Extrusion forces of resorbable tacks and titanium screws in laryngeal chondrosynthesis.

Laryngotracheal trauma, partial laryngectomy and phonosurgery may necessitate reconstruction of the cartilaginous skeleton to ensure the quality of respiration and voice. The present report focuses on initial experience gained with a new resorbable material for plates and tacks that allows chondrosynthesis of the laryngeal skeleton. A comparison of the extrusion forces necessary to pull out the resorbable tacks versus conventional titanium screws and the degree of deformation until failure represent the experimental parameters of reconstruction quality under investigation.

Reduced incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome by prophylactic infusion of hydroxyaethyl starch solution in an in-vitro fertilization programme.

Prophylactic infusion of human serum albumin can reduce or mitigate severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in patients at high risk. Recently, concern has been expressed in the lay press regarding the potential viral transmissions with blood constituents. Hence, we looked for a safe non-biological substitute with comparable physical properties in order to cope with this concern.

Partial uncoupling of luteinizing hormone and prolactin pulse coincidence in hyperandrogenemic women.

A partly synchronized pulsatile secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin has previously been suggested as an indication of the coupling of the respective pulse generators under certain conditions. In women with hyperandrogenemic chronic anovulation, episodic LH secretion is disturbed. It was, therefore, the aim of the present study to evaluate possible changes in episodic prolactin secretion pattern and in LH/prolactin co-pulsatility, and to relate the results to the accelerated LH pulse frequencies often seen in patients with hyperandrogenemic chronic anovulation.

Pattern of gonadotrophin secretion in patients with hyperandrogenaemic amenorrhoea before and after ovarian wedge resection.

The follow-up of androgen and gonadotrophin concentrations after ovarian wedge resection is reported in two patients with hyperandrogenaemic amenorrhoea. Elevated testosterone concentrations decreased immediately and androstenedione after 3 months. In a patient with polycystic ovarian disease, luteinizing hormone (LH) amplitudes were reduced in the presence of unchanged pulse frequency.

Effects of peritoneal fluids from patients with endometriosis on capacitated spermatozoa.

Objective: To determine the effects of peritoneal fluid (PF) from patients with endometriosis on capacitated sperm.

Design: Capacitated donor sperm were allowed to migrate into straws filled with pooled PF from patients with unexplained infertility without endometriosis (n = 4) and those with mild (n = 4) and moderate-severe (n = 4) endometriosis, respectively, for 3 hours.

Main Outcome Measures: Sperm motility, sperm membrane integrity, and acrosomal loss were determined.

Pulsatile luteinizing hormone secretion pattern in hyperandrogenemic women.

Objective: To elucidate changes in gonadotropin secretion pattern in patients with hyperandrogenemic chronic anovulation of various origins.

Design And Participants: Hyperandrogenemic patients (n = 32), divided into subgroups according to certain clinical and biochemical criteria, and a control group (n = 9) of regularly cycling women with normal androgen and PRL levels were prospectively investigated.

Setting: Infertility and Biochemical Endocrinology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.

Optimizing the delivery of patient and physician satisfaction: a conjoint analysis approach.

This article suggests that, in evaluating and designing health care unit programs, conjoint analysis is superior to the conventional survey-research approach. Conjoint analysis can suggest unit designs that will optimize patient (or physician) satisfaction, while still controlling for unit profitability and other constraints. This article discusses the conjoint approach and illustrates its use in the design of an obstetrical unit.