Serum p53 autoantibodies in patients with minimal lesions of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

Five of 43 patients (11.6%) with ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast presented with p53 autoantibodies at diagnosis. Three seropositive patients demonstrated tumour sizes of < or = 5 mm. There was no association of p53 autoantibody status with age, clinical presentation, histological subtype, tumour size, grading, p53 immunohistochemistry or hormone receptor status.     

Antisperm antibodies and microorganisms in genital secretions—a clinically significant relationship?

Summary. In asymptomatic infertility patients, no significant relationship was found between the presence of antisperm antibodies (ASA) in serum and in semen samples (IgG and/or IgA ASA), differentiated with the mixed antiglobulin reaction (MAR), and the microbial colonization of ejaculates covering a broad spectrum of microorganisms. Likewise, there was no significant association of ASA with microbial findings in patients' female partners, who also presented without symptoms of genital tract infection and were screened at the same time. Furthermore, ASA in semen (IgG and IgA) were not significantly related to several potential markers of subclinical male sexual gland infection or inflammation (leukocytes, PMN elastase, albumin, C_3c) evaluated in aliquots of the same ejaculates used for immunological testing.     

Intrazelluläre Mechanismen in der GnRH-stimulierten Gonadotropinsekretion in vitro

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Serumspiegel von Sexhormonbindungsglobulin (SHBG) bei adipösen Frauen und ihre Bedeutung für die Bioverfügbarkeit der Östrogene

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Diagnosis of intrauterine fetal growth retardation by DHAS half-life

A DHAS test (50 mg i.v.) was performed on 49 women with clinically suspected intrauterine fetal growth retardation (IUGR) in the last trimester of pregnancy. A correlation could be established between the serum DHAS halflife (DHAS-T 1/2) of the mother after DHAS loading and the birthweight percentile of the newborns, which were retrospectively divided into two groups; one with regular intrauterine fetal growth (birthweight greater than 10th percentile) (n = 28) and one with poor intrauterine fetal growth (IUGR) (less than 10th percentile) (n = 21). The DHAS loading test was retrospectively evaluated by the correct diagnosis of intrauterine fetal growth; a DHAS halflife below 4.7 h was taken as a threshold for normal intrauterine fetal growth as indicated by a previous study by our group: DHAS-T 1/2 (less than 10th birthweight percentile): 6.00 +/- 1.43 h (mean +/- S.D.) (n = 18), DHAS-T 1/2 (greater than 10th birthweight percentile): 4.37 +/- 1.06 h (mean +/- S.D.) (n = 28). In 89% (16/18) of the cases (less than 10th birthweight percentile), a prolonged DHAS-T 1/2 (greater than 4.7 h) led to the correct diagnosis of an IUGR. In 75% (21/28) of the cases with regular fetal growth, a DHAS-T 1/2 of less than 4.7 h could be registered. In three cases with intrauterine death of the fetus, a prolonged DHAS-T 1/2 of 7.64 +/- 0.37 h (mean +/- S.D.) was found. Furthermore, IUGR could not be detected in three cases by DHAS loading (DHAS-T 1/2 3.77 +/- 0.51 h (mean +/- S.D.) due to betamethasone induction of lung maturation prior to the DHAS test. Indications for the DHAS test include the diagnosis of an ultrasonographically symmetric IUGR (biparietal and thoracic diameters) in cases with an indefinite gestational age and the detection of a placental sulfatase deficiency by means of a delayed conversion of DHAS to dehydroepiandrosterone.     

Clinical Problems in Atrial Synchronous Ventricular Inhibited Pacing: A Long-term Follow-up of 54 Patients

Fifty-four VDD-paced patients were followed for more than 12 months; they were studied retrospectively in order to assess possible clinical problems and their management. The patients were between 19 and 84 years of age (mean, 66 +/- 11). Twenty-four of the 54 received a VDD pacemaker as a primary implant and 30 had had VVI pacemakers which were changed to VDD mainly because of limited exercise tolerance or symptoms of AV asynchrony. The follow-up time was between 12 and 69 months (mean, 39 +/- 17). Pacemaker and lead problems were neither frequent nor serious. Six patients had spontaneous paroxysmal supraventricular tachyarrhythmias, four had pacemaker-mediated supraventricular tachycardias and six had ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Treatment of tachyarrhythmias included drugs, DC conversion, reprogramming, or combinations of these measures. Frequency of hospitalization was not greater than expected. In conclusion, VDD pacing appears safe and reliable, with problems mainly associated with the underlying cardiac disease rather than to the pacing mode itself.     

A New Lead for Transvenous Atrial Pacing and Sensing Clinical and Electrophysiological Experiences

The Medtronic 6961 lead has been used in 14 patients for transvenous atrial sensing and/or pacing. This lead is furnished with small tines of silicone rubber at the distal end. The conductor coil material is space wound for flexibility. Thus, the lead lacks intrinsic elasticity and can be fastened within the right atrial appendage without a preformed J-shape. The clinical experiences with the lead are encouraging. The lead is easier to introduce and position in the right atrial appendage than the previously used tined J-shaped leads (Medtronic 6991). The small size of the new lead makes the choice of vein less critical and a normally-sized external jugular or cephalic vein permits the use of the same vessel for a second ventricular lead. By means of a lead extension wire, consecutive determinations of the P-wave amplitude, stimulation threshold of the right atrium, electrode resistance, and P/QRS-ratio were made for four weeks following electrode insertion. The mean P-wave amplitude at insertion was 4.9 +/- 1.5 mV (mean +/- SD). There was a significant decrease to a lowest mean level of 309 +/- 1.1 mV after one week. From that time there were only small variations. In the supine position and with normal breathing there was a spontaneous variation of the P-wave amplitude of +/- 12%. The P-wave amplitude was influenced by body position and maximal breathing movements to a minor extent. The threshold of stimulation was 0.9 +/- 0.4 V after one week. Later there was a small decrease in the threshold which, however, still remained significantly higher than at the time of insertion. The total resistance of the electrode system was about 700 ohms and P/QRS-ratio about 4 +/- 3. During an observation time ranging from 4 to 11 months there were no electrode dislocations. The electrodes were connected to the intended pacemakers without complications. In conclusion, the transvenous endocardial atrial lead, Medtronic 6961, shows attractive and promising qualities. The electrophysiological data recorded are suitable for the pacemakers in use. The electrode definitely deserves further evaluation.     

Action and formation of inositol bisphosphate and inositol trisphosphate in rat anterior pituitary cells

Inositol 4,5-bisphosphate and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, administered exogenously at a concentration of 3 x 10(-5) mol/l increased LH release in superfused rat pituitary cells by 950 +/- 267% and 281 +/- 83%, respectively. This stimulatory effect was reversible and dose-dependent. Other inositol phosphates (inositol 1-monophosphate, inositol 1,4,5,6-tetrakisphosphate, inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate and inositol 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakisphosphate), tested in vitro, did not significantly influence LH release. In saponin-permeabilized cells, the rate of basal and stimulated LH release was twice that in non-permeabilized cells. Penetration of inositol bisphosphate and inositol trisphosphate into saponin-treated pituitary cells did not increase the secretory potency of these agents compared with their effect on non-permeabilized cells. The new findings document that inositol trisphosphate formation occurs within 5-45 s after GnRH (10(-7) mol/l) administration and seems to be involved in mediating the rapid, first phase of LH release, whereas inositol bisphosphate formation occurs after 3-15 min and is probably related to later phases of LH secretion. Our results suggest that inositol bisphosphate and inositol trisphosphate are important regulators of the release of luteinizing hormone and can exert their effects not only intracellularly, but also extracellularly.