A new procedure for removal of a "lost" intrauterine device.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of removal of a "lost" intrauterine device (IUD) with the use of a cylindrical brush.

Methods: Women aged 25-43 years with so-called "lost" IUD, in whom the string was indiscernible, were enrolled in the study. During gynecologic examination, a cylindrical brush was rotated in the cervical canal until the device was extracted by a rotating motion.

The role of the immune system in severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

The ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is a serious, and potentially life-threatening, complication of ovulation induction. Hitherto, there has been no reliable test which will predict patients who will subsequently develop ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Recently, evidences have accumulated concerning the interaction between the immune and reproductive systems which results from sharing certain lymphohaematopoietic cytokines and their receptors.

Menstrual characteristics of women suffering from insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To assess the frequency of menarche and menstrual disturbances among women suffering from insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and to evaluate their correlation to the onset of diabetes, its duration, and complications.

Research Design And Methods: Retrospective analysis of the menstrual regularity and gynecologic and fertility history of 100 women suffering from insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. These data were compared with information obtained from the patients' medical records regarding the age at onset of diabetes, its management, control, and complications.

Surgery in chronic dialysis patients.

During recent years there has been a continuous increase in the number of patients with end-stage renal failure who require long-term dialysis. The purpose of this retrospective work was to look at the number and type of operations performed and the postoperative outcome and complications that may be typical for these patients. This report details our experience with surgery in chronic dialysis patients, focusing mainly on major surgical procedures.

The poor-responder patient in an in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) program.

The purpose of this article is to review the methods and evaluate the 'avenues' that are open to patients and physicians in their search for improvement of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) treatment results. The option of egg donation, although very important and viable in the treatment of poor responders, is not described here.

Chromosome sensitivity to bleomycin-induced mutagenesis in lymphocytes from colorectal cancer patients under 40 years of age.

Purpose: The incidence of colorectal cancer in young adults (under 40 years of age) is rare. The reason for the occurrence in these patients may lie in their genetic background.

Methods: We studied chromosomal fragility in peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients under the age of 40 with large bowel cancer.

The clinical significance of slightly elevated serum human chorionic gonadotropin levels.

The use of highly sensitive procedures for detecting human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) has brought about an increasing occurrence of test results that are difficult to interpret. Furthermore, different results on the same serum sample can be obtained by different methods of measurement and, in extreme cases, serum hCG may be positive by one method and negative by the other. These observations are important, since patients may be hospitalized and receive unnecessary treatment as a result of confusing laboratory data.

The role of cytokines in early detection of preeclampsia.

The signs and symptoms of preeclampsia become apparent at a relatively late stage in pregnancy (third trimester). However, the disorder results from abnormal interaction between fetal and maternal tissue much earlier in pregnancy (first trimester). For this reason, numerous methods have been proposed for the early detection of preeclampsia with considerable disagreement regarding their sensitivity and predictive values.

Low-back pain of pregnancy.

Background: Low-back pain (LBP) is a commonly observed symptom during pregnancy. Despite its high frequency the extent of the problem is less well documented and detailed studies concerning related risk factors are scarce. Furthermore, efforts to address the problem are hampered by the inability to predict accurately which pregnancies are at risk.

The role of intrapartum vibroacoustic stimulation in the prediction of neonatal myasthenia gravis.

Background: The exact mechanism for the development of neonatal myasthenia gravis is unclear, and the occurrence of neonatal myasthenia gravis cannot be predicted.

Case: A case of normal duration of fetal forearm extention with return to flexion in response to vibroacoustic stimulation, and the pertinent details concerning neonatal myasthenia gravis and vibroacoustic stimulation test are described.

Conclusions: Inasmuch as fetal acoustic stimulation test results in a fetal reaction resembling the startle response of the newborn, we think that it will worthwhile to perform this test antenatally in the next encountered fetuses of myasthenic mothers in order to assess its role in the prediction of neonatal myasthenia gravis.

Primary appendiceal neoplasms.

A retrospective review of the files of 1,740 appendectomies performed during a 10-year period disclosed 13 patients (0.7%) with primary appendiceal tumors. Adenocarcinoma of the appendix was diagnosed in 6 patients (0.

Carcinoma of the colon in youngsters: a report of three cases.

Three youngsters aged 12, 16, and 18 years underwent surgery for carcinoma of the colon, a very rare occurrence in this age-group. In all three patients the prominent feature was a marked delay in diagnosis and treatment, as reflected in the advanced pathological stage of the tumors (Dukes' C and D). An increased awareness of the possible occurrence of this type of tumor in young patients, and the resultant earlier diagnosis, are the only means for improving the prognosis.

The possible role of intravenous immunoglobulin in preventing pre-eclampsia.

Our understanding of the pathophysiologic abnormalities contributing to pre-eclampsia has increased substantially over the past decade. This has been accompanied by the introduction of various methods which reduce the incidence of pre-eclampsia to approximately the same range (4-11.8% in high risk group), by attempting to correct the pathophysiologic abnormalities involved, rather than averting its occurrence.

Cytokine production by mononuclear cells from patients with chronic renal failure.

The interleukins play a central role in the regulation of the immune system function. In the present study we compared the ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from three groups of uremic patients and 15 healthy controls to release interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-3-like activity (IL-3-LA). In the first group, 11 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) not yet on dialysis treatment, IL-2 and IL-3-LA were similar to those of the controls.

Cytokines--involvement in reproduction.

Objective: To relay the current knowledge on the interaction between the immune and reproductive systems that results from sharing certain lymphohematopoietic cytokines and their receptors.

Data Identification: Major studies related to this topic have been identified through MEDLINE searches and through the published literature.

Study Selection: Those that have reported on the role of cytokines in the neuroendocrine events of reproduction, ovarian function, placenta, and the developing embryo.

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the heart with vasculitis and venous thrombosis.

Inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) is a tumor-like reactive lesion of unknown etiology. An unusual case of intracardiac IPT with multisystemic involvement, including leukocytoclastic vasculitis, polyarthritis, and inferior vena cava thrombosis in a 17-year-old boy is reported. This unique combination may suggest that immune/autoimmune factors are important in the pathogenesis of IPT.

Familial simple hypohidrosis with abnormal palmar dermal ridges.

A brother and sister born to nonconsanguineous, Iranian Jewish parents were found to have simple hypohidrosis. Pilocarpine produced only little sweating, and external heat and physical effort were associated with elevation of body temperature. Abnormal palmar dermal ridges were considered to be associated with paucity of sweat pores and glands.