Multiple molecular forms of prolactin during pregnancy in women.

The distribution of isomorphic forms of prolactin in the serum of pregnant women was studied by gel filtration chromatography. Using this technique we were able to resolve three peaks, detected by radioimmunoassay: they were termed 'big-big', 'big' and 'little' prolactin in order of decreasing size, with approximate molecular weights greater than 100 000, 50 000 and 21 000 respectively. They displayed a comparable immunoreactivity to the antiserum employed in the radioimmunoassay, as determined in competition experiments. The relative amount of each hormone form in serum changed during the third trimester of pregnancy. At week 33 of pregnancy, 'little' prolactin accounted for 63.2 +/- 7.7% of the total circulating hormone present in the serum of five normal pregnant women. During the progression of pregnancy, there was a gradual increase in the low molecular weight prolactin, so that, at the time of delivery, the larger forms of the hormone were present only in small amounts.

[HPV genital infections + CIN. The immunological patterns, loop electroablation and beta-interferon]. / Infezioni genitali da HPV + CIN. Patterns immunologici, elettroablazione con ansa e beta-interferone.

Sixteen patients with genital HPV associated with CIN were treated with electroablation using a diathermic loop and immunomodulation with human beta interferon. Changes in immunological, cyto-histological and clinical parameters were observed pre- and post-treatment. Thirteen cases showed an excellent response. Disease was persistent in three cases. The authors report an improvement, even if statistically non-significant, in some immune parameters and confirm the value of associating physical therapy with immunomodulating treatment.

[Anomalous uterine bleeding in the perimenopause: fibromatosis, hyperplastic endometriopathy and GnRH analogs]. / Sanguinamento uterino anomalo in perimenopausa: fibromatosi, endometriopatia iperplastica ed analoghi del GnRH.

In the light of recent reports, the authors used GnRH analogues to treat 18 perimenopausal women with anomalous uterine bleeding, fibromatosis and endometrial hyperplasia. The aim of the study was to avoid the recurrence of anomalous bleeding, reduce hyperplastic endometriopathy and, having attained stable amenorrhea, avoid resorting to traditional surgical treatment. At the end of the study 9 women had reached the pre-established objective, 4 recommended regular menstruation, 2 reported an episode of metrorrhagia due to endometrial atrophy, and a further 2 suffered a recurrence of the initial problem and underwent hystero-annexiectomy. One patient interrupted the therapy due to the onset of arterial hypertension.

[Ogilvie syndrome after cesarean section. A clinical contribution]. / La sindrome di Ogilvie dopo taglio cesareo. Contributo clinico.

Following the observation of a case of acute pseudo-obstruction of the colon (Ogilvie's syndrome) after cesarean section, the Authors describe their clinical experience in relation to recently published reports. While discussing other features of the syndrome, the importance of radiological monitoring of the colonic stasis and the validity of perendoscopic decompression of the colon as an efficacious therapy are underlined.

[Dynamic ultrasonic hysteroscopy]. / L'ecoisteroscopia dinamica.

An attempt was made to establish Dynamic Echohysteroscopy (DEHS) diagnostic criteria for the study of female genital apparatus, as recently proposed. DEHS consists of a pelvic ultrasonography during and following an injection of physiological solution in the uterine cavity. Since this technique does not use X-rays, it has been proven useful to study female infertility. The authors have studied the normal and pathological aspects of 33 patients who underwent both DEHS and hysterosalpingography (HSG) (comparison diagnostic test). The results lead to the following conclusions: 1) DEHS can be considered a useful alternative to HSG, in the evaluation of uterine pathology; 2) in the evaluation of tubal pathology, DEHS has fewer diagnostic possibilities than HSG. Nevertheless, DEHS indirectly allows the patency of at least one tube.

Studies on amniotic prolactin: chromatographic pattern and correlation with the lecithin content.

We have measured the concentrations of prolactin and lecithin in the amniotic fluid from 20 normal pregnant women in the 2nd and 3rd trimester. Prolactin is present totally as a low-molecular-weight form, 'little' prolactin, and appears to correlate negatively with lecithin during the 2nd and positively during the 3rd trimester. On the basis of these results and of the information that prolactin is present as high-molecular-weight isohormones in maternal blood, it is argued that amniotic prolactin is synthesized 'in situ' and that different mechanisms are involved in the regulation of prolactin production.