ABSTRACT
The presence of the human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA sequence in cervical smears of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) was investigated through dot blot using a nonradioactive method based on the principle of enhanced chemiluminiscence. From 154 samples examined, 59 (38.3%) had HPV-related sequences determined by dot-blot hybridization; among these, 18 samples (11.68%) reacted either to HPV 6/11 or to HPV 16/18 probes, 20 (12.98%) reacted to only HPV 16/18, and 21 (13.63%) reacted exclusively to HPV 6/11. The relative sensitivity of the method was controlled comparing the results of both tests with those obtained by Southern blot in 32 samples. The risk of HPV positivity was increased in women who first had intercourse at an early age and in patients with CIN II or III. Both associations were significant at the 95% confidence interval (CI). An increased risk of HPV positivity was also associated with patient's age at diagnosis, education levels, number of sexual partners, and use of oral contraceptives, but none of these factors were significant at 95% CI. Other risk factors for cervical cancer, such as the number of pregnancies or cigarette smoking, were not found to be associated with HPV infection and indicate that the association of these factors with cervical cancer probably is independent of HPV infection. Even if HPV is the major risk factor for CIN, this also supports a multifactorial model of cervical cancer etiology with an increased risk of HPV infection.
Subject(s)
Nucleic Acid Hybridization/methods , Papillomaviridae/isolation & purification , Papillomavirus Infections/diagnosis , Adult , DNA, Viral/analysis , Feasibility Studies , Female , HeLa Cells , Humans , Luminescent Measurements , Middle Aged , Papillomavirus Infections/virology , Peroxidase , Sensitivity and Specificity , Tumor Cells, Cultured , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/virology , Vaginal Smears , Uterine Cervical Dysplasia/virologyABSTRACT
In vitro studies were conducted on prolactin (PRL) effects on human granulosa cell steroidogenesis. Cells derived from healthy midfollicular phase follicles were cultured in a chemically defined medium supplemented with androstenedione (delta 4 A) 10(-7) M. Cultures treated with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) showed a dose-dependent increase of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) secretion. The authors demonstrated that PRL (greater than or equal to 10 ng/ml) inhibits basal as well as FSH (10 ng/ml)-stimulated E2 and P secretion. This PRL effect was overcome only by FSH maximal stimulating doses (100 ng/ml). These results suggest a direct inhibitory effect of PRL on granulosa cell steroidogenesis acting as a negative modulator of FSH action. These effects might be related to the ovarian dysfunction observed in hyperprolactinemia.
Subject(s)
Estradiol/biosynthesis , Follicular Phase , Granulosa Cells/metabolism , Progesterone/biosynthesis , Prolactin/pharmacology , Adult , Androstenedione/pharmacology , Cells, Cultured , Culture Media , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Estradiol/metabolism , Female , Follicle Stimulating Hormone/pharmacology , Granulosa Cells/drug effects , Humans , Progesterone/metabolismABSTRACT
Se presentan los resultados del análisis de 288 encuestasrealizadas a pacientes que solicitaron interrupción de su embarazo; en ellas se estudian; edad, escolaridad, salario percápita, conocimiento y utilización de métodos anticonceptivos, lugar que ocupa el embarazo que se va a interrumpir, cumplicaciones ocurridas en interrupciones de embarazo previas, así como los motivosmás frecuentes para solicitar la interrupción del embarazo. La relación existente entre interrupciones del embarazo, escolaridad y salario percapita merece atención. Es importante ampliar los conocimientos relacionados con los problemas de las estudiantes que frecuentemente interrumpen su primer embarazo. Muchos de losaspectos planteados merecen estudios posteriores que nos permiten establecer criterios para futuras investigaciones (AU)
Subject(s)
Abortion, LegalABSTRACT
A histopathological and virological study is carried out on a group of placentae in the second trimester of pregnancy, obtained during the 1974 rubella epidemic in Cuba. The comparison between the positive and negative cases did not show characteristic lesions of the virus passage through the placenta, which does not coincide with the reports of other authors who generally consider these alterations as a result of this pathology. Eosinophilic intracytoplasmic granules were found in the Hofbauer cells, which should be studied by employing other techniques for accurate identification.
Subject(s)
Placenta/pathology , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/pathology , Rubella/pathology , Female , Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests , Humans , Hyperplasia , Necrosis , Placenta/microbiology , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Trimester, Second , Rubella virus/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
Rabbits were used as experimental subjects for study of circulation of the rubella virus in intrauterine life and of the histopathological alterations produced by inoculation of wild strains during the first third of pregnancy. Fetuses taken in the 14th, 21st and 28th days of pregnancy, as well as 1-month-old and 5-month-old animals were used for the embryologic and virological studied. Of the 20 animals infected, 90% presented histopathological lesions. The most affected viscera being the liver (80%), heart (60%). kidney (30%) and the crystalline lens (5%). Virological study was made of only 11 animals, from which 100% viral isolation was obtained, with similar results between viral isolation and the appearance of lesions in the liver (72%) and the kidney (44%), while a marked discrepancy in the virus-lesion relationship was found for the heart (33%) and the crystalline lens (77%). We conclude that the etiopathogeny of the syndrome cannot be explained only by direct action of the virus on the fetal tissues, but must be multiple.
