Biological research in pregnancy and perinatology最新文献

The distribution of radioactivity in pregnant mice was registered at different time intervals (0-24 h) after a 10 min period of inhalation of 14C-toluene, -xylene, and -benzene. Autoradiographic and liquid scintillation methods were used to make possible the distinction between volatile, water-soluble and firmly tissue-bound radioactivity. Toluene, xylene, as well as benzene reached high concentrations immediately after inhalation in lipid-rich tissues (brain and fat) and well perfused organs (e.g., liver and kidney) but were rapidly eliminated resulting in low concentrations at 1 h in all maternal tissues, except fat. Metabolites reached peak levels around 30 min to 1 h after inhalation, but were also relatively rapidly eliminated. One exception from this general trend was a retention of firmly tissue-bound metabolites in maternal liver and kidney after benzene inhalation. Another exception was the very strong accumulation of water-soluble metabolites at 4 and 24 h in the nasal mucosa and olfactory bulb after inhalation of toluene and xylene. Volatile radioactivity was observed in the placenta and fetuses immediately and up to 1 h after inhalation of all the three studied solvents at all stages of gestation. The fetal levels were, however, much lower than in maternal tissues. In early gestation an even distribution pattern was observed, while the fetal liver reached higher concentration than other fetal tissues in late gestation. In similarity with maternal tissues, fetal tissues reached the highest levels of metabolites 30 min to 1 h after inhalation. A retention in uterine fluid was seen at 4 h. Otherwise no retention of metabolites was observed in the feto-placental unit.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Experimentation with the "in vitro" methodology allowed the authors to study the effects of several pharmacological substances on human and animal tissue, making possible a qualitative assessment of activity, the quantitative dose-response relationships, the possible existence of specific drug receptors and the action, competitive or non-competitive, of a given antagonist. This methodology was applied to perinatology, particularly to two types of tissues: umbilical and placental vessels, arteries and veins; human and animal myometrium. Among the known circulating vasoactive substances, the authors obtained helpful results with the use of morphine, with obvious implications in obstetrical practice, that opioid substances very frequently are used to control the pains of childbirth. The experimentation with alcohol on isolated umbilical arteries and veins helps to explain the fetal alcohol syndrome. Finally, the study "in vitro" on human and animal myometrial strips gave interesting cues for the research into the regulation of the uterine contraction.

To study unsolved problems of the causal chain of neonatal hypoxic brain damage in 31 hypoxic newborn non-anesthetized piglets cerebro-vascular, metabolic and EEG reactions were investigated (FiO2: 0.06-0.10, 1 h). Only in artificially ventilated newborn piglets this acute hypoxic hypoxia provoked a vital decompensation by critical depression of mean arterial blood pressure (less than or equal to 4.67 kPa [35 mmHg]) and/or a critical increase of vascular resistance (Rc) in the cerebral white matter (greater than 50%). Spontaneously breathing piglets survived always showing hyperventilation, higher pHa and an increase of cerebral O2-consumption in cerebral grey matter, partly also in white matter. This critical increase of Rc was related to a critical decrease of O2-consumption in the white matter and an insufficient decrease of Rc of the grey matter. The observed strong metabolic and hemodynamic differences between these two brain compartments can explain the evaluated special morphological vulnerability of cerebral white matter in ventilated animals.

Seven hundred cases of spontaneous or operative vaginal delivery were studied at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University of Florence. The purpose was to evaluate the frequency of complications such as hemorrhage and/or infections during the immediate post-partum period and the first two weeks after childbirth.

Early postpartum disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was demonstrated by serial coagulation studies in 10 cases of acute renal failure (ARF) following obstetric complications (6 abruptio placentae, 3 retained placental fragments, 1 prolonged intrauterine fetal death). DIC abated within 48 hours irrespective of the therapeutic schedules employed. Renal damage was evidenced by a varying number of days of oligoanuric (6 cases) or polyuric (4 cases) ARF which always required dialytic treatment. Full renal recovery occurred in 9 cases. One patient died and no histological studies were performed. Renal damage seemed to correlate less with DIC than with the degree of anemia and shock.

Serum lipid and lipoprotein fractions one day after delivery, 3 months later in lactating and nonlactating mothers and 12 months later after initiation of menstruation were investigated in a group of 62 women, 29 of which formed a truly longitudinal group. Total serum cholesterol decreased significantly within 3 months after delivery and a further significant decrease occurred during the following 9 months. LDL- and HDL-cholesterols showed also a significant decrease within the postpartal year. Serum triglycerides decreased within 3 months after delivery but no more significantly later. Apolipoprotein AI and B also decreased within 3 months after delivery. In lactating mothers, HDL-cholesterol: cholesterol ratio, apolipoprotein AI and apolipoprotein AI:B ratio were higher than in nonlactating women. During the luteal phase, serum cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were lower and the HDL-cholesterol: cholesterol ratio was higher than earlier during the menstrual cycle. Data prove that pregnancy related changes in lipid metabolism did not wane within 3 months after delivery. They also show that lactation affects lipid metabolism.

Age dependence of activity of polymorphic N-acetyltransferase in the fetal human liver was estimated and compared with the hepatic enzyme of adults.

The distribution of radioactivity in pregnant mice was registered at different time intervals (0-24 h) after a 10-min period of inhalation of 14C-labelled chloroform and methyl chloroform. Autoradiographic and liquid scintillation methods were used to make possible the distinction between volatile (non-metabolized), water-soluble and firmly tissue-bound radioactivity. Methyl chloroform was retained longer in fat as compared to chloroform. Metabolites of chloroform were present in a much greater abundance than those of methyl chloroform and they were found preferentially in the respiratory tract (nasal mucosa, trachea and bronchi), liver and excretory organs. Tissue-bound activity after chloroform inhalation or i.p. injection to newborn mice was found in the respiratory tract and centrilobular areas of the liver. Volatile radioactivity was observed in the placenta and fetuses at short time intervals after inhalation of both chloroform and methyl chloroform at all stages of gestation. While a low level of radioactive metabolites of methyl chloroform was observed in the fetoplacental unit, metabolites of chloroform accumulated with time. This fact was especially marked in the amniotic fluid, where the peak level of radioactivity was observed at 4 h. In early gestation, metabolites accumulated in the embryonic neural tissues. Tissue-bound metabolites of chloroform were observed in the fetal respiratory epithelium in late gestation, indicating a capacity for drug metabolism in these cells in the late fetal period.

Prostaglandin F2-alpha was administered by the intravenous, extra-amniotic and intramuscular routes in three comparable groups of patients with missed abortion, during a randomized study. Out of 45 patients (15 in each group), nine patients (60%) of the intravenous group aborted within a mean time of 16.2 hours, whereas 14 patients (93.4%) of the extra-amniotic group and 12 patients (80%) of the intramuscular group aborted in averaged times of 8.2 and 10.6 hours, respectively. The percentage of complete abortions was highest in the intravenous group 88.8%, followed by the intramuscular group (50%), and the extra-amniotic group (35.7%). Side effects of nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and shivering were observed in all groups studied, but were marginally higher in the intravenous group.

In 47 patients (dextran group: 32 patients, control group: 15 patients) undergoing laparotomy for microsurgical detachment of adhesions and tuboplasty, the complications of a repeated postoperative intraperitoneal instillation of 6% dextran 60 (5 days) were monitored. In the dextran treated group, abdominal pain and dyspnea occurred significantly more frequently than in the control group. In 6 cases, we observed an edema of the vulva and in two cases an edema of the thigh. During the intraperitoneal irrigation with dextran, a significant increase of body weight and central venous pressure occurred. Bradycardia was observed between the 3rd and 6th postoperative days. Blood pressure remained unchanged. 75% of the patients in the dextran group had pleural effusions containing dextran on the 5th postoperative day. We think that the uncertain desired effects of dextran in the prevention of adhesions do not outweigh the certain and substantial undesired side effects.