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Biomedical subjects

E Caspi

Publications and source records attributed to E Caspi.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

A method of macro-auditing and assessing the preventability of infant mortality using large volume computerized files.

We present a method for auditing and evaluating infant mortality with the aid of a preventability grading system, based on national computerized files of livebirths and infant deaths. Diagnostic categories and specific causes of deaths were classified into one of the following three preventability grades: Preventable (P), Possibly Preventable (PP) and Non Preventable (NP). This classification was then applied to two different scales: Preventability of Condition (PC) and Preventability of Death (PD) from which a third scale--Preventability of Mortality (PM)--was derived. The method was then applied to matched records of 39,786 livebirth and 452 infant death certificates between 1977 and 1984, in a semi-urban region in Israel encompassing 220,000 inhabitants. Comparison of mortality rates, according to the proposed preventability scores, demonstrated that higher infant mortality rate in non-Jewish population, or in Jewish mothers with a lower educational, was present only in the preventable categories (P or PP), while death rates due to non preventable causes were identical for all groups. The suggested macro-auditing method facilitates the assessment of large scale infant mortality rates in terms of preventability.

Congenital Abnormalities↗

Colposuspension for urinary stress incontinence in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Sixty-nine premenopausal and 53 postmenopausal women had a colposuspension operation for urinary stress incontinence. A significant postoperative reduction (p less than 0.001) of symptoms of frequency, nocturia, urgency and urge incontinence was obtained in both groups. Postoperatively, 88.4 per cent of the premenopausal women were found to be dry compared with 66 per cent in the postmenopausal group (p less than 0.01). No differences were found preoperatively and postoperatively in the cystometric values or in the urethral pressure profiles at rest in both groups and between the groups. The pressure transmission ratios were significantly improved postoperatively in both groups. The postoperative transmission ratios in the premenopausal women were found to be significantly higher than those in the postmenopausal group, at the middle two-quarters of the urethra. Although surgical treatment for urinary stress incontinence in postmenopausal women results in lower cure rates than in younger women, it should be considered.

Adult↗

Polymicrobial infections of the female low genital tract.

A complete microbiologic analysis of nine infectious agents causing low genital tract infection (LGTI) was obtained in 240 young women, of whom 193 were symptomatic for LGTI and 47 were asymptomatic (control group). The polymicrobial nature of LGTI was demonstrated by both the increased frequency of different microorganisms (1.77 +/- 1.09 SD in symptomatic vs. 1.08 +/- 0.98 in asymptomatic patients) and the increased total number of agents (0 agents 8.3 and 36.2%, 1-2 agents 67.4 and 55.3%, greater than or equal to 3 agents 24.3 and 8.5%, in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients respectively). There was a mutual association between Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis, where the presence of one nearly doubled the frequency of the other. Of 74 symptomatic patients with a single infectious agent, Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated most frequently, suggesting an important role of this agent in infections of the female low genital tract.

Adolescent↗

Tubal patency after local methotrexate injection for tubal pregnancy.

Tubal patency was investigated by hysterosalpingography in 21 of 37 patients with unruptured tubal pregnancy treated by local methotrexate injection at laparoscopy. 18 of the 21 patients had bilateral tubal patency, and the only tube of a patient with a single fallopian tube was also patent. 6 subsequent intrauterine pregnancies have so far been recorded. Local methotrexate injection into the tubal pregnancy may provide an efficient and safe alternative to surgery in early unruptured ectopic pregnancy.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗

The importance of ultrasonography in infertile women with "forgotten" intrauterine contraceptive devices.

Seven cases in which an unknown intrauterine contraceptive device in situ was the cause of infertility were referred to our infertility Clinic after each patient had been told by her physician that she no longer had an intrauterine contraceptive device. In some cases, there were lapses in the infertility workup that might explain how the cause of infertility of an intrauterine contraceptive device in situ was missed. In other cases, a thorough investigation was made and infertility treatment was started without the existence of an intrauterine contraceptive device in situ being diagnosed.

Adult↗

Local methotrexate injection: a nonsurgical treatment of ectopic pregnancy.

Twenty seven patients with unruptured tubal pregnancy were selected for nonsurgical treatment with the use of one injection of 12.5 mg of methotrexate into the ectopic site at laparoscopy. No adverse reactions were observed. In three patients (11%), a laparotomy was performed because of rising beta-human chorionic gonadotropin titers. In the other patients, serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels decreased to the nonpregnant range with no further intervention, and the patients recovered uneventfully. This method is suggested as an alternative to surgery in selected cases of early unruptured tubal pregnancy.

Adult↗

The predictive value of fetal breathing movement and Bishop score in the diagnosis of "true" preterm labor.

In 70 patients who were between 32 and 36 weeks' gestation and who complained of painful uterine contractions, real-time ultrasonography was performed to establish the presence or absence of fetal breathing. Ten of the 14 women in whom no fetal breathing movement could be detected were delivered of infants within 48 hours, whereas the pregnancies continued for a week or longer in 52 of the 56 patients in whom fetal breathing was present. There was a good correlation between Bishop score and pregnancy outcome. Of the 48 patients with "unfavorable" cervix (Bishop score less than or equal to 3), 45 were delivered of infants after 1 week or more, whereas of 22 patients with a Bishop score of 4 to 6, nine were delivered of infants within 48 hours and ten pregnancies continued for 1 week or more.

Female↗

Results of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer by combined long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog D-Trp-6-luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone and gonadotropins.

To avoid cancellation of in vitro fertilization (IVF) because of early luteinization, pituitary suppression by gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) was carried out in 111 cycles. D-Trp-6-luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) microcapsules were administered intramuscularly at menstruation and menotropin (hMG) stimulation was started 19 days (mean) later. In 3 cycles (2.7%), only early luteinization occurred. The mean number of oocytes per cycle was 6.7, with a fertilization and cleavage rate of 50 and 95%, respectively. A mean of 3.4 embryos were transferred per cycle. The 111 cycles resulted in 34 clinical pregnancies, 41% per cycle with embryo transfer. The early abortion, multiple pregnancy, and ovarian hyperstimulation rates were 24, 18, and 11%, respectively. It is concluded that D-Trp-6-LH-RH/hMG cycles are associated with a very low occurrence of early luteinization, high number of oocytes and embryos, and a substantial incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

Adult↗

The effect of chronic gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (D-Trp-6) treatment on elevated and normal serum prolactin levels.

A long-acting GnRHa (D-Trp-6 microcapsules) proved capable of lowering serum PRL levels in a young hyperprolactinemic patient treated for a large myomatous uterus. No similar inhibitory effect was found in normoprolactinemia. Chronic GnRHa therapy may constitute an alternative to the existing forms of treatment for hyperprolactinemia and pituitary adenomas.

Adult↗

Congenital anomalies of the müllerian system.

Congenital anomalies of the müllerian system, the most common of which are uterine malformations, are associated with fertility problems. Multifactorial polygenic and familial factors are involved in their formation. The result may be deficient development (agenesis, rudimentary horn, unicornuate uterus), nonfusion (didelphys or bicornuate uterus), or defective canalization of the müllerian ducts (septate uterus). The principal diagnostic procedures include HSG, laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, and US. The clinical presentation varies from symptoms of obstruction of the menstrual flow in adolescence to hypomenorrhea and fertility problems in adult life. Repeated fetal loss, after excluding other reasons, is usually the indication for surgical intervention. Uterine septa should be resected hysteroscopically. A prophylactic cerclage has been suggested by various authors, including those of this work, in cases of symmetric uterine anomalies, especially bicornuate uteri, as a simple and effective treatment to be tried before embarking on major surgery such as metroplasty.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Early, late, and sequential embryo transfer in in vitro fertilization program: a preliminary report.

The timing of ET was evaluated by transferring four embryos at 44 to 48 hours, 68 to 72 hours, or equally dividing and sequentially transferring at 44 to 48 and 68 to 72 hours after insemination. Fifty-one patients were randomly allocated to one of the above protocols. The mean number of blastomeres of embryos transferred at 68 to 72 hours after insemination was significantly (P less than 0.0001) higher than those transferred at 44 to 48 hours. The number of embryos with good morphology was similar in all study groups. The pregnancy rate was similar in the three protocol groups, 53% at 44 to 48 hours, 59% at 64 to 72 hours, and 47% by sequential transfer. There probably is no advantage in delaying the transfer or dividing the embryos into two sequential transfers. It seems that sequential transfer is not associated with any harmful effect.

Adult↗

D-Trp-6-luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone microcapsules in the treatment of uterine leiomyomas.

Long acting D-Trp-6-luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) microcapsules, 3.2 mg were given monthly, intramuscularly for a period of 6 months to 26 menstruating patients with symptomatic leiomyomas. The patients ages were 22 to 52 years. Five patients (20%) were infertile. Patient evaluation before initiation of treatment included endometrial biopsy, ultrasonic measurements of uterine and tumor volumes, and bone-mineral density. The patients were periodically followed hormonally and ultrasonographically. A statistically significant reduction in uterine and tumor volumes (maximal after 4 months of treatment) was observed in all the patients except one. Two patients discontinued the treatment after 2 months, preferring surgery. A nonsignificant decrease in the mean bone-mineral density was noted after completion of therapy. Minor side effects such as hot flushes, vaginal dryness, backache, vaginal spotting, and nervousness, were encountered frequently, disappearing within 6 weeks after the last injection. A significant increase in uterine and myoma volume was noted in all the patients at 3 months after treatment.

Adult↗

Low multiple pregnancy rate in combined clomiphene citrate--human menopausal gonadotrophin treatment for ovulation induction or enhancement.

Sixty-five infertile women, 37 with anovulation, eight with ovulatory disturbances and 20 with unexplained infertility were treated by a combination of clomiphene citrate (CC) from cycle day 5 (or 3) and human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) begun 3 days later for induction or enhancement of ovulation. Monitoring was carried out by measuring preovulatory 17-beta-oestradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) concentrations in blood samples and by follicle measurements using ultrasound. Forty-seven pregnancies resulted with a multiple pregnancy rate of 7.7% for those completed. This incidence is very low and within the range found for CC induction and might result from the later commencement of stimulation compared with many other protocols. These results were achieved with a low incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (2.6% per cycle). The HMG doses given were low in comparison with those found in other forms of induction. The deleterious effects of this combined mode of induction on cervical mucus and the occurrence of premature spontaneous ovulation were much less than in the sequential mode of treatment. These results suggest that combined induction treatment by CC and HMG as described offers a means of achieving low rates of multiple pregnancies a known complication in the induction of ovulation.

Adult↗

Ripening the highly unfavorable cervix with extra-amniotic saline instillation or vaginal prostaglandin E2 application.

Extra-amniotic saline instillation using a 26-gauge Foley catheter and vaginal application of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were compared. Among 52 cases treated with extra-amniotic saline instillation, the mean Bishop score increased from 1.7 to 7.8 in a mean of 2.8 hours. In all cases but one, an increase of the Bishop score of three or more points occurred during a 6-hour period. Prostaglandin E2 tablets (3 mg) applied in the posterior vaginal fornix (once or twice) resulted in an increase in the Bishop score of three or more points in 39 of 54 cases during the 12-hour study period. The mean Bishop score in these "successful" ripenings using PGE2 increased from 1.9 to 5.6 points during a mean time of 8.5 hours. No severe side effects were registered in either procedure.

Administration, Intravaginal↗