Gunnar Thomsen Pedersen

Reference values for six enzymes in plasma from newborns and women at delivery

We have determined the distribution in cord blood from healthy newborns of six enzymes: creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate and alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltransferase. The concentration of enzymes were determined according to the methods recommended by the Scandinavian Committee on Enzymes. The distribution of isoenzymes and of enzymes in blood from women at delivery was investigated also. All distributions were positively skewed. The upper reference limits of cord blood exceeded those found in mother blood by a factor of eight for gamma-glutamyltransferase, and for lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase by a factor of two.

Apgar Scores in Low Birth Weight Infants Delivered Vaginally and by Cesarean Section

A retrospective investigation of 641 live infants weighing less than 2 500 g showed that the frequency of a low Apgar score (≤7, five minutes after birth) was significantly correlated to the birth weight of the infant and independent of the mode of delivery and the presentation of the fetus at birth.

Oral Oxytocics for Induction of Labor: A Randomized study of prostaglandin E2 tablets and demoxytocin resoriblets

Abstract. A randomized comparative study of 387 consecutive patients admitted for induction of labor was carried out using two orally administered oxytocics (prostaglandin E2 tablets (ProstinR) or Demoxytocin resoriblets for buccal administration (SandopartR)), the results of which are reported here.

15(S)-15-Methyl-Prostaglandin F2α Used for Induction of Delivery in the Case of Intra-Uterine Fetal Death

Abstract. 102 pregnant women with intra‐uterine fetal death after the 12th week of gestation were treated with 15(S)‐15‐methyl‐prostaglandin F2α intramuscularly with doses of 125‐250 μg at 2‐3 hourly intervals. In all cases abortion or delivery was completed within 30 hours. The average time in primigravidae was 9 hours 43 minutes, and in multi‐gravidae 9 hours 59 minutes. In approximately two‐thirds of the patients, mild or moderate gastrointestinal side effects were recorded in spiteof prophylactic treatment with Retar‐dinR or Loperamide + Diphenoxylate. The therapy was found to be effective, easy to administer and the side effects acceptable. No serious side effects were recorded.

Serum Lipids During Oestradiol Valerate/Norgestrel Treatment of Menopausal Women

Serum lipids during estradiol-valerate/norgestrel treatment of 33 menopausal women are reported. The women aged 38-56 years all with menopausal complaints were treated after randomization during 3 cycles with either estradiol-valerate/norgestrel sequential therapy or a placebo and then during 3 cycles with the opposite drug. Cholesterol triglycerides glycerol free fatty acids and lipoprotein electrophoresis were studied before treatment after each cycle and 4 weeks after the intake of the last tablet. Markedly lower triglyceride levels were seen during the treatment period than during the placebo period. A correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between the difference in mean triglyceride value during the placebo and treatment period and the mean value during the placebo period (r equals .84 p less than .01). The triglyceride levels were lower after 8 weeks of treatment than after 4 weeks (p. less than .01). It is not known whether the decrease was due to the natural estrogen or to the gestagen. 4 weeks after the discontinuation of treatment the levels corresponded to pretreatment levels. No marked changes occurred in the other paratmeters.

MYCOTIC VULVOVAGINITIS IN PREGNANT DIABETIC AND NON-DIABETIC WOMEN

The purpose was to find out whether mere ultrasonic demonstration of fetal movements is a reliable proof of fetal life during early pregnancy. 84 patients with imminent abortion were examined, the duration of pregnancy being 7th -13th weeks. The Vidosone apparatus was used first. If fetal echoes were detectable, fetal movements in the uterus were followed for 5 minutes. The combined Aand B-scan technique employing Kretztechniks 4 100 MGS apparatus was used as the second method. The findings were verified by the display of fetal heart function with other ultrasonic methods and by follow-up of pregnancy. The earliest fetal movements were detected on the gth gestational week by the Vidosone method, and on the loth week by the AB-scan. The Vidosone findings were completely reliable from the 10th week onwards, the A-Bscan findings two weeks later. The advantage of the Vidosone method over the other ultrasonic techniques is its simple applicability in early pregnancy. The technique can easily be adopted into use also in clinics with little previous experience of ultrasound.

Comparison of Extra-Amniotic Administration of PGF2α, 0.9 Per Cent Saline, and 20 Per Cent Saline Followed by Oxytocin for Therapeutic Abortion

Abstract. 168 patients between 1Oth and 18th week of pregnancy admitted to hospital for legal abortion were treated accordingly to three different protocols.

Yeasts Isolated from the Throat, Rectum and Vagina in 60 Women Examined During Pregnancy and ½ to 1 Year After Labour

For more than one hundred years the occurrence of yeasts in the vagina has been well-known especially among pregnant and diabetic women. In a co-operation between the Institute of General Pathology and the Maternity Hospital in Aarhus an attempt has been made to show how frequent yeasts were in 60 women. From Table I it appears that the women were examined from: a) the throat, where swabs were taken from the left tonsil, b) the rectum, where a gloved index finger was introduced so high in the rectum as possible and some faeces was streaked on special mycological media, and c) the vagina, where swabs were taken from the anterior wall and from the anterior and posterior lacuna. The 3 swabs were streaked on mycological media and then placed in fluid medium. The. examinations were performed: I ) early in pregnancy, z ) in the middle of the 2nd trimester, 3) in the middle of the 3rd trimester, and 4) Y 2 to I year after labour.