Sandra Kammerman

Gonadotropic hormone binding to human ovarian tumors

A variety of normal human ovarian tissues as well as benign and malignant human ovarian neoplasms have been examined in vitro for the presence of gonadotropin binding sites and gonadotropin-stimulable cAMP production, in order to determine whether gonadotropic hormones have an effect on ovarian tumors. Binding of either FSH or hCG, or both, was demonstrated in several tumors from each of the histologic subgroups of primary ovarian tumors, including epithelial, sex cord-stromal, and germ cell types. Cyclic AMP stimulation was found in one tumor of sex cord-stromal origin, in two of epithelial origin, in two of germ cell origin, and in one tumor-like condition, pregnancy luteoma. Additional biochemical studies are needed to characterize receptor sites and to relate them to histologic features, growth behavior in vivo, and serum gonadotropin levels.

Radioimmunoassay of procollagen in serum of patients with Paget's disease of bone.

Summary A new radioimmunoassay for human procollagen showed that the sera of 46 of 50 untreated patients with Pagets disease of bone contained increased concentrations of procollagen protein as compared to normal adults. After therapy with disodium etidronate, all the elevated serum procollagen concentrations decreased significantly, falling to normal levels in 33 of 40 patients. The procollagen levels before and after treatment were coordinate with the values for urinary total hydroxyproline and serum alkaline phosphatase activity. The data show that the radioimmunoassay for procollagen is a dependable and useful adjunct to the study of Pagets disease of bone. The authors thank Dr. Robert E. Canfield of Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and Dr. Walther Bohne of The Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, N.Y., for making available sera and clinical chemistries from 36 of their patients. Their studies were supported in part by NIH Grant No. AMO 9579. This work was supported by NIH Grant No. 1 R01 HL 17551-01, and by funds from Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. M. B. Taubman is a recipient of NIH Medical Scientist Fellowship No. 5-T05-GM 01668-11. The authors acknowledge the expert technical assistance of Sheila Heitner and Maryann Kunigonis.

Effect of Maternal Asthma on Performance of Parenting Tasks and Children's School Attendance

We evaluated the effects of maternal asthma on specific parameters of family function including the childrens school attendance and mothers performance of basic parenting tasks. A case-controlled study of mothers with asthma (MA; n = 24) with children under the age of 13 and matched mothers without asthma (CM; n = 27) was performed. Children of mothers with asthma had a significantly impaired ability to attend school compared to children of control mothers (odds ratio = 15, 95% CI). Twenty-two percent of MA reported that their asthma caused their children to miss school at least once per month. In addition, 27% of MA reported that their children were regularly late for school because of the mothers asthma. Only 5% of the control mothers reported that their health caused their children to miss school, and none reported lateness. Asthma also impaired the ability of the MA to perform basic parenting tasks such as dressing children and preparing meals for children. These adverse effects of parental asthma on childrens school attendance and parenting represent previously unappreciated indirect costs of asthma and may have immediate as well as future consequences.