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Parallel measurements of circulating anti-thyroid microsomal (anti-M) antibodies by radioassay and haemagglutinatinn were performed on subjects with or without thyroid disorders. Three quarters (75.4%) of control subjects had undetectable antibody levels (< 10 u/ml) by radioassay and only 3.1% had concentrations of &ges; 75 u/ml. Abnormally elevated levels (&ges; 75 u/ml) were found in most of the patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (94.1%) or idiopathic myxoedema (86.7%), in the majority (75.0%) of those with Graves' disease and only in a minority of those with other thyroid disorders. The percentage of positive sera by haemagglutination was verisimilar in all groups to that of abnormal values observed in the radioassay. Direct comparison of parallel tests on a total of 631 sera revealed a highly significant correlation (r = 0.91, P < 0.001) between the two methods, but elevated antibody titres by haemaegglutination were found in some sera with negative radioassays. All these sera were from a single patient with thyroid carcinoma associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and had elevated levels of anti-thyroglobulin (anti-Tg) antibodies. Evidence that such discrepancies were due to anti-Tg antibodies reacting with microsomal-bound Tg was provided by the demonstration that the haemagglutination produced by these sera could be completely inhibited by the addition of Tg. A similar inhibition was observed with two rabbit antisera to human Tg, but not with sera from patients with thyroid autoimmune disorders containing high levels of anti-microsomal anti-bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine, by ultrasonography the prevalence of thyroid nodules in a cross sectional study of male medical workers occupationally exposed to chi radiation at the Pisa hospital, in comparison with controls matched for age and sex.Methods: 50 male medical workers exposed to radiation were randomly matched for age (+/- 2 years) with 100 male workers not occupationally exposed to ionising radiation who lived in a slightly iodine deficient area of Tuscany (Lunigiana) (control group 1), and with 100 male workers not exposed to radiation who lived in the same area (Pisa) (control group 2).Results: Of the occupationally exposed subjects, thyroid nodules were detected in 19/50 (38.0%). Among controls, thyroid nodules were detected in 19/100 subjects of control group 1 and in 13/100 of control group 2. Comparison of exposed and control groups, stratified into 30-39, 40-49, and 50-59 year old age subgroups, showed a higher significant relative risk for thyroid nodules in the exposed subjects.Conclusion: The results suggest that occupational exposure to radiation may be a risk factor for thyroid nodules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to demonstrate the suggested failure of the serotoninergic system in human obesity and to evaluate the role of central serotoninergic activity in prolactin (PRL) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) release in this condition, 13 euthyroid obese and 9 healthy women of normal weight were studied. A TRH test (200 µg i. v.) was performed before and after administration of fenfluramine (FF) 60 mg b. d. for 14 days. In the controls, FF did not modify the expected significant increase in PRL induced by TRH. In obese patients, however, the PRL levels was significantly increased after TRH, but the increase was less than in the controls. After FK the PRL response to TRH was larger than in the pretreatment phase, with values similar to those observed in normal subjects. In neither group FF did change the TSH-stimulating effect of TRH, but the hormonal response in obese patients was greater than in the controls. The restoration of the responsiveness of PRL to TRH after central serotoninergic stimulation confirms the hypothesis that a failure of the serotoninergic system may occur in human obesity. Since FF does not interfere with the secretory pattern of basal and stimulated TSH in normal or obese subjects, the serotoninergic system does not seem to play a major role in the control of TSH secretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Human ovarian preovulatory follicular fluids (FF) from 10 women were analysed for their complement contents. Functionally active complement was detected in all the fluids studied in amounts similar to those present in normal human serum. Pooled FF was challenged by seminal plasma in order to determine whether seminal plasma could activate FF complement, the pattern of such an activation and the possible consequences on the reproductive function. FF complement activation occurred during the incubation with seminal plasma with features including alternative pathway activation, factor B and C3 conversion and reduction in total haemolytic complement, as well as an inhibition by seminal plasma ofthe FF complement response to a new activating challenge. Possible consequences for fertilization, implantation of a fertilized ovum and local defence mechanisms against viruses and bacteria are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We recently described a solid phase immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) for anti-thyroglobulin and anti-thyroid microsomal antibodies. In the present study a similar IRMA for gastric parietal cell antibodies (PCA) has been developed. Samples to be tested are incubated within wells of polyvinyl microtitre plates coated with solubilized gastric microsomal antigen. After removal of unbound material, PCA is detected by adding purified 125I-anti-human IgG antibody. A good correlation was found with the results of PCA assays obtained by indirect immunofluorescence. In contrast, negative PCA by IRMA were consistently obtained in sera containing high titres of several other organ specific and non-organ specific autoantibodies. PCA determinations by IRMA were than carried out in a series of normal controls and patients with autoimmune or non-autoimmune thyroid disorders. Positive results were obtained in three of 70 (4.3%) apparently normal subjects, in 16 of 87 (18.4%) patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, in 10 of 48 (20.8%) with idiopathic myxoedema. in 25 of 95 (25.6%) with Graves' disease and in five of 64 (7.8%) with other non-autoimmune thyroid disorders. Preliminary results showed that quantitative measurements of PCA by IRMA could be performed using a serum containing high levels of PCA as standard reference. In conclusion, PCA may be easily and specifically detected using the same IRMA procedure previously developed for anti-thyroid antibodies. We therefore suggest that the present IRMA may be proposed as a general technique for the detection of different organ specific autoantibodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for simultaneous quantitative determination of the urinary metabolites of toluene, m-xylene, and styrene (hippuric acid, m-methylhippuric acid, phenylglyoxylic acid, mandelic acid) is described. The extraction procedure was performed on acidified urines, after addition of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid as internal standard, using a butylchloride/isopropanol mixture and drying 0.5 ml of the organic layer under nitrogen flow. The residue obtained was dissolved in 0.1 ml water/acetonitrile and 5 μl were injected into an HPLC apparatus equipped with a 0.26 × 25 cm HC ODS SIL X column. Absorbance measures were performed at 225 nm throughout the investigation. All metabolites were clearly separated in a short time (12 min) and the amounts of other urinary compounds affecting the analysis were so small that the measurement of low concentrations of the urinary metabolites could be easily performed. Linear calibration curves were obtained from 0.1 to 3 mg/ml and a correlation coefficient greater than 0.99 was found between concentrations of the standards and areas of the peaks. Statistical analysis confirms that this method, which has a high reproducibility, is simple, reliable, and useful for the biologic monitoring of industrial exposure to aromatic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frank hypothyroidism is known to induce neurological and mental dysfunction. The aim of this study was to assess selected neuropsychological and behavioral features by means of standardized tests in a group of 14 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism who were free from neuropsychological complaints and to evaluate the possible effects of l-thyroxine treatment on their performance. Patients were submitted to the Crown and Crisp Experiential Index and to the Wechsler Memory Scale; their ratings on the neurobehavioral tests and their thyroid hormone profile were compared to those of a control group of 50 age- and sex-matched subjects. Comparison was also carried out between pretreatment ratings and those obtained following a 6-month l-thyroxine course (0.1-0.15 mg/day). The Wechsler Memory Scale ratings showed a significant impairment in patients' memory-related abilities [memory quotient (MQ)=89.1 ± 2.9; P=0.002 (patients versus controls)]; the Crown and Crisp Experiential Index ratings demonstrated moderate differences between untreated patients and controls with respect to hysteria ( P=0.03), anxiety ( P=0.05), somatic complaints ( P=0.0005), and depressive features ( P=0.002) scales; the total score was also significantly higher (42.0±3.8; P=0.005). After l-thyroxine treatment the patients' performances showed an improvement in memory skills, as evaluated by the Wechsler Memory Scale [MQ = 99.9±4.0; P=0.002 (treated versus untreated)]; somatic complaints ( P=0.02) and obsessionality ( P = 0.04) ratings and the Crown and Crisp Experiential Index total score ( P=0.04) significantly decreased with respect to untreated patients. The remarkable effects of l-thyroxine treatment observed in the present study indicate that patients with subclinical hypothyroidism may require early therapy to provide specific treatment for their neuropsychological alterations and to avoid progression toward frank hypothyroidism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The three-dimensional architecture of the human isthmic myosalpinx is directly visualized by means of scanning electron microscopy after removal of interstitial connective tissue through NaOH maceration and ultrasound microdissection. These investigations show that the myosalpinx is composed of irregularly running bundles of smooth muscle cells, changing their orientation within the myosalpinx and displaying longitudinal, oblique and circular directions. The muscular bundles anastomose and intermingle with other bundles running at different levels in the oviduct wall, and actually give rise to a wide and complex muscular network in which no distinct layers are readily discernible. These morphological data are consistent with the physiological findings that the transport of gametes and embryo in very early stages in the isthmic portion of the oviduct tube is the result of a discontinuous pattern of forward and backward movements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Experientia is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Experientia is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)