Effects of tibolone or continuous combined oestradiol/norethisterone acetate on glucose and insulin metabolism.

Objective: To determine the effects of tibolone or oestradiol (E(2) )/norethisterone acetate (NETA) hormone replacement therapy on glucose and insulin metabolism in postmenopausal women.

Design: Single-centre double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial.

Subjects/methods: We randomized 105 healthy postmenopausal women to tibolone 2·5 mg daily, continuous combined oral E(2) 2 mg/NETA 1 mg daily or placebo over a 2-year study.

Effects of an herbal medication containing bee products on menopausal symptoms and cardiovascular risk markers: results of a pilot open-uncontrolled trial.

Objectives: Fifty-five postmenopausal women with menopausal complaints were treated with the food supplement Melbrosia for 3 months. Menopausal symptom evaluation scales and psychological questionnaires were administered, and cardiovascular disease markers in blood were analyzed at the beginning and the end of the trial.

Setting: The perimenopausal care unit of Second Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Sofia, Bulgaria.

What is the normal heart rate of a term fetus?

There is controversy about the value of continuous versus intermittent auscultation of the fetal heart during labour, but there is no agreement on what constitutes normal heart rate of a term fetus. There are variations between the definitions adopted by different countries, and even within a single country. We propose 110-160 beats per minute for clinical use.