Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S Milia.
High-resolution polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific primer typing of the human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 gene of an Italian patient candidate for bone marrow transplantation revealed a new allelic variant of HLA-DRB1*13. The sequence was named DRB1*1366, and comparison with previously described DRB1 alleles demonstrated the two closely related sequences were HLA-DRB1*1330 and HLA-DRB1*130302.
OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the changes in circulating serum lipids and lipoproteins, including lipoprotein (a), and low-density lipoprotein size in women during normal pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-two women (mean age, 31 +/- 5 years; 13 primiparous subjects) were studied during uncomplicated pregnancy with normal outcome. Twenty-four nulliparous women of similar age (31 +/- 4 years) were studied as control subjects. RESULTS: Serum triglycerides and total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased significantly during pregnancy in all women. Women with changes in low-density lipoprotein during the second and third trimesters showed a more marked increase in serum triglycerides, and this effect was slightly more evident in the multiparous subjects. No other differences were evident between primiparous and multiparous women apart from high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, which were slightly decreased in the latter subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that during normal pregnancy, the increase in plasma triglycerides may lead to the appearance of the atherogenic dense low-density lipoproteins in a subgroup of women. We suggest that the observed changes in low-density lipoprotein patterns during pregnancy might be used to identify those women who later in life will have these atherogenic small and dense low-density lipoproteins.
We report herein the effects of cyclical variations of endogenous sex steroids during the menstrual cycle on plasma lipids and apolipoproteins (apo) in normal women. We examined 16 normal women (age range 25-36 yr) with normal menstrual cycles of 28-31 days. The study covered the period from the 1st day of a menstrual phase (basal) until the 1st day of the following menstrual phase. During the study all women maintained a normolipidic diet (30% fat). Plasma total cholesterol and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly higher than basal in the preovulatory phase until progesterone started to increase in the postovulatory phase [day +8 from luteinizing hormone (LH) surge]. High-density-lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly higher than basal from day -1 to the day after LH surge, whereas plasma apoAI levels were significantly higher from day -8 to day +8 (from LH surge). Plasma apo(a) increased significantly during the luteal phase in four women characterized by a single S4 band and lower basal plasma levels of apo(a). Our results indicate that endogenous female sex steroids have significant effects on the circulating levels of plasma lipids and apolipoproteins, including apo(a). More work needs to be done to elucidate the significance of the observed apo(a) changes, and the different phases of the menstrual cycle must be taken into account when evaluating the lipidic risk profile in premenopausal women.
AFP has proven to be a useful marker for liver neoplasms. The authors assayed AFP plasma levels in patients taking low-dose estro- progestinics . Patients were divided into three groups on the basis of their living habits. No difference was found in any group between AFP levels before and after treatment. However, in the group of smokers using oral contraceptives AFP levels were significantly higher.
A study has been performed on the incidence and duration of breast feeding in a group of 103 primiparous women who delivered in the Obstetrics Department of Sassari in 1980. The most important maternal variables that could be related with breast feeding were maternal age, level of school education, maternal feelings concerning the present pregnancy and maternal information concerning the advantages of breast feeding.
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In the present study the Authors consider whether estroprogestins at low dosage may influence the basal levels of plasma Prolactin in a group of patients subdivided on the basis of their different ways of life. The results show that oral contraceptives containing 30 microgrammes of EE do not induce modifications on PRL levels; however these are significantly (p less than or equal to 0.01) lower in the smoker group. It has therefore been hypothesised that smoke may interfere with the regulatory mechanisms of PRL, even if the practical effects of such action in the ambit of the physiopathology of reproduction is not yet clear.
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The concentrations of lormetazepam and its glucuronide in plasma and milk were determined during administration of 10 daily doses of lormetazepam 2 mg (2 tablets of Noctamid-1) to five mothers delivered by Caesarian section. Their babies were breast-fed throughout the study, and the plasma levels of lormetazepam and its glucuronide were determined three times in the babies. At 12 and 24 h after administration, the plasma level of lormetazepam was about 3.5 ng/ml and 1.8 ng/ml in mothers, and below 0.09 ng/ml in the children. In milk the lormetazepam concentration was below 0.2 ng/ml. The plasma level of glucuronide varied between 24 ng/ml at 12 h and 11 ng/ml 24 h after administration. Almost no accumulation of unchanged lormetazepam was observed (factor: 1.3). The ratio of the levels of lormetazepam in milk and plasma was estimated to be below 0.06, and for the glucuronide the ratio was 0.04. The quantity of free and conjugated active ingredient transferred to the children via breast milk was calculated to be at most 100 ng/mg, corresponding to 0.35% of the maternal dose, which is regarded as tolerable.
The concentrations of mepindolol in plasma and milk of five breastfeeding mothers were determined after 1 and 5 daily doses of mepindolol sulphate 20 mg. In the newborns plasma levels were measured once on the first and fifth days of the study. The mean maternal plasma concentration of mepindolol 2 h after administration was 52 ng/ml both after 1 and 5 doses; in the milk 18 and 22 ng/ml the corresponding concentrations were. The average plasma/milk drug concentration ratio was 2.6 +/- 1.6. Plasma levels in the newborn were below the detection limit of 1 ng/ml, except for one baby in whom 2 and 5 ng/ml, respectively, were found 4 h after one and five maternal doses.
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The Authors refer on the validity of echoscopic examination and hCG, progesterone and 17-beta estradiol values in the prognosis of threatened abortion during the first trimester of pregnancy in 62 patients. The echoscopic examination allowed a prognosis to be made in accordance with the clinical evolution of threatened abortion in 90% of the cases; the plasma levels of hCG and progesterone in 87% of the cases; 17-beta estradiol in 83% of the cases. The Authors conclude that the simultaneous assay of hCG, progesterone and 17-beta estradiol plasma levels does not improve the prognostic validity of echoscopy but, in some cases, can provide essential details on the etiology of threatened abortion itself.
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