Biomedical subjects

G Saade

Publications and source records attributed to G Saade.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1993

The use of color flow Doppler ultrasonography to diagnose umbilical cord entanglement in monoamniotic twin gestations.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate the use of color flow Doppler ultrasonography to identify umbilical cord entanglement. STUDY DESIGN: Our case series consisted of three monoamniotic twin gestations. Color flow Doppler was used prospectively to study the umbilical cords. RESULTS: Apparent "branching" of the umbilical artery, with evidence of two different heart rates in the two segments of the branch, was seen in all cases. Compression of the umbilical vein was identified by extremely high blood velocity. CONCLUSIONS: Color flow Doppler is useful in the identification of umbilical cord entanglement in monoamniotic twin pregnancies and may provide a method of monitoring the fetuses for evidence of cord compression.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Microcolposcopy. When and how to do it.

Microcolposcopy is a valuable accessory technique for the busy colposcopist and is particularly helpful in locating the new squamocolumnar junction. Microcolposcopy is an evaluation of cytology, and colposcopy is a study of vascular and growth patterns. The two methods are complementary.

Biopsy↗

PubMed1992

Ultrasound-guided blood sampling of rabbit fetuses.

A rabbit animal model for hemolytic disease of the newborn has been previously described. However, evaluating the effects of this disease was limited to histologic and hematologic examinations of liveborn kitlings. To assess the feasibility of in utero blood sampling, we performed ultrasound-guided cardiac sampling of 50 fetuses in 16 New Zealand White does on days 26 and 27 of gestation. The overall rate of successful sampling was 80%. The procedure-related mortality declined to 35% by the third phase of the study. The mean (+/- SD) hematocrit (%) and reticulocyte values (#/100 RBCs) on day 26 were 26.3 +/- 3.3 and 35.6 +/- 5.1, respectively; values on day 27 were 31.3 +/- 4.9 and 27.5 +/- 7.6. The results of this study suggest that hematologic data can be obtained from rabbit fetuses in the majority of cases with only moderate fetal loss.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Bernard-Soulier syndrome in pregnancy; a report of four pregnancies in one patient, and review of the literature.

Bernard-Soulier Syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive bleeding disorder characterized by a normal or low platelets count, the presence of giant platelets, and a prolonged bleeding time. Only five pregnant patients with this disease have been previously reported. Most of the complications seem to occur in the intrapartum or postpartum period. In some patients the disease can go unrecognized until the third or fourth decade. Our patient had two uneventful pregnancies, one pregnancy with early postpartum hemorrhage, and another pregnancy with intrapartum and late postpartum bleeding. Although the optimum mode of delivery is not clear yet, the vaginal route should be considered unless otherwise obstetrically indicated. Management of active bleeding episodes is also debatable; it includes platelets transfusions, desmopressin (DDAVP), antifibrinolytic therapy, and ecbolic agents for postpartum hemorrhage.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Brucellosis in pregnancy.

Brucellosis in pregnancy is a rare entity. It has been associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion in animals and possibly humans. Among six patients with brucellosis in pregnancy, one requested termination of the pregnancy in the first trimester, one had a spontaneous abortion at 12 weeks that could not be directly related to brucellosis, and four continued their pregnancies with no significant increase in maternal or neonatal morbidity or mortality.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

Comparison of the pretranslational regulation of FSH synthesis by gonadal steroids in rats and mice.

There are significant differences between rats and mice in the gonadal regulation of several aspects of gonadotroph function. To investigate whether these extend to the pretranslational regulation of FSH synthesis by gonadal steroids, we have measured FSH-beta mRNA levels following gonadectomy and sex-steroid replacement and have related these to serum and pituitary FSH as a reflection of overall hormone synthesis. In ovariectomized rats, FSH-beta mRNA levels increased by 8 h, decreased, and then rose progressively over the next 28 days. A similar pattern of response was observed in orchidectomized rats. In mice, there were progressive increases in FSH-beta mRNA levels in both males and females following gonadectomy, without evidence of the early peaks observed in rats. In both species, the change in FSH-beta mRNA levels after gonadectomy was greater in females than in males. These changes in FSH-beta mRNA following gonadectomy were paralleled by changes in the serum FSH concentration. In ovariectomized female rats and mice, pituitary FSH stores increased by 8 h and 3 days respectively, whereas in male rats, pituitary FSH content did not rise until 10 days after orchidectomy. The most striking species difference was the marked and prolonged reduction of pituitary FSH after orchidectomy of mice. Treatment of rats and mice from the time of ovariectomy, with a dose of oestradiol that prevents increases in serum LH, only partially attenuated the rises in FSH-beta mRNA and serum FSH and did not prevent the increase in pituitary FSH content. Treatment of intact or orchidectomized rats with testosterone suppressed FSH-beta mRNA levels to 50% below intact control values without affecting pituitary FSH content.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1989

The interaction of gonadotropin-releasing hormone and estradiol on luteinizing hormone and prolactin gene expression in female hypogonadal (hpg) mice.

We have investigated the interaction of estrogen with GnRH on the regulation of LH subunit mRNA in female hypogonadal (hpg) mice receiving constant frequency and amplitude pulsatile GnRH treatment for up to 18 days. The level of cytosolic common alpha mRNA in female hpg mouse pituitaries was 45 +/- 6% of normal female littermate values, and treatment with pulsatile GnRH increased alpha mRNA to 40% above the normal value at 24 h and 2-4 times normal at 7 and 12 days (P less than 0.001); by 18 days levels had returned to those of untreated hpg controls. Concurrent treatment with estradiol (E2) did not affect those changes. However, in ovariectomized hpg mice the 2- to 4-fold rise in alpha mRNA was sustained for 18 days with GnRH treatment. E2 treatment alone for 7 and 12 days doubled alpha mRNA. LH beta mRNA levels in untreated female hpg mice were between 5-10% of normal values. Levels increased significantly (77 +/- 6.4%) 24 h after GnRH treatment and were normal at 7, 12, and 18 days. E2 together with GnRH did not affect the LH beta mRNA increase at 12 days, but reduced it to 45% of normal at 18 days. Ovariectomy did not alter the LH beta mRNA response to GnRH treatment, and E2 treatment alone did not increase LH beta mRNA. Serum LH concentrations were normalized by GnRH treatment at all times and did not increase in ovariectomized animals. LH release was prevented when E2 was combined with GnRH. Pituitary LH content in hpg mice was 20% of normal and increased gradually with GnRH treatment. Neither concurrent treatment with E2 nor ovariectomy affected the GnRH-induced synthesis of LH. PRL mRNA levels were 30-40% of normal littermate values in untreated female hpg mice, and pulsatile GnRH increased these to 70-80% of normal. E2 alone raised PRL mRNA slightly above normal values, although together with GnRH this rise was attenuated by about 40%. Pulsatile GnRH treatment of ovariectomized hpg mice did not increase PRL mRNA. E2 increased pituitary PRL content, and GnRH did not attenuate this aspect of E2 action. Serum PRL levels rose with E2 treatment at 7 and 12 days, and concurrent GnRH treatment prevented the rise at 12 days. We conclude the following: 1) The stimulatory action of pulsatile GnRH on the expression of both common alpha and LH beta mRNA is rapid (less than 24 h).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Regulation of LH subunit and prolactin mRNA by gonadal hormones in mice.

The effect of castration and gonadal steroid replacement on the concentrations of LH-beta and alpha subunit and prolactin mRNA was examined in mice. Mouse LH-beta, alpha and prolactin mRNAs were approximately 0.8, 0.7 and 1.1 kb in size respectively. After ovariectomy, LH-beta mRNA levels increased 2- to 2.5-fold, while alpha mRNA levels increased 2.5-fold 6 and 10 days after ovariectomy. Serum LH rose after 2 days to reach six times control values at 10 days. Pituitary LH content doubled by 8 days after ovariectomy. Prolactin mRNA levels decreased to 50-60% of control at 3, 6, 8 and 10 days after ovariectomy and parallelled the fall in serum prolactin. Pituitary prolactin content fell more slowly, to 50% of intact control values by 10 days. The increase in both LH-beta and alpha subunit mRNA, and decrease in prolactin mRNA, and serum and pituitary hormone changes, after ovariectomy were prevented by oestradiol or oestradiol plus progesterone replacement. Levels of LH-beta mRNA increased more quickly in male than in female mice, the earliest change being seen 24 h after orchidectomy. Maximum values (two- to threefold) were found on day 6 after orchidectomy. Concentrations of alpha mRNA increased by 12 h to between 2 and 2.5 times control from 3 to 10 days after orchidectomy. Serum LH doubled by 12 h and was three to five times greater than control values up to 10 days. Pituitary LH content fell by 48 h before gradually increasing to intact values after 10 days. Prolactin mRNA levels decreased progressively from 2 days after orchidectomy, and this decrease was preceded by a fall in serum and pituitary prolactin which remained low throughout the experiment. Testosterone treatment attenuated the rise in alpha mRNA, prevented the rise in LH-beta mRNA and serum LH and partially restored the decrease in prolactin mRNA seen after orchidectomy. We conclude that in mice, as in rats and ewes, both LH-beta and alpha subunit mRNAs are negatively regulated by gonadal steroids, whereas prolactin mRNA is positively regulated, although there are temporal differences in patterns of mRNA responses between males and females. By comparison with female rats the rise in LH-beta mRNA after ovariectomy was slower in mice. Moreover, the discordant changes in pituitary LH content and LH subunit mRNAs seen in mice after castration were not observed in rats. Furthermore, pituitary prolactin and prolactin mRNA do not fall after orchidectomy of rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Typhoid fever in pregnancy.

Fourteen cases of typhoid fever complicating pregnancy are presented. The diagnosis was confirmed by blood cultures in 13 patients and by a rising Widal titer in one. Stool cultures were positive in only two out of five patients; urine cultures in 12 patients and cervical cultures in five patients were all negative. The clinical presentation was similar to the description in older reports, except for the absence of relative bradycardia. Hypothermic response to antipyretics was frequently observed. Patients were treated with either chloramphenicol, ampicillin, or amoxicillin, with satisfactory response. Typhoid fever diagnosed in the latter part of the second trimester and third trimester and treated early did not seem to alter the neonatal outcome.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1987

Effect of oestrogen treatment on gonadotroph function in adult male rats.

The effect of oestradiol-17 beta on the hypothalamo-pituitary axis of intact adult male rats was studied. A single injection of oestradiol did not change the serum LH response to gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) 48 h or 7 days after the injection, while administration of oestrogen over 66 days suppressed basal serum LH to less than 3.1 micrograms/l and did not enhance the LH response to GnRH at any time. Treatment of ovariectomized rats with oestradiol capsules, however, enhanced the LH response to GnRH on days 3 and 14 of the treatment as compared with the control group (P less than 0.02 and P less than 0.05 respectively). Long-term treatment with oestradiol suppressed intrapituitary LH and FSH contents as well as pituitary GnRH receptors (P less than 0.0004, P less than 0.005 and P less than 0.001 respectively), whereas serum and intrapituitary prolactin levels were increased. To exclude the possible lactin levels were increased. To exclude the possible inhibitory effect of hyperprolactinaemia on LH were treated with bromocriptine. This prevented the rise in serum prolactin, but failed to enhance the LH response to GnRH. Neither short- nor long-term treatment with oestradiol given under conditions shown to be effective in female animals stimulated the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadotrophin axis in adult male rats.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Role of GnRH in the regulation of pituitary GnRH receptors in female mice.

The fall in pituitary GnRH receptors in female mice after ovariectomy (Ovx) was further decreased (greater than 50%), rather than prevented, by treatment with a GnRH antiserum, despite suppression of the post-gonadectomy increase in serum gonadotrophins, suggesting that increased endogenous GnRH secretion is not the mediator of GnRH receptor fall after ovariectomy in mice. Furthermore, GnRH antiserum reduced GnRH receptors by 30-50% in intact normal females, without altering receptor affinity, and rendered serum LH and FSH undetectable but did not reduce receptors in GnRH-deficient, hpg mice. When GnRH was administered to ovariectomized mice this failed to restore receptor values (fmol/pituitary) (intact = 55.3 +/- 2.4; Ovx = 30.1 +/- 2; Ovx + GnRH = 31.6 +/- 2.8), but serum LH was reduced from high post-ovariectomy values (231 +/- 42 ng/ml) to values normal for intact females (24 +/- 2 ng/ml). In contrast, multiple GnRH injections to intact female mice increased GnRH receptor by 35%, while serum LH was reduced to just detectable levels. A marked dissociation between GnRH receptor and serum gonadotrophin concentrations was observed. Administration of oestrogen (E2) plus progesterone (P) to ovariectomized mice in which endogenous GnRH had been immunoneutralized reversed the inhibitory effect of GnRH antiserum on GnRH receptors and increased values above those of ovariectomized controls, although no increase in serum or pituitary gonadotrophin levels was seen in ovariectomized mice treated with E2 + P + GnRH antiserum. Treatment with E2 and P of intact females receiving GnRH antiserum did not prevent the inhibitory effect of antiserum on receptors, while E2 + P treatment alone of intact female mice reduced GnRH receptors by 30%. These data suggest that the gonadal steroids reduce GnRH receptors in intact female mice by inhibiting hypothalamic GnRH secretion, and that a certain degree of pituitary exposure to GnRH is required for maintenance of a normal receptor complement. These results suggest that (1) the fall in GnRH receptors after ovariectomy is primarily attributable to removal of gonadal factors. The fall is not a reflection of alteration in endogenous GnRH interaction with the gonadotroph; (2) homologous ligand 'up-regulation' of GnRH receptors in female mice depends upon the presence of the ovaries; (3) endogenous GnRH is also required for GnRH receptor maintenance in intact female mice; and (4) GnRH receptor and serum gonadotrophin responses to hormonal changes can be dissociated and their relationship is complex.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Homologous ligand regulation of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone receptors in vivo: relationship to gonadotrophin secretion and gonadal steroids.

A single injection of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (60 ng s.c., 42.9 nmol) induced biphasic GnRH receptor regulation in normal intact adult female mice. A transient 22% receptor decrease occurred 30-60 min after injection of GnRH when peak serum decapeptide concentrations were reached (137 +/- 41 (S.E.M.) ng/l). This GnRH receptor decrease occurred shortly after the peak serum LH values at 15-30 min. The subsequent rapid (within 1 h) return of GnRH receptor levels to normal suggested transient receptor occupancy by GnRH rather than true receptor loss. At 8 h after injection of GnRH a significant 35% increase in GnRH receptors was consistently observed, when serum GnRH levels were undetectable and serum LH had returned to basal levels. This receptor increase was not due to increased receptor affinity, and was prevented by a non-specific protein synthesis inhibitor. Ovariectomy, which caused a 50% fall in GnRH receptors (59.4 +/- 4.9 fmol/pituitary gland in intact controls; 26.9 +/- 2.6 in ovariectomized mice) abolished the induction by GnRH of its own receptors, although the initial transient decrease occurred over the period of the acute serum LH and FSH rise. Despite a 50% reduction in GnRH receptors in ovariectomized mice, increased serum gonadotrophin levels and responsiveness to GnRH were maintained, indicating dissociation between receptor changes and gonadotrophin levels. No GnRH receptor up-regulation was observed 8 h after a single GnRH injection (60 ng s.c.) in either intact or orchidectomized normal male mice. However, the same treatment doubled GnRH receptors in GnRH-deficient (hpg) female mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Control and assessment of the uterus and cervix during pregnancy and labour.

Preterm labour and resultant preterm birth are the most important problems in perinatology. Countless efforts have failed to establish a single effective treatment of preterm labour, partly because the mechanisms regulating the uterus and cervix during pregnancy are not well understood. New knowledge is needed to inhibit early progression of labour (uterine contractility and cervical ripening), and adequate quantitative tools to evaluate the uterus and cervix during pregnancy are lacking. In this review, we outline studies showing that the uterus (myometrium) and cervix pass through a conditioning step in preparation for labour. This step is not easily identifiable with present methods to assess the uterus or cervix. In the uterus, this seemingly irreversible step consists of changes in the electrical properties to make muscle more excitable and responsive to produce forceful contractions. In the cervix, the step consists of softening of the connective tissue components. Progesterone appears to have a dominant role in controlling both the uterus and cervix, as antiprogestins induce early, preterm conditioning leading to preterm labour. Apparently, nitric oxide (NO) also controls conditioning of the uterus and cervix. In the uterus, NO, in concert with progesterone, inhibits uterine contractility. At term, NO production by the uterus and placenta are decreased and allow labour to progress. In contrast, NO in the cervix increases at the end of pregnancy and it may be the final pathway for stimulating cervical ripening by activation of metalloenzymes. The progress of labour can be assessed non-invasively using electromyographic (EMG) signals from the uterus (the driving force for contractility) recorded from the abdominal surface. Uterine EMG bursts detected in this manner characterize uterine contractile events during human and animal pregnancy. A low uterine EMG activity, measured transabdominally throughout most of pregnancy, rises dramatically during labour. EMG activity also increases substantially during preterm labour in humans and rats. This method may be used one day to predict impending preterm labour and identify control steps and treatments. A quantitative method also assesses the cervix, using an optical device which measures collagen fluorescence in the cervix. The collascope estimates cervical collagen content from a fluorescent signal generated when collagen cross-links are illuminated with excitation light of about 340 nm. The system has proved useful in rats and humans at various stages of pregnancy, and indicates that cervical softening occurs progressively in the last one-third of pregnancy. In rats, collascope readings correlate with resistance measurements made in the isolated cervix, which may help to assess cervical function during pregnancy, and indicate control and treatments.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Ultrasound-guided cardiac blood sampling of the rabbit fetus.

The object of the study was to determine whether cardiac sampling of the rabbit fetus could be successfully accomplished with minimal procedure-related loss. Pregnant rabbit dams were randomized to undergo ultrasound-guided fetal cardiac sampling in either the left or right uterine horn at 27 days of gestation; cesarean delivery was performed the following day. Liveborn pups from unsampled uterine horns underwent cardiac puncture immediately after birth. Fetal hematologic parameters were then compared to neonatal parameters. The acute fetal mortality from the sampled uterine horns was similar to that of the unsampled horns (3.6 vs. 4.5%). Fetal hematologic values were significantly higher than neonatal values with the exception of the reticulocyte count. This rabbit model offers a new approach for the evaluation of novel treatment modalities for hemolytic disease of the human fetus.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Transuterine puncture of the fetal stomach provides access to the small bowel in the rabbit.

The prevention of perinatal complications of congenital gastrointestinal (GI) diseases such as cystic fibrosis may require prenatal treatment. New Zealand White rabbits were evaluated as a potential animal model to study gastrointestinal anatomy and transit in the fetus. The lengths of the GI tract of fetuses at 21/31 and 28/31 days gestation were established, and gastric volume was measured. Gastric volume at 28 days gestation averaged 2.6 mL, adequate to permit instillation of a solution into the fetal stomach. A study was then carried out to establish gastric emptying and delivery of the solution into the small bowel. Using ultrasound guidance, the stomachs of 26 fetuses from 7 litters were punctured and 0.5 mL of dilute barium was injected. A cesarean section was performed 4 h later and the progression of barium though the GI tract was measured. In 18/26 (69.2%) of the fetuses barium was successfully delivered to the lumen of the stomach. In these 18 fetuses, barium progressed to the duodenum in 15 (58%), the jejunum in 13 (50%), and the ileum in 8 (31%). The stomach of the 3.5- to 4-week-old fetus is large enough to allow transuterine delivery of a solution of dilute barium. Gastric and intestinal motility in the 25-day-old rabbit fetus is coordinated and results in delivery of barium to the small bowel in 50% of animals successfully injected. The results suggest that the rabbit is an acceptable model for the study of gastrointestinal delivery of therapeutic drugs or genes to the fetus.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Osseous choristoma of the peripapillary choroid].

Two young women had an osseous choristoma of the juxtapapillary choroid. They were examined for a macular syndrome caused by a subretinal neovascular membrane with hemorrhage. The investigations led to the initial lesion: the osseous choristoma. Ophthalmoscopic findings, diagnosis and discussion are presented.

Adult↗