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Biomedical subjects

I Tur-Kaspa

Publications and source records attributed to I Tur-Kaspa.

49 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Sonographic transcervical balloon tuboplasty.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate sonographic guidance for transcervical tubal catheterization and transcervical balloon tuboplasty of patients with bilateral proximal tubal occlusion. Cornual catheterization and transcervical balloon tuboplasty were performed under sonographic guidance. Injection of micro-bubble emulsion confirmed tubal recanalization. Tubal patency demonstrated by sonography was confirmed by injection of contrast material under fluoroscopy. Four women with bilateral proximal tubal occlusion confirmed by previous hysterosalpingogram and laparoscopy underwent sonographically guided transcervical balloon tuboplasty. Patients with distal or peritubal damage were excluded from this study. Bilateral tubal patency confirmed by sonography and subsequent fluoroscopy was achieved in all four patients. One patient conceived spontaneously, a month following the procedure, and delivered at term. Sonographically guided transcervical balloon tuboplasty can be performed successfully on patients with proximal tubal occlusion. Identification of the catheter tip and successful cannulation of the internal tubal ostia were easier to perform under fluoroscopy. Further improvements in sonographic equipment and catheter technology will hopefully eliminate radiation and replace fluoroscopy during the performance of transcervical balloon tuboplasty. Sonographic transcervical tubal catheterization may, therefore, become a simple and cost-effective procedure for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with proximal tubal occlusion.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗

Hyponatremia induced by exercise: a 24-hour endurance march study.

In our previous studies on the relationship between prolonged physical stress and muscle enzyme activities, a number of individuals suffered a hyponatremic state. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of prolonged physical stress on the development of hyponatremia. Seventeen physically fit male subjects were studied during a 24-hour endurance march. Serum sodium, that averaged 142 +/- 2 before the march, decreased during the march to 135 +/- 2 mEq/l (p less than 0.01 versus before the march). Blood and plasma volumes increased by 8 and 16% (p less than 0.05), respectively. Creatinine clearance before the march declined from 118 +/- 24 to 74 +/- 19 ml/min (p less than 0.005) during the march and correlated negatively with serum sodium (p less than 0.002; r = 0.59). Urinary sodium excretion before the march was 132 +/- 55 and during the march was 123 +/- 62 mEq/24 h. Free water clearance rose during the march and correlated negatively with serum sodium (p less than 0.001), suggesting an appropriate renal diluting response. However, the fall in serum sodium correlated positively with water intake (p less than 0.01; r = 0.59). These results show that hyponatremia develops during endurance marching in normal subjects on an unrestricted high water intake. The renal response to water intake is appropriate; however, the subjects fall to produce maximally diluted urine. Therefore, we suggest that water intake should follow physiological needs and not forced to cause hyponatremia during prolonged physical stress.

Adult↗

Ovarian stimulation protocol for in vitro fertilization with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist widens the implantation window.

Pregnancy rates vary considerably with the type of ovarian stimulation used for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). The window of implantation may represent one of the rate-limiting steps in IVF success. We therefore investigated estimated implantation times of 10 consecutive IVF singleton pregnancies, achieved using pituitary suppression with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) before and during ovarian stimulation with human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG), and compared those with 9 consecutive IVF pregnancies achieved by hMG stimulation only. Estimated implantation times were calculated by regression analysis of serial human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) measurements between days 7 and 16 after ET. The GnRH-a/hMG pregnancies implanted between days 7 and 11, whereas hMG pregnancies implanted between days 7 and 9 after ET. The hCG regression curve for the GnRH-a/hMG pregnancies revealed a delay of 1.5 days in estimated implantation time compared with the hMG only group. There were no significant differences in pretransfer in vitro embryos development between the two groups. Thus, the delay in hCG rise probably reflects a delay in embryo implantation. We therefore conclude that a GnRH-a/hMG stimulation protocol appears to widen the implantation window in comparison with a hMG only protocol. This observation may at least in part explain the improved IVF pregnancy success with GnRH-a/hMG stimulation protocols.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗

Pooled sequential ejaculates: a way to increase the total number of motile sperm from oligozoospermic men.

We investigated the yield of total number of motile spermatozoa from oligozoospermic men by pooling two closely spaced sequential ejaculates. Semen characteristics were compared between sequential ejaculates (within a period of 1 to 4 hours) of 18 oligozoospermic males (sperm concentration less than 20 X 10(6)/mL and total sperm count less than 40 X 10(6) in the ejaculate) and a control group of 16 normozoospermic men. Whereas the median total number of motile sperm of normozoospermic males significantly decreased from 70 X 10(6) in the first ejaculate to 23 X 10(6) in the second sequential ejaculate, such a decrease was not detected in oligozoospermic males, 3.6 X 10(6) and 3.1 X 10(6), respectively. The percent of normozoospermic and oligozoospermic men who demonstrated a decreased (less than 50%), a comparable (50% to 150%), or an increased (greater than 150%) total motile sperm count in the second ejaculate in comparison with the first ejaculate were 69%, 31%, and 0 versus 39%, 28%, and 33%, respectively. Consequently, pooling of two sequential ejaculates significantly increased the median total number of motile sperm from normozoospermic males by 144% and from oligozoospermic males by 329%, (to 10.2 X 10(6]. We suggest that pooling of two sequential ejaculates from oligozoospermic males is a simple and cost effective method to increase significantly the total number of motile sperm for intrauterine insemination, in vitro fertilization, gamete intrafallopian transfer, or semen cryopreservation.

Body Fluids↗

The role of gonadotropins in the etiology of ectopic pregnancy.

Our study indicates that the high rate of EP in MAP(+) patients, treated with hMG/hCG, is due to the fact that it is a selected group of infertile patients with probable additional underlying tubal disease. Absence of EP in MAP(-) patients indirectly support the theory that a mechanical factor is at work. It is, therefore, our opinion, that the cause of ectopic pregnancy lies in the patient and not in the drug (hMG/hCG).

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗

Ciliary ultrastructure of respiratory and fallopian tube epithelium in a sterile woman with Kartagener's syndrome. A quantitative estimation.

Ciliary ultrastructure was studied and quantitatively estimated in a 27-year-old sterile woman suffering from complete KS. Ciliated epithelium was obtained from both nasal mucosa and a fallopian tube. Cilia from both locations were devoid of DA. Various MT abnormalities were found in 16 percent of respiratory epithelial and 21 percent of fallopian tube ciliary cross-sections. The abnormality related to radial spoke defect was frequently seen. The findings in the fallopian tubes were compared to three normal control cases. In these, DA were visible, and MT defects were mainly of excess or missing microtubules. The relevance of these findings to fertility is not clear.

Adult↗

Prediction of physical performance through muscle enzymes activity.

Physical performance deteriorates during strenuous exercise as manifested by a decrease in maximal aerobic power and increased activity of serum muscle enzymes. The relationship between these parameters was investigated in 41 trained subjects during 24 h marches and the following recovery period. Peak O2 uptake and serum activity of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) were measured. During the marches there was a simultaneous, significant elevation in serum CPK and GOT activity and a significant reduction in peak O2 uptake. During the early recovery period (24 h) no significant changes occurred in muscle enzyme activity and peak O2 uptake; thereafter (up to 72 h after the end of the march), a gradual decline in enzyme activity levels with a concomitant increase in peak O2 uptake was observed, reaching pre-march values. A "mirror image" relationship between muscle enzyme activity and peak O2 uptake was found during three clearly distinguished phases: a) 24 h march, b) early recovery stage and c) late recovery stage. These findings suggest that muscle enzyme leakage from muscle cells is closely related to the decline in muscular function and aerobic power. Thus, muscle enzyme activity might be a practical measure of physical performance capacity during the early and late stages of recovery from prolonged endurance exercise.

Adult↗

Changes of white blood cell count during prolonged exercise.

Leukocytosis was postulated to accompany short- and medium-length exercise; in this report, we have studied the changes in leukocyte count during and following prolonged exercise. White blood cell (WBC) counts were obtained in 15 endurance-trained subjects before, during, and at a recovery period after an ultralong exercise (120 km march), lasting 24 h. WBC counts increased after 16 h march from a baseline value of 8.5 +/- 0.3 10(9) l-1 to 11.3 +/- 0.8 10(9) l-1 (P less than 0.05) and then declined to 7.1 +/- 0.9 10(9) l-1 after 24 h march with no further significant changes during 64 h of recovery. These observations were supported by previous findings in three separate marches performed by a second group (40, 70, and 120 km). A parallel increase in plasma creatine phosphokinase activity from 127 +/- 4.4 ul-1 to 539 +/- 106.3 ul-1 was observed after 16 h march (P less than 0.01), indicating muscle cell damage. Our findings suggest that in extremely long marches, WBC counts return to baseline values before exercise is terminated. This phenomenon may reflect WBC infiltration to damaged muscle tissue.

Adult↗

Reduction of peritoneal adhesion formation by colchicine: a comparative study in the rat.

Colchicine inhibits processes known to be involved in the pathogenesis of peritoneal adhesions. Daily administration of 50 micrograms of colchicine to 22 rats significantly diminished adhesion formation, as compared with dexamethasone-treated and untreated rats. Rats that developed at least three adhesions of grade 3 (scale 0 to 4) were strikingly less prevalent among the colchicine-treated animals than the untreated group (9.1% versus 40.9%, P less than 0.001). The double product of the number and grading of adhesions was significantly lower (P less than 0.05) in the colchicine group. Colchicine is more effective than dexamethasone in inhibiting adhesion formation in the rat.

Animals↗

Histocompatibility determinants in Israeli Jewish patients with coeliac disease: population and family study.

The association between HLA and coeliac disease (CD) was studied in the Jewish population of Israel. A total of 112 patients were typed for HLA-A,B,C antigens, including 67 patients whose families were typed in order to deduce the genotypes. Forty-seven patients were typed for HLA-DR antigens. The HLA-A,B,C data show a pattern of association, which is similar to that found in European CD patients: HLA-B8 is increased, although to a lower degree; a suggestive, insignificant increase for Aw30, B13 and Cw6 and a decrease of Bw35 were noted. The DR antigens DR3 and DR7 are associated with CD in the Jewish population. An excess of DR3/DR7 heterozygotes was noted. The data from family and population studies support a model in which two different HLA-DR associated genes are interacting.

Celiac Disease↗

Creatine kinase activity decrease with short-term freezing.

Freezing of serum samples at -30 degrees C without protective agents is the simplest and least expensive method of storage in serum banks. We investigated the stability of creatine kinase (CK) in human sera after freezer storage under such conditions for 24 h (n = 30) or for 2 or 4 weeks (n = 99). CK activity was measured in fresh sera and compared to matched thawed sera after freezer storage at the designated time intervals. The enzyme's median activity decreased significantly after 24 h, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks of freezer storage by 2.6, 5.9, and 8.3%, respectively (p < 0.0001, r = 0.99). Sex or high CK initial values had no significant effect on these results. We conclude that freezer storage of serum at -30 degrees C, even for short periods, causes a steady and significant decline in CK activity. These results should be taken into consideration when analyzing CK activity in frozen sera for research or clinical purposes.

Blood Banks↗

Transcervical balloon tuboplasty. A multicenter study.

Transcervical balloon tuboplasty represents a noninvasive technique to treat proximal tubal occlusion. In a multicenter study, 77 women with confirmed bilateral proximal tubal occlusion underwent the procedure. In 71 patients (92%), at least one proximally obstructed fallopian tube was recanalized. Concomitant distal bilateral tubal occlusions were diagnosed after successful proximal tubal balloon recanalizations in 13 patients (17%). In the remaining 64 patients, 22 clinical pregnancies (34%) have been confirmed during a median follow-up period of 12 months. Among those, 17 (77%) resulted in normal deliveries and five (23%) resulted in a first-trimester miscarriage. One patient was diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy. Among 25 patients who had not conceived within 6 months of the procedure, 17 (68%) demonstrated continuing tubal patency on repeated hysterosalpingogram. We conclude that transcervical balloon tuboplasty is a safe outpatient technique that may represent an alternative to in vitro fertilization or microsurgical reanastomosis of fallopian tubes.

Adult↗