Thesis (MTech (Biomedical Technology))--Cape Technikon, Cape Town,1997 / The aims of this study were to measure: 1. Myometrial cells of menopausal uteri to establish whether they atrophy after the menopause. 2. Myometrial cells at different phases of the menstrual cycle to investigate the influences of oestrogen and progesterone during the cycle. 3. Myometrial cells in the fundus and lower uterine segment to establish whether they differ in size. 4. Myometrial cells of pregnant uteri to investigate the effect of the hormonal status of pregnant women on the size of myometrial cells. 5. Neoplastic cells of leiomyomas of the uterus to investigate whether these benign tumours behave in the same manner as myometrium or, because they are neoplastic, they react differently. A preliminary investigation was undertaken to establish the optimal methodology for this study to measure myometrial and leiomyoma nuclei in the uterus. The aims of this preliminary investigation were: 1. To test the reproducibility of measurements of myometrial and leiomyoma nuclei in transverse and cross section. 2. To test five histological staining methods to ascertain the best method for a morphometric study on uterine cells. 3. To find the minimum sample size of nuclei per section of myometrium or leiomyoma in order to yield statistically significant results. This preliminary study found that the Haematoxylin and Eosin stain gave the most statistically reproducible measurements. Subjective assessment of the five staining methods also found Haematoxylin and Eosin to be optimal. It was also found during the preliminary study that measuring the myometrial nuclei in cross rather than transverse section gave the most statistically reproducible measurements. It was also found that it was best to use an axial ratio criterion of 0,9 when measuring cross-sectioned myometrial nuclei. The optimum sample size per section was also investigated and it was found that measuring 100 nuclei was optimal. It was found that in the uteri used in this study there was no statistically significant decrease in nuclear size after the menopause. It was also found that there was no statistically significant difference in nuclear size during the different phases of the menstrual cycle. There was also no notable difference in nuclear size between nuclei in the fundus and lower segment of the uteri in this study. It was found that there was a significant increase in the size of nuclei in leiomyomas compared to the normal myometrial nuclei from the same patient. The myometrial nuclei from pregnant uteri were also significantly larger than those from non-gravid uteri.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1956 S74 / Master of Science

No description available.

The principle of the combined reversed-phase chromatographic electrochemical detection assay of the major serum thyroid hormones is demonstrated. The separation of 3,3',5-triiodothyronine (T(,3)), 3,3',5'-triiodothyronine (rT(,3)) and 3,5,3',5'-tetraiodothyronine (T(,4)) has been studied as a function of solvent strength, pH, temperature and ionic strength. Detection was carried out using a thin-layer electrochemical detection cell set at 1.500 V containing a new material, low temperature isotropic carbon, as a working electrode. This material was evaluated against carbon paste and using it, subnanogram detection limits were noted for the above analytes under defined conditions. Investigation of the feasibility of this analysis applied to 1.0 mL serum samples was carried out using a combined solvent extraction-cation exchange resin clean-up approach. The data indicate that under the defined conditions, elevated total T(,3) levels can be discerned and total T(,4) levels quantitated demonstrating the potential utility of this approach in screening thyrometabolic status.

Over the past decade long distance marathon running has become an important recreational activity. There is evidence that males with high levels of physical activity have some impairment of fertility. In order to investigate this further, 24 male marathon runners were studied over a period of a year. Each runner was assessed at regular intervals using hormonal profiles, anthropomorphic indices and semen evaluation. The training time and distance run increased progressively over the first five months of the study as the runners prepared for the Two Oceans marathon. Analysis of the serum hormonal profiles in this longitudinal study showed that the prolactin level increased when comparing the initial study month with the rest of the year and the progesterone level decreased. However the luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone and estradiol (E2) levels remained unchanged. When the runners were divided into a high and low training group according to the distance run in the preceding week, the only significant difference was the lower mean serum FSH level in the high training group. A decrease in semen volume was demonstrated as the training time increased. This trend was reversed as the runners' training decreased after the Two Oceans marathon. The percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa showed an initial significant decrease in the first month of training. However, no significant difference was observed throughout the rest of year. An overall downward trend in semen motility in the first 5 months of the study was shown but this was only significant if the first and fifth study months were compared. The decrease in semen motility coincided with the period of maximum training. Since patients with an adequate sperm count but decreased motility have impaired fertility this finding is of considerable importance. In addition to the decrease in motility, there was a decrease in the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa when the initial month of low physical activity (December) was compared to all of the subsequent months analysed. This, too, is an important finding as the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa correlates directly with fertilisation and pregnancy rates. When the results were analysed in the high and low training months there was a significant difference in mean semen count and semen morphology. The mean count was higher in the high training group and this group also had a significantly higher normal morphology. However, there was no significant difference in semen volume and motility in the high and low training groups.

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (MTech (Biomedical Technology))--Cape Technikon,1997. / The aims of this study were to measure: 1. Myometrial cells of menopausal uteri to establish whether they atrophy after the menopause. 2. Myometrial cells at different phases of the menstrual cycle to investigate the influences of oestrogen and progesterone during the cycle. 3. Myometrial cells in the fundus and lower uterine segment to establish whether they differ in size. 4. Myometrial cells of pregnant uteri to investigate the effect of the hormonal status of pregnant women on the size of myometrial cells. 5. Neoplastic cells of leiomyomas of the uterus to investigate whether these benign tumours behave in the same manner as myometrium or, because they are neoplastic, they react differently. A preliminary investigation was undertaken to establish the optimal methodology for this study to measure myometrial and leiomyoma nuclei in the uterus. The aims of this preliminary investigation were: 1. To test the reproducibility of measurements of myometrial and leiomyoma nuclei in transverse and cross section. 2. To test five histological staining methods to ascertain the best method for a morphometric study on uterine cells. 3. To find the minimum sample size of nuclei per section of myometrium or leiomyoma in order to yield statistically significant results. This preliminary study found that the Haematoxylin and Eosin stain gave the most statistically reproducible measurements. Subjective assessment of the five staining methods also found Haematoxylin and Eosin to be optimal. It was also found during the preliminary study that measuring the myometrial nuclei in cross rather than transverse section gave the most statistically reproducible measurements. It was also found that it was best to use an axial ratio criterion of 0,9 when measuring cross-sectioned myometrial nuclei. The optimum sample size per section was also investigated and it was found that measuring 100 nuclei was optimal. It was found that in the uteri used in this study there was no statistically significant decrease in nuclear size after the menopause. It was also found that there was no statistically significant difference in nuclear size during the different phases of the menstrual cycle. There was also no notable difference in nuclear size between nuclei in the fundus and lower segment of the uteri in this study. It was found that there was a significant increase in the size of nuclei in leiomyomas compared to the normal myometrial nuclei from the same patient. The myometrial nuclei from pregnant uteri were also significantly larger than those from non-gravid uteri.

No description available.

No description available.