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Multiple lines of evidence suggest that growth factors and related proteins are involved in the regulation of reproductive functions. It appears that hormones and local regulators control each other's production and action. Thus, the same regulatory factor may have different effects depending on the context in which it acts. Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGEBP-1) is a member of the family of soluble proteins that bind insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and IGF-II) and modulate their biological actions at the cellular level. In the reproductive tract, endometrium and ovarian granulosa-luteal cells express IGFBP-1 mRNA and secrete the protein at a certain stage of differentiation. During pregnancy, IGFBP-1 is a major secretory product of decidualized endometrium. This report summarizes the current views on IGFBP-1 with special regard to its synthesis, regulation and potential role in female reproductive tissues.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether endometrium with retarded development differs, functionally, from endometrium with normal 'in-phase' development. Precisely timed endometrial biopsies were obtained from 24 women suffering from unexplained infertility at 4, 7, 10 and 13 days following the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. Frozen sections were labelled with an anti-placental protein (PP) 14 monoclonal antibody using an avidin-biotin peroxidase technique and semi-quantification of endometrial PP14 was performed using a Quantimet 970 image analyser. Serum PP14 and saliva progesterone were measured for each patient. Data were analysed using one- and two-way analysis of variance. Normal and retarded endometrium were identified in 16 (group I) and eight (group II) women respectively. Both groups demonstrated a significant increase of the area of precipitate measured for PP14 from day LH + 4 to LH + 13. However, two-way analysis of variance showed that endometrial PP14 was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the retarded endometrium group at LH + 10 and LH + 13. Serum PP14 was also significantly lower (P < 0.01) in women with retarded endometrial development at LH + 13. Women with normal endometrial development had a significantly higher (P < 0.05) concentration of cumulative saliva progesterone from LH + 3 to LH + 5. This study indicates that there are functional differences between normal and retarded endometrium. These differences may adversely affect uterine receptivity during implantation and the early placentation stage.

The study material consisted of 487 subjects from a stratified random sample of the non-institutionalized population of Turku aged 65 years or more (n = 24,937). The study was based on a population study on health status and sleeping habits of the elderly. Information on health status and medications was obtained by means of interviews and from the national health insurance records of the subjects. A postal questionnaire inquired about symptoms suggestive of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In univariate analyses, perceived poor health, insomnia, disability, depression, previous peptic ulcer, cholelithiasis, and bronchial asthma were associated with daily symptoms suggestive of GERD. Moreover, the symptoms were associated with the use of beta-blocking agents, benzodiazepines, and neuroleptic agents. In multivariate analyses, previous peptic ulcer, perceived poor health, insomnia, and use of benzodiazepines were independently associated with symptoms suggestive of GERD. In conclusion, the determinants of symptoms suggestive of GERD in the elderly differ from those reported in young and middle-aged subjects.

Metsänhoitajien jatkokurssit 1937. 3.