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Biomedical subjects

D Maier

Publications and source records attributed to D Maier.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Variation in evoked potential measures over the menstrual cycle: a pilot study.

The P3 component of a visual event related potential (ERP) was studied for five consecutive weeks in six women with normal menstrual cycles. Serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2) and progesterone were studied during the same period. Increases in P3 amplitude, although nonsignificant, were noted in the week preceding onset of menses. No significant changes in reaction times to target/nontarget stimuli were noted over the same time period.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Hairless, a Drosophila gene involved in neural development, encodes a novel, serine rich protein.

Hairless is a dominant loss of function mutation in Drosophila affecting the formation of adult sensory organs. In the mutants, neuronal precursor cells do not differentiate, suggesting that Hairless might be involved in specifying or realizing neuronal fate in the fly, similar to the 'pro-neural' genes of the achaete-scute complex. As highlighted by the manifold phenotypic interactions of Hairless with most of the neurogenic loci, the gene might play an important role in nervous system development. Therefore, we initiated a molecular analysis of the Hairless locus in order to elucidate the function of its gene product and gain insight into the biochemical nature of the observed genetic interactions in which it participates. Here, we report the molecular cloning of the Hairless locus, confirmed by breakpoint and transformation analysis. Unexpectedly, Hairless activity peaks during embryogenesis, where transcripts accumulate primarily in endo- and mesodermal cell layers, and is lowest during larval stages, the lethal phase of Hairless mutants. The putative Hairless protein deduced from DNA sequencing is extremely basic and highly enriched in serine residues. Hairless appears to encode a novel protein without compelling homology to other known proteins which function in specifying peripheral nervous system development in Drosophila.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

The prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion, women with successful pregnancies, and women who have never been pregnant.

Antibodies to negatively charged phospholipids are associated with a predisposition to both arterial and venous thrombosis, recurrent fetal wastage, and thrombocytopenia. These associations have been reported in patients who do not fulfill criteria for connective tissue diseases. In this study, we determined the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies in 81 women who had had recurrent spontaneous abortion (3 or more fetal losses), in 88 women whose pregnancies were successful, and in 64 women who had never been pregnant. Antiphospholipid antibodies were found in 16% of women with recurrent spontaneous abortion, and at a statistically greater prevalence than in women who had successful pregnancies (7%) as well as those who had never been pregnant (3%). A false-positive VDRL and IgG anticardiolipin antibodies were more specific for fetal wastage than was either the lupus anticoagulant or IgM anticardiolipin antibodies.

Abortion, Habitual↗
PubMed1991

Psychological factors related to donor insemination.

OBJECTIVE: To survey a sample of couples who had completed therapeutic donor insemination (TDI) regarding several psychological variables. DESIGN: Couples who had conceived through TDI in the past 7 years completed a retrospective survey. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-five of seventy couples returned completed questionnaires. MEASURES: Demographic questionnaire, TDI, and confidentiality questionnaire (created for this study), Dyadic Adjustment Scale. RESULTS: The majority of the subjects told at least one person about the TDI but 81% of subjects who told someone reported that, if they had to do it over again, they would tell no one. Eighty-six percent reported that they have not and will not tell the child. Time from diagnosis to beginning TDI was not correlated with marital adjustment after TDI. Overall, the couples reported average marital adjustment. For both men and women, the biggest concern was the genetic/medical history of the donor. Most couples did not have psychological counseling, but 39% thought it should be mandatory. CONCLUSIONS: Retrospectively, most couples regretted telling others about TDI. Most couples do not plan to tell the TDI child about its genetic origin. The major concern about TDI is the genetic and medical background of the donor. Psychological counseling should be available to couples undergoing TDI.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1991

Guidelines for the provision of psychological evaluations for infertile patients at the University of Connecticut Health Center.

OBJECTIVE: Because of the psychologically demanding nature of infertility treatment, it has been recommended that psychological services be made available to infertile patients. However, no specific guidelines for the scope or usage of those services has been proposed. Our objective was to formulate guidelines to be used at our institution to provide psychological evaluations to infertility patients. DESIGN: The guidelines were formulated through discussions between the division psychologist and attendings and then presented to and modified by the University Ethics, Risk Management, Legal, and Institutional Review Board departments. SETTING: The University of Connecticut Health Center Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility provides tertiary level care to infertility patients. Services include assisted reproductive technologies and donor gamete programs. Surrogate parenting is not a provided service. RESULTS: Guidelines for the provision and use of psychological services for infertility patients were formulated. CONCLUSIONS: These guidelines are preliminary in nature and intended to provide a starting point for discussion among physicians, nurses, and mental health professionals regarding the psychological needs of infertility patients.

Culture↗
PubMed1990

Regulation of the segmentation gene fushi tarazu has been functionally conserved in Drosophila.

An evolutionary approach was applied to identify elements involved in the regulation of the segmentation gene fushi tarazu (ftz) by comparing the Drosophila melanogaster ftz gene with its Drosophila hydei homologue. The overall organization of the ftz gene is very similar in both species. Surprisingly, ftz proved to be inverted in the ANT-C of D. hydei with respect to D. melanogaster. Strong homologies extend over the entire 6 kb of the ftz upstream region with the best match in the 'upstream element'. We identified several highly conserved boxes embedded in unrelated sequences that correspond extremely well to two germ layer specific enhancers in the upstream element. Transformation experiments revealed that D. hydei ftz gene products can restore D. melanogaster ftz function and, furthermore, that trans-acting factors from D. melanogaster recognize and control D. hydei ftz regulatory elements. These findings indicate a conservation of the entire regulatory network among segmentation genes for several millions of years during the evolution of Drosophila.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Temporal relationship and reliability of the clinical, hormonal, and ultrasonographic indices of ovulation in infertile women.

To assess ovulatory function, 50 infertile but "normally" ovulating women were monitored closely during a single menstrual cycle with daily measurements of serum estradiol, progesterone, and LH (morning and evening urinary LH by standard radioimmunoassay and morning urinary LH by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay); transvaginal ultrasound; basal body temperature (BBT) recording; and cervical mucus. All 50 cycles, 40 spontaneous and ten induced with clomiphene citrate, were ovulatory. Follicle rupture was confirmed by ultrasound in 47 cycles (94%), whereas three patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for luteinized unruptured follicle syndrome. Follicle rupture occurred on day +1 in three, on day +2 in 34, and on day +3 in ten of the ovulatory cycles. Urine LH testing correlated well with the serum LH peak, particularly in the evening urine, and predicted ovulation in all patients. The initial periovulatory rise in serum progesterone occurred on the same day as the LH surge (day 0) in 30%, on day +1 in 40%, on day +2 in 22%, and on day +3 or later in 8% of the cycles. The rise in BBT corresponded to an increase in serum progesterone to 5 ng/mL or greater. Neither the BBT nor cervical mucus was reliable in predicting ovulation.

Body Temperature↗
PubMed1989

Spontaneous uterine rupture during pregnancy after treatment of Asherman's syndrome.

The treatment of Asherman's syndrome is often complicated by uterine perforation during hysteroscopic correction. We describe the first reported case of spontaneous uterine rupture with resultant hemorrhage during pregnancy after surgical treatment of Asherman's syndrome. This complication mandates close monitoring of these patients during pregnancy.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Hysteroscopic metroplasty: six years' experience.

Seventy patients who underwent hysteroscopic metroplasty for uterine septa during a 6-year period were reviewed for subsequent gynecologic problems and obstetric outcome. Complete follow-up was obtained for 1 year in 60 patients and through the first pregnancy in 64. The 70 patients were divided into three groups based on obstetric history prior to surgery: 1) 40 with only first-trimester losses, 2) 15 whose histories included second-trimester losses or premature delivery, and 3) 15 with primary infertility. Long-term follow-up indicated no significant gynecologic abnormalities. Comparison of preoperative and postoperative obstetric outcomes indicated the following: 1) Hysteroscopic metroplasty was very effective in treating patients with septa and a history of first-trimester abortion; 2) patients with first-trimester loss and either second-trimester abortion or preterm birth benefited from metroplasty but were still at risk for preterm labor; and 3) hysteroscopic metroplasty does not "cure" unexplained infertility. When compared with abdominal metroplasty for efficacy, morbidity, and cost, hysteroscopic metroplasty appears to be the treatment of choice in patients with uterine septa associated with pregnancy loss. Those patients with a history of second-trimester loss and third-trimester preterm delivery continue to require close monitoring in subsequent pregnancies.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1988

Influence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and hCG internalization by granulosa cells on the rate of in vitro fertilization and embryonic development of human oocytes.

Follicular fluids and granulosa cells were obtained from 28 aspirated follicles of nine women undergoing laparoscopy in an in vitro fertilization program. Follicular growth was stimulated by a human menopausal gonadotropin regimen and laparoscopy was performed 32 hours after human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration. Follicular fluid 17 beta-estradiol (E2) levels were higher and hCG levels were lower in follicles with oocytes that fertilized and cleaved beyond two blastomeres (greater than two-cell group) than in those with nonfertilizable oocytes (NF group) (P less than 0.05). Compared to those from the NF group, granulosa cells from the greater than two-cell group secreted less progesterone (P) in vitro and had a fourfold increase in percentage of cells with internalized hCG. These results demonstrate that the steroidogenic capacity of granulosa cells from follicles whose oocytes fertilize and undergo accelerated embryonic development in vitro differs from the capacity of granulosa cells from NF follicles. This difference may be due to their enhanced ability to bind and subsequently internalize hCG.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗