PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

E Bendvold

Publications and source records attributed to E Bendvold.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Unsupplemented breastfeeding in the maternity ward. Positive long-term effects.

Feeding routines in the maternity ward were investigated in 204 mother-infant pairs before and in 203 after a change towards earlier, more frequent breastfeeding and elimination of routine substitute feeds. In the intervention group, the volume of breast-milk increased, while the use of formula and sugar solution decreased correspondingly. The infants in the intervention group lost more weight during the first 2-3 days (6.4% versus 4.6%), but regained their birth weight faster than the supplemented control group. The incidence of hyperbilirubinemia was not significantly different in the two groups. No cases of hypoglycemia were diagnosed. At 6 months, 87% of the infants in the intervention group were still fed at the breast, compared with 66% in the control group. The weight curves were comparable up to 9 months, when intervention group infants were found to weigh slightly less. These follow-up results must be interpreted with some caution due to the low but comparable response rate of the two groups. Thus the intervention study demonstrated that healthy, full-term infants usually have no need for supplements to their mothers' milk provided they have had a satisfactory start in life with early and frequent feeds at the breast. The follow-up study indicated that a more "physiological" start of breastfeeding may have had a positive long term effect on the overall duration of the lactational period.

Breast Feeding

Studies on requirements for trackpoints in CellSoft automated semen analysis.

The CellSoft (CRYO Resources, Ltd., New York, NY) system for computer-assisted sperm analysis was evaluated as to the appropriate settings for trackpoints. Fifty-eight human spermatozoa exhibiting complex swimming modes were chosen for analysis at room temperature. The accumulated measures for curvilinear velocity, linearity, mean and maximum amplitude of lateral head displacement, and beat cross frequency were determined over a range of trackpoints from 2 to 37. Stable measures (within the 95% confidence interval at 37 frames) were observed at 4 frames for curvilinear velocity and at 20 frames for linearity. The corresponding figure for mean amplitude of lateral head displacement and beat cross frequency was 8 frames. We conclude that the frame requirements concerning measures for curvilinear velocity/linearity and mean amplitude of lateral head displacement/beat cross frequency should be 20 and 8, respectively. Thus, 20 consecutive frames to analyze will suffice.

Computer Systems

The CellSoft computerized semen analysis system: sperm image sizes and velocity measurements, and the consequences for internal running conditions.

The CellSoft computer-assisted sperm analysis system was evaluated as to the optimal setting of three components of the internal running conditions. These 'set up' parameters were the lower setting for cell size range (PIXMIN), threshold velocity (MINVEL) and maximum velocity (MAXVEL). The decision for the PIXMIN setting was founded on observed sizes of sperm with low instant velocities combined with a study of the relationship between false positive observations for sperm and the PIXMIN setting. Our recommendation for this setting is three pixels. From the observation that 97.5% of immobilized sperm exhibit instant velocities of less than 15 microns sec-1, this is our proposal for the MINVEL setting. Correspondingly, the 97.5 percentile for instantaneous velocities in a population of some 14,000 cells (30 men with type 'a' motility, WHO) was 168 microns sec-1. We recommend that MAXVEL be set at this limit. Alternative settings for both MINVEL and MAXVEL are presented as some users may wish to apply other percentiles. From the above results a setting for PIXMAX at 25 pixels could be inferred. We recommend that these settings be applied in semen laboratories analysing human native samples at room temperature.

Computers

Social conditions of children born after artificial insemination by donor.

Few objective data are available concerning the social conditions of children born after artificial insemination by donor (AID). We have studied 341 consecutive AID children born of 261 women during a 13-year period. Data from hospital archives were compared with information from the National Register of Norway. The parameters studied included age-relations of parents and offspring, sex- and age-relations between siblings as well as the divorce rate in AID families. Median maternal age at birth of the first AID child was 30 years. Forty-three percent of AID children were born in families that already had children or that later obtained an additional child; the majority of these siblings were conceived by AID. Mean age difference between the closest related AID siblings was three years. Six of the 261 AID families were split by divorce during the study period. The results only reflect such information as can currently be obtained with maintenance of the promise of secrecy.

Adolescent

Swim-over: an alternative method for harvesting motile spermatozoa.

An alternative method for harvesting motile spermatozoa has been developed. Two plastic chambers, one with human semen and one with Earle's medium, were connected by a glass tube filled with cervical mucus. Semen samples were obtained from 18 men. Mid-cycle, sperm-free cervical mucus was provided by 18 women. During incubation aliquots were drawn from the culture chamber every hour for analysis of sperm characteristics. A pronounced increase in motility was observed. The number of penetrated sperms averaged 1 million after 3 hr. The percentage normal morphology increased from 42 +/- 11 to 73 +/- 15 (mean +/- SD). It is suggested that "swim-over" should prove useful for obtaining sperm of high quality. Further studies for refinement and evolution of the method are currently in progress.

Cervix Mucus

Duration of the latency period in preterm premature rupture of the membranes. Maternal and neonatal consequences of expectant management.

111 pregnancies complicated with premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) at a gestational age between 20 and 34 weeks, were observed prospectively with expectant management. Median duration of the latency period was 7 (0-109) days. The duration of the latency period was inversely related to the gestational age at PROM. Intra-uterine death ensued in 9.9% of the pregnancies. Clinical chorioamnionitis ensued in 12.6% of the pregnancies. Eight (7.6%) neonates developed sepsis. None of the babies died as a consequence of sepsis alone. Of the 43 (41.0%) neonates who developed idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS), 8 (7.6%) babies died. The perinatal mortality rate was 18.6%. The study seems to justify the expectant management of PROM pregnancies of less than 34 weeks of gestation.

Adult

Marital break-up among couples raising families by artificial insemination by donor.

The separation rate for Norwegian women who had given birth to children after artificial insemination by donor (AID, n = 227) was compared with the separation rate among all Norwegian women that met certain demographic criteria for equality (controls, n = 6,689). The criteria included identical year of maternal birth, similar age at marriage, and equally long period between marriage and birth of the first child. Mean duration of marriage at first delivery was 7.4 years, and mean age of the first child was 3.6 years at registration of the data. The incidence of marital break-up in the AID group was 1.8%, as compared with 3.0% to 3.7% in the control group. The difference is not significant (P approximately 0.15). The authors conclude that the separation rate in AID families does not differ significantly from the observed separation rate in a demographically matched population. The study highlights the importance of selecting a proper control group before statements of the magnitude of separations in AID families are made.

Adult

Variation in, and inter-relationship between, prostaglandin levels and other semen parameters in normal men.

In each of 135 ejaculates from 46 healthy men, semen volume, various sperm parameters and the level of prostaglandins (PGs) were determined. Data were analysed to determine the within- and between-subject variability, the effect of abstinence period and the correlation between different parameters. Data which did not reveal a Gaussian distribution were transformed logarithmically. For all variables the between-subject variance exceeded the variation within subjects (P less than 0.001). Variation in time of abstinence between 1 and 3 days influenced semen volume and sperm content as well as the content of 19-hydroxylated PGs, but did not affect sperm motility or the concentration of PGE or PGF. A significant negative correlation was found between the seminal content of PGE and PGF and the total sperm count as well as the sperm concentration. Sperm motility was related to the balance between the content of 19-hydroxy PGE and 19-hydroxy PGF but not to their separate concentrations. The ratio between 19-hydroxy PGE and 19-hydroxy PGF did not change when the time of abstinence differed. Synthesis of the two 19-hydroxylated PGs seemed to be regulated by the same mechanism, but their hydroxylation capacity still varied considerably between individuals.

Humans

Antibiotic prophylaxis for radical abdominal hysterectomy.

Records of 35 patients with cervical cancer Stage IB operated with radical abdominal hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy were surveyed retrospectively for incidence of febrile morbidity and site-related infections. Febrile morbidity was observed in 6 patients (17%). No surgical site-related infections were observed. It is concluded that radical abdominal hysterectomy in our hospital does not carry any significant risk of postoperative site-related infections and that prophylactic antibiotics cannot be recommended.

Adult

Concentration of prostaglandins in seminal fluid of fertile men.

Semen samples from 31 men, all of whom had fathered a child within the preceding year, were analysed for sperm characteristics and for the content of prostaglandins (PGs). Mean concentrations (mg/l) for the four main groups of PGs were 67.1 for PGE, 3.2 for PGF, 245.7 for 19-hydroxy-PGE and 13.3 for 19-hydroxy-PGF. The individual values were distributed over a relatively wide range but the extremely wide ranges reported by previous authors were not confirmed. Information is also presented concerning the relative proportions of the four isomers of PGF, as well as those of 19-hydroxy-PGF. Only sperm density was related to PG concentration in fertile men. Polyzoospermia was associated with a low PGE concentration.

Dinoprost

The effect of naproxen on the concentration of prostaglandins in human seminal fluid.

Whole ejaculates were examined for their content of prostaglandins (PGs) during medication with 250 mg naproxen three times daily for 2 weeks. Six volunteers delivered semen samples before, periodically during, and after the period of medication. During treatment with naproxen, the concentration of PGE, PGF, 19-hydroxy-PGE, and 19-hydroxy-PGF significantly decreased. One week after cessation of medication the PG concentration had returned almost to that found before treatment. The four 19-hydroxy-PGF compounds could be determined separately and the relation between them estimated. The proportion of 8 alpha-19-hydroxy-PGF2 alpha increased, whereas that of 8 beta-19-hydroxy-PGF1 alpha decreased significantly during the medication period. No significant influence of the treatment on sperm density or motility could be observed. It is concluded that treatment with naproxen, a potent inhibitor of PG synthesis, significantly reduces the concentration of all PGs present in human seminal fluid. The implication of the effect on human fertility is discussed.

Alprostadil

On the origin of prostaglandins in human seminal fluid.

To evaluate the origin of seminal prostaglandins, genital tract fluids were analysed for prostaglandin content in two clinical situations. Six patients delivered semen samples before and after vasectomy. In these patients the prostaglandin concentration remained essentially unchanged although sperm density decreased to zero. In another patient secretory products from the testis and epididymis, and the ejaculate representing mainly the secretion of the seminal vesicles and the prostate gland, were collected separately. Secretions obtained from the testis and epididymis did not contain detectable amounts of prostaglandins, whilst in the ejaculate from the same patient the concentration was within normal limits. The results of the study show that the testis and epididymis do not contribute significantly to the prostaglandin content of human seminal fluid. The previous assumption that the seminal vesicles are the main source of seminal prostaglandins is thus supported.

Epididymis