RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that superovulation results in elevated maternal circulating relaxin concentrations throughout the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, independent of the pattern of hCG secretion. METHODS: Two groups of women with singleton gestations were studied: a group of nine women who achieved pregnancy after stimulation with human menopausal gonadotropin and a group of six women who achieved pregnancy without prior stimulation. Peripheral blood samples were drawn approximately every 5 weeks throughout the second and third trimesters. Serum relaxin concentrations were measured using a human relaxin-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; hCG was measured by an immunofluorometric assay. RESULTS: The stimulated group had significantly higher relaxin levels throughout pregnancy (P=.007, multivariate analysis of variance) than did nonstimulated controls. The mean relaxin level in stimulated patients was 1.78 ng/mL (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5, 2.17) and in nonstimulated subjects the level was 0.73 ng/mL (95% CI 0.59, 1.25). Spline fits demonstrated that stimulated patients had higher relaxin levels throughout the second and third trimesters. There was no significant difference in hCG concentrations between the two groups (P=.61). CONCLUSION: In singleton gestations after superovulation, maternal serum relaxin concentrations are significantly higher throughout the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. These differences are independent of the pattern of hCG secretion. It appears that luteal relaxin secretion is controlled by factors in addition to hCG.
Asunto(s)
Relaxina/sangre , Superovulación/sangre , Adulto , Análisis de Varianza , Gonadotropina Coriónica/sangre , Femenino , Humanos , Embarazo , Segundo Trimestre del Embarazo , Tercer Trimestre del EmbarazoRESUMEN
The association of uterus with unilateral imperforate hemivagina and ipsilateral renal agenesis is extremely rare. We present a case of a 13-year-old virginal patient in whom a combination of intravenous pyelogram and ultrasound was comparable to magnetic resonance imaging in permitting an accurate preoperative diagnosis thus allowing for early and appropriate surgical intervention and possible preservation of fertility.
Asunto(s)
Riñón/anomalías , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Útero/anomalías , Vagina/anomalías , Adolescente , Femenino , Humanos , Riñón/diagnóstico por imagen , Conductos Paramesonéfricos/anomalías , Ultrasonografía , Útero/diagnóstico por imagen , Útero/cirugía , Vagina/diagnóstico por imagen , Vagina/cirugíaRESUMEN
Pendred's syndrome is manifested by congenital sensorineural deafness in association with familial goiter due to defective organic binding of iodine in the thyroid gland. The majority of patients with Pendred's syndrome are euthyroid. We report on an unusual case of a patient with Pendred's syndrome presenting with amenorrhea and late-onset hypothyroidism.
Asunto(s)
Amenorrea/etiología , Sordera/congénito , Bocio/etiología , Hipotiroidismo/complicaciones , Adulto , Edad de Inicio , Femenino , Humanos , SíndromeRESUMEN
Relaxin has been implicated in dilatation of the cervix at parturition. Dilatation of the guinea pig cervix at parturition is mediated by an estrogen-induced degradation of type I collagen by interstitial collagenase (matrix metalloproteinase I, MMPI). This study was designed to test the hypothesis that human recombinant relaxin (hrR) stimulates MMPI activity in cultured guinea pig cervical cells. Primary cervical monolayer cultures from immature, adult nonpregnant, and 50-day-pregnant Hartley guinea pigs were exposed to hrR (1-1000 ng/ml) daily for 3 days in serum-free Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM). The effect of priming immature cells with estradiol-17 beta (E2, 10(-6) M) daily for 3 days prior to treatment with hrR was also determined. Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases were inactivated by reduction, alkylation, and dialysis. MMPI activity at 96 h was assayed via a highly sensitive and specific assay that utilizes [3H]telopeptide-free type I collagen as a substrate. Aminophenylmercuric acetate (0.5 mM) was used to activate latent MMPI. Phenanthroline-1,10 (1 mM), a known inhibitor of metalloproteinases, was used as a blank control. Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA, 10(-8) M), a known stimulator of MMPI biosynthesis, was used as a positive control. The hrR in serum-free DMEM had no significant effect on cell number in nonpregnant, 50-day-pregnant, E2-primed, or nonprimed immature animals. It stimulated MMPI activity in a dose-dependent manner with a maximum response at 10 ng/ml in nonpregnant (2-fold), 50-day-pregnant (3-fold), and E2-primed immature (3-fold) animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)