K.L. Carlson

Dynamics of human placental lactogen

Abstract A double antibody radioimmunoassay procedure was set up to measure the human placental lactogen (HPL) in the blood of normal pregnant women. By the use of this technique the dynamics of this protein were studied. It was found that the content of HPL was the same in serum and plasma and that the blood content did not change with time of day, activity of the subject, or blood glucose level. There is a progressive rise in the blood HPL content during normal pregnancy and the level of HPL at term is not related to either the placental weight or the infant birth weight. The HPL does not cross the placental barrier and it is rapidly cleared from the maternal circulation after delivery with a half-life of only 29 minutes.

Plasma insulin and blood glucose levels in patients taking oral contraceptives

Abstract Blood glucose and plasma insulin were measured before and after an intravenous glucose stimulus. Twenty-five subjects were tested before and after one cycle of oral Enovid treatment. Both the glucose and insulin levels are higher in the drug-treated group. The significance of these findings is discussed.

Menstrual cycle carbohydrate metabolism: Studies on plasma insulin and blood glucose levels during an intravenous glucose tolerance test

Both blood glucose and plasma insulin were measured during an intravenous glucose tolerance test performed in the proliferative and secretory phases of a menstrual cycle. No differences in the group values were demonstrated during the cycle. The importance of these findings is discussed.

Human growth hormone studies in patients with galactorrhea (Ahumada-del Castillo syndrome).

Abstract Human growth hormone levels were measured by a double antibody radioimmunoassay technique in 5 nulliparous subjects with galactorrhea, amenorrhea, and a gonadotropin deficiency. The basal fasting levels of HGH were normal. The HGH rise in response to an induced hypoglycemia was normal in four patients and low in one. There was no correlation between the Metopirone test results and the HGH results. The significance of these findings is discussed.

The hemodynamic effects of isometric exercise during late normal pregnancy

OBJECTIVEnOur study was designed to evaluate the hemodynamic effects of isometric exercise in late normal pregnancy.nnnSTUDY DESIGNnStudy subjects were 10 healthy pregnant volunteers with uncomplicated singleton gestations between 25 and 36 weeks. Doppler methods were used to derive cardiac output, total peripheral resistance, and stroke volume before, during, and after a defined protocol of lower extremity isometric exercise. Hemodynamics and blood pressure were evaluated and compared.nnnRESULTSnMean arterial blood pressure and total peripheral resistance increased during the performance of isometric effort (mean blood pressure +/- SD was 78.9 +/- 7.3 to 97.5 +/- 8.6 mm Hg; total peripheral resistance +/- SD was 924 +/- 148 to 1153 +/- 18.3 dyne.sec.cm-5; p < 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively). Cardiac output remained unchanged throughout the study period.nnnCONCLUSIONnIn advanced normal pregnancy isometric exercise increases the mean arterial blood pressure by raising the total peripheral resistance.

Effect of a sequential oral contraceptive on plasma insulin and blood glucose levels after 6 months' treatment

Abstract Blood glucose and plasma insulin levels were measured during an intravenous glucose tolerance test performed on 35 subjects both in a control state and during the sixth cycle of treatment with a sequential type of oral contraceptive. It was found that the blood glucose was slightly lowered in the drug-treated group, that plasma insulin levels were significantly elevated by the drug, and that this change is unrelated to the subjects weight change, family history of diabetes mellitus, or past obstetric history. The significance of these findings is discussed.

Human placental lactogen levels as a variable of placental weight and infant weight

I N 1 9 6 2 Josimovich and MacLarenl stimulated research on the newly discovered placental protein human placental lactogen (HPL) when they studied this substance with immunogel diffusion techniques. This protein has been found to be present in the trophoblastic cell? and is presumably produced by them. In order to study the relationships between blood levels of HPL and placental or infant mass the present study was undertaken. A double antibody radioimmunoassay precedure was used to measure the serum levels of HPL based on a similar type assay for insulin as described by Goetz and associates3 In this study venous blood was drawn from 50 subjects during labor. The serum was separated and assayed for its HPL content. After a vaginal delivery the placenta and infant were weighed. A correlation was then made between these variables (Figs. 1 and 2). The slope for the regression line correlating the values of HPL and placenta

Effect of orthostatic stress on umbilical Doppler waveforms in normal and hypertensive pregnancies

OBJECTIVEnOur study examined the effects of orthostatic stress and maternal hemodynamics on umbilical systolic/diastolic ratios in normal and hypertensive pregnancies.nnnSTUDY DESIGNnEighteen normal and 20 hypertensive third-trimester pregnancies were examined in the left lateral recumbent, sitting, and standing positions. Measurements included umbilical systolic/diastolic ratio, maternal blood pressure, maternal cardiac output, and maternal total peripheral resistance.nnnRESULTSnAll patients demonstrated a fall in cardiac output and a rise in total peripheral resistance with standing. No change in systolic/diastolic ratio occurred with change to the upright position in patients with normotension. Patients with hypertension exhibited a significant increase in umbilical systolic/diastolic ratio with postural change. The increase was more marked in women who had hypertension with elevated peripheral resistance.nnnCONCLUSIONnPatients with hypertension are at increased risk of elevation of systolic/diastolic ratio with postural change; women with high-resistance hypertension may be at highest risk.

Glucose and insulin levels across the nonpregnant sheep uterus with varying blood flows.

Abstract Blood glucose and plasma insulin levels were measured on the arterial and venous side of the nonpregnant sheep uterus. No gradient was found and this was not altered by changes in the uterine blood flow. The intravenous injections of estrogens had an acute effect of raising the rate of uterine blood flow but it did not alter the glucose or insulin level.