Phenotype In Women Research Articles

O-078 Genotype and phenotype in women with 21-hydroxylase (21-OH) deficient non-classic adrenal hyperplasia (NCAH)

O-078 Genotype and phenotype in women with 21-hydroxylase (21-OH) deficient non-classic adrenal hyperplasia (NCAH)

Lewis Phenotype in Women With Preterm Labor and Premature Rupture of the Membranes

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible association between Lewis phenotype status in pregnant women and preterm labor (PTL) or preterm rupture of the membranes (PROM). Methods: Red blood cell (RBC) Lewis phenotype was determined in 113 pregnant women admitted for PTL or PROM and in 121 controls. The results were controlled for the influence of race on Lewis phenotype. Results: Pregnancy was associated with a higher frequency in women with the a–b– phenotype. There was no association between RBC Lewis phenotype and the occurrence of PTL or PROM. Conclusions: A susceptibility to PTL or PROM is not due to a lack of Lewis antigen expression on the plasma membrane of the vaginal mucosa.

HLA class II alleles confer susceptibility to recurrent fetal losses in Danish women.

HLA-DR and -DQ typings were performed by a combination of RFLP and PCR-SSP techniques in 234 Danish women with at least three consecutive unexplained fetal losses (recurrent fetal losses) and 360 controls and the DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 alleles were deduced. In the total group of patients, the frequency of no DRB1-DQA1-DQB1 haplotype was significantly increased compared with controls. In the subgroup of 97 women with four or more fetal losses (multiple fetal loss group), the frequency of women carrying the DRB1*0101, DQA1*0101, DQB1*0501; DRB1*0102, DQA1*0101, DQB1*0501 and DRB1*0103, DQA1*0101, DQB1*0501 haplotypes or the DRB1*0301, DQA1*0501, DQB1*0201 haplotype were significantly increased compared with controls (RR = 2.1; pc < 0.05 with regard to former three haplotypes combined and RR = 2.2; pc < 0.05 for the latter). The frequency of women with at least one of the four haplotypes was significantly (p < 0.002) increased with the number of previous fetal losses in the women's history. Analysis of the DQA1 and DQB1 phenotypes in women with at least four fetal losses showed that DQA1*0501 and DQB1*0501 were increased compared with controls (RR = 1.9; pc < 0.05 and RR = 2.2; pc < 0.025, respectively). Analysis of DRB1-DQA1-DQB1/DRB1-DQA1-DQB1 genotypes suggested that genotypes comprising both DQA1*0501 and DQB1*0501 alleles (in trans) exhibited a higher RR for experiencing at least four fetal losses (RR = 3.4, p = 0.002) than each of the alleles did alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Long term health effects of breast augmentation: A review

AbstractIn this paper we have reviewed the existing scientific evidence with regard to long term health effects of breast implants. Two areas of concern have been voiced in the literature. Firstly the fear of an increased risk of cancer, specifically breast cancer, after cosmetic augmentation and secondly the potential relationship with the development of connective tissue disorders.In regard to the potential increased risk of breast cancer we conclude that no scientific evidence exists for a cause‐effect relationship between silicone‐gel filled implants and breast cancer. In fact all epidemiologic studies have found lower than expected risk estimates. Although some early studies have suggested that the presence of implants cause a delay in diagnosis and thus lead to a worse survival and prognosis, the evidence for this is unconvincing. In the large scale cohort studies no detrimental effect on survival was found. Data on the possible risk difference for other cancers are too scarce to permit a firm conclusion.With respect to connective tissue disorders, we conclude that the epidemiologic studies reported to date do not support a cause‐effect relationship between silicone implants and connective tissue disorders. Some circumstantial evidence, such as the presence of autoimmune phenomena, granuloma formation and a distinct HLA phenotype in women with dermatomyositis after implantation, is available indicating that a plausible biologic mechanism could exist. Overall, however, the evidence does not permit the conclusion that silicone‐gel filled implants cause connective tissue disorders.

T lymphocyte surface antigen markers in osteoporosis

Two distinct syndromes of osteoporosis have been postulated: type I, which is characterized by accelerated bone loss occurring in women during the early postmenopausal period; and type II, an age-related process of bone loss affecting both men and women in and after the seventh decade. Recently there has been indirect evidence linking local products of the immune system with bone remodeling. We therefore studied peripheral blood profiles of specific lymphocyte phenotypes in women with type I osteoporosis and in older women and men with type II osteoporosis. The ratio of CD4-bearing (T helper) cells to CD8-bearing (T cytotoxic-suppressor) cells (CD4/CD8 ratio) was elevated in women with symptomatic type I disease. In addition there was a significant negative correlation (r = -0.62, P less than 0.001) between the CD4/CD8 ratio and the spinal bone mineral density measured by dual-photon absorptiometry. In contrast, older men with a history of fracture (hip or spine) had CD4/CD8 ratios similar to control men. The number of T cells bearing IL-2R or VLA-1 was not different between osteoporotic subjects and controls in either men or women. This study supports the concept that local products of the immune system may be directly or indirectly involved in the pathogenesis of type I osteoporosis.