Serum pregnancy-specific beta1-glycoprotein before embryo transfer is related to endometrial thickness and to outcome prognosis in women undergoing in-vitro fertilization treatment

We have previously observed the repeated presence of low but detectable amounts of the trophoblast marker pregnancy-specific beta1-glycoprotein (SP1) in the serum of some women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment around the time of oocyte retrieval. The occurrence of these signals seemed to be restricted to a defined group of patients which also showed a lower pregnancy success rate in a preliminary study. To test our hypothesis we have analysed 173 consecutive cycles leading to an embryo transfer. Fifty-four cycles (31%) had a serum SP1 level of at least 0.1 ng/ml between days embryo transfer -5 and embryo transfer (group A). Five pregnancies were obtained in this group (pregnancy rate = 9.3%), while in group B, defined by the absence of detectable SP1 before embryo transfer (119 cycles), 36 ongoing pregnancies were achieved (30.3%). Ten of the 41 pregnancies were achieved in 33 first-time non-pregnant patients undergoing further attempts during the study period. Again the pregnancy rate was higher in the first-time group B women (9/23 versus 1/10 for group A). Patients tended to remain in their groups A or B, the latter being associated with a better immediate as well as subsequent chance for pregnancy. Group A cycles had a significantly lower endometrial thickness two days before oocyte retrieval than group B (P = 0.0011). We postulate that the presence of an unknown, maternal and progesterone- or follicle stimulating hormone-independent factor in some patients could stimulate tonic ectopic SP1 synthesis and at the same time negatively influence endometrial development.      

Functional Analysis of B-L (Ia-Like) Antigen-Bearing Chicken Peripheral Blood Cells

The functional of B-L (Ia-equivalent)-positive (B-L+) adn -negative (B-L-) chicken peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) was studied in vitro and in vivo. The PBL were first stained in direct immunofluorescence tests with a fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled anti-B-L alloantiserum and then separated by means of a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. In agreement with our previous findings, B-L- cells showed functional properties of T lymphocytes, responding to concanavalin A and phytohaemagglutinin-P in vitro and inducing a graft-versus-host (GVH) reaction when injected into allogeneic embryos. Sorted B-L+ gave no responses in any of these assays. Neither B-L+ nor B-L- cells, when tested alone, responded significantly to pokeweed mitogen, but mixtures of the two restored the responsiveness to that of the original unsorted suspension. Of the B-L+ PBL, 10% were T cells, which may account for the low GVH reactivity given by this population.     

Hemodynamics and blood flow distribution following prolonged circulation at 5 degrees C.

Circulation was maintained in profoundly hypothermic dogs for 8 h at temperatures below 10 degrees C. During cooling to 5 degrees C cardiac output and blood pressure decreased and peripheral resistance rose. Thereafter, circulatory dynamics remained relatively stable over the next 6 h with a gradual decline in blood pressure. The proportion of blood flow to the heart and brain increased with cooling and remained elevated throughout the hypothermia period. Despite continued circulation, pulmonary edema developed after 5-7 h and the dogs were nonviable when rewarmed.     

Hypertension sustains plaque progression despite reduction of hypercholesterolemia

To assess the effect of hypertension on diet-induced coronary artery plaques after a return to a nonatherogenic diet, 10 cynomolgus monkeys were fed an induction regimen containing 2% cholesterol and 25% peanut oil for 6 months and then were subjected to midthoracic aortic coarctation to induce hypertension. The animals were then fed a nonatherogenic "prudent" ration for 6 additional months (hypertension-regression group). Twelve additional monkeys were fed the atherogenic diet for 6 months; six were killed (lesion-induction control group) and six were changed to the prudent diet for 6 additional months without coarctation (normotension-regression control group). At the end of the induction period, cholesterol levels averaged 744 +/- 178 mg/dl for the 22 animals and were similar for the three groups throughout the induction period. For the animals restored to the nonatherogenic diet (hypertension-regression and normotension-regression groups), serum cholesterol levels fell to 486 +/- 252 mg/dl at 1 month, to 341 +/- 162 mg/dl at 2 months, and to 234 +/- 78 mg/dl at 6 months. There was no significant difference between the hypertensive and normotensive animals. Six months after coarctation, blood pressure proximal to the coarctations for the hypertension-regression group ranged from 100/60 to 220/145 mm Hg with a mean of 166/103 +/- 36/28 mm Hg. Cross-sectional area of coronary plaques was somewhat lower for the normotension-regression control group compared with the lesion-induction control group, but the difference was not significant. Plaque area was, however, markedly greater in the hypertension-regression group than in either the lesion-induction or the normotension-regression groups (p less than 0.05 for each) despite progressive reduction in hyperlipidemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

台风伤害及其影响因素的现场流行病学研究

目的分析台风伤害的危险因素。方法采用现场流行病学调查方法,1:2配对的病例对照研究。对照组选伤害者邻居,按照同职业、同村庄、同性别和年龄±5岁配对。结果台风造成392人受伤住院治疗,50人死亡。伤害罹患率为27．3／10万,伤害致死率为11．3％,伤害死亡率3．1／10万。调查了209名受伤者和31名死亡者。发现伤害主要发生在台风来临前,其中台风来临前1～6小时之间有病例155例,占64．6％。209例伤害病例中,67．5％的病例曾得到过台风预警,但138名应答者中重视预警的只有47人,仅占34．0％。发现“台风来临时不在家中”[调整OR值(MH)=3．9 (95％CI:1．9～7．7)]、“台风来临前未得到预警”[调整OR值(MH)=3．3(95％CI:1．3～8．6)]和“虽得到预警但不重视”[调整OR值(MH)=17(95％CI:4．2～68)]是台风伤害的危险因素。结论外出、不重视预警是台风伤害的危险因素,应加强台风来临的预警宣传力度。     

Three-Dimensional CT Evaluation for Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair. Quantitative Assessment of the Infrarenal Aortic Neck

Endovascular grafting of abdominal aortic aneurysms should be offered only to those patients with suitable anatomy. This is especially true at the level of the proximal aortic neck in order to secure long-term proximal fixation. Aortoiliac anatomy is easy to understand conceptually, however, it is difficult to define and measure quantitatively. In this article, we discuss the use of three dimensional computed tomographic angiography to determine aneurysm morphology and select patients for endovascular repair. Specifically, we apply our methods to define and measure angulation of the aorta and iliac arteries. The anatomic definition of the angulation of the proximal aortic neck is emphasized.     

Carrier detection in hemophilia A: a cooperative international study. I. The carrier phenotype

Eight laboratories in six countries cooperated to clarify several issues concerning the phenotypes of heterozygous carriers of hemophilia "A." Plasma levels of factor VIII (F.VIII:C, formerly VIII:C) and von Willebrand factor (VWF:Ag, formerly VIIIR:Ag) of carriers and normal women were determined by various "in-house" methods; a single lyophilized plasma standard was used for all assays. Analysis of the collated data from 336 carriers (296 obligatory carriers and 40 sporadic carriers) and 137 normal women showed that there was no difference in the F.VIII:C levels of "paternal" carriers (women who had obtained the abnormal gene from their fathers) and "maternal" carriers. Neither was there a difference in the VWF:Ag levels of normal women and either type of carrier. Age was found to have a significant effect on both F.VIII:C and VWF:Ag, values being higher at very young and very old ages, the minima occurring in the 25- to 30-year range. ABO blood type had a striking effect. Women of types A, B, and AB (designated non- O in the study), both normals and carriers, had significantly higher levels of both factors than did women of type O. Analysis by laboratories showed that differences in mean levels of both factors between laboratories were highly significant. It was concluded that age, ABO blood type, and laboratory variation should be taken into account in carrier detection.     

Insulin receptors on leukemia and lymphoma cells

Tumor cells obtained from leukemia and lymphoma patients were investigated for specific insulin receptors. Using radioactive 125I- labeled insulin, specific insulin binding sites were demonstrated on most acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) cells, including acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML), and acute monocytic leukemia (AMoL) cells. Insulin receptors were not found on chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and malignant lymphoma (ML) cells. Specific insulin binding sites were also found on monocytes and thymocytes after treatment with phytohemagglutinin (PHA-P), but not on inactivated tonsil cells, peripheral blood lymphocytes, or thymocytes. There was no inverse correlation between the content of insulin receptors and the basal level of circulating insulin. These data suggest that the insulin receptor may be a new marker of acute leukemia and chronic myelocytic leukemia.