Efficacy and tolerability of policosanol in hypercholesterolemic postmenopausal women.

This randomized, double-blind, multicenter placebo-controlled study was conducted to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of policosanol, a cholesterol-lowering drug purified from sugar cane wax, in women who had experienced menopause and showed elevated serum total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels despite a 6-week standard lipid-lowering diet. Thus, 56 eligible patients were randomized to receive placebo or policosanol 5 mg/day for 8 weeks and the dose was doubled to 10 mg/day during the next 8 weeks. Policosanol (5 and 10 mg/day) significantly decreased LDL-cholesterol (17.3% and 26.7%, respectively), total cholesterol (12.9% and 19.5%) as well as the ratios of LDL-cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (17.2% and 26.5%) and total cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol (16.3% and 21.0%) compared with baseline and placebo. HDL-cholesterol levels were significantly raised by 7.4% at study completion. No significant changes occurred in the lipid profile of the placebo group. The drug was safe and well tolerated. No drug-related adverse effects were observed. None of the patients administered policosanol but three of those administered placebo withdrew from the trial because of adverse effects: one due to a serious hypertensive status, one because of an allergic reaction (pruritus plus skin rash) and one due to gastrointestinal disturbances (nauseas plus vomiting). Eleven placebo patients reported 24 adverse effects compared with six policosanol patients who reported seven adverse effects (p < 0.05). In addition, five placebo (17.9%) and 13 policosanol patients (46.4%) (p < 0.05) reported improvements in habitual symptoms and health perception during the study. In conclusion, policosanol was effective and well tolerated in hypercholesterolemic postmenopausal women, showing additional benefits in the health perception of the study patients.

[Gardnerella vaginalis in reports of cervico-vaginal cytology]. / Gardnerella vaginalis en informes de citología cérvico-vaginal.

Gardnerella vaginalis is a microorganism of great importance because of its participation in some gynecological diseases. Data contained in 3421 cervicovaginal cytology reports obtained from the Profamilia Clinic, Cartagena, Colombia between June 1993 and February 1994 were analyzed retrospectively and analytically. Cells suggestive of Gardnerella vaginalis were found in 723 reports, the greatest proportion being in the 25-29, 30-34, 35-39 year-old age groups (without statistical significance). There is a high frequency of Gardnerella vaginalis as related to healthy cervix and flux. Among the population with Gardnerella vaginalis a low percentage of neoplasia and non-classified atypical cell were found inflammatory reaction was reported in more than half of the cases. In 95% of the reports, Gardnerella vaginalis was the only agent found, the remaining 5% had associated HVP, fungus and trichomonas. Because of the medical staff responsible for taking the samples, cervico-vaginal cytology is an effective method for studying the state of the vagina and cervix.

[Laparoscopic hysterectomy. Results in 80 cases]. / Histerectomía laparoscópica. Resultados en 80 casos.

Our experience is based on laparoscopic hysterectomies performs from August 1992 to May 1994. The purpose of the initial surgical objective is described, as well as different variations of the technique. The procedure was systematized, the operating time was diminished to a considerable extent, thus avoiding intra-operatory complications. Pre-operatory diagnosis and histopathological findings were enumerated. Intra-operatory and post-operatory complications were evaluated. With an increasing development of the technique, a shorter operating time was made possible. The length of hospital stay and its quality were unrelated to the operation time. A quick recovery was reached as regards complete activity of the patients. Laparoscopic hysterectomy performed by an endoscopic-gynecologist surgeon represents an alternative and a new way of thinking.

Histerectomía laparoscópica. Resultados en 80 casos. / [Laparoscopic hysterectomy. Results in 80 cases]

Our experience is based on laparoscopic hysterectomies performs from August 1992 to May 1994. The purpose of the initial surgical objective is described, as well as different variations of the technique. The procedure was systematized, the operating time was diminished to a considerable extent, thus avoiding intra-operatory complications. Pre-operatory diagnosis and histopathological findings were enumerated. Intra-operatory and post-operatory complications were evaluated. With an increasing development of the technique, a shorter operating time was made possible. The length of hospital stay and its quality were unrelated to the operation time. A quick recovery was reached as regards complete activity of the patients. Laparoscopic hysterectomy performed by an endoscopic-gynecologist surgeon represents an alternative and a new way of thinking.