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Biomedical subjects

E Caspi

Publications and source records attributed to E Caspi.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

Mechanism of C-5 double bond introduction in the biosynthesis of cholesterol by rat liver microsomes.

The dehydrogenation reaction of cholest-7-en-3beta-ol (I) to cholesta-5,7-dien-3beta-ol (II) in the presence of NADH was studied in rat liver microsomes and in microsomal acetone powder preparations, using [3alpha-3H]cholest-7-en-3beta-ol. It was found that the reaction was inhibited by menadione, adenosine diphosphate, potassium ferricyanide, and cytochrome c while p-cresol had no effect. These results indicated the participation of a microsomal electron transport system in the dehydrogenation of cholest-7-en-3beta-ol. The conversion of cholest-7-en-3beta-ol to cholesta-5,7-dien-3beta-ol was also observed in the absence of NADH when ascorbic acid was included in the incubation mixture. However, the ascorbic acid-catalyzed dehydrogenation was not inhibited by potassium ferricyanide. Immunological evidence that microsomal cytochrome b5 is involved in the dehydrogenation of (I) to (II) was obtained. Antibodies specific for rat liver microsomal cytochrome b5 were elicited in rabbits. The anticytochrome b5 immunoglobulin fraction inhibited rat liver microsomal NADH-cytochrome c reductase but not NADPH-cytochrome c reductase. Also, the extent of reduction of cytochrome b5 was not affected by the antibodies. The conversion of (I) to (II) by rat liver microsomes was inhibited (73%) by anticytochrome b5 immunoglobulin at a ratio of microsomal protein:immunoglobulin of 1:5.6. These results are consistent with the participation of microsomal cytochrome b5 in the introduction of the C-5 double bond in cholesterol biosynthesis. A close analogy of the microsomal dehydrogenation of fatty acids and of cholest-7-en-3beta-ol is apparent and this suggests a possible similarity in the mechanisms of the two reactions.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1977

Incidence of malignancy in Jewish women with postmenopausal bleeding.

Postmenopausal bleeding is associated with a relatively high incidence of malignancy. The lowest incidence reported in the literature was observed among Jewish women in Jerusalem, more than 21 years ago (1). A similar survey of Jewish women admitted to our Department for postmenopausal bleeding during 1962-74 is presented. Fifty-five of 397 cases (13.8%) of postmenopausal bleeding were due to malignancy. There were 34 women with endometrial carcinoma, 11 with cervical carcinoma, five with ovarian carcinoma, four with uterine sarcoma and one with vaginal sarcoma. In 86% of cases, benign pathological states were found, 42.8% being associated with atrophic endometrium. An active endometrium was found in 56 patients (14%), and in two of them the endometrium was secretory. Estrogen therapy was not an important causative factor in these cases. The low incidence of malignancy seems to be due to the fact that cervical carcinoma is less common among Jewish women. Nevertheless, 20% of the malignant tumors in this series were invasive epidermoid carcinomas of the cervix. The need for a cytologic screening program in this country must therefore be reevaluated.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1976

The outcome of pregnancy after gonadotrophin therapy.

One hundred and ten women conceived 143 times following induction of ovulation by gonadotrophins. The abortion rate was 21 per cent. Some bleeding occurred in 38-7 per cent of pregnancies and 54 per cent of them ended in abortion. For the 112 pregnancies reaching 20 weeks, the multiple pregnancy rate was 26-8 per cent (21 twins, 5 triplets, 3 quadruplets and 1 sextuplet). Hypertension was present in 8-9 per cent of patients and in 3-3 per cent of those with multiple pregnancy. The length of gestation was related to the number of fetuses at birth and postmaturity did not occur. The Caesarean section rate was 32-1 per cent. The birth weight of the infants was normal and the male to female sex ratio was 0-64 for singleton births and 0-78 for twins. The fetal loss was 15-9 per cent (7-1 per cent for pregnancies of over 28 weeks). Growth and development of the children were apparently normal. The incidence of all congenital malformations was 7 per cent.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗
PubMed1976

Prevention of the respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants by antepartum glucocorticoid therapy.

A trial of antepartum dexamethasone therapy was carried out in 55 mothers in whom premature delivery threatned between 28 to 36 weeks gestation in the hope of reducing the incidence of respiratory distress syndromes (RDS). The control group was made up of 62 mothers who delivered prematurely in the same gestational age without any treatment. In the treated group isoxsuprine was used to delay delivery when necessary. The respiratory dif infants (8.3 per cent) than in the controls (35.2 per cent; p less than 0.001). The difference was more marked in babies of under 32 weeks gestation. Considering only cases with intact membranes the incidence of RDS was significantly (p less than 0.01) lower in the treated group. Early neonatal mortality was 6.6 per cent in the treated group and 38 per cent (p less than 0.0001) in the controls. In 12 cases the L/S ratio was measured during dexamethasone administration and in the majority of these the L/S ratio rose sharply to mature values following treatment. This rise was observed as soon as 48 hours after beginning of dexamethasone. Antepartum isoxsuprine in the treated group had no apparent effect on the incidence of RDS. No adverse effects of steroid therapy were observed. This trial confirms the studies of others that antepartum glucocorticoid can significantly reduce the incidence of RDS in premature infants.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1976

Immunological factors and post coital test in unexplained infertility.

Twenty-four couples facing longstanding primary or secondary infertility underwent semen analysis, PCT, functional evaluation of menstrual cycle, hysterosalpingography and laparscopy. All clinical findings were normal with the exception of PCT which was positive in 13 and negative in 11. All the women underwent a multiple approach investigation of local and circulating antibodies production as well as cell-mediated immunity against live spermatozoa. Sperm Immobilization Test (SIT) and Spermatotoxicity Tests (STT) were performed in a single experimental design on cervical mucus and blood serum. Leucocyte Migration Inhibition Test in presence of sperms (LMIT) was done on peripheral leucocytes. Local antispermatic activity in the cervical mucus was negative in all PCT positive cases, and positive in six out of 11 PCT negative cases. SIT and STT were both positive in cervical mucus and in blood in one case only. No correlation could be found between PCT and serum SIT, STT or LMIT. The fertility pattern expressed by the number of pregnancies per years of exposure, already low in the whole group, was even lower in the sub-groups with positive immunological factors. Positive immunological factors do not exclude the possibility of conception but appear to be associated with a reduced rate of conception.

Cell Migration Inhibition↗
PubMed1976

Isolation of Mycoplasma from the placenta after cesarean section.

Placentas obtained at cesarean section were cultured for Mycoplasma and other microorganisms in 123 randomly selected patients in order to evaluate the incidence of Mycoplasma, to identify factors which may contribute to their presence, and to correlate their presence with the occurrence of postpartum infection. Twenty-eight placentas (22.8%) yielded Mycoplasma positive cultures. The incidence of Mycoplasma in the placenta was significantly higher in patients with ruptured membranes. The incidence of postpartum fever was significantly higher (P less than 0.01) in cases positive for Mycoplasma as compared to cases in which the placenta was negative for Mycoplasma. Findings were similar for both groups with regard to the incidence of unexplained postpartum fever. The results of this study suggest that Mycoplasma may be considered a relatively frequent pathogen and should be considered a possible cause of postpartum fever.

Cesarean Section↗