Chlamydia trachomatis infection in unmarried women seeking abortions

Fifty consecutive unmarried women seeking termination of pregnancy in a state run general hospital in Singapore were screened for cervical Chlamydia trachomatis infection before abortion. Chlamydial infection was diagnosed by taking a cervical swab, culturing the organism in tissue culture media, and identifying the inclusion bodies by dark ground fluorescent microscopy. Chlamydia trachomatis was recovered in as many as 14% of cases. None of the patients gave any history suggestive of promiscuity. Compared with gonorrhoea in the non-prostitutes sexually active women of the population studied, the incidence of infection with Chlamydia trachomatis was found to be high. Patients with positive cultures often defaulted from follow up, thus posing a genuine risk of the spread of the disease by vertical and horizontal transmission.

Brain tumors and pregnancy. Presentation of a case and a review of the literature

A case of brain tumor complicating a full-term pregnancy is reported. The literature is reviewed to show the effect of pregnancy on these tumors, the method of diagnosis, and management. Pregnancy often unmasks the existence of an intracranial neoplasm. The diagnosis can easily be missed, as the symptoms such as headache, vomiting, visual disturbance etc. are often encountered in pregnancy with or without pre-eclampsia. A high index of suspicion on the part of the obstetrician is a key to timely diagnosis. Computerized axial tomography is extremely useful in confirming or refuting the diagnosis of brain tumor. Generally speaking, neurosurgical intervention is best deferred until after delivery. In most cases, pregnancy may be allowed to continue under close supervision until the baby is reasonably mature. Labor may be induced in suitable cases, and the baby should be delivered by elective forceps as soon as the second stage of labor is reached to cut down maternal bearing-down efforts.

A double-blind controlled clinical trial of carnidazole and tinidazole in the treatment of vaginal trichomoniasis

A double-blind controlled clinical trial of the new, not yet commercially available drug, carnidazole and tinidazole, was carried out in 77 women with a proven vaginal trichomoniasis. 39 patients and their sexual partners received a single dose of 2 g of carnidazole and the other 38 couples were treated in the same manner with tinidazole. The cure rate was 100% and 95% respectively. The side-effects were higher in the carnidazole group, although they were mild and well-tolerated by the patients and their partners. The history of the disease and its treatment are also briefly reviewed.

Ameloblastoma of the upper jaw

A clinical study was made of three cases of Ameloblastoma (Adamantinoma) of the maxilla. One case presented with oro-antral fistula following extraction of a molar tooth. Extensive bone destruction and involvement of ethmoidal air sinuses and nasal cavity was seen in one of the patients. At times histological diagnosis can be difficult; therefore, accurate diagnosis should be obtained by an experienced histopathologist. Partial maxillectomy with a wide margin of healthy bone should be the choice of treatment in the majority of cases. There tumours are sensitive to deep-X-ray to a varying degree. One should consider radiotherapy post-operatively if growth has been excised inadequately. Radiotherapy may be helpful when surgery is contraindicated.