A comparison between 25 micrograms and 50 micrograms of intravaginal misoprostol for labor induction

Our purpose was to compare the efficacy 25 micrograms and 50 micrograms dosage of intravaginal misoprostol for labor induction in patients with an unfavorable cervix. Fifty pregnant women were randomly assigned to receive either 25 micrograms (24 cases) or 50 micrograms (26 cases) of intravaginal misoprostol every 6 hours. The mean interval from induction to vaginal delivery was significantly shorter in the 50 micrograms group (13.8 +/- 6.6 hours) when compared with the 25 micrograms group (20.9 +/- 9.5 hours) (P = 004). The average number of misoprostol doses needed per patient was significantly fewer in the 50 micrograms group (1.6 +/- 0.7 versus 2.3 +/- 1.2, P = 0.018). The frequencies of uterine tachysystole were 4.2 per cent and 7.7 per cent in the 25 micrograms and 50 micrograms groups respectively which did not significantly differ. Requirement for oxytocin infusion in the 25 micrograms group was significantly more than in the 50 micrograms group (66.6% versus 23.1% respectively, P = 0.004). Analgesia requirement, delivery method, and perinatal outcomes were comparable in both groups. In summary, intravaginal application of 50 micrograms misoprostol at 6-hour interval is comparable in safety but more effective for labor induction than the 25 micrograms dosage.     

Pregnancy outcome of threatened abortion with demonstrable fetal cardiac activity: a cohort study

Stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR) and principal components regression (PCR) have been used to predict the percentages of cows', goats' and ewes' milk in ?Iberico? cheese, using the results obtained by electrophoretic analysis (PAGE and IEF) of whey proteins, using standard cheeses. Similar predictions of the percentages of milks from the three species were obtained when either SMLR or PCR were applied to the electrophoretic data, i.e., the optical intensity of the electrophoretic bands (PAGE or IEF) of the whey proteins. The root mean square error of prediction in cross-validation (RMSEPCV) was lower than 4% in all cases.     

Fast Spectrum Sensing with Coordinate System in Cognitive Radio Networks

Spectrum sensing is an elementary function in cognitive radio designed to monitor the existence of a primary user (PU). To achieve a high rate of detection, most techniques rely on knowledge of prior spectrum patterns, with a trade‐off between high computational complexity and long sensing time. On the other hand, blind techniques ignore pattern matching processes to reduce processing time, but their accuracy degrades greatly at low signal‐to‐noise ratios. To achieve both a high rate of detection and short sensing time, we propose fast spectrum sensing with coordinate system (FSC) — a novel technique that decomposes a spectrum with high complexity into a new coordinate system of salient features and that uses these features in its PU detection process. Not only is the space of a buffer that is used to store information about a PU reduced, but also the sensing process is fast. The performance of FSC is evaluated according to its accuracy and sensing time against six other well‐known conventional techniques through a wireless microphone signal based on the IEEE 802.22 standard. FSC gives the best performance overall.     

Comparison of vacuum extraction delivery between the conventional metal cup and the new soft rubber cup

The authors present a safe, conservative method of endless-loop bougienage (ELB) through the oral cavity and esophagus to a gastrostomy without general anesthesia in three children with corrosive esophageal burns treated since 1966. Esophagogastroscopy was performed to evaluate for esophagitis at an early phase after ingestion of the caustic substance. When esophageal stricture formation was recognized after subsequent conservative treatment, a feeding gastrostomy was made. A continuous string loop with plummets of progressively larger size was positioned to pass through the patient's oral cavity and esophagus to the gastrostomy. Strictures were found in the upper esophagus in two patients and in the middle and lower esophagus in one. The gastrostomy was performed 15 months, 20 days, and 2 months after the injury, respectively, and the periods of ELB were 3, 5, and 2(1/2) years, respectively. The patients were able to start eating at 26, 42, and 29 months after injury, respectively. They are now 30, 18, and 17 years old, and slight dysphagia remains in patients 1 and 2. No patient developed esophageal carcinoma at the site of the corrosive stricture. Our method of ELB through the patient's oral cavity and esophagus to the gastrostomy appears to be safe, reliable, and useful. We believe that most caustic esophageal strictures in children can be treated by this conservative measure.     

Airway Exposure to Polyethyleneimine Nanoparticles Induces Type 2 Immunity by a Mechanism Involving Oxidative Stress and ATP Release

Polyethyleneimine (PEI) induced immune responses were investigated in human bronchial epithelial (hBE) cells and mice. PEI rapidly induced ATP release from hBE cells and pretreatment with glutathione (GSH) blocked the response. PEI activated two conductive pathways, VDAC-1 and pannexin 1, which completely accounted for ATP efflux across the plasma membrane. Moreover, PEI increased intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i), which was reduced by the pannexin 1 inhibitor, ¹⁰Panx (50 μM), the VDAC-1 inhibitor, DIDS (100 μM), and was nearly abolished by pretreatment with GSH (5 mM). The increase in [Ca²⁺]_i involved Ca²⁺ uptake through two pathways, one blocked by oxidized ATP (oATP, 300 μM) and another that was blocked by the TRPV-1 antagonist A784168 (100 nM). PEI stimulation also increased IL-33 mRNA expression and protein secretion. In vivo experiments showed that acute (4.5 h) PEI exposure stimulated secretion of Th2 cytokines (IL-5 and IL-13) into bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Conjugation of PEI with ovalbumin also induced eosinophil recruitment and secretion of IL-5 and IL-13 into BAL fluid, which was inhibited in IL-33 receptor (ST2) deficient mice. In conclusion, PEI-induced oxidative stress stimulated type 2 immune responses by activating ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ uptake leading to IL-33 secretion, similar to allergens derived from Alternaria.     

Gynaecological conditions associated with HIV infection in women who are partners of HIV-positive Thai blood donors

Women who were partners of HIV-positive blood donors were enrolled in a study of heterosexual HIV transmission between March 1992 and December 1996 and were interviewed and examined. Gynaecological conditions, including cervical dysplasia, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, gonorrhoea, chlamydial infection, trichomoniasis, bacterial vaginosis, vaginal candidiasis and syphilis were assessed in addition to HIV status and CD4 level. Of 481 women enrolled, 224 (46.6%) were HIV seropositive. HIV-infected women were more likely to have abnormal vaginal discharge on physical examination (OR=2.6, P <0.01), HPV infection with a high-risk type (OR=6.9, P <0.01), and cervical dysplasia (OR=5.3, P <0.01). The prevalence of other gynaecological conditions detected at the enrolment visit did not differ by HIV status. History of prior STD (OR=2.0, P <0.01) was more common among HIV-infected women. The median CD4 count was 400 cells/microl among HIV-infected women. The prevalence of abnormal vaginal discharge and bacterial vaginosis increased significantly with decreasing CD4 count. The prevalence of ectopy, vaginal candidiasis, and cervical dysplasia increased with decreasing CD4 count, but these trends were not significant. We conclude that HIV-infected Thai women appear to have increased prevalences of abnormal vaginal discharge, squamous intraepithelial lesions and self-reported history of STD.