Biomedical subjects

A M Wodzicki

Publications and source records attributed to A M Wodzicki.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1990

Quantitative analysis of the effect of freezing on donor sperm motion kinetics.

One hundred ninety-two semen specimens from 14 donors were analyzed on a CellSoft Semen Analyzer (CRYO Resources, New York, NY) before and after freezing. Mean post-thaw motility decreased by 52%. Correlation of the percent decrease in post-thaw versus prefreeze motility was significant but of poor predictive value. Comparisons of the percent change in post-thaw motility and sperm motion kinetics between four discrete ranges of prefreeze motility (32% to 66%, 67% to 76%, 77% to 84%, 85% to 94%) revealed that the effect of freezing on sperm cell survival was equivalent between all ranges. However, significant differences occurred between these ranges for curvilinear velocity, straight line velocity, and mean amplitude of lateral head displacement but not for linearity nor beat cross frequency. All correlations between prefreeze and post-thaw motion variables were significant but closest for curvilinear velocity and straight line velocity. Furthermore, correlations of prefreeze versus post-thaw velocity measurements were strongest for those cells within the 65% to 85% range of prefreeze motility. We suggest that sperm survival is independent of prefreeze motility. However, velocity kinetics appear stable after freezing for those specimens that had an initial motility of 65% to 85%.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1977

Coagulation and the hypertensive diseases of pregnancy.

The coagulation and fibrinolytic systems were investigated in a group of patients with essential hypertension during pregnancy, and the findings were compared with those of normal gravid women. Patients with essential hypertension exhibited the following significant differences: shortened partial thromboplastin times, thrombocytopenia, and decreased antithrombin III levels. Euglobulin lysis times and assays for fibrin breakdown products suggest that essential hypertension is not associated with changes in the fibrinolytic mechanism. Until more sophisticated studies can be performed on such patients, it cannot be concluded that the increased coagulability observed in pregnant patients with essential hypertension represents a state of intravascular coagulation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1974

Effect of lactation suppressants on the coagulation mechanism.

The effect on the coagulation mechanism of lactation suppressants was determined by comparing observations on a group of untreated women and two other groups, one receiving Vallestril (methallenestrill 20 mg) and the other Ortho-Novum 5 (5 mg norethindrone and 0.075 mg mestranol). Blood was drawn on the first, fourth and tenth days post partum. Patients given Ortho-Novum 5 showed a continued significant elevation of levels of factors VIII and IX for the duration of the study, and the partial thromboplastin time reflected this increase on days 4 and 10. Vallestril appeared to have the same effect on factors VIII and IX, although to a lesser, nonsignificant degree. In addition, the day 10 levels of fibrinogen and factors VII and X, as well as platelet adhesiveness, of the untreated group were lower than those of the groups undergoing treatment, although the medication had been discontinued five days previously. However, this difference was not statistically significant.In view of the growing evidence of the increased incidence of thromboembolic disease during the puerperium, it is perhaps unwise to give drugs that cause changes in the plasma coagulation system, such as those we have described, to patients who are already in a hypercoagulable state.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1972

Chlormadinone acetate and its effect on the hemostatic mechanism.

There is an apparent discrepancy between the effects on the hemostatic mechanism of synthetic progestins alone and synthetic progestins in combination with synthetic estrogens. Coagulation studies were carried out on 21 patients treated with chlormadinone acetate 0.5 mg. on a continuous daily basis for 12 weeks in order to determine its effects on hemostasis. Unlike the standard estrogen/progestin contraceptive agents, this synthetic progestin appears to have no effect on the coagulation system as determined by standard laboratory tests.

Blood Coagulation↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Phasic maternal prolactin secretion during spontaneous labor is associated with cervical dilatation and second-stage uterine activity.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we attempted to determine the physiologic roles of prolactin (PRL) and hCG during labor. METHODS: Serial blood samples were collected from 19 women (15 multiparous and four nulliparous) before, during, and after labor; assayed for PRL and hCG; and compared with cervical dilatation and uterine contraction frequency. RESULTS: Prolactin levels decreased in association with progressive cervical dilatation during the first stage of labor and reached a nadir at full dilatation. Thereafter, PRL increased rapidly during the second stage of labor and peaked within 1 hour postpartum. Uterine contraction frequency also increased during the second stage and correlated significantly (r2 = 0.60; P = .0006) with levels of PRL. Levels of hCG increased during labor and peaked at about the time of delivery. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that phasic PRL secretion is associated with cervical dilatation and that after transition to the second stage of labor, uterine contraction frequency may be associated with the increase in PRL levels.

Cervix Uteri↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The acute release of maternal prolactin by instrumental cervical dilatation simulates the second stage of labor.

OBJECTIVE: We hypothesize that artificial stimulation of the cervix causes an acute secretion of maternal prolactin (PRL) that mimics PRL secretion during the second stage of human labor. METHODS: Eighteen women scheduled for first-trimester therapeutic abortion had a blood sample drawn at the following times: before and after laminaria tent (LT) insertion for cervical ripening, 18-24 hours later upon entry in the procedure room, after LT removal, during instrumental cervical dilatation and uterine evacuation by suction curretage, soon after evacuation, and 1/2 hour and 1 hour after evacuation. Local cervical anesthesia, intravenous analgesics, and sedation were administered before the procedure. Blood serum was assayed for PRL, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and estradiol. RESULTS: The initial PRL levels were 34 ng/mL +/- 4.2 standard error of the mean (SEM) and did not change after 18-24 hours of LT placement nor after LT removal. However, PRL increased significantly (t = 5.8; P = .00001) over basal levels by 204% +/- 15 at the time of instrumental dilatation and rose to 378% +/- 33 at 1/2 hour postevacuation. After 1 hour, PRL had declined to 173% +/- 10%. Serum levels of estradiol and hCG changed only after evacuation. CONCLUSION: Artificial stimulation of the cervix causes an immediate surge in PRL levels. We suggest that the acute increase in pituitary PRL secretion that occurs during the second stage of labor results from a neural signal from the cervix and not from endocrine changes associated with labor.

Abortion, Therapeutic↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Maternal prolactin secretion is phasic during induced term and post-term labor.

OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that regimens of labor induction do not alter the biphasic secretion of maternal prolactin (PRL) seen during spontaneous labor. METHODS: Serial blood samples drawn from 12 women before, during, and after induced labor were assayed for PRL and hCG and compared with cervical dilatation and uterine contraction frequency (UCF). Induction methods were cervical ripening with dinoprostone gel (Prepidil) followed by oxytocin infusion (n = 1), amniotomy followed by oxytocin (n = 4), oxytocin followed by amniotomy (n = 3), amniotomy only (n = 2), and oxytocin only (n = 2). RESULTS: Regardless of the induction method, PRL decreased with advancing cervical dilatation during the first stage of labor and reached a nadir at full dilatation. Prolactin levels then increased rapidly during the second stage, correlating significantly with the increase in UCF, and peaked at 1 hour postpartum before decreasing. Levels of hCG increased during labor and peaked just before or at delivery before rapidly decreasing. CONCLUSIONS: The biphasic secretion of maternal PRL is a fundamental characteristic of active term labor and occurs regardless of the method used to induce labor.

Amnion↗