Habitual abortion

462

SELECTED

Am. J. Obst. & Gynec. Fehruarl. \q;s

ABSTRACTS

British Medical Journal 1701. Z, July 6, 1957. Catterall, R. D., p. 29.

and Nicol:

Catttvrall

and

Nicol,

C. 8.:

SJlstemic Treatment

Systemic

Treatment

of Trichomonal

of

Trichomonal

Infections,

p. 29.

Infections,

The authors set out to test the statement that certain drugs can eradicate trichomonal infections via systemic therapy and thereby reach the organism in places inaccessible to local therapy. They tested two drugs: Trichomyein, an antibiotic isolated from Streptomyces hachijoensis and acinitrazole (9acethyl-amido-t-nitrothiazole). Both of these drugs have high in vitro antitrichomonad effects. The first drug was tested Ioeally, systemically, and in All patients had a combined form, with a 3 month follow-up for the local method. Secretions, urine, and serum in selected eases were found relapses, both male and female. to be lacking in antitrichomonad activity. No serious side reactions were noted. Local therapy in a group of 23 women consisted of insertion of a 50,000 unit suppository daily for 14 days; 10 women were given 5,000 unit tablets 3 times a day for 10 days; 20 women and 6 men were given up to 300,000 units daily for 2 weeks; and 4 women were given combined therapy. Acinitrazole was given to 10 women, 100 mg. 3 times a day, without success and then 9 women were given the drug orally and a suppository of phenylmercuric dinaphthylmethane disulfonate without success. The plea is made that drugs not he placed on the market until adequately tested. FRANCIS

B.

O’BRIEN

Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift Vol.

Von

84 1957. “Van Kneer, “Tietze, K. : Kneer

:

M.: Habitual Abortion, p. 1059. Irregular Menstrual Cycles, p. 1223.

Habitual

Abortion,

p, 1059.

The etiology of habitual abortion is discussed in relation to the period of gestation and the appearance of the fetus, Abortion within the first 3 months is usually caused by a fetal malformation or hydatidiform mole and after that time by a uterine defect. The fetal malformation is usually caused by imperfect vascular connection between the fetus and the membranes. Development of the fetus is usually retarded while the development of the membranes is consistent with the period of amenorrhea. Some 60 per cent of early spontaneous abortions are caused by hydatidiform moles. It is important to do a histological examination of the specimen to see the exact cause of abortion. The author emphasizes the importance of the distinction between lethal genetic factors and exogenic factors from the maternal organism, among them the lack of ribonucleic acid in the follicular epithelium. The exogenie factors may depend upon the diet of the mother, a vitamin deficiency, particularly of vitamin A, or obesity. Abortion at the fourth to the sixth month is usually due to malformations of the The author recommends hysterography and uterus such as a uterus didelphys or duplex. operation for these cases. CORNEL

Tietse : Irregular Menstrual Cycles,

BJSRENKEY

p. 1223.

The

author gives the definition of irregularity as “the deviation in time from the average normal. ’ ’ Irregularities are found in most women and the prolonged cycle is usually compensated for by a shortened cycle the following month. Irregularity is thought to be dependent upon nonrhythmic influences from higher brain centers and is considered as physiologic variation. The author shows by statistics from a large series of patients that deviations and irregularities may coincide. CORNEL

BERENKEY