Haemoglobin A1 and congenital malformation

Two hundred and thirty pregnancies were studied in 196 diabetic women. Seven women with babies found to have major malformations had a higher median first trimester haemoglobin A1 (12.9%) than the median HbA1 (10.8%) in those with normal babies (p = 0.06). No relationship was found between the occurrence of minor malformations and first trimester maternal haemoglobin A1. Two of the seven congenital malformations were diagnosed antenatally at a time when therapeutic abortion could be offered. Expert antenatal ultrasound scanning should be offered to all pregnant diabetic women as poor glycaemic control at the time of conception and organogenesis, as evidenced by raised first trimester HbA1, predisposes to congenital malformation.     

Prolonged remission of lymphangitis carcinomatosis from breast cancer

Lymphangitis carcinomatosis has a grave prognosis. We report a case from carcinoma of the breast that responded completely and durably to chemotherapy.     

Effect of thiamine on auditory evoked potentials of the guinea pig

Application of thiamine (1 X 10(-11)-1 X 10(-3) mol/l) on the membrane of cochlear round window increased the amplitude and decreased the latency of the auditory nerve action potential, waves I and II of brainstem auditory-evoked electrical potentials in response to acoustic clicks of different intensity. The mechanism of thiamine action on auditory-evoked electric potentials is discussed.