Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Mashiach

Publications and source records attributed to S Mashiach.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources

The diagnosis of ectopic pregnancies in cases of lower abdominal pain using beta subunit assay of human chorionic gonadotropin.

The role of beta-subunit assay of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the early and accurate diagnosis and treatment of ectopic pregnancy was evaluated prospectively in a group of 57 women who presented with lower abdominal pains. A flow scheme for diagnosis work-up based primarily on hCG beta-subunit assay resulted in no false negative result. This enabled early and conservative treatment of the condition. Ectopic pregnancy was diagnosed early in more than one third of the patients. As a result conservative treatment was performed in cases were it was required and medically possible (33% of the cases).

Abdomen↗

Determination of amniotic fluid microviscosity at body temperature: a predictor of fetal lung maturity.

One of the most convenient ways to determine fetal lung maturity is by measuring the fluorescence polarization (P) of the amniotic fluid at room temperature. With sensitivity fixed on 100%, specificity is relatively unsatisfactory. The present study compared the predictive power of fluorescence polarization measured at temperatures 25C (P25), 37C (P37), and 40C (P40) among 195 consecutive samples tested at both 25C and 37C, with a subgroup of 86 samples tested also at 40C. A better separation between the results for fetuses with and without hyaline membrane disease is attained at P37, demonstrated by a greater mean standardized distance (distance between P values for those patients with and the mean P value for those patients without hyaline membrane disease in unit of standard deviation of the latter; 1.597 +/- 0.528 for P25 versus 2.332 +/- 0.591 for P37). Fixing the sensitivity at 100%, the specificity of P25 and P37, were 68.9 and 94.9%, respectively; a highly significant difference (P less than .001). The specificity of P40 was 90.5%, lower than that of P37. P37 is the best predictor and adding either P25 or P40 does not improve the prediction of lung maturity. It is concluded that P37 should replace P25 as the definite index for fetal lung maturity.

Amniotic Fluid↗

Conception rate after gonadotropin therapy in hyperprolactinemia and normoprolactinemia.

The cumulative pregnancy rate after gonadotropin treatment was evaluated in 63 hyperprolactinemic and 242 normoprolactinemic women. All pregnancies in the hyperprolactinemic patients were achieved within four treatment cycles; the cumulative pregnancy was 62% as compared with 29% in normoprolactinemics. The same results were obtained when patients were divided according to endogenous estrogenic activity. These results imply that in bromocriptine failures there is no need to lower prolactin levels to achieve pregnancy with gonadotropins.

Amenorrhea↗

Chromosome analysis of multipronuclear human oocytes fertilized in vitro.

In an in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer program composed mainly of patients with tubal infertility, the incidence of fertilized oocytes with multiple pronuclei was 4.3%. An attempt was made to fix such oocytes with supernumerary pronuclei in order to assess the chromosome constitution of the gametes. Nine multipronuclear oocytes containing a total of 29 pronuclei were successfully fixed before the first cleavage division, and another oocyte containing 3 pronuclei was fixed before the second cleavage division. On analysis, chromosome counts could be obtained for 28 of the 29 total pronuclei, and 24 gave informative results. Nineteen pronuclei had a normal haploid chromosome count, 2 pronuclei contained one extra chromosome, and 3 pronuclei had one chromosome missing. The presence of a Y chromosome in six pronuclei identified their paternal origin; two of the six sperm pronuclei had a 22,Y,-E chromosome constitution. Only three pronuclei could be conclusively ascertained to be maternal in origin, yet two of these were aneuploid; one pronucleus had a 24,X,+D karyotype and the second had only 22 chromosomes. Multipronuclear oocytes present ideal material for analyzing the chromosome constitution of those human gametes which can undergo fertilization in vitro.

Adult↗

Effect of religiosity on sex attitudes, experience and contraception among university students.

This study deals with the effect of the degree of religiosity on attitudes toward and experience with sex and contraception among university students. Students defined their religious beliefs on the poles from orthodox religion to opposed-to-religion. Data were gathered by an anonymous questionnaire on sexual activity, attitudes toward sex, unwanted pregnancy and contraception. Orthodox and observant students left questions on sex unanswered. Female students were sexually active and used contraception in inverse relationship to their degree of religiosity. There was no parallel finding for males. The more religious the student the less sex was considered contributory to the relationship and the acceptance of abortion declined, but even among religious female students 48% chose abortions as a solution to an unwanted pregnancy.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

Influence of insemination on the implantation of transferred rat blastocysts.

Embryo transfer probably produces a lower incidence of implantation than the physiological incidence despite all other factors seeming similar. The only factor known to be present physiologically and absent in embryo transfer is the presence of sperm in the uterine cavity. Implantation and decidualization are often considered a modified form of inflammatory reaction. Semen contains factors which excite an inflammatory response. This project attempted to determine whether insemination would affect the implantation rate of transferred blastocysts in the rat. The figures showed a significantly increased implantation rate after insemination at day 4 of pseudopregnancy as compared to controls.

Animals↗

Torsion of the ovary: sonographic features.

The sonographic findings in 19 cases of surgically proven torsion of the ovary are described. In all cases the affected ovary was markedly enlarged; in 32% of cases a small amount of fluid was detected in the cul-de-sac. More significant in terms of specificity was the demonstration in 14 (74%) of the 19 cases of small cystic structures scattered around the periphery of the organ. Sonographic demonstration of these structures, presumably prominent follicles, can suggest the preoperative diagnosis of ovarian torsion.

Adult↗

Successful in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer in a group of patients with tubal infertility.

Thirty-one patients with severe mechanical infertility were treated with clomiphene citrate and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) at the start of our in vitro-fertilization and embryo-transfer program. Laparoscopies were performed 34 to 36 h after HCG administration in 32 cases, oocytes were recovered in 29 (91%) and in 19 (59%) at least one oocyte was fertilized. Embryos were transferred to the uterus in 12 cases (38%) and a pregnancy was established in a woman in whom 3 embryos were transferred. This pregnancy terminated at the 39th week of gestation with the delivery of a healthy female baby.

Adult↗

Menarche and puberty in daughters of amenorrheic women.

Twenty-six daughters born to amenorrheic women after gonadotropin-induced ovulation were studied at 10 to 16 years of age. The aim of the study was to assess whether the mothers' condition, namely, amenorrhea and infertility followed by the pharmacologic induction of ovulation, had any effect on their female offspring in terms of endocrine disorders at puberty. The daughters were found to have normal onset of puberty as well as normal physical and mental development. The mean age at menarche, body weight, and height were similar to those of the general female population in Israel. A functioning hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis was evidenced by the appearance of menarche followed by regular cycles. These data form a reassuring sample for the clinicians, the treated mothers, and their offspring.

17-Hydroxycorticosteroids↗

Abortion rate in pregnancies following ovulation induced by human menopausal gonadotropin/human chorionic gonadotropin.

Despite the high incidence of fetal loss following gonadotropin therapy, the etiologic, factors that contribute to this loss remain unknown. In 203 women who conceived following gonadotropin therapy, the abortion rate was 28.5%. However, in 84 women who conceived a second time, also with gonadotropin treatment, the abortion rate was 11.9%. Second- and third-degree hyperstimulation of the ovary are accompanied by a 50% abortion rate, and the occurrence of abortion is more frequent in the first pregnancy. The contribution of multiple pregnancy, maternal age, and number of gonadotropin treatment cycles are also evaluated and discussed.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

Mid-trimester diagnosis of bladder neck obstruction by ultrasound and paracentesis.

A bladder neck obstruction was suspected after ultrasound investigation at 16 weeks' gestation. Evaluation of protein content in the amniotic fluid, fetal ascites, and fluid from the overdistended bladder supported the diagnosis. Bladder outflow obstruction in the second trimester of pregnancy was not associated with raised alphafetoprotein levels in the amniotic fluid and maternal serum.

Abortion, Therapeutic↗