Back pain in in-vitro fertilized and spontaneous pregnancies

The influence of ovarian stimulation in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) on the prevalence of back pain with onset during pregnancy was studied in 31 women who became pregnant after IVF treatment and compared with that of 200 spontaneously pregnant women. A two times higher prevalence rate of sacral pain in late pregnancy was reported among IVF pregnant women (P < 0.0001), as well as a significantly higher prevalence rate of positive results of pelvic pain provocation tests performed in late pregnancy (0.0001 < or = P < or = 0.015), as compared with that of the spontaneously pregnant women. Among the IVF pregnant women, there was a significant positive correlation between relaxin concentrations in early pregnancy and the outcome of pelvic pain provocation tests (0.44 < or = r < or = 0.51, P < 0.05). In addition, the serum relaxin concentration was the factor that best explained differences in sacral pain prevalence. When the influence of serum relaxin concentration on back pain prevalence was taken into account, women carrying multiple pregnancies had no more pain than women carrying singletons, and IVF pregnant women had no more pain than spontaneously pregnant women. These results support the hypothesis that relaxin is involved in the generation of pelvic pain in pregnant women.      

Renal allograft immunosuppression

We have investigated the impact of triple drug immunosuppression on the occurrence of early inflammatory episodes, as detected by fine needle aspiration biopsy, and of episodes of clinical rejection during the immediate postoperative period. The prospective component of this study includes 128 consecutive first cadaveric renal transplant recipients receiving triple drug treatment consisting of azathioprine (Aza), cyclosporin (CyA) and methylprednisolone (MP). For controls we have used three historical groups: one immunosuppressed with Aza and MP (group A), another with CyA monotherapy (group B), and the third with CyA together with MP (group C) in equivalent drug dosages. On the average, 0.8 episodes of inflammation per patient were recorded during the immediate postoperative period of 30 days with triple drug treatment. This was significantly less than the 1.3 episodes in patients receiving Aza and MP (P<0.01), the 1.7 episodes in patients on CyA monotherapy (P<0.001), or the 1.6 episodes in patients receiving CyA together with MP (P<0.001). Although the first episode of inflammation commenced concurrently in each group and the peak intensity of inflammation was the same, the mean duration of inflammation was significantly shorter-2.7 days-under triple drug treatment than the 7.8–11.7 days for controls (P<0.001). The frequency of rejection episodes under triple treatment was also significantly lower-0.2 per patient-than the 0.8 per patient in controls (P<0.001). The first rejection episode occurred later in the triple drug treatment group-on the average, on day 15.2-than in the historical controls (on days 7.7–11.7). There was, however, no difference in the duration of rejection. There were no differences in patient survival between the four groups. Graft survival was 97% at 10 weeks for triple drug-treated recipients and 79%, 68%, and 87% for first grafts in groups A, B, and C, respectively. Disregarding a minor demographic bias for the triple drugtreated group with respect to preformed antibodies and preoperative dialysis treatment, the study suggests that the triple drug protocol, in the short run, is superior to any conceivable double drug combination or CyA monotherapy.     

In VivoStudies of Adenovirus-Based p53 Gene Therapy for Ovarian Cancer

Objectives.To test the safety, efficacy, and toxicity of gene therapy using wild-type p53-expressing adenovirus (Ad-CMV-p53) in a nude mouse model with intraperitoneal (ip) 2774 human ovarian cancer cell line that contains a p53 mutation.Study design.An initial study of adenovirus tolerance was determined in nude mice by a single ip injection of increasing doses of Ad-CMV-p53. Nude mice were implanted with an LD₁₀₀dose of 1 × 10⁷cells. To study the efficacy and specificity of Ad-CMV-p53 treatment, the mice received treatment with different adenovirus constructs. One group received Ad-CMV-p53 and another group received a control adenovirus construct, Ad-CMV-βgal. To study the treatment response to Ad-CMV-p53, the mice were divided into groups and received various treatment schedules of 1 × 10⁸pfu of Ad-CMV-p53.Results.The mice tolerated Ad-CMV-p53 without adverse effects at doses of 1 × 10⁸pfu. The response to Ad-CMV-p53 showed significant survival duration in each dose regimen, with a survival time greater than that of untreated animals (P= 0.0173). However, no statistically significant survival advantage was observed between Ad-CMV-p53- and Ad-CMV-βgal-treated mice.Conclusions.These studies show that at the adenovirus dose and administration regimen used, there is effective but not specific 2774 tumor growth inhibitionin vivo.Efficient introduction of biologically active genes into tumor cells would greatly facilitate cancer therapy. Thus, although promising, these results caution that much effort will be required to realize the potential for clinical application of adenovirus-based ovarian cancer gene therapy.     

Closure of left ventricle perforation with the use of muscular VSD occluder.

Growing experience in interventional cardiology leads to the use of large diameter of vascular equipment. In some instances, the so-called hybrid procedures are performed. After performing the interventional procedure, the opening in ventricular wall is closed surgically. Our intention was to check if the MVSDO can be used to close the perforation in the heart after the interventional cardiology procedure performed through the left ventricular (LV) free wall. In three pigs under general anesthesia, the heart was exposed through a small substernal incision. The LV was punctured and an 18F sheath was introduced into the LV. A 14 mm MVSDO was inserted through the 10F Delivery System. Using both the echocardiographic and angiographic guidance, the MVSDO was placed on the LV wall to close the opening in the LV. Time and volume of bleeding was recorded. In all cases the occluder was successfully placed closing the opening, bleeding observed after deployment of occluder lasted for approximately 2 min. We think MVSD occluder can be used to close the LV free wall perforation after hybrid interventional cardiac procedure. Early bleeding through MVSDO might be resolved by the manufacturing of new occluder with better sealing properties.     

Local hemostasis in subarachnoid hemorrhage

Fibrinopeptide A (FPA), platelet-secreted protein, platelet factor 4 and beta-thromboglobulin were determined in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients who had suffered from subarachnoid hemorrhage and were treated with 6 g tranexamic acid or 4 million KIU aprotinin to prevent rebleeding. Platelet-secreted proteins and FPA were cleared from the cerebrospinal fluid within 3 days after bleeding. Their vasoactive and thrombotic capability is limited to the initiation period of vasospasm that usually comes to clinical observation 3-8 days after bleeding. Increased thrombotic activity of the cerebrospinal fluid, as reflected by high levels of FPA and platelet-secreted protein, seemed to promote the occurrence of neurological deficits.     

Increased prevalence of apolipoprotein E2 in patients with retinitis pigmentosa

Apolipoprotein E isoforms were determined in 139 unrelated patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). When compared to prevalence rates for the general population in Germany, an increased prevalence was observed for phenotypes E2/E2: 10.1 vs. 1.0% (p less than 0.001), E2/E3: 19.4 vs. 12.0% (p less than 0.05), and E2/E4: 5.8 vs. 1.5% (n.s.), while the prevalence appeared to be reduced for phenotypes E3/E3: 48.9 vs. 59.8% (n.s.) E3/E4: 13.7 vs. 22.9% (p less than 0.05), and E4/E4: 2.2 vs. 2.8% (n.s.). These findings suggest that genetically determined abnormalities of plasma lipoprotein metabolism may be associated with some forms of RP.     

The use of recombinant-activated factor VII in von Willebrand disease: a case series.

Spontaneous and surgery-associated bleeding in patients with von Willebrand disease (vWD) cannot always be controlled with desmopressin or replacement therapy. This paper presents results on the use of recombinant-activated factor VII (rFVIIa) in patients with vWD included in the internet registry Haemostasis.com. Twenty-eight reports on the use of rFVIIa in vWD were identified from the database and included in this analysis. The bleeding episodes were classified as mild (n = 7), moderate (n = 16), or severe (n = 2), and were unspecified in three cases. The median dose of rFVIIa administered was 94 microg/kg body weight (40-127.3 microg/kg). Bleeding stopped in 23 of 27 evaluable patients (85%) and markedly decreased in three patients; the total response rate was 96% (26/27 patients). Response did not correlate with the type of vWD, the site or severity of the initial bleed, or the rFVIIa dose. Other replacement therapies were infrequently used, and their use was similar in the 24 h before and after rFVIIa administration. Eighteen patients also received antifibrinolytic treatment, but its impact on response was not recorded. Only one adverse event (mild fever) was observed. These cases suggest a role for rFVIIa as a safe and effective therapy for vWD.