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Biomedical subjects

S K Shahani

Publications and source records attributed to S K Shahani.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Early pregnancy factor (EPF) as a marker for detecting subclinical embryonic loss in clomiphene citrate-treated women.

PROBLEM: A discrepancy exists between the apparently normal ovulation and the pregnancy rates in women treated with clomiphene citrate (CC). Our previous studies have indicated that immuno-suppressive "early pregnancy factor" (EPF) is a novel marker to detect subclinical embryonic loss in infertile women. METHOD: In the present study EPF was used as a marker to detect subclinical embryonic loss in women treated with CC with/without gonadotropins. In some of the women treated with CC, conception was assisted by artificial insemination with husband's semen (AIH). RESULTS: Our results have indicated that fertilization occurred (EPF + ve) in 47.7% (52/109) of women treated with CC with/without gonadotropins; 13.46% (7/52) retained the fetus and continued pregnancy till full term, whereas 78.9% (41/52) did not retain the fetuses. In the group where after stimulation, conception was assisted by AIH, fertilization was observed in 38.24% (26/68), retention in 11.54% (3/26) but subclinical embryonic loss was observed in 80.8% (21/26) cases. CONCLUSION: Thus, our results have indicated that subclinical embryonic loss may account for some of the discrepancy observed between the apparently normal ovulation and the pregnancy rates in women treated with clomiphene citrate.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Early pregnancy factor (EPF) as a marker for the diagnosis of subclinical embryonic loss.

The validation of EPF as a possible correlate of early fertilization has made it possible to study and detect fertilization of the ovum in normal fertile women (during the luteal phase) and also in women with infertility, where the fertilization of the ovum may not be affected but there may be impairment in early embryonic development which results in early embryo loss or subclinical embryo loss. Our results have suggested that using EPF as a marker, we could detect subclinical embryonic loss in 57.8% of the infertile women where more than one menstrual cycle was studied and the blood was collected 4-7 days after ovulation. After the missed period, 80% of the patients who were negative for EPF but positive for hCG had spontaneous abortions. It would be interesting to study how EPF behaves as a marker, to detect subclinical embryonic loss in diverse pathological situations such as recurrent abortions, parental age and translocation carrier parents.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Presence of sperm antibodies and association with viscosity of semen.

Semen characteristics were studied in 96 men from an in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer programme. Along with the routine semen analysis, the presence of sperm antibodies in seminal plasma was measured by an ELISA technique. Antibodies to spermatozoa (IgA and/or IgG) were present in 19 cases and 15 of these (78.95%) had abnormally high viscosity, often associated with a high percentage of particulate debris and an increased number of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1989

Detection of immunosuppressive activity in human seminal plasma by an immunobioassay.

Recent evidence has shown that under in-vitro conditions human seminal plasma can interfere directly or indirectly with the function of cells of the immune system. It is however, questionable whether the results generated in vitro can be related directly to in-vivo activity. We have therefore standardized an in-vivo immunobioassay to detect the immunosuppressive property of human seminal plasma using adoptive transfer of contact sensitivity to a specific antigen such as dinitrofluorobenzene. Our results indicate that when sensitized lymphoid cells were incubated in vitro with human seminal plasma, their ability to transfer the delayed hypersensitivity in non-sensitized mice was suppressed or inhibited in comparison with the controls. The percentage suppression varied with different samples but the results indicate clearly that the immunosuppressive properties of human seminal plasma can be demonstrated using an in-vivo immunoassay.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Detection of early pregnancy factor-like activity in women with gestational trophoblastic tumors.

The presence of immunosuppressive early pregnancy factor (EPF) in the maternal serum has so far been associated with gestation. Its presence in the serum of women with gestational trophoblastic tumors was investigated. The results indicate that while EPF activity was detected in the serum of women with choriocarcinoma, no such activity was detected in the serum of women with hydatidiform mole, leading to the novel use of EPF as a marker to distinguish these two clinical situations. Results of the experiments also suggest that EPF moiety present in the maternal serum during pregnancy may be of different molecular entity than that present in the serum of women with choriocarcinoma.

Chaperonin 10↗
PubMed1986

Isolation and partial characterization of early pregnancy factor (EPF) from human pregnancy serum.

The isolation and partial characterization of an immunosuppressive early pregnancy factor (EPF) present in the serum of pregnant women, between 3 and 8 weeks of gestation, is described. EPF was purified using ion-exchange chromatography, affinity chromatography and HPLC gel permeation techniques. A homogeneous, active fraction containing a single polypeptide of Mr 21,000 was obtained. This 21 kDa polypeptide appears to represent the major form of rosette-inhibiting active material present in maternal serum during early human gestation.

Chaperonin 10↗
PubMed1981

Immunological consequences of vasectomy.

In more than 50% of men, vasectomy leads to auto-immune pathology. The auto-immune response to sperms following vasectomy is triggered by the phagocytosis of sperm in the epididymis. In the humoral immune response, sperm agglutinating, sperm immobilizing, and antibodies to sperm nuclear protamines occur, as early as 3-4 days after vasectomy. The incidence reaches 60-70% within 1 year and remains almost the same even after 20 years. Presence and effects of circulating immune complexes following vasectomy are discussed with reference to reported increased incidence of atherosclerosis and auto-immune orchitis in experimental animals. There is no positive conclusion whether vasectomy leads to cell mediated immunity to spermatozoa.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗
PubMed1980

Demonstration of IgG Fc receptors on spermatozoa and their utilization for the detection of circulating immune complexes in human serum.

The presence of Fc receptors, but not C3 receptors, on human and bovine spermatozoa was shown by sperm-induced rosette formation of antibody-treated ox erythrocytes and by immunofluorescence of aggregated human gammaglobulin (AHG) treated spermatozoa. Human and bovine spermatozoa bound AHG as well as circulating immune complexes (CIC) from human sera; monomeric IgG bound to these cells to a much lesser extent. Binding of AHG to the sperm surface also occurred when the AHG was suspended in either buffer or in serum that had been heated at 56 degrees C for 30 min. A bovine spermatozoa radioimmunoassay for the detection of immune complexes in human sera was developed and was shown to be comparable to the Raji cell radioimmunoassay (r = 0 . 81, P < 0 . 01) in the quantitation of soluble immune complexes from a variety of human sera. An enzyme-linked immunoassay was then developed, using bovine spermatozoa fixed to wells of microtitre plates, to simplify the immune complex detection assay. The technique provides an analysis that is rapid, does not require radioactive chemicals, expensive equipment, or cultured cells and yields values for immune complex determination both comparable and complementary to the Raji cell radioimmunoassay (r = 0 . 70, P < 0 . 01). The sperm assays detected soluble immune complexes in sera of vasectomized males, cancer patients and patients with autoimmune or dermatological diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Raising of antisera to protein hormones without using Freund's adjuvant.

A new method has been developed to produce antiserum to protein hormones without the use of Freund's complete adjuvant. Antiserum to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was elicited by injecting rabbits with 6 subcutaneous injections of sheep red blood cells (SRBC) coated with hCG. The antiserum produced was observed to be both serologically and biologically active. A small quantity of the hormone (15--20 IU/injection) sufficed to produce hyperimmune sera. This could ensure an overall economy if large amounts of the antisera are required for clinical and diagnostic purposes.

Antibody Formation↗