Anti-ulcerogenic effects of Spartium junceum flowers on in vivo test models in rats

Flowers of Spartium junceum L. (Fabaceae) are used for the treatment of gastric ulcers in Turkish folk medicine. Through bioassay-guided fractionation using chemical and chromatographical means and water immersion and restraint-induced stress ulcer model in rats, a saponin fraction was determined as the potent anti-ulcerogenic ingredient. The active fraction was also highly effective in preventing ethanol- and pyloric ligation-induced gastric lesions as well as inhibiting gastric secretion volume, gastric pH and titratable acidity, but did not affect the hexosamine content of the gastric mucosa. A novel oleanen-type triterpenic saponin, named as spartitrioside, was isolated as the active principle by using chromatographical separation techniques.     

Color Doppler ultrasound in ovarian fibrosarcoma

BACKGROUND: Primary ovarian fibrosarcoma is a very rare tumor. Its Doppler waveform characteristics have not been described before. CASE: A 35-year-old woman presented with a 5-cm solid ovarian mass. Intratumoral artery resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) were very low (0.19 and 0.21, respectively). Peak systolic velocity calculated by using transvaginal Doppler ultrasound was higher than expected (24.8 cm/s). Postoperatively, the histopathologic diagnosis was primary ovarian fibrosarcoma, stage Ia. CONCLUSIONS: Low vascular resistance can be encountered in ovarian fibrosarcomas. In young patients presenting with a solid adnexal mass, intratumoral Doppler waveform investigations might offer some help for earlier prediction of rare malignant tumors like fibrosarcomas.     

Folk medicine in Uzbekistan. I. Toshkent, Djizzax, and Samarqand provinces

Uzbekistan is one of the Turcic republics in Central Asia where a desert continental climate mainly prevails in territories. Nevertheless, this expedition was carried out in the northeast and east higher lands, where flora is richer. The interviews were performed in seven villages of Toshkent and in neighboring provinces of Samarqand, Djizzax and at Urgut Bazaar of Samarqand. Altogether 177 folk remedies were recorded in the surveyed area. Among these folk remedies, 162 remedies were obtained from 79 different kinds of plant species that belong to 31 different families, whereas, 15 animal originated remedies that belong to 8 different animals are listed, which includes their vernacular and scientific names, indications and recipes for preparations.     

Traditional medicine in Turkey X. Folk medicine in Central Anatolia

Traditional medicine used in Central Anatolia; Ankara, Kayseri, Ni?de and south-eastern parts of Karaman and Konya provinces have been studied. Two hundred and ninety one folk remedies obtained from 103 plant species belonging to 40 families and 4 animal species are reported with their vernacular names, parts used, methods of preparing remedies and therapeutic usage.     

Traditional medicine in Turkey IX: folk medicine in north-west Anatolia.

Folk medicine in northwest Anatolia has been studied and 116 remedies prepared from 67 plant and 8 animal species are described, each with vernacular names, methods of preparation and traditional uses.     

Does the diameter of an endometrioma predict the extent of pelvic adhesions associated with endometriosis?

OBJECTIVE: To correlate ovarian endometrioma diameter with the extent of pelvic adhesions. STUDY DESIGN: Forty women with unilateral ovarian cysts thought to be endometriomas were prospectively recruited. The interventions were transvaginal ultrasound to measure the size of the ovarian endometrioma and a laparoscopic surgical procedure, including detailed pelvic assessment. Main outcome measures were pelvic adhesion scores using the American Fertility Society revised classification of endometriosis. RESULTS: Thirty-two women met the inclusion criteria. Twelve had an endometrioma < 3 cm in diameter; 12, 3-5 cm; and 8, > 5 cm. Adhesion scores from various anatomic areas did not differ across these 3 groups. No correlation between the size of the endometrioma and associated pelvic adhesions was found using multiple regression analysis. CONCLUSION: The size of an endometrioma measured by transvaginal ultrasound does not correlate with the extent of adhesive disease. Small (< 3 cm) endometriomas may be associated with a considerable degree of pelvic adhesions.     

Placebo-controlled randomized comparison of vaginal with rectal misoprostol in the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage

AIM: To compare vaginally administered misoprostol to rectally administered misoprostol and placebo in a prospective randomized placebo-controlled study. METHODS: One hundred and fifty women with singleton vaginal deliveries were randomized (50 women in each arm) to receive 400-microg misoprostol tablets (crushed and suspended in a microenema) intravaginally, or 400-microg misoprostol tablets rectally, or two placebo lactose tablets rectally. The medication was administered immediately after delivery of the placenta. Women with profuse hemorrhage and delayed placental separation (>30 min) were excluded. Our outcome measures were postpartum blood loss 1 h after administration, and change in hemoglobin and hematocrit values from baseline to postpartum day 1. Analysis of variance and chi-squared tests were used to compare the outcome variables between groups. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-six women were available for analysis. Baseline characteristics were similar across the groups. The number of excluded subjects, the estimated blood loss, and the drop in hemoglobin and hematocrit values did not differ between the three groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Misoprostol administered vaginally or rectally at a dosage of 400 microg following placental separation was not effective for decreasing postpartum bleeding in women without excessive hemorrhage.     

Does marriage between first cousins have any predictive value for maternal and perinatal outcomes in pre-eclampsia?

AIM: To assess the consequences of consanguineous unions between first cousins on the severity of pre-eclampsia and associated perinatal morbidity. METHODS: Six hundred and eighty-six women admitted with a diagnosis of pre-eclampsia were included. The study group consisted of 62 preeclamptic women with a union between first cousins. The remaining patients admitted throughout the same period (n = 624) served as controls. The groups were compared regarding the presence of severe pre-eclampsia, hemolysis elevated liver enzymes low platelets (HELLP) syndrome, eclampsia, placental abruption, hematological complications, renal failure, requirement for antihypertensive or magnesium sulfate treatments, cesarean section for acute fetal distress, birthweight, Apgar scores, perinatal mortality and neonatal morbidity including admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, convulsions, intracranial hemorrhage, hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, and jaundice. Student's t-test, chi(2)-test and logistic regression analysis were used for statistical evaluation. RESULTS: Univariate analysis yielded significant differences in parity (P = 0.034), maternal platelet counts (P = 0.02), and maternal serum potassium levels (P = 0.016) among the groups. Respiratory distress syndrome was more frequent (P = 0.043) in infants of unrelated couples. Multivariate analysis, controlling for the confounding factors, revealed that marriages between first cousins had no effect on any of our outcome variables including neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Third-degree consanguinity in terms of a union between first cousins seems to have no effect on the development of maternal and perinatal complications in established pre-eclampsia.     

Leukocytosis might precede in-hospital eclampsia in preeclamptic women who do not receive magnesium sulfate

In an effort to better define preeclamptic women at risk of eclampsia, we examined the predictive value of maternal demographic characteristics and admission maternal laboratory values for the risk of subsequent development of eclampsia in preeclamptic women, who were not receiving magnesium sulfate during hospitalization. The decision to use magnesium sulfate prophylaxis was at the discretion of the treating physician. Preeclamptic women admitted throughout a 3-year period and treated with a protocol exempting magnesium sulfate therapy were retrospectively included (n=497). Maternal data at admission were recorded and analyzed. Eight women developed an eclamptic seizure during subsequent hospital follow-up. Logistic regression models were used to assess the independent predictive role of each variable on the development of eclampsia. Lower serum fibrinogen values, increased leukocyte counts, and increased diastolic blood pressure at admission were independent predictors of a subsequent in-hospital eclamptic seizure. An initial diastolic blood pressure >or=120 mm Hg, blood leukocyte count >16,000/microL, and serum fibrinogen value <450 mg/dL were associated with a 25.4-, 7.1-, and 26.6-fold increased risk of eclampsia, respectively. We conclude that marked leukocytosis and diastolic blood pressure increment might precede the development of eclampsia. Serum fibrinogen concentrations >450 mg/dL seem to be protective for eclampsia. The association between inflammation and eclampsia merits further investigation.