Nihon Sanka Fujinka Gakkai zasshi最新文献

Our purpose was to investigate an effect of prolonged intravenous ritodrine tocolysis on maternal carbohydrate metabolism in women with normal glucose tolerance. In patients with preterm labor, diurnal plasma glucose levels were measured both during the 24 hours after beginning the therapy (phase 1) and each day during over five days of continuous ritodrine tocolysis (phase 2). We also measured diurnal plasma glucose levels in normal pregnant women without any therapy (control group). In phase 1, in comparison with before therapy, a significant increase in the plasma glucose levels was observed with the highest level at 9 hours after starting ritodrine (146.4 +/- 31.6mg/dl). The higher plasma glucose levels persisted during phase 1. Although infusion rates were similar in both phases, maternal plasma glucose levels in phase 1 were significantly higher than in phase 2 (mean plasma glucose level, 128.1 +/- 21.3mg/dl vs. 92.7 +/- 11.6 mg/dl, p < 0.05; maximum plasma glucose level, 159.5 +/- 25.2mg/dl vs. 106.6 +/- 14.5mg/dl, p < 0.05). Diurnal glucose levels in phase 2 were similar to those in the control group. In phase 1, there seemed to be a dose-dependent relation between the ritodrine infusion rates and plasma glucose levels, but we did not find any relationship between them in phase 2. In conclusion, although hyperglycemia occurs during the initial phase of continuous ritodrine therapy (at least 24 hours), prolonged ritodrine infusion leads to normalization of the maternal plasma glucose levels.

Serum amyloid P component (SAP) is a glycoprotein which was shown to be deposited in periarterial tissues and the glomerular basement membrane. It plays a part in aging, and the onset of amyloidosis and Alzheimer's disease. In order to investigate the effects of sex steroids on the SAP level in menopausal women, SAP was purified. Anti-SAP was raised through the immunization of rabbits. The SAP level was assayed by micro single radial immunodiffusion. The SAP levels increased with aging from 1.1 +/- 0.8mg/dl (mean +/- S.D.) to 5.08 +/- 1.31mg/dl in women. And the SAP level in males was significantly higher in the 15 to 50 year age group than in females of similar ages (p < 0.001). And in the menstrual cycle, the SAP concentrations were significantly higher in the menstrual period (p < 0.05). During hormonal therapy in climacteric women, the SAP levels decreased significantly (p < 0.001) after Premarin treatment (from 5.66 +/- 1.45mg/dl to 4.15 +/- 0.94 mg/dl) and increased (p < 0.001) after dehydroepiandrosterone therapy (from 4.00 +/- 0.74mg/dl to 6.07 +/- 1.14mg/dl). From these findings, the SAP levels in human were concluded to be age dependently increased, and higher in the menstrual period. And it is suggested that a sex difference in SAP is concerned with the effect of estrogen fluctuation.

The mode and distribution of hyaluronic acid in Wharton's jelly of the human umbilical cord was studied by the electron microscopic histochemical technique. By means of ruthenium red (RR) staining, RR-positive material was observed as granules approximately 30nm in diameter in the fibroblast of Wharton's jelly. Around the fibroblast, it was observed as fibril structures on the cell surface or as granules approximately 13nm in diameter in the basement membrane-like structure around the cell. In the extracellular matrix, it was observed as granules or amorphous materials on collagen fibrils. Only the 30nm granules in RR positive structures disappeared due to amylase digestion. The other structures were digested by Streptomyces hyaluronidase. On the basis of the above findings, it was concluded that hyaluronic acid is formed as hydrated gel around the fibroblast and collagen fibrils in Wharton's jelly of the human umbilical cord. These results suggest that its structure is one of the factors in maintaining the elastic aptitude of the umbilical cord, to protect from any pressure, such as fetal movement, etc., in the uterine cavity.

The glutathione S-transferase (GST) pi has been studied in association with the mechanisms of multidrug resistance and as a marker for malignant tumors. In this study, specimens from 92 cases of cervical neoplasms and 10 cases of normal squamous epithelium adhering to myoma were stained immunohistochemically with a rabbit polyclonal antibody to GST-pi. In 6 cases of normal squamous epithelium, the intermediate layer was positively stained with the GST-pi antibody. In all 20 cases of dysplasia, the cells with koilocytotic atypia were stained positively. In all 10 cases of carcinoma in situ and all 16 cases of stage Ia squamous cell carcinoma, various intensities of GST-pi staining were demonstrated. Forty-six specimens of stage Ib or more squamous cell carcinoma were positive for GST-pi binding except only one case. In general, squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is resistant to chemotherapeutic agents. GST-pi is most frequently stained in cervical squamous cell carcinoma as compared with ovarian or endometrial carcinoma. In conclusion, these results suggest that GST-pi may be a marker for cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

Simplified avidity assay of rubella IgG antibody with urea was evaluated to distinguish primary rubella from reinfection. In this method urea washing was done once for 10 minutes. The avidity index (AI) was calculated as the optical density percentage for the urea-washed well when compared to that of the non-treated well. We examined 292 sera from 50 patients with primary infection collected 6 to 2,259 days after the rash appeared, 29 sera from 11 patients with rubella reinfection and 69 sera from 68 pregnant women without fetal infection and having a high hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody. In primary infection AI increased gradually from 0%, and reached a plateau of about 60% four months after the rash appeared, whereas the mean AIs of patients after reinfection and with high HI antibody were as high as 87.1% and 89.9%, respectively. These results indicate that the simplified avidity assay in rubella IgG antibody is also valuable in diagnosing recent primary rubella in pregnant women with a high HI antibody.

In order to clarify the bone metabolism of women during both pregnancy and puerperium, we studied the changes in bone mineral content and bone biochemical parameters. Bone mineral content was measured by ultrasound bone densitometry, and serum calcium (Ca), ionized calcium (i-Ca), intact parathyroid hormone (i-PTH), intact osteocalcine (i-OC), urinary pyridinoline (Pyr) and deoxypyridinoline (D-Pyr) were measured concomitantly. 1. In the 3rd trimester bone stiffness was decreased (p < 0.05) compared the 1st and 2nd trimesters, but was slightly increased in the puerperal group. 2. Serum i-OC was decreased during pregnancy but significantly increased (p < 0.01) in the puerperium. The Pyr/Creatinine (Cre) and D-Pyr/Cre ratios were both increased in pregnant and puerperal women. 3. Serum Ca, i-Ca and i-PTH were within the normal range during pregnancy and the puerperium. These results suggest that in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters bone resorption would be increased, and in the puerperium bone formation would be increased. In pregnant and puerperal women serum Ca, i-Ca and i-PTH are within the normal range, but the turnover rate for Ca metabolism would be relatively increased.

The amount of Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) released from neutrophilic leukocyte activated by calcium ionophore was measured to examine neutrophilic functions regarding the changes during normal pregnancy and differences between normal pregnant women and preeclamptic women. In addition, we examined the arachidonic acid (AA) content and fatty acid composition of neutrophilic phospholipid in normal pregnant women. In a normal pregnancy, the amount of LTB4 released decreased significantly with gestation. In preeclamptic women, the amount of LTB4 released was significantly higher than that in normal pregnant women, but there was no significant difference from non-pregnant women. Normal pregnant women showed a significantly decreased AA content with gestation. Regarding other fatty acids, as to fatty acid composition, there was increased saturated fatty acid and decreased unsaturated fatty acid with gestation. The results suggested that the LTB4 released was inhibited more in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women, and pregnant women also had decreased AA content. In addition, changes in fatty acid compositions showed signs of decreased fluidity of the cell membrane. This phenomenon is thought to be due to a mechanism to inhibiting the activation of neutrophilic leukocytes accompanied by a decrease in the amount of LTB4 released. Conversely, no similar inhibition was observed in preeclamptic women, and the failure of this mechanism seemed to contribute to the development of preeclampsia.