ABSTRACT
This study was conducted on 500 full-term neonates and 25 older patients with congenital hypothyroidism (CH), newly or previously diagnosed. Alphafetoprotein (AFP) was elevated in two neonates. In one, persistent elevation of AFP and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) with low thyroxine (T4) were found (congenital hypothyroidism). In the other, AFP, TSH and T4 levels normalized (transient hypothyroidism). The mean AFP level in new CH patients was significantly higher than in previously diagnosed patients, and was higher in CH patients than in controls. Significant relationships were found between AFP and T4, AFP and TSH, and AFP and age. AFP is a sensitive indicator of thyroid status and can be used as a screening test for hypothyroidism from the first day of life and in follow-up of CH patients.
Subject(s)
Congenital Hypothyroidism , Hypothyroidism/diagnosis , Neonatal Screening/methods , alpha-Fetoproteins/metabolism , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Bilirubin/blood , Case-Control Studies , Child , Child, Preschool , Creatinine/blood , Female , Humans , Hypothyroidism/blood , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Neonatal Screening/standards , Sensitivity and Specificity , Thyroid Function Tests , Thyrotropin/blood , Thyroxine/bloodABSTRACT
This study was conducted on 500 full-term neonates and 25 older patients with congenital hypothyroidism [CH], newly or previously diagnosed. Alphafetoprotein [AFP] was elevated in two neonates. In one, persistent elevation of AFP and thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] with low thyroxine [T4] were found [congenital hypothyroidism]. In the other, AFP, TSH and T4 levels normalized [transient hypothyroidism]. The mean AFP level in new CH patients was significantly higher than in previously diagnosed patients, and was higher in CH patients than in controls. Significant relationships were found between AFP and T4, AFP and TSH, and AFP and age. AFP is a sensitive indicator of thyroid status and can be used as a screening test for hypothyroidism from the first day of life and in follow-up of CH patients
Subject(s)
Child, Preschool , Hypothyroidism , Infant, Newborn , Neonatal Screening , Thyroid Function Tests , Thyroxine , alpha-Fetoproteins , Congenital HypothyroidismABSTRACT
Maternal serum levels of beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-hCG) concentrations were significantly higher in 41 primigravid patients with proteinuric pre-eclampsia compared with those in 41 primigravid normotensive women matched for age and gestation. beta-hCG was also measured in serial serum samples obtained from 13 women who had a high weight-gain between 20 and 30 weeks of pregnancy. Seven of these pregnancies were subsequently complicated with pre-eclampsia while the remaining six continued to be normotensive; beta-hCG levels were found to rise before the clinical signs of pre-eclampsia appeared.
Subject(s)
Chorionic Gonadotropin/blood , Peptide Fragments/blood , Pre-Eclampsia/blood , Body Weight , Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human , Female , Fetus , Humans , Male , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Trimester, Third , Sex Factors , Time FactorsSubject(s)
Ligaments/physiology , Ovary/physiology , Uterus/physiology , Animals , Copulation , Estrus , Female , Humans , In Vitro Techniques , Ligaments/cytology , Male , Muscle Contraction , Ovulation , Pregnancy , RabbitsABSTRACT
The response of the rabbit utero-ovarian ligament to catecholamines has been studied in vitro, with contractile activity being recorded isometrically from whole rabbit ligaments obtained under various hormonal conditions. Both the catecholamines norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EPI) produced dose-dependent (10(-2) mug/ml threshold; 10(2) mug/ml maximum) tetanic contractions of rabbit ligament. There was no difference (P less than 0.05) between estrous and ovulatory ligaments either in terms of the dose-response curves or maximal force of contraction. Both agonists were 100% antagonized by the alpha-blockers, phentolamine and phenoxybenzamine. The beta-agonist, isoproterenol, had little effect on ligament tonus but did inhibit spontaneous activity and attenuated the response to both NE and EPI. Propranolol, a beta-blocker, slightly (less than 10%) potentiated the stimulatory effects of NE and EPI. It is concluded that the utero-ovarian ligament of the rabbit contains predominately alpha-stimulatory and possibly weak beta-inhibitory receptors analogous to receptors in ovarian and oviductal smooth muscles.
Subject(s)
Catecholamines/pharmacology , Ligaments/drug effects , Ovary , Uterus , Animals , Epinephrine/pharmacology , Female , In Vitro Techniques , Isoproterenol/pharmacology , Norepinephrine/pharmacology , Rabbits , Receptors, AdrenergicABSTRACT
The exchange of ribosomal subunits during the release of growing polypeptide chains by puromycin has been investigated in a bacterial cell-free system engaged in protein synthesis. The addition of spermidine, used as a stabilizing agent of 70S monomers, caused a strong inhibition of the subunit exchange. This result led us to conclude that upon premature release of unfinished protein chains by the antibiotic, the ribosomes fall off mRNA as 70S particles. This behavior is different from that occurring during physiological termination of translation, where the ribosomes detach in a dissociated form. Some implications of the postulated mechanism are also discussed.
