ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the content and distribution patterns of glycosaminoglycans in the human cervix during pregnancy and parturition. METHODS: We obtained a total of 87 specimens from nonpregnant and pregnant women. Biopsies (weight 50-200 mg) were taken from the posterior lip of the cervix. Hyaluronic acid, dermatan sulfate, chondroitin sulfates, and heparan sulfate were separated on a Dowex 1 x 2 column and identified. RESULTS: The total amount of glycosaminoglycans increased during pregnancy from 2800 to 5000 nmol/g dry weight. The highest values were observed at the onset of labor (7100 nmol/g dry weight), followed by a sharp decrease during parturition. The clinical features of cervical ripening and dilatation were also associated with remarkable changes in glycosaminoglycan patterns. CONCLUSION: Besides collagenolysis during pregnancy, the glycosaminoglycans are also important regulators of cervical function. The different clinical features of the human cervix are characterized not only by variation in the total glycosaminoglycan content but also by changes in the proportions of the different glycosaminoglycans.
Subject(s)
Cervix Uteri/metabolism , Glycosaminoglycans/metabolism , Labor, Obstetric/metabolism , Pregnancy/metabolism , Connective Tissue/metabolism , Female , Humans , Menopause/metabolism , Postpartum Period/metabolism , Pregnancy Trimester, First , Pregnancy Trimester, ThirdABSTRACT
Covalently linked heterogeneous fibrin-fibronectin compounds were detected in ascitic fluid of 31 patients with advanced ovarian cystadenocarcinoma by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques, immunoaffinity chromatography, and Western blot analysis. Deposition of fibrin and fibronectin could also be demonstrated immunohistochemically in Carnoy-fixed tissue sections. Fibrin and fibronectin were found in the tumor stroma within tumor nests and more prominently in stroma surrounding the tumor nests. The association of fibrin and fibronectin was especially pronounced in the stroma surrounding the tumor islands. Fibronectin was also found to be associated with stroma cells. Areas within the tumor stroma showed superimposed staining for both fibrin and fibronectin supporting the assumption that the covalently linked fibrin-fibronectin conjugates found in ascitic fluid may stem from the provisional tumor stroma by proteolytic release.
Subject(s)
Ascitic Fluid/analysis , Fibrin/analysis , Fibronectins/analysis , Ovarian Neoplasms/analysis , Cystadenocarcinoma/analysis , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Fibrin/immunology , Fibrin/isolation & purification , Fibronectins/immunology , Fibronectins/isolation & purification , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Molecular Weight , Plasminogen Activators/physiology , Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator/physiologyABSTRACT
In most industrialized countries mortality data are the only medically relevant complete statistics for the description of health and disease in a population. Although mortality data reflect just the opposite of the state of health of a population, specific age and sex mortality rates are important indicators of the health status of a population and beyond that for the social system, e.g. for the effectiveness of the subsystem of health services. Validation studies show that the diagnoses on death certificates are much more reliable than generally thought. Scientists must have access to information from the original death certificates because otherwise the increasingly desirable studies on the threat of environmental noxae to the population cannot be carried out.
Subject(s)
Mortality , Death Certificates , Epidemiologic Methods , Epidemiology , Humans , Public Health Administration , Statistics as TopicSubject(s)
Economics, Medical , Health Services , Adult , Child, Preschool , Female , Germany, West , Humans , Infant , Insurance, Health , Legislation, Medical , Male , National Health Programs , Pregnancy , Preventive Health Services , State MedicineSubject(s)
Epidemiologic Methods , Hypertension/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Blood Pressure Determination/methods , Crowding , Female , Germany, West , Humans , Hypertension/mortality , Hypertension/prevention & control , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Middle Aged , Obesity/complications , Prospective Studies , Risk , Somatotypes , United StatesABSTRACT
Various statistical data on the assessment of the appendicitis situation in the Federal Republic of Germany (BRD) and the GDR in recent years are drawn upon which show that the mortality rate in the BRD has declined by almost 40% since 1970. The number of hospital cases of appendicitis has been constant since 1965 among those insured by the Regional Insurance bodies, but a marked increase occured in children between 1966 and 1969. In the GRD there was a marked reduction in hospital cases of appendicitis between 1969 and 1973. The period of hospitalization for this disease reduced in the BRD by an average of less than one day within 13 years. The heavy load on hospitals and insurance companies, and consequently on the entire national economy, due to the high rates of appendicitis in comparison to other countries and the very long average duration of hospitalization should be reasons enough for stricter indication with the aim of preventing unnecessary deaths and unneccessary operations.
