Cervical carcinogenesis and contraception

Cytologic evaluation of cervical smears has been carried out in 3,374 women who used different modes of contraception (Lippes loop, copper T200, copper T220, copper devices containing higher copper content than the copper T200, CuT380 Ag, levonorgestrel IUD, injections of noresthisterone oenanthate, and subdermal implants of levonorgestrel) under the Contraceptive Testing Programme of Indian Council of Medical Research for periods ranging from 6 months to 15 yr. While no case of severe dysplasia or malignancy was noticed with any type of contraceptive, 113 dysplastic smears (99 mild and 14 moderate) were encountered on follow-up, giving an incidence of 3.3%, which was statistically insignificant compared with the pretreatment incidence of 1.4% (47 of 3,374). The highest incidence of dysplasia was seen with devices containing a high copper content (9.2%), followed by CuT200 (6.1%) and levonorgestrel implants (4.2%), and was lowest with Lippes loop (1.8%), injection of noresthisterone oenanthate (1.7%), and CuT380 Ag (1.5%), but statistics higher than the pretreatment incidence of 1.4% were seen only with CuT200 and devices containing high copper content. Retrogression of dysplasia was seen in 85 of the 94 posttreatment dysplasia cases and in all 47 pretreatment dysplasia cases, whereas in the remaining nine posttreatment cases of dysplasia the lesion persisted for 6-12 mo, necessitating discontinuation of contraception. The accumulated follow-up data indicate that the CuT380 Ag device is a promising IUD for the future in view of its low incidence of dysplasia determined during its use up to 5 yr. However, more prolonged follow-up in larger numbers of subjects is required to confirm its innocuousness on long-term retention.

Direct positive effect of epidermal growth factor on the cytoplasmic maturation of mouse and human oocytes

OBJECTIVE

Immature mammalian oocytes cultured in vitro undergo inadequate cytoplasmic maturation and hence have a limited potential for fertilization. Our primary objective was to determine if the addition of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to the in vitro culture system would have a positive effect on oocyte cytoplasmic maturation.

DESIGN

We studied the effect of different EGF concentrations on both denuded and cumulus-enclosed mouse oocytes cultured in vitro.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The percentage of oocytes undergoing germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and polar body one formation over time as a function of EGF concentration was determined.

RESULTS

A dose-related positive effect of EGF on both GVBD and polar body one formation over time was observed for mouse oocytes. As well, a similar effect of EGF was seen on immature human oocytes that had not been stimulated with exogenous gonadotropins.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of EGF may allow for the performance of successful in vitro fertilization procedures using immature human oocytes retrieved during unstimulated cycles.

Biogenic amines and ascorbic acid in rat brain following steroid contraceptive treatment

Chronic treatment with steroid contraceptive produced a decrease in dopamine and norepinephrine concentration in discrete brain areas and an increase in ascorbic acid level. We suggest that alteration in the level of biogenic amines by steroid contraceptive may have some functional correlation with the ascorbic acid concentration in rat brain.

Seminal vesiculitis due to Mycobacterium gastri leading to male infertility

Tuberculosis of the genitourinary tract is a well-known cause of male infertility. However, infertility from infection by nontuberculous mycobacterium has not been reported. Herein, we present a case of seminal vesiculitis due to Mycobacterium gastri in a diabetic patient leading to male infertility. Improvement in semen quality was noticed after 6 months of therapy with isoniazid, ethambutol and rifampicin.

The distribution of some serum protein and red cell enzyme polymorphisms in the Koch ethnic group of West Bengal, India

Three populations (Poliya, Deshi, and Tiyor) of the Koch ethnic group have been studied for the distribution of three serum protein and four red cell enzyme polymorphisms. There was no significant difference in the allelic frequencies of these systems in the three populations of the Koch ethnic group. The overall gene frequencies were as follows: Hp1, 0.21; Gc1F, 0.34; Gc1S, 0.36; Gc2, 0.30; TfC1, 0.66; TfC2, 0.26; TfC3, 0.001; TfD, 0.06; GLO1, 0.21; PGI2, 0.04; AK2, 0.01; PGM1+, 0.80; PGM1-, 0.06; PGM2+, 0.11 and PGM2-, 0.02. The phenotypic distribution at all the loci was at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

Effects of passive motion and early vs. delayed ambulation on adhesion formation in rat uterine surgery

The goal of our study was to assess the effects of unrestrained ambulation and of passive motion and delayed ambulation on the occurrence of adhesions after controlled uterine injuries, produced by conventional surgical techniques, in rats. A classic Pomeroy ligation was performed on the left uterine horn and a 1 cm x 3 mm rectangular flap hysterotomy on the right uterine horn in 48 rats, which were subsequently divided into four groups of 12 each. Group 1 served as controls and were allowed to ambulate without restriction following recovery from the anesthetic. Group 2 remained anesthetized for 12 hours, during which time each was passively moved from one lateral decubitus position to the opposite every 15 minutes. Group 3 were anesthetized for 12 hours and group 4 animals for 24 hours, following which unrestricted ambulation was allowed. All animals were killed 3 weeks after the operation and the left and right uterine horn adhesions were graded separately using a macroscopic system. The adhesion score of the left horn in group 2 animals (3.5) was significantly higher (P less than .025) than in the control animals (2.25). Group 3 animals had adhesion scores on the left (2.75), but did not differ significantly from controls (P greater than .05). Group 4 animals demonstrated significantly higher adhesion scores of the left uterine horn (3.3) than control animals. Group 2 animals, but not group 3 or group 4, had higher mean adhesion scores of the right uterine horn than control animals (P less than .005).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ultrasound guided pancreatic ductography

Thirteen patients underwent ultrasound guided percutaneous pancreatic ductography during a one year period. In nine cases the procedure was performed after failure of endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) and in four patients ERP was not attempted. Under ultrasound guidance a 22 gauge needle was inserted into the pancreatic duct through a vertical transgastric route. After aspiration of 10-15 ml of pancreatic juice, contrast medium was injected into the pancreatic duct. Opacification was successful in 12 (92%) patients. No significant complications were encountered. The usefulness of the procedure in our country is highlighted.

A modified technique of ultrasonically guided percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage

Ultrasonically guided percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage was performed for palliative treatment in 31 patients and for pre-operative drainage in 21. The drainage was performed through a right intercostal approach with the ultrasound transducer placed in the midclavicular line without use of any specialized adaptor. No major complications were encountered. The main advantages of ultrasound guided drainage were (1) the rapidness of the procedure, (2) the negligible risk of puncturing blood vessels, and (3) the minimal exposure to radiation.

Characterization of a novel 66 kd subunit of mammalian neurofilaments

A 66 kd protein, pl 5.4, was purified from the Triton-insoluble fraction of rat spinal cord. This protein formed 10 nm filaments in vitro. The 66 kd protein was unique, although it shared homology with the 70 kd neurofilament protein (NF-L) and vimentin. An antiserum (anti-66) specific to the 66 kd protein did not cross-react with any of the neurofilament triplet proteins. In the spinal cord, anti-66 intensely stained the axons of the anterior and lateral columns. However, afferents from dorsal root ganglia and the efferents from the motoneurons were negative. In the cerebellum, anti-66 intensely stained most axons. The 66 kd protein was readily detectable in homogenates of forebrain, cerebellum, brainstem, and spinal cord, but was found only in trace amounts in adult sciatic nerves and was not found in extraneural tissues. The 66 kd protein constituted 0.5% of total protein in the spinal cord, whereas NF-L constituted about 1.5%.

The clinical spectrum of anomalous pancreatobiliary junction

Anomalous junction of pancreatobiliary ducts (AJPB) is known to be associated with choledochal cyst and gallbladder cancer. This report describes our experience with eight patients with AJPB, six of whom were diagnosed at endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and two at transhepatic cholangiography. Four of the patients with AJPB had an associated congenital choledochal cyst, two had a normal biliary tree and one each had inspissated bile syndrome and cholangiocarcinoma. The last two associations have not been previously described. It is felt that the clinical spectrum of AJPB may unfold further with the widespread use of the cholangiographic techniques.

Cannabis and cognitive functions: a prospective study

Psychological tests measuring intelligence, memory and other cognitive functions were given to 26 heavy cannabis users (mean duration of cannabis use 6.76 years; average daily intake 150 mg THC). Compared with a control group, the cannabis users were found to react slowly in perceptuo-motor tasks, but not to differ in intelligence or memory tests. The users suffered disability in personal, social and vocational areas and indicated higher psychoticism and neuroticism scores.

Potassium permanganate induced oesophageal stricture

A case of oesophageal stenosis following ingestion of potassium permanganate as an abortifacient is described.

Effects of dietary retinoic acid on cellular retinol- and retinoic acid-binding protein levels in various rat tissues

A study was conducted to explore the effects of retinoic acid, fed to retinol-deficient rats, on the tissue distribution and levels of cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) and cellular retinoic acid-binding protein (CRABP). Sensitive and specific radioimmunoassays were employed to measure the levels of both CRBP and CRABP. Two groups of six male rats each were fed a purified retinoid-deficient diet supplemented with either: i) retinyl acetate (control group); or ii) retinoic acid (30 mg/kg diet) (retinol deficient-retinoic acid group). The retinoic acid supplementation was begun after 38 days on the retinoid-deficient diet alone, and was continued for 52-54 days. Analysis of the data indicated that only the CRBP level of the proximal epididymis in the retinol-deficient/retinoic acid group differed significantly from (was lower than) the corresponding control level, at the 1% confidence level. CRABP tissue levels did not differ significantly between the two groups. Thus, a moderately large intake of retinoic acid, as the only source of retinoids, had very little effect on the tissue distribution or levels of either its own cellular binding protein (CRABP) or of CRBP. This study provides further information showing that the tissue levels of the cellular retinoid-binding proteins are highly regulated and maintained in rats, even in the presence of marked changes in retinoid nutritional status.