Prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthase mRNA expression in the human amnion and decidua during pregnancy and in the amnion at preterm labour.

We have examined the expression of prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthase (PGHS) isoenzymes in the amnion and the decidua during gestation, and the abundance of PGHS mRNA in the amnion at idiopathic preterm labour. PGHS-1 and -2 mRNA abundance in the amnion, determined with ribonuclease protection assays, was significantly (P< 0.05) higher at term than earlier during pregnancy. In contrast, neither PGHS-1 and -2 mRNA values, nor PGHS-specific activity, measured with a cell-free assay, was different in the decidua at term as compared to earlier gestational ages. In individual term patients, PGHS-2 mRNA values in the amnion were positively correlated with PGHS-2 mRNA values in the chorion laeve. PGHS-1 and -2 mRNA abundance was higher (P < 0.05) in the amnion after idiopathic preterm labour than in the absence of labour at the same gestational age (28-35 weeks). Thus, PGHS-1 and -2 are induced in the amnion at term. Furthermore, amniotic PGHS-2 changes in co-ordination with PGHS-2 concentrations in the chorion laeve. PGHS is not induced in the decidua at term. Increased amniotic PGHS expression may contribute to the enhanced intrauterine prostaglandin synthesis before term labour. Both PGHS isoenzymes may participate in the increase of PGHS activity in the amnion at preterm birth.

Consultation system for diagnosis of gastric lesions.

OBJECTIVE: To present a knowledge-based classification system, GASTRO, for gastric lesion diagnosis. STUDY DESIGN: The study group consisted of 150 patients with various gastric lesions (25 relatively normal, 30 gastritic changed, 25 ulcerous, 25 adenomatous, 25 cancerous and 20 metastatic cases). After a subtotal gastrectomy, the lesions were routinely diagnosed and quantitatively evaluated. The control group consisted of 25 patients with relatively normal mucosae. Both quantitative methods were used for determining the dynamics of malignant processes of gastric mucosa. RESULTS: During the consultation more than 20 factors influencing disease dynamics were considered. Statistics on cellular and nuclear parameter changes in stomach mucosa were also used in the diagnosis of gastric lesions. CONCLUSION: Diagnoses were generated with confidence levels of 90%, 95%, and 99%. The final decision remained the responsibility of the physician.

Picomolar assay of native proteins by capillary electrophoresis precolumn labeling, submicellar separation, and laser-induced fluorescence detection.

We report a method for the assay of proteins at concentrations lower than 10(-)(10) M with as little as 200 amol of protein. High sensitivity is accomplished by derivatizing the ε-amino group of the protein's lysine residues with the fluorogenic dye 5-furoylquinoline-3-carboxaldehyde and use of a sheath flow cuvette fluorescence detector. Most proteins have a large number of lysine residues; therefore, a large number of fluorescent molecules can be attached to each protein molecule. In general, precolumn labeling improves sensitivity but degrades resolution due to the inhomogeneity of the reaction products from multiple labeling. However, we demonstrate that, through careful manipulation of the separation and reaction conditions, high sensitivity can be obtained without excessive loss in separation efficiency. Over 190 000 theoretical plates are obtained for fluorescently labeled ovalbumin.