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Biomedical subjects

H D Taubert

Publications and source records attributed to H D Taubert.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Persistent follicle syndrome: a forgotten clinical entity?].

There is no evidence that morphologic alterations of the ovaries cause symptoms of hormonal imbalance and a deficit in ovarian hormones in a case of micro-cystic degeneration of the ovaries. Similarly, fertility does not have to be impeded, since follicular development may be unaffected. In absence of functional disturbances, such as amenorrhea or anovulation, no therapy is needed. A different approach is, however, required when the ovaries contain larger, hormone-producing cysts which can persist for a long time. In contrast to micro-cystic ovaries the presence of persistent ovarian follicles can entail marked risks of endometrial hyperplasia, severe uterine bleeding, and anemia.

Female↗

[Forced sterilization 1933-1945: an attempt at coming to terms with the past].

An evaluation of the operative ledgers of the years 1932 to 1945 revealed that 509 women aged 11 to 44 years underwent involuntary sterilization at the Women's Clinic of Frankfurt University. 156 were pregnant at the time of sterilization, all but eight were aborted. Sterilizations were carried out in 161 women because of "congenital mental deficiency", and in another 178 for a variety of other diagnosis. There was no likewise information on the remaining 176 women available. The records of 272/509 women showed that the sterilizations had been proscribed by special "Boards of Racial Hygiene". The number of sterilizations performed because of "congenital mental deficiency" reached its acme in the years 1936 and 1937, after having been negligible for the preceding years.

Adolescent↗

Differences in the nyctohemeral secretion of TSH and PRL in healthy euthyroid men.

The circadian rhythm of TSH, PRL and cortisol was studied in 21 healthy euthyroid men in a normal sleep/wake cycle. Higher nyctohemeral (22.00 h till 6.00 h) levels of TSH as compared to diurnal (8.00 h till 22.00 h) levels were observed in 14 out of 21 men (Group A). In the remaining 7 volunteers the nyctohemeral and diurnal TSH-levels (Group B) were the same. In Group A, the nyctohemeral PRL-surge was also higher than in Group B (p < 0.01). The nyctohemeral area under the curve (AUC) of both TSH and PRL were significantly higher in Group A than in Group B (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001 respectively). The mean diurnal concentrations of TSH and PRL were, however, similar in both groups. Therefore, an impairment of the nyctohemeral TSH-surge can occur in healthy men usually combined with a reduced nyctohemeral PRL-surge. An impairment of nyctohemeral TSH-surge is thus not confined to patients with thyroid diseases.

Activity Cycles↗

The effects of a special Agnus castus extract (BP1095E1) on prolactin secretion in healthy male subjects.

The effects of three doses of a special Agnus castus extract (BP1095E1)--extracts from 120 mg, 240 mg and 480 mg of drug per day--were examined within the framework of a placebo-controlled clinical study of tolerance and prolactin secretion in 20 healthy male subjects during a period of 14 days. There was good tolerance during the study as regards the following: adverse effects, the effects on blood pressure and heart rate, blood count, Quick's test, clinical chemistry as well as testosterone, FSH and LH values. During each study phase the 24-hour prolactin secretion profile was measured from the penultimate to the final day, and the amount of prolactin release was monitored an hour after TRH stimulation on the last day. A significant increase in the 24-hour profile was registered with the lowest dose in comparison to placebo, the opposite being the case with the higher doses, i.e. a slight reduction. In contrast to the administration of placebo, the 1-hour AUC after TRH stimulation resulted in a significant increase with the lowest dose and a significant reduction with the highest dose. The results suggest effects of the special Agnus castus extract which are dependent on the dose administered and the initial level of prolactin concentration.

Adult↗

Continuous hormone replacement therapy with estradiol valerate and chlormadinone acetate in adjustable dosages. A preliminary study.

A group of 62 peri- and postmenopausal women suffering from vasomotor disturbances and a variety of other symptoms were treated with estradiol valerate and chlormadinone acetate continuously using an adjustable dosage regimen. They obtained complete relief from vasomotor symptoms. The continuation rate was 81% after 1 year. In 18 patients the dose had to be adjusted because of breakthrough bleeding (n = 12), mastodynia (n = 3), and for the prevention of bone loss. In 11/12 patients breakthrough bleeding could be stopped by adjusting the dosage. This regimen seems to offer a more flexible approach to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in the postmenopause than presently available combined preparations for continuous use.

Adult↗

[The diagnostic value of routine prolactin determination in sterility patients].

In the year 1976 an expert group of the WHO recommended to determine serum-prolactin routinely at the beginning of any infertility work-up. We investigated whether this recommendation is still tenable. Serum-prolactin was determined in 292 patients of an infertility clinic. In 33 women serum-prolactin exceeded the upper limit of the norm (600 microIE/ml). In 11/33 cases only, hyperprolactinemia was found to persist. This shows that the routine determination of prolactin in such cases appears to be of questionable value.

Adult↗

Influence of oral contraceptives on integrated secretion of gonadotropins.

The mechanism of action of various oral contraceptives has not yet been satisfactorily resolved, as to how gonadotropins affect ovarian function. Alterations of the pulsatile release of LH might be a common denominator. As methodological difficulties for the evaluation of LH pulse pattern with low basal levels exist, we elected to determine the area under the curve (AUC) for LH and FSH for 6 hours before and during treatment with oral contraceptives. LH and FSH were determined every 15 min for 6 hours on day 4 and day 20 of a control cycle and a treatment cycle in 22 women with ovulatory cycles. They received either a combined preparation containing 150 micrograms desogestrel and 30 micrograms ethinyl estradiol, a sequential preparation containing 50 micrograms of ethinyl estradiol and 125 g of desogestrel or only 125 micrograms desogestrel. There was no difference between the sum of LH pulses on day 4 and day 20 of the control cycle. The AUC for FSH was lower on day 20. When the combined preparation was taken, FSH was suppressed on day 4, and FSH and LH on day 20 of treatment. The degree of suppression was even more pronounced when the sequential OC was taken. Ethinyl estradiol alone was as effective as the combination with desogestrel. Desogestrel alone inhibited ovulation without affecting serum LH and FSH in a comparable manner, suggesting a direct effect on the ovary. The determination of the AUC seems to be a sensitive tool for the evaluation of OC-induced changes in gonadotropin output.

Adolescent↗

Is 3 alpha, 17 beta-androstanediol-glucuronide a diagnostic marker in women with androgenic manifestations?

3 alpha, 17 beta-androstanediol-glucuronide (Adiol-G) has been described as a marker of local androgen excess due to the increased activity of 5 alpha-reductase in the cells of the hair follicles. In order to test the diagnostic value of Adiol-G, the serum level was compared to that of testosterone, free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), androstenedione and to the body mass index in 44 women with androgenic symptoms (Group I), 27 women with menstrual disturbances but no androgenic symptoms (Group II), and 48 healthy women (Group III) who served as controls. Adiol-G was significantly higher (7.8 +/- 5.1 nmol/l) in women with androgenic symptoms than in the other groups, but there was a considerable overlap. Serum testosterone was also found to be higher in Group I than in Groups II and III, respectively. There was a significant correlation between Adiol-G and testosterone, and Adiol-G and DHEA-S. No significant correlation could be shown to exist between androstenedione and Adiol-G. When Adiol-G and testosterone were simply classified as 'normal' or 'increased' (Adiol-G 9.4 nmol/l; testosterone greater than 2.4 nmol/l), higher than normal values of the former were found in the presence of normal testosterone in only 4% of the cases. It is concluded that the level of Adiol-G generally parallels that of testosterone. Consequently, it does not seem to be an effective marker of peripheral androgen excess.

Acne Vulgaris↗

[The prognostic value of the postcoital and post-insemination test].

Artificial inseminations with the semen of the husband (pre- and intracervical, intrauterine AIH) were carried out on 201 infertile women. Even though 41 women conceived on insemination, 16 of these and 38 of the unsuccessfully treated women actually became later pregnant without medical aid. An attempt to judge the eventual chances of success of AIH from the results of the PCT and PIT failed, as there was no correlation between the number and percentage of motile spermatozoa in cervical mucus post coitum and post inseminationem and the number of pregnancies. There was no clinical correlate for the differences observed between the results of the PCT and PIT.

Adult↗

[The behavior of serum hCG level in normal and disordered pregnancy--a prognostic factor].

The increase of serum hCG was determined in 305 pregnant women at least twice in the first 10 to 12 weeks of pregnancy. In a large number of cases this was done to rule out a disturbance of pregnancy. The results were evaluated by means of a comparison to the time-dependent changes of the normal range. They were classified in the following manner: 1 = Normally increasing values, 2 = Values lower than normal, but normal increase, 3 = values to low and increasing too slowly, 4 = Serum hCG too low or declining, 5 = initially normal values failing to rise. A type 4 secretion pattern was invariably followed by a demise of pregnancy. In about one half of the cases showing a type 2 pattern, the pregnancy either miscarried or was found to be in an ectopic location. In normal pregnancies, type 2 pattern was found in 29% and type 1 in 71%. A comparison of the results of the first and second hCG determination revealed close agreement in more than 90% of the cases, and in 84% when the comparison was extended to a third sample.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

[Changes in T-cell subpopulations in normal pregnancy and in patients with spontaneous abortion].

From the immunological point of view, pregnancy is a privileged allograft, with complex mechanisms of adaptation within the maternal immune system preventing rejection. The importance of lymphocytes and their specific subsets for this mechanism is a controversial issue. This study was designed to examine changes within T-cell subsets during uneventful pregnancy and to evaluate their significance by comparison with findings in patients undergoing spontaneous pregnancy loss. When compared to non-pregnant control subjects, normal pregnant women showed significantly decreased numbers for peripheral T-lymphocytes, for helper/inducer-T-cells and for the helper/suppressor-T-cell ratio (T4/T8). In contrast, patients undergoing spontaneous abortion showed a significantly elevated T4/T8-ratio, if compared to normal pregnant women. The clinical relevance of these findings is uncertain. Nevertheless, in individual cases of spontaneous miscarriage, the analysis of T-cell subsets might indicate a possible immunological aetiology.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

The ovary-suppression test in the evaluation of hyperandrogenemia.

Forty hyperandrogenemic women were investigated in order to determine whether the source of androgen excess could be attached to a dysfunction of the ovary or the adrenal cortex with a higher degree of accuracy when both steroid-producing organs were subjected to a supposedly specific suppression test. Dexamethasone (DXM) was administered at a dose of 2 mg for 2 days. The ovary-suppression test (OST) was carried out after a combined preparation containing 35 micrograms of ethinyl estradiol and 2 mg of cyproterone acetate (EE-CPA) had been taken for 2-3 weeks. Before and after the tests, the serum levels of testosterone (T), free testosterone (fT), DHEA-S and SHBG were determined. Serum T was lowered by DXM and EE-CPA to the same degree: the latter was more effective with respect to fT. DHEA-S responded much better to DXM than to EE-CPA. The basal level of SHBG was below the lower limit of the norm in 45% of the women. This indicates that hyperandrogenemia can be associated with normal and subnormal levels of SHBG. T and/or fT were elevated in all 40 women. DHEA-S was higher than normal in only 22 of the 40. DXM normalized the DHEA-S level in all but 1 case. In another 18 women, serum T and fT remained unaffected by DXM. This indicates an ovarian source of androgen excess in these cases. The number of cases was reduced from 18 to 4 when the OST was carried out. Even though DXM and EE-CPA are not completely organ-specific in action, the combination of both suppression tests seems to allow a higher degree of discrimination to be made between an ovarian and an adrenal component of hyperandrogenemia than is possible with either test alone.

Adolescent↗

Human chorionic gonadotropin levels in various compartments in disturbed early pregnancy.

The hCG level in the uterine cavity was higher than in peripheral blood in a case of choriocarcinoma and in patients with spontaneous expulsion of the conceptus. In two patients with missed abortion, the hCG concentrations in peripheral blood and in serum from the uterine cavity did not differ. In contrast, the hCG concentrations in PF in these patients were lower than in peripheral blood. The measurement of hCG in these compartments may provide evidence concerning the location of the trophoblast.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

[Quantitative hCG spot test of the serum and peritoneal fluid in intrauterine and tubal pregnancy].

The concentration of hCG was measured in serum and peritoneal fluid (PF) of women with normal intrauterine pregnancy (34), extrauterine pregnancy (21), and intrauterine abortion (12) by two different methods. A new rapid, quantitative method (Spot-Test; ICON-QSR) which provides the results within 10 minutes was compared to an immunofluorometric method requiring 90 minutes (IFMA). The serum concentration of hCG and the ratio of hCG in serum and in the PF correlated well when determined by both methods (p less than 0.001). Comparable results were also obtained when hCG was measured in the serum of 4 patients with extrauterine pregnancy for a period of 2 to 3 weeks before and after surgery. When hCG was measured by means of the spot test in samples of undiluted serum containing less than 30 IU/l, lower values were obtained as compared to the IFMA. In samples containing more than 200 IU/l, the relationship was reversed. In all cases of intact intrauterine pregnancy, the level of hCG in serum exceeded that in PF, whereas the converse was observed in 19 out of 21 tubal pregnancies. These results show the spot test to be suitable for the rapid and quantitative determination of hCG in serum and the PF, provided that there is no strong hemolysis in the samples. When the concentration of hCG exceeds 300 IU/l, the measurement has to be repeated with diluted samples. Differences in concentrations of less than 20% cannot always be distinguished. Even though the results of the present study are promising, the usefulness of the spot test for routine clinical practise has to be examined in further studies.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

[HCG in serum and peritoneal fluid in suspected ectopic pregnancy].

HCG was measured in peripheral serum and peritoneal fluid (PF), obtained by punction of the Douglas pouch (n = 12) or by laparoscopy (n = 14) in 26 patients with suspected ectopic pregnancy. In 10 patients with tubal pregnancy, the hCG-concentration in the PF was in every case higher than in serum. Contrary to this, in 11 disturbed and 2 normal intrauterine pregnancies the PF-hCG was lower than in serum. No hCG-gradient could be observed in 1 patient with an interstitial pregnancy. Moreover, in 2 patients with inconclusive laparoscopic findings, the PF-hCG was higher than in serum; this pointed to a probable harbouring of a suspected missed ectopic pregnancy, and treatment was therefore conservative. The PF-hCG level 35 h after i. m. application of 5000 IU hCG to non-pregnant women varied between 11 and 42% as compared to that of the serum. It is concluded that the gradient of hCG between PF and serum can be used for the verification of a suspected ectopic pregnancy in addition to other diagnostic methods.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

Tubal anastomosis using a tissue adhesive.

The success of reversal of tubal ligation depends on the site of the sterilization, the tubal length after the repair of the Fallopian tube, the experience of the surgeon and the duration of surgery. It is therefore worth searching for methods to simplify the operation and to shorten the time necessary without reducing the success rate. We developed a method using a fibrin-thrombin adhesive system in combination with Swolin's one-stitch technique for tubal anastomosis. Instead of four to eight sero-muscular sutures we placed only one or two sero-muscular sutures and then the anastomosis was secured by a drop of fibrin glue. Until now 33 women have been 'refertilized' by this technique. In the case of 28 patients, a follow-up period of at least one year was possible. Thirteen intra-uterine pregnancies were achieved, three were ectopic and one woman aborted. In the cases of isthmic/isthmic anastomosis there were four intra-uterine pregnancies in six patients. We believe this result is a very important step to shortening the time of surgery with respect to the rules of microsurgical technique.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗