Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Ansbacher

Publications and source records attributed to R Ansbacher.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

In vitro induction of prolactin production and aromatase activity by gonadal steroids exclusively in the stroma of separated proliferative human endometrium.

Prolactin production by decidualized human endometrium has been demonstrated in organ explant cultures and presumed to be of stromal origin by immunocytochemistry and the presence of simultaneous stromal histologic changes. To test the hypothesis that endometrial prolactin production is exclusively of stromal origin, late proliferative human endometrium was separated into glands and stroma and cultured for 3 days. Confluent cultures were incubated with progesterone, 50 ng/ml; estradiol, 5 ng/ml; or both progesterone and estradiol for 4, 8, and 15 days. Prolactin concentration was measured at 2-day intervals by specific radioimmunoassay throughout a 15-day culture in all samples. Aromatase activity at 15 days was assayed by the production of tritiated water from 1 beta 3H-androstenedione. Possible contamination of gland cultures by stromal cells was controlled by the substitution of D-valine in the culture media. No prolactin was detected in the D-valine-treated gland cultures. Stromal cell cultures demonstrated increasing prolactin with continuous incubation with progesterone (15-day control: 11.28 +/- 0.91 ng/100 micrograms deoxyribonucleic acid versus 15-day progesterone: 245.8 +/- 4.24 ng/100 micrograms). Prolactin levels increased after progesterone was removed at day 4 and 8, reaching peak production 4 days later, followed by a steady decline. Estradiol induced a sustained increase in prolactin production even after withdrawal of steroids. Aromatase activity in gland cells exposed to steroids exhibited no change with time. Steroid-treated stromal cell cultures showed an increase in aromatase activity in all 15-day (controls: 21.6 +/- 0.7 pmol substrate converted per mg of deoxyribonucleic acid per 24 hours versus progesterone: 43.4 +/- 4.2 versus estradiol: 34.2 +/- 3.5 versus progesterone and estradiol: 47.5 +/- 2.4) but not in 4- or 8-day incubations. These studies support these conclusions: (1) nongestational endometrial prolactin is of stromal, not glandular origin; (2) stromal prolactin production is induced and maintained by progesterone: (3) stromal prolactin production is induced by estradiol but does not require continued exposure for maintenance; (4) aromatase activity is increased by long-term exposure to progesterone and estradiol in stroma but not in glands.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Autogenic masculinization.

We present a case in which self-treatment of lichen sclerosus with large doses of topical testosterone resulted in marked masculinization and may have caused secondary amenorrhea. These changes have not previously been reported as side effects of topical testosterone use.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Localization of trophoblastic disease with vaginal ultrasonography. A report of two cases.

Two patients had elevated beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels and normal abdominal ultrasound examinations. In both instances transvaginal ultrasonography demonstrated a persistent nodule of trophoblastic disease confirmed at the time of hysterectomy. This new imaging modality can assist in the diagnosis of persistent trophoblastic disease in the uterus.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Effect of short-duration progesterone treatment on decidual prolactin production by cultures of proliferative human endometrium.

The effect of short-term progesterone (P) treatment in vitro on decidual prolactin (dPRL) production by human endometrium was investigated. Cultures prepared from proliferative endometrium received medium containing P for 3 hours, 1 day, or 3 days. The culture medium was then changed daily for 7 to 14 days, and the amounts of dPRL in the spent medium were measured by radioimmunoassay. The results of these experiments indicated that even a short exposure to elevated concentrations of P is adequate to stimulate dPRL production and that the resulting pattern of dPRL production is determined by the duration of the P treatment.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1988

Sonographic evaluation of cervical length in pregnancy: diagnosis and management of preterm cervical effacement in patients at risk for premature delivery.

Sonographic measurement of cervical length during pregnancy can provide an objective, noninvasive assessment of anatomical shortening associated with premature labor and delivery. One hundred fifty normal women underwent serial sonographic cervical length measurements during uncomplicated pregnancy. The mean cervical length was 52 +/- 12 mm until 34 weeks' gestation, when gradual effacement and cervical length shortening began. Using these data, we managed 88 pregnant women with previous second-trimester pregnancy losses by a combination of cerclage placement for cervical length less than 40 mm and aggressive therapy for premature uterine contractions. The results showed the following: 1) 97% of women with diethylstilbestrol exposure and 80% of women with müllerian abnormalities exhibited cervical length shortening; 2) only 60% of women with a normal uterine cavity showed cervical lengths of less than 40 mm; and 3) all three groups of high-risk patients, independent of cervical length, showed significant premature uterine activity. These observations suggest that sonographic cervical length measurement may be a useful adjunct in the assessment of anatomical cervical integrity and the decision for cerclage placement. Furthermore, the presence of both premature cervical length shortening and preterm uterine activity in 65% of high-risk patients suggests that "cervical incompetence" and premature labor may not be distinct entities, but common symptoms associated with an increased risk of preterm delivery.

Cervix Uteri↗
PubMed1987

The effect of insulin on aromatase activity in isolated human endometrial glands and stroma.

Hyperinsulinemic states have been associated with an increased incidence of estrogen-dependent endometrial neoplasia. To study the effect of insulin on the ability of endometrium to aromatize androgens to estrogens, late proliferative endometrium was obtained from normally cycling women at the time of indicated surgery, separated into component glands and stroma, and grown to confluence. Separated gland and stromal cultures were incubated in triplicate with increasing insulin concentrations and epidermal growth factor. Aromatase activity was assayed by the production of tritiated water from tritium-labeled androstenedione. The activity was noted to increase proportionally with increasing concentrations of insulin greater than 10 U/ml, and the effect was specific. These data suggest the following conclusions: (1) Insulin stimulates aromatase activity in both endometrial glands and stroma; (2) hyperinsulinemia may predispose to endometrial neoplasia by enhancing endogenous endometrial estrogen production.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Decidual prolactin production by organ cultures of human endometrium: effects of continuous and intermittent progesterone treatment.

Explants of human endometrium were cultured in serum-free nutrient medium and the effects of continuous and intermittent progesterone treatment on decidual prolactin (dPRL) production compared. The synthesis of dPRL was induced in cultures of proliferative and secretory endometrium when progesterone (50 ng/ml) was added to the medium. The amount of dPRL produced by these cultures increased gradually during 41 days of continuous progesterone treatment. When progesterone was provided for only the first 14 days of a 28-day cycle, dPRL production continued to increase during the first wk of culture in the absence of exogenous hormone and then began to decline. A similar pattern was elicited during a second 28-day cycle. Explants of endometrium fixed for histologic examination after either continuous or intermittent progesterone treatment contained large "decidualized" stromal cells. These findings indicate that progesterone can induce and maintain decidualization and dPRL synthesis in organ cultures of human endometrium, dPRL production increases immediately after progesterone is withdrawn, and long-term dPRL production is not maintained in the absence or progesterone.

Cycloheximide↗
PubMed1986

Effects of progesterone on decidual prolactin production by organ cultures of human endometrium.

The effects of progesterone on decidual PRL (dPRL) production by human endometrium were investigated by culturing explants of proliferative (n = 20) and secretory (n = 12) endometrium in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium supplemented with 10 mM HEPES buffer, 0.1% gelatin (wt/vol), and antibiotics for 6 days and in medium containing 50 ng/ml of progesterone for 6-28 days. The culture medium was replaced daily, and the spent medium was assayed for dPRL. Representative explants were fixed for histological examination after 1, 2, 7, 14, and 28 days in vitro. When explants of endometrium obtained throughout the cycle were cultured in the presence of progesterone, dPRL production was stimulated. Proliferative endometria required 2-5 days in culture before dPRL was measured in the medium. Thereafter, dPRL production increased gradually for the duration of the experiment. Progesterone also induced glandular secretion and stromal differentiation (decidualization) in these tissues. Cultures of proliferative endometrium that did not receive progesterone did not produce detectable amounts of dPRL. When explants of secretory endometrium were cultured in DMEM without exogenous progesterone, dPRL was released into the medium for 2-5 days; however, dPRL production by the cultures that did not receive progesterone declined to undetectable levels, while that by the progesterone-treated cultures increased steadily. Explants of both proliferative and secretory endometrium that were fixed for histological examination after 28 days of culture in the presence of progesterone were composed predominately of large stromal cells that resembled the decidual cells of pregnancy endometrium.

Decidua↗
PubMed1985

Anthropomorphic, hormonal, and psychologic correlates of semen quality in endurance-trained male athletes.

Twenty male marathon athletes were evaluated by hormonal profiles, psychologic testing, anthropomorphic indices, and semen evaluations. Although total testosterone (T) was significantly decreased in 14 of 20 subjects, free testosterone (FT) was within the normal range in the majority. Ninety percent of subjects (18 of 20) had normal semen analyses. Running mileage, body fat, T, and FT values did not correlate with semen quality. Two athletes with severe oligospermia were found to have the lowest values of T and FT and significant differences in psychologic stress scores. From these data we conclude that (1) vigorous endurance training may be associated with significantly decreased T values but not sperm production; (2) a subgroup of severely oligospermic athletes may be characterized by an "anorectic" symptom complex including higher stress, increased body leanness, and significantly decreased T levels; (3) male endocrine evaluation should be interpreted within the context of physical activity; and (4) factors other than T levels need to be evaluated when one is formulating a therapy plan in oligospermic male athletes.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Sterilization failures with bipolar tubal cautery.

From a consecutive series of 105 patients undergoing bipolar tubal sterilization (BPS), ten pregnancies were reported, and a tubal patency rate of 16% was found at hysterosalpingography. There were no significant clinical variables separating the BPS failure patients from those with successful sterilization. Ninety percent of the BPS failures were intrauterine, and 90% occurred within three cycles of BPS. The results of this investigation suggest that (1) BPS tubal occlusion may be associated with an increased failure (pregnancy and tubal patency) rate; (2) the majority of BPS failures are intrauterine gestations; (3) delayed fibrosis, rather than immediate tubal destruction, may be the mechanism of BPS tubal occlusion; (4) for maximum effectiveness, patients undergoing BPS should use alternative contraception for two to three cycles; and (5) surgeons employing BPS require precise training in the application of this modality of female sterilization.

Cautery↗
PubMed1984

Oral estrogen replacement and abdominal pain. A report of two cases.

Two patients taking oral Premarin experienced recurrent abdominal pain severe enough to warrant surgical intervention. The symptoms resolved after intramuscular estrogen therapy was instituted. This rare, idiosyncratic reaction to oral Premarin should be considered in patients who have recurrent, episodic, burning pelvic or midabdominal pain that resolves when oral Premarin therapy is discontinued. The etiology remains obscure.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1983

Allergic reaction to protamine: a late complication of elective vasectomy?

Nucleoprotamines are a normal component of human sperm cells. Antibodies against these protamines develop in 22 to 33 per cent of patients undergoing elective vasectomy. These antibodies, in turn, have been shown to cross-react with medicinal protamines, which are extracted commercially from the testes of salmon and certain other fish. This cross-reactivity against protamines raises the possibility that patients who have undergone elective vasectomy may be at increased risk of an allergic reaction developing if they are later exposed to protamine as a medication. Since medicinal protamines currently enjoy widespread clinical use, this information should be borne in mind by those clinician using protamine and by urologists when counselling patients concerning elective vasectomy for sterilization.

Adult↗