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Biomedical subjects

F Anthony

Publications and source records attributed to F Anthony.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Reverse transcription with nested polymerase chain reaction shows expression of basic fibroblast growth factor transcripts in human granulosa and cumulus cells from in vitro fertilisation patients.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a potent angiogenic factor that has also been implicated in granulosa cell and oocyte maturation. We now report the expression of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) encoding bFGF in human granulosa and cumulus cells obtained at oocyte recovery in in vitro fertilisation patients. It was necessary to use the sensitive technique of a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) after reverse transcription (RT) to detect transcripts. This finding in conjunction with a recent report showing the presence of transcripts for transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) in the same type of cells by PCR indicates that mechanisms are in place for controlling extracellular proteolysis and cell differentiation.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

The detrimental influence of functional ovarian cysts during in-vitro fertilization cycles.

Reviewing 780 in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles, where buserelin was commenced in the preceding luteal phase and human menopausal gonadotrophin on day 4 of the ensuing menses, 53 cycles were identified with sonolucent cysts (30-50 mm diameter). Of the latter 53 cycles, the serum oestradiol was significantly greater on day 4 in 22 cycles abandoned for poor follicular development than in 31 cycles which proceeded to oocyte retrieval (P less than 0.05). Of the 31 cycles proceeding to oocyte retrieval, nine had a day 4 serum oestradiol greater than 200 pmol/l (95th centile for day 4 oestradiol in patients without apparent cysts), and these cycles produced significantly fewer grade 1 embryos than the cycles with day 4 oestradiol levels less than or equal to 200 pmol/l (P less than 0.05). Six of the 53 cycles with cysts resulted in conception, and all of these cycles had a day 4 serum oestradiol less than 200 pmol/l. Among the 53 cycles with ovarian cysts, the serum progesterone on the day of abandonment in four cycles and on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin administration in one non-abandoned cycle, was above the range established for 104 cycles without cysts. No significant difference was seen in day 4 serum androstenedione levels, and the day 4 serum progesterone was less than 5 nmol/l in all but one patient. Functional activity of ovarian cysts is associated with an adverse influence on IVF cycles.

Androstenedione↗
PubMed1991

Follicular fluid prostaglandin E2:prostaglandin F2 alpha ratio in relation to outcome of matched oocyte.

The prostaglandins PGE2 and PGF2 alpha and the steroid hormones oestradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) were measured in 345 follicular fluids of patients undergoing ovarian hyperstimulation for in-vitro fertilization (IVF). The measured concentrations were analysed in relation to the outcome of the matched oocyte. Progesterone levels were significantly lower in the unfertilized group (P less than 0.005) compared to the fertilized group but there was no difference between 'pregnancy' and 'no pregnancy'. No differences were shown in either E2 levels or the E2:P ratio. No significant differences were shown among the groups in the concentration of either PGE2 or PGF2 alpha but there were highly significant differences shown when the PGE2:PGF2 alpha ratios were compared. The PGE2:PGF2 alpha ratio fell within a much narrower range for the 'pregnancy' group compared with any of the other groups. The ratio was significantly lower (P less than 0.001) when 'pregnancy' was compared with 'no pregnancy'. The range of the prostaglandin ratio found for the 'pregnancy' group may reflect the moment when conditions are optimal within the follicle for the associated oocyte to go on to establish pregnancy.

Dinoprost↗
PubMed1990

Production of prostaglandin E2 by human amnion in vitro in response to addition of media conditioned by microorganisms associated with chorioamnionitis and preterm labor.

To examine the potential role of bacterial infection in the cause of spontaneous preterm labor, human amnion cells in tissue culture were exposed to medium conditioned by culturing each of 21 microorganisms previously found in association with chorioamnionitis and preterm labor. At a final concentration of 0.1% bacterial conditioned medium, a significant stimulation of prostaglandin E2 production from amnion cells was observed for this range of microorganisms. Conditioned medium obtained from culturing Bacteroides fragilis caused a dose-related increase in prostaglandin production, final concentrations of 0.02% to 0.1% being stimulatory but greater concentrations (0.1% to 10%) causing a progressive inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. A similar concentration-related response in which stimulation was followed by inhibition occurred on addition of increasing concentrations of phospholipase A2 to amnion cells. These data suggest that bacterial phospholipase may release arachidonic acid from amnion leading to prostaglandin E2 synthesis, but excessive addition of phospholipase and consequent increased arachidonic acid availability may give rise to substrate inhibition of cyclooxygenase enzyme and inhibit prostaglandin E2 synthesis. Overall it appears that a wide variety of microorganisms associated with preterm labor may secrete phospholipase, which liberates amnion arachidonic acid for conversion to the oxytocic agent prostaglandin E2.

Amnion↗
PubMed1988

Reference values for 75 g oral glucose tolerance test in pregnancy.

A 75 g oral glucose tolerance test was performed in 212 pregnant women with no predisposing factors suggesting glucose intolerance to establish the normal pattern of glucose metabolism in pregnancy. Reference values for the test were established for the middle of pregnancy (14-20 weeks, n = 43) and late pregnancy (28-37 weeks, n = 168). One woman was excluded because she had diabetes that required treatment with insulin. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups for samples taken both one and two hours after the glucose load. Reference ranges for the interpretation of the glucose tolerance test in pregnancy should therefore take account of the period of gestation. Arbitrary upper limits of normal (represented by the 97.5 centile) two hours after a 75 g oral glucose load are proposed at 7.5 and 9.6 mmol/l for the second and third trimesters, respectively.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1988

The OVEIA assay, a simultaneous measurement of oestrone and pregnanediol glucuronides, for studying the treatment of infertility patients.

A new simple assay developed for establishing the limits of the fertile period was evaluated in infertility patients. This assay is a colorimetric method for measuring the oestrone glucuronide/pregnanediol glucuronide ratio. Steroid levels were assayed simultaneously and an index of their ratio was obtained in this dual analyte assay (DAA). Twenty subfertile women, receiving clomiphene citrate for ovulation induction, were monitored for the DAA index using early morning urine samples. Ten of these women were also monitored in a pretreatment cycle. A further 10 patients on an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) programme were assessed with the same assay. DAA ratios were found to correlated with follicular phase serum oestradiol levels. Peak DAA ratios dropped dramatically when significant rises in urinary luteinizing hormone concentrations occurred prior to ovulation. An association between high DAA ratios and adequate luteal phase activity was also established. In addition, the total volume of the three largest ovarian follicles, as measured by ultrasound, in IVF patients was found to correlate with DAA measurements.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

The suppression of ovarian function by the new oral contraceptive--Femodene.

Luteinising hormone, oestradiol and progesterone were measured in 36 women commencing Femodene contraception on the first day of menstruation. Of these subjects, 17 were not on any oral contraception during the preceding cycle, the remaining 19 changing from another oral contraceptive formulation. Full measurements were performed in the cycle preceding and the first cycle on Femodene. In another 3 subjects the measurements were made during only one cycle - the first on Femodene. The results confirm ample suppressive effects of Femodene on pituitary and ovarian function. The clinical side effects experienced by the 39 subjects are described.

Contraceptives, Oral, Combined↗
PubMed1987

Retinol binding protein as a small molecular weight marker of renal tubular function in diabetes mellitus.

A radioimmunoassay has been developed for the measurement in urine of retinol-binding protein (alpha 2-microglobulin) and used as an index of renal tubular function in adult Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetics and to define reference ranges in non-diabetic controls. There was a significantly greater excretion (P less than 0.001) of retinol-binding protein in the diabetic group compared to the controls in both overnight and daytime samples. There was a weak positive correlation with albumin excretion (r = 0.33; P less than 0.01) but no correlation with HbA1, duration of diabetes or arterial blood pressure. The results indicate that retinol-binding protein excretion may be increased in diabetic subjects without increased albumin excretion. The possibility therefore exists that renal tubular damage may occur early in diabetic nephropathy without apparent glomerular dysfunction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Early conceptual loss in subfertile patients.

The incidence of early conceptual loss was studied in 27 subfertile women by measuring their serum and urine hCG levels in the luteal phase. Eleven patients eventually had clinically confirmed pregnancies, nine of whom had had significant hCG elevations in previous menstrual cycles. In the remaining 16 patients, who have so far failed to achieve a clinical pregnancy, only three had had elevated hCG results. Thus 'apparent' early conceptual loss in non-pregnancy cycles was found to be more often associated with the fertile group of patients.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1985

Serum chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), schwangerschaftsprotein 1 (SP1), progesterone and oestradiol levels in patients with nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy.

Serum concentrations of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), schwangerschaftsprotein 1(SP1), progesterone and oestradiol were measured in 116 pregnant women experiencing varying degrees of nausea and vomiting or no nausea at all at between 9 and 16 weeks gestation. The patients were categorized into four groups, namely asymptomatic, nausea alone, nausea and vomiting and hyperemesis gravidarum. The distribution of levels for each group were examined in relation to the calculated normal ranges. Statistically higher hCG levels were found in out-patients with nausea alone or nausea and vomiting than in the asymptomatic women. No significant differences were found between the groups for any of the other measured variables, including the progesterone/oestradiol concentration ratio.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗
PubMed1983

Value of Schwangerschaftsprotein 1 (SP1) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) in the clinical management of threatened abortion.

Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and Schwangerschaftsprotein 1 (SP1) levels were measured in single serum samples from 60 patients admitted with vaginal bleeding in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. When based on ultrasound diagnoses the prediction of non-viability (the predictive value) was 97% for SP1 and 84% for PAPP-A. Whereas the prediction of viability (above -2SD of the normal range) with SP1 was 88% the value with PAPP-A was only 57%; the poorer result obtained with PAPP-A probably reflects its longer half-life. Pregnancy outcome is not related to the duration of bleeding.

Abortion, Threatened↗
PubMed1983

Development of a radioimmunoassay for pregnancy-associated plasma protein A and establishment of normal levels in the first trimester of pregnancy.

An accelerated double antibody method has been developed for the radioimmunoassay of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) in serum. The workable range for the assay was 0.04-1.8 mg/l of serum. PAPP-A levels were determined in single serum samples from 110 women with prospective normal pregnancies of between 7 and 14 weeks' gestation. The level of pregnancy specific beta 1 glycoprotein (SP1) was also measured in these samples and normal ranges for PAPP-A and SP1 were constructed from the results obtained.

Female↗
PubMed1983

Comparison of serum and urine hCG levels with SP1 and PAPP-A levels in patients with first-trimester vaginal bleeding.

Serum levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in patients with threatened abortion are compared to the values in normal pregnancy. The predictive value was 93%, the sensitivity was 84%, and the prediction of gestational viability was 81% for the threatened group. These results compare favorably with urinary pregnancy testing and are similar to those obtained with the assay of Schwangerschaftsprotein I. Human chorionic gonadotropin was, however, a much better predictor of pregnancy outcome than pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A.

Abortion, Threatened↗
PubMed1981

Thermal behavior of stearoylsphingomyelin-cholesterol dispersions.

The thermotropic behavior of aqueous dispersions of stearoylsphingomyelin-cholesterol mixtures was examined by high-sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry. When less than 20 mol % cholesterol was mixed with the sphingomyelin and the samples were held at room temperature for 7-9 days before the initiation of calorimetric measurements, a sharp endotherm at 56-57 degrees C and a broad endotherm at 35-50 degrees C were observed. In addition, samples containing 15-20 mol % stearol exhibited a sharp endotherm at 43-45 degrees C. If samples were held at room temperature for less than 2 h before the initiation of calorimetric analysis, the 56-57 degrees C endotherm was usually not seen. Instead, a combination of broad and sharp endotherms over the range of 35-50 degrees C was observed. Occasionally, exotherms were also observed within this temperature range. These results, along with those from previous studies, imply that a cholesterol-rich phase coexists with a cholesterol-poor phase in which the sphingomyelin molecules may exist in two distinctly different gel states.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning↗
PubMed1980

The variable influence of an alpha component in pregnancy plasma on four different assay systems for the measurement of pregnancy-specific beta1 glycoprotein.

Four methods (radioimmunoassay, electroimmunoassay, laser nephelometry and kinetic immunoturbidimetry) have been evaluated for the measurement of proteins with pregnancy-specific beta1 glycoprotein immunoreactivity. The influence of two maternal plasma proteins with different electrophoretic mobilities (alpha2 and beta1) but with similar antigenic determinants has been assessed in each assay system. The radioimmunoassay method, which utilises a homogeneous preparation of pregnancy-specific beta1 glycoprotein for the preparation of iodinated tracer, and the kinetic immunoturbidimetric assay which measures antigen-antibody complex formation over the first minute of the reaction, were both considerably more specific for the beta1 component of pregnancy specific beta1 glycoprotein immunoreactivity than the laser nephelometric or electroimmunoassay methods.

Antigen-Antibody Reactions↗