Biomedical subjects

M S Opsahl

Publications and source records attributed to M S Opsahl.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1990

Tubal and peritoneal factors in the infertile woman: use of patient history in selection of diagnostic and therapeutic surgical procedures.

For facilities with both ambulatory and inpatient surgical capabilities, we have attempted to develop an efficient strategy for the evaluation of infertile women. The strategy was intended to (1) avoid inpatient laparoscopy, (2) minimize the number of patients having laparoscopy who subsequently required laparotomy, and (3) minimize hysterosalpingography (HSG). Patients were selected for ambulatory laparoscopy or inpatient laparotomy by means of an algorithm based on their history and the selective use of HSG. Laparoscopy was avoided in 18.1% of patients and HSG in 41.6% of patients. We conclude that, when both inpatient and outpatient surgical facilities are available, the evaluation of female infertility may not always require HSG or laparoscopy.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1988

Natural killer cell activity and serum autoantibodies in women with postpartum thyroiditis.

Postpartum thyroiditis (PPT) is a form of painless lymphocytic thyroiditis which is thought to be caused by an exacerbation of underlying subclinical autoimmune thyroid disease during a postpartum period of immune rebound. The purposes of this study were to analyze natural killer cell (NK) functional activity and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with PPT compared to those in normal nonpostpartum and postpartum women. NK activity and ADCC were determined by specific lysis of 51Cr-labeled K562 human erythroleukemia tumor cells at varying effector (mononuclear cell) to target cell ratios. Nineteen PPT patients between 4-9 months [mean, 6.5 +/- 0.4 (+/- SE)] postpartum were compared to 20 nonpostpartum women, 31 healthy women between 4-9 months (6.7 +/- 0.3) postpartum, and 14 women 2 days after delivery. There were significant differences in the NK functional activities of the 4 groups (F = 7.95; P = 0.0002). The mean NK activities, as measured by percent specific lysis at an effector to target cell ratio of 10:1, were 31.1 +/- 3.3%, 20.9 +/- 2.3%, 22.5 +/- 2.8%, and 11.5 +/- 2.0% in the nonpostpartum, PPT, postpartum, and 2-day postpartum groups, respectively. Specific lysis by ADCC was not significantly different from lysis by NK activity in any group. The PPT, postpartum, and 2-day postpartum groups had significantly lower NK activity compared to that in nonpostpartum women (P less than 0.05). Both the PPT and postpartum women had higher NK activities than the 2-day postpartum women (P less than 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the NK activities of the PPT patients compared to those of the healthy postpartum women. Patients with PPT were also found to have associated autoimmune dysfunction. The PPT group had significantly higher serum antinuclear antibody titers; 8 of 24 patients (33%) had titers of 1:160 or greater compared to only 2 of 29 healthy postpartum women (7.4%; P less than 0.05). Seven of the PPT patients had serum immune complexes, and 3 had TSH receptor antibodies. We conclude that functional NK activity and ADCC in peripheral lymphocytes of PPT patients are not different from those in healthy postpartum women; however, the postpartum women had significantly decreased activity compared to that in nonpostpartum women. These data emphasize the importance of studying healthy postpartum women in investigations of PPT, since the immunological changes in pregnancy and the postpartum period remain largely undefined.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

The role of laparoscopy in the evaluation of candidates for sterilization reversal.

An algorithm that avoids preliminary laparoscopy for sterilization reversal (SR) candidates with previous Pomeroy, loop, Hulka clip, Irving, and single-burn cautery tubal ligation techniques was used. Anastomosis was attempted only when it could be anticipated that the final length of at least one tube would be 3 cm or more. Of 259 SR candidates evaluated according to the algorithm, 235 had SR procedures. Seven of 185 patients (3.8%) who did not undergo laparoscopy were found to have inoperable tubes at laparotomy. Four of these patients had histories of a prior unilateral salpingectomy. The authors conclude that, given their criteria for proceeding with tubal anastomosis, laparoscopy can be avoided in properly selected SR candidates. The results also indicate that patients with a history of unilateral salpingectomy should undergo preliminary laparoscopy.

Fallopian Tubes↗

PubMed1983

Systemic nocardiosis in pregnancy. A case report.

Pregnancy in women with significant medical complications has become a part of modern obstetrics. We report a case of systemic nocardiosis in a gravida with sarcoidosis. The importance of aggressive management and the influence of pregnancy on antibiotic treatment are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Preservation of reproductive function before therapy for cancer: new options involving sperm and ovary cryopreservation.

In summary, sperm cryopreservation for future ICSI and ovarian tissue cryopreservation for future autotransplantation are new opportunities to preserve reproductive options of great importance to patients with newly diagnosed cancer. Since patients must utilize these strategies before cancer therapy is initiated, and these patients will not have a future chance to benefit once therapy has damaged gonadal function, awareness of these technologies among oncologists, radiation therapists, and other colleagues who interface with the victims of cancer is a high priority.

Cryopreservation↗