A vaccine that prevents pregnancy in women

We report here results of clinical trials on a birth control vaccine, consisting of a heterospecies dimer of the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) associated noncovalently with the alpha subunit of ovine luteinizing hormone and conjugated to tetanus and diphtheria toxoids as carriers, that induces antibodies of high avidity (K(a) approximately 10(10) M-1) against hCG. Fertile women exposed to conception over 1224 cycles recorded only one pregnancy at antibody titers of > 50 ng/ml (hCG bioneutralization capacity). The antibody response declines with time; fertility was regained when titers fell to < 35 ng/ml. This study presents evidence of the feasibility of a vaccine for control of human fertility

Magnetic resonance imaging findings in pseudo-Meigs' syndrome associated with a large uterine leiomyoma: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Pseudo-Meigs' syndrome is a rare pathological entity characterized by the presence of a pelvic mass other than an ovarian fibroma. The mass is associated with ascites with or without hydrothorax.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We describe the case of a 41-year-old Caucasian woman with a large uterine leiomyoma associated with massive ascites. A magnetic resonance imaging scan showed a large subserosal leiomyoma with multiple areas of cystic degeneration.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of pseudo-Meigs' syndrome caused by a uterine leiomyoma and diagnosed using magnetic resonance imaging. The pathophysiology of this syndrome and the role of magnetic resonance imaging are emphasized in this case report.</p

Erythromycin treatment of pregnant women to reduce the incidence of low birth weight and preterm deliveries

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Successful ultrasound-guided intrauterine blood transfusion in severe non-immune hydrops fetalis

Non-immune hydrops fetalis has varied etiology, high mortality and few known successful treatment modalities. A rare case of non-immune fetal hydrops with severe anemia diagnosed prenatally and treated successfully by repeated ultrasound-guided intrauterine blood transfusions is presented

Autoantibodies to zona pellucida in tubectomized women

The study was conducted to detect autoantibodies to zona pellucida by indirect immunofluorescence technique. A total of 60 human sera was examined, which included 15 tubectomized, 15 pregnant, 15 nonpregnant fertile women, and 15 fertile men. In the unabsorbed sera, anti-zona activity was observed in 53.3% of the tubectomized women and in 40.0% of the nonpregnant fertile women, 20.0% of the pregnant women and 26.7% of the fertile men. All the positive sera were then absorbed with porcine red blood cells and retested to exclude the false positive reaction due to nonspecific serum components. After absorption, immunological response was retained in 26.7% of the tubectomized women and lost in all the other women and men. The positive sera were further absorbed with zona-coated eggs and were retested. Fluorescence was lost in all the positive sera. This observation demonstrates the presence of antibodies, specific to zona antigens, in tubectomized women. To date, however, antibodies to zona antigen have not been demonstrated in the tubectomized women. Presence of anti-zona activity in tubectomized women may be an autoimmune response, possibly due to absorption and degradation of the ova into the peritoneal cavity or in the reproductive tract and the subsequent exposure of the degradation products to the immune system

DETERMINANTS OF MATERNAL MORTALITY-A HOSPITAL BASED CASE CONTROL STUDY FROM INDIA

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