MSc (Med), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand / I investigated the relationship between abdominal temperature, physical activity, anogenital swellings, and faecal and urine ovarian steroid hormonal concentrations over the menstrual cycle in baboons in an attempt to devise a reliable non-hormonal physiological indicator to detect ovulation. Using a miniature thermometric data logger surgically implanted in the abdominal cavity and an activity data logger implanted subcutaneously on the trunk, I measured, continuously over six months at a 10 min interval, abdominal temperature and physical activity patterns in four female adult baboons, Papio hamadryas ursinus (12.9-19.9 kg), unrestrained in cages in an indoor animal facility (22-25°C). I monitored menstrual bleeding, and anogenital swelling changes using digital photography, and collected urine and faeces, daily, to ascertain the stage and length of the menstrual cycle. The length of the menstrual cycle, determined from daily observations of menstrual bleeding and anogenital swellings, was 36 ± 2 days (mean ± SD). Baboons exhibited a cyclic change in anogenital swellings, abdominal temperature, physical activity, urine and faecal steroid hormones over the menstrual cycle. Mean 24-h abdominal temperature during the luteal phase was significantly higher (ANOVA, p = 0.04; F (2,9) = 4.7) than during the ovulatory phase, but not different to the follicular phase. Physical activity also followed a similar pattern, with mean 24 h physical activity almost twice as high in the luteal than in the ovulatory phase (ANOVA, p = 0.58; F (2,12) = 5.8). As expected, urine and faecal oestradiol was higher in the follicular than in the luteal phase, while progesterone was higher in the luteal than the follicular phase. Cortisol in both urine and faecal samples did not show any vi recognisable menstrual cycle related pattern. I have characterised correlates of the menstrual cycle in baboons and shown, for the first time, a rhythm of physical activity over the baboon menstrual cycle. I have also shown, from the measurements of abdominal temperature, physical activity, ovarian steroid hormonal concentrations and anogenital swellings, that ovulation in captive unrestrained baboons, and probably also free-living baboons, can be estimated from anogenital swellings or possibly abdominal temperature and physical activity, without the need for hormone measurements.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, March, 2006. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 205-250)

Hypothalamic control of food intake may be overridden by cortical and limbic brain regions that process reward and the hedonic aspect of food, affecting the ability to discriminate between homeostatic and hedonic feeding. Women, in particular may be affected since cognition and perception of reward change during the menstrual cycle. Changes in estrogen and progesterone levels during the menstrual cycle induce changes in appetite and eating behavior. Food intake declines in the peri-ovulatory period when estrogen levels peak, but increases in the luteal phase when progesterone levels increase. In this novel study we introduce a different context in which to study appetite regulation; the menstrual cycle. The two main study objectives were: 1) to compare the BOLD response between the peri-ovulatory and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle and 2) to compare the BOLD response between women in a negative and positive affect state in response to visual food stimuli using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Pictures of food, regardless of their caloric content stimulated greater activation during the follicular phase compared to the luteal phase in the orbitofrontal cortex, fusiform, amygdala and inferior operculum. Activity was present in the hippocampus, ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens in response to high calorie images but not low calorie images during the follicular phase. The insula showed selective activity responding to high calorie pictures in the luteal phase and low calorie pictures in the follicular phase. High calorie food cues elicited greater BOLD signal for women reporting negative affect in the putamen, amygdala, pulvinar, prefrontal cortex, pallidum, fusiform and ventral tegmental area. In summary, visual food cues produced a more robust response during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle and during a negative mood state in brain regions modulating the rewarding and motivational effects of food images. An increased understanding of how appetite-regulating brain regions respond during the menstrual cycle and in different mood states may facilitate the development of new therapies to reduce the incidence of obesity. / Thesis (Master, Physiology) -- Queen's University, 2009-09-25 15:35:15.609

The research described in this thesis attempts to rationalise aspects of secondary care for premenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding, in particular investigation and assessment of a new method of endometrial ablation. The work was performed in a gynaecology unit with an established research record in endometrial ablative methods. The hospital is the main referral centre for women with menstrual disorders, enabling a centralised and stable population to be available. Chapter 1 outlines the past and present methods for the investigation and surgical treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding. Epidemiological factors for abnormal menstrual loss are discussed, as well as aetiology and the development of clinical evaluation. The equipment requirements for both transcervical resection of the endometrium (TCRE) and microwave endometrial ablation (MEA^TM) are described with a review of the literature to date on endometrial ablation. Chapter 2 presents a randomised comparative study of outpatient hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy with endometrial biopsy alone for abnormal uterine bleeding. Outpatient hysteroscopy was successfully performed in almost 85% of women randomised to this procedure compared to 92% successfully receiving an endometrial biopsy alone. Hysteroscopy was found to be acceptable and viewed as a reassuring investigation. However, there was no difference in clinical outcomes between the two groups. Chapter 3 describes the subjects and methods used in a prospective randomised trial comparing MEA^TM with TCRE. Operative details and outcomes at one year are presented. MEA^TM was found to be a significantly faster endometrial ablative method than TCRE. The postoperative stay was less with MEA^TM, though not significantly and analgesic requirements were low in both groups. Satisfaction and acceptability rates with treatment were equivalent.

In this study the effect of multiple follicular development on the endocrinology of the menstrual cycle was investigated. Normally ovulating women were studied during control spontaneous cycles and cycles superovulated with different treatment regimes. Although clomiphene induced an increase in basal secretion of both FSH and LH, superovulation induction with human gonadotrophins resulted in a marked reduction in basal gonadotrophin secretion. It is suggested that basal secretion of FSH and LH is regulated by two separate mechanisms. The occurrence of an endogenous LH surge in superovulated cycles is dependent on the treatment regimen. Both clomiphene and unspecified ovarian factors are important regulators. When in these cycles an LH surge occurs, it is markedly attenuated both in amplitude and duration. The attenuation is due to ovarian factors different from oestradiol and progesterone. Corpus luteum function in superovulated cycles is disrupted and this seems to be related to the marked reduction in pituitary LH secretion. Ovarian hyperstimulation is a potent stimulus of prolactin secretion and the effect seems to be mediated by oestradiol. Folliculogenesis in superovulated cycles is FSH dependent, however follicular growth rate is similar to that in spontaneous cycles. It is concluded that ovarian hyperstimulation in normally cycling women induces marked changes in endogenous gonadotrophin secretion characterized by an augmentation of the negative and an attenutation of the positive feedback mechanism. Both these effects are mediated by unspecified ovarian factors.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph.D.) in Psychology--University of Maine, 2009. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 142-178).

Thesis (M.A.)--Rowan University, 2009. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.D.)--Boston University

Orientador : Marcelo de Carvalho Ramos / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-14T23:48:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Guerreiro_CarlosAlbertoMantovani_D.pdf: 2845785 bytes, checksum: 870aa3f7e6141fdab8d216d02aa3fca1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 1988 / Resumo: Entre outubro de 1984 e abril de 1987, realizamos estudo descritivo de 80 pacientes epilépticas crônicas. Acompanhamos prospectivamente pacientes epilépticas que: freqüentavam o Ambulatório de Epilepsia do HC-UNICAMP, não apresentavam distúrbio comportamental ou retardo mental evidentes, eram consideradas "retornos" no ambulatório, estavam na menacme, apresentavam crises epilépticas não controlado só pareceram a quatro sessões com intervalos semanais para colheita de amostras de soro e realização ,de EEGs. O objetivo do trabalho foi descrever neste grupo de pacientes a relação entre o ciclo menstrual e crises epilépticas observando variáveis clínicas e exames subsidiários. Descrevemos detalhadamente as características sócio-econômicas, os aspectos relacionados ao ciclo menstrual, a caracterização das epilepsias e os dados dos exames complementares. Os principais resultados da relação crise epiléptica e ciclo menstrual foram: a) Maior incidência das crises epilépticas no sexto final do ciclo menstrual, isto é, no período pré-menstrual. Este resultado não dependeu do número de ciclos analisados (menos do que cinco versus cinco ou mais). b) Encontramos 19, 30 e seis pacientes com piora peri-menstrual severa, moderada e leve conforme caracterização adotada, de um total de 59 pacientes com pelo menos três ciclos menstruais analisados. Apenas quatro pacientes não tiveram ciclos com piora peri-menstrual. c) Não houve diferença na distribuição das crises epilépticas das pacientes segundo a caixa etária. d) As pacientes com 11 ou mais anos de doença têm tendência à piora pré-menstrual, o que não ocorreu com as pacientes que apresentavam um a 10 anos de doença e) A freqüência das crises epilépticas não mostrou ser fator importante nas pacientes com piora das crises no período pré- menstrual f) A referência prévia de piora das crises próxima à menstruação não mostrou ser um dado relevante, uma vez que não houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre o grupo de mulheres que referiu relação das crises com a menstruação e o grupo que não referiu. g) As pacientes que apresentaram apenas crises tônico-clônicas generalizadas não tiveram maior tendência de piora peri-menstrual que as pacientes com apenas crises parciais. h) As pacientes cujas Tomografias Computadorizadas Cranianas (TCC) foram anormais tiveram tendência a ter crises no período pré-menstrual. i) As pacientes com EEGs anormais tiveram mais crises no período pré-menstrual quando comparadas com as pacientes com EEGs normais. j) Encontramos seis, 21 e 17 pacientes com piora ovulatória severa, moderada e leve, conforme caracterização adotada, de um total de 59 pacientes com pelo menos três ciclos menstruais analisados. Quinze pacientes não tiveram ciclos com piora ovulatória. k) Não encontramos no EEG maior incidência de atividade epileptiforme por unidade de tempo no período pré, menstrual ou peri- menstrual quando comparados ao restante do ciclo menstrual em 51 pacientes, cujos EEGs permitiram o estabelecimento de tal índice. l) Não houve diferença das dosagens séricas de fenitoína, fenobarbital e carbamazepina no período peri-menstrual quando compara das com o restante do ciclo menstrual. m) Não encontramos correlação significante entre o índice de anormalidades epileptiformes no EEG e o índice estrógeno/progesterona. Os nossos dados foram discutidos à luz da literatura disponível. Os nossos achados sugerem que os hormônios sexuais femininos modifiquem a excitabilidade cortical, particularmente quando há um prévio comprometimento anatômico evidente (TCC) ou funcional (EEG). / Abstract: This prospective study purpose with the a was assessing the seizures and relationship between epileptic menstrual From October 1984 through April 1987(a 30 cycle period) we studied 80 patients from the Outpatient Department of "Hospital das Clínicas or the University or Campinas (UNICAMP)", Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. We selected mentally healthy women at menacme age, chronic epilepsy and at least one seizure in the month preceding last visit. They underwent four EEG's and weekly blood tests during one month. Most of the patients belonged to lower socio-economic classes. The prevalence or premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea essentially the same as in the general population, according 1iterature. Most of the seizures were partial with secondary generalization and many were intractable.CT scan of the skull was done in 57 patients (71.25%) and all the patients had four EEG's. Forty-five patients on monotherapy had serum drug level determination. Sixty-nine patients had stradiol and progesterone blood levels checked. The main conclusions may be summarized as follows: a - There is a higher incidence of seizures in the premenstrual period. b - Age did not influence the distribution of seizures during the menstrual cycle. c - Patients with 11 or more years of disease showed more accentuation of pre mentrual seizures than patients with 10 or less years of disease. d - Patients with abnormal skull CT scans had more accentualion of premenstrual seizures than patients w1th normal exams. e - Patients with abnormal EEG's had more premenstrual seizures than patients wilh normal exams. f - The frequency of seizures out of the premenstrual period did not influence the occurence of premenstrual seizures. g - A previous complaint of accentualion of seizures during the premenstrual period did not make any difference between patienls who realized or did not realize this fact. h - Nineleen patients showed severe, 30 patients moderate and six patients mild exacerbation of premenstrual seizures, whi1e only four patients showed no exacerbation during this period.118 i - Six patients showed severe, 20 patients moderate and 17 patients mild accentuation of seizures during ovulation, while, 15 patients showed no ovulatory accentuation. j - There was no difference in premenstrual seizure frequency between patients presenting generalized tonic-clonic seizures and patients with partial seizures. k - Fifty-one patients showed no difference in the frequency of EEG epileptiform discharges between the premenstrual period and the rest of the menstrual cycle; me were able to formulate an EEG ihdex (number of spikes by second). l - There was no statistical difference in the blood levels of phenobarbital, phenytoin and carbamazepine between the premenstrual period and the rest of the menstrual cycle. m - The EEG epileptiform discharge index and the estradiol/progesterone index showed no correlation. We discussed our data in the light of the available literature. Our findings suggested that the female sexual hormones change the cerebral cortical excitability, particularly when there is an underlying structural pathology(as revealed by CT scan) or an electrical cerebral dysfunction (as revealed by EEG). / Doutorado / Doutor em Ciências Médicas