[Diagnosis of papillomavirus infection of the female genital system]

Cytology and colposcopy are currently the only diagnostic means of papilloma virus lesions. The virologic diagnosis is still at the research stage. The treatment of the lesion usually consists in destruction by physical means.

[Diagnosis of gynecologic diseases]

Transabdominal ultrasonography has long been a fist-line examination to explore most of the pelvic diseases. Transvaginal sonography is a simple procedure giving an accurate and reliable diagnosis. These two techniques complement each other and can usefully be performed concomitantly. Computed tomography should be reserved to the extension assessment and follow-up uterine and ovarian tumours. Magnetic resonance imaging is a non invasive technique providing for a three-dimensional, very high quality study of the female pelvis. Its main value resides in the exploration of gynaecological tumours, where it gives a reliable assessment of local and regional extension. These various imaging techniques, therefore, have a definite, non competitive role to play in the exploration of gynaecological diseases. They are the necessary complements of physical examination and endoscopic methods.

[AIDS and pregnancy. Management of the seropositive pregnant female]

The population of women, HIV positive, and susceptible to become pregnant, increases with time. Pregnancy must be contra-indicated in seropositive women. A termination of pregnancy must be performed in the first trimester and a therapeutic abortion may be offered but left to the mother's decision. Delivery must be carried out via natural passages in the absence of obstetrical dystocia. Nursing is contra-indicated. A number of precautions must be taken by the medical and para-medical personnel during obstetrical procedures.

[Sterility in North African immigrant women]

Sterility in North African immigrants does not differ greatly from the sterility observed in French women. The authors emphasise one particular difference: the frequency of genital tuberculosis present in 1/3 of cases compared with 6 per cent of the general population.

[Pregnancy and childbirth in the North African woman]

The obstetric pathology of North African women, which used to be fairly different from that of French women, is now tending to resemble that of the French population, as the customs of the immigrants tend to coincide with those of the local population, especially in the context of information and antenatal care.

[Endometrial hyperplasia]

Atypical and severe hyperplasia of the endometrium is often associated with a carcinoma and, on their own, present a malignant potential which requires a specific treatment, involving an extension of the indications for hysterectomy after the menopause.

[Pregnancy and childbirth in gypsies]

The features of the gypsy population, including the conditions of their lifestyle, are very unusual and medical follow-up is very irregular, resulting in obstetric and neonatal pathology. On the basis of a series of 1571 pregnancies, the authors describe the disadvantages of these features which can only be improved by a reciprocal confidence between gypsies and the medical profession.

[Current aspects of fetomaternal immunizations]

The authors study all of the possible forms of foeto-maternal immunisation (ABO system, D antigen and other antigens). They present a general review of the course of allo-immunisations since the establishment of prophylaxis against anti-D allo-immunisations and they define the current situation.

[Value of the radioimmunological assay of HCG and its subunits in the diagnosis and follow-up of gestational trophoblastic disease]

The value of the assay of the sub-units of human chorionic gonadotrophin in the diagnosis and follow-up of trophoblastic disease is generally recognised. The authors stress that this follow-up allows a maximal preservation of the genital tract of the patients and an evaluation of the real effectiveness of treatment.

[Pelvic arteriovenous fistulas. Apropos of a case report]

Gynaecological arteriovenous fistulae are a difficult diagnosis and their aetiology is often difficult to determine. The surgical treatment is not always satisfactory and the prognosis can be transformed by means of embolisation.

[The labor test under epidural analgesia. Apropos of 87 cases]

Two series of trials of labour are compared: the first series without any particular analgesia and the second under epidural analgesia. The caesarian rate was significantly less in the second series because the trial of labour was able to be pursued for a longer period of time without any danger to the foetus. The authors consider that, provided cases of mechanical dystocia and maternal agitation are eliminated, trial of labour under epidural anaesthesia can result in a real cephalopelvic engagement.

[Genital prolapse. Apropos of a series of 220 cases]

On the basis of a series of 220 operated cases of genital prolapse, the authors describe the complications and classify the various elementary components of the prolapse (120 complete prolapses) and the associated lesions. The operative techniques are classified by category and the results are presented with a follow-up of two and three years. This homogeneous series demonstrates that the vaginal techniques are generally more effective.

[The elderly primipara]

From the analysis of 190 case histories of elderly primiparas, the following conclusions were drawn concerning their pregnancy and delivery. Frequency = 0.6%. The high frequency of spontaneous abortion (26.8%) and infertility treatment (20.5%) should be stressed. Age-related obstetric pathology in the sample group is dominated by the high frequency of toxaemia (32.4%), premature delivery (14.3%) and uterine fibromata (17.3%). Dystocia is frequent: normal, unassisted vaginal deliveries: 32%; forceps: 33.2%; Caesarean section: 34.2%. Neonatal mortality remains high: 5.2% as does morbidity (Apgar less than 7: 29.6%).

The fat globule size distribution in human milk

The size distribution of fat globules in human colostrum and milk was measured using a conductometric method. The number-, surface- and volume-frequency functions were analyzed and various parameters related to the stability of the polydisperse fat emulsion were calculated. The shape of the distribution curves suggests the presence of sub-populations of differently sized particles. A postulated sub-population of small globules with a size frequency maximum below 1 micrometer comprises 70-90% of the number of globules but only a few percent of the fat volume. A sub-population of medium-sized globules with a size frequency maximum around 4 micrometer comprises the largest amount of the fat. A shoulder in the distribution curves around 8-12 micrometer indicates a third population of large globules. They contribute about 0.01% to the number of fat globules but represent 1-4% of the milk fat. The height but not the position of the maximum of the sub-distributions changed throughout lactation. This affected the size-related parameters such as the overall mean globule diameter. The volume/surface average diameter increased from about 1.8 micrometer in colostrum to 4.0 micrometer after 4-5 months of lactation. The range of globule size is similar in human and cow's milk and milk of some other species. Compared to cow's milk human milk contains more small fat globules, especially at the earlier stages of lactation.

Isolation and partial characterization of ovine lactoferrin

Ovine lactoferrin was isolated by ammonium sulfate precipitation and ion exchange chromatography. Comparative analyses were performed with the bovine protein. Differences in the amino acid compositions and the tertiary structure of the proteins were observed.

Hydration of casein micelles: kinetics and isotherms of water sorption of micellar casein isolated from fresh and heat-treated milk

Water vapour sorption isotherms of casein micelles prepared from raw milk and various heat-treated milks were determined. The equilibrium water contents of the heated preparations were markedly lower than that of the raw-milk casein over the whole range of vapour pressures studied. An analysis of the sorption isotherms in the relative vapour pressure range 0.1--0.45, according to the Brunauer, Emmett & Teller (1938) equation, showed that there were significant differences between preparations in the computed monolayer contents. Differences in the rates of water sorption were also observed between the different preparations. As judged from the amount of absorbed water, the influence of the heating methods could be ranked in the order: HTST (92 degrees C) approximately UHT (direct) less than UHT (indirect) less than HTST (72 degrees C).

[Post-partum contraception (author's transl)]

The authors have come to the conclusion that the ideal time to start female contraception is when the periods return following delivery. They arrived at this conclusion after studying the disadvantages of the various methods of hormone contraception and of mechanical female contraception immediately following delivery. Directly after delivery contraception should be in the hands of the man and not the woman. If better information is given to the couple during pregnancy and in the postnatal period it should direct them towards such formations of contraception. The problem, however, of grand multipara who are feckless, ignorant and of low social class, still remains. Medroxyprogesterone, if it is used at all immediately after delivery, should be given in a dose of 150 mg. As far as tubal ligation by mini-laparotomy after delivery goes this is permanent contraception and its indications should be considered with very great care.

Iron-dependent binding of 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulphonate by both lactoferrin and transferrin

Fluorescence of 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulphonate is enhanced by both lactoferrin and transferrin. The enhancement is relatively low between pH 4 and 8, and high at below pH 4. At physiological pH the fluorescence enhancement is higher with the iron-deprived than with the iron-saturated proteins. Binding of iron by lactoferrin is associated with lowering affinity for the dye.

Hydration and thermal denaturation of beta-lactoglobulin. A calorimetric study

The thermal properties of the beta-lactoglobulin-water system were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry in the temperature range from -50 to 130 degrees C. Determination of the heat and temperature of fusion of the absorbed water allowed resolution of the water into four different states. The amounts of water in these states were different for samples before and after heat denaturation. In the case of denatured beta-lactoglobulin, a smaller amount of water with thermal properties different from ordinary water was observed and its total water binding capacity was lower. The thermal stability of beta-lactoglobulin in the water content range from 0 to 0.75 g/g showed a strong dependence on the degree of hydration. A correlation was observed between the changes in the thermal stability of the protein and the changes in the state of the absorbed water. The results are compared with those obtained from similar measurements of other globular proteins and of fibrillar proteins.