The metabolic characteristics (hypertriglyceridemia, hyperinsulinemia, hyperuricemia, low HDL2 cholesterol) in pregnancy-induced hypertension resemble the main features of the "insulin resistance syndrome." This may result in endothelial cell dysfunction as evidenced by PGI2 suppression.

Endothelial cell damage is characteristic for respiratory distress syndrome and development of chronic lung disease. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an endothelial mitogen that takes part in the growth and repair of vascular endothelial cells. We measured VEGF in 189 tracheal aspirate samples (TAF), and in 24 plasma samples from 44 intubated preterm infants (gestational age, 27.3 +/- 2.0 wk; birth weight, 962 +/- 319 g) during their first postnatal week. VEGF in TAF increased from 25 +/- 12 pg/ml (mean +/- SEM) on Day 1 to 526 +/- 120 pg/ml on Day 7 (mean concentrations, 106 +/- 25 pg/ml on Days 1 to 3 and 342 +/- 36 pg/ml on Days 4 to 7). In plasma, mean concentration of VEGF during the first week was 48 +/- 6 pg/ml, with no increase observed. In TAF, higher VEGF was found in patients born to mothers with premature rupture of the membranes, or chorionamnionitis, whereas preeclampsia of the mother was associated with lower VEGF (all p < 0.05). In TAF, no correlations existed between VEGF and gestational age or birth weight, but a correlation existed between lecithin/sphengomyelin ratio and VEGF (p < 0.05). During Days 4 to 7 patients developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) had lower VEGF in TAF than did those surviving without BPD (235 +/- 31 versus 383 +/- 50; p < 0.05). VEGF increased rapidly in the lungs of the preterm infant during the first days of life. VEGF may be indicative of pulmonary maturity and may participate in pulmonary repair after acute lung injury.

No abstract

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a mitogenic polypeptide, which was first isolated from mouse submaxillary gland. Since EGF also stimulates the growth of corneal epithelial cells and only preliminary data exist on its presence in tear fluid, we studied the occurrence of human EGF (hEGF) in the tear fluid of 36 healthy persons (31 women and 5 men from 20 to 59 years of age; 60 eyes). hEGF, as measured by an immunofluorometric assay, was present in all tear fluid samples investigated. Its concentration varied from 200 to 2860 pg/ml (median, 705 pg/ml). The tear fluid hEGF concentrations differed less between the eyes of one individual than between individuals. The total amount of hEGF released to the tear fluid increased with fluid flow, but the higher the flow was, the lower the concentration of hEGF. We could not find any evidence of sex dependency in the hEGF concentrations. In demonstrating that hEGF is a normal component of human tear fluid, the results of this study suggest that hEGF may be important for conjunctival and corneal epithelial integrity.

Serum FSH, LH, PRL, estradiol, pregnenolone, progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, testosterone, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, and androsterone were measured radioimmunologically in 20 normal girls aged 13-17 yr. Samples were taken every day or every second day during one menstrual cycle. The cycles recorded could be divided into three groups. The first and oldest group consisted of 10 girls with a mean gynecological age (years since menarche) of 2.9 yr. The luteal phase was at least 11 days and the progesterone concentration was at least 5 ng/ml. The testosterone rise (mean, 55%) on the day of LH surge correlated well with the simultaneous progesterone rise (mean, 270%) and the following luteal progesterone secretion. A negative correlation was seen between the FSH concentration on days 3-4 of the cycle and the length of the follicular phase. The second group consisted of 4 girls who had a mean gynecological age of 1.5 yr. The luteal phase was of 4- to 8-day duration and the progesterone secretion was lower than in group I. The follicular phase testosterone concentration was lower in group II as compared to group I. No "periovulatory" testosterone increases were seen, although every cycle displayed an LH and FSH peak. The third group consisted of 6 girls with a mean gynecological age of 1.1 yr. These cycles were anovulatory, as the serum progesterone concentration never exceeded 1.0 ng/ml. In two cycles, signs of follicular maturation were seen. In the four others, the androgen levels tended to be elevated. In two cases, the testosterone and androstenedione concentrations were 2-4 times elevated from the beginning of these two cycles. Thus, the hormonal pattern of adolescent menstrual cycles is far from uniform. It is very likely that in addition to gonadotropins, estradiol and progesterone, androgens may also have a role in the development and maintenance of normal menstrual function in the female.