To investigate the possible role of circulatory levels of prolactin on the development of prostatic tumors, and to gain insight into the prolactin-androgen relationship, serum prolactin and testosterone were determined in 73 patients with newly diagnosed prostatic adenocarcinoma. Controls consisted of 32 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia before treatment, 19 age-matched controls, and 21 young individuals. Hormones were measured under standardized conditions by highly specific and sensitive radioimmunoassays. There was no difference in prolactin in the elderly men regardless of prostate pathology, but a significant increment was found in young controls. Individual prolactin values did not correlate with serum testosterone, and there was no statistical regression in prolactin values of patients in the age range between 50 and 80 years. In a second study, serum testosterone and prolactin were measured in 7 patients with prostate cancer and in 6 individuals with benign prostatic hyperplasia before and 30 and 60 minutes after stimulation with an iv bolus of 200 microgram TRH. Both hormones were within the normal range at time T0, and a significant stimulation of prolactin was achieved (p less than 0.001). Prolactin values did not differ between patients with benign and malignant prostatic disease. Thus, when investigating the role of prolactin in neoplastic prostatic growth in the human, it seems necessary to investigate receptor-mediated prostatic tumor responsiveness, and interferences with androgen converting enzymes on a cellular level, rather than circulating prolactin concentrations.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Maternal and fetal metabolic parameters in acute and chronic fetal malnutrition].

The respiratory pathophysiology of placental insufficiency is well understood, whereas the metabolic effects of chronical or acute malnutrition still need further evaluation. In a comprehensive study of 20 deliveries respiratory parameters and substrates of carbohydrate- and lipid-metabolism were analysed simultaneously from maternal blood at 4 cm dilatation, at cord clamping immediately delivery and 2 hours post partum as well as from arterial and venous umbical blood samples. Normal deliveries were compared with cases of fetal retardation and moderate acute fetal acidosis. For glucose, insulin, c-peptide and pyruvate a strong rise in maternal blood during labour was observed as well as for the non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), which have a high materno-fetal gradient. Arterio-venous differences of concentrations were found in the umbilical cord blood for glucose, pyruvate and NEFA. In cases of chronical insufficiency of the placenta especially elevated lactate levels were measured, whereas a moderate fetal acidosis obviously leads to an additional feto-maternal pyruvate transfer. The results lead to the conclusion that the fetal metabolism has considerable means of adaptation during delivery even under chronical or moderate acute stress conditions.

Blood Glucose↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Long-chain non-esterified fatty acids in pregnancy, labor and post partum].

Serum concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) remain unchanged up to the 21th week of gestation in comparison to non-pregnant women; also after the 37th gestational week only slightly increased concentrations are observed in women without labour. Under delivery, however, NEFA in maternal serum are approximately three times higher than those of non-pregnant women. This increase occurs only in NEFA with a chain-length of C12 to C18. Post partum values reach those of non-pregnant women within a few days. The concentrations of NEFA with a chain-length of C12 to C18 in umbilical artery and vein are significantly lower than in maternal serum.

Fatty Acids, Nonesterified↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Medicamentous obstetric analgesia with pentazocine in comparison with an untreated control group].

In order to establish whether a powerful analgesic such as pentazocine administered during birth may damage the child or have negative influence on the course of birth, the course of delivery was studied in 40 patients, 20 of whom were given a single dose of 30 mg pentazocine administered intramuscularly. There were no differences in duration of birth, CTG, blood gases post partum, or Apgar scores as compared to the untreated control group. As regards the pharmacokinetics, the serum pentazocine levels of the gravidae corresponded to those found in non-pregnant subjects; the levels found in blood from umbilical cords and new-borns were at the lower limit of detectability. Almost all of the gravidae described the obstetric analgesia as good or adequate. The principal side effect, mentioned by one-third of the pentazocine group, was slight fatigue. As regards the newborns, the fetal outcome in the two groups was the same.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Pattern of distribution of apolipoproteins A and B in the lipoprotein fractions of serum in pregnant patients and post partum].

Investigating the for gestationally caused changes and their restitution p. partum we determined in 104 women without metabolic disorders the apolipoproteins A and B respectively in serum, in the main lipoprotein fractions VLDL, IDL, LDL, HDL and in the "rest protein" remaining after separation of the lipoproteins from the serum. In gestation there is an increase in the serum level of apo A of about 30% (p less than 0.001) reaching its maximum in the middle period of pregnancy. The post partal restitution of these changes takes more than 5 weeks happening faster at primarily delactated women. Gestational changes concerning apo A are only caused by a 30% higher concentration of apo A in HDL (p less than 0.001). The serum level of apo B seems to increase continuously meanwhile gestation reaching its maximum from about 60% (p less than 0.001) at the term. The restitution of the gestational changes concerning apo B also requires more than 5 weeks showing no dependence from lactation. The changes of serum apo B are quantitatively most influenced by the 45% higher concentration of apo B in LDL (p less than 0.001), despite the marked changes of apo B in relation to the nonpregnant comparative group found in VLDL and IDL respectively with either 270% (each p less than 0.001). Hyperbetalipoproteinemia in pregnancy was proved in 32%, but in no case the ratio apo B/apo A showed pathological values, because of also raised levels of apo A in these women. By this astonishing phenomenon the gestational hyperlipoproteinemia is characterized as an autonomic metabolic situation, which represents no earlier described type according to the Fredrickson classification.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗