Treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding in the perimenopause: the effects of adding combined estradiol/norethisterone acetate therapy to goserelin acetate treatment--a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of adding combined estradiol/norethisterone acetate therapy (CENT) to goserelin acetate treatment (GA) of dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) in perimenopausal women. METHODS: In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial followed by an open follow-up study, 31 perimenopausal women with DUB were recruited from gynecological outpatient departments of two Dutch hospitals and randomized for treatment with either GA/placebo or GA/CENT for 6 months followed by 18 months of GA/CENT for all. The main outcome measures were abdominal pain, number of bleeding days, double-layer endometrial thickness (DET), Greene climacteric score (GCS), visual analog scale for well-being, bone mineral density (BMD) and mammographic density (BI-RAD score). RESULTS: Abdominal pain, number of bleeding days and DET decreased in both groups, the between-group difference in decrease not being statistically significant. GCS initially showed significant improvement in the GA/CENT group. BMD decreased significantly in the GA/placebo group (-4.1%) compared with the GA/CENT group (-0.3%). Another 18 months of GA/CENT did not result in a lasting difference in BMD between groups. BI-RAD scores did not differ significantly between or within the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Adding CENT to GA treatment for DUB in perimenopausal women initially prevented BMD loss and improved climacteric complaints, while having no negative impact on vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain or BI-RAD scores. However, prolonged treatment did not result in a lasting prevention of bone loss.     

Effectiveness of a hospital-wide selective screening programme for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriers at hospital admission to prevent hospital-acquired MRSA infections

Screening of potential MRSA-positive patients at hospital admission is recommended in German and international guidelines. This policy has been shown to be effective in reducing the frequency of nosocomial MRSA transmissions in the event of an outbreak, but the influence of screening on reducing hospital-acquired MRSA infections in a hospital setting where MRSA is endemic is not yet well-documented. This study describes the effect of hospital-wide screening of defined risk groups in a 700-bed acute care hospital during a period of 19 months. In a cohort study with a 19-month control period, the frequencies of hospital-acquired MRSA infections were compared with and without screening. In the control period, there were 119 MRSA-positive patients, of whom 48 had a hospital-acquired MRSA infection. On the basis of this frequency, a predicted total of 73.2 hospital-acquired MRSA infections was calculated for the screening period, but only 52% of the expected number (38 hospital-acquired MRSA infections) were observed, i.e., 48% of the predicted number of hospital-acquired MRSA infections were prevented by the screening programme. The screening programme was performed with minimal effort and can therefore be recommended as an effective measure to help prevent hospital-acquired MRSA infections.     

Multicenter Randomized Comparison of Xenon and Isoflurane on Left Ventricular Function in Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery

Background: Volatile anesthetics are commonly used for general anesthesia. However, these can induce profound cardiovascular alterations. Xenon is a noble gas with potent anesthetic and analgesic properties. However, it is uncertain whether xenon alters myocardial function. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate left ventricular function during anesthesia with xenon compared with isoflurane.

Methods: The authors performed a randomized multicenter trial to compare xenon with isoflurane with respect to cardiovascular stability and adverse effects in patients without cardiac diseases scheduled for elective surgery. Two hundred fifty-nine patients were enrolled in this trial, of which 252 completed the study according to the protocol. Patients were anesthetized with xenon or isoflurane, respectively. Before administration of the study drugs and at four time points, the effects of both anesthetics on left ventricular function were investigated using transesophageal echocardiography.

Results: Global hemodynamic parameters were significantly altered using isoflurane (P < 0.05 vs. baseline), whereas xenon only decreased heart rate (P < 0.05 vs. baseline). In contrast to xenon, left ventricular end-systolic wall stress decreased significantly in the isoflurane group (P < 0.05 vs. baseline). Velocity of circumferential fiber shortening was decreased significantly in the xenon group but showed a more pronounced reduction during isoflurane administration (P < 0.05 vs. baseline). The contractile index (difference between expected and actually measured velocity of circumferential fiber shortening) as an independent parameter for left ventricular function was significantly decreased after isoflurane (P < 0.0001) but unchanged using xenon.     

Biotransformation of the trapidil (rocornal) derivative AR 12463 in the rat

After p.o. administration of 5-piperidino-7-[N-pentyl-N-(beta- hydroxyethyl)]amino-s-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (1; AR 12463) more than 15 metabolites were isolated from urine and feces of male Wistar rats. Only small amounts of unchanged 1 were observed. The structure of 12 metabolites was elucidated or proposed on the basis of UV-, 13C NMR- and mass spectra. Main metabolites are 5-piperidin-4'-olyl-7-[N-pentyl-N-(beta- hydroxyethyl)]amino-s-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine and 5-piperidin-4'-olyl-7-[N-pent-4-olyl-N-(beta-hydroxyet hyl)]amino-s- triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine. The other metabolites are mainly hydroxy- or ketopentyl derivatives and piperidinoles or piperidinones, respectively. Conjugates of most of the metabolites were identified, but the ratio phase-I/II metabolites was about 3:1. In contrast to trapidil, 5-methyl-7-diethylamino-s- triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine, no hydroxy derivatives of the bicyclic system were observed. The major part of unchanged 1 and metabolites is excreted via kidneys.     

Residual lesions on computed tomography after intracerebral hemorrhage

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We investigated the residual abnormalities on computed tomography in a series of patients with proven intracerebral hemorrhage to determine whether the type of lesion is related to the site and size of the initial hematoma. METHODS: In a partially prospective follow-up study, we studied computed tomographic scans of 42 patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage after 2-24 (median 9) months. RESULTS: Lobar hemorrhages had occurred in 20 patients; the other 22 hemorrhages were in the basal ganglia or thalamus. No residual lesions were found on seven scans (17%), despite residual handicap in three of these seven patients (slight, moderate, and moderately severe). In five cases, the scan showed only focal atrophy, and in two there were only focal calcifications. There were six patients with slit-like lesions (only after deep hemorrhages), 12 with rounded and isolated hypodense areas, and 10 with rounded hypodense areas connected to the ventricular system. The connection between the residual lesion and the ventricular system depended to a large extent on the size of the initial hematoma, but very little on whether it had initially ruptured into the ventricular system. CONCLUSIONS: A retrospective diagnosis of cerebral hemorrhage on radiological grounds can be made with confidence only in a small group of patients with slit-like lesions in the basal ganglia. This diagnosis is impossible in approximately one third of cerebral hemorrhages because the abnormalities are aspecific or have completely disappeared.     

The effect of naloxone on the preoperative gastric volume and pH

The effect of 4 mg oral naloxone on preoperative gastric volume and pH of gastric aspirate was studied in a double-blind, randomized study. Twenty patients received 10 ml of naloxone (4 mg) mixed with 10 ml of orange juice, and 20 patients received 10 ml of isotonic saline mixed with 10 ml of orange juice, 2 h before surgery. Gastric content was obtained immediately after intubation of the trachea. No significant difference in gastric volume and pH of gastric aspirate was found between the two groups. It is concluded that naloxone does not affect gastric emptying and gastric acid secretion to a degree great enough to protect against aspiration of gastric contents into the lungs.