[Diagnostic evaluation of the prelactin finding in sterility and hormone ambulatory care].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to F Friedrich.
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Hormone profiles in early pregnancy were established in 67 women and correlated to simultaneously performed ultrasonic examinations. Normal values for human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), human chorionic somatotropin (HCS), oestradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) were established from the data obtained in 30 early pregnancies which culminated in the birth of a living child. Lowered HCG values were found in 17 out of 23 pregnancies which ended in miscarriage. In these cases ultrasonic examination failed to detect any heart action. Lowered HCS values after the 9th week of pregnancy are also certain proof of missed abortion. P and E2 values are shown to be a parameter reflecting activity of the corpus luteum graviditatis. In clomiphene- and gonadotropin-induced pregnancies higher values were found than in pregnancies managed by substitution treatment with twice weekly 10 mg oestradiolvalerianate + 500mg 17alpha-hydroxyprogesteronecapronate. Lowered P and E2 values with HCG values in the normal range indicate imminent insufficiency of the corpus luteum graviditatis. Pros and cons of hormonal therapy in early pregnancy are discussed.
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A 19-year-old nullipara developed uremia due to acute pyelonephritis in the 30th week of pregnancy, necessitating hemodialysis within one week of onset of clinical infective symptoms. Almost daily prophylactic hemodialyses (7 in all) were performed. BUN and serum creatinine levels were maintained below 75 mg/100 ml and 12 ml/100 ml respectively, and the patient's weight was kept constant until delivery in the 32nd week of pregnancy. A live healthy child of 1.7 kg was born with a length of 39 cm and a normal neurologic examination. After 10 hemodialyses, polyuria set in and the maternal BUN and serum creatinine levels were within normal ranges 3 weeks after delivery. The importance of close cooperation between gynecologist and internist is stressed.
The effects of mecinarone on the contractions induced by noradrenaline, potassium and calcium were studied with the isolated aorta and central artery of the rabbit ear. In our experimental conditions mecinarone was found to act as a competitive antagonist of calcium. It preferentially inhibited the noradrenaline-evoked contraction induced in the rabbit ear artery and had a smaller effect on the extracellular calcium-induced contraction of depolarized arterial smooth muscle. In the isolated guinea pig heart, mecinarone produced a reversible decrease in the rate of rise of the ascendant phase of the action potential without significantly changing the resting potential. In hearts inactivated by depolarisation, mecinarone inhibited the contractions restored by isoproterenol without suppressing the calcium action potential. These results suggest that the mode of action of mecinarone is different from that of verapamil or nifedipine but is comparable to that of chlorpromazine, although mecinarone has no sedative effect.
Human ovarian follicles showed activity of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase (AcP) leucine aminopeptidase, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the theca interna. The granulosa of nonovulatory tertiary follicles showed moderate activity, whereas that of preovulatory Graafian follicles showed strong activity of LDH and AcP. The activity of these enzymes in the follicular fluid was measured. In nonovulatory tertiary follicles, activity of 3beta-ol-steroid dehydrogenase (3beta-OHSD) was found only in the theca interna; their fluid contained 290 ng/ml of progesterone and 502 ng/ml of 17beta-estradiol (average). Preovulatory Graafian follicles showed activity of 3beta-OHSD in the theca as well as in the granulosa. The progesterone concentration of the fluid was 7037 ng/ml and the 17beta-estradiol concentration was 2800 ng/ml (average). More oocytes could be aspirated from ovaries of younger women than from those of older women. In both age groups one out of three oocytes was degenerated. Oocytes with preovulatory changes were found only in follicles with preovulatory changes in their walls. Degenerated oocytes were found in some nonovulatory follicles as well as in some follicles with preovulatory changes in their walls.
The radioimmunoassay of oestradiol 17 beta (E2) from the blood without chromatography was evaluated in regard to the diagnosis of menstrual cycle disturbances. Two significantly different classes were distinguished, viz. 1. Women with higher E2 values, consisting of three groups: normal controls, cases of oligomenorrhoea, and WHO II (normogonadotropic, clomiphen-positive amenorrhoea). 2. Women with lower E2 values, consisting of two groups: WHO I (hypogonadotropic, clomiphen-negative amenorrhoea) and WHO III (hypergonadotropic amenorrhoea). Within these classes no significant differences were found between the groups. Only values below 43.1 pg/ml can be assigned with 95% certainty to the low-value class and only values above 108.8 pg/ml can be assigned with 95% certainty to the high-value class. The fact that 40% of all E2 values in hypergonadotropic, (i.e. ovarian) amenorrhoea fell within the range of the double standard deviation of the normal group and, likewise, the fact that physiological doses of oestrogen cannot reduce postmenopausal FSH to the level found in women of reproductive age suggest that E2 is not the only FSH-reducing factor, which leads us to postulate the existence of an ovarian "inhibin".
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Eighteen months after cadaver kidney transplantation a 22-year-old woman was successfully delivered of a healthy female child. Onset of allograft rejection in the third trimenon was followed three weeks after delivery by progressive renal failure and resumption of regular dialysis treatment. Pregnancy risk factors after successful renal transplantation and immunosuppressive therapy are discussed.
A case report on an unusual hormone producing ovarian tumor in a 3 year old girl with sexual precocity is given. The serum values of Estradiol and Progesterone were similar to those of mature women during the luteal phase. The LH values were normal, the 17-Ketosteroids and 17-Hydroxycorticosteroids were near the upper limit of the normal range. At laparotomy a smooth, encapsulated tumor of the left ovary, 12 cm in diameter, was removed by unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Hormone analyses of the blood of the ovarian vein as well as of necrotic parts of the tumor showed values of 3450 and 2750 pg/ml Estradiol, and 70 000 and 75 000 pg/ml Progesterone respectively. Histiologically the tumor cells were growing in nests and broad columns, showing bizarre nuclei, abundant pathologic mitoses and patchy calcification. In places the tumor cells were forming follicle-like structures. Both the fat stain and the glycogen stain were positive. Histochemically the tumor showed a strong activity of 3beta-ol-Steroiddehydrogenase. Postoperatively the signs of sexual precocity disappeared soon. The patient is now without complaints for 3 years. The diagnosis of a juvenile granulosa cell tumor (Scully) was given. The endocrine relations between sexual steroids and gonadotropin before and after surgery are discussed.
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During gynaecological operations on 27 women aged 20 to 52 years, all visible follicles were punctured and 42 oocytes removed for investigation partly by phase-contrast microscope and partly by semi-thin slides. specimens of the walls of the follicles WERE REMOVED AND EXAMINED HIstologically. Furthermore, the activity of steroid-3 beta-ol dehydrogenase was demonstrated histochemically in 14 cases. Comparative investigations of the walls of the follicles and their oocytes gave the following results: 1. In non-ovulatory tertiary follicles (3 to 12 mm in diameter) with no, or very little luteinization of the theca interna and a granulosa of 3 to 10 cell layers, steroid-3 beta-ol dehydrogenase activity was only found in the theca interna. In 5 out of 23 follicles, the oocytes showed early or advanced signs of degeneration. Thus, atresia of the follicles probably occurs after degeneration of the oocytes. 2. 12 follicles (8 to 30 mm in diameter) showed distinct luteinization of the theca and steroid-3 beta-ol dehydrogenase activity in the theca interna, as well as in the granulosa. 4 of these follicles (all at least 20 mm in diameter) showed oocytes with typical pre-ovulatory changes. In 3 other cases with a similar morphological picture of the follicular wall specimens, the oocytes showed no preovulatory changes. The conclusion is drawn that the functional differentiation of the wall of the follicle induces the preparation of the oocyte for ovulation. On the other hand, 5 similar follicles already had degenerating oocytes. It remains doubtful whether such follicles can reach ovulation. 3. In follicles with early or advanced atresia, the oocytes were completely degenerated.
During gynecological operations 2 to 20 mm tertiary ovarian follicles were punctured in 65 women aged from 20 to 50 years. 205 eggcells were obtained. Histological examination of these eggcells revealed the following results: 1. Oocytes of small tertiary follicles are not increasing in size during maturation of the follicle. The average diameter of the ooplasma is 109 mu. The most impressive morphological criterium of imminent ovulation in oocytes from Graafian follicles is a loose cloud of granulosa cells. 2. The puncture of all visible tertiary follicles of both ovaries revealed an average of 6 eggcells in younger women (28 to 40 years), but only 3 eggcells in older women (41 to 53 years). In both groups signs of degeneration were observed in one out of 3 eggcells. In cases of anovulatory cycles and Stein-Leventhal-Syndrom, up to 16 eggcells could be obtained from both ovaries, most of them with signs of degeneration. 3. No differences in the number of eggcells and the number of degenerated oocytes could be found during the different phases of the menstrual cycle. The degeneration of the oocytes can begin at any phase of the cycle. Even in the follicles of the preovulatory phase measuring more then 1 cm in diameter eggcells with signs of degeneration could be found.
Quingestanolacetate (0.3 mg daily), as from the second week post partum was given to 13 women for a total of 111 therapeutic cycles of 28 days. In addition to clinical follow up, 8 women were subjected to serial pregnanediol determinations in the night urine every other day for a total of 45 cycles. One woman became pregnant in the 5th therapeutic cycle, demonstrating an insufficient contraceptive effect of this minipill. The only major side effect was the occurrence of irregular episodes of bleeding during the first 3 therapeutic cycles. With increasing duration of the administration of this drug, the vaginal bleeding settled down to approximately 7 days per 28 days. When pregnanediol serial determinations were started in the 4th to 6th therapeutic cycle post partum, 6 out of 8 women showed ovulatory cycles. In the two remaining patients ovulatory cycles were observed in the 7th and 10th therapeutic cycle, respectively. Of 45 cycles in which control pregnanediol serial determinations had been undertaken, 11 (25%) were anovulatory, 21 (46%) showed a normal ovulatory excretion pattern and 13 (29%) showed severe luteal insufficiency. An insufficiency of luteal function appears to be partially responsible for the contraceptive effect of this minipill.
0.25 sodium equilin sulphate and 0.625 mg Premarin were compared as to their effects in 12 postmenopausal syndrome. The initial daily dosage of 0.25 mg equilin had a stronger oestrongenic effect in the alleviation of vasomotor disturbances than subsequently-administered Premarin. No significant difference was found in effect on the vaginal epithelium or the endometrium or in the incidence of irregular bleeding. The number of women in whom withdrawal bleeding was reported was considerably reduced by lowering the dosage to 0.2 mg equilin sulphate. Consequently 0.2 to 0.3 mg equilin sulphate must be considered the optimum dosage.
Eight women with regular menstrual cycles were treated daily during 9 cycles with HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin) 3000 or 5000 IU daily for a period of 4-7 days. This treatment was started between the 1st and the 6th day after the onset of menstruation. Control of the treatment cycles was performed by basal body temperature, pregnanediol serial estimations, endometrial biopsies and in addition in 5 treatment cycles by radio-immunological assay of estradiol-17 beta (Oe2), progesterone, LH and FSH from the serum at intervals of 1 to 3 days. In 6 of these cycles where treatment started on the 4th day or later, ovulation was inhibited (2 cycles) or postponed (4 cycles) to the 24th-46th day. In these 6 treatment cycles the progesterone and pregnanediol increase during HCG treatment was poor or absent. The typical Oe2 increase of the normal menstrual cycle was impaired. In the 3 remaining cycles where treatment was started on the 1st, 2nd and 4th day, we observed during HCG treatment increases in Oe2 and progesterone serum values similar to that found during corpus luteum activity, and menstruation from a secretory endometrium between the 13th-19th day of the cycle. The histologically examined ovaries of one woman who was treated with HCG from the 2nd to the 6th day of the cycle showed distinct luteinization of the theca interna of all tertiary follicles and a beginning degeneration of the granulosa. These findings give support to the hypothesis that the luteinization of the theca interna leads to degeneration of the tertiary follicles thereby causing ovulation inhibition or postponent of ovulation.
Radioimmunoassays of testosterone (T), oestradiol-17 beta (Oe2) and progesterone (P) in the fluid of a total of 47 follicles of different degrees of maturity gave the following mean values: T: 49 ng/ml, Oe2: 932 ng/ml, P: 999 ng/ml. In normal, atretic and cystic tertiary follicles not larger than 1 cm and without luteinized theca interna the following mean values were calculated: T: 54 ng/ml, Oe2: 502 ng/ml, P: 368 ng/ml. In six women mature and less mature follicles were compared, the former having significantly higher Oe2 and higher P values but significantly lower T values than the latter. Genuine Graafian follicles were observed four times, once after HMG stimulation; the values observed lay within the following ranges: T: 12-35 ng/ml, Oe2: 1900-4100 ng/ml, P: 156-6000 ng/ml. The difference in concentration compared with cubital-vein blood before ovulation was highest for Oe2, suggesting a particularly marked aromatinzing activity of the follicles of that phase of the cycle. The findings suggest that in the course of accelerated follicular ripening prior to ovulation both the aromatizing enzyme and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase are activated, resulting in a sharper rise in Oe2 and P. The profuse production of P causes a transistory lack of precursors for androgen and oestrogen production (T and Oe2 declines). In the course of an overall increase in steroid production during the luteal phase - which probably goes hand in hand with an increased supply of pregnenolone - there is not only a pronounced rise in progesterone but also a moderate increase in oestrogen production. The androgens are transformed more rapidly into oestrogens on account of the marked activity of the aromatizing enzyme in the corpus luteum and thus show a decline in the luteal phase.
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