Harmonic height distribution in pickup spectroscopy within electrostatic ion beam traps.

Pickup spectroscopy is a means of determining the abundance, mass, charge, and lifetime of ions oscillating in electrostatic ion beam traps. Here, we present a framework for describing the harmonic height distribution of the Fourier transform of the pickup signal and discuss the importance of the pickup positioning, bunch dynamics, and pickup width on the harmonic height distribution. We demonstrate the methodology using measurements from a newly constructed electrostatic ion beam trap.

Photolysis of aqueous H2O2: quantum yield and applications for polychromatic UV actinometry in photoreactors.

Methanol is used to measure the yield of *OH radicals produced in the photolysis of H2O2 in aqueous solutions. The UV photolysis of H202 generates *OH radicals, which in the presence of methanol, oxygen, and phosphate buffer form formaldehyde, namely, phi(HCHO) = phi(*OH). The quantum yield of *OH has been redetermined in view of literature inconsistencies resulting in phi(*OH) = 1.

Cesarean section is not protective against adverse neurological outcome in survivors of preterm delivery due to overt chorioamnionitis.

Objective: To determine whether the mode of delivery has a protective value on the immediate adverse neonatal neurological outcome of infants born from pregnancies complicated by preterm chorioamnionitis.

Methods: A comparison of the immediate and long-term neurological outcome of preterm neonates (24-34 weeks' gestation) of pregnancies complicated by chorioamnionitis, was made between those born by Cesarean section and by vaginal delivery.

Results: Of the 73 newborns, 54 (74%) survived the neonatal period; two (2.

Maternal and umbilical cord serum leptin concentrations in small-for-gestational-age and in appropriate-for-gestational-age neonates: a maternal, fetal, or placental contribution?

Leptin is secreted during pregnancy by the placenta and by the maternal and fetal adipose tissues. The leptin levels mainly reflect the amount of fat stored and thus are indicative of the energy balance, i.e.

Serum inhibin B levels measured early during FSH administration for IVF may be of value in predicting the number of oocytes to be retrieved in normal and low responders.

Background: In a previous study we have found that in normal ovulatory women, serum inhibin B levels on days 4-6 of FSH administration correlated with the number of oocytes retrieved. In the current study we examined the significance of earlier inhibin B measurements in predicting the oocyte number, in both normal and low responders.

Methods: Study A consisted of 19 patients undergoing their first IVF cycle (n = 10) or had a normal response ( vertical line 6 oocytes retrieved, n = 9), while study B consisted of 15 patients with a previous low ovarian response ( View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A sero-epidemiological study of herpes virus type 1 and 2 infection in Israel.

In order to obtain data on the prevalence and incidence of herpes virus type 2 (HSV(2)) infection in selected populations of women and to identify groups that might benefit from routine prenatal screening, an epidemiological study was conducted during the period 1984-1990, which showed HSV(2) seroprevalence to be 2.8%. Due to the worldwide increase of over 30% of HSV(2) infection in the past two decades, a second study was performed during the period 1 January 1998-31 December 1999.

The questionable use of albumin for the prevention of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in an IVF programme: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Background: The role of intravenous (IV) albumin administration in the prevention of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and in the improvement of IVF conception outcomes was evaluated in a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled double blind study.

Methods: Ninety-eight women were enrolled in the study and were consecutively assigned to either a treatment group or a control group. Eleven patients were lost to follow-up after assignment.

[Current trends in surgery for female urinary stress incontinence].

Quality of life of 5% of the female population is impaired by urinary stress incontinence. Its cause is pelvic floor relaxation and the cure is surgical. The most widely performed operations are retropubic colposuspensions and sling operations, which have relatively high, well-proven cure rates.

Bell palsy complicating pregnancy: a review.

Unlabelled: The aim of the present work was to review the published evidence on the association of Bell palsy (BP), an acute idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis of unknown etiology, with pregnancy. Reports have shown that women of reproductive age are affected two to four times more often than men of the same age, and pregnant women 3.3 times more often than nonpregnant women.

Attenuation of ovarian response by low-dose ketoconazole during superovulation in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of mild inhibition of ovarian steroidogenesis by very low-dose ketoconazole during induction of ovulation in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Design: Prospective, randomized, cross-controlled study in consecutive cycles.

Setting: Large tertiary care center.

Analysis of umbilical artery flow parameters during fetal variable decelerations using computerized Doppler waveforms.

Umbilical artery velocity waves were obtained by Doppler ultrasonography before, during, and after 20 episodes of fetal heart rate (FHR) variable decelerations (VD) during the active stage of labor in 8 women. During 50% of the VD periods, the umbilical artery resistance flow parameters increased significantly (p < 0.01).

Prenatal sonographic appearance of congenital fibrosarcoma.

Congenital fibrosarcoma is a rare soft tissue sarcoma. A 22-year-old woman in the 22nd week of her first pregnancy underwent sonographic examination, which revealed a soft tissue swelling of the fetus's left thigh. The pregnancy was terminated, and congenital fibrosarcoma was diagnosed by pathologic examination.

The origin of serum progesterone during the follicular phase of menotropin-stimulated cycles.

The study was designed to investigate the source of progesterone secretion during pituitary suppression and ovarian stimulation. It involved 416 women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) who were treated with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) and human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) (group I), 139 women undergoing ovulation induction with HMG only (group II) and nine women who were diagnosed previously as late-onset adrenal hyperplasia and treated continuously with dexamethasone, in addition to ovulation induction (group III). During HMG treatment, serum oestradiol and progesterone were measured every 1-2 days.

Effects of erythromycin on contractility of isolated myometrium from pregnant rats.

Objective: Erythromycin is a stimulant of motor activity in the stomach, but its effects on the uterus have not been studied and only its antibiotic properties have been considered in the treatment of idiopathic preterm labor. The objective of this study was to characterize in vitro the effect of erythromycin on the contractility of the pregnant rat uterus.

Study Design: Myometrial strips from pregnant rats were suspended in tissue baths Isometric contractions were monitored by force transducers in response to various agents that were added to the bath solution.

Postnatal depression: a prospective study of its prevalence, incidence and psychosocial determinants in an Israeli sample.

Objective: To assess the prevalence and incidence of postnatal depression and its relation to certain psychosocial factors.

Method: A questionnaire was administered to 327 randomly selected pregnant women on the first or second postpartum day A and again 6 to 12 weeks later B. The questionnaire comprised a psychosocial and demographic self-report, and the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).

Increased number of IGF-I receptors on erythrocytes of women with polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that insulin acts though ovarian IGF-I receptors to produce excessive amounts of androgens in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), by measuring the binding capacity of IGF-I receptors on erythrocytes and relating the findings to the degree of hyperandrogenism and hyperinsulinaemia.

Design: A case-control study of IGF-I receptors on erythrocytes of women with PCOS and age- and weight-matched controls.

Patients And Methods: IGF-I receptors on erythrocytes, serum levels of androgens, IGF-I, GH, basal insulin and insulin response during oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT) were measured after induced or spontaneous withdrawal bleeding in 10 women with PCOS and eight normo-ovulatory women.

Elevated serum progesterone levels during pituitary suppression may signify adrenal hyperandrogenism.

Objective: To investigate whether elevated serum P levels after pituitary down-regulation signify adrenal enzyme defects or hyperandrogenism.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Assisted reproduction unit in a university medical center.

Parental attitudes toward obstetric ultrasound examination.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of ultrasound examination on parental attitudes and anxieties.

Material And Method: Ultrasound examinations were carried out on 1,089 pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancies at a mean gestational age of 20.9 weeks (minimum 10 weeks).

The effect of the amount of feedback on anxiety levels during ultrasound scanning.

This study examined the influence of different levels of feedback and of other situational and buffering variables on the psychological effects of ultrasound examinations of 211 pregnant women. The patients were randomly assigned to two different experimental conditions: high feedback and low feedback. The subjects' levels of anxiety (both trait- and state-anxiety) were measured immediately before and after the ultrasound examination.

Anxiety levels of pregnant women during ultrasound examination: coping styles, amount of feedback and learned resourcefulness.

Anxiety levels were measured before and after ultrasound examination in 183 women who underwent the procedure as part of their routine prenatal care. Women were classified according to their preferred mode of information gathering, their amount of available cognitive resources and predetermined feedback conditions. The results indicated significant reductions in state or situational anxiety levels for all subjects while trait anxiety was unaffected.

The effect of normal childbirth on eyes with abnormalities predisposing to rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Background: Pregnant women who have high myopia, a history of retinal detachment or retinal holes, or have known lattice degeneration are frequently referred to an ophthalmologist for advice concerning the management of pregnancy and labor, i.e. whether a spontaneous vaginal delivery can be allowed and whether prophylaxis for high-risk retinal pathology is indicated.

Early uterine prolapse following colponeedle suspension.

The association of retropubic colposuspension for the treatment of urinary stress incontinence with genital prolapse has been reported previously. Described here is a case of an 83-year-old patient who had a colponeedle suspension and was readmitted because of genital prolapse 3 weeks after surgery. This case emphasizes the need for proper evaluation of the whole pelvic floor prior to any surgical treatment for urinary incontinence, and addition of appropriate surgical measures aimed to avoid later genital prolapse, if necessary.

The effect of feedback on anxiety levels during ultrasound scanning for ovarian cancer.

Women undergoing ultrasound scanning for the detection of ovarian cancer benefit psychologically from the examination, which has been shown to reduce levels of anxiety, depression, hostility and complaints about somatic symptoms. However, it is not completely clear what aspects of the ultrasound examination are responsible for these effects, and how these beneficial psychological effects vary under different circumstances. This study examined, in particular, the effect of various levels of feedback on patients' anxiety levels before and after ultrasound examination.

Gynecologic and obstetric aspects of Gaucher's disease: a survey of 53 patients.

Objective: We report our experience on the gynecologic and obstetric features of 53 female patients with Gaucher's disease.

Study Design: Each patient was interviewed for a detailed medical history, and all underwent a complete physical examination and laboratory work-up.

Results: Delay of puberty onset was encountered in two thirds of the patients without subsequent infertility.