Non-pregnant Cases Research Articles

Effect of prostaglandins E 2 and 15-methyl F 2α on human pregnant and non-pregnant cervix

Forty-two women of reproductive age were studied in two equal groups (group I, first-trimester pregnant; group II, non-pregnant). Each group included three equal sub-groups; subgroup A received intra-cervical 15-Me PGF 2α gel, B received intracervical PGE 2 gel and C received intra-cervical gel alone as placebo. Three different staining techniques were employed to study the histological picture and histochemical alterations of cervical biopsies. These showed that PG-treated cervices presented significant changes compared to placebo in terms of more widely dissociated connective tissue bundles that are separated by clear spaces and an increase in the amount of ground substance. Moreover, the observed changes in pregnant sub-groups were more evident than in the corresponding non-pregnant cases.

Increased prevalence of human papillomaviruses in the lower genital tract of pregnant women.

In order to evaluate the influence of pregnancy on the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the lower female genital tract, cervical smears of 92 pregnant and 96 non-pregnant women, matched by age, were examined for the presence of HPV-DNA by means of Southern blot hybridization. All patients had negative PAP smears. Twenty-six (28%) of the pregnant women and 12 (12.5%) of the non-pregnant women were positive for HPV. HPV 16 accounted for 42% of all positive pregnant cases and only 25% of the positive non-pregnant cases. Smears of pregnant patients contained more than 10 pg viral DNA in 45% of the cases against 20% in the non-pregnant group. HPV 16 showed the most active replication in both groups. This study demonstrates an increased prevalence of HPV (preferentially of HPV 16) and a higher replication rate of viral DNA during pregnancy.

SP-1 and beta-HCG in suspected ectopic pregnancy (author's transl)

Serum levels of SP-1 and beta HCG as Trophoblastic Markers were measured in 31 women operated on suspected ectopic pregnancy. In all 24 patients with tubal pregnancy SP-1 levels estimated by enzyme immunoassay Enzygnost were higher than 5 ng/ml, whereas SP-1 levels in 7 cases with benign ovarian cysts were less than 2 ng/ml. Beta-HCG in serum was analysed by radioimmunoassay (Serono-Biodata): in cases with ectopic pregnancy serum levels were between 113 mIU/ml and 1040 mIU/ml, in the 7 nonpregnant cases the highest concentration was 7 mIU/ml. There was no correlation between serum concentration of SP-1 and beta-HCG (r = 0,571). In view of clinical practice preference is given to estimation of SP-1 by enzyme immunoassay over estimation of beta-HCG by radioimmunoassay, the reasons are discussed.

Plasma hCG and ultrasound in suspected ectopic pregnancy.

The value of plasma hCG determinations (based on the recognition of beta-subunit of hCG) and ultrasound was examined in 48 cases of suspected ectopic pregnancy. In 11 patients with the final diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy (23%), the plasma hCG was clearly subnormal (0.37-3.96 IU/ml), with only one exception, where a normally developed fetus was operated from the fallopian tube (hCG 21.1 IU/ml in the 8th wk). The plasma hCG lvels allowed differentiation of the non-pregnant cases from the normal intrauterine pregnancies and the ectopic cases, but not ata all between the different forms of intrauterine early pregnancy failures and ectopic pregnancies. By ultrasound, however, it was possible to reliably diagnose intrauterine pregnancies from the 7th wk of amenorrhea onwards, and to classify them into the normal and pathological subgroups. The direct demonstration of ectopic pregnancy by ultrasound is problematic, but the exclusion of intrauterine pregnancy by this method, combined with the simultaneous plasma hCG determination by sensitive and rapid method, can be recommended for primary examinations in suspected ectopic pregnancy.

Studies on Atypical Cells Following D & C in Pregnant Women, Abortion and Non-pregnant Women

Atypical cells following D & C in 153 pregnant women, 34 abortion cases and 30 non-pregnant cases were studied in terms of their origin, appearance rate, time of appearance and cytomorphology. Cytologic specimens were obtained by both cervical scraping and aspiration from the uterine cavity at a proper time after D & C.The cells were sub-classified according to their atypicality and appearance formation. They are cells with mild and severe atypia, and cells isolated and in cluster (sheet and overlapping).(1) The atypical cells presenting severe atypia were found in the specimen from the uterine cavity. The original tissue of these cells were the proliferating endometrium.(2) The atypical cells appeared from the second day, and the number of these cells and atypicality reached the peak on the 7th day. Mild atypical cells were still observed in ca. 70% on the 30th day. In a few cases mild atypical cells were recognized after the first menstrual period since D & C.(3) The cells appeared as isolated form in 25% and in cluster in 75%. It was suspected morphologically that the isolated -cell originated in cluster. The cell detouchirig from the cluster showed the identical cytomorphologic features of the cells in isolated form.(4) The appearance rate and cytomorphologic features of the atypical cells in three different conditions revealed no differences except that the cell size of the pregnant cases were larger than other two conditions.

Management of Noninvasive Carcinoma of the Cervix

The diagnosis of noninvasive cancer of the cervix depends on carefully performed pelvic examinations and accurate cytology. Their management is determined by the histologic picture of the lesion. Adequate biopsy material must rule out invasive cancer before conservative measures are adopted. Unless special facilities are available, a cone biopsy and D & C should be performed on all nonpregnant cases with punch biopsies showing severe dysplasia or carcinoma-in-situ. These entities are classified as CIN III according to the most modern classification. Cone biopsies and D & C should also be performed on cases with negative punch biopsies and suspicious cytology. Colposcopic diagnosis diagnosis and outpatient management of these lesions should be performed only in a clinic with the specialized facilities already outlined.

MEASUREMENT OF BLOOD-FLOW THROUGH UTERINE MUSCLE BY LOCAL INJECTION OF 133XENON

The radioactive inert gas Xenon-133 has been shown to provide reliable figures for skeletal-muscle blood flow when the isotope is injected directly into the muscle tissue. Measurements of blood-flow of uterine muscle (UBF) provides an estimate of the normalcy or abnormalcy of the pregnancy. The clearance rate of Xenon-133 has also been observed externally. This paper evaluates the use of Xenon-133 for determining uterine-muscle blood-flow. The isotope dissolved in sterile isotonic solution was injected directly into the uterine muscle tissues of pregnant and nonpregnant women in amounts of 0.1 to 0.2 ml containing about 50 to 100 mcC. Of total 60 examinations performed only 30 observations had disappearance curves that were monoexponential; these were used as the basis for analysis. In 18 patients in the last trimester of pregnancy the UBF averaged 13 ml/100 g/minute ranging from 4 to 32 ml/100 g/minute. UBF averaged 5 ml/100 g/minute (range 5 to 7) in 4 abnormal pregnancies. In 3 non-pregnant cases where the isotope was injected into the portio the UBF averaged 11 ml/100 g/minute (range 9 to 14); in the isthmus UBF averaged 23 ml/100 g/minute in 5 non-pregnant women (range 15 to 35). The variation in values among presumably normal cases in this study is great suggesting the inadequacy of using UBF measurements in establishing sufficiency of uterine circulation. However there are advantages in the use of Xenon-133 in the study of uterine circulation: 1) gonadal and fetal radiation exposure is only about 0.4 millirads; 2) absolute figures for blood-flow are obtained owing to the physical characteristics of this isotope; and 3) blood-flow can be measured in different parts of the uterine circulation depending on site of injection.

Uric Acid Excretion with Increasing Plasma Glucose Concentration (Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Cases)

Uric Acid Excretion with Increasing Plasma Glucose Concentration (Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Cases)

Uric Acid Excretion with Increasing Plasma Glucose Concentration (Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Cases)

Uric Acid Excretion with Increasing Plasma Glucose Concentration (Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Cases)

Carcinoma of the cervix concomitant with pregnancy

One hundred twenty-four coexisting and associated cases of carcinoma of the cervix and pregnancy were studied and five-year end results presented.The results show almost identical cure rate with carcinoma of the cervix unassociated with pregnancy for the same time interval within the comparable age groups.Our figures and others tend to show definitely better results when conservative treatment is used than when radical surgery is performed prior to irradiation.The distribution of clinical stages of carcinoma of the cervix associated with pregnancy is almost identical with the nonpregnant cases. This shows that prenatal and postpartal examinations have been neglected and as a result the disease has not been discovered in its early stages. It is recommended that all patients showing any abnormal symptoms during pregnancy should have a thorough vaginal examination, regardless of the stage of pregnancy. All postpartal cases should have repeated examinations after the structures have returned to normal. We believe that such examinations would result in such patients receiving treatment during the early stages of the disease and the cure rate would be definitely improved.

Climate in Asthma

Climate in Asthma