RESUMO

Our objective was to evaluate alterations in sperm chromatin structure in men occupationally exposed to a mixture of organophosphorus pesticides (OP) because these alterations have been proposed to compromise male fertility and offspring development. Chromatin susceptibility to in situ acid-induced denaturation structure was assessed by the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA). Urinary levels of alkylphosphates (DAP) were used to assess exposure. Diethylthiophosphate (DETP) was the most frequent OP metabolite found in urine samples indicating that compounds derived from thiophosphoric acid were mainly used. Chromatin structure was altered in most samples. About 75% of semen samples were classified as having poor fertility potential (>30% of Percentage of DNA Fragmentation Index [DFI%]), whereas individuals without OP occupational exposure showed average DFI% values of 9.9%. Most parameters of conventional semen analysis were within normality except for the presence of immature cells (IGC) in which 82% of the samples were above reference values. There were significant direct associations between urinary DETP concentrations and mean DFI and SD-DFI but marginally (P = 0.079) with DFI%, after adjustment for potential confounders, including IGC. This suggests that OP exposure alters sperm chromatin condensation, which could be reflected in an increased number of cells with greater susceptibility to DNA denaturation. This study showed that human sperm chromatin is a sensitive target to OP exposure and may contribute to adverse reproductive outcomes. Further studies on the relevance of protein phosphorylation as a possible mechanism by which OP alter sperm chromatin are required.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Polygonum hydropiperoides e P. spectabile são espécies conhecidas como "ervade-bicho" e utilizadas como antiinflamatórias, anti-hemorroidais e antidiarréicas. As análises farmacognósticas indicaram teores de perda por dessecação, de cinzas totais e de cinzas insolúveis que variaram de 4,0 a 6,5 por cento; 5,0 a 10,0 por cento e 0,1 a 0,4 por cento, respectivamente. Através de cromatografia em camada delgada, foram detectados triterpenos e/ou esteróides, cumarinas, flavonóides, polifenóis, taninos e saponinas nas quatro amostras. Os teores de polifenóis totais, taninos e flavonóides foram de 7,0 por cento; 5,5 por cento e 0,4 por cento, respectivamente, para P. spectabile, e diferiram das três amostras de P. hydropiperoides, observando-se valores em torno de 5,0 por cento; 4,0 por cento e 0,6 por cento para duas delas e de 12,5 por cento; 11,3 por cento e 0,3 por cento para a outra. Estas espécies, morfologicamente muito semelhantes, são empregadas, indiscriminadamente, na produção de medicamentos fitoterápicos. Este estudo mostrou variações nos teores de polifenóis e taninos nas amostras de P. hydropiperoides, coletadas no outono e na primavera. Estes resultados representam os primeiros parâmetros obtidos para o controle de qualidade de P. hydropiperoides e P. spectabile.

Polygonum hydropiperoides and P. spectabile are, commonly known as "erva-de-bicho", and traditionally used as anti-inflammatory, antihaemorrhoidal and anti-diarrhea. The pharmacognostic analysis indicated the content of loss on drying, of total ash and acid-insoluble ash ranged from 4.0 to 6.5 percent, 5.0 to 10.0 percent and 0.1 to 0.4 percent, respectively. The TLC analysis revealed the presence of triterpenes and/or steroids, coumarins, flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins and saponins in the four samples. The content of total polyphenols, tannins and flavonoids were 7.0 percent, 5.5 percent and 0.4 percent, respectively for P. spectabile. They were different from the three samples of P. hydropiperoides. The values observed were around 5.0 percent, 4.0 percent and 0.6 percent for two of them and 12.5 percent, 11.3 percent and 0,3 percent for the other one. These species are morphologically very similar and they are used indiscriminately for the production of herbal medicines. This study showed variations on the contents of polyphenols and tannins in samples of P. hydropiperoides collected in autumn and spring. These results represent the first parameters obtained for the quality control of P. hydropiperoides and P. spectabile.

RESUMO

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study is to evaluate the effects of levonorgestrel transferred through breast milk on thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in full breast-fed infants. METHODS: Forty healthy postpartum women and their male newborns were recruited for the study. Women were randomly allocated to two study groups: Group 1, IUD users and group 2, Norplant users. Blood and milk samples were collected on the day of IUD or Norplant insertion and 3 and 6 months later for TSH and levonorgestrel measurements. RESULTS: The results disclosed a significant decrease in TSH levels, and a negative relationship between LNG levels and TSH concentration in breast feeding infants at 3 months after implant insertion. The lowest TSH levels were observed at 6 months in the women from group 2. CONCLUSIONS: The overall data indicate that the LNG levels transferred to fully breast-fed infants through breast milk from Norplant users significantly modified their TSH levels.

Assuntos

RESUMO

An open prospective clinical trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combined hormonal oral contraceptive (OC) containing 75 micrograms gestodene plus 30 micrograms ethinyl estradiol was undertaken in a Mexican population. Sixty-nine healthy women of reproductive age took part in the study for a total of 627 woman-months of observation. The combination of gestodene and ethinyl estradiol proved its effectiveness in preventing pregnancy during the study. Side-effects were minimal and regular endometrial bleeding patterns were observed during one year of continuous use of this OC preparation. The discontinuation rate for medical reasons was 11.6% at one year. Among a sample of 10 women, the gestodene/ethinyl estradiol combination did not induce significant changes in the serum concentration of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol after 12 months of continuous administration. An increase in serum triglycerides and HDL cholesterol was observed; this effect could be attributed to a lack of androgenic and/or the intrinsic estrogenic behavior of gestodene. It can be concluded that this preparation is highly effective as a combined oral contraceptive; it is well tolerated and might offer some advantages with respect to other oral contraceptive combinations in its short- and medium-term impact on lipid metabolism.

Assuntos

RESUMO

The mean rupture time, after its vaginal insertion, of a new modified soft jelly capsule containing nonoxynol-9 (DF-486) was investigated in 40 women. The subjects were randomly allocated to 8 study groups. The capsules remained in the vagina from 2-13 minutes. Vaginal infection, vaginal dryness, and multiparity, were recorded. Capsule rupture was not observed at minute 2; 20% of capsules that remained in the vagina 3 minutes suffered rupture, as did 80% of capsules that remained 4, 5 and 7 minutes, and 100% of those remaining 9 minutes or more. The mean rupture time of the studied capsules was 8.2 minutes with 95% confidence limits of 6.2 and 8.8 minutes. At minutes 2-7, vaginal infection, dryness and tone diminution probably accounted for lack of rupture; after minute 7, these factors did not influence capsule rupture.

Assuntos

RESUMO

The procedures for a systematic evaluation of the quality control of radioimmunoassay in general were described previously. In this report we present the parameters of quality control and their application to the radioimmunoassay (RIA) of pituitary gonadotrophic hormones, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in serum. We present the results obtained in the intra-assay variation for the measurement of the pituitary gonadotrophic hormones in serum (LH and FSH) from 1983 to 1989. The results on bias and the inter-laboratory assessment through an external quality control scheme during the same period are also presented.

Assuntos

RESUMO

The frequency and ranges of the immature germinal cells (IGC) were established in 286 semen analyses from normozoospermic (group I), oligozoospermic (group II), and azoospermic (group III) subjects. The mean total count of IGC was greater between men from group I than between participants from groups II and III. Scd spermatids were the cells most frequently observed and the spermatogonia the most unfrequently seen. Sab and Scd spermatids were the most common cells observed in group I, whereas Scd and primary spermatocytes were the most common in group II, and Scd and secondary spermatocytes were the most common in group III. Correlation was found between sperm concentration and the IGC total count. Significant differences were not found when epithelial cell and leucocyte concentrations were compared between groups.

Assuntos

RESUMO

PIP: 69 healthy Mexican women using a new oral contraceptive (OC) containing 75 mcg of gestodene and 30 mcg of ethanol estradiol participated in a prospective study of the safety and efficacy of the method. All participants were evaluated on the s cycle day before beginning use and were questioned monthly about side effects and menstrual bleeding. 10 of the women were evaluated for cholesterol and triglyceride levels before use and after 4 and 8 months. The average age of the participants at admission into the study was 23.4 years. There were no pregnancies in 613 woman-months of use. The average blood pressure was 113.8 + or - 6.9 over 76.7 + or - 7.0 before use and 112.6 + or - 9.2 over 73.8 + or - 7.8 after 12 months of use. The average weight was 55.9 + or - 9.6 kg before use and 55.5 + or - 8.8 after 12 months of use. In the 1st treatment cycle 8 women reported spotting and 3 reported intermenstrual bleeding; the number reporting these signs gradually declined. The number reporting side effects was small and declined after the 1st treatment cycle. Dysmenorrhea declined significantly after the 1st cycle. The crude rate of termination was 44.9% after 1 year. 8 women (11.6%) terminated method use for reasons related to the method, including 2 for nausea and vomiting, 1 for nausea and dizziness, 2 for amenorrhea, and 1 each for intermenstrual bleeding, spotting, and increased blood pressure. Among the 10 women whose lipid and lipoprotein levels were tested, the average levels before and after 8 months respectively were 162.5 + or - 27.0 and 182.3 + or - 35.8 for total cholesterol, 86.5 + or - 29.5 and 120.0 + or - 45.0 for triglycerides, 45.7 + or - 9.3 and 60.6 + or - 6.5 for HDL cholesterol. In general these changes were not significant despite the tendency to increase especially of the triglycerides. The method thus appears to offer advantages for temporary fertility control among Mexican women.^ieng

Assuntos

RESUMO

To assess the effect of hormonal monthly injectable contraceptives upon the serum values of immunoreactive prolactin (Prl), three groups of women of reproductive age exposed to different estrogen-progestogen injectable formulation for a minimum of one year were studied. The first group (n = 10) received dihydroxyprogesterone acetophenide 150 mg and estradiol enanthate 10 mg (DHPA/E2-EN), Group 2 (n = 21) received medroxyprogesterone acetate 25 mg and estradiol cypionate 5 mg (MPA/E2-C) and Group 3 (n = 19) was exposed to norethisterone enanthate 50 mg and estradiol valerate 5 mg (NET-EN/E2-V). A group of IUD users (n = 16) served as the control group. Serum Prl and 17 beta-estradiol (E2) concentration were determined in blood samples (0 and 15 min.) on days 0 (day of last injection), 10, 20 and 30 after last contraceptive injection. The results demonstrated a slight though not significant increase (p greater than 0.05) in serum Prl in the three experimental groups as compared with the IUD control group. This increase in Prl levels observed on day 10 post-last injection never exceeded the upper limits of the normal range (20 ng/ml). Overall, the data demonstrated that the chronic administration of these estrogen/progestogen once-a-month injectable contraceptives does not affect the Prl baseline secretion in women.

Assuntos

RESUMO

The rupture time of two types of soft jelly capsules (treated and non-treated) containing Nonoxynol-9 after its vaginal insertion was investigated in 96 women. Subjects were allocated in four study groups: Group I (n = 24), women with clinical vaginal infection; Group II (n = 24), subjects without vaginal infection; Group III (n = 24), patients with vaginal infection; and Group IV (n = 24), women without vaginal infection. Groups I and II received the treated capsules, and Groups III and IV the non-treated capsules. The capsules remained in the vagina for 2.5 to 5 minutes. The weight of the capsules was measured before insertion and after their extraction. Additionally, vaginal pH and distribution of the compound were assessed. The results disclosed that in Groups I, III and IV, the capsules ruptured within 2.5 minutes, whereas in Group II the rupture did not occur until 3 minutes. The largest number of non-ruptured capsules was observed in Group II. The major capsule weight loss occurred at minute 5 in most of the groups. The conditions currently observed in cases of non-ruptured capsules were: alkaline pH, multiparity and vaginal dryness. The vaginal distribution of the compound was observed at its upper portion. In women with vaginal infections, there were more cases of rupture and a significant weight loss between the treated capsules than the non-treated capsules. Further postcoital tests are required to assess its effectiveness.

PIP: The rupture time of 2 types of soft jelly capsules (treated and non-treated) containing Nonoxynol-9 after its vaginal insertion was investigated in 96 women in Mexico. Subjects were allocated in 4 study groups: Group I (n=24), women with clinical vaginal infection; Group II (n=24), subjects without vaginal infection; Group III (n=24), patients with vaginal infection; and Group IV (n=24), women without vaginal infection. Groups I and II received the treated capsules, and Groups III and IV the non-treated capsules. The capsules remained in the vagina for 2.5 to 5 minutes. The weight of the capsules was measured before insertion and after their extraction. Additionally, vaginal ph and distribution of the compound were assessed. The results disclosed that in Groups I, III and IV, the capsules ruptured within 2.5 minutes, whereas in Group II the rupture did not occur until 3 minutes. The largest number of non-ruptured capsules was observed in Group II. The major capsule weight loss occurred at minute 5 in most of the groups. The conditions currently observed in cases of non-ruptured capsules were: alkaline ph, multiparity and vaginal dryness. The vaginal distribution of the compound was observed at its upper portion. In women with vaginal infections, there were more cases of rupture and a significant weight loss between the treated capsules than the non-treated capsules. Further postcoital tests are required to assess its effectiveness.

Assuntos