Spontaneous conception in the presence of stage IIIC endometrioid ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE: To describe a rare case of spontaneous conception in a patient with a preexisting metastatic ovarian cancer. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENT(S): A 39-year-old Asian woman who conceived while undergoing an evaluation for primary infertility and newly detected bilateral adnexal masses. INTERVENTION(S): Staging laparotomy and total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Anatomic pathology diagnosis. RESULT(S): Blighted ovum and stage IIIC endometrioid adenocarcinoma of ovary. CONCLUSION(S): Metastatic ovarian cancer does not prevent either spontaneous ovulation or spontaneous conception.     

Interleukin-10 administration and bacterial endotoxin-induced preterm birth in a rat model

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether intra-uterine infusion of interleukin-10 prevents preterm delivery in rats treated with endotoxin. METHODS: Pregnant rats underwent implantation of uterine catheters and were randomly assigned to receive intrauterine infusion of either normal saline, 50 microg lipopolysaccharide endotoxin, or 50 microg lipopolysaccharide with 500 ng interleukin-10 administered either concurrently or 24 hours later. The interval from infusion to delivery for each group was recorded, along with the number of live born pups and their birth weight. We calculated that to obtain a power of 80%, assuming a 24-hour difference in the treatment to delivery times between the test and control subjects, at least six animals would be needed in each group. RESULTS: In females receiving lipopolysaccharide (50 microg) alone, the interval to delivery (P <.05), live birth rate (P <.05), and pup weight (P <.001) were reduced compared with the saline-infused controls. In contrast, females receiving interleukin-10 at the time of the endotoxin challenge or 24 hours after delivered at term with no difference in litter size or live birth weight compared with the controls. CONCLUSION: Animals treated with both lipopolysaccharide and interleukin-10, administered concurrently or 24 hours after the endotoxin challenge, delivered normal weight pups at term with a similar litter size as the saline-infused controls. Interleukin-10 appears to be effective in preventing endotoxin-induced preterm birth and fetal wastage in pregnant rats.     

Vitamin B12 deficiency, infertility and recurrent fetal loss

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship of infertility to recurrent fetal loss in patients who were vitamin B12 deficient. STUDY DESIGN: The obstetric histories of 14 patients presenting with 15 episodes of vitamin B12 deficiency were analyzed. Infertility (two to eight years) had been present in four episodes, and recurrent fetal loss was a feature in 11. RESULTS: In six episodes, periods of recurrent fetal loss were followed by periods of infertility greater than one year. CONCLUSION: Hypercoagulability due to raised homocysteine levels may lead to fetal loss when vitamin B12 deficiency first develops. A more prolonged deficiency results in infertility by causing changes in ovulation or development of the ovum or changes leading to defective implantation.     

A behavioral characterization of the effects of food deprivation on food and nonfood object interaction: an investigation of the information-gathering functions of exploratory behavior

Previous research has shown that exploratory behavior serves not only to procure food, but also as a means of general information gathering. The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the function of exploratory behavior in rats by measuring behavior as they interacted with food and nonfood stimuli under different levels of food deprivation. Rats were food-deprived (0, 24, and 48 h), given free access to an open-field arena, and videotaped for a 20-min test session. The rats' behavior was assessed in a manner that isolated locomotor-, object-, and nonobject-related components. Deprivation did not affect locomotor activity levels; however, a decrease in rearing and propping against the test arena was shown. Rats distinguished between the food and nonfood objects because they attempted to ingest the food but not the nonfood object. Deprivation did result in increased contact with food objects; however, nonfood object interactions were maintained throughout the test session. These results suggest that exploratory behavior is separable from food seeking and functions in acquisition of information relating to multiple aspects of the environment.     

Paroxysmal "funny turns" in an elderly woman--a 95-year-old with an insulinoma

A 95-year-old woman was admitted to hospital with a fractured neck of femur following a fall. There was no past history of note other than numerous episodes of "funny turns" preceding falls some of which resulted in fractures. During her admission she had a "funny turn". Immediate investigations revealed hypoglycaemia and subsequent biochemical abnormalities, most likely due to a benign endocrine tumour--an insulinoma.