Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E V Cosmi

Publications and source records attributed to E V Cosmi.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

The role of telemetry in perinatal monitoring.

In the field of transmission and exchange of clinical information particularly good results are foreseen with the development of data telemetry. In perinatal medicine the telemetric technologies are being employed in several situations. It is possible to subdivide the telemetric technologies into short and long distance systems. Short distance telemetry employs devices which utilize radiowaves or laser techniques to transmit data from the original source to centralized equipment; the main application is the transmission of the cardiotocographic signal to permit ambulation of the patient during recording. It may allow fetal heart rate testing to be performed in a setting more acceptable to patients telemetric not be physically confined to a bed or a chair. The telemetric transmission of the cardiotocogram (CTG) may solve problems of organization when the ratio of parturient to midwife exceeds 1:1. Long distance telemetry consists of the telephone transmission of data obtained from distant source to a consultation center where the data can be evaluated, stored and where hospital staff may suggest appropriate decision related to clinical course. In prenatal medicine, the system can offer the monitoring of maternal blood pressure, automatic urine and glucose analyses, surveillance of fetal heart rate and uterine contractions. CTG telemetry has been used with good results for the prevention of preterm labor while blood pressure control by telemetry may be useful for the prevention and management of gestational hypertension. Knowledge by the pregnant woman that it is possible to continuously monitor by telemetric technology her health and the health of her fetus provides reassurance during a delicate period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Female↗
PubMed1994

The effect of maternal ethanol intoxication on erythrocyte ghost fluidity in new-born rat pups.

We administered ethanol to pregnant rats and determined cholesterol, lipid phosphorus and fluorescence anisotropy of diphenylhexatriene (DPH) and of trimethylaminophenyl hexatriene (TMA-DPH) in erythrocyte ghosts of newborn pups and of their mothers. Cholesterol content was different in dams and pups and changed after treatment. Age, but not ethanol, affected lipid phosphorus. Either age (dams versus pups) or treatment affected the curves of DPH fluorescence anisotropy (r) versus temperature (T), but those of TMA-DPH did not change, indicating that only the inner core of the membrane was influenced. We conclude that adult and erythrocyte ghosts differed for the lipid composition, for the dependence of r on T (for DPH) and for the effects of ethanol dosing on these parameters.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Doppler studies of uterine arteries in spontaneous and artificially induced menopausal women.

In the postmenopausal period, women's genital organs undergo several changes and female hormones, as well as modification of vascular reactivity to various stimuli, play a major role in this process. We studied the modification of uterine vascularity consequent to spontaneous or artificially induced menopause, with gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs. Flow velocity waveforms of the uterine arteries were detected using a color Doppler imaging system with a transvaginal probe; the pulsatility index was calculated. The study group consisted of 15 women observed before and after 6 months of treatment with GnRH analogs (triptorelin 3.75 mg depot every 4 weeks intramuscularly) for uterine fibromyomata; 20 women after 5 years of spontaneous menopause; and 20 healthy and normally menstruating women in the late luteal phase. We found a significant difference among the three groups with a progressive increase of the pulsatility index in spontaneous menopausal women. This phenomenon may be due to a different hormonal pattern which exists in spontaneous and artificially induced menopause (increase of gonadotropin level in the former and decrease in the latter), and to a decrease of vascular compliance caused by progressive sclerosis of the vasal walls.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1993

Rat brain microsome fluidity as modified by prenatal ethanol administration.

The fluorescence anisotropy (r) of diphenylhexatriene (DPH) and of trimethylamino-diphenylhexatriene (TMA-DPH) as a function of temperature (10 degrees to 54 degrees C) was measured in brain microsomes of newborn rats prenatally exposed to ethanol. In this temperature range, the relationship between r and T was linear. The addition of ethanol in vitro to microsomal suspensions influenced the slope of the line of r versus T only when DPH was used as a probe and with high concentrations of the alcohol (> or = 0.3 M). The administration of ethanol (18% of total energy intake) in vivo to pregnant dams affected the slope of the lines of r versus T of the microsomes of pups, either using DPH or TMA-DPH as probes. The slope was also affected in brain microsomes obtained from dams, yet, only with TMA-DPH and in the opposite sense than in pups. We conclude that the effect of prenatal exposure to ethanol depended on metabolic alterations induced by the alcohol and not on its detergent properties for the following reasons: (a) The effects in vitro and in vivo were different and (b) in vitro effects could be obtained only with high concentrations (> or = 0.3 M), whereas in vivo effects were produced by small doses of ethanol. Besides, the effects of the administration of the alcohol in vivo were different in adult and intrauterine life.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Human papilloma virus infection and Ki-ras oncogene in paraffin-embedded squamous carcinomas of the cervix.

42 paraffin-embedded squamous cervical carcinomas were screened for the presence of human papilloma virus (HPV; 6b, 11, 16, 18) and for activation of the Ki-ras oncogene family by polymerase chain reaction. In 72% of cases we found one or more HPV types, but no mutations of the Ki-ras gene (codon 12-1 and 61-1, 61-2 and 61-3) were found. We conclude that mutations of the Ki-ras oncogene, at the positions analyzed, are not likely to be involved in the events leading to cervical carcinogenesis.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1992

Short-term effects of ritodrine, aminophylline and atropine on umbilical artery blood flow velocity waveform.

With the recent introduction of Doppler technology, a non-invasive methodology which enables to evaluate qualitative changes in circulatory vessels, it is possible to investigate the possible effects of various drugs on several parameters of utero-placental-fetal circulation. In the present study we evaluate the flow velocity waveform (FVW) of umbilical artery (UA) during and after administration of aminophylline, atropine and ritodrine to healthy pregnant women. In our study we did not observe any significant short-term variation of PI after the administration of these drugs. Slight variations were detected, and they may be interpreted on the basis of the mode of action of these drugs. Doppler technology may be a useful tool for monitoring some effects on the fetus of the maternal administration of therapeutic agents.

Aminophylline↗
PubMed1992

Perinatal AIDS.

AIDS is the major public health concern today. The short-term history of the disease adds considerable emphasis to the problem in that it has literally exploded in a few years. The pathophysiology and natural history and, what is most important, the treatment, remain enigmatic. Management of women at risk of HIV infection is colored by the nature of the illness, the subgroups of the people first infected, the mode of transmission, and the implication of vertical transmission.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1992

Distribution of SP1, immunoreactivity among different plasma proteins: real molecular heterogeneity or adsorption of SP1-beta to other plasma proteins?

Three SP1-containing factors from pooled term pregnancy sera were subjected to crossed immunoelectrophoresis. New patterns as far as electrophoretic mobilities and shapes of the immunoprecipitates were revealed. The appearance of an additional anodic radioimmunoassayable activity in agarose electrophoresis of mixed SP1-alpha and SP1-beta suggested a binding capacity of SP1-alpha for SP1-beta determinants. In the serum of a single patient at the third trimester of pregnancy we also found two SP1 variants, possessing little radioimmunological reactivity and with crossed immunoelectrophoretic characteristics quite different from those of the 'usual' alpha and beta SP1 forms. These results suggest that, in this particular case, the overall SP1 production cannot be evaluated by competitive binding assay and, that in general, SP1 is a complex antigen the heterogeneity of which can be determined following adsorption of some beta epitopes to another serum protein.

Female↗
PubMed1992

Erythrocyte membrane composition in pregnancy-induced hypertension: evidence for an altered lipid profile.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the increased membrane fluidity postulated as a possible contributing factor to the hypertensive states of pregnancy is related to the lipid composition of the erythrocyte membrane. DESIGN: An observational case control study. SUBJECTS: 30 women with pregnancy induced hypertension, 26 normotensive pregnant women matched for gestational age, and 10 normotensive non pregnant nulliparous women. INTERVENTIONS: Erythrocyte membranes were prepared from venous blood samples obtained from all the women. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Lipid analysis, including cholesterol to phospholipids ratio, distribution of phospholipid classes and fatty acid composition of total phospholipids in erythrocyte ghosts. RESULTS: The cholesterol/phospholipid ratio was significantly higher in the women with pregnancy induced hypertension compared with the normotensive pregnant women (mean 1.24, SD 0.31, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.35 vs mean 0.90, SD 0.09, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.94; P less than 0.01). Normotensive non-pregnant erythrocyte membrane cholesterol/phospholipid ratio was 0.88 (SD 0.11, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.96). The percentage distribution of different phospholipid classes and fatty acid composition was similar in all the four groups. CONCLUSIONS: The increased cholesterol/phospholipid ratio of the erythrocyte membrane found in pregnancy-induced hypertension represents one factor involved in the pathophysiology of this condition and a possible biochemical marker of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Abnormal platelet lipid membrane composition in pregnancy induced hypertension.

The cholesterol:phospholipid ratio (C/PL) was measured in platelet plasma membrane in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension [with proteinuria (PE), and without proteinuria (PIH)] and in matched normotensive gestational controls (NT). The C/PL was raised in the platelet membrane from PE (1.52 +/- 0.50, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.90) and PIH (1.38 +/- 0.34, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.67) compared with that from NT controls (0.88 +/- 0.13, 95% CI 0.80 to 0.95) (p less than 0.01, ANOVA test). No correlation was found when C/PL was regressed against total serum cholesterol levels. The abnormality of lipid composition of the platelet plasma membrane could account for some of the changes in platelet function that have been described in PIH.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMed1992

Collagen and elastin in rabbit fetal lung: ontogeny and effects of steroids.

Ontogeny of lung collagen and elastin were studied in fetal rabbit from day 25 to term. Collagen (isolated by hot trichloroacetic acid treatment) and elastin (contained in the residue) were hydrolyzed and the hydroxyproline and desmosine quantitated by hplc. Hydroxyproline slightly increased from day 25 to day 30 (204 to 244 micrograms/100g dry weight). Over the same period desmosine increased from 2.2 to 5.1 micrograms/100 mg dry weight (P < 0.01). The effect of antenatal corticosteroids on the lung of prematurely-delivered fetuses was also evaluated. Betamethasone (B) was given to pregnant does at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg 24 and 48 h before delivery of the fetuses at 26, 27 and 28 days. In treated animals elastin concentration increased significantly by about 22% on day 26 (P = 0.05), by 29% on day (P < 0.02) and by 47% on day 28 (P < 0.02). Hydroxyproline was not affected by steroid treatment at any gestational age. This suggests that steroids affect fetal lung development also via changes in connective tissue.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

CA 125 in peritoneal fluid: reliable values at high dilutions.

Forty-three samples of peritoneal fluid from women undergoing laparotomy or laparoscopy for various gynecologic diseases were examined to determine and characterize CA 125 antigen. The data were compared with the corresponding serum levels. CA 125 levels in undiluted peritoneal fluid ranged between 41-301 U/mL and were significantly higher than levels in serum, except in cases of ovarian carcinoma. However, when CA 125 of peritoneal fluid was measured at dilutions greater than 1:50, higher antigen levels were measured (1120-31,500 U/mL), with the highest CA 125 values in patients with ovarian carcinoma. Measurements at dilutions of less than 1:50 were also affected but did not show any decreased binding of the antigen. Immunoblotting analysis of serum and peritoneal fluid indicated the presence of two main bands in each. The monoclonal antibody OC 125 reacted strongly with peritoneal fluid CA 125, in agreement with the CA 125 values obtained by immunoradiometric assay using high dilutions. These data suggest that CA 125 measurements in peritoneal fluid are unreliable unless the samples are diluted 1:50 or more. Furthermore, the statistical difference found between patients with benign and malignant tumors and those with leiomyomata uteri and controls suggests that diluted peritoneal fluid could have a role in identifying abnormal antigen levels.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate↗
PubMed1991

Regulation of CA 125 production by amnion and WISH cells in culture.

Amnion and human amnion-derived WISH cells release CA 125 antigen into culture medium. CA 125 output was higher in WISH cells than in amnion cells. In this study we showed that release of the antigen is regulated, with both amnion and WISH cells responding in a similar manner to the tested agents. Release of CA 125 decreased in the presence of dexamethasone (10(-6) mol/L) or cycloheximide (0.1 micrograms/ml) and increased when colchicine (0.01 micrograms/ml) was added to the culture medium. Stimulatory and inhibitory effects were more apparent after 3 days in culture. The precise mechanisms by which some of these agents (colchicine and dexamethasone) affect CA 125 release remain unknown. We propose that amnion and WISH cells in culture represent a useful model to investigate some regulatory aspects of the production of CA 125 in normal tissues.

Amnion↗
PubMed1990

Identification of an intermediate form of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase in chorionic villi.

A minor form of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase has been found in chorionic villi, in addition to the major forms A and B. This form does not hydrolyze the 4-methylumbelliferyl-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranoside-6-sulpha te substrate, is thermostable, has a higher mol mass (120,000) than A and B (100,000) and on analytical isoelectric focusing, it shows a microheterogeneity with values ranging between 6.3 and 7.0. For these characteristics, it resembles beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidase P from pregnancy serum, from which is chromatographically indistinguishable.

Anions↗