Calcium and prostaglandins in blood and uterine muscle in normal and abnormal uterine actions

Uterine activity integral [UAI] together with plasma and uterine muscle calcium ions, PGF2 alpha and PGE2 were estimated in 32 primigravidae of those admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of El-Menia University Hospital and delivered by cesarean section. Seven women showed normal uterine action, 15 showed hypotonic uterine action, and 10 showed hypertonic uterine action. The study showed that PGE2 alpha and calcium ions levels increased in blood and uterine muscle during labor, especially in the hypertonic state and decreased in the hypotonic contractions, whereas, PGE2 showed no significant changes. These changes could incriminate PGF2 alpha and calcium ions in the pathogenesis of these abnormal uterine actions

Effect of lactulose and neomycin on plasma level of prostaglandin E in patients with portasystemic encephalopathy

This work aimed at the study of the relation of plasma prostaglandin E [PGE] to the development of chronic portosystemic encephalopathy [PSE] in patients with chronic liver disease and its response to treatment with either lactulose or neomycin. The study included 30 patients with chronic liver disease and PSE and 10 healthy controls. PGE plasma levels were assayed using radioimmunoassay [RIA] at the beginning of the study and 14 days after treatment with either lactulose [15 patients] or neomycin [15 patients]. PGE mean levels were higher in patients with chronic liver disease and PSE in comparison to controls [11.61 +/- 5.2 versus 1.88 +/- 1.16 ng/ml respectively, P < 0.05]. The overall result of treatment with either lactulose or neomycin was a reduction from 11.61 +/- 5.2 to 9.85 +/- 4.42 ng/ml. [P < 0.05]. Ascitic patients had higher PGE levels than non ascitic patients before [14.05 +/- 3.74 vs 8.42 +/- 4.78 respectively] and after treatment [10.99 +/- 3.74 vs 8.92 +/- 4.92]. Neomycin resulted in a decrease in PGE levels only in the ascitic group from 16.2 +/- 3.77 to 11.9 +/- 4.69 ng/ml. [P < 0.05] while lactulose did not significantly alter the PGE level in ascitic or non ascitic patients. It is concluded that PGE levels are increased in patients with PSE and that their level increases more with the degree of hepatic decompensation. Neomycin significantly decreases PGE levels in ascitic patients while lactulose did not significantly influence PGE levels. PGE may not be used as a marker of PSE since all patients showed clinical improvement with either lactulose or neomycin

Prostaglandinas en dismenorrea primaria: acción del ketoprofen / Prostaglandinas in primary dysmenorrhea: effects of ketoprofen

Distintos estudios farmacoclínicos demostraron que los medicamentos inhibidores de la síntesis de PGs mejoran el dolor menstrual y otros síntomas de las dismenorrea. Se ha sugerido que el mecanismo por el cual ejercen su acción es la inhibición de la prostaglandina-sintetasa. En un ensayo doble ciego controlado contra placebo, se estudió la eficacia del ketoprofen en 20 pacientes adultas aquejadas de dismenorrea, cuyo promedio etario fue de 28,1 ñ 7,2. El estudio se realizó durante tres ciclos mentruales, tomándose el primero como control. En los períodos segundo y tercero se administró placebo o ketoprofen (200 mg/día/7 días) empezando la medicación 5 días antes de comenzar el período menstrual. La intensidad del dolor se evaluó de acuerdo con un score arbitrario 0-10. Las prostaglandinas PGE2 y PGF2-Alfa se extrajeron del líquido menstrual total recogido durante 3 días en cada ciclo. Sus concentraciones se midieron por cromatografía y ensayo biológico sobre fundus gástrico aislado de rata. En el ciclo de control antes del tratamiento los niveles de PGE2, fueron 36,7ñ 3,1 y los de PGF2-Alfa 47,3 ñ 2,9 micron/ml. Después de dos período con tratamiento esas concentraciones descendieron respectivamente a 17,1 ñ 2,4 y a 18,6 ñ 1,4 (p < 0,0001) observándose una prevalencia de la caída de la PGF2-Alfa en 80% de los casos. No hubo diferencias en las concentraciones de PGs entre ambos períodos bajo tratamiento. La intensidad dolorosa registró un rango de caída de 8,7 ñ 0,3 a 1,1 ñ 0,6 (p < 0,0001). El ketoprofen fue significativamente más eficaz que el placebo para mejorar la dismenorrea, definiéndose en general una buena correlación entre las respuestas clínicas y de laboratorio