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Biomedical subjects

S J Ory

Publications and source records attributed to S J Ory.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Nifedipine, but not verapamil, acutely elevates parathyroid hormone levels in premenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: Calcium channel antagonist therapy in humans has been associated with changes in anterior pituitary, thyroid and adrenal hormone secretion. Human studies assessing effects of calcium channel antagonists on calciotropic hormones have been few and typically involved small numbers of subjects studied for short periods of time. Few of these previously published studies have included women. The endocrine effects of calcium channel antagonists in women have become increasingly important as more women are taking these agents for diseases such as hypertension, angina, Raynaud's phenomenon and migraine. OBJECTIVE: To assess both acute and chronic effects of calcium channel antagonists on calciotropic hormones in women. DESIGN: A four-week prospective, randomized trial. SUBJECTS: Twenty-nine premenopausal women, randomly assigned to receive either 240 mg of sustained release verapamil or 30 mg of sustained release nifedipine daily. LABORATORY END-POINTS: Total and ionized serum calcium, phosphate, creatinine, parathyroid hormone (PTH), parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) and calcitonin, measured at baseline, after 24 hours, and 28 days of treatment. RESULTS: Total and ionized calcium, phosphate, creatinine, PTHrP and calcitonin levels were not altered significantly after 24 hours or 28 days in any of the subjects, when compared to baseline. There were no significant differences in PTH levels after 24 hours or 28 days of verapamil treatment. There was a significant increase in serum PTH levels after 24 hours of nifedipine therapy; however, these differences were not evident after 28 days of therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The short-term administration of nifedipine results in increased release of parathyroid hormone; however, long-term administration has no significant effect on the concentrations of calciotropic hormones.

Adult

Endometriosis: current management.

OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical features, theories of pathogenesis, and current treatment of endometriosis-associated pain and infertility. DESIGN: We review the manifestation of endometriosis and the possible mechanisms that lead to its symptoms, examine the efficacy of current therapeutic options for pelvic pain and infertility, and provide specific recommendations for treatment based on the current literature. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Endometriosis is the presence of hormonally responsive endometrial tissue occurring outside the uterine cavity. This condition may be asymptomatic but is often found in association with pelvic pain or infertility (or both). The precise pathogenesis has not been clearly established but likely involves retrograde menstruation with subsequent seeding of endometrial glands at extrauterine sites. The definitive diagnosis and staging of endometriosis are performed by laparoscopy. Various strategies have been used to treat endometriosis including expectant, medical, surgical, and combination management. RESULTS: The efficacy of treatment varies for pelvic pain and infertility. Endometriosis-associated pain may respond to both medical and surgical management. The use of medical therapy for endometriosis-associated infertility is not supported by current studies. Surgical management of infertility may be efficacious when pelvic anatomy is distorted because of endometriosis. The use of superovulation strategies and in vitro fertilization has been shown to be effective in overcoming endometriosis-associated infertility. CONCLUSION: Pelvic pain and infertility in the presence of endometriosis necessitate individualization of therapy to achieve treatment goals. Neither medical nor surgical management is efficacious in all circumstances. As a better understanding of the pathogenesis of endometriosis evolves, treatment of this perplexing condition will probably continue to improve.

Adult

Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin, progesterone, and aqueous dynamics during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the altered hormonal milieu of pregnancy is associated with changes in the dynamics of aqueous humor formation and drainage. DESIGN: Nineteen women were studied during each trimester of a single pregnancy and post partum. Measures of aqueous dynamics included intraocular pressure, aqueous flow, facility of outflow, aqueous flare, and corneal thickness. RESULTS: Pregnancy was associated with relatively lower intraocular pressure, reduced aqueous flare, increased corneal thickness, and increased aqueous outflow facility. Aqueous flow was unchanged. The progesterone level increased during pregnancy and decreased during the postpartum period. The beta-human chorionic gonadotropin level was highest during the first trimester. The progesterone level, but not the beta-human chorionic gonadotropin level, was correlated with intraocular pressure, aqueous flare, and corneal thickness. The change in aqueous outflow facility that accompanied pregnancy could not be correlated directly to changes in beta-human chorionic gonadotropin or progesterone concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Aqueous flow remains constant during and after pregnancy, but intraocular pressure decreases during pregnancy due to an increase in the outflow facility. The changes in aqueous dynamics are consistent with the hypothesis that excess progesterone during pregnancy blocks the ocular hypertensive effect of endogenous corticosteroids. However, we were unable to find a statistically significant correlation when a direct comparison between the observed changes in outflow facility and the observed changes in the progesterone level was made, perhaps because of intersubject variability of these changes. The changes in intraocular pressure and outflow facility could have been due to one of many other changes in pregnancy that were not measured.

Adult

Inhibition of presynaptic catecholamine synthesis with alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine attenuates nocturnal melatonin secretion in humans.

The catecholamine dopamine (D) is involved in the regulation of LH and PRL secretion, whereas a dysregulated noradrenergic system may contribute significantly to symptoms encountered in affective disorders. This explains the attraction of using alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine (AMPT) in neuroendocrine and psychiatric research, as it inhibits both neurotransmitters. PRL has been used as a marker of the effectiveness of AMPT in blocking D function, but no good marker for the effectiveness of AMPT in blocking norepinephrine (NE) is available. The purpose of this study was to determine whether melatonin (M) might serve as such a marker, as its production and secretion are regulated by NE. Seven subjects were given either AMPT or promethazine, which does not alter M secretion, in a randomized, double blind fashion, and 24-h M secretion was studied. Two-way analysis of variance revealed a significant difference in M secretion (F = 13.2; df = 17,102; P = 0.0013), with the following time points being different: 22, 23, 24, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 h. Also, 24-h urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion correlated highly with 24-h M secretion, expressed as the area under the curve in the AMPT experiment (r = 0.93; P = 0.002), which indicates that AMPT does not alter the metabolism of M. These results demonstrate for the first time that AMPT significantly attenuates nocturnal M secretion. It is concluded that M is a good marker for characterizing the effectiveness of AMPT in inhibiting sympathetic NE activity.

Adult

A novel ovarian stimulation protocol for use with the assisted reproductive technologies.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a new ovarian stimulation protocol termed "minimal stimulation" provides pregnancy rates (PRs) comparable with those in a conventional full stimulation protocol for patients undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ART). DESIGN: Prospective, nonrandomized study of patients in minimal stimulation or full stimulation, followed by standard IVF and zygote intrafallopian transfer or uterine-ET. SETTING: The ART program of the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. PATIENTS: Women (n = 120) 42 years of age or younger with serum day 3 FSH level < or = 15.0 mIU/mL (conversion factor to SI unit, 1.0), normal thyroid-stimulating hormone and PRL levels, normal endometrial cavity as observed on hysterosalpingogram, and partners with a normal semen analysis. INTERVENTIONS: Oral clomiphene citrate, hMG, oocyte retrieval, IVF-ET. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cancellations, implantation, pregnancy. RESULTS: The cancellation rate was not significantly higher in minimal stimulation (25.8%) than in full stimulation (14.1%). Minimal stimulation cycles yielded fewer oocytes per aspiration (3.4 +/- 1.6) than full stimulation (10.1 +/- 5.4). There was no difference in the implantation rates per ET (minimal stimulation, 16.4%; full stimulation, 13.3%) or overall clinical PRs per retrieval (minimal stimulation, 31%; full stimulation, 42%). CONCLUSIONS: Minimal stimulation for IVF is less expensive than full stimulation and minimizes monitoring and patient discomfort. In addition, it produces acceptable PRs and represents an attractive alternative to select patients undergoing ART.

Adult

Dextran 70 embolization. Another cause of pulmonary hemorrhage, coagulopathy, and rhabdomyolysis.

Thirty-two percent dextran 70 is a highly viscous polysaccharide liquid used for uterine distention during hysteroscopy. Although generally safe, this agent has been recognized recently to cause noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, renal insufficiency, and intravascular coagulopathy. We report a case of acute 32 percent dextran 70 embolization, associated with intravascular coagulopathy, bilateral lung infiltrates, and rhabdomyolysis, recognized initially by hemoptysis and pleuritic chest pain while the patient was in the recovery room following a hysteroscopic procedure. Pulmonary, anesthesiology, and critical care physicians should be aware of these potential complications of hysteroscopic surgery.

Adult

Pregnancy-associated major basic protein in amniotic fluid.

The pregnancy-associated major basic protein, a protein elevated in the sera of all pregnant women, is virtually identical to the eosinophil granule major basic protein. To determine whether pregnancy-associated major basic protein is present in amniotic fluid, we examined samples from both early and late gestation by a double antibody radioimmunoassay. A total of 112 amniotic fluids were tested and all but three contained levels of pregnancy-associated major basic protein greater than 400 ng/ml. Amniotic fluid pregnancy-associated major basic protein antigenic activity was immunochemically identical to that of the eosinophil granule major basic protein and also had identical physicochemical properties such as heat stability and the need for reduction and alkylation. Although the majority of amniotic fluid samples (90 of 112) were obtained from healthy women with normal gestations, the remaining 21 amniotic fluid samples were from women with Rh sensitization and from one gestation complicated by intrauterine growth retardation.

Amniotic Fluid

Selective embryo reduction of an interstitial heterotopic gestation.

A case of combined interstitial and intrauterine pregnancy is described. The sonographic finding of a thick myometrial bridge separating a twin pregnancy may be unique to heterotopic cornual pregnancies and is illustrated. The method of selective embryo reduction with potassium chloride to terminate the interstitial pregnancy without damage to the intrauterine pregnancy is also described. The intrauterine pregnancy continued successfully to term.

Adult

Chemotherapy for ectopic pregnancy.

Nonsurgical treatment of ectopic pregnancy has been potentiated by recent technologic advances including sensitive human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) assays and high-resolution ultrasonography. Options include systemic methotrexate and salpingocentesis. Systemic methotrexate has been documented to be safe, effective, and well tolerated. Preliminary evidence suggests that fertility potential is comparable for conservative surgery.

Dinoprost

Unexplained infertility.

Unexplained infertility is a multifactorial disorder of reproduction. This review examines the potential contribution of decreased uterine perfusion, obscure luteal phase defect, intrinsic endometrial factor ovum captor inhibitor, microscopic endometriosis, and psychologic factors for the cause of unexplained infertility. Although specific therapy for unexplained infertility does not exist and treatment-independent pregnancy frequently occurs in this group of patients, many couples pursue treatment. In vitro fertilization, gamete intrafallopian transfer, zygote intrafallopian transfer, superovulation with intrauterine insemination, and direct intraperitoneal inseminations are several treatment options reported to be successful. However, a randomized prospective study using a uniform diagnostic assessment, strict entry criteria, identical ovulation-induction schemes, and semen-processing protocols is lacking to determine which patients will be most appropriately treated with each procedure and which is more effective. Unexplained infertility is not and should not be considered a permanent state. These couples should be considered to be subfertile rather than infertile.

Female

Parathyroid hormone-related peptide in lactation and in umbilical cord blood.

Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) is expressed in lactating rat mammary glands after suckling, as a result of increases in prolactin rather than suckling per se. In addition, PTHrP produced in the fetal parathyroid glands and placenta may be responsible for stimulation of placental calcium transport. In the current study, we used a radioimmunoassay for human PTHrP to measure levels of the peptide in (1) human breast milk, cow's milk, and two infant formulas; (2) sequential plasma samples in prepartum and postpartum lactating women; (3) women with pathologic hyperprolactinemia; and (4) human umbilical cord blood. In normal subjects, plasma PTHrP levels ranged from less than 2 to 5 pmol/liter. In contrast, human breast milk contained substantially increased levels of immunoreactive PTHrP. Similar elevations were found in cow's milk and in one infant formula. Column chromatography of breast milk demonstrated that PTHrP immunoreactivity included a region of adenylate cyclase stimulating activity, consistent with the presence of biologically active PTHrP. Plasma prepartum PTHrP values did not differ from corresponding postpartum values in lactating women. Women with hyperprolactinemia had a mean plasma PTHrP value in the high-normal range. Umbilical cord blood had considerably suppressed parathyroid hormone values but PTHrP levels that were indistinguishable from those in normal human plasma. Thus, PTHrP is present in high concentrations in breast milk but apparently does not gain access to the maternal circulation in significant amounts. In addition, women with pathologic hyperprolactinemia seem not to have increased levels of circulating PTHrP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Management of ectopic pregnancy.

Risk factors for ectopic pregnancy include previous ectopic pregnancy, current intrauterine device use, prior fallopian tube surgery, previous pelvic inflammatory disease and a prior history of infertility. Abdominal pain is the most common symptom, followed by amenorrhea or vaginal bleeding, nausea, vomiting, syncope and dizziness. Referred shoulder pain following the onset of abdominal pain is characteristic of intraperitoneal bleeding and, in the appropriate clinical setting, strongly suggests a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. A coordinated evaluation includes measurement of serum human chorionic gonadotropin concentration and transabdominal or, preferably, transvaginal ultrasonography. Treatment is primarily by one of a variety of surgical techniques. Medical therapy with methotrexate or other drugs is currently under investigation.

Chorionic Gonadotropin

Ectopic pregnancy: current evaluation and treatment.

During the past 20 years, the diagnosis and treatment of ectopic pregnancy have improved considerably. With the current diagnostic modalities, patients at risk for ectopic pregnancy can be followed expectantly, and the diagnosis can be made within a few days of the time of anticipated menses. An enhanced understanding of the varied clinical course of ectopic pregnancy has been gained in the process, and greater individualization of patient care has been possible. Patients with spontaneous tubal abortion are being identified, and they may be better served by observation. The precise role and limitations of pharmacologic agents and the new surgical procedures are still being determined, but the ultimate goal with use of these modalities is an improved potential for fertility.

Chorionic Gonadotropin

GnRH analogues in the treatment of endometriosis.

Modifications of the native gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) decapeptide have led to longer-acting compounds with increased binding ability. Pharmacologic doses of agonists result in suppression of ovarian estradiol production to levels similar to oophorectomized patients. The resultant hypoestrogenism is associated with regression in endometrial implant size. Both subjective and objective clinical improvement have been reported. Recent studies document that a reversible state of hypogonadism is effective treatment for endometriosis.

Buserelin