Factors associated with the intention of pregnant women to give birth with epidural analgesia: a cross-sectional study.

Background: In Belgium most women receive epidural analgesia during labour. Although, it offers satisfactory pain relief during labour, the risk on a series of adverse advents has been reported. The objective of this study was to determine factors associated with the intention of pregnant women, anticipating a vaginal birth, of requesting epidural analgesia during labour.

Anabolics: the situation in Belgium.

The illegal use of anabolics in 1989-1990 and its control in Belgium are reviewed. After a short presentation of the Belgian legislation and EEC directives, a recent hormone scandal published by a consumer magazine is related and the composition of 17 hormone cocktails found on the black market is given. The strategy of control involves screening of the main artificial anabolics in urine by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and confirmation by thin-layer chromatography (TLC).

Simultaneous determination of methylated barbiturates and other anticonvulsant drugs by high-resolution gas chromatography.

Several barbiturates and other anticonvulsant drugs can be analyzed simultaneously as dimethylated derivatives by high-resolution gas chromatography with a solid flash methylation injector. Quantitative determinations were performed on test serum during a quality control scheme. The sensitivity (+/- 0.