Subchorionic fibrin cultures for bacteriologic study of the placenta

Previous bacteriologic studies of the placenta have been hampered by a high rate of contamination of vaginal flora. In the present study, cultures of the subchorionic fibrin layer of the placenta were compared to conventional swab-cultures of the surface of the fetal membranes for recovery of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Parallel cultures of membrane surface and subchorionic fibrin (SCF) were done in the placentas of 33 deliveries suspected clinically of being complicated by infection (CD). Placentas from 46 uncomplicated deliveries were similarly cultured to serve as controls. SCF cultures were positive in 11 of 33 CD placentas and in only 1 of 46 controls (P less than 0.001). SCF cultures showed contaminating vaginal flora in 2 of 79 while surface cultures showed vaginal contamination in 16 of 79 (P less than 0.01). Recovery of pathogens was similar by the two methods: 10 of 33 and 14 of 33 respectively. One hundred ninety-one additional CD placentas were cultured by the SCF technique. Forty-nine of the 224 SCF cultures yielded pathogens with a predominance of group B hemolytic streptococci, anaerobic gram positive cocci and anaerobic gram negative rods (81 total isolates). Escherichia coli was isolated in 5 cases. Cultures showing exclusively contaminating vaginal flora were obtained from only 3 of the 224 placentas. Subchorionic fibrin cultures combine technical simplicity, low rate of contamination and excellent recovery of pathogens. The bacterial types found by this method are the predominant species that cause endometritis, pelvic infections, and neonatal septicemia. Subchorionic fibrin culture is a useful technique for the bacteriologic diagnosis of infection in the placenta.

A study of 11C-benzoate as a radiopharmaceutical for renal imaging

11C-benzoic acid prepared in a radiochemical purity over 90% was studied radiopharmacologically in mice and rabbits. The uptake of 11C-benzoate in ICR mice increased quickly. The ratio of kidney uptake rate to that in other organs reached values between 9 and 55 with a maximum at 10 min after i.v. injection. Gamma camera imaging of rabbits showed that uptake in the kidneys began at 2 min after injection and that activity began to appear in the bladder 4 min later. Rabbits with left renal artery ligature showed no uptake in the left kidney but the right kidney was imaged to the same extent as that of a rabbit without artery ligature. The kidney imaging of 11C-benzoic acid may be a useful method for renal diagnosis.

Pharmacology of radioiodinated hexadecenoic acid--a myocardial imaging agent

123I- and 131I-labeled hexadecenoic acid (IHDA, radiochemical purity over 92%, dissolved in 6% bovine serum albumin solution) was investigated in vivo. ICR mice were administered IHDA via the tail vein. Maximum myocardial uptake (27.3 +/- 5.1%) was reached about 0.5 min after the injection. The ratio of uptake in the heart to that in the lungs was 2.3, to that in liver 1.5 and to that in other organs 2.4 to 6.4. The dog myocardium was visualized distinctly within 3-5 min with a gamma camera after i.v. 131I-IHDA, and not interfered with by activities in the lungs, liver and other organs. The low blood levels at 20 min had little effect on the quality of the heart images.

Urinary immunoreactive gastrin in normal subjects

Gastrin can readily be concentrated from 10 to 50 ml of urine with better than 90% recovery using octadecylsilyl (ODS) silica columns (C18 Sep-Pak cartridge) and then measured by radioimmunoassay. Fractionation on Sephadex G50 gel filtration reveals that the apparent immunoreactivity is not due to nonspecific interference in the assay system but does correspond to the two known forms of gastrin, the 17 and 34 amino acid peptides. Renal clearance of gastrin in 5 normal subjects does not appear to differ in the fasted and fed state and ranged from 0.09 to 0.26 ml/min with an average of 0.16 +/- 0.05 (S.D.) ml/min. Urinary gastrin excretion in the overnight fasting state was generally less than 0.005 pmol/hr/kg body weight and fell to lower levels after a 20-hour fast. Increased urinary gastrin output was observed following feeding. Gastrin output in urine in 7 subjects ranged from 6.8 to 10.2 pmol/24 hr with an average of 8.5 +/- 1.5 (S.D.) pmol/24 hr. A single determination of renal gastrin clearance and 24-hour gastrin urinary output appears to be sufficient for the determination of averaged plasma gastrin levels in normal subjects without renal disease. Similar methodology should be applicable to a variety of other peptidal hormones as well.

A Study of 11C-Benzoate as a Radiopharmaceutical for Renal Imaging

11C-benzoic acid prepared in a radiochemical purity over 90% was studied radiopharmacologically in mice and rabbits. The uptake of 11C-benzoate in ICR mice increased quickly. The ratio of kidney uptake rate to that in other organs reached values between 9 and 55 with a maximum at 10 min after i.v. injection. Gamma camera imaging of rabbits showed that uptake in the kidneys began at 2 min after injection and that activity began to appear in the bladder 4 min later. Rabbits with left renal artery ligature showed no uptake in the left kidney but the right kidney was imaged to the same extent as that of a rabbit without artery ligature. The kidney imaging of 11C-benzoic acid may be a useful method for renal diagnosis.

Clinical observations in ethyl mercury chloride poisoning

Forty-one patients in the Peoples Republic of China were poisoned by ethyl mercury chloride, caused by the ingestion of rice that had been treated with the chemical. A dose-response relationship was found. Five months after the onset of the intoxication, the patients were still in poor condition. They were treated with two chelating agents, sodium dimercaptopropane sulfonate (DMPS) and sodium dimercaptosuccinate (DMS), whose effects were compared. Both agents were effective but DMPS was superior. Although urinary excretion is not the best estimate of body burden in alkyl mercury intoxication, during chelation therapy urinary mercury was an effective indicator for diagnosis and assessment of the degree of intoxication. Chelation therapy was diagnosis and assessment of the degree of intoxication. Chelation therapy was useful as long as the urinary mercury level was elevated.

Survey of total and respirable suspended particulate matter in an iron foundry. Comparison of stationary sampling and personal monitoring

In the workshop of an iron foundry total and respirable suspended particulate matter was collected. The performances of (1) filtration systems with 47 mm membrane filters, (2) Andersen cascade impactors, and (3) personal total or respirable monitoring, were compared at a position away from intense sources of particulate debris. Using 15 stationary samplers a survey was made of the particulate levels in the workshop, over a period of 2 weeks. Very large concentration gradients and concentration variations as a function of time were measured for total suspended particulate matter. In the three major source areas, i.e. the pouring department, the core-making department and the shake-out department, special studies were performed to compare stationary and personal monitoring. In the immediate vicinity of intense point sources of coarse particles, such as core-making or shake-out, stationary sampling cannot be used to estimate the personal exposure to total suspended particulates. For respirable particles, however, one or two well-situated stationary size-selective samplers can provide a good estimate of the personal exposure as measured with a personal respirable monitor. The differences found are in the order of 10-20%.

Ovarian stromal tumors containing lutein or Leydig cells (luteinized thecomas and stromal Leydig cell tumors)--a clinicopathological analysis of fifty cases

Fifty ovarian stromal tumors that had a predominant pattern of fibroma or thecoma but also contained cells typical of steroid hormone-secreting cells are reported. Forty-six tumors were classified as luteinized thecomas because the steroid cells resembled lutein cells and lacked crystalloids of Reinke. Four were classified as stromal Leydig cell tumors because crystalloids were identified in the steroid cells. The luteinized thecomas occurred at an average age of 46 years and were associated with estrogenic manifestations in 50% and androgenic changes in 11% of the cases. In the remaining cases there was no clinical or pathological evidence of steroid hormone production at the time of diagnosis. Six patients, two of whom were virilized, were pregnant. Four tumors appeared malignant on histologic examination. One of these tumors was rapidly fatal, the outcome is unknown in a second case, the third patient is alive and well at 5 years, and the fourth tumor was diagnosed too recently for evaluation of its behavior. The stromal Leydig cell tumors occurred at an average age of 61 years and were associated with virilization in one case, endometrial hyperplasia in another case, and endometrial hyperplasia with carcinoma in a third case. The fourth tumor was unassociated with endocrine manifestations. Luteinized thecomas and stromal Leydig cell tumors are indistinguishable except for the presence of crystalloids of Reinke in the latter. In view of the prolonged search that is necessary to find these structures in some stromal Leydig cell tumors and their well-known absence in the majority of testicular Leydig cell tumors, it is reasonable to assume that an unknown proportion of tumors in the luteinized thecoma category are unrecognized stromal Leydig cell tumors.

Effect of various levels of isoflavone aglycone-enriched fermented soybean meal on redox status, serum hormones and milk quality in ewes

The study investigated the effects of various levels of isoflavone aglycone-enriched fermented soybean meal (FSBM) on the redox status, serum hormones and milk quality of ewes from late pregnancy to early lactation. Twenty Chongming White ewes were chosen and divided into four treatment groups (n = 5): basal diet without FSBM (CON); basal diet with 2% (FSBM2); 4% (FSBM4); and 6% FSBM (FSBM6) replacing equal amounts of soybean meal (SBM). At parturition, maternal serum, the placenta and colostrum were collected. At day 21 of lactation, maternal serum and milk were collected. Results showed that, compared with CON, feeding ewes with FSBM6 reduced the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) concentration in the placenta. At parturition and day 21 of lactation, the serum SOD activity and T-AOC concentration in FSBM4 and FSBM6 were higher than those in CON. Furthermore, the concentration of serum 8-iso prostaglandin (8-ISO-PGF2α) was markedly lower in FSBM6 than in CON. Serum prolactin (PRL), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) concentrations were increased in FSBM4 and FSBM6 compared with CON. PRL concentration was increased in FSBM2. FSBM4 increased the levels of fat, protein, lactose, IgA, IgG and IgM in colostrum and milk. In conclusion, feeding ewes with FSBM from late pregnancy to early lactation seemed to increase maternal and placental anti-oxidative capacity, and improve serum hormones and milk quality. Considered overall, the level of 4% supplementation is recommended.Keywords: Milk contents, oxidative stress, placenta, serum parameters