Comparison of two policies for induction of labour postdates.

The objective of this study was to compare maternal and midwifery manpower effects of policies for induction of labour (IOL) postdates, using a retrospective cohort design, in a level two maternity unit in a district hospital in South-West England. Primary outcome measures included mode of delivery, admission-delivery interval, midwifery manpower use. Group I consisted of 124 women who underwent IOL at 40+10.

Magnetic resonance imaging and hysteroscopy to diagnose colo-uterine fistula: a rare complication of diverticulitis.

Colo-uterine fistula of diverticular origin is an extremely rare disease due to the resistance of uterine tissue. Methods for diagnosis remain to be established. Non-invasive imaging like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may help to establish a proper diagnosis, but confirmation may be reached by diagnostic hysteroscopy or even surgical exploration.

Magnetic resonance imagining (MRI) and serial beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-hCG) follow up for placenta percreta.

Background: Placenta percreta is a rare obstetric condition associated with life-threatening hemorrhage. MR imaging has a role in prenatal diagnosis of these cases. However, its role in the postnatal diagnosis and in the follow up yet to be established.

Unusual presentation of 22-kilogram retroperitoneal müllerian serous cystadenoma.

Background: Müllerian cyst of the retroperitoneum is an extremely rare disease that is thought to be a subtype of urogenital cyst. It is a benign condition that can only be diagnosed and cured by surgical resection.

Case: An 80-year-old female with a huge cystic swelling, thought to be ovarian in origin, underwent laparotomy.

Contraceptive vaccine development.

Recent advances in antigen definition and production have made the development of a contraceptive vaccine more attainable. Such a vaccine must evoke an immune response that blocks an indispensable step in the reproductive process. Vaccine research involves many approaches to fertility prevention.

Blood pressure variability and urinary electrolyte excretion in normotensive adults.

The principal aim of the present study was to determine the relationship of ambulatory blood pressure (BP) to urinary electrolyte excretion in normotensives. Twenty-five young adults underwent ambulatory BP and heart rate monitoring while collecting urine over 24 h. The correlations of 24 h urine sodium excretion and the ratio of sodium/potassium excretion with systolic BP in the laboratory (r = 0.

Catheter occlusion of a mycotic renal artery aneurysm with cure of associated renovascular hypertension.

We describe successful transcatheter occlusion of a mycotic renal artery aneurysm. The patient's hypertension resolved following occlusion of the aneurysm and infarction of the renal parenchyma in the distribution of the aneurysmal vessel.

Intrinsic sympathomimetic activity counteracts beta-blocker inhibition of renin activation.

Enzymatically inactive renin (IR) is the predominant circulating form of renin. Sympathetic activity may influence plasma renin activity (PRA) by regulation of the conversion of IR to active renin (AR, PRA). It has been demonstrated previously that beta blockade lowers PRA at least partly through inhibition of this conversion process.

The relationship of plasma renin activity to clinic and ambulatory blood pressure in elderly people with isolated systolic hypertension.

Eighty-one untreated elderly patients with clinic-defined isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) and 39 normotensive elderly subjects underwent 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Before the ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, EDTA-anticoagulated venous blood was obtained from seated subjects for determination of plasma renin activity. Ambulatory blood pressure and heart rates were determined at 15-30-min intervals by a validated, portable non-invasive technique (Spacelabs 5200).

Comparison of office, home and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressures in borderline and mild hypertension.

Clinic/office (casual), home (self), and twenty-four-hour ambulatory (ABP) blood pressure determinations were compared in 32 subjects defined by conventional office criteria as mild or borderline hypertensives. Office diastolic blood pressures (mean 93.1 +/- 5.

Comparative anti-fertility effects of gossypol enantiomers in male hamsters.

The enantiomers of gossypol have been tested as male oral anti-fertility agents in hamsters. As determined by fertility tests the (-) isomer was fully active at half the effective dose of the racemate, whereas the (+) isomer exerted no anti-fertility effect.

Digoxin-like immunoreactive substance in chronic hemodialysis patients: effect on digitoxin radioimmunoassay.

Digoxin-like immunoreactive substance(s) (DLIS) in the sera of patients with renal insufficiency may confound attempts to monitor serum digoxin levels. We investigated whether DLIS would affect the radioimmunoassay (RIA) for digitoxin. DLIS was detected by RIA in 9 of 38 chronic hemodialysis patients and in none of 25 healthy controls.

The effect of dialysate calcium levels on blood pressure during hemodialysis.

A controlled double-blind prospective study was undertaken of the effect of dialysate calcium levels on BP during hemodialysis. Twenty patients and 240 dialyses were studied using a protocol in which patients underwent alternate hemodialyses with dialysate calcium of 2.5 and 3.

(-)-Gossypol: an active male antifertility agent.

The enantiomers of gossypol have been resolved by preparative HPLC of diastereomeric Schiff's base derivatives on a chiral bonded phase. Whereas (+)-gossypol has previously been reported to be inactive, (-)-gossypol is now shown to be active as a male oral antifertility agent in hamsters.

Long-acting contraceptive agents: structure activity relationships in a series of norethisterone and levonorgestrel esters.

A large number of esters of norethisterone (17 alpha-ethynyl-17 beta-hydroxyestr-4-en-3-one) and levonorgestrel (D-(-)-13 beta-ethyl-17 alpha-ethynyl-17 beta-hydroxygon-4-en-3-one) were synthesized and tested for biological activity. The test employed in these studies was the duration of estrus suppression in cycling mature rats. In the norethisterone series several esters exhibited duration of activity comparable to that of norethisterone enanthate.