Seasonal influence on platelet 5-HT levels in patients with recurrent major depression and schizophrenia.

The influence of seasons on platelet serotonin (5-HT) concentration was determined in 88 unipolar depressed and 117 schizophrenic male inpatients, and 90 normal male controls. Platelet 5-HT concentrations showed moderate, but insignificant intragroup seasonal variations in healthy controls and in the groups of depressed (psychotic and nonpsychotic) and schizophrenic (positive and negative) patients. In spring, platelet 5-HT concentrations were higher in schizophrenic patients than in normal controls or in depressed patients, while in other seasons platelet 5-HT concentrations were not significantly different between the groups. Higher platelet 5-HT concentrations were detected in psychotic when compared to nonpsychotic depressed patients in summer, fall, and winter. Increased platelet 5-HT concentrations observed in schizophrenic patients with positive symptoms clearly separated these patients from patients with negative schizophrenia, especially in spring, summer, and fall. Our results indicate the necessity to match patients with regard to the season of the sampling, and to divide depressed and schizophrenic patients into subtypes.

Regional differences in NaCl-induced increase of the potency of bicuculline to displace [3H]muscimol binding.

It has been shown that the potency of bicuculline to displace [3H]muscimol binding to crude brain membranes can be enhanced markedly by different anions. This study shows that although bicuculline alone was a more potent displacer of [3H]muscimol binding in cortical than in cerebellar membranes, the NaCl (250 mM)-induced leftward shift of the bicuculline inhibition curve of [3H]muscimol binding was considerably higher in cerebellum than in cortex. The some concentration of NaCl failed to affect either the affinity or the density of cortical and cerebellar [3H]muscimol binding sites. The results suggest that sodium chloride is able to reveal regional differences in bicuculline potency.

Sex differences in bicuculline-induced convulsions: interaction with stress and ligands of benzodiazepine binding sites.

The response to i.v. administration of bicuculline and its interaction with the benzodiazepine agonist diazepam and antagonist flumazenil were studied in male and female handling stressed and swim stressed rats. Both handling stressed and swim stressed male rats needed less bicuculline to produce myoclonic twitch and running/bouncing (RB) clonus than females. Besides, a lower dose of bicuculline produced tonic hindlimb extensor convulsion (THE) in male than in female swim stressed rats. Flumazenil failed to affect seizure thresholds for bicuculline either in handling stressed or in swim stressed animals. Sex differences remained present after diazepam pre-treatment as well. While diazepam enhanced doses of bicuculline producing all three convulsive signs similarly in both handling and swim stressed rats (141-162%), swim stress had the lowest anticonvulsive effect for the onset of myoclonic twitch (110% in males and 117% in females) and the highest for THE (148% in males and 188% in females). The anticonvulsive effect of diazepam was not sex-dependent, while the anticonvulsive effect of swim stress was greater in female than in male rats. The results suggest that greater sensitivity of male rats to bicuculline and the anticonvulsive effect of swim stress do not result from the release of endogenous modulators of benzodiazepine binding sites.

Gonadal hormones and picrotoxin-induced convulsions in male and female rats.

The sensitivity to the GABA-blocking agent picrotoxin was studied in young and adult male and female rats, in rats treated with gonadal hormones and in gonadectomized male and female rats. Picrotoxin was equipotent in producing convulsions in male and female 20-day-old rats. Adult females tended to be more, while adult males were considerably less sensitive to picrotoxin than young rats. Picrotoxin was equipotent in displacing t-[3H]butylbicycloorthobenzoate ([3H]TBOB) binding to crude cortical and cerebellar membranes from male and female rat brain. Chronic treatment of male rats, beginning with 30 days of age, with estradiol benzoate enhanced their sensitivity to picrotoxin, while an analogous treatment of female rats with testosterone propionate was ineffective. Thirty days following castration adult male rats had shorter latencies to the appearance of picrotoxin-induced convulsions and a higher incidence of death. Ovariectomy in females failed to modify the sensitivity to picrotoxin. The results suggest that gonadal hormones have a crucial role in the development of sex related differences in the response of rats to picrotoxin and presumably to other GABA-related drugs. When developed, the male type of reactivity appears to depend more, and the female type less on the presence of circulating hormones in the blood.

Chagas disease in north-west Argentina: infected dogs as a risk factor for the domestic transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi.

The association between household seroreactivity to Trypanosoma cruzi in dogs and children and T. cruzi infection rates in domestic Triatoma infestans was investigated in 1988-1989 in the rural community of Amamá, north-west Argentina, where house spraying with residual pyrethroids was carried out in 1985. Three years after spraying, a greater reduction of the average T. cruzi prevalence rate in dogs (from 83% to 40%) than in children (from 48% to 30%) was accompanied by a substantial decrease in vector infection rates from 51%-63% to 21%. At a household level, in homes with or without seroreactive children, the percentage of infected T. infestans was 4.5-4.7 times higher when seroreactive dogs were present (27.1%-34.8%) than when they were not (5.8%-7.7%; stratified relative risk [RR] = 4.58). The contribution of seroreactive children to bug infection rates was not significant (RR = 1.29). The combined effect of both seroreactive dogs and seroreactive children fitted equally well with additive or multiplicative transmission models. Bug infection rates showed an increasing trend with the number of seroreactive dogs and an inverse association with the age of the youngest seroreactive dog. Our study supports the hypothesis of a causal association between the presence and number of infected dogs and increased levels of T. cruzi transmission to domestic T. infestans.

Influence of gender and gonadectomy on bicuculline-induced convulsions and on GABAA receptors.

The response to IV administration of GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline was studied in young (30 days) and in adult gonad-intact or gonadectomized male and female rats. The properties of GABAA receptors, obtained from cortex and cerebellum 30 days following gonadectomy, and the affinity of muscimol and bicuculline for cortical and cerebellar GABA binding sites were also studied. While young rats failed to show sex differences, the threshold doses of bicuculline producing the first myoclonic twitch and running/bouncing clonus (RB clonus) were lower in adult male than female rats. Fifteen days after gonadectomy or sham operation male rats needed less bicuculline to the onset of myoclonic twitch and RB clonus than identically treated females, while orchidectomized rats needed more bicuculline to the onset of tonic hindlimb extension than all other groups examined. All sex differences disappeared 30 days following gonadectomy. At the same time, in males gonadectomy decreased the affinity and enhanced the density of cortical 3H-muscimol binding sites. In female rats, gonadectomy only decreased the affinity of cortical GABAA receptors. Only regional but not sex differences were observed in the affinity of muscimol and bicuculline for GABAA receptors. Sex differences in the threshold doses of bicuculline-producing convulsions do not correlate either with the properties of cortical and cerebellar GABAA receptors or with the affinity of bicuculline for the same binding sites.

Obstetric aspects of adolescent pregnancy and delivery.

An analysis of 31 years of adolescent pregnancies and deliveries at Novi Sad Medical Facility is presented. Obstetric complications are discussed. The psychological impact of adolescent pregnancy is examined.

Dynamics of transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi in a rural area of Argentina. IV. Serologic, parasitologic and electrocardiographic study of the human population.

A serologic and electrocardiographic study was carried out in people living in 18 households in La Invernada (LI), Departamento Figueroa, and in 20 houses in Amamá (A), Departamento Moreno, both in the province of Santiago del Estero, Argentina. Serological tests performed were indirect hemagglutination (IHAT) and indirect immunofluorescence antibody tests (IFAT). Complement fixation, direct agglutination and ELISA tests were also done for those sera, showing discordant results for either IHAT or IFAT. All people in LI and children up to 12 years old in A were studied by xenodiagnosis. Approximately 50% of the whole population was infected (50% in LI and 50.9% in A) and a similar prevalence rate was already recorded in children below 10 years. A moderate increase of infection rates was observed in successively older age groups, indicating that most of the people became infected in the first decade of life. Comparison of serological profiles of both populations suggests a protective effect of insecticidal control campaigns in those individuals born between 1961 and 1971. New surveys carried out in both populations 2 years later rendered a 4 times greater annual incidence rate in A as compared with LI (7.9% vs 1.8% respectively). No differences were found in the percentages of abnormal electrocardiograms among seropositive and seronegative individuals from both settlements. The prevalence of complete right bundle branch block (RBBB) was higher in seropositive than in seronegative people (4.8% vs 2.3%) but lower than those figures recorded for other parts of the country and the continent. This suggests that in spite of its high prevalence, Chagas' disease has low morbidity in both localities.

[The role of fertilization in vitro in the treatment of infertility]. / Mesto vantelesne oplodnje u lecenju bracne neplodnosti.

Artificial insemination presents of one broadly accepted methods of assisted reproduction. Indicative spheres for the healing of sterility by this method are permanently outspreading. Its primary application has been induced due to irreparable damages of oviducts but the indications for its use have been expanded in both women and men. One third of the total number of sterile married couples has the need for some of existing methods for assisted reproduction. Micromanipulative techniques of artificial insemination have practically solved all until recently unbridgeable difficulties in the treatment of marital sterility caused by man. Artificial insemination presents a treatment methodology tightly connected with a series of ethical, social and legal problems which are of great interest for the society also.

Sex differences in the response to GABA antagonists depend on the route of drug administration.

Sex differences in the responses to two GABA-related convulsants (bicuculline, picrotoxin) were studied in rats and mice following intraperitoneal (i.p.) and intravenous (i.v.) drug administration. Following i.p. administration male and female rats were equally sensitive to bicuculline, while female rats were more sensitive to picrotoxin. After i.v. infusion the threshold doses of bicuculline and picrotoxin producing running/bouncing clonus (RB clonus) were significantly lower in male than in female rats, i.e. male rats were more sensitive to both convulsants than females. Following i.p. administration, at some doses female mice were more sensitive to bicuculline and male mice to picrotoxin, although ED50 values between the sexes were not significantly different. After i.v. infusion, doses of bicuculline producing RB clonus and death were significantly lower in male than in female mice, i.e. male mice were more sensitive to bicuculline. The two sexes of mice were equally sensitive to i.v. administration of picrotoxin. While sex and species differences obtained following i.p. drug administration could presumably be explained by differences in pharmacokinetics, the i.v. route of drug administration is suggested as a reliable technique in the studies of sex and species differences in pharmacodynamics.

Incidence of infertility of immune origin in a group of marriages with unexplained infertility.

This study was designed to estimate the incidence of infertility of immune origin in a group of 102 married couples with unexplained infertility, out of a total of 1346 couples being treated for infertility. The tests included microagglutination of spermatozoa, microzone sera immunoelectrophoresis and sera immunodiffusion methods. In this group the sera of 23 (22.55%) women and 21 (20.58%) men contained antibodies, and these seemed to be the only cause of infertility. In relation to the total number of 1346 couples, infertility of immune origin was found in 1.70% of female and 1.56% of male partners. Conjugal immune-origin infertility was present in 0.56% of marriages. Out of 1346 treated infertile marriages, an immunologic factor was evidently the only cause of infertility in 2.57%.

[The rate of polyploid fertilization of ovocytes in in vitro fertilization in patients with an increased ovarian response]. / Stopa poliploidnog oplodenja ovocita u in vitro fertilizaciji bolesnica s visokim ovarijalnim odgovorom.

Polyploid fertilization is a common cause of human embryo's early loss in in vivo (1-2%) and in in vitro fertilization (3-5%) as well. Cause of increased rate of polypoid fertilization in in vitro fertilization is multifactorial. The aim of this paper was to establish if high ovarian response to exogenous hormone stimulation of ovaries can be one of the causes of increased incidence of polyploid fertilization. The research included 125 patients from whom 568 ovocytes were obtained by ultrasound aspiratory punction of ovarian follicles. The gathered results point to the fact that exogenous ovarian stimulation and the degree of ovarian response have a significant influence on increase of polyploid fertilization's rate. Thus, in the group of patients from whom 11 or more ovocytes were obtained, the rate of polyploid fertilization amounted to 11.3%, whereas it is statistically significantly higher (p < 0.01) in regard to those in whom less important difference in the rate of polyploid fertilization considering applied schemes of ovulation's stimulation (p > 0.1) was not established nor was it established considering the age of patients (p > 0.05). Despite the fact that the rate of polyploid fertilization in in vitro conditions is higher that in the natural conception, this method of treating marital infertility opens a unique possibility to identify all irregularities considering fertilization and prevent development of such embryos on time as it happens at the very beginning of the preimplantational stage of ovum's fertilization in laboratory conditions.

[Preliminary results of experimental reanastomosis of uterine horns of laboratory rats after sterilization]. / Preliminarni rezultati eksperimentalnih reanostomoza rogova uterusa laboratorijskih pacova nakon prethodne sterilizacije.

The goal of the launched studies was to analyse, on an experimental model, the histophysiological properties of the segments of the rat's uterine horns after end-to-end anastomoses by the microsurgery technique. Sexually mature females of the laboratory Winster strain were used. Eight weeks after the uterine horns were ligated for sterilization, reanastomosomes were performed. One group of animals was given hydrocortisone for 8 days postoperatively. The results of the observation of the sites of anastomosis has shown that the use of the microsurgery technique allows an almost ideal reconstruction of the cut segments. The absence of chronic interstitial changes in the endometrium, a decreased presence of connective-muscular tissues within the stroma and the RES system cells in animals having received hydrocortisone in relation to those who have not -- all this indicates that the postoperative use of hydrocortisone decreases both the "reactive" growth of the connective tissue and the RES system cells.

[Infertility and endometriosis]. / Infertilitet i endometrioza.

The goal of this study was to set the relation between infertility and endometriosis. It included 500 infertile female patients who underwent laparoscopy in order to find out the cause of infertility. The prevalence of endometriosis in these patients was 26%, that is significantly higher than in the control group which consisted of 200 randomly chosen fertile women in whom prevalence of endometriosis was 5%. Patients with endometriosis mainly belong to the group of 25-29 years of age with a median duration of infertility of 2-4 years. Endometriosis occurs three times more often in the group of patients with primary sterility than in patients with secondary sterility. Majority of patients (71.5%) are with minimal or mild endometriosis.

[The effect of synthetic gonadotropin releasing hormone on the plasma levels of FH and LSH in women with hirsutism and polycystic ovaries]. / Uticaj sintetskog rilizing hormona za gonadotropine na nivo LH i FSH u plazmi u zena sa hirzutizmom i policisticnim ovarijumima.

GN-RH test was performed in 33 women with hirsutism and irregular menstrual cycles. Fourteen patients had polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO) and 19 had idiopathic hirsutism (IH). In the control group, there were 5 healthy women with regular menstrual cycles. Absolute cumulative increase of LH as significantly higher in the examinees with hirsutism than in the control group. A significantly higher net increase of LH was found only in the PCO group. However, absolute and net increase of FSH in examinees with hirsutism did not significantly differ from that in the control group. Patients with PCO had a significantly higher increase of FSH than the IH group. Only the PCO group had a significant correlation between basal LH and LH increase during the test. It was found that patients with hirsutism and irregular menstrual cycles had an increased reactivity of the hypophysis to a direct stimulation with synthetic GN-RH. The degree of disfunction of the gonad axis in women with PCO is significantly higher than in patients with IH.

Effects of adrenalectomy and gonadectomy on sex and stress-induced differences in bicuculline-induced convulsions.

The effects of adrenalectomy, gonadectomy and combined adrenalectomy plus gonadectomy on the previously described sex-dependent anticonvulsive effect of swim stress were studied in rats. The convulsive signs (myoclonic twitch, generalized convulsions, tonic hindlimb extension) were produced by constant i.v. infusion of gamma-aminobutyric acid(A) (GABA(A)) antagonist bicuculline, which started 15 min after termination of swim stress (10-min swim at 18-19 degrees C). Adrenalectomy decreased the threshold doses of bicuculline producing the first myoclonic twitch and the onset of generalized convulsions only in females. In adrenalectomized females, but not in males, swim stress enhanced the threshold dose of bicuculline producing generalized convulsions, but, unlike in adrenal-intact animals, it failed to enhance the dose of bicuculline producing tonic hindlimb extension. In gonadectomized stressed and unstressed animals all sex differences disappeared, and swim stress enhanced in both sexes only the threshold doses of bicuculline producing tonic hindlimb extension. Adrenalectomized plus gonadectomized animals displayed clear sex differences in doses of bicuculline necessary to produce all the convulsive signs. In the same animals swim stress postponed, especially in females, the onset of the first myoclonic twitch and generalized convulsions, but not the onset of tonic hindlimb extension. In summary, our results suggest that hormones of the adrenal and gonadal glands are only partly responsible for decreased susceptibility, especially of female rats, to the GABA(A) antagonist bicuculline. Moreover, they have demonstrated that stress produces a gender-specific anticonvulsive effect even in the animals completely deprived of steroid hormones of peripheral origin.

[Hyperprolactinemia and disorders of the menstrual cycle]. / Hiperprolaktinemija i poremecaji menstrualnog ciklusa.

INTRODUCTION: The authors presented physiological conditions associated with increased prolactin values (sleep, stress, hypoglycemia, nipples stimulation, pregnancy and lactation) as well as the causes of pathological hyperprolactinemia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The results of radioimmunoassay study have been analyzed in concern to the values of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin (PRL) obtained from the serum of 100 women with increased PRL levels. The "HOECHT" sets were used for the analysis, whereas the values up to 20.9 microgrammes per litre were rated normal. The patients were distributed into 4 groups in concern to the level of PRL increase: 1st group--twenty (n = 20) patients with PRL values from 21-29.9 micrograms/l, 90 blood samples analyzed; 2nd group-forty (n = 40) patients with PRL values f; 30-49.9 micrograms/l, 183 blood samples analyzed; 3rd group--twenty (n = 20) patients with PRL values from 50-99.9 micrograms/l, 83 blood samples analyzed; 4th group--twenty patients (n = 20) with PRL values more than 100 micrograms/l, 78 blood samples analyzed. The values of FSH and LH recorded in the women with hyperprolactinemia were compared with mean values of the same hormones presented in IU/l from the follicular phase of the cycle in the control group which comprised 50 women of reproductive age having normal ovulatory menstrual cycle. RESULTS: The mean values of FSH and LH in the 1st group have not presented with statistically significant difference in relation to the control group. Prevalence of menstrual disorders was 30%, which was statistically significantly higher than in general population. FSH values in the 2nd group were almost the same as in the control group whereas the values of LH were significantly higher. The rate of polycistic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in this group has been significant, also the increased rate of anovulatory cycles from 30 to 67.5%. A mild increase of menstrual cycle rhythm disorders, from 35 to 40% has been recorded. The values of FSH and LH in the 3rd group were significantly lower than in the control group. The significance level was higher for FSH (p < 0.01) then LH (p < 0.05). There was a sudden increase of the cycle rhythm disorders in this group reaching 90%. The 4th group presented with significantly lower values of FSH and LH in relation to the control group, whereas the cycle rhythm disorders occurred in all patients. DISCUSSION: The obtained results were compared with the literature data and some explanations given. CONCLUSIONS: The values of FSH an LH were statistically significantly lower in the 3rd and 4th group. The 2nd group was characteristic for the sudden increase of the number of anovulatory cycles from 30 to 67.5%, whereas the 3rd group presented with the abrupt increase of menstrual cycle rhythm disorders, from 40 to 90%.

[The Allen-Masters syndrome]. / Syndroma Allen-Masters.

The authors present 18 cases of the Allen-Masters syndrome diagnosed from 1978 to 1985. The pelvic peritoneal defect was diagnosed by laparoscopy in 15 cases, by laparotomy in 3 cases. There was some doubt about the presence of the syndrome in 4 cases. The syndrome was diagnosed by chance in 11 cases while investigating causes of sterility. The locations of peritoneal laceration were distributed between broad ligaments in 13 cases and the other areas of the Douglas pouch in 5 cases. In 3 cases there were no previous gynaecological and obstetrical traumas that might explain the cause of the presence of the syndrome. The treatment was surgical in 5 cases, i.e. the sutural of the ligament-peritoneal scarred laceration.