PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Egarter

Publications and source records attributed to C Egarter.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Molecular cloning of the human Hand1 gene/cDNA and its tissue-restricted expression in cytotrophoblastic cells and heart.

The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) factor Hand1 plays a role in the developing chicken heart and is required for trophoblast giant cell differentiation and cardiac looping of mouse embryonic development. Here, we report the cloning of the human Hand1 cDNA and gene from a heart-specific cDNA library and a genomic lambda-DNA library, respectively. We present the nucleotide sequence of a 1.75kb cDNA clone, encoding the presumptive 215 amino acid human Hand1 protein, and show homology comparison of the conserved bHLH region between different species. In vitro transcription-translation of Hand1 mRNA and analysis of protein size suggest that the Hand1 polypeptide is (post)translationally modified. By Southern blot analysis we demonstrate that the isolated genomic DNA clone harbours the entire Hand1 gene and describe molecular structure and sequences of the two 799 and 938bp exons and the single 1.56kb intron. The expression pattern of the mRNA in different human tissues revealed that Hand1 transcripts are restricted to the heart, suggesting that the protein could be required for cardiac-specific gene transcription and function in adults. Hand1 transcripts were undetectable in a non-tumorigenic villous trophoblast cell line, immunopurified cytotrophoblasts undergoing in vitro differentiation, and first trimester placental tissue, suggesting that the transcription factor is not involved in the development of villous and extravillous trophoblast cell lineages. Hand1 mRNA, however, was abundantly expressed in cytotrophoblastic Jeg-3 and BeWo cells, suggesting that Hand1 could be required for early trophoblast differentiation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled multicenter evaluation of efficacy and dose finding of midodrine hydrochloride in women with mild to moderate stress urinary incontinence: a phase II study.

Midodrine is a potent and selective alpha1-receptor agonist and its potential to increase urethral closure pressure could be useful in the treatment of female stress incontinence. The aim of this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled multicenter study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of midodrine for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence. The primary criterion of efficacy was the maximum urethral closure pressure at rest. Voiding diaries, symptom and incontinence questionnaires and patient/investigator global assessment were also used to evaluate its efficacy. After 4 weeks of treatment no significant changes in MUCP were found. The global assessment by the patient and investigator did indicate that patients on active treatment had a more positive assessment than the placebo group. In conclusion, midodrine did not cause significant improvements in urodynamic parameters, but there were subjective improvements in some of the patients in the treated groups. Furthermore midodrine was well tolerated.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
PubMed1998

Concomitant use of glucocorticoids: a comparison of two metaanalyses on antibiotic treatment in preterm premature rupture of membranes.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate whether the demonstrated beneficial effects of antibiotics on maternal and neonatal morbidity are altered when glucocorticoids are part of the treatment of preterm premature rupture of membranes. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a metaanalysis of five published, randomized trials of antibiotic treatment in preterm premature rupture of membranes in which glucocorticoids were used as additional treatments and compared the results with those of a previously published metaanalysis of antibiotic treatment in preterm premature rupture of membranes, which excluded studies with concomitant glucocorticoids. Primary outcomes included chorioamnionitis, postpartum endometritis, neonatal sepsis, respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, and neonatal mortality. A logistic regression analysis was performed to test whether glucocorticoids significantly influenced the effect of antibiotic treatment. RESULTS: Among the 509 patients from five trials on antibiotic and glucocorticoid treatment published between 1986 and 1993 antibiotic therapy did not show any significant effect on any of the outcomes analyzed. In contrast, antibiotic therapy without concomitant use of glucocorticoids significantly reduced the odds of chorioamnionitis, postpartum endometritis, neonatal sepsis, and intraventricular hemorrhage by 62%, 50%, 68%, and 50%, respectively. The logistic regression analysis showed that glucocorticoids significantly diminished the effect of antibiotic treatment on chorioamnionitis and neonatal sepsis. CONCLUSION: Glucocorticoids appear to diminish the beneficial effects of antibiotics in the treatment of preterm premature rupture of membranes. A careful selection of patients who are likely to benefit from both therapies is therefore recommended.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1998

Cytokine and prostaglandin production by amnion cells in response to the addition of different bacteria.

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to evaluate the effect of Escherichia coli, Bacteroides fragilis, Mycoplasma hominis, and Staphylococcus aureus on cytokine and prostaglandin production by amnion cells in vitro. STUDY DESIGN: Amnion cells were obtained from women undergoing elective cesarean section before the onset of labor and cultured in a primary cell culture. Confluent amnion cells were incubated with heat-inactivated bacteria in different concentrations (10(1) to 10(6) colony-forming units/ml) for 48 hours. Samples for quantification of interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and prostaglandin E2 were collected at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours. RESULTS: Under basal conditions, minor amounts of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 were detectable. Incubation of amnion cells with E. coli enhanced the secretion of interleukin-8 and also induced an transient increase of prostaglandin E2 in a dose-dependent manner. B. fragilis produced an increase in the secretion of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8. M. hominis and S. aureus did not cause an increase in either interleukin-6, interleukin-8, or prostaglandin E2. CONCLUSION: The gram-negative bacteria E. coli and B. fragilis stimulated interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 to a greater degree than the other bacteria investigated in this study. This finding may be of clinical interest in the onset of preterm birth.

Amnion↗
PubMed1998

Successful treatment of a heterotopic pregnancy by sonographically guided instillation of hyperosmolar glucose.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a new conservative approach in the treatment of heterotopic pregnancy. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: A university hospital and an outpatient IVF center. INTERVENTION(S): Transvaginal ultrasonography-guided puncture of the ectopic gestational sac and instillation of hyperosmolar glucose. RESULT(S): The ectopic pregnancy resolved without further intervention. The intrauterine pregnancy resulted in a full-term live birth. CONCLUSION(S): Transvaginal injection of hyperosmolar glucose may be an effective conservative treatment for unruptured ectopic pregnancies in cases of heterotopic pregnancy.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Lectin histochemistry of fallopian tube epithelial cells. Relation to ovum transport and ovum pickup.

OBJECTIVE: Data on histochemical and biochemical characteristics of the human oviduct are scarce. The exact mechanisms of ovum transport and pickup are not fully understood. STUDY DESIGN: Human fallopian tubes were obtained and prepared for histochemistry. We analyzed the distribution of negatively charged groups on the oviduct epithelium and cumulus cells and examined the distribution of glycoconjugates by means of lectin histochemistry. We tested the possible influence of poly-L-lysine and considered ABO blood group expression since these characteristics are determined by specific terminal sugar residues. RESULTS: A negatively charged glycocalyx exists on tubal epithelial cells and cumulus cells. Adherence by affinities similar to sugar-lectin binding forces could be disproven in case of commonly used lectins. Poly-L-lysine inhibited the cationic binding reaction but did not influence lectin binding. The blood group A glycoprotein presents terminal D-N-acetyl-galactosamine residues, which are demonstrated by HPA lectin binding. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that it is unlikely that electrostatic interactions play a major role in ovum transport or pickup. Since poly-L-lysine has been described as inhibiting ovum transport, sugar-lectin binding affinities seem not to operate in ovum transport or pickup.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1997

Interleukin-1 stimulates tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) release from cytotrophoblastic BeWo cells independently of induction of the TNF-alpha mRNA.

Constitutive tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression (TNF-alpha) has been detected in first trimester trophoblast cells and differentiated syncytiotrophoblasts. However, molecules which induce TNF-alpha release from these cells and their mechanism of action have not been defined. We show for the first time that interleukin-1 (IL-1), a regulator of trophoblast development, induces TNF-alpha expression in proliferating cytotrophoblastic cells and purified term trophoblasts. Both IL-1alpha and beta stimulate TNF-alpha release from BeWo cells and TNF-alpha mRNA was transiently expressed. In growth-arrested/differentiated BeWo cells TNF-alpha mRNA was detectable without inducer, however, in the presence of IL-1beta TNF-alpha secretion was weakly stimulated compared to proliferating cells. Cycloheximide strongly increased IL-1beta-induced TNF-alpha mRNA concentration indicating that de novo protein synthesis is not required for TNF-alpha gene expression. However, treatment with cycloheximide did not prevent IL-1beta-stimulated release of TNF-alpha, indicating that the cytokine can regulate TNF-alpha secretion at a posttranslational level, independently of TNF-alpha mRNA induction. Besides demonstration of this novel mechanism of IL-1-stimulated TNF-alpha expression, our data indicate an important role of IL-1 in TNF-alpha production of cytotrophoblastic cells.

Choriocarcinoma↗
PubMed1997

Reply

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Hypoxia downregulates continuous and interleukin-1-induced expression of human chorionic gonadotropin in choriocarcinoma cells.

The effects of hypoxia on JEG-3, BeWo, and JAr cells were investigated and it was demonstrated that choriocarcinoma cells can be used as a model to study the molecular mechanism of hypoxia-mediated repression of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Cells were maintained under hypoxia (3.5 per cent O2) for 72 h without loss of variability, as demonstrated by the fact that 93-98 per cent of the cells excluded trypan blue. Up to 48 h, cell growth was not significantly influenced by hypoxia, and analysis by flow cytometry did not reveal major changes in cell cycle distribution. JEG-3, BeWo, and JAr cells which were grown for 48 h under hypoxia secreted 81, 67, and 71 per cent less hCG than cells cultivated under normoxic conditions. The extent of hCG reduction was dependent on the oxygen concentration. Moreover, release of the hormone from hypoxic JAr cells was not stimulated upon addition of interleukin-1 (IL-1). Treatment of JEG-3 cells with methotrexate (MTX) led to a 4.3-fold augmentation in hCG secretion and to an increase in the amount of G0/G1 cells. However, when cells were cultured in the presence of MTX and hypoxia, hCG secretion decreased 10-fold and beta hCG mRNA declined to almost undetectable levels suggesting that downregulation of beta hCG mRNA is the major cause of diminished hCG release under hypoxic conditions.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1997

In vitro cytokine and prostaglandin production by amnion cells in the presence of bacteria.

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to evaluate the effect of group B streptococci on cytokine and prostaglandin production by amnion cells in vitro. STUDY DESIGN: Amnion cells from placentas obtained immediately after primary cesarean section were incubated for 48 hours with heat-inactivated group B streptococci at increasing concentrations. Samples for quantification of interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and prostaglandin E2 were collected at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours. RESULTS: Basal cytokine production was not demonstrable for any of the cytokines investigated. Incubation of amnion cells with bacterial antigen led to a significant increase in interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 production, whereas secretion of interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha was not enhanced. In contrast to cytokines, basal prostaglandin E2 production was measurable but failed to increase after addition of antigen. CONCLUSION: Amnion cells can be stimulated to secrete interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 in response to streptococcal antigen. However, this rise in cytokines does not induce an increase in prostaglandin E2. This may be explained by the lack of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production, two cytokines that have been shown to activate prostaglandin E2 secretion by amnion cells.

Amnion↗
PubMed1997

Contraceptive knowledge and attitudes of Austrian adolescents after mass media reports linking third-generation oral contraceptives with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism.

We performed a representative survey to determine the level of knowledge of 1,010 Austrian adolescents aged 14 to 24 years about selected facts relating to the recent massive news coverage of the increase in the risk of venous thromboembolism in users of third-generation oral contraceptives and to assess the contraceptive behavior of this population. The overall use rate of oral contraceptives and condoms had increased significantly between 1991 and 1996. Sixty-six percent of the adolescents surveyed stated not having heard or read any media reports on oral contraceptives. Only 8% of those who had knew that most reports focused on the pill as a possible cause of venous thromboembolism, whereas the majority of respondents indicated that the media conveyed doubts regarding the health safety of oral contraceptives in general. Nearly half of adolescents were unable to define what a thrombosis was. Thus, although the mass media play an important role in transmitting medical information, the dissemination of practical, accurate advice on the risks of a drug and competent patient counseling is reserved for the health care professionals.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Transfer of erythropoietin across the placenta perfused in vitro.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the placental passage of erythropoietin in a placental perfusion model ex vivo. METHODS: In an open system 18 placentas were perfused on both the maternal and the fetal side. Erythropoietin and a reference substance were added to either the maternal or fetal perfusion medium. In the first series of experiments, radiolabeled erythropoietin was added to the perfusion medium in four different concentrations to help determine the transfer rate of erythropoietin. Based on the results of these experiments unlabeled erythropoietin was added to the perfusate in three different concentrations. Radiolabeled erythropoietin was used in addition to erythropoietin because measuring radioactivity in a gamma counter is less expensive than measuring by immunoassay. RESULTS: Accumulation of radioactivity in the venous portion of the fetal circuit was only 3.21% of the activity added to the maternal circuit. No evidence of transfer of erythropoietin to the contralateral compartment was noted, regardless of whether the test substance was added maternally or fetally. These results were independent of the concentration used. The reference compound antipyrine showed a mean transfer rate of 27.9%, which is in keeping with previous results. CONCLUSION: There is no transport of erythropoietin across fetal membranes. This finding is particularly remarkable in view of results published recently indicating the placenta as a site of erythropoietin production. The lack of its transport across the human placenta is most likely due to its high molecular weight.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed1997

Proliferative cell activity in correlation to human chorionic gonadotrophin release of trophoblast tissue of tubal pregnancy.

The degree to which the relative rise of serum human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) concentration was related to proliferative cell activity and the biological vitality of tubal pregnancy was investigated. Salpingectomy was performed in 15 patients diagnosed as having non-ruptured tubal pregnancy. Serum HCG was evaluated twice preoperatively, with a 48-h time interval. Proliferative cell activity was measured through the use of the cell proliferation marker 'Ki-67'. A significant correlation between the relative increase in HCG over a 48-h period, independent of the initial serum HCG value, and the biological cell activity of the trophoblast was shown. Furthermore, it became evident that cell activity was also correlated to the intracellular HCG of the trophoblast. The relative increase in serum HCG over a period of 48 h can serve as a parameter for the biological activity of the trophoblast in tubal pregnancies.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1997

A meta-analysis of low dose aspirin for the prevention of intrauterine growth retardation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine more precisely the effect of prophylactic low dose aspirin on intrauterine growth retardation and perinatal mortality. DESIGN: Meta-analysis of 13 published randomised clinical trials. METHODS: We searched 18 medical databases, including MEDLINE since 1964 and EMBASE since 1974, review articles and the references from each retrieved report to identify all studies evaluating the effect of aspirin in pregnancy and including both intrauterine growth retardation and perinatal mortality as outcome measures. RESULTS: Among 13,234 women from 13 studies between 1985 and 1994, aspirin showed a significant reduction in intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) (OR 0.82; 95% CI 0.72-0.93; P = 0.003) and a nonsignificant reduction in perinatal mortality (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.66-1.08; P = 0.18). Subgroup analyses revealed that aspirin was effective at lower doses between 50 and 80 mg/day (IUGR: OR 0.87; 95% CI 0.76-0.99; mortality: OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.70-1.16), but that the preventive effect was greater at higher doses between 100 and 150 mg/day (IUGR: OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.22-0.59; mortality: OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.16-0.97) and among women entered before the 17th week of gestation (IUGR: OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.21-0.58; mortality: OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.17-1.06). We did not identify any specific subgroup of women most likely to benefit from aspirin treatment. CONCLUSION: The results of this meta-analysis showed that early aspirin treatment reduced the risk of intrauterine growth retardation. Low dose aspirin should not be used routinely in pregnant women until those most likely to benefit from aspirin treatment have been clearly identified.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed1996

Abdominal dissemination of malignant cells with hysteroscopy.

BACKGROUND: The increase in uterine pressure during hysteroscopy may lead to dissemination of malignant cells into the abdominal cavity. CASE: In a patient with adenocarcinoma of the endometrium, hysteroscopy was performed after peritoneal cytology had been obtained by washing with saline. In contrast to this first washing, a second peritoneal lavage immediately after hysteroscopy led to positive cytology. CONCLUSION: Viability and peritoneal implantation of these disseminated cells are questionable. However, routine hysteroscopy in cases of suspected endometrial carcinoma should not be recommended.

Abdomen↗