[Change in indications for cesarean section].

The drastic decrease in the maternal lethality risk has influenced the indication for caesarean section. As the overall difference in mortality and morbidity between elective caesarean section and attempted vaginal delivery decreases, the consequence is a more liberal indication for caesarean section in order to avoid pain, damage to the pelvic structures and to protect the fetus. Maternal autonomy has to be respected by the obstetrician.

[Benign increase of tumor marker Ca 12-5 in pelvic peritonitis with ascites].

Two patients suffering from pelveoperitonitis had ascites and elevated CA 12-5 serum level mimicking epithelial ovarian cancer. Both were treated successfully with antibiotics, after laparoscopic confirmation.

[Fetomaternal macrotransfusion--a cause for decreased fetal movements. 2 cases].

Two cases of fetomaternal macrotransfusion in otherwise normal pregnancies are reported. In both cases the main symptoms observed by the patients were decreasing fetal movements. Cardiotocography revealed a highly pathologic pattern an immediate cesarean section was performed.

[Detection of fibronectin for confirming the diagnosis of premature rupture of fetal membranes].

Diagnosis of premature rupture of membranes (PROM) usually leads to severe clinical consequences. Diagnostic tests for confirmation of suspected rupture of membranes are either unreliable or can adversely affect the pregnancy. Foetal fibronectin is synthesised by the foetoplacental membranes especially in the anchoring villus.

[The AIDS epidemic and its importance in obstetrics and gynecology].

There is hardly any other disease where differences of opinion are so dramatic as they are in AIDS. Safely established epidemiologic data are interpreted most controversially and heatedly discussed. Gynaecology and obstetrics are no exception; here, too, scientific discussion is marred by emotional overtones.

[Involvement of the mamillae in breast cancer].

500 cases of carcinoma of the female breast were analysed in connection with the problem whether there is any involvement of the mamilla in this disease. The mamilla was found to be involved in 98 cases (19.6%), the incidence rate of this involved increasing with advancing age.

[Comparative studies on the termination of intact and disturbed pregnancies by intramuscular application of 15(s)-15-methyl-prostaglandin F2alpha (author's transl)].

15(S)-15-Methyl-Prostaglandin F2alpha was applied intramuscular to end 27 intact pregnancies mainly in the second trimenon and to induce abortion in 5 cases of disturbed pregnancy. The results showed a similar success of 90 percent in the cases of interruptions compared with the natural prostaglandins applied either extra- or intraamniotic; in the mean induction-abortion-interval of 16 hours the 15(S)-15-Methyl-Prostaglandin F2alpha is better than natural prostaglandins. It is much simpler to apply, the dosage is less.

[Epidural analgesia as a routine method is obstetrics (author's transl)].

Epidural analgesia does not only produce relief of pain in childbirth; in many cases it also has therapeutic effects and prevents foetal injury. The adoption of epidural analgesia as a safe routine method for the relief of labour pain is subject to certain conditions: the indications and contra-indications must be carefully assessed; equipment and obstetric anaesthetic service must be adequate; potential complications following epidural analgesia must be considered; the patient should he told that epidural analgesia is going to be used and her consent should be obtained. Shared responsibility and close co-operation between obstetrician and anaesthetist provide the best conditions for the success of epidural analgesia.

[Investigations regarding the validity of estrogen-creatine quotients from morning urine compared with those from 24-hour urine in high risk pregnancies (author's transl)].

An automated method for determining total estrogen in 24-hour urine was reported. The "estrogen-creatinine quotient" was computed in order to make the results of collective errors as independent as possible. This numerical value also makes possible comparative studies of 24-hour urine and morning urine (6:00 a.