Follow-up study of Finnish volunteer oocyte donors concerning their attitudes to oocyte donation

A questionnaire was sent to the first 30 Finnish volunteer oocytedonors at 12–18 months after donation to determine theirexperiences concerning treatment and attitudes to donation.All donations were carried out anonymously and without payment.The donors were recruited by advertising in newspapers. Mostdonors were very satisfied with the experience. The side-effectsof the treatment had been slight and tolerable. In all, 85%of the respondents reported no gynaecological problems afterwards.The problems reported by the other 15% were minor and unrelatedto the donation. A total of 67% of the respondents would haveliked to have known if pregnancy had been achieved in the recipient,and 89% reported that they had thought about the possibilityof a child from their donation. Some 42% of the respondentspreferred to receive no information concerning either the childor the recipient couple. Of the respondents, 59% thought theoffspring should be told about its origin and 33% thought thechild should be given identifying information about the donor.About half of the others would agree to the release of non-identifyinginformation. In all, 96% of the respondents reported that theirown feelings were sufficiently taken into consideration duringthe treatment and 78% would donate again. No-one regretted theirdonation.     

Adjuvant medroxyprogesterone acetate to radical nephrectomy in renal cancer: 5-year results of a prospective randomized study

From July 1, 1979 to June 30, 1983, 136 consecutive patients from 5 centers in Lombardy entered a prospective randomized study to compare 500 mg. adjuvant medroxyprogesterone acetate 3 times a week for 1 year to no treatment following radical nephrectomy for category M0 renal cancer. After a median followup of 5 years (range 42 to 90 months) 40 of 120 evaluable patients (33.3 per cent) experienced relapse after a median interval free of disease of 17 months (range 2 to 74 months). Relapses occurred in 19 of 58 evaluable patients in the adjuvant treatment group (32.7 per cent) and in 21 of the 62 evaluable controls (33.9 per cent). Sex steroid hormone receptors were studied in 102 of the 120 evaluable patients with the dextran-coated charcoal technique. No significant correlation could be found among receptors, relapses and treatment. On the other hand, 33 (56.9 per cent) of the 58 treated patients experienced 39 complications related to the long-term hormonal therapy. Three patients had to discontinue medroxyprogesterone acetate for severe toxicity after 2 to 3 months. Medroxyprogesterone acetate cannot be recommended as adjuvant therapy to radical nephrectomy in patients with renal cell carcinoma.     

Synthesis and antiviral activity of new 4-(phenylamino)/4-[(methylpyridin-2-yl)amino]-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-4-carboxylic acids derivatives

The synthesis of new 4-(phenylamino)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-4-carboxylic acid (3a-l) derivatives and the new 4-[(methylpyridin-2-yl)amino]-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-4-carboxylic acid (5a–c) derivatives was achieved with an efficient synthetic route. Ethyl 4-chloro-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-5-carboxylate (1) on fusion with appropriate substituted anilines or aminopicolines gave the required new ethyl 4-(phenylamino)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-5-carboxylates (2a–l) (52–82%) or new ethyl 4-[(methylpyridin-2-yl)amino]-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-5-carboxylates (4a–c) (50–60%), respectively. Subsequent hydrolysis of the esters afforded the corresponding carboxylic acids (3a–l) (86–93%) and (5a–c) in high yield (80–93%). Inhibitory effects of 4-(phenylamino)/4-[(methylpyridin-2-yl)amino]-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-4-carboxylic acids. Derivatives on Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), Mayaro virus (MAY) and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) were investigated. Compounds 2d, 3f, 3a, and 3c exhibited antiviral activity against HSV-1, MAY, and VSV virus with EC₅₀ values of 6.8, 2.2, 4.8, 0.52, 2.5, and 1.0. None of these compounds showed toxicity for Vero cells.     

A cross-sectional study of the associations between periodontitis and carotid arterial calcifications in an elderly population

Objective. To evaluate if the presence of periodontitis is associated with carotid arterial calcifications diagnosed on panoramic radiographs in an elderly population. Materials and methods. Study individuals were randomly selected from the Swedish civil registration database representing the aging population (60–96 years) in Karlskrona, Sweden. Bleeding on probing (BOP) and the deepest probing measurement at each tooth were registered. The proportions of teeth with a probing depth ≥5 mm and the proportion of teeth with bleeding on probing were calculated. Analog panoramic radiographs were taken and the proportion of sites with a distance ≥5 mm between the alveolar bone level and the cement–enamel junction (CEJ) were assessed. A diagnosis of periodontitis was declared if a distance between the alveolar bone level and the CEJ ≥5 mm could be identified from the panoramic radiographs at >10% of sites, probing depth of ≥5 mm at one tooth or more and with BOP at >20% of teeth. Results. Readable radiographs were obtained from 499 individuals. Carotid calcification was identified in 39.1%. Individuals were diagnosed with periodontitis in 18.4%. Data analysis demonstrated that individuals with periodontitis had a higher prevalence of carotid calcifications (Pearson χ² = 4.05 p < 0.05) and with a likelihood of 1.5 (95% CI = 1.0, 2.3, p < 0.05). Conclusions. Data analysis demonstrated a significant association between periodontitis and carotid calcification.     

Isolation and identification of thermophilic Campylobacter species in faecal samples from Swedish dogs

To investigate the role of Swedish dogs as potential reservoirs of thermophilic Campylobacter species, faecal samples were analysed from 91 dogs in 2001. The majority of dogs (n = 84) were healthy family dogs. Campylobacter spp. were isolated from 51 of the 91 dogs (56%). A significant difference in isolation rates was observed between younger and older dogs: 76% of the younger dogs (5-12 months) were positive, compared with 39% of dogs > or = 13 months (p < 0.01). Two different selective media, Preston and CAT, were used for isolation of Campylobacter species. 104 Campylobacter isolates were identified to species level using polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme analysis techniques. Campylobacter upsaliensis predominated and was isolated from 39 dogs, C. jejuni from 10, C. coli from 2, C. helveticus from 2 and C. lari from 1 dog. Four dogs had mixed flora with 2 different Campylobacter species. These data clearly show that younger dogs in particular frequently shed thermophilic Campylobacter spp, which could be of impact for public health. To establish the zoonotic potential of canine Campylobacter isolates, both human and canine isolates have to be further characterized and compared.     

Percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty in a pregnant adolescent

We report the case of a 16-year-old pregnant patient with severe aortic stenosis and pulmonary congestion clinically uncontrolled, in whom percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty was used as the first choice of treatment in an emergency procedure. The clinical findings, pathophysiology, diagnostic features, and indications for percutaneous treatment are reported. Severe congenital aortic stenosis is rare in children and young individuals. Bicuspid aortic valve occurs in 3% to 6% of patients with congenital heart disease; when associated with commissural fusion, significant stenosis may be present in childhood. The association of severe congenital aortic stenosis and pregnancy is difficult to control clinically, carrying a high risk of maternal and fetal mortality, mainly when manifested with symptoms of pulmonary congestion 1,2.