Birth order distribution as a family planning program evaluation indicator.
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In 310 individuals (165 men and 145 women) significant pathological processes were exluded by reference to the patient's history, by physical investigation and by detailed laboratory tests (clinical chemistry, hematological cytology and most important coagulation analyses). Hematological laboratory values were then evaluated for age and sex differences, and in women according to menstruation versus post-menopause an oral contraception. Only the well known sex-specific differences in hematocrit values, hemoglobin and red cell counts were statistically highly significant (Z > 10). All other hematological values were pooled after exclusion of methodological errors. According to the non-symmetrical distribution of hematological laboratory values, percentiles were calculated. The 2.5 to 97.5 percentiles thus established now serve as "normal hematological reference values" for our laboratory.
Guaiacol peroxidase (G-Px) was measured in extracts from five sections along the length of human uterus on different days of the menstrual cycle or after menopause. The lower uterine-endocervical region had a significantly higher G-Px content (expressed as enzyme units per g wet tissue) than the other sections, although in postmenopausal patients the G-Px activity was uniformly low in all sections of the uterine cavity. We observed no significant changes in G-Px levels during the menstrual cycle, except, possibly, a decrease around ovulation, which precluded a positive correlation between plasma estrogen levels and uterine G-Px content; such estrogen dependence of G-Px has been previously shown in the rat. In vitro, G-Px was inhibited by estriol and 17 beta-estradiol, marginally inhibited by estrone, and most notably inhibited by the catecholestrogens tested (2-hydroxy-17 beta-estradiol, 2-hydroxy-estriol, and 2-hydroxy-estrone), which were equipotent inhibitors; LH and FSH, progesterone, or cortisol had no effect on G-Px activity. We hypothesize that catecholestrogens are natural substrates and regulations of G-Px activity in the human uterus.
OBJECTIVE: Smoking has been reported as influencing disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of our study was to elucidate the relationship between smoking and aspects of disease-specific quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: In 1105 prevalent patients with inflammatory bowel disease, diagnosed according to the criteria of Lennard-Jones and Truelove and Witts, disease-specific quality of life was investigated using the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ). RESULTS: In Crohn's disease, smoking females reported a lower quality of life than non-smoking females (all four dimensions of the IBDQ). Using an explanatory model of relationships between the four dimensions for the analysis, it became evident that smoking is associated with more bowel symptoms in young Crohn's disease females, with more emotional dysfunction in all Crohn's disease females, and with more systemic symptoms in all three diagnostic groups with marked bowel symptoms. Moderately smoking male ulcerative colitis patients reported fewer bowel complaints compared with non-smoking male ulcerative colitis patients. CONCLUSION: There is a relationship between smoking and disease-specific quality of life in both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The hypothesis is presented that a part of the observed differences in the studied quality of life dimensions with respect to age, sex and disease group are related to concomitant oral contraceptive use.
OBJECTIVES: This report presents national birth rates for teenagers for 1991-98 and the percent change, 1991-98. State-specific teenage birth rates by age, race, and Hispanic origin for 1991 and 1998 and the percent change, 1991 to 1998, are also presented. METHODS: Tabular and graphical descriptions of the trends in teenage birth rates for the Nation and each State, by age group, race, and Hispanic origin of the mother, are discussed. RESULTS: Birth rates for teenagers 15-19 years declined nationally between 1991 and 1998 for all age and race and Hispanic origin populations, with the steepest declines recorded for black teenagers. State-specific rates fell significantly in all States for ages 15-19 years; declines ranged from 10 to 38 percent. In general, rates by State fell more for younger than for older teenagers, ranging by State from 10 to 46 percent for ages 15-17 years. Statistically significant reductions for older teenagers ranged from 3 to 39 percent. Reductions by State were largest for black teenagers 15-19 years, with rates falling 30 percent or more in 15 States. Among the factors accounting for these declines are decreased sexual activity, increases in condom use, and the adoption of the implant and injectable contraceptives.
The distribution pattern of ascorbic acid in the endocrine organs and/or tissues was investigated during various sexual states of female rats to demonstrate a correlation between ascorbic acid concentration and sex hormone activity. The concentration of ascorbic acid was estimated in the plasma, liver, pancreas, thyroid, ovary, adrenal and pituitary of contraceptive steroid treated, bilaterally ovariectomized, sham-operated and normal control animals at four different phases of estrous cycle to delineate a relationship between the level of ascorbic acid in different organs/tissues at various sex hormonal states. Statistically significant changes were observed in the concentration of ascorbic acid in different endocrine organs/tissues following contraceptive steroid treatment, ovariectomy and during the estrous phases. Our results suggest that the concentration of ascorbic acid in the endocrine organs and/or tissues varies during different sexual states of rat.
Recently-delivered women who wish to avoid pregnancy should initiate contraception before ovulation. Since the return of ovulation is not predictable, regardless of the woman's lactation status and duration of postpartum amenorrhea, contraception should be initiated as soon as is reasonable after delivery. The choice of contraceptive method will depend on several factors, including: the woman's lactation status, the preference of the woman and her partner, and the health status of the newborns. For women who do not wish to have additional children, tubal sterilization through a minilaparotomy incision is the procedure of choice. For other women who are not lactating, all methods, with the exception of the use of cervical caps and diaphragms, may be initiated immediately after delivery. However, preference should be given to IUD use by lactating and non-lactating woman, especially for women who may not return for any additional postpartum care.
This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of oestrogen administration (low dose as an oral contraceptive or higher dose as a hormone replacement therapy) on the levels of plasma free protein S and C4b-binding protein. The participants were 59 women aged 18-49 years, divided into 2 groups: A and B. Group A was composed of 22 post-menopausal women on a hormonal replacement therapy programme (HRT) consisting of 2 mgs daily oestradiol valerate for 21 days. Group B was divided into subgroup B1: 18 women who had been on oral contraceptive for at least one year and subgroup B2 (control): 17 women who were not pregnant and not taking any oral contraceptive. In this study were also included two young women who both suffered from severe thromboembolic disease a few months after initiation of oral contraceptive. The first was 25 years old, with congenital moderately decreased prekallikrein (activity and antigen 40% and 45% respectively) and the second was a 21 year-old woman with congenital moderately decreased plasminogen activity and antigen 45%). In both cases, family members with similarly reduced levels of prekallikrein (PK) and plasminogen (PLG) respectively were free from any thromboembolic disease and had normal protein S levels. In Group A, 22 women at the end of the first cycle of treatment, had lower levels of free protein S (p less than 0.001) than before the initiation of HRT. In subgroup B1, the levels of free protein S were found to be significantly lower than in subgroup B2 (p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Although our current understanding is limited, epidemiologic investigation of Crohn's disease holds great promise. Certain aspects of the epidemiology are clear. The incidence of Crohn's disease, which has increased over the past few decades, may have reached a plateau. The disease has its peak onset in early life, with a second peak among the elderly. It is more common in the developed countries and among Jews. Whether the disease is related to occupation, social class, marital status, stress, infection, diet, smoking, and oral contraceptives is less certain. This paper reviews the epidemiology of Crohn's disease and proposes areas in which further research is needed.
Correlation between clinical and epidemiological features of Graves' disease and HLA were sought in 175 patients, eighty-three of whom were typed for HLA DR antigens. The relative risks (x) conferred by HLA-B8 and DR3 were 3.1 and 5.7 respectively (P less than 0.0005 uncorrected). The disease occurred at an earlier age in HLA-DR3 positive patients compared to negative patients (P less than 0.005 in females greater than and less than 30-years-old). Eighty-four out of ninety-two patients could specify the season of onset of hyperthyroidism; an excess of HLA-B8 positive patients in the summer and a lack of these in the spring and autumn was found. No association between B8 and exophthalmos and/or soft tissue eye changes were observed. However, significant associations between exophthalmos and either exophthalmos and/or soft tissue changes were found with DR3 (x = 3.6 and 3.8 respectively). HLA-DR3 positive patients were found to be more resistant to radioiodine therapy than patients negative for these antigens. No heterogeneity in the distribution of HLA antigens was found when the following indices were examined: sex, goitre size, severity of disease, pretibial myxoedema, antecedent psychological disorder, consumption of oral contraceptives, family history of Graves' disease or thyroid antibody titre. HLA does not appear to distinguish subvariants of Graves' disease, rather it influences the susceptibility to disease and its persistence once it becomes clinically manifest.
Human cystatin C is a low molecular weight protein which has been proposed as a better marker of glomerular filtration rate than creatinine. To be able to interpret results obtained in different patient populations it is necessary to define cystatin C reference values. We measured serum concentration of cystatin C in 1223 subjects using a particle-enhanced nephelometric assay. Subjects were aged 4 to 79 years and were selected among apparently healthy individuals who came to the Centre for Preventive Medicine in Vandoeuvre-Lès-Nancy, France. We observed a Gaussian distribution of cystatin C concentration in serum. We did not find any effect of age or gender in children, hormonal status in women (puberty, menopause, oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy) or alcohol intake. Cystatin C concentration was slightly lower in female than in male adults below the age of 60 years. Cystatin C levels significantly increased above the age of 60 in both males and females, probably due to physiological aging of renal function. No other significant differences were observed between males and females. Using multiple regression analysis, moderate correlations were observed between body mass index and cystatin C, and between smoking and cystatin C, but these were not biologically significant. According to the literature, only methylprednisolone and cyclosporin A increased and decreased cystatin C levels, respectively. The reference values for cystatin C obtained in a carefully selected population were 0.75+/-0.089 mg/l for children aged 4-19 years, 0.74+/-0.100 mg/l for males and 0.65+/-0.085 mg/l for females (aged 20-59 years), and 0.83+/-0.103 mg/l for older individuals (> or =60 years).
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Interviewing some 350,000 women in 42 developing countries and 20 developed countries representing nearly 40% of the world's population, the World Fertility Survey (WFS) is in a unique position to document the historic 1970s slowdown in global population growth. This Bulletin describes efforts begun in 1972 to ensure high quality, internationally comparable, accessible data, the data's importance for policymakers, planners and researchers, and major findings available by early 1982 from directly assisted WFS surveys in 29 developing countries and contraceptive use data from WFS-type surveys in 16 developed countries. Marital fertility has declined in all developing regions except Africa but still averages from 4.6 children/woman in Latin America to 6.7 in Africa, while preferred family size ranges from 3.0 children in Turkey to 8.9 in Senegal--far above the average 2.2-2.5 children/woman needed to end developing countries' population growth in the long run. However, women ages 15-19 prefer nearly 2 children fewer than the oldest women ages 45-49; 3.8 vs. 5.7 on the average. Nearly 1/2 (48%) of married women surveyed in 27 countreis said they wanted no more children. Preventing all unwanted births would reduce birth rates up to 15 births/1000 population in these countries. Overall, 32% of married, fecund women in developing countries are using contraception compared to an average 72% in 16 developed countries. Education, literacy, and more available family planning services increase contraceptive use. Age at marriage is rising in Asia, but this factor alone has little effect on fertility. Infant mortality is higher in many developing countries than previously thought. Breastfeeding is an important restraint on fertility in most developing countries but is declining among more educated, employed, and urban women which could raise fertility if not compensated for by gains in contraceptive use.
OBJECTIVE: To review clinicopathological features of all cases diagnosed as idiopathic granulomatous lobular mastitis (IGLM) in our hospital and compare them with other data from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: Reports of all breast specimens received in histopathology laboratory in Qatif Central Hospital, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over a 14 year period (1988 through to 2002) were collected and those diagnosed as IGLM were selected for analysis of both pathological material and clinical data. RESULTS: Eleven patients representing 1.6% of all breast specimens were diagnosed as IGLM. The mean age was 35 years (range 25-50). Both breasts were equally affected. The most frequent presenting symptom was a breast mass of 2-22 weeks duration. The most common clinical diagnosis was chronic abscess (5 patients). Relation to pregnancy, lactation or oral contraceptives pills was elicited in 4 patients. Recurrence at different time intervals occurred in 3 patients. Microscopically there was an evident granulomatous inflammation mostly in lobular distribution. Ductal inflammation with epithelial changes was noted in most cases. Staining and cultures were negative for both mycobacterium and fungal organisms. CONCLUSION: Granulomatous mastitis is not unheard of and clinicians should keep it in their list of differential diagnosis of breast lumps so appropriate handling of breast specimens including microbiological studies can be pursued. Utility of fine needle aspiration biopsy as a diagnostic tool is to be considered.
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Fifty-three women with clinical evidence of vaginal candidosis confirmed by culture were entered into an open study. Patients received 400 mg ketoconazole once daily for 5 days. At 2 weeks post-treatment, 49 (92.5%) showed clinical and microbiological remission. The remaining 4 patients received 400 mg ketoconazole once daily for a further 21 days, along with a 400 mg 5-day course for their sexual partners. On completion of this second course of treatment, 3 of these patients were cured. Apart from some mild nausea, no side-effects were reported or observed.
Interviews wih women in six villages in India and with educated, working women selected to be trained as interviewers in five states, and evidence from formal studies are discussed to support the conclusions that (1) the low overall rates of contraceptive use in India are at least partly due to low levels of knowledge about different methods of birth control, especially of the modern reversible methods; and (2) the low use of all methods except sterilization is a good proxy for lack of knowledge about these methods. It is suggested that, both in the interests of achieving demographic targets and in the interests of the clientele of the family planning program, much greater emphasis must be placed on spreading practical information about reversible contraception. The information dissemination activities of the program so far have tended to concentrate on the why of family planning and neglect the how, except in promoting sterilization.