PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Knapstein

Publications and source records attributed to P Knapstein.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Urokinase and plasminogen activator-inhibitor (PAI-1) status in primary ovarian carcinomas and ovarian metastases compared to benign ovarian tumors as a function of histopathological parameters.

Ninety-eight patients with histologically confirmed ovarian tumors (77 primary ovarian carcinomas of stages T1 to T3 according to the postoperative histopathological classification pTNM classification, 14 ovarian metastases of various origins and seven benign ovarian tumors) were investigated with regard to the concentration of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) in membrane extracts of tumors. The results were correlated with the clinical course and with histopathological findings. With more advanced stage of primary ovarian carcinomas, there was a highly significant rise in the membrane concentrations of both uPA and PAI-1. However, increasing dedifferentiation of the tumors correlated only with uPA, but not with PAI-1. There was no correlation between the number of steroid receptors for estradiol and progesterone and the content of uPA or PAI-1 in the primary ovarian carcinomas. In the 14 ovarian metastases of different origins incluced in the study, the contents of uPA and PAI-1 were comparable to those of primary ovarian carcinomas. Compared with the malignant ovarian tumors, the median uPA and PAI-1 concentrations in the membrane fraction were 2.5-6 fold lower (highly significant) in the group of seven benign tumors. A cut-off value of 4.8ng/mg pellet protein for a prognostically favorable (< 4.8) or unfavorable course (> 4.8) could be determined for uPA (p = 0.0392) but not for PAI-1 on the basis of the Kaplan and Meier survival curves in the malignant primary ovarian carcinomas.

Adult↗

Oral high-dose medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) treatment: cortisol/MPA serum profiles in relation to breast cancer regression.

Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), a potent synthetic progestin, has been widely used in the hormonal treatment of advanced breast cancer, but presently with varying dose schedules. The availability of a sensitive RIA-method for determination of serum MPA has stimulated the research on MPA serum levels in patients after repeated MPA administration. The aim of this study was to assay blood level profiles of MPA as well as of cortisol during repeated high-dose orally administered MPA. 34 patients with metastatic breast cancer were enrolled in this study. 12 patients died already within the first 4 weeks of MPA treatment due to multiple metastases. The dosage regimen based on the daily oral administration of 1,000 mg MPA suspension. During MPA treatment, a decrease of cortisol serum levels was observed in nearly all patients. Within the observation time of 8 months out of 22 evaluable cases 18.2% responded to the therapy (complete and partial response). No change was observed in 36.4% and progression in 45.5% of the patients. Within the remission (complete and partial) group, a good correlation between constant MPA serum levels above 150 ng/ml and remission was observed. But in the groups with no change and progression no such correlation could be observed.

Administration, Oral↗

[Hormonal supervision of threatened abortion. diagnosis and therapy (author's transl)].

In the supervision of threatened abortion echography and cardiotocography take precedence over the determination of pregnancy hormones. In early pregnancy a fall in HCS concentration in the plasma and HCG excretion in the urine is to be considered prognostically unfavorable for the outcome of the pregnancy. The same applies to falling progesterone levels. In late pregnancy a fall of HCS or estriol concentration in the serum or a fall in estriol excretion in the 24 hour urine indicate fetal danger. The decision to end pregnancy can only be made from the complete obstetric situation.

Abortion, Threatened↗

[Plasmacortisol and parturition under epidural anaesthesia (author's transl)].

Plasma cortisol was determined by a radioimmuno assay during labour, at and after delivery in 16 primigravidas und epidural anaesthesia and was compared with 13 primigravidas, who delivered under pentazocine or pethidine and pudendal block. Cortisol levels decreased after effective epidural anaesthesia during the first stage of labor and for delivery. They increased in the control patients for delivery and was significantly higher than in the patients under epidural anaesthesia. Two and 20 hours post partum cortisol concentrations decreased in both groups. Cortisol levels in the fetuses and newborns was markedly lower than those of mothers. At delivery, the cortisol concentration of the newborns of both groups was the same. The changes of cortisol concentrations in this study support the conclusion that epidural anaesthesia during labor and delivery reduces stress for the mother, but not for the fetus.

Anesthesia, Epidural↗

Free and sulfoconjugated dehydroepiandrosterone, cyclic adenosime-3',5'-monophosphate, and free estriol in maternal and cord blood.

When free DHEA, its sulfatide, and sulfate were assayed in maternal plasma as well as in umbilical cord arterial and venous plasma, rather high concentrations were found in either fraction from cord arterial plasma, reflecting the fetal contribution not only of free DHEA and DHEA sulfate, but also of the lipophile steroid sulfatide. Since high DHEA levels were associated with elevated c-AMP concentrations, a certain interrelationship of both parameters is indicated. In the course of delivery, a rapid decrease of free estriol in maternal plasma was observed. Higher concentration of free estriol in umbilical venous plasma pointed at its placental biosynthesis from fetal precursors.

Cyclic AMP↗

Fetal and maternal plasma cortisol levels during labour and after delivery in the human.

In a group of 15 cases the cortisol concentrations were determined in fetal and maternal plasma during labour and after delivery. In maternal plasma the levels were about twice as high as in fetal plasma and rose up to more than 1000 mug/l during labour (x = 639 +/- 222). After delivery the concentrations decreased. In fetal plasma, cortisol increased during labour from x = 173 +/- to x = 276 +/- 75 at the time of delivery and decreased to x = 106 +/- 36 within the first 23 hours. In a second group of 20 cases maternal and umbilical cord blood and blood of the newborn during the first 28 hours after delivery were analyzed. The values were in the same ranges as in the first group. Extremely high maternal levels were not correlated to higher fetal values. The cortisol levels of postmature children did not significantly differ from those of normal babies.

Female↗