Studies on safety aspects of contraceptive Magainin-A in rabbits.

We have previously reported the contraceptive potential of Magainin-A in rats and rabbits under in vitro and in vivo condition. In this report we evaluated the effect of Magainin-A on the structural organisation of vaginal epithelium in rabbits. The effect of this compound on the erythrocytes and its rate of absorption and clearance from systemic circulation was also studied. The effective contraceptive dose of Magainin-A (1 mg) when administered intra-vaginally for five consecutive days did not induce any structural or morphological abnormalities in vaginal epithelial cells. No adverse effect was observed on the erythrocytes. The rate of Magainin-A absorption and clearance from the circulation was found to be rapid. These results suggest that Magainin-A may be used as a safe intra-vaginal contraceptive compound in future.

Safety of intrauterine administration of purified neem seed oil (Praneem Vilci) in women & effect of its co-administration with the heterospecies dimer birth control vaccine on antibody response to human chorionic gonadotropin.

Praneem Vilci (PV), purified neem oil was reported to exercise a reversible antifertility effect after a single intrauterine instillation in rodents and primates without any adverse effects. After toxicology, drug regulatory and ethical clearances, a phase I clinical trial was conducted on PV. Eighteen healthy tubectomised women were enrolled to evaluate the safety of a single intrauterine instillation of PV and to determine the effect of its co-administration on anti-hCG response to the heterospecies dimer (HSD) hCG vaccine. Eight women received PV alone and ten women were given the HSD-hCG vaccine in addition. Base-line and post-treatment haematological and biochemical profiles were determined as also the mid-luteal serum progesterone. Endometrial biopsies were examined to assess ovulatory status and the effect of intrauterine treatment with PV on the endometrium. Anti-hCG antibody titres were estimated in women who were concurrently immunized with the HSD vaccine. No untoward reaction was observed in any woman. Menstrual pattern and ovulatory status remained unaltered. Endometrial biopsy after PV instillation in one woman showed non-specific endometritis but she remained asymptomatic. Mild eosinophilia was seen in two women and this reverted to normal on its own. All women receiving PV and the HSD vaccine generated antibodies against hCG. Our data show that intrauterine administration of PV is safe and does not prevent the antibody response to HSD-hCG vaccine.

Infección por virus de inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) en obstetricia y ginecología / Infection by human immnunodeficiency virus (HIV) in obstetrics and gynecology

La infección por virus de inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) está afectando en forma creciente la práctica de la obstetricia y ginecología. Los problemas ginecológicos incluyen un riesgo aumentado de enfermedades de transmisión sexual y otras infecciones genitales en mujeres VIH positivas. Además la neoplasia cervical es más común, mas severa y progresa más rápidamente. El riesgo de infección para el cirujano, durante los procedimientos quirúrgicos, en mujeres VIH positivas puede minimizarse con las simples precauciones universales. El embarazo no afecta el curso de la infección por VIH así como tampoco el manejo rutinario prenatal. Sin embargo, el examen de rutina para VIH de todas las mujeres embarazadas permitiría una reducción de los riesgos de la transmisión vertical de VIH al feto (en Chile cerca del 25 por ciento). Los niveles de transmisión vertical podrían reducirse significativamente usando zidovudina en el embarazo (y en el neonato), efectuando operación cesárea antes del parto activo e impidiendo la lactancia