Galvanic vestibular stimulation as a novel treatment for seasickness.

Motion sickness is the cause of major physical discomfort and impaired performance in many susceptible individuals. Some habituate to sea conditions, whereas others remain chronically susceptible, requiring lifelong pharmaceutical treatment. The present study sets out to investigate whether galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) coupled with rotatory chair stimulation could mimic sea conditions and alleviate motion sickness symptoms in individuals deemed chronically susceptible.

Adverse events associated with interactions with dietary and herbal supplements among inpatients.

Aims: Dietary and herbal supplements (DHS) are commonly used among inpatients and may cause interactions with drugs or other DHS. This study explored whether adverse events were actually associated with such interactions and examined specific characteristics among inpatient DHS users prone to such adverse events.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 947 patients hospitalized in 12 departments of a tertiary academic medical centre in Haifa, Israel.

Efficacy and safety of salvage therapy using Carfilzomib for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma patients: a multicentre retrospective observational study.

Carfilzomib has been established in previous years as a treatment for patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma (RR-MM). A retrospective multicentre study to evaluate the clinical use of carfilzomib for RR-MM outside of a clinical trial setting was conducted by our group. One hundred and thirty-five patients were included.

Morbidity associated with episiotomy in vacuum delivery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The role of episiotomy in vacuum deliveries is controversial.

Objectives: To perform a meta-analysis of the literature examining this subject.

Search Strategy: The search was conducted in four databases.

The effects of decidual injury on the invasion potential of trophoblastic cells.

Objective: To investigate the effect of a decidual incision on trophoblastic invasion potential in vitro.

Methods: Human trophoblast cells were obtained from first-trimester legal terminations of pregnancy. Decidual tissue was retrieved from healthy, low-risk women who underwent an elective cesarean delivery at term.

Mechanisms of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (mmp-2) transcriptional repression by progesterone in jar choriocarcinoma cells.

Background: Although the MMP-2 promoter lacks a canonical progesterone response element (PRE), the hormone inhibits MMP-2 expression and is part of treatment protocols in gynecological invasive pathologies, including endometriosis and endometrial hyperplasia. This study aimed to explore the mechanism by which progesterone inhibits MMP-2 expression.

Methods: The effect of progesterone on MMP-2 expression in the JAR human choriocarcinoma cell line was analyzed by gelatin zymography.

Intravenous midazolam significantly enhances the lethal effect of thiopental but not that of ketamine in mice.

Intravenous (i.v.) drug combinations are used in clinical anaesthesia in order to combine the desired effects and minimize toxicity from large doses of single agents.

The effect of propofol anaesthesia on oocyte fertilization and early embryo quality.

Propofol, frequently used for i.v. induction of anaesthesia in assisted reproduction procedures, has been suspected of damaging oocytes.

Midazolam/ketamine sedative combination compared with fentanyl/propofol/isoflurane anaesthesia for oocyte retrieval.

Assisted reproduction may be associated with repeated occasions of surgical intervention. Propofol, which is frequently used for induction of anaesthesia in such procedures, has been suspected of damaging oocytes. We compared in a randomized prospective design the use of general anaesthesia with fentanyl 0.

Hyperandrogenic anovulation (the polycystic ovary syndrome)--back to the ovary?

Hyperandrogenic anovulation is characterized by polycystic appearance of the ovaries, elevated free serum testosterone with decreased concentrations of serum sex hormone binding globulin, an increased ratio of luteinizing hormone to follicle stimulating hormone and varying degrees of insulin resistance. We hypothesize that this is the result of variably increased 'ovarian androgenic insulin responsiveness' acting in combination with body mass. Women who develop hyperandrogenism and anovulation when lean (having normal serum insulin concentrations) represent the more severely affected individuals, whereas those who can resume ovulation by losing weight (and lowering their elevated serum insulin) represent a milder form.