2D Raman-THz Spectroscopy of Binary CHBr3-MeOH Solvent Mixture.

Hybrid 2D Raman-terahertz (THz) spectroscopy is used to measure the interactions between two solvents paired in the binary CHBr3-MeOH mixture in the frequency range of 1-7 THz. Changes in the cross peak signature are monitored, originating from the coupling of an intramolecular bending mode of CHBr3 to the collective intermolecular degrees of freedom of the mixture. The appearance of a new cross peak in the 2D spectrum measured for solvent mixture with MeOH molar fraction of 0.3 indicates a coupling to a new set of low-frequency modes formed due to the hydrogen bond interactions between the two solvents. This interpretation is supported by the measurement of the CHBr3-CS2 binary solvent mixture as well as by 1D absorption measurements of neat MeOH.

Prostaglandin F2 alpha for prevention of urinary retention after vaginal hysterectomy.

The delay in spontaneous micturition after pelvic surgical procedures is a significant complication. This study was performed to establish the validity of intravesical instillation of prostaglandin F2 alpha in the prevention of urinary retention after vaginal surgery. For this purpose 102 patients were randomly and alternatively allocated to receive either 16 mg of prostaglandin F2 alpha diluted in 40 mL of saline or saline only given intravesically. Similar numbers of patients with vaginal hysterectomy (27 versus 31), vaginal repair (12 versus 11), and repair with Kelly urethral plication (12 versus 9) were included in the study and control group, respectively. The frequency of urinary retention in the women treated with prostaglandin F2 alpha was decreased significantly as compared with those treated with saline alone (P less than .02). But this was true for women undergoing vaginal hysterectomy only. There was also a significantly shorter hospitalization of women receiving prostaglandin F2 alpha (P less than .05) and there were no side effects.

Protein/creatinine ratio in random urine specimens for quantitation of proteinuria in preeclampsia.

Protein/creatinine ratio (mg/g) in random urine samples was measured in 35 preeclamptic patients and 70 healthy pregnant women. We found a close correlation between the protein/creatinine ratio in random urine samples and both the 24-hour protein excretion and the 24-hour protein/creatinine ratio in the preeclamptic patients. The ratio did not exceed 200 mg/g in any of the 70 healthy pregnant women; therefore, ratios below this value can be considered normal. We conclude that determination of the protein/creatinine ratio in random urine specimens may be a simple method for quantitation of proteinuria in preeclampsia.

Epidural analgesia in midtrimester abortion.

Epidural analgesia was performed in 78 women with abortion in the midtrimester or pre-term delivery of up to 27 weeks of pregnancy. The patients were divided into three groups. The first group included thirty women with signs of inevitable abortion. The second group comprised of 9 cases of induced abortion and the third one of 39 cases of pre-term delivery. The three groups were statistically evaluated in relation to time of abortion or labor, fetal weight, weeks of pregnancy, parity and patient's age and were consequently compared with 90 women divided into three similar control groups. The effect of the epidural analgesia was satisfactory in all cases in the three experimental groups, and no complications or side-effects were observed. The advantages of the use of epidural analgesia were the diminished psychological reaction to the abortion, the possibility to perform surgical procedures without any additional anesthesia and the reduction in the duration of the abortion or labor. These advantages justified in our opinion the use of the procedure.

A scoring system for induction of labor using prostaglandin E2 vaginal tablets.

A randomized controlled trial was carried out in order to establish the efficacy of a scoring system for calculating the dose of vaginal prostaglandin E2 tablets for the induction of labor. One hundred ten women were included in the study. The patients received a dose of prostaglandin E2 calculated according to a scoring system based on the Bishop's score, or the standard dose of 3 mg repeated 6 h later if labor did not start. The percentage of inductions achieved was the same with both regimens (92.7%). The mean total dose used in the scoring system-group (2.7 mg) was significantly lower than that used in the 3-mg group (3.5 mg, P less than 0.025). Thirty-seven of 55 women receiving the scoring dose delivered with amounts of 2.5 mg prostaglandin E2 or less. Three cases of uterine hyperstimulation were observed in the 3-mg group whereas no cases were observed in the scoring group. The scoring system is proposed as a method for calculating the dose of vaginal prostaglandin E2 for induction of labor and minimizing the risk of overdosage.

[Contraceptive effect and tolerance of monthly oral doses of quinestrol (author's transl)].

PIP: 86 fertile women aged 18 to 37 were given 3.5 mg of Quinestrol monthly for a total of 457 cycles and were studied for the effectiveness and tolerance of this contraceptive. In order to induce periodic hemorrhage, 6 mg of the synthetic progestogen ethynodiol diacetate was added to the Quinestrol. Patients were advised to use an additional contraceptive during the first cycle. Only 1 pregnancy took place throughout the study and this occurred in the first month in a patient who had neglected to use another contraceptive during this time. Side effects, which included nausea and vomiting, were reported most often during the 1st month of treatment and became less troublesome as therapy continued. Exceptions were hypermenorrhea and spotting, which occurred more frequently during later treatment cycles. Ovulation was found to occur in 28% to 39% of the cycles, suggesting that the antifertility property of Quinestrol is not due solely to its inhibitory effect on ovulation.^ieng

Epidural analgesia during labour in twin pregnancy.

We report on the use of epidural analgesia during labour in 58 out of a total of 234 twin deliveries performed over a five-year period. A comparable control group consisted of 44 twin pregnancies delivered consecutively during the year preceding the introduction of epidural analgesia into our department. Epidural analgesia shortened the mean time of labour and made possible the performance of all necessary instrumental and obstetrical manoeuvres, without additional anaesthesia or adverse effects on the second twin. The epidural group required oxytocin more often due to an increased incidence of hypotonic uterine dysfunction. There was also a considerable increase of instrumental deliveries in the epidural group. The condition of the newborn infants of both groups, evaluated by Apgar score at one minute, was similar, but there was a higher perinatal mortality among pre-term infants delivered under epidural analgesia. Epidural analgesia was found to be an acceptable method of relieving pain in twin labour, but because of the increased necessity to use oxytocin and the relatively high perinatal mortality observed among pre-term infants, further experience is necessary before it can be claimed that this is the method of choice for relief of pain in twin labour.

Human chorionic gonadotropin in intrauterine device users.

Measurements of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), luteinizing hormone (LH), and progesterone were carried out by means of radioimmunoassays in 21 women with regular menstruating cycles, using an intrauterine device (IUD). Serum HCG was undetectable in 10 women. In 11 women very small amounts of HCG were detected, all under 3 mIU/ml. HCG curves were inactive and flat; in one case the highest level of HCG coincided with the LH peak; in another case HCG was detected in spite of lack of ovulation. These facts suggest a cross-reactivity of LH and no real presence of HCG.

PIP: It has been reported that HCG (human chorionic gonadotropins) found in IUD users is a sign of an implantation of fertilized ovum, and that irregular bleeding in the IUD users may be a sign of an early abortion. Other authors contend, however, that HCG levels found in IUD wearers coincide with the peak of LH (luteinizing hormone) and are therefore a sign of cross reaction rather than the actual presence of real HCG. This study was conducted to investigate the presence of HCG during the luteal phase of 21 IUD wearers (aged 22 to 39 years) with menstrual cycles ranging from 25 to 33 days. A total of 80 blood samples was collected and analyzed for levels of HCG B-subunit, LH, and progesterone using radioimmunoassays. 10 women did not exhibit measurable amounts of B-subunit of HCG. In the other 11, very small amounts of HCG were detected (all under 3 mIU/ml. In 1 case, level of progesterone measured (0.6 to 0.7 ng/ml) pointed to a lack of ovulation while in another case, the highest level of HCG (2.5 mIU/ml paralleled the peak of LH reached at 44.6 mIU/ml. The findings suggest that cross reactivity causes the presence of small amounts of HCG in the blood of IUD wearers.

Epidural analgesia in labour performed by obstetricians.

The use of epidural analgesia by obstetricians in 2,645 women in labour is reported. The use of this technique as one of the routine methods is proposed even in those centres where no anaesthetist for pain relief is available for the 24-hour period. This is possible by the previous training of obstetricians. Advantages, side-effects and complications of epidural analgesia are discussed.

The treatment of postmenopausal syndrome by monthly oral doses of quinestrol.

Seventy patients between the ages of 37 and 59 suffering from the menopausal syndrome were included in a clinical trial and treated for a period of 6 to 18 months. Out of the seventy, 43 were suffering from spontaneous and 27 from surgical menopause. Forty of them were given 1 mg of quinestrol and 30 received placebo. The drug was administered orally in a one-tablet dose once a month. An improvement took place in 35 (87.5%) of the women receiving quinestrol but in only 15 (50%) of those receiving placebo. Among the patients with spontaneous menopause an improvement was seen in 22 out of 25 (88%) receiving quinestrol, compared with 9 out of 18 (50%) receiving placebo. Tolerance of the drug was good and most of the laboratory tests as well as blood pressure and body weight showed statistically non-significant changes. This kind of treatment is expecially suitable when daily intake is undesirable.

PIP: Use of small daily doses of quinestrol, a synthetic estrogen consisting of 3 cyclopenthyl-ether of ethinyl estradiol, has been reported to result in remission of postmenopausal symptoms in many patients. This study used quinestrol in 1 mg monthly oral doses in a group of women (N=70) suffering from the menopausal syndrome (43 from spontaneous and 27 from surgical menopause). 40 women received quinestrol 1 mg and 30 were given placebo. Of the 40 who were given quinestrol, 25 had spontaneous menopause and 15 were surgically induced. In the placebo group, 18 had spontaneous menopause and 12 were surgically induced. Treatment lasted from 6-18 months; none of the patients knew whether they had quinestrol or placebo. Blood samples were taken in 10 patients before treatment and 6 months later. As a whole, improvement was observed in 87.5% of the quinestrol-treated group, in contrast to 50% of the placebo-treated group. For women with spontaneous menopause, an improvement was observed in 88% of the quinestrol group and 50% of the placebo group. With respect to the effectiveness of quinestrol, no significant difference in the relief of symptoms was observed between the 2 groups (spontaneous and surgical menopause). Observed side effects were skin rash in 2 patients, thrombophlebitis in 1 patient, vaginal bleeding in 3 patients and nausea in 4 patients. It was concluded that quinestrol therapy is especially suitable in surgical menopause where substitutive therapy is indicated, as well as in cases where daily intake is not favored.

Increased decidual prostaglandin E concentration in human abortion.

Prostaglandin E (PGE) concentration was measured in decidual tissue after spontaneous and missed abortion and compared with that obtained from induced abortion. Tissues were obtained by curettage from groups of 10 patients each and PGE was estimated by radioimmunoassay. After spontaneous and missed abortions decidual tissue contained significantly higher mean concentrations of PGE, (486.3 and 66.7 ng/g wet tissue respectively) than after induced abortion (18.6 ng PGE/g wet tissue). It is suggested that an increased rate of PGE biosynthesis or reduced breakdown, or both, may play a role in the mechanism of human abortion.