ABSTRACT
Insulin-producing B cell tumors (insulinomas) are the most frequent functioning endocrine tumors of the pancreas. Available experimental evidence suggests that the islet B cell is the most likely cell of origin of insulinomas, while the duct endocrine cell should be considered if rearrangement of the pancreatic parenchyma occurs. Data on the genetic background of insulinomas suggest that the B cell tumor development may result from alteration of several genes, including the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) gene.
ABSTRACT
In this matched-pair study 139 pregnant women were matched on the basis of age to an equal number of non-pregnant women with no signs of genital infection. The mean age was 28.7 years (range 20-41). The cut-offs used for detection of chlamydial antibody were 1:64 and 1:128 for IgG and 1:16 for IgA. IgG antibody at 64 was detected in 37.4% of pregnant women, compared to 46% of controls (p = 0.145). There was, however, a statistically significant difference between the groups for IgG at 128 (gravidae = 15.8%; controls = 28%; p = 0.014). IgA were detected in 8.6% and 16.5% of subjects, respectively (p = 0.047). IgG levels did not vary with increasing age among the pregnant women, but rose significantly with age in non-pregnant controls (logistic regression p-values = 0.011 and 0.006, for IgG at 64 and 128, respectively). IgG-positive women in the control group tended to be older than pregnant IgG-positive women (p = 0.06). These differences could not be explained by marital status, parity or use of oral contraceptives. In view of the lack of epidemiological differences, biological explanations might be invoked.
