Prolonged effectiveness of Norplant(R) capsule implants: a 7-year study

Soft tubing Norplant(R) contraceptive implants were studied in 1210 women for 7 years to measure the duration of effectiveness and the magnitude of the pregnancy rates over that time. Mean age at enrollment was 27.4 years. Of the enrollees, 42% were US residents. One-sixth (16.1%) weighed >/=70 kg at the time of implant placement. At the end of 5 years, the cumulative pregnancy rate was 1.1/100; at the end of 7 years, it was 1.9/100. No pregnancies occurred to any of the 400 women who enrolled in the study at age >/=30 years and who weighed <100 kg. Among women aged 18-33 years, the 7-year Norplant pregnancy rates are comparable to the median pregnancy rates of tubal sterilization methods for women of the same age and duration of use. For women aged >/=34 years, without regard to weight at admission, the 7-year effectiveness of soft tubing Norplant equals or surpasses that of tubal sterilization. For continuing implant users, annual pregnancy rates <1.0/100 in years 6 and 7, together with low cumulative pregnancy rates, testify that Norplant capsule implants remain highly effective for 7 years.     

Should Assessment of Amniotic Fluid Volume Form an Integral Part of Antenatal Fetal Surveillance of High Risk Pregnancy?

Summary: This study was conducted to evaluate the role of the Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI), used along with nonstress cardiotocography (NST) and fetal acoustic stimulation test (FAST), when required, in prediction of adverse pregnancy outcome. Over a 3-year period 565 pregnant women had antepartum fetal surveillance due to various high risk pregnancy factors and delivered within 7 days of the test. Antepartum fetal surveillance included nonstress cardiotocography together with estimation of AFI. Need for induction of labour, presence of meconium at rupture of membranes, Caesarean section for fetal distress, Apgar score at 5 minutes, need for neonatal endotracheal intubation, admission to neonatal special care unit and perinatal death were the main outcome measures.
Nonreactive nonstress tests and Caesarean sections for fetal distress were more common and neonatal outcome was significantly poorer in patients with AFI < 5 cm than in those with higher AFI values. Of the 4 perinatal deaths in the group with AFI < 5 cm, 3 had a reactive NST within 7 days of fetal death.
It is concluded that pregnancy outcome is often poor in the presence of very low AFI and in these cases a reactive NST loses its usual reassuring value. It is suggested that AFI estimation should be included as an integral part of antepartum fetal surveillance of high risk pregnancies.     

Necrosis and inhibition of growth of human lung tumor by anti-alpha-human chorionic gonadotropin antibody.

Human lung tumor cells (ChaGo) established in culture from a bronchogenic squamous cell carcinoma synthesize and secrete large amounts of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), predominantly the alpha subunit of the glycoprotein hormone. ChaGo cells lose their transformation phenotypes following treatment with anti-alpha-HCG antibody or following inhibition of intracellular synthesis of alpha-HCG by the anti-sense RNA technique. We report that tumors induced by ChaGo cells in female athymic mice undergo necrotic degeneration following local or intraperitoneal administration of alpha-HCG-specific-antibody. The alpha-HCG antibody did not affect the growth of tumor induced by alpha-HCG nonproducing human tumor cells. Histopathological examinations of the anti-alpha-HCG antibody-treated tumor tissues showed active necrosis. When the antibody treatment was discontinued, the tumorigenesis process resumed. When anti-alpha-HCG antibody was administered simultaneously with ChaGo cells, a concentration-dependent inhibition of tumor growth in athymic mice was completely prevented at higher concentrations of the specific antibody.     

High hepatitis B carrier rate among non-Oriental patients with acute salpingitis

Hepatitis B surface antigen screening was performed on non-Oriental patients with the diagnosis of acute salpingitis. Six of 59 (10.17%) had hepatitis B surface antigenemia. We therefore recommend hepatitis B screening for all patients with salpingitis. The detection of covert hepatitis B helps to protect hospital staff and provides important information for the patient. Further, the administration of hepatitis B vaccine may be appropriate for those patients with acute salpingitis who are found to be hepatitis B surface antigen-negative.     

Growth of Mycobacterium leprae in thyroxine treated culture medium--a preliminary report.

A new approach in cultivation of Mycobacterium leprae in thyroxine treated Lowenstein-Jensen media is reported. The method has been proved to be successful as the organisms multiplied and remained viable in the thyroxine solution added at the bottom of the culture vial, for a period of 18 to 20 weeks of incubation at 37 degrees C. This has been possible due to metabolic stimulating action of thyroxine sodium solution as well as diffusion of nutrients into this solution from the medium. Intracutaneous inoculation of culture fluid on the surface of foot pad in cortisone treated mouse helped in rapid appearance of the specific lesion at the site within 20 days after injection. Both the intracutaneous method of inoculation and treatment of mouse with high doses of cortisone may play some role in shortening the period of development of such lesion.     

Effect of alpha 2u-globulin on serum concentration of gonadotrophins and testicular activity in oestrogen-treated rats

Adult male rats were given injections of oestradiol-17 beta (50 micrograms/100 g body wt per day) for 7 days. When they were killed 14 days after the last injection, serum levels of gonadotrophins and testosterone and weights of accessory sex organs were less, testicular 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17 beta-HSD) activity was suppressed and spermatogenesis was inhibited. Administration of alpha 2u-globulin (1.5 mg/day) for 14 days to oestrogen-treated rats and for 10 days to control rats resulted in increased concentrations of gonadotrophins and testosterone in the serum. Accessory sex organ weight and spermatogenesis appeared to be normal while 17 beta-HSD activity increased in oestrogen-treated rats after treatment with alpha 2u-globulin. It was concluded that alpha 2u-globulin has an effect on testicular function in oestrogenized rats by inducing gonadotrophin and testosterone synthesis.