Ultrasound prenatal diagnosis of a lateral facial cleft (Tessier number 7).

Lateral facial clefting may occur as an isolated phenomenon or in association with other disorders. It may originate from a failed penetration of ectomesenchyme between the developing maxillary and mandibular prominences, but disruptive factors may also occur in a proportion of cases. The frequency of this abnormality is estimated as 1 in 50 000-175 000 live births.

Effects of clomiphene citrate on cervical mucus: analysis of some influencing factors.

A multicenter study was performed to investigate the effects of a standard dose of clomiphene citrate (100 mg/day from day 5 of the cycle for five days) on the quality of cervical mucus. A total of 82 cervical mucus samples from 60 infertile patients (15 with secondary amenorrhea, 16 with delayed ovulation, 15 with anovulatory cycles, 14 with oligomenorrhea) was examined on the day of maximum follicular diameter. As a control we studied 54 cervical mucus samples from 47 patients with documented tubal sterility or infertile partners, who had spontaneous cycles with normal rhythm.

Adenine nucleotides and some related enzyme activities (adenylate kinase and phosphoglycerate kinase) in normal and abnormal human semen.

Adenine nucleotides (ATP and ADP) and enzyme activities of Adenylate Kinase (AK) and Phosphoglycerate Kinase (PGK) were assayed on semen samples from normal and infertile men. In accordance with the values obtained, samples could be classified into two groups: one group with levels of either adenine nucleotides and enzymes assumed as normal; a second group with high levels of all the parameters. The latter group comprised the samples with low sperm density (less than 40 million/ml).

Considerations on tubal sterility of presumed psychogenic origin.

The Authors evaluate a certain number of patients presenting primary or secondary infertility, in the search of any emotional problem which could be responsible for it. While it is hard to demonstrate the psychological origin in some cases of infertility and to quantify its real incidence, the Authors point out the importance of ruling out any psychological factor at the beginning of the work-up for the infertile couple and particularly while ascertaining the tubal patency through the hysterosalpingography, a diagnostic technique which can be very stressing for women.