Transcervical sampling as a means of detection of fetal cells during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the detection of fetal cells from transcervical samples by means of fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis.

Study Design: Forty-seven women undergoing first-trimester termination of pregnancy were recruited for transcervical sampling and 16 were recruited for endocervical mucus aspiration. Subjects were asked to assess the discomfort of the procedure.

EB1089, a synthetic analogue of vitamin D, induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells in vivo and in vitro.

1. Effects of the synthetic vitamin D analogue EB1089 on indices of apoptosis in cultured human breast cancer cells and in nitrosomethylurea-induced rat mammary tumours in vivo were investigated. 2.

Receptor for catecholamines responding to catechol which potentiates voltage-dependent calcium current in single cells from guinea-pig taenia caeci.

1. Single isolated cells were obtained from the taenia of the guinea-pig's caecum by enzymic digestion and held under voltage clamp. The effects of various catecholamines, sympathomimetics and related compounds were tested for their ability to potentiate the voltage-dependent calcium current (ICa) evoked in these cells by a depolarizing step.

The effect of mesterolone on sperm count, on serum follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, plasma testosterone and outcome in idiopathic oligospermic men.

Two hundred fifty subfertile men with idiopathic oligospermia (count less than 20 million/ml) were treated with mesterolone (100-150 mg/day) for 12 months. Seminal analysis were assayed 3 times and serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) luteinizing hormone (LH) and plasma testosterone were assayed once before treatment and repeated at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after the initiation of treatment. One hundred ten patients (44%) had normal serum FSH, LH and plasma testosterone, 85 patients (34%) had low serum FSH, LH and low plasma testosterone.