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Effects of chelating agents on the rheological property of cervical mucus.

As an ongoing effort to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the calcium-dependent fertility regulation process, the viscoelastic properties of the mucus obtained from lamb cervix and human semen, as well as their water and total protein contents after exposure to EDTA, a chelating agent, or Nonoxynol-9 (N-9), a spermicidal agent, were examined. The viscosity was measured using a Cone Plate Digital Viscometer, while the water and total protein contents were determined by the lyophilization process and the Lowry method, respectively. The significant changes in the rheological properties of mucus, such as its viscosity and the water content, upon exposure to EDTA were demonstrated. The viscosity of cervical mucus and human semen were significantly increased by EDTA treatment (as compared to the controls): lamb cervical mucus (2.9 +/- 0.3 vs. 2.2 +/- 0.3 cps) and human semen (5.0 +/- 0.3 vs. 4.3 +/- 0.3 cps), respectively. The hydration rate was decreased by EDTA treatment as compared with the control (93.6 +/- 0.7 vs. 96.8 +/- 0.8%). Among tested samples, the reduction in the percentage of sperm penetration through the cervical mucus was the highest in the mucus containing EDTA, which had the lowest water content (93.6 +/- 0.7%), indicating that there is a positive relationship between the hydration rate of the cervical mucus and its ability to permit the penetration of spermatozoa. This result indicates that spermicidal activity exerted by high concentrations of EDTA is in part due to its effect on the rheological properties of cervical mucus or semen.

Animals↗

The endocervical smear as a simple and quick method for the determination of ovulation.

The endocervix undergoes cyclic changes in every menstrual cycle, as reflected by the rheologic properties of the cervical mucus. A study was therefore undertaken to establish whether there were any morphologic changes in the endocervical columnar cells, as seen in the endocervical smears, that could be correlated with ovulation and anovulation. An endocervical smear was collected in the luteal phase of the cycle from patients in whom an endometrial biopsy or D & C was being done as a part of an infertility investigation. A significant correlation was observed between the endocervical smear interpretation and the endometrial histology as to whether the cycle was ovulatory or anovulatory.

Adult↗

Significance of appropriate techniques and media for isolation and identification of Ureaplasma urealyticum from clinical specimens.

Controversy over the association of Ureaplasma urealyticum with reproductive failure may be due to methods used to isolate the microorganism. U. urealyticum isolations from clinical material should be done simultaneously in broth and on Shepard's differential agar medium (A7) containing manganese sulfate. Urine sediments result in a 9% (P = 0.0002) higher rate of isolation than than cervical and urethral swabs. Primary isolations may not display standard textbook morphology. Isolated colonies may be present, but brown streaks in cervical mucus or a coalescent haze around epithelial cells in urine sediment may also be seen in areas of concentrated growth. The broth and agar media used, method of incubation, type of specimen, and method of storing specimens before culture are all factors which influence the recovery of U. urealyticum.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

Studies on local immunity to sperm-dissolving of cervical mucus by use of bromelin with retention of antibody activity.

The complete dissolving of human cervical mucus was achieved with bromelin. The adequacy and the mildness of this procedure were studied by making both solutions and simple extracts of a number of mucus samples. Both types of preparation were tested for sperm antibody by our methods of agglutination and immobilization. The comparisons showed a high degree of concurrence between these two types, with the bromelin solutions showing positive results more often than the extracts. Other control tests showed that addition of bromelin did not perturb the antibody testing of positive and negative sera. We concluded that addition of bromelin, in a 1/3 volume, gives a quick, thorough and undamaged solution of cervical mucus, on which sperm antibody tests can be done with ease and reliability.

Antibodies↗

Clinical evaluation of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit for antisperm antibodies.

A commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit for the detection of antisperm antibodies in serum was compared with standard sperm immobilization test (SIT) with the use of sera from 83 infertile women and 29 control individuals. For the ELISA, 24% of the infertile patients and 10% of the controls showed positive results, whereas 15% of the patients and none of the control were positive in the SIT. Parallel tests carried out on the same sera indicated that these methods detect a different, though often overlapping, spectrum of antibody activity. The presence and number of motile sperm in cervical mucus during postcoital tests were found to be related to the results of the SIT. On the other hand, the ELISA did not appear to be related to the quality of postcoital tests. These data indicate that care must be employed to interpret the results of this ELISA kit for the detection of antisperm antibodies.

Antibodies↗

Detection of immunoglobulin binding factor by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using two monoclonal antibodies.

Immunoglobulin binding factor (IgBF) found in human seminal plasma may be involved in suppressing antibody production against sperm in the female and male genital tracts. In the present study an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for IgBF was developed using monoclonal anti-IgBF antibodies. The sensitivity of the method was 20 pg/ml. The method was used to quantify IgBF in sera from women. In addition high levels of IgBF was found in cervical mucus of the uterus and in bronchial washings. The present results suggest that IgBF is found in tissues that are exposed to the external environment and may be a component of the local immunity system.

Adult↗

[Study on the relationship between first ovulation and infant feeding in lactating postpartum women].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the first ovulation after delivery and to provide scientific data for contraception in lactating postpartum women. METHODS: From January 1996 to December 1998, 101 lactating women were continuously monitored of their ovulation by ultrasound, basal body temperature (BBT) measurement and cervical mucus examination. RESULTS: The evidences of first ovulation (follicle > 1.8 cm in diameter) were found by ultrasound in 53 (52.5%) women during 154 days after delivery on the average and there were 11 (10.9%, 11/101) subjects who had first ovulation during 4 months after delivery and 42 (41.6%, 42/101) subjects had, after 4 months. Significant positive correlation was found between the time of supplementary feeding and the time of the first menses (n = 100, r = 0.4764, P < 0.01) and first ovulation (n = 53, r = 0.5554, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: For postpartum mother it is suitable to begin with birth control method at the 4th month after delivery and to prolong the breast feeding is also a good method for birth control.

Adult↗

[Detection of human papillomavirus infection in cervical Pap smears by computer-assisted cytologic test].

OBJECTIVE: The sensitivity and accuracy of cytologic computer-assisted test (CCT) in diagnosis of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in cervical Pap smear were evaluated. METHODS: Cervical Pap smears obtained from 158 patients with vulva condyloma acuminata were examined by CCT. The diagnostic criteria were based on The Bethesda System (TBS). Simultaneously HPV DNA in cervical mucus was examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique and cervical biopsy taken under the guidance of colposcopy for pathological examination. RESULTS: The sensitivity and accuracy of CCT in diagnosis of cervical HPV infection were 74.62% and 67.72% compared with pathological results whereas 69.11% and 70.88% compared with PCR results respectively. CONCLUSION: The results indicates that CCT, a cytologic pathological technique, is a useful method in diagnosis of clinical and subclinical cervical HPV infection.

Cervix Uteri↗

Mucus observations in the fertile window: a better predictor of conception than timing of intercourse.

BACKGROUND: Intercourse results in a pregnancy essentially only if it occurs during the 6-day fertile interval ending on the day of ovulation. The strong association between timing of intercourse within this interval and the probability of conception typically is attributed to limited sperm and egg life times. METHODS: A total of 782 women recruited from natural family planning centres in Europe contributed prospective data on 7288 menstrual cycles. Daily records of intercourse, basal body temperature and vaginal discharge of cervical mucus were collected. Probabilities of conception were estimated according to the timing of intercourse relative to ovulation and a 1-4 score of mucus quality. RESULTS: There was a strong increasing trend in the day-specific probabilities of pregnancy with increases in the mucus score. Adjusting for the mucus score, the day-specific probabilities had limited variability across the fertile interval. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in mucus quality across the fertile interval predict the observed pattern in the day-specific probabilities of conception. To maximize the likelihood of conception, intercourse should occur on days with optimal mucus quality, as observed in vaginal discharge, regardless of the exact timing relative to ovulation.

Adult↗

An automatic electronic device (Rite Time) to detect the onset of the infertile period by basal body temperature measurements.

Two trials of an electronic thermometer (Rite Time), designed to record and interpret basal body temperature (BBT) patterns in normal ovulating women, are described. A total of 140 menstrual cycles from 34 women, who used the thermal or symptothermal methods of natural family planning, were studied. Rite Time gave a signal for the start of the infertile period in 117 cycles, of which 114 (97%) appeared to have occurred at appropriate times. Further studies using hormonal and ultrasound reference points for ovulation were carried out in 21 cycles. Rite Time generally produced BBT patterns of quality acceptable for interpretation of the periovulatory BBT shift. About one-half of the volunteers said that they would be willing to replace their conventional charting methods with Rite Time.

Body Temperature↗

[Erosion of the uterine cervix in women with primary infertility treated with CO2 laser].

The authors described the results of treatment of erosions of the uterine cervix in 78 women with primary sterility with CO2-laser vaporisation in Department of Reproduction, Institute of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Academy of Medicine, Poznań. The results were estimated through clinical, cytological and colposcopical examinations in the term of 6 weeks and 3 months after therapy. The Insler's cervical mucus test was done in all women after 3 months. In all women the healing was achieved and five of them were needed for second laser therapy because of superficial endometriosis. The authors think that CO2-laser vaporisation (under colposcopical control) of erosions of the uterine cervix in women with primary sterility is the reliable method. The wound's healing after laser therapy is quick and without any complications. Laser therapy causes no trauma of the cervix structure and does not disturb in excretion of mucus by cervical glands.

Adult↗

Compatibility between the spermicide nonoxynol 9 and mid-cycle human cervical mucus.

The rate of diffusion of [125I]-nonoxynol 9 into mid-cycle human cervical mucus was measured and found to be negligible compared with D-glucose (used as an uncharged small molecule for comparison with nonoxynol 9). These data were confirmed by observation of the lack of inhibition of the movement of spermatozoa in mucus that had been in surface contact, for 3 hours, with a concentration 30 times greater than the ED100 of nonoxynol 9. These results show that the entry of nonoxynol 9 into mucus could be minimal under conditions that would exist in vivo and highlights a limitation of this compound as a vaginal contraceptive.

Cervix Mucus↗

Human cervical mucus. II. Changes in viscoelasticity during the ovulatory menstrual cycle.

Quantitative viscoelasticity measurements were made on individual human cervical mucus samples by microrheometry. Increases in mean values for mucus spinnbarkeit, ferning, and wet weight were associated with the ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle, while no significant differences versus time were noted for mean values for sample pH or nondialyzable dry weight. A nadir in mucus nondialyzable solids (NDS) concentration and in visoelasticity was seen at or near midcycle. Substantial, highly reproducible, variations in mucus viscoelasticity were observed when mucus from different donors was compared. When the contribution of (NDS) to viscoelasticity was minimized by data normalization or by sample reconstitution, a significant increase in viscoelasticity was associated with the ovulatory phase of the cycle, suggesting the occurrence of a relative increase in mucin concentration or a compositional change in the mucus.

Cervix Mucus↗

Human cervical mucus. III. Isolation and characterization of rheologically active mucin.

Several common mucolytic agents were screened for their ability to solubilize cervical mucus without incurring irreversible losses in mucus viscoelasticity. Sodium thiocyanate was selected on the basis of its effectiveness and handling convenience, and solubilized mucus was fractionated by gel filtration on Sepharose columns. The excluded mucin fraction was characterized by a high neutral hexose to protein ratio and contained all of the elasticity of thiocyanate-treated whole mucus. The concentration of mucin in individual mucus samples collected throughout the ovulatory menstrual cycle was determined from column elution profiles. An increased relative amount of mucin was associated with samples collected during the ovulatory phase of the cycle, and a strong correlation was obtained when the percentage of mucin in individual samples was plotted against their respective storage moduli. These results indicate that the cyclic fluctuations in mucus viscoelasticity seen previously at constant concentrations of nondialyzable solids can be attributed to variations in mucin concentration. Evidence was also obtained, however, for compositional differences in mucus derived from different patients.

Cervix Mucus↗