Experience with real time ultrasound directed transcervical chorionic villus biopsy.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Adolescent↗
Biomedical subjects
E M Symonds
Publications and source records attributed to E M Symonds.
Imaging the pregnant human uterus with nuclear magnetic resonance.
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques have been used to produce images of the pregnant and nonpregnant human uterus. A series of pictures is presented showing the normal nonpregnant uterus and pelvic organs, the uterus and its contents in pregnancy at 17, 30, and 40 weeks' gestation, and the pelvic organs in the early puerperium. In early pregnancy the uterus and placenta are clearly seen and the dimensions and configuration of the pelvis can be readily assessed. Because of the relatively long scan time of 2 minutes, better images of the fetus were obtained in the third trimester when movement is more restricted. The potential value of this technique in obstetrics is discussed.
Female↗
Production of active and acid-activated renin by cultured explants of human fetal tissues.
Various fetal tissues with gestational ages that ranged from 6 to 22 weeks were cultured as explants, and the culture media were examined for the production of both active and acid-activated renin. Media from cultures of fetal kidney, both the male and female genital tracts, and umbilical cord vessels were found to contain large quantities of active and acid-activated renin. Consistent differences in the production patterns of renin were found between the tissues, which may reflect the different potentials of the tissues to produce renin in vivo.
Culture Media↗
Seven years experience of home management in pregnancy in women with insulin-dependent diabetes.
Fifty-eight of a consecutive series of 75 pregnancies in women with insulin-dependent diabetes went into the third trimester. Diabetes was managed by home blood glucose monitoring and women were not routinely admitted at any stage before delivery. The mean number of in-patient days before delivery was 15 for the whole series but has been reduced to 9 during the past four years. Each woman performed an average of 171 blood glucose measurements during her pregnancy. Mean blood glucose (including post-prandial levels) fell significantly from 7.9 mmol/l in the first trimester to 7.3 in the second and 6.4 in the third. Mean percentage of haemoglobin A1 was within the normal range in the second and third trimesters. The cesarean section rate was high at 66% but there were no perinatal deaths. Three infants had congenital abnormalities. We conclude that home blood glucose monitoring is a safe and effective way of managing pregnant diabetic women as out-patients. The cost of meters and sticks is repaid many times over in the saving of hospital costs. In addition, home blood glucose monitoring is popular with the patients and many choose to continue it after delivery.
Blood Glucose↗
Imaging ovarian tumours by nuclear magnetic resonance.
The application of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging to the diagnosis of ovarian tumours has been studied in a group of seven patients with ovarian masses and several healthy volunteers who provided examples of normal pelvic anatomy. In three patients, benign unilocular ovarian cysts were demonstrated and in three patients, recurrent ovarian tumours were identified and the extent of the tumours defined. One patient with bilateral ovarian endometriomas was imaged. Endometrial cysts, like masses in other systems which contain blood or lipid-rich material, show high-density images whereas malignant tumours show tissue densities closer to those of normal tissues. The potential value of this technique in the assessment of pelvic disease is discussed.
Endometriosis↗
The fetal renin-angiotensin system in pregnancy-induced hypertension.
Maternal and fetal blood samples were obtained from 10 normotensive primigravidae and 10 primigravidae with pregnancies complicated by hypertension and proteinuria. Measurements were performed of plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma renin concentration (PRC) and plasma renin substrate (PRS). PRA and PRC were significantly higher in cord artery and cord vein blood than in maternal venous blood in normotensive women, and PRS was significantly lower. PRS levels were lower in maternal plasma of hypertensive women, and, although PRC and PRA were lower in the cord blood of infants born to hypertensive women, these differences did not achieve statistical significance.
Angiotensinogen↗
Nuclear progesterone uptake by endometrial tissue in cases of subfertility.
To investigate the ability of steroid hormones to interact with endometrium, particularly in cases of unexplained subfertility, intact cells were incubated with tritiated progesterone and oestradiol and their uptake into the nuclei was measured. Samples were taken at dilatation and curettage from 23 fertile women, 14 women with unexplained primary subfertility, and 9 patients whose primary subfertility could be explained. Serum oestradiol and progesterone levels were not significantly different between the three groups, nor were values of 3H-oestradiol uptake. However, low (below 5 pmol/mg DNA) values for nuclear 3H-progesterone uptake were present in most samples from women with unexplained subfertility but in only about half of the women in the other two groups. This biochemical defect may be the cause of some cases of unexplained subfertility.
Cell Nucleus↗
Generation of angiotensin I by human chorion-decidua in vitro.
An angiotensin I-like substance has been detected in media after incubation of human chorion-decidua in vitro. The substance was identified as angiotensin I by gel filtration, ion exchange chromatography, and a specific antiserum to angiotensin I. The presence of angiotensin I in these incubates indicates that renin substrate may be either stored or synthesized by the tissue. The levels of angiotensin I produced during incubation were greater than could be explained by the action of renin on plasma substrate since the major part of the chorion-decidua is avascular. Previously chorion-decidua has been shown to contain large amounts of renin and to be capable of synthesizing both active and inactive forms of the enzyme in vitro; however, renin substrate has not been described in this tissue.
Angiotensin I↗
Generation of angiotensin I by tissues of the human female genital tract.
Tissues from the fetoplacental unit were incubated in medium E 199 at 0 degrees C and following removal of the tissue were incubated at 37 degrees C. Compared to control tissues held at 0 degrees C, large quantities of angiotensin I, measured by means of specific radioimmunoassay, were detected in the media from both amnion and chorion-decidua while only small amounts were found in the media from placenta and umbilical cord. Following prior incubation with antirenin, the generation of angiotensin I was abolished in all tissues. These results indicate that both renin and its substrate are released into the media during incubation at 0 degrees C and suggest the existence of a locally functioning renin-angiotensin system in certain tissues of the human female genital tract.
Amnion↗
Changes in plasma steroid hormones during treatment of preterm labour with ritodrine-HCl.
Peripheral plasma concentrations of unconjugated oestradiol 17-beta, progesterone and total oestriol were measured in 21 patients presenting with 'uncomplicated' preterm labour. Serial measurements were made during intravenous treatment with ritodrine over a period of 24 h. Mean levels of unconjugated oestradiol 17-beta fell significantly during infusion with ritodrine. Changes in progesterone levels remained within the range of diurnal fluctuations normally found in uncomplicated late pregnancy. Mean total oestriol levels fell significantly, but the changes did not exceed normal variations. No correlation was found between the magnitude, the rate or the timing of changes in any of the hormones measured and the short or long term effects of ritodrine on uterine activity. Although alterations in the peripheral oestrogen concentrations may be a direct effect of beta-mimetics, it is unlikely that this mechanism is important in the inhibition of uterine activity.
Adolescent↗
Renin and aldosterone concentrations in pregnant essential hypertensives - a prospective study.
Serial blood samples were obtained throughout pregnancy from 11 women with essential hypertension (EHT). Seven were treated with labetalol (Trandate) and 4 with alpha -methyl dopa (Aldomet). Nine patients were well-controlled throughout pregnancy. Their mean plasma renin concentrations (PRC) followed the profile determined in 18 normal patients studied serially. They remained in the upper normal range until the last month, when both treatment groups showed a fall in PRC. Mean plasma aldosterone (ALD) also followed a normal profile until late gestation when it too showed a sharp fall. Of the two patients who developed superimposed PIH, one, who received labetalol, developed severe hypertension at 35 weeks, requiring delivery. Although PRC increased early in this pregnancy, ALD did not, remaining low throughout. Serum potassium [K+] measurements were also very low in this patient. The second patient only became hypertensive at 40 weeks and had PRC and ALD profiles resembling those in the successfully treated EHTs. There was a strong positive correlation throughout between serum potassium and ALD measurements (p less than 0.001) but none between PRC and ALD. This latter agrees with the known lack of correlation between PRC and ALD in normal pregnancy and may suggest that changes in electrolyte balance are more important stimuli to ALD secretion during pregnancy.
Adult↗
The effects of anesthesia and mode of delivery on the parameters of the renin-angiotensin system.
Paired maternal venous (MV) before (P1) and after (P2) general anesthesia, cord venous (CV) and cord arterial (CA) blood was taken from two groups of primagravid women, one delivered vaginally and the other by elective lower segment Caesarian section (ELSCS). ACTH, Cortisol (CoSol) Aldosterone (Aldo) Plasma Renin Activity (PRA) Plasma Renin Concentration (PRC) Angiotensin II (AII) Solium (N alpha) and Potassium [K]+ were measured in both study groups. Of the various hormones studied, all but cortisol were raised in the P2 sample with only ACTH and AII achieving significant increase. A number of significant positive correlations was found between P1 and P2 samples as well as between the hormones themselves. Four of the vaginally delivered group received epidural analgesia and demonstrated significantly higher levels of ACTH and CoSol in the CV sample. A comparison of the studied variables between the two groups showed a significant decrease in the ELSCS group of ACTH and CoSol in the MV sample, of ACTH, CoSol, PRC in the CV sample, and of CoSol in the CA sample. Of all the parameters, studied, only [K]+ together with Aldo was found to be elevated in the CV sample of the ELSCS group but only [K]+ achieved significant increase.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
Artificial insemination by donor: problems and perspectives.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Child Development↗
Social and environmental factors as criteria for success in artificial insemination by donor (AID).
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Adaptation, Psychological↗
Levels of circulating immune complexes in patients with ovarian cancer.
Sera from patients with ovarian tumours were assayed for circulating immune complexes (CIC) by four well established assays based on the interaction of immune complexes with components of the complement system. There was no difference in control, pre- or post-operative or BCG-treated patients' sera. Levels were also unchanged in sera in antigen excess. In patients with ovarian tumours therefore the measurement of CIC would appear to be of little value as a screening test, as a guide to the extent of disease, prognosis or therapy. In a small pilot therapy-trial there was no difference in the survival rate between patients with stage III and IV ovarian cancer treated with cyclophosphamide plus BCG and those who received only cyclophosphamide. Treatment with BCG was associated with postoperative pyrexia and a prolonged hospital stay.
Antigen-Antibody Complex↗
Prolactin levels in the premenstrual syndrome.
Serum prolactin was measured in 18 subjects complaining of premenstrual syndrome and results were compared with those in 10 control subjects. No consistent changes were seen during the course of the menstrual cycle in either group. There were no significant differences between the prolactin levels of the two groups. There was no correlation between mood change and levels of prolactin.
Adult↗
Production of active and inactive renin by cultured explants from the human female genital tract.
Myometrium, decidua, chorio-decidua and amnion were collected from women undergoing caesarean section and from pregnant women at hysterectomy and hysterotomy for comparison with myometrium, cervix and endometrium taken from non-pregnant women at hysterectomy. Homogenates of chorio-decidua and amnion contained the largest concentrations of active and inactive renin. Cultured explants of all tissues except amnion were found to produce both types of renin. The percentage of active renin produced before 20 days of culture was significantly greater in cultures of chorio-decidua than in those of myometrium (P less than 0.0005) or decidua vera (P less than 0.025), which suggests that renin synthesis in vivo is probably confined to the chorio-decidua.
Amnion↗