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Biomedical subjects

G Bacigalupo

Publications and source records attributed to G Bacigalupo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Quantitative relationships between pain intensities during labor and beta-endorphin and cortisol concentrations in plasma. Decline of the hormone concentrations in the early postpartum period.

In 38 women with uncomplicated vaginal delivery at term, the different pain intensities during spontaneous labor were correlated to the plasma beta-endorphin and cortisol concentrations simultaneously examined. The pain intensities subjectively assessed were numerically categorized. The women in labor categorized to pain intensities 0 to III were in comparable stages of cervical dilatation. The hormone concentrations were measured by means of radioimmunoassay. The lowest hormone levels were found after abolition of pains of labor by epidural anesthesia: beta-endorphin 42 pg/ml, cortisol 318 ng/ml (mean values). The hormone concentrations rose progressively with increasing intensities of labor pain. The highest concentrations were observed in the first few minutes after delivery i.e. immediately after cessation of the extreme pains of expulsive labor: beta-endorphin 118 pg/ml, cortisol 449 ng/ml. Statistically significant, positive correlations were calculated between beta-endorphin and cortisol concentrations in plasma and the self-reported pain intensities (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.01 resp.). Thus, highly elevated beta-endorphin levels in plasma do not abolish pain, probably they modulate it. Within the first four hours postpartum the concentrations of the two stress-stimulated hormones dropped rapidly. The endorphin level fell from 118 pg/ml immediately after delivery to 38 pg/ml in the above mentioned period, the cortisol level from 449 ng/ml to 302 ng/ml. One to three days after delivery the beta-endorphin and cortisol concentrations in maternal plasma were largely normalized, this means they then approximately corresponded to the values being found in nonpregnant women under normal conditions.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1989

Myoglobin in third trimester amniotic fluid of human pregnancy--a potential indicator of fetal hypoxia.

195 amniotic fluid samples from the third trimester were examined for their content of myoglobin by means of radio-immunoassay. 151 of the samples were obtained intrapartum, the rest (44) was taken antepartum by transabdominal amniocentesis within one week prior to delivery. Depending on the myoglobin levels measured, different amniotic fluid groups were defined: (A) amniotic fluids containing no myoglobin or traces of it (less than 3 ng/ml), (B) amniotic fluids with moderately elevated myoglobin levels (3-10 ng/ml), (C) amniotic fluids with high myoglobin levels (greater than 10 ng/ml). Myoglobin levels above 3 ng/ml could be measured in 98 of the 151 samples taken intrapartum. In the amniotic fluids drawn antepartum the proportion of "myoglobin-positive" samples (greater than 3 ng/ml) amounted to only 22.7% (10 out of 44 samples). In pregnancies with amniotic fluids showing high myoglobin levels intrapartum, the prevalence of meconium staining of the samples, pathological cardiotocograms intrapartum and metabolic acidoses in umbilical artery blood samples was significantly higher than in pregnancies with myoglobin-negative amniotic fluids. The frequency of cesarean sections for fetal distress rose with increasing myoglobin levels in amniotic fluid, being 5.7, 13, and 18.2% in Group A, B and C respectively. In the pregnancies in which the amniotic fluid samples were taken antepartum, the prevalence of meconium-stained amniotic fluid increased with elevating amniotic fluid myoglobin (p less than 0.05, Group A vs. Group C). The frequency of cesarean sections for fetal distress and of neonatal depression immediately after delivery was considerably heightened in the cases with myoglobin-positive amniotic fluids antepartum compared to those with myoglobin-negative liquor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amniocentesis↗
PubMed1987

Plasma immunoreactive beta-endorphin, ACTH and cortisol concentrations in mothers and their neonates immediately after delivery--their relationship to the duration of labor.

In 29 cases of vaginal delivery with normal outcome and 4 cases of cesarean section, the concentrations of beta-endorphin, ACTH and cortisol were determined in maternal venous and umbilical venous plasma immediately postpartum. According to duration of labor and mode of delivery the cases examined were classified into three groups: Group A (18 cases) = vaginal delivery of less than 10 hours' duration, Group B (11 cases) = vaginal delivery of more than 10 hours' duration of labor, Group C (4 cases) = cesarean section under general anesthesia. With the exception of one, the deliveries took place at term. The 33 neonates were in a very good clinical state 5 minutes after parturition (11 Saling points as median value). For measurement of the hormone concentrations radioimmunoassays were used. In Group a the mean beta-endorphin concentration in maternal plasma amounted to 150.9 +/- 16.3 pg/ml, that in neonatal plasma to 239.2 +/- 23.5 pg/ml (means +/- SEM). In Group B plasma beta-endorphin, both maternal and neonatal, was slightly higher than in Group A: 153.0 +/- 12.0 pg/ml (maternal) and 260.9 +/- 37.1 pg/ml (neonatal). The differences between maternal and neonatal beta-endorphin levels were statistically significant: Group A p less than 0.01, Group B p less than 0.05; chi 2-test. The mean ACTH concentrations in the plasma of the newborn infants were also found to be considerably higher compared with those in the plasma of their mothers: Group A 78.2 +/- 16.5 pg/ml (maternal) and 98.0 +/- 23.3 pg/ml (neonatal); Group B 98.0 +/- 20.1 pg/ml (maternal) and 165.8 +/- 39.6 pg/ml (neonatal).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Pyruvate kinase in human amniotic fluid--a new indicator of fetal maturity in late pregnancy.

During the second and third trimesters increasing activities of the glycolytic enzyme pyruvate kinase are to be found in human amniotic fluid. At term (37 to 42 weeks), a very steep rise in amniotic fluid pyruvate kinase can be noticed, which may serve as an additional prenatal indicator of fetal maturity. The presumable main sources of the enzyme in amniotic fluid are the epithelium cells of the skin, the respiratory tract and the amnion. In meconium stained amniotic fluid no pyruvate kinase activity is detectable. Addition of meconium to amniotic fluid samples with previously present pyruvate kinase activity leads to a disappearance of the enzyme activity.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1984

Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1), glucose tolerance and neonatal outcome in gestational diabetic and non-diabetic mothers.

Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1) was determined in three subject groups: 69 non-diabetic mothers who were delivered of normal weight infants at term (Group I), 33 non-diabetic mothers who were delivered of macrosomic infants (greater than 4000 g) at term (Group II), 51 gestational diabetics in the 3rd trimester--before onset of the diabetes therapy (Group III). In all three groups diagnostic assessment of glucose regulation was done by means of the oral glucose tolerance test during the 3rd trimester. Glycosylated hemoglobin was assayed by cation-exchange chromatography in small disposable columns. The mean values and standard deviations of HbA1 were 6.51 +/- 0.46% in Group I, 6.59 +/- 0.42% in Group II and 7.11 +/- 0.56% in Group III. Between the HbA1 values of Group III (gestational diabetes) on the one hand and those of the non-diabetic groups I and II on the other, there were highly significant differences (p less than 0.001; x2-test). HbA1 values above 7.4%--i.e. above mean + 2 s. d. of HbA1 in the non-diabetic mothers--were with 95% probability abnormal and indicative of gestational diabetes. HbA1 values between 7.0% and 7.4% were suspected of impaired glucose tolerance and gestational diabetes respectively. Between the HbA1 levels in the non-diabetic groups and those in the gestational diabetic group there was a vast zone with overlapping values. HbA1 data situated in this transitional area could be found both in non-diabetic subjects and also in those with abnormal glucose regulation. HbA1 values below 6.0% excluded gestational diabetes or otherwise impaired glucose tolerance with a high degree of probability.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1979

Unconjugated and total estriol in human amniotic fluid--changes in the ratios between the two estriol levels with advancing gestational age.

In 172 amniotic fluid samples of the early second and the third trimester from 115 normal pregnancies the concentrations of unconjugated and total estriol were measured by means of radioimmunoassay. The mean concentrations of unconjugated estriol in amniotic fluid rose from 1.22 ng./ml. in the gestational weeks 15-18 to 7.82 ng./ml. in the gestational weeks 37-40, that is 6.4 times the former value. In contrast, the mean concentrations of total estriol in amniotic fluid increased more strongly, namely from 27.51 ng./ml. in the gestational weeks 15-18 to 777.15 ng./ml. in the gestational weeks 37-40, that is 28.3 times the former value. With advancing pregnancy the proportion of unconjugated estriol to total estriol in amniotic fluid fell, obeying a significant correlation, from 4.43% in the gestational weeks 15-18 to 1.01% in the gestational weeks 37-40. The presumable reasons for this are the rising conjugation rate of estriol excreted with fetal urine, concomitant to fetal maturation, and the relative transfer diminution of unconjugated estriol from maternal plasma into amniotic fluid with the advance of gestation.

Amniotic Fluid↗