Insertion of a slim fit tampon into the urethra. A case report.

BACKGROUND: A 14-year-old accidentally inserted a slim fit tampon into her urethra. Such a case could occur again in young teenagers who otherwise have never inserted a tampon and especially have yet to see a gynecologist for their first gynecologic examination. CASE: Accidental insertion of a slim fit tampon into the urethra by a 14-year-old necessitated cystoscopic resection of the engorged tampon. CONCLUSION: Although this is the only case reported of urethral tampon placement, one must include it as part of the differential diagnosis in assessing acute onset of pain or hematuria after the placement of a slim fit tampon.

The effects of nifedipine on pregnancy outcome and morphology of the placenta, uterus, and cervix during late pregnancy in the rat.

OBJECTIVE: Although the calcium antagonist nifedipine has been reported to suppress preterm labor, little is known of the effects of long-term nifedipine use in late pregnancy. In this study the effects of nifedipine on pregnancy outcome and the morphologic features of the reproductive tract in the late-pregnant rat were investigated. STUDY DESIGN: From days 14 to 21 of gestation pregnant rats were administered three or 30 times the maximum human dose of nifedipine reported to suppress preterm labor. Analysis was performed on day 21. RESULTS: Blood vessel dilatation, increased vascularization of the uterus and placenta, and trophoblast hypertrophy were seen in both nifedipine-treated groups. Placental weight was increased in the higher-dose group, but neither dose of nifedipine resulted in any change of fetal survival or malformations. Pup weight was not different from that of controls in the lower-dose group but was significantly reduced (p less than 0.001) with the higher dose. Histologic changes in uterine musculature and cervical collagen were consistent with the inhibitory effects of nifedipine on uterine contractions. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that, in addition to tocolysis, nifedipine can cause vascular dilatation in both the uterus and the placenta. The use of nifedipine within the normal dose range does not appear to adversely affect fetal outcome and may potentially improve fetal outcome in some disorders of pregnancy.

Copper and ceruloplasmin activity in human amniotic fluid.

The variation in the level of copper and ceruloplasmin oxidase activity in human amniotic fluid from 20 weeks' gestation to term was reported. The protein content of amniotic fluid decreased toward term. A definite decreasing trend of concentration of copper, expressed both as nanograms of copper per milliliter of amniotic fluid and nanograms of copper per milligram of protein, was also observed from midgestation toward term. Ceruloplasmin, on the other hand, demonstrated a significant increase from the period 20 38 weeks' gestation, with a subsequent decline after 38 weeks.