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Biomedical subjects

A Hurwitz

Publications and source records attributed to A Hurwitz.

190 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

A comparative trial of clofibrate and nicotinyl alcohol tartrate in hyperlipoproteinemic patients.

The effects of nicotinyl alcohol tartrate (Roniacol) and clofibrate (Atromid-S) on plasma cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were compared in 19 patients with hyperlipoproteinemia in a 32-week, double-blind, crossover trial. Determination of serum clofibric acid concentrations, used to check compliance, allowed us to detect an error in the order in which the drugs were dispensed. Both drugs decreased (p less than 0.01) plasma cholesterol approximately 17% in patients with type II hyperlipoproteinemia. Nicotinyl alcohol reduced plasma triglycerides by 20% in six and clofibrate in eight of the nine patients with type IV hyperlipoproteinemia, although the mean effect was not statistically significant due to the large variance. Both drugs decreased (p less than 0.02) very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol in the type IV patients; however, clofibrate increased (p less than 0.05) low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, whereas nicotinyl alcohol did not. Neither drug altered high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels significantly. In future studies, the effect of hypolipidemic drugs on the major classes of plasma lipoproteins should be determined in addition to the response of plasma lipids.

Adult↗

Psychologic impact on nursing students of participation in abortion.

Dreams were used to ascertain the psychologic impact on nursing students of articipation in abortion and of other educational experiences. Stressfulness of the experiences was measured by number of dreams, recurrence of dreams, and content analysis of the dreams during four data-gathering periods. During stressful periods, dreams tended to be more negative. The abortion experience was found to be more stressful than other experiences encountered during the data-gathering periods.

Abortion, Induced↗

Helping Down Syndrome children to reach new heights: the role of the pediatric nurse.

Children with Down Syndrome have marked short stature, microcephaly, and muscle weakness. These deficiencies can be corrected by treatment with human growth hormone. Nurses caring for children with Down Syndrome will need to become familiar with the complexities of diagnosing growth hormone deficiency and treatment with synthetic growth hormone. Family teaching includes preparation for diagnostic testing, home assessment, injection technique, provision of information, and ongoing support of the family system.

Adolescent↗

Production of 6-keto-PG F1 alpha in hyperstimulated cycles: in vivo and in vitro studies.

Prostacyclin (PG12), a potent vasodilator, is believed to be involved in increasing permeability within the wall of the preovulatory follicle. In ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), increased vascular permeability has been shown to lead to massive fluid accumulation in ovarian cysts and the peritoneal cavity. The objective of the in vitro and in vivo studies reported herein was to examine the production of 6-keto PGF1 alpha (a breakdown metabolite of PG12) during the luteal phase of women who develop OHSS, as well as the capacity of human granulosa luteal cells (GLC) obtained from stimulated in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles to synthesize PGF1 alpha in vitro in long-term cultures. The in vivo results showed that during the luteal phase of women with OHSS, there is no increase in 6-keto PGF1 alpha production compared with the levels obtained from the luteal phase of normal ovulatory women. The GLC (representing early corpus luteum function) secreted significant amounts of 6-keto PGF1 alpha, but only in the first 48 hours of culture. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) had no additional augmentative effect upon the production of 6-keto PGF1 alpha throughout the culture period. It is concluded that 6-keto PGF1 alpha is not produced in significant amounts during the luteal phase, and therefore PG12 probably does not play a major role in the etiology of OHSS.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

A single continuous suture as a possible alternative to the interrupted suture for tubal anastomosis.

A simple alternative for microsurgical anastomosis of the fallopian tube is presented. The anastomosis is composed of a single continuous suture (8-0 nylon) extending through the serosa and muscularis, avoiding the mucosa. Experimentally this technique was performed on the uterine horns of 30 female rats and compared with the conventional interrupted suture technique on 30 additional female rats. Patency was established histologically in 100% of operated horns in both groups, with an average nidation index of 0.7 in the study group as compared with 0.6 in the conventional technique group. The results indicate that this simple method of anastomosis, which reduces operative time significantly, does not affect patency or nidation index in this model as compared with the conventional interrupted suture technique. It may, therefore, be a suitable procedure for anastomosis of equal-sized segments of the fallopian tubes, especially in cases of reversal of sterilization.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

Declining beta-HCG levels: an indicator for expectant approach in ectopic pregnancy.

Early surgical intervention in ectopic pregnancy is desirable. However, occasionally some patients do not benefit from this approach, as the natural history of ectopic pregnancy is not always tubal rupture or any other catastrophic event. A retrospective as well as a prospective analysis of 144 cases of suspected ectopic pregnancies was performed. The results of this study support expectant management in cases where serum beta-HCG levels are declining, provided the patient is stable and has no acute abdominal symptoms.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗

Follicular atresia as an apoptotic process: atresia-associated increase in the ovarian expression of the putative apoptotic marker sulfated glycoprotein-2.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the possibility that morphologically confirmed/hypophysectomy-induced ovarian follicular atresia, a putative apoptotic process, is coupled to alterations in the steady-state levels of ovarian sulfated glycoprotein-2 (SGP-2) transcripts. METHODS: Hypophysectomy-induced follicular atresia in immature rats, morphologically confirmed at the light and electron microscopic levels, was correlated with alterations in the steady-state levels of ovarian SGP-2 transcripts as assessed by a solution hybridization/RNase protection assay. Cellular localization was accomplished by in situ hybridization technology. RESULTS: Hypophysectomy of the 24-day-old immature rat, an established precipitant of follicular atresia, led (3 days later) to a significant (P < .05) increase (up to 3.3-fold) in the relative abundance of densitometrically quantified ovarian SGP-2 transcripts compared with age-matched intact controls. Detailed time-course analysis after hypophysectomy revealed significantly (P < .05) increased ovarian SGP-2 mRNA expression as early as 2 days after hypophysectomy; no further increments were noted on days 4 or 8. Light microscopic analysis of comparable ovarian material 4 days after hypophysectomy revealed increased numbers of atretic follicles displaying large numbers of degenerating granulosa cells. Electron microscopic analysis of the degenerating cells of atretic follicles (from hypophysectomized rats) disclosed nuclear condensation and cytoplasmic shrinkage as well as apoptotic bodies at all levels of the granulosa cell layer. In situ hybridization established the granulosa cell of the intact untreated rat as the somatic cell concerned with SGP-2 gene expression. In turn, hypophysectomy led to an increase in SGP-2 expression at the level of the theca-interstitial cell, an effect prevented by the concurrent provision of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG). The hypophysectomy-induced increase in ovarian SGP-2 transcripts was similarly reversed (54% inhibition by day 27) by the concomitant provision of FSH, an established antiatretic principle. The delayed administration (day 26) of a single dose of PMSG to rats hypophysectomized on day 24 eliminated the hypophysectomy-induced increase in ovarian SGP-2 transcripts as assessed on day 28. Qualitatively similar but quantitatively more pronounced increments in ovarian SGP-2 gene expression were obtained when atresia was induced by hypophysectomy of PMSG-primed immature rats. CONCLUSIONS: These observations establish the immature rat ovary as a site of SGP-2 gene expression and reveal hypophysectomy-induced follicular atresia to result in the up-regulation of ovarian (specifically, theca-interstitial) SGP-2 gene expression, an effect prevented by the concurrent provision of FSH or PMSG. To the extent that SGP-2 is an acceptable apoptotic marker, the present findings support the hypothesis that ovarian follicular atresia may be an apoptotic process.

Animals↗