Characterization of one alpha 2-macroglobulin with anticomplementary activity from pregnant women.

In 15 pregnant women during the third term of pregnancy, the immunomodulatory property of alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) was initially detected by measuring the inhibitory effect on immune complement-dependent haemolysis of serum alpha 2M fractions obtained by gel filtration. By a two-step chromatography procedure consisting of gel filtration followed by anion-exchange chromatography, different sub-forms of alpha 2M in serum were separated. Amongst them, it was shown that the inhibition of complement activity was almost exclusively linked to one particular subform. Additional studies revealed that the observed effect was not due to proteases bound to alpha 2M during clotting since, by using protease-specific inhibitors, no change was observed in complement inhibition. This subform, though present at very low levels in control sera, appeared in strikingly increased amounts during the third trimester of pregnancy (35 mg/l) and comprised between 3 and 5% of the total alpha 2M. Results show that the increase of alpha 2M anticomplementary activity is linked to the increase in alpha 2M levels in serum.     

Drug use in pregnancy: an overview of epidemiological (drug utilization) studies

Summary The need for further information on drug utilization patterns during pregnancy in different countries was assessed by reviewing literature obtained by hand and computer searches for the years 1960–1988.The 13 identified studies showed that pregnant women used an average of 4.7 drugs. The most commonly ingested medications were vitamins and iron preparations (almost all women), analgesics, antiemetics and antacids.However, the important variables taken into account differently in each study, such as date of surveillance, country, size of population, personal habits, and physiopathological and demographic characteristics, may it impossible to construct a comprehensive, detailed, up-to-date picture of drug utilization during pregnancy.The evaluation confirmed the need for systematic permanent surveillance of drug utilization in pregnancy, so as to avoid the use of data based on widely differing contexts, times and methods, in a field where knowledge is often derived from scanty information.This study was supported in part by the National Research Council (CNR, Rome, Italy), Convenzione Farmacologia Clinica     

妊娠期雌二醇和催乳素与瘦素的关系

目的 研究妊娠期间性激素与瘦素水平之间的关系。方法 在180例不同孕周的妇女中,按孕周分为＜20周组,20－23周组,≥28周组,采用酶联免疫吸附法测定其外周血血清雌二醇（E2）和催乳素（PRL）,放射免疫法测定血清瘦素水平,分析这些激素之间的相互关系。结果 E2和PRL均随妊娠进展而逐步升高（P＜0．0001）,组间均有显著差异（P＜0．05）。各组瘦素水平均高于非妊娠组,但组间差异无显著性。瘦素水平与孕妇体重及体重指数显著相关（P0．01）,与PRL也呈相关（P＜0．05）,而与E2无明显相关。结论 PRL水平与妊娠期瘦素水平升高有一定关系。     

米索前列醇应用于晚期妊娠引产的临床研究

目的 :研究孕激素受体拮抗剂米索前列醇对妊娠晚期引产的效果。方法 :采用双盲对照法 ,选择晚期妊娠无米索前列醇禁忌证 6 0例为研究组 ,采用阴道给药总量 1 0 0mg ;另选择有关参数相同的 6 0例 ,应用催产素 ,两组观察相关指标体系进行比较。结果 :引产效果 ,分娩时间 ,宫颈评分等指标研究组均优于对照组。结论 :米索前列醇用于晚期妊娠引产效果优 ,安全     

Pregnancy: Effects of hyperosmolar glucose, prostaglandin-F2{alpha} and 15-methyl-prostaglandin-F2{alpha} on human placental cells in vitro

The objective of this study was to assess the ability of certaindrugs, used for local injection therapy of ectopic pregnancy,to suppress the activities of cultured human placental cells.Placental cells from legal first trimester abortions were preparedby collagenase treatment and density gradient centrifugation.The cells were exposed to hyperosmolar glucose (500 mg/ml),15-methyl-prostaglandin-F₂ (15-m-PGF₂; 10–7 to 10–3mol/l) and prostaglandin-F₂ (PGF₂; 10–5 to 5X10–3mol/l) for 30 min on days 2–4 after seeding. The effectson the secretion of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) andprogesterone, as well as on the protein content per culturewell, were measured. Hyperosmolar glucose was the most effectivedrug and caused a marked decrease of the protein content inthe culture wells and a reduction of progesterone secretion.Of the two prostaglandins, only 15-m-PGF₂ affected the viabilityof the cells and reduced the protein content of the wells. Theclinical effectiveness of the two groups of drugs seems to besimilar but certain in-vitro effects are different. Thus invivo they may act on different target tissues. Against thisbackground, the combination of hyperosmolar glucose and prostaglandinsmight be an interesting approach for local injection therapyfor tubal pregnancy.     

Pregnancies in an 18-Year Follow-up after Biliopancreatic Diversion

Background: 239 pregnancies occurred in 1136 women who had undergone biliopancreatic diversion (BPD). Methods: There were 73 abortions, and 14 pregnancies are presently in their course. The 152 term pregnancies (six twins) occurred in 129 women 2-173 months (mean 42.7) after BPD. Mean age and current excess weight were 31.4 years (20-42) and 29.1% (-6.9-78.2), and mean excess weight loss was 72.9% (30.4-110.5). Results: Mean weight gain during pregnancy was 6.2 kg (-21-25). In 32 patients (21%), parenteral nutritional support was needed. In all the other patients (79%), the usual supplementations were given. Of the newborns, 122 were delivered at term (84.7%) with a mean weight of 2842.4 g (1760-4600 g) and a mean length of 48.5 cm (43-59 cm), while the 22 preterm babies (15.3%) weighed 2151.1 g (1400-3850 g) and had a length of 44.6 cm (33-56 cm). Forty infants (27.8%) were small for gestational age but 17 of them weighed more than 2500 g. Eleven twins (one abortion at 26th week) were also delivered, with a mean weight of 2088.6 g (1200-3100 g) and a mean length of 45.6 cm (35-50 cm). Delivery was spontaneous in 85 instances (56%), while vacuum extractor was used in one, and 66 cesarean sections were performed. There were two birth malformations, one infant died after surgery for meconium obstruction and two died from unknown causes. Of the 129 women, 35 had been infertile before BPD. Conclusions: Disappearance of infertility and decrease of pregnancy risk are to be considered among the beneficial effects of weight reduction following BPD.     

过期妊娠104例临床分析

本文对104例过期妊娠与同期2571例足月妊娠的并发症及分娩方式进行了比较分析,结果表明:过期妊娠中头盆不称、胎位异常、胎儿宫内窘迫、巨大儿等发生率明显高于足月妊娠,且剖宫产率也较高,故认为适时终止妊娠对减少过期妊娠的发生至关重要。     

Delivery of a normal newborn after intensive medical treatment for an acute exacerbation of ulcerative colitis during pregnancy: A case report

(Received for publication on Sept. 21, 1998; accepted on May 27, 1999)     

Left Ventricular Thrombus After Pregnancy: Choice of Surgical Access Using Dynamic Three-Dimensional Echocardiography

Two idiopathic thrombi loosely attached to the left ventricular wall were detected by dynamic three-dimensional echocardiography. Because the thrombi were shown to be lobulated and extremly mobile, urgent surgical treatment was mandatory. Three-dimensional image reconstruction enhanced appreciation of left ventricular thrombi by enabling accurate imaging of the spatial relationship between the thrombus, the myocardial wall, and the valvular apparatus, so that the most advantageous surgical access could be chosen.