Follicular atresia in relation to oocyte morphology in non-pregnant and pregnant women

Antral follicles from normally menstruating women and women in the third trimester of pregnancy were classified as healthy or atretic by flow cytometric DNA measurements on aspirated granulosa cells and by the concentration of steroids in the follicular fluid. The oocytes contained in these follicles were characterized as healthy or degenerating by their morphology at the light microscopic level. In 98% of the cases (61/62) morphologically healthy or degenerating oocytes were found in follicles which were classified as healthy or atretic respectively. In the normally menstruating women degenerative changes in the oocyte and the remainder of the follicle appeared to occur in synchrony. In pregnant women asynchrony was noted between the oocyte and the remainder of the follicle as follicular atresia progressed. The present study demonstrated the usefulness of flow cytometric DNA measurement in characterizing antral follicles of all sizes as healthy or more or less atretic.     

Antibiotic sensitivity of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from women vagina and uterine cervix

Based on performed investigation in the group of 200 women treated for recurrent and chronic vaginitis and cervicitis, the characteristic of isolated microorganism was done. There were found series of drug-resistant bacteria in the vagina and uterine cervical canal in women with recurrent vaginitis and chronic cervicitis. In 42.6% of patients with diagnosed chronic cervicitis (Cervicitis chronica n = 50) Escherichia coli strains were isolated, 5% of which produced extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ES beta L). In women with recurrent vaginitis (Colpitis recidivans n = 150) Escherichia coli strains where isolated in 45.6%. Among them 4.5% produced ES beta L. Expression of beta-lactamases with broadened substrate spectrum was done in double-disc-test. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Study of antibiotic sensitivity of isolated bacteria should be a diagnostic standard in bacterial infections of uterine cervix and vagina. 2. The choice of appropriate antibiotics should take into consideration the drug-resistance mechanisms of isolated bacteria. 3. When drug-resistant bacteria are isolated, combined therapy should be applied.     

Biaxial biomechanical properties of the nonpregnant murine cervix and uterus

From a biomechanical perspective, female reproductive health is an understudied area of research. There is an incomplete understanding of the complex function and interaction between the cervix and uterus. This, in part, is due to the limited research into multiaxial biomechanical functions and geometry of these organs. Knowledge of the biomechanical function and interaction between these organs may elucidate etiologies of conditions such as preterm birth. Therefore, the objective of this study was to quantify the multiaxial biomechanical properties of the murine cervix and uterus using a biaxial testing set-up. To accomplish this, an inflation-extension testing protocol (n = 15) was leveraged to quantify biaxial biomechanical properties while preserving native matrix interactions and geometry. Ultrasound imaging and histology (n = 10) were performed to evaluate regional geometry and microstructure, respectively. Histological analysis identified a statistically significant greater collagen content and significantly smaller smooth muscle content in the cervix as compared to the uterus. No statistically significant differences in elastic fibers were identified. Analysis of bilinear fits revealed a significantly stiffer response from the circumferentially orientated ECM fibers compared to axially orientated fibers in both organs. Bilinear fits and a two-fiber family constitutive model showed that the cervix was significantly less distensible than the uterus. We submit that the regional biaxial information reported in this study aids in establishing an appropriate reference configuration for mathematical models of the uterine-cervical complex. Thus, may aid future work to elucidate the biomechanical mechanisms leading to cervical or uterine conditions.     

Cervical collagen and biomechanical strength in non-pregnant women with a history of cervical insufficiency

Background  

It has been suggested that cervical insufficiency (CI) is characterized by a "muscular cervix" with low collagen and high smooth muscle concentrations also in the non-pregnant state. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the biomechanical properties, collagen concentration, smooth muscle cell density, and collagen fiber orientation in cervical biopsies from non-pregnant women with a history of CI.     

False-negative Papanicolaou smears from women with cancerous and precancerous lesions of the uterine cervix

The occurrence from 1980 to 1989 of false-negative Papanicolaou smears in women with cancerous and precancerous lesions of the uterine cervix was studied. The 4,781 cases of cancer (2,814 invasive carcinomas and 593 carcinomas in situ) and precancerous lesions (418 severe dysplasias, 748 moderate dysplasias and 208 mild dysplasias) included 70 cases (1.5%) with false-negative smears. These 70 cases included 43 invasive carcinomas (61.4%), 17 carcinomas in situ and adenocarcinomas in situ (24.2%), and 10 dysplasias (14.4%); all were diagnosed histologically. The mean age of women with false-negative smears was 44.1 +/- 13.7 years. Review of the original cytologic samples showed a screening error in 41 cases (58.5%), an interpretation error in 2 cases (2.9%) and a sampling error in 27 cases (38.6%). Methods for eliminating false-negative smears are discussed.     

Morphology of the pubis and preauricular area in relation to parity and age at death in Macaca mulatta

Some adult human females show bone resorption (pitting) at the dorsal aspect of the pubis and preauricular area of the ilium. The etiology of pelvic bone resorption is attributed alternatively to reproduction and to pelvic anatomy. While most researchers infer that pelvic pitting is related to reproduction, only a few studies are based on women of known parity. Degree of pubic resorption is directly associated with both parity (Suchey et al.: Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 51:517-539, 1979; Bergfelder and Hermann: J. Hum. Evol. 9:611-613, 1980) and age (Suchey et al.: Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 51:517-539, 1979). The relationship between parity and degree of resorption of the preauricular area is equivocal, found to be significant by Dunlap (A Study of the Preauricular Sulcus in a Cadaver Population, Ph.D. dissertation, East Lansing, Michigan State University, 1981) but not by Spring et al. (Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 79:247-252, 1989); both studies report that age is not associated with resorption of the preauricular area. Other mammals evidence public resorption, but the morphology of the preauricular area is less well known. This study addresses the issue on the etiology of pelvic bone resorption using a sample of Macaca mulatta (the free-ranging population from Cayo Santiago) for which parity and age at death are known for all specimens. The following results are reported. Resorption of the pubis is common among females but infrequent among males. Contrary to Rawlins (Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 42:477-488, 1975), the degree of pubic resorption in female macaques is significantly related to both parity and age at death.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Glutathione level and its relation to radiation therapy in patients with cancer of uterine cervix

Glutathione functions as an important antioxidant in the destruction of hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxides by providing substrate for the glutathione peroxidase and also promotes the ascorbic acid. Glutathione plays a vital role in detoxification of xenobiotics, carcinogens, free radicals and maintenance of immune functions. The study was aimed to determine plasma glutathione as well as erythrocyte glutathione and glutathione peroxidase in patients with invasive cervical carcinoma (n = 30) before initiation and after completion of radiotherapy and subsequently, at the time of first three monthly follow-up visit. The levels of plasma glutathione, erythrocyte glutathione and glutathione peroxidase activity were found to be lower in all cervical cancer patients as compared to age matched normal control women. The study indicates a change in antioxidant status in relation with the glutathione system among patients with invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix. This study also demonstrates the effect of radiation therapy on this antioxidant system.     

Collagenase activity in cervical tissue of the non-pregnant and pregnant human cervix

Collagen degradation has been suggested to play an important role in the process of cervical ripening at term. After giving informed consent tissue samples were taken from the posterior lip of 10 non-pregnant women of child-bearing age, 10 women having a termination of pregnancy at 9-12 weeks' gestation and 12 women who had had normal spontaneous deliveries at term. Collagenase activity was measured by a specific technique using native, triple helical collagen. Proteolytic activity was determined with commercially available 14C-methaemoglobin as substrate. For identification of collagen fragments SDS-polyacrylamid-gel-electrophoresis was performed using a modified Laemmli-technique. Collagenase and protease activity were found in all extracts of the different groups. There was a marked increase in enzymatic activities in the postpartum tissue samples suggesting that significant collagen breakdown had taken place. The absence of typical collagen fragments in the SDS-electrophoresis seemed to be due to a very rapid further degradation of the fragments by proteases into small peptides which then readily left the cervix. The present findings confirm the essential role of proteolytic enzymes in cervical dilatation at term.     

Antibodies to rubellavirus, herpes simplex virus and Toxoplasma gondii in serial serum samples of pregnant and non-pregnant women.

By testing serial serum samples of 213 pregnant women for rubellavirus, of 196 for herpes simplex virus and of 134 for Toxoplasma gondii, it was found that during pregnancy there was a fall in the humoral antibody level. Presence and titre of antibodies were lower in sera of pregnant than of non-pregnant women. Alteration of the humoral antibody level during pregnancy may influence serological studies aimed at clarifying the role of infections in fetal malformations. Serial serum samples (4 samples from each pregnant woman involved) should be tested for obtaining reliable data regarding the frequency of infections during pregnancy.     

Band 3 tyr-phosphorylation in human erythrocytes from non-pregnant and pregnant women

Pregnancy is associated with changes in circulating red blood cells, mainly involving band 3 protein and membrane lipid peroxidation. Membrane band 3 is a multifunctional protein containing four Tyr-phosphorylatable residues which modulate the physiological status of erythrocytes by regulating glycolysis, cell shape and membrane transport. Erythrocytes from nine pregnant and 12 age-matched non-pregnant healthy women were subjected to oxidative and hyperosmotic stress conditions and the extent of band 3 Tyr-phosphorylation and membrane Syk recruitment as a membrane marker were evaluated. Results indicated that, in pregnancy, red blood cells show a decrease in band 3 Tyr-phosphorylation and a clear-cut rearrangement of band 3 protein within the membrane. In fact, band 3 shows a decrease in high molecular weight aggregates (HMWA), with different subdivision between Triton-soluble and -insoluble compartments, and an increase in proteolytic fragments. In conclusion, it is demonstrated that pregnancy is associated with membrane adjustments which reduce the sensitivity of erythrocytes to both oxidative and osmotic stress. Band 3 Tyr-phosphorylation is proposed as a new parameter in the evaluation of erythrocyte membrane arrangement.     

Band 3 tyr-phosphorylation in human erythrocytes from non-pregnant and pregnant women

Pregnancy is associated with changes in circulating red blood cells, mainly involving band 3 protein and membrane lipid peroxidation. Membrane band 3 is a multifunctional protein containing four Tyr-phosphorylatable residues which modulate the physiological status of erythrocytes by regulating glycolysis, cell shape and membrane transport. Erythrocytes from nine pregnant and 12 age-matched non-pregnant healthy women were subjected to oxidative and hyperosmotic stress conditions and the extent of band 3 Tyr-phosphorylation and membrane Syk recruitment as a membrane marker were evaluated. Results indicated that, in pregnancy, red blood cells show a decrease in band 3 Tyr-phosphorylation and a clear-cut rearrangement of band 3 protein within the membrane. In fact, band 3 shows a decrease in high molecular weight aggregates (HMWA), with different subdivision between Triton-soluble and -insoluble compartments, and an increase in proteolytic fragments. In conclusion, it is demonstrated that pregnancy is associated with membrane adjustments which reduce the sensitivity of erythrocytes to both oxidative and osmotic stress. Band 3 Tyr-phosphorylation is proposed as a new parameter in the evaluation of erythrocyte membrane arrangement.     

Malignant hypertension in women of childbearing age and its relation to the contraceptive pill.

Eleven of 34 women aged 15-44 with malignant phase hypertension were taking oral contraceptives at presentation. All had had normal blood pressure before starting to take the pill. In four the interval between the start of oral contraception and the diagnosis of malignant hypertension was less than four months, and in eight no other cause for the hypertension was found. Underlying renal disease and renal failure were less common among pill users than among non-users with malignant hypertension who were of similar age. No pill user became normotensive after withdrawal of the pill, but blood pressure was well controlled (diastolic less than 90 mm Hg) in three patients taking only one drug. By contrast, all 23 non-users needed two or more antihypertensive drugs to control blood pressure. Ten year survival was 90% among pill users and 50% among non-users. These results suggest that oral contraceptives may be a common cause of malignant hypertension in women of child-bearing age. If the pill is stopped and underlying renal disease excluded the long term prognosis for such patients is excellent.