Female and male partner age and menotrophin requirements influence pregnancy rates with human menopausal gonadotrophin therapy in combination with intrauterine insemination

This study analyses the influence of female and male patient age and human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) requirements on clinical pregnancy rates and live birth rates with ovulation stimulation using HMG in combination with intrauterine insemination (IUI). In this study, 363 consecutive HMG/IUI treatment cycles in 184 patients carried out at a university fertility centre were analysed in a retrospective fashion. The main outcomes measured were clinical pregnancy rates and live birth rates. Increased female partner age (> or = 35) and male partner age (> or = 40) were found to negatively influence pregnancy rates with HMG/ IUI therapy. In addition, this study demonstrated a critical threshold of HMG requirements beyond which pregnancy did not occur. No pregnancies occurred in treatment cycles requiring > 25 ampoules (1875 IU) of menotrophins to achieve follicular maturity, irrespective of patient age. In conclusion, female partner age, male partner age, and HMG requirements all significantly influence pregnancy rates with HMG/IUI therapy.      

Postpartum depression and mother-infant relationship at 3 months old

Background: This paper is part of a prospective, epidemiologic study concerning postpartum depression (PPD). The women were first examined during pregnancy; after delivery they were seen with their infants at 3 and 18 months. The present study focuses on the 3-months-postpartum results. Methods: A sample of 570 women and their infants were examined 3 months after delivery. Using the EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale; Cox et al., 1987. Br. J. Psychiatry 150:782–786), 10.2% of these new mothers presented PPD. The focus of the study concerned the effects of this neurotic disorder on the mother, the infant and on the mother–infant relationship. Results: The deleterious effects concerning the infant were functional disorders such as eating or sleeping difficulties. The ‘depressed’ dyads presented less vocal and visual communications, less corporal interactions and less smiling. Conditions surrounding delivery and tiredness at 3 months are linked to difficulties in mother–infant relationship for the non-depressed mothers. Logistic models showed that primiparous PPD mothers have difficulties bathing their infants, whereas multiparous PPD mothers are more tired. Limitation: This study did not take into account either protective factors or the effects of the infant himself. Clinical relevance: Knowledge of the mothers’ and infants’ difficulties may help caregivers to detect these at-risk dyads and initiate therapeutic measures.     

Paramagnetic macrocyclic complexes as contrast agents for MR imaging: proton nuclear relaxation rate enhancement in aqueous solution and in rat tissues

Paramagnetic macrocyclic chelates show promise as magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast agents due to stability and relaxivity comparable to those of DTPA-type chelates. For the three copper and manganese macrocyclic complexes studied in aqueous solution, T1 and T2 relaxivities ranged from 0.14 to 5.88 mM-1sec-1 at 6.25 MHz. In rats, the intravenous administration of 16 mumol/kg of Mn(cyclam) caused the liver T1 relaxation rate to double at 15 minutes after injection. T1 measurements by pulsed MR imaging and manganese analyses on excised tissue showed that both relaxation rate (1/T1) and manganese content of liver and kidney increase linearly with the dosage of Mn(cyclam). The linear relationship between 1/T1 and manganese content can be considered an "in tissue" relaxivity plot for the agent. The resulting relaxivity is 54 mM-1sec-1 in liver, compared with 3.1 mM-1sec-1 in aqueous solution. Although this work is preliminary, the implication for medical MR imaging applications is that macrocyclic contrast agents can be effective at approximately one-tenth the current typical dose used for gadolinium DTPA.     

海南省大劣按蚊实验室自然交配的驯化研究

目的 建立实验室大劣按蚊自然交配繁殖种群,为同类研究提供依据。方法 将野外捕捉并在实验室人工交配繁殖至第61代的大劣按蚊,按不同雌雄比例先后顺序置于大、中、小三种不同型号的蚊笼中喂养、驯化、观察产卵情况并计算产卵数和孵化率。结果 在大、中、小蚊笼内的分别驯化至第15、10和18代时成蚊卵的孵化率各达到82％、83．4％和80．7％,成功建立小蚊笼自然交配的大劣按蚊种群。结论 经实验室驯化的大劣按蚊能够自然交配、产卵、繁殖,有助于建立实验室自然种群。     

甲状腺机能亢进症危险因素病例对照研究

目的 探讨各危险因素与甲亢的关系。方法 对三亚地区110例甲亢采用1：2配比的病例对照研究,资料处理采用条件Logistic回归分析.结果 甲亢发病与下列5因素关系密切：家庭年收入(OR=2．055)、食用碘盐(OR=2．133)、喜食海产品(OR=2．183)、感染(OR=2．382)、家庭生活事件(OR=3．017) 结论 家庭生活事件、感染、喜食海产品、食用碘盐、家庭年收入增高等是甲亢的危险因素。     

海南省性罪错妇女11年性病感染情况调查分析

目的 通过对11年来性罪错人员性病感染情况的调查分析,掌握性病在性罪错妇女中流行的特点,为政府部门对性病防治政策的制定提供科学依据。方法 对1990年元月至2000年12月海南省妇女收容教育所被收教的性罪错妇女进行性病检查,统计其各种性病的发病人数,然后进行分析。结果 11年中共收教4780人,其中感染淋病、非淋菌性尿道炎(宫颈炎)、尖锐湿疣、梅毒、生殖器疱疹、HIV共2967例,阳性率为62．07％,其中非淋菌性尿道炎(宫颈炎)1826例(38．20％)、淋病469例(9、81％)、梅毒414例(8．7％)、尖锐湿疣246例(5．14％)、生殖器疱疹11例(0．23％)、HIV阳性1例(0．02%)。结论 性罪错妇女六种性病的患病率很高,达62．07％,其中非淋菌性尿道炎(宫颈炎)为其主要病种,淋病的患病率逐年下降,梅毒的患病率逐年上升,尖锐湿疣基本稳定,其流行特点值得我们重视。     

Hypertension secondary to progressive vascular neurofibromatosis

A 4 year old girl with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) was referred for hypertension. An aortogram showed narrowing of the left main renal artery. An angiogram three and a half years later showed coarctation of the abdominal aorta. She underwent aortoplasty but the stenosis recurred. Vascular involvement in NF1 may be progressive and requires long term follow up.     

6-Phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase expression in rat brain during development

This study reports the expression of the ubiquitous 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase gene (PFKFB3) (PFK-2/FBPase-2) in different stages of rat brain development. Northern blot and RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that ubiquitous PFK-2/FBPase-2 is expressed in rat brain from embryonic to adult life and shows a transient increase 1 day before birth, coincident with the maximum concentration of Fru-2,6-P(2) and PFK-2 activity. The levels of brain PFK-2/FBPase-2 gene expression as well as the enzymatic activity and the concentration of Fru-2,6-P(2) appear to be remarkably constant during adult life, without significant differences in the brain hippocampus, cortex, cerebellum or striatum areas.