Danazol administration after gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue reduces rebound of uterine myomas [published erratum appears in Hum Reprod 1998 Mar;13(3):780]

We report the results of administration of danazol after suspension of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) therapy for uterine myomas. A total of 21 women with uterine myomas was treated with 100 mg danazol for 6 months after GnRHa therapy. Uterine volume and endocrine status were monitored monthly by ultrasound and assay of plasma gonadotrophins, oestradiol and progesterone. The results show a rebound of uterine volume about 30% less than in controls at the end of danazol therapy. Menstrual cyclicity returned after 65 +/- 3 days in 16 subjects and five patients remained amenorrhoeic. Hormone assays confirmed renewed ovarian function in the women whose menstrual periods returned. Bone mineral content was substantially reduced during GnRHa treatment but improved significantly during danazol therapy even in the women who remained amenorrhoeic. These results show the utility of danazol in prolonging the therapeutic effects of GnRHa. The mechanism by which danazol inhibits rebound of uterine volume may be due to its antiprogesterone effects on uterine myomas.      

Regulation of the water-electrolyte balance during neurosurgical operations with balanced anesthesia using sodium oxybutyrate]

Water-electrolyte homeostasis and its basic regulatory hormones have been studied in 36 patients with neurosurgical brain pathology during surgical interventions performed under balanced anesthesia (sodium hydroxybutyrate combined with NLA drugs). The study has revealed 3 types of reactions in hormones regulating water-electrolyte homeostasis: type I--a decrease in vasopressin (VP) concentration and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activity; type II--VP increase and RAAS activation; type III--an increase in VP content and RAAS disbalance. It has been shown that type I reaction is accompanied by marked osmotic disturbances. The impact of sodium hydroxybutyrate on RAAS is manifested in aldosterone secretion suppression.     

Concentration osmometer for determining the amount of water bound to the macromolecular substrate of blood substitutes

Consideration is given to the technique and the device for detecting water amount linked to high-molecular compounds presenting the base for blood substitutes. The device is simple in use, outputs reproducible data comparable to the well known results (e.g. for polyglucine). It should be recommended for evaluating hemodynamic parameters of newly developed blood substitutes.     

Characterization of antibody and selection of alternative drug therapy in hydrochlorothiazide-induced immune hemolytic anemia

The authors report the clinical and laboratory findings of a patient who had severe immune hemolytic anemia due to hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ). In this case, the HCTZ antibody reacted not only with other thiazide and thiazide-like drugs, but also with a chemically unrelated diuretic, ethacrynic acid. These results indicate that HCTZ antibody activity is not restricted solely to the thiazides and imply that therapy with any of the reactive drugs would be contraindicated for this patient. The serologic screening for drug reactivity may be useful for selecting alternative therapy for patients with drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia.     

Elaboration of a quantitative method of evaluation of disease severity in patients with ventricular disorders of cardiac rhythm]

Mathematical approaches to the evaluation of the severity of the pathological process were used to develop an objective quantitative method to assess the severity of ventricular arrhythmias. The method is highly informative and reliable. It may be useful in the control of the efficacy of antiarrhythmic therapy and in the application of a differential approach to choice of therapy strategy for the patients.     

Intraoperative dilatation of the ilio-femoral segment combined with reconstructive operations on the femoral arteries in "multi-level" lesions in patients from the risk group

The authors analyse experience in the treatment of 96 patients at an increased risk of intervention. Ischemia of the lower extremities with relatively maintained peripheral vascular bed was the main criterion of an indicated operation. The malleolar systolic pressure index of at least 0.35 +/- 0.15 was considered essential in this case. With consideration for the risk, the interventions were carried out mainly under peridural anesthesia. Intraoperative dilatation of the iliac arteries was conducted under radiotelecontrol in combination with profundoplasty, thrombendarterectomy from the femoral arteries, and femoropopliteal autovenoplasty. The efficacy of the operations was appraised by intraoperative angiography, electromanometry, and blood flow measurement. The results were studied in follow-up periods of up to 3 years. In the group of 96 patients 8 had poor results. Amputation of the extremity was performed in different periods.