Relative abundance of aldose reductase mRNA in rat lens undergoing development of osmotic cataracts

Aldose reductase (AR) messenger RNA concentration was determined in normal rat lens and in lens from rats fed a 50% galactose diet over a period of 20 days. The AR mRNA was detected by using a previously described AR cDNA clone. The relative concentration of the AR mRNA was estimated by cpm of 35S-UTP labeled antisense RNA hybridized to dot-blots prepared from cytosols isolated from single lens, decapsulated lens (cortex) and its respective capsule (epithelia). The results demonstrated that the concentration of the AR mRNA in the epithelium doubled over the 20 day period. Correspondingly, an increase in the concentration of the DNA was also observed, suggesting that the increase in epithelial cytosolic mRNA might be partially due to the increase in the number of epithelial cells occurring in lens undergoing cataractogenesis. The increase in AR mRNA in the epithelia was gradual, and it doubled by day 12 on galactose, while the increase in DNA was rapid and reached an optimum level by about day 4. By day 4 the cortex AR mRNA concentration increased, then rapidly decreased to insignificant levels by day 20. Changes in AR mRNA and in DNA following a high influx of galactose in the lens might suggest a heightened gene response to changes in the cellular environment for the lens epithelium.

The prediction and/or detection of ovulation by means of urinary steroid assays

Twenty normally menstruating women volunteered for a study in which plasma samples were collected daily during an entire menstrual cycle. On the same days, samples of morning urine were also collected, as well as random samples of urine voided at the visit to the Outpatient Clinic. Progesterone (P), estradiol (E2) and lutropin (LH) were assayed in plasma, and pregnanediol-3-glucuronide (PdG), estrone-glucuronide (E1G), estriol-16-glucuronide (E3G), P, and E2 were measured in urine using radioimmunoassays. Progesterone in urine was assayed both with and without preceding chromatography. All urinary glucuronides and progesterone exhibited cyclic patterns similar to those of E2 or P in plasma. Seven-fold increases from early follicular to luteal phase values (for PdG and urinary P; the latter both with and without chromatography), or to peak levels (for E1G and E3G) were observed. The difference between the baseline and peak levels was less distinct (approximately 5-fold) for E2 in urine. The day-to-day coefficient of variation of early follicular phase values decreased from 40% to 25% by calculating the ratios of the glucuronides or P to creatinine (C). The peaks of estrogen glucuronides were delayed mostly by 1 day in comparison to the peaks of E2 in plasma. The urinary peaks of estrogens were in most cases more closely clustered around the day of the LH-peak when the measurements were corrected for C. For the determination of the first significant rise of steroid levels in a cycle, the calculation of a sustained rise (leading to a significant cumulative sum - CUSUM) was found superior when compared to other recommended indices, such as a 50% increase over the mean of 3 preceding values, or the increase over the baseline level plus 2 standard deviations. Sustained rises were calculated for all indices studied (including the ratio of urinary E1G to PdG). The ratio of E1G to C in morning urine gave consistently the most compact distribution of sustained rises. It is concluded that daily measurements of urinary PdG (or P) and E1G (or, possibly, E2) could substitute the serial assays of P and E2 in peripheral blood in the retrospective assessment of the ovarian functionn. The day-to-day variation can be significantly reduced, if results are expressed per concentration of C. For the prediction of ovulation or fertile period, the best index of urinary steroids appears to be the sustained rise in the ratio of E1G to C. However, this "best" method is still not good enough in terms of overall reliability and practicability.

[Nonimmunologic hydrops fetalis: a review of 30 cases]

Thirty cases of nonimmunologic hydrops fetalis in 14 hospitals were studied. The incidence of nonimmunologic hydrops fetalis was 1 in 4,330 deliveries at all hospitals and 1 in 4,389 deliveries at Tokyo University Hospital. Among these, 13 cases with various kinds of fetal anomalies and 5 cases complicated by twin to twin transfusion syndrome were found. Polyhydramnios (73%), preeclampsia (20%), anemia (34%), and hypoproteinemia (64%) were the commonest prenatal maternal complications, whereas a high incidence of abnormal NST patterns such as loss of variability was found, although urinary E3 levels were within the normal range. High rates of premature labor, Caesarian section and vacuum extraction were found at the deliveries of nonimmunologic hydrops fetalis. Prenatal diagnoses were made in 30% and 85% of the cases before 1977 and between 1978 and 1982, respectively. Ultrasound examination was confirmed to be very useful in detecting the hydropic state in the later period. The perinatal mortality rate from nonimmunologic hydrops fetalis was high (90%); and it was 100% in the cases with anomalies or twin to twin transfusion syndrome. The main cause of neonatal death was respiratory insufficiency due to hypoplasty of the lungs and pleural effusion.