The use of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist in anaemic subjects awaiting surgery - abstract

Gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonist (Goserelin) was used to induce amenorrhea in 27 women who were anaemic as a result of menorrhage due to uterine myomas (fibroids). The aim was to produce a three-month period of amenorrhoea which would be enough time for them to recover from the anaemic status and thus be fit for surgery. GnRH agonists supresses gonadotrophin release from the pituitary, thus inhibiting ovarian steroid secretion, resulting in amenorrhoea. Between March 1993 and May 1996, 27 women were injected with goserelin acetate (zoladex), 3.6 mg in the subcutaneous tissue of the anterior abdominal wall on a monthly basis for 3 months. Twenty three went on to have myomectomy. Haemoglobin (Hb) concentration and packed cell volume (PCV) were determined before initiation of treatment. Haemoglobin levels ranged from 4.7 g/dlto 9.9 g/dl and PCV ranged from 0.14 to 0.30 l/l. Three women did not have amenorrhea after the first injection and reported heavier periods, while three had prolonged light bleeding. All six, plus the other seventeen, had amenorrhoea after the second injection. All experienced hot flushed during the course of treatment and 5 (21.7 percent) had vaginal dryness by the third injection. Demineralization of done which is associated with these agents was not assessed. (Au)

Detection of oncogenic HPV DNA by a consensus polymerase chain reaction method in genital carcinomas in twenty women in Barbados

Paraffinized tissue from Barbadian women with histologically proven gential carcinoma was subjected to a consensus polymerase chain reaction method. Nineteen patients had cervical and one, vaginal carcinoma. The histological types were 17 squamous cell carcinoma, 2 adenocarcinoma and 1 adenosquamous carcinoma. HPVDNA was detected in 18/20 (90 percent). HPVDNA type 16 in 13 (65 percent), type 33 and type 45 in 1 (5 percent) each and 3 (15 percent) could not be typed. HPVDNA, type 16, was detected in one (50 percent) of the two cases of adenocarcinoma and 12/17 (71 percent) cases of squamous cell carcinoma. DNAHPV, type 33, and type 45 were each detected in 1/17 (6 percent) cases of squamous cell carcinoma. No HPVDNA, type 18, was detected (AU)

Pathological and cytogenetic observations on the naturally occurring canine venereal tumour in Jamaica (Sticker's tumour)

Cytological and cytogenetic observations are recorded on Jamaican dogs with spontaneous transmissible venereal tumour. Fixed tissue from 22 dogs was examined for pathological study and sex chromatin, and fresh tissue and exudate from the tumour from 9 dogs were examined for cytological features, and chromosome studies. The pathological appearances exclude this tumour from the lymphoma group and show 2 distinct cells, the tumour cell and a lymphoid element. These 2 cell types are seen in the exudate and fresh tissue. The lymphoid cells show no sex chromatin body. The tumour cells show a body which occurs independently of the sex of the animal in 10-30 percent of cells and is thought to be a nucleolus. The chromosome number and karyotype is 58 or 59 with a similar pattern to that seen in the United States and Japan. The aetiology is discussed in the light of these findings and the relative isolation of Jamaica in the canine world.(AU)