A short luteal phase in cycles stimulated with clomiphene and human menopausal gonadotropin for in vitro fertilization

Of 70 cycles stimulated with clomiphene and human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) for an in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) program, a short luteal phase of 11 days or less was found in 18. In this group the mean estradiol and progesterone levels were elevated in the early luteal phase. Despite the elevated initial values, progesterone levels fell rapidly at the mid luteal phase as a sign of premature luteolysis. The mean total amount of gonadotropin administered and the mean number of follicles punctured and of oocytes recovered did not show any significant difference between the groups of normal and short luteal phases. The present findings support the theory that hyperestrogenism in the early luteal phase may initiate the premature luteolysis observed in clomiphene-menopausal gonadotropin-stimulated cycles.     

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis and composition of acrylates in dentin bonding systems

Background Dentin-bonding systems contain sensitizing acrylates. They are increasingly used in dentistry, but only few cases of allergy have been encountered. Objective This study reports observations on eleven patients sensitized by acrylates in dentin-bonding compounds. Furthermore, the composition of dentin-bonding products was analysed and compared with the information given in the material safety data sheets. Methods Patch testing was performed to reveal allergic contact dermatitis, and chamber provocation tests to reveal possible respiratory sensitivity. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to analyse the chemical composition of the bonding products. Results The most common sensitizer in our material of eleven patients was 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2-HEMA). Another putative sensitizer, BIS-GMA, used in dentin adhesives, did not cause sensitization. The typical allergic dermatitis localized to the fingertips (pulpitis). Seven of the eleven patients also developed paresthesia of the fingertips. One patient with positive patch test reactions to (meth)acrylates had pharyngitis hut no skin symptoms. One patient was sensitized because she had been patch tested with too high a concentration (undiluted) of dentin-bonding components. Material safety sheets gave inaccurate or wrong information about the contents. Conclusion Dentin-bonding acrylates are strong sensitizers, and even a single exposure may sensitize.     

Immune response against P815X2 mastocytoma growing in syngeneic DBA/2 mice. V. Spleen immunoreactivity and cell mediated cytotoxicity

The in vitro cytotoxicity assay and the histological in vivo analysis were used to study cell-mediated immunity in the spleen of DBA/2 mice bearing subcutaneously developing P815X2 mastocytoma. Mononuclear cells separated from the spleen showed P815X2 specific cytotoxic activity between days 10 (12) and 16 following tumor inoculation. Maximal cytotoxicity was detected on days 13 and 14. In the T cell area of the spleen white pulp (C-PALS), an increase in the proportions of T lymphocytes and mononuclear phagocytes was observed on days 10 and 12 after the injection of P815X2 cells. On day 14, the T cell level in C-PALS dropped below control values, and the cellular density in the T cell area was reduced. Tumor metastases were seen in the spleen from day 14 onwards. The results indicate, that the T cell reaction in vivo was detectable in C-PALS one to two days earlier than the in vitro cytotoxicity of the spleen cells. By the time of maximal cytotoxic activity, the in vivo reaction had disappeared.     

Estrogen receptor genotype modulates myocardial perfusion in young men

Most of the effects of estrogens are mediated by estrogen receptors. Vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells express estrogen receptor (ESR1) in both genders. A long genotype group of a common thymine-adenine (TA) dinucleotide repeat polymorphism in the regulatory region of this gene has previously been related to coronary artery disease. The present study examined whether coronary blood flow is affected by this genotype. A total of 49 healthy men were genotyped by PCR and divided into three groups according to median number of the ESR1 promoter TA repeat (=19), i.e., in the short allele genotype group both alleles were of fewer than 19 repeats whereas in the long allele group both alleles were 19 repeats or more. The intermediate group comprised men who had one short and one long allele. Myocardial blood flow was measured by positron emission tomography using [¹⁵O]water, performed at rest and during adenosine stimulation. Men with long alleles had lower adenosine-stimulated coronary flow than those with short alleles and those with one short and one long allelle. Our results suggest that adenosine-stimulated myocardial perfusion is lower in subjects with ESR1 long alleles than the other TA repeat genotypes.     

A controlled study of the influence of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion treatment on diabetic retinopathy during pregnancy

Forty consecutive pregnant patients with insulin-dependent (Type I) diabetes mellitus were randomized at the end of the first trimester for treatment with conventional insulin therapy (CIT) or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy (CSII). Nine patients randomized into the CSII group declined the pump treatment. The mean glycosylated haemoglobin (Hb AIc) decreased (p less than 0.001) both in the CIT and the CSII groups with no difference between the groups. Some deterioration in retinopathy was found in 2/18 patients in the CIT group, in 5/13 in the CSII group, and in 3/9 of those who declined the pump treatment. The proportion of patients whose retinopathy progressed did not differ significantly between the groups, and in the majority the deterioration was mild. However, two patients in the CSII group developed acute ischaemic retinopathy, which progressed to proliferative stage in spite of laser treatment. In these two cases the decrease in the Hb AIc level was among the greatest and fastest in the study. These data suggest that a rapid near normalization of glycaemic control by CSII during pregnancy can accelerate the progress of retinopathy in poorly controlled diabetic patients.     

Periodontitis is associated with a low concentration of vitamin C in plasma

This study aimed to clarify how concentrations of vitamin C in plasma relate to the serology of periodontitis. The random sample used comprised 431 men, 194 from Finland and 237 from Russia. The plasma vitamin C concentration was determined by o-phtaldialdehyde-fluorometry, and serum immunoglobulin G antibodies to Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis were determined by a multiserotype enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mean plasma vitamin C concentration was higher (P < 0.001) in Finnish subjects (mean +/- standard deviation, 4.5 +/- 2.8 mg/liter) than in Russian subjects (1.4 +/- 1.8 mg/liter). Mean antibody levels to both A. actinomycetemcomitans (4.7 +/- 3.6 versus 5.2 +/- 3.1 ELISA units [P = 0.05]) and P. gingivalis (5.7 +/- 2.5 versus 7.6 +/- 2.9 ELISA units [P < 0.001]) were lower in Finnish men than in Russian men. In the combined Finnish and Russian population, the antibody levels to P. gingivalis were negatively correlated with vitamin C concentrations (r = -0.22; P < 0.001); this association remained statistically significant (P = 0.010) in a linear regression model after adjustment for confounding factors. The proportion of P. gingivalis-seropositive subjects decreased with increasing vitamin C concentrations (P for trend, <0.01), but no trend was seen among A. actinomycetemcomitans-seropositive subjects. In conclusion, P. gingivalis infection is associated with low concentrations of vitamin C in plasma, which may increase colonization of P. gingivalis or disturb the healing of the infected periodontium.     

The use of tissue plasminogen activator in post-traumatic total hyphaema

Background: We wanted to evaluate whether intracameral injection of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is useful in managing traumatic hyphaema. Methods: Two eyes with total hyphaema after a severe penetrating injury were treated with a single intracameral injection of 25 g of tPA 5 and 14 days after the injury, respectively. Results: Most of the blood coagulum dissolved within 24 h, and in one of the two eyes the intraocular pressure decreased from 45 to 8 mmHg. The other eye was hypotonic. No re-bleeding or complications related to the use of tPA were noticed. Conclusion: The results in these two cases suggest that tPA is a useful adjunct in managing total hyphaema.     

Effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin on the in vivo and in vitro dechlorination of pentachlorophenol

The metabolism of pentachlorophenol has been studied in the rat after pretreatments with phenobarbital, 3-methyl-cholanthrene or 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). In addition to the previously identified metabolite, tetrachloro-p-hydroquinone, trichloro-p-hydroquinone has been identified in urine as a metabolite. The formation of the latter represents a type of dechlorination different from that of the formation of tetrachlorohydroquinone. The inducing agents, 3-methylcholanthrene and TCDD have similar effects on the dechlorination and increase the formation of tetrachloro-p-hydroquinone more pronounced than does phenobarbital. In contrast to phenobarbital they also increase the formation of trichloro-p-hydroquinone and the total elimination of pentachlorophenol and its metabolites. The in vivo findings are supported by in vitro studies with microsomes from rats pretreated with phenobarbital or TCDD. Use of the inhibitor -diethylaminoethyl-diphenyl propylacetate (SKF 525-A) in vitro showed a more pronounced inhibition on microsomes from phenobarbital-treated rats than on microsomes from untreated or TCDD-treated rats.Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry have been used for the identification and quantification of pentachlorophenol and its metabolites.

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Zusammenfassung Der Metabolismus von Pentachlorphenol nach Vorbehandlung der Versuchstiere (Ratten) mit phenobarbital, 3-Methylcholantren oder 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlordibenzo-p-Dioxin (TCDD) ist untersucht worden. Zu dem schon früher nachgewiesenen Metaboliten Tetrachlor-p-Hydrochinon wurde nun auch Trichlor-p-Hydrochinon als Harnmetabolit festgestellt. Die Bildung des letzteren stellt eine andere Art von Dechlorierung dar als diejenige die bei der Entstehung von Tetrachlor-p-Hydrochinon vorliegt. 3-Methylcholantren und TCDD haben ähnlichen Einfluß auf die Dechlorierung und steigern die Bildung von Tetrachlor-p-Hydrochinon mehr ausgeprägt als es bei phenobarbital der Fall ist. Im Gegensatz zu phenobarbital steigern sie auch die Bildung von Tri-chlor-p-Hydrochinon sowie die totale Eliminierung von Pentachlorphenol und von Metaboliten. Die in vivo-Befunde werden von in vitro-Studien mit Mikrosomen von mit phenobarbital oder TCDD vorbehandelten Ratten gestützt. Anwendung des Inhibitors -Diethylaminoethyl-Diphenyl-Propylacetat (SKF 525-A) zeigte in vitro eine ausgeprägtere Inhibition der Mikrosomen von mit phenobarbital behandelten Ratten als der Mikrosomen von unbehandelten oder TCDD-behandelten Ratten. Nachweis und Bestimmung von Pentachlorphenol und seinen Metaboliten wurden gaschromatographisch-massenspektrometrisch durchgeführt.