[Benzalkonium in local contraception and sexually-transmitted diseases].

In 96 women, followed in ambulatory from 1983 to 1986, the use as a local contraceptive of a sponge treated with benzalkonium has been studied. This substance has not only shown itself a good contraceptive but may result even a useful precautionary measure against STD.

Cytogenetic findings in 4952 prenatal diagnoses. An Italian collaborative study.

The development of prenatal diagnosis in Italy was made difficult by the restrictions of the old abortion law and only in recent years has a consistent number of cases been investigated. We report the experience on prenatal chromosome diagnosis of ten Italian centers participating in a collaborative study on 4952 diagnoses performed from 1972 to 1980. The main indication groups were: advanced maternal age (2882 cases), previous child with chromosome anomaly from parents with normal karyotype (847 cases), and chromosome anomaly in one parent (97 cases).