Biomedical subjects

A E Sienko

Publications and source records attributed to A E Sienko.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Placebo-controlled, blinded comparison of antenatal betamethasone on mouse liver development.

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate, in a placebo-controlled manner, the developing mouse liver after antenatal exposure either to a single dose or to a multidose of betamethasone. Ninety gravid CD-1 mice were randomly divided into three groups (n = 30/group) to receive either saline (0.25 mL s.c.) or betamethasone (0.10 mg s.c.) as a single dose on gestational day (GD) 14 of a 19-day gestation or as a 0.10 mg dose given twice daily on GD 14 and on GD 15 (4 doses). GD 0 is defined by the presence of a copulatory plug. These exposures of betamethasone cause fetal mouse lung maturation as would be observed in premature humans at 24-34 weeks of gestation. The livers were removed either from the fetuses on GD 16.5 or from the offspring on postnatal day 1, 3, 5, and 120. Special stains were used to evaluate hepatocyte architecture, glycoprotein and glycogen content, extramedullary hematopoiesis and iron storage. Hepatocyte intranuclear DNA content, cell size, and cell shape were measured by image analysis (CAS 200). At GD 16.5, betamethasone produced a significant decrease in the liver/body weight ratio that, when compared with the placebo group, was greater with the multidose (p < 0.01) than with the single dose (p < 0.05). 16.5 GD single dose hepatocytes were smaller in size as compared to placebo without impact on intranuclear DNA (p < 0.01). Single dose PND 1 hepatocytes demonstrated an increase in intranuclear DNA as compared to placebo but without change in cell size (p < 0.001). The prenatal reduced liver weight recovered in the newborn period. No difference in microscopic architecture of the hepatocytes or histologic differences between either of the three treatment groups was found in glycogen deposition, extramedullary hematopoiesis or iron metabolism at GD 16.5 and postnatally. It was concluded antenatal betamethasone can cause a decrease in the liver/body weight ratio in the fetal mouse that recovers eventually without any functional impact as assessed histologically.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Impact of antenatal exposure of mice to fenfluramine on cardiac development and long-term growth of the offspring.

The objective of this investigation was to determine, in a placebo-controlled manner, whether antenatal exposure to formulations of fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine impacted cardiac development and long-term growth of exposed mice offspring. One hundred forty-four CD-1 mice were randomized to six treatment groups (n=23 or 25) to obtain, per group, 5 gravids for killing on gestational day (GD) 15 and < or =10 deliveries for assessing growth of the offspring. Either fenfluramine preparation was administered in feed bars in two doses: 1 and 3.2 times the equivalent human daily dosage according to body surface area. The drugs were given from 2 weeks before mating until GD 15. The mice ingested each drug at target values, averaging 10.5+/-0.3 and 31.8+/-1.9 mg/kg/d for fenfluramine and 5.0+/-0.2 and 16.2+/-0.4 mg/kg/d for dexfenfluramine. The drug concentration was about 36% in the fetal brain compared with the adult brain. The maternal and the offspring hearts, including mitral and aortic valves, of fenfluramine-exposed mice were indistinguishable from the placebo-exposed mice. The duration of gestation and the litter size were the same between the treatment groups. The mean body weights, body lengths, and head circumferences and early functional testing did not differ significantly between the fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine-exposed offspring and the placebo-exposed offspring. There were no significant treatment differences in growth measured as body weights to PND 120. Neither fenfluramine formulation, given before conception and during gestation, impacted cardiac development and long-term growth of the mice offspring.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

PubMed1999

Large ovarian cellular fibroma during pregnancy mimicking a lipid cell tumor.

Lipid cell tumors are extremely rare tumors of the ovary which are usually malignant when larger than eight centimeters. Fibromas, on the other hand, are the most common type of benign ovarian solid tumors. Neither one of these tumors are known to be accelerated by the pregnant state. We report a case of a healthy 15-year-old female who was found to have an ovarian mass during pregnancy. This fibroma weighed more than 3,800 grams and mimicked a lipid cell tumor. Cesarean section and unilateral oophorectomy resulted in a good outcome for both mother and child.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1998

Placebo-controlled comparison between a single dose and a multidose of betamethasone in accelerating lung maturation of mice offspring.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine, in a placebo-controlled manner with a mouse model, whether a multidose of betamethasone is more beneficial than a single dose in accelerating fetal lung maturation. STUDY DESIGN: Ninety gravid CD-1 mice were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups (n = 30) to receive either a placebo (0.25 mL subcutaneously) or betamethasone (0.1 mg subcutaneously) as a single dose on gestational day 14 or as a multidose twice daily on gestational day 14 and 15. Ten pregnancies in each group were terminated at gestational day 16.5 to observe the neonatal breathing pattern (scale 0 to 5; 5 is unlabored breathing) and the lung histologic findings (scale 0 to 5; 5 is alveolar budding). The lungs of the offspring belonging to the remaining 20 pregnancies in each group were removed and weighed at postnatal day 1, 3, 5, or 120. RESULTS: Fetuses exposed to a multidose of betamethasone displayed a higher breathing score at gestational day 16.5 than either to a single dose or to the placebo (mean score 4.6 vs 3.8 or 1.3; P <. 001). Alveolar development was greater after exposure to a multidose of betamethasone than after a single dose or after a placebo (mean score 4.4 vs 3.5 or 1.6; P <.001). The lung weights at gestational day 16.5 were less after a multidose of betamethasone than after a single dose of either betamethasone or a placebo (18.3 +/- 1.0 g vs 21.4 +/- 1.3 g or 23.3 +/- 1.3 g; P <.02). The lung/body weight ratio was similarly affected. This reduced weight of the lungs persisted postnatally into adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: With a CD-1 mouse model, a multidose of antenatal betamethasone accelerated fetal lung maturation more than after a single dose but was accompanied with a decrease in lung weight that persisted into adulthood.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Laparoscopic paraaortic lymphadenectomy using laparosonic coagulating shears.

With marked innovations in endosurgical instrumentation, operative laparoscopy to include lymphadenectomy has become feasible and has a valuable role in the management of gynecologic malignancy. We used laparosonic coagulating shears (LCS) for laparoscopic paraaortic lymphadenectomy in two women with cervical carcinoma. Operating times for the laparoscopic portion were 55 and 65 minutes and blood loss was 20 and 30 ml, respectively. No surgical complications were encountered. Lymphatic tissues were evaluated histologically and no thermal artifacts were identified. The major advantage of the ultrasonically activated scalpel of the LCS is the ability to cut and coagulate tissues simultaneously without electrical current. The LCS may afford the surgeon a greater margin of safety than unipolar electrocoagulation scissors by eliminating potential thermal and electrical injury to vital structures. Ultrasonic-activated technology deserves extended clinical investigation in laparoscopic lymphadenectomy to substantiate our preliminary findings, as well as to explore its potential in gynecologic oncology.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A placebo-controlled, blinded comparison between betamethasone and dexamethasone to enhance lung maturation in the fetal mouse.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of betamethasone and dexamethasone used to enhance lung maturity of the fetal mouse. METHODS: Adult CD-1 mice were administered a single dose of either a placebo or different strengths of betamethasone (0.01, 0.025, or 0.10 mg) or dexamethasone (0.025 or 0.10 mg) on day 14.0 (74%) of gestation. The eight gravid mice in each treatment cohort were killed on day 16.5 to assess fetal lung maturity (histologic changes and respiratory patterns) in a blinded manner. Another ten gravid mice in each treatment group were allowed to deliver spontaneously to assess perinatal outcomes. RESULTS: Compared with the effects from placebo exposure, the 0.10-mg doses of both betamethasone and dexamethasone demonstrated enhanced histologic maturational changes and improved neonatal respiratory efforts. Betamethasone was twofold to threefold more potent than dexamethasone. The fetal crown-rump lengths and the fetal body, lung, and heart weights were indistinguishable among the three treatment groups. Compared with the fetal liver weight in the placebo group (55.0 +/- 2.2 mg), the liver was less heavy after exposure to 0.10 mg of betamethasone (45.6 +/- 2.0 mg; P < .005), 0.025 mg of dexamethasone (47.6 +/- 1.7 mg; P < .02), or 0.10 mg of dexamethasone (43.8 +/- 1.5 mg; P < .001). No significant differences were observed between the 0.10-mg treatments of either corticosteroid and placebo for the duration of gestation, litter size, survival rate, birth weights, or weight gains to postnatal day 26. CONCLUSION: A single subcutaneous dose of 0.10 mg of betamethasone was twofold to threefold more potent than dexamethasone in accelerating fetal lung maturity without impairing fetal survival or weight gain. The unexpected finding of a reduced fetal liver weight with either corticosteroid warrants clinical correlation.

Animals↗