Marker proteins in the particulate fraction of third-trimester amniotic fluid.

The present clinical evaluation of fetal lung maturity relies largely on the determination of the amniotic surfactant phospholipids phosphotidylglycerol, lecithin, and sphingomyelin, but there are many false negatives as well as false positives among diabetics. The use of other components of lung surfactant, namely, the hydrophobic surfactant proteins (SPs) has long been suggested as an alternative to the classical assay, but tests based on the detection of immunoreactive SP-A have not proved superior or supplanted phospholipid ratios as an index. This report investigates the proteins in a fraction of third-trimester human amniotic fluid (the particulate fraction) enriched in the SP complexes that form the surfactant monolayer. The proteins were analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and visualized by silver staining and immunoblotting. Eight proteins are of particular interest. Three novel proteins (termed AFPP-1, AFPP-4, and AFPP-8) and the alpha-fetoprotein/human serum albumin complex (AFPP-7) can be detected throughout the 28- to 38-week gestational window. The protein that is referred to as AFPP-2 could be identified as SP-A on the basis of immunologic cross-reactivity as well as size and charge characteristics. The time course of appearance of AFPP-2 was also followed in patients with Rh isoimmunization syndrome and was found to be the same as that seen for SP-A. The SP-A was detected as at least five major charged isoforms with multiple subisoforms of different molecular weight and can be distinguished from a related set of proteins (AFPP-5) that appear with a different time course but are possible precursors. Two other proteins (AFPP-3, AFPP-6), which are detectable inconsistently bear some similarity to others reported previously but not extensively characterized. These results define both constant and variable proteins of the particulate fraction of the amniotic fluid and indicate that certain protein isoforms are changing throughout the third trimester. These data enhance the possibility of the utilization of these proteins as markers of lung maturity in conditions such as maternal diabetes.

Saliva testosterone and criminal violence in young adult prison inmates.

Free testosterone was measured in the saliva of 89 male prison inmates. Inmates with higher testosterone concentrations had more often been convicted of violent crimes. The relationship was most striking at the extremes of the testosterone distribution, where 9 out of 11 inmates with the lowest testosterone concentrations had committed nonviolent crimes, and 10 out of 11 inmates with the highest testosterone concentrations had committed violent crimes. Among the inmates convicted of nonviolent crimes, those higher in testosterone received longer times to serve before parole and longer punishments for disciplinary infractions in prison. In the housing unit where peer ratings were most reliable, inmates rated as tougher by their peers were higher in testosterone.

[Respiratory pathology in occupational medicine: evaluation of 3 methods of data collection and research on risk factors]. / Pathologie respiratoire en médecine du travail: évaluation de trois modes de recueil des données et recherche des facteurs de risque.

Three methods of gathering data of respiratory symptoms (using a self questionnaire, a detailed interview and a shortened interview) were compared in 4.206 construction workers in different branches of their profession. There was non significant difference between the replies given, in either sex, to the self questionnaire and those given in the detailed interview by employees of the research bureau. The comparison between the long and the short interview, carried out on the painters, plumbers, carpenters and brick-layers did not show any difference for those questions asked in the same manner in the two documents. On the other hand the question relating to intrathoracic wheezing, which was more condensed in the shortened interview, did not have the same degree of affirmative replies. The replies concerning cough and expectoration obtained by the two methods enabled a comparison to be made between prevalance of chronic bronchitis in the different occupations. This pathology was most frequently seen amongst bricklayers and painters. Other factors (nationality, age, smoking habits) were also linked to chronic bronchitis. Taking all these factors into account has not weakened the link between chronic bronchitis and occupation.

Evidence of a possible direct action of Danazol on the human ovary.

Strong evidence is presented that Danazol might exert a direct action on the human ovary by binding to receptor-like receptors for progesterone and testosterone, in concentrations well within the pharmacological range of the treated patient. The possible significance of this finding in understanding Danazol's mode of action is discussed.

PIP: The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of Danazol to bind to high affinity binders for progesterone and testosterone in the cytosol of the human ovary in vitro. Ovaries from women ranging in age from 28-40 years were prepared and used in competition analyses which demonstrated the ability of Danazol to displace testosterone as well as dihydrotestosterone (DHT), from the androgen high affinity binders, and to displace progesterone and R5020, a synthetic compound with high affinity for progesterone receptors, from the progesterone high affinity binder. Use of the recommended dose of 800 mg/24 hours of Danazol for conditions such as endometriosis can lead to significant displacement of progesterone and testosterone by Danazol, assuming that the high affinity binders are not in direct contact with follicular fluid containing much higher levels of progesterone and androgens. Examination of the ovary of a patient treated with Danazol 800 mg/day for 1 year prior to oophorectomy disclosed both the high affinity binder for androgens and the high affinity binder for progesterone that were found in the ovarian cystosol of nontreated patients, proving that longterm treatment with Danazol did not abolish the high affinity binders for either steroid and that a direct action of Danazol at the ovarian level is conceivable. The progesterone and androgen high affinity binders may play a role in ovarian function, hormone production, and ovulation. Danazol binding to them would probably interfere with their normal functioning.

Unconjugated steroids in leiomyomas and tumor-bearing myometrium.

The concentrations of 17 beta-estradiol, progesterone, and estrone in leiomyomas and tumor-bearing myometrium were determined by specific radioimmunoassays in hysterectomy specimens from 12 women aged between 30 and 47 years. The concentration of 17 beta-estradiol was significantly higher in leiomyomas than in myometrium. There was no difference in the concentration of progesterone in leiomyomas and myometrium. The concentration of estrone was higher in the myometrium than in the leiomyomas, although the difference was not statistically significant. The concentrations of progesterone, 17 beta-estradiol, and to some extent estrone show variation with the phase of the menstrual cycle. The significance of the difference in concentration of 16 beta-estradiol in leiomyomas and myometrium, the relationship of this difference to the concentrations of estrogen and progesterone receptors, and factors possibly related to the growth of leiomyomas are discussed.

Evidence for an androgen binding component in human placental cytosol.

A high-affinity, low-capacity androgen binding component is present in human term placental cytosol. A synthetic androgen tracer, [3H]-R1881, was bound by a single class of binding sites with a K4 of 2.73 +/- 1.25 X 10(-9) M and a concentration of binding sites of 157 +/- 73 fmol/mg protein (N = 20). In competitive binding studies, R1881, T, 5 alpha T, androstenedione and DHEA, were active competitors, but not estradiol, progesterone or cortisol. The [3H]-R1881 macromolecule complex exhibited a sedimentation coefficient of 4-5 S under low and high salt conditions, and the radioactive tracer was displaced by a 100-fold excess of unlabelled R1881. This binding component has characteristics of high-affinity, low-capacity, sedimentation behaviour and specificity, commonly attributed to androgen "receptors".

Estradiol and progesterone binding in human term placental cytosol.

Human term placentas were studied with regard to their ability to bind estrogens and progestins. A proteinaceous molecule was demonstrated in the high-speed supernatant fraction of disrupted cells that bound estradiol and sedimented in a sucrose density gradient with a coefficient of variation of 4 to 4.5 S with respect to bovine serum albumin. Estradiol was also bound by a single class of binding sites with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 7.35 +/- 1.10 X 10(-9) M and a concentration of binding sites of 54.67 +/- 17.62 fmol/mg protein (N = 7). A synthetic progestin tracer, R5020, was used in an exchange assay to detect any progestin binding and a Kd of 8.13 +/- 1.07 X 10(-9) M, and number of binding sites of 35 +/- 10 fmol/mg protein (N = 6) were obtained at 15 degrees C for 2 hours. No binding was observed in sucrose density gradients. The apparent specificity of the receptor protein for estrogens and progestins was demonstrated by means of competition studies. The possible role of these macromolecules in the human placenta is suggested.

Receptor-like binding proteins for testosterone and progesterone in the human ovary.

The presence of two receptor-like proteins in human ovarian cytosol is described, one for testosterone and the other for progesterone. They have high affinity and are saturable, thermolabile, and highly specific. The properties of these proteins are discussed, and their possible role in the regulation of ovarian function is discussed.

Management of acute and subacute puerperal inversion of the uterus.

Eighteen cases of acute and subacute puerperal inversion were studied to identify important predisposing factors and to assess management and postpartum morbidity. The study patients did not differ from case-matched controls in age, parity, duration of labor, type of delivery, or management of the third stage. The most common signs noted were hemorrhage (94%) and shock (39%). All inversions were recognized immediately and manually replaced within 60 minutes. Shock was treated prior to repositioning in all cases. Calculated blood loss averaged 1775 ml. There was no mortality nor febrile morbidity. The average hospital stay of the study patients and their case-matched controls was 3 days. Immediate recognition of uterine inversion and prompt initiation of therapy will ensure a normal postpartum course.

Inhibition of gonadotropin by delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol:mediation by steroid receptors?

Competition assays for estradiol receptors in cytosol preparations of uteri from rhesus monkeys and humans showed that delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) does not compete with estradiol for intracellular estrogen recptors. Although isotopically labeled THC bound to macromolecules in uterine cytosol from the rhesus monkey, the binding was not displaced by unlabeled THC, diethylstilbestrol, estradiol, progesterone, cortisol, or 5 alpha-dihydrostestosterone. Scatchard analyses indicated that high-affinity saturable binding of THC to cytosol did not occur. Thus the inhibitory effect of THC on gonadotropin and steroid secretion in primates is not mediated by the interaction of THC with intracellular steroid hormone receptors.

Effect of tetrahydrocannabinol on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in the ovariectomized rhesus monkey.

Single doses of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (5.0, 2.5, 1.25, or 0.625 mg/kg) can decrease the levels of both luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the ovariectomized rhesus monkey. The inhibition of gonadotropins (50% to 88%) lasts for 6 to 24 hours depending upon the dose of THC. There are no great differences in the responses of the two gonadotropins to THC. The inhibition of gonadotropin levels by THC appears to be at the level of the hypothalamus, since both LH and FSH are released from the pituitary gland in response to LH- releasing factor in the presence of THC.

The effect of marihuana (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) on the secretion of luteinizing hormone in the ovariectomized rhesus monkey.

Despite the widespread use of marihuana by large numbers of young adults in the reproductive years, little is known about the effects of this drug on reproductive function. information on the effect of the drug on the woman is particularly meager. The rhesus monkey provides an excellent animal model from which to generalize to man. While the primary purpose of the project is to determine the effect of long-term administration on the cycling female monkey, the initial studies were carried out in the ovariectomized monkey with resulting elevated gonadotropin levels under conditions of short-term administration of the drug. Marihuana causes a reversible depression in luteinizing hormone levels in the ovariectomized female rhesus monkey.

Total urinary estrogens in complicated pregnancies.

One hundred fifty-seven pregnancies complicated by different degrees of diabetes, toxemia, and hypertension were studied with serial urinary placental estrogen determinations. A simple and fast method for total placental estrogen determination was used. The level of total estrogen excretion was related to Apgar score in cases of class B diabetes, severe toxemia, and also in moderate toxemia when estrogen excretion was falling. Mean estrogen levels did not differ as a function of severity of diabetes. Levels did differ with severity of toxemia; however, only the difference in mean estrogen excretion between mild and severe toxemia was significant. Estrogen excretion was very low in hypertension but was not related to Apgar score. This study concludes that total urinary estrogens constitute only a single parameter necessary in the management of high-risk pregnancies.