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.      

Occult gunshot injury of the temporal bone.

Increasing firearms violence has produced much public disquiet in recent months and Liverpool has seen a particularly well publicized spate of shootings. This is a case report of an initially occult intracranial injury which illustrates the unpredictable nature of missile trauma and the importance of computerised tomography in all cases of gunshot injury to the head.     

Cocaine decreases self-control in rats: a preliminary report

Cocaine abuse is often associated with behavior that takes into account short-term, but not long-term consequences. However, there has been no empirical research concerning the effects of cocaine on self-control (choice of a larger, more delayed reinforcer over a smaller, less delayed reinforcer). In the present research, when food-deprived rats repeatedly chose between a larger, more delayed food reinforcer and a smaller, less delayed food reinforcer, chronic intraperitoneal injections of 15 mg/kg cocaine (but not 10 mg/kg fluoxetine) decreased the rats' choices of the larger, more delayed reinforcer. Cocaine can decrease rats' self-control.     

Species-specific biotinylated DNA probe for the detection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum

A 5.5 kilobase DNA fragment from an Eco RI digest of the Mycoplasma gallisepticum genome was specific for the detection of M. gallisepticum. This 5.5 kb fragment was initially cloned into bacteriophage lambda gt11 followed by subcloning into the plasmid vector pGEM-3Z. The incorporation of a biotin label was accomplished by utilizing biotin-11-dUTP in a nick translation reaction. This probe, designated pMg6, reacts specifically with M. gallisepticum when tested against various mycoplasma DNAs in Southern blot hybridization analysis. Spot-blot hybridization data indicate the pMg6 is capable of detecting 800 pg of M. gallisepticum DNA.