand, used as a reference drug in the rat produced fetal malformations at a dose devoid of any toxic activity on the maternal organism. The doses studied in the rabbit were shown to be pharmacologically active in the mothers, producing sedation. No effect, however, was observed on embryofetal development.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

[The frequency and causes of spontaneous abortion following artifitial insemination (author's transl)].

This paper is concerned with the causes of spontaneous abortion in a sample of 200 pregnancies induced by artificial insemination. In particular it examines the importance of the following factors: existing disorders in the woman's menstrual cycle, the influence of hormone treatment during the conception cycle, the age of the woman treated, and the type of semen used. Of the 200 pregnancies in our treatment sample 27 terminated in abortions (13.5%). Clinical examination before treatment established the presence of menstrual disorders in 69 of 180 women to be treated: 23.9% exhibited corpus luteum deficiency, 12% anovular cycles, and 2% oligomenorrhea. On the basis of this preliminary examination the principal cause of abortion proved to be an existing corpus luteum deficiency, since 15 of the 27 abortions occurred in women with this type of menstrual disorder. Our observations show that it is important when performing artificial insemination to correct the patient's existing menstrual disorders by means of hormone treatment. This emerges from the following figures: In 26 cases without hormone treatment the incidence of abortion was 35%. In 174 cases that received hormone treatment during the successful cycle only 18 abortions occurred (an incidence of 10.3%). Breaking down hormone treatment into 6 basic types, we get incidences of abortion ranging from 0 to 25% in the different groups. Dividing the treatment sample into age groups reveals an 11 to 14% incidence of abortion in the 30 to 34 age group; in the 35 to 40 group age group the incidence doubles to 26%. Whereas existing menstrual disorders and adequate hormone treatment significantly influence the incidence of abortion, there is no close relationship between incidence of abortion and the type of semen used. The innocuousness of using deep-frozen semen with an admixture of glycerine has been shown by various authors reporting on laboratory and clinical investigations. For 117 pregnancies induced purely with deep-frozen semen we had an incidence of abortion of 13.7%. This figure is of the same order as the incidence of abortion in pregnancies induced by insemination with fresh semen. The results obtained permit one to conclude that incidence of abortion is not significantly dependent on the type of semen used. Our work demonstrates the importance of assessing the patient's genital constitution from both the functional and the organic points of view, not merely in order to achieve conception but also for the purposes of preventing abortion by means of the appropriate hormone treatment. If satisfactory therapeutic results are to be achieved candidates for artificial insemination must therefore be given a thorough diagnostic examination beforehand and, if necessary, adequate hormone treatment during the insemination cycle.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1975

[Continuous subcutaneous pH monitoring in newborns with abnormal metabolism (author's transl)].

In newborns with postpartum acidosis the subcutaneous interstitiel space pH was monitored continuously with the special electrode of Stamm and Moeller. This was compared with intermittent determinations of the pH in the capillary blood from the heel of the infant. The severity of the metabolic disturbance can be recognized in all test cases with both methods. The correction of the acidosis develops in a concordant manner, in a concordant magnitude and at a largely synchronous rate. The observations show that it is possible to monitor the postpartum adaptation phase by continuous pH monitoring in the interstitial space of the subcutaneous tissue and to observe the efficiency of the treatment of acidosis, administration of oxygen, or a buffer infusion.

Acidosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Removal of sperm-coat from human spermatozoa by interaction with cervical mucus or a capacitating medium.

Human spermatozoa were labelled with cationized ferritin and their interaction with cervical mucus or a capacitating medium enriched with 3% bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated by transmission electron microscopy. It was found that the sperm-coat was removed from the surface of spermatozoa after incubation in the BSA-enriched capacitating medium, as well as after crossing a column filled with cervical mucus. These results suggest that both media have a quantitatively similar action in removing the sperm-coat.

Cervix Mucus↗