Evaluation of tocolytic efficacy of selective beta2 adrenoceptor agonists on buffalo uterus.

Present study was conducted on prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha), oxytocin, (OT), potassium chloride (KCI) and barium chloride (BaCl2) pre-contracted perimetrial uterine strips of dioestrus and pregnant buffaloes to evaluate the tocolytic efficacy of selective beta2 adrenoceptor agonists-albuterol (salbutamol) and terbutaline. Cumulative concentration-response curves of both the beta2 adrenoceptor agonists were constructed and the mean effective concentration (EC50) values determined and compared statistically. Based on the comparative EC50 values in relaxing the pre-contracted uterine strips with different spasmogens, the rank order potency of albuterol was found to be--PGF2alpha > BaCl2 > OT > KCl on uterine strips from dioestrus animals, while OT> BaCl2> PGF2alpha >KCl on the uterine strips of pregnant buffaloes. The rank order potency of terbutaline on uterine strips from dioestrus stage animals was- BaCl2 > OT > KCl > PGF2alpha, while BaCl2 > PGF2alpha > KCl > OT on uterine tissues of pregnant animals. Thus, irrespective of the state of uterus, whether gravid or non-gravid, KCl-depolarized uterine tissues required comparatively higher concentrations of albuterol or terbutaline to produce tocolytic effect. High concentrations of K+ in biophase may have interfered with the beta2 adrenoceptor agonists-induced outward K+ current and hyperpolarization. From the results of present study, it was evident that selective beta2 adrenergic agonists had good tocolytic efficacy on the uterus of buffaloes. Further, indirectly the possibility of existence and activation of K(Ca) channels by selective beta2 adrenoceptor agonists in mediating tocolysis of buffalo myometrium can not be ruled out, however, detailed studies using specific K(Ca) channel blockers are required for characterizing the nature of such channels in buffalo uterus.

Medicamentos para la interrupción de la gestación: una revisión de la literatura y sus posibles implicaciones para México América Latina / Medical methods for pregnancy termination. A review of literature and its potential role in Mexico and Latin America

In this document, we review the relevant aspects of the different medical methods of abortion. We describe the principal medical regimens currently used in North America, Europe, and a growing number of developing countries. We also describe specific treatment regimens (which usually involve a combination of two drugs), physiological methods of action, potential side effects and complications, method requirements, including follow-up visits, any existing contraindication, and acceptability of these methods among patients. Finally, we comment on the potential role of medical abortion in Mexico and throughout Latin America.

Misoprostol versus laminaria for cervical ripening in pregnancies with fetal death

Entre os vários agentes mundialmente estudados para o preparo cervical, as prostaglandinas e laminárias têm se mostrado seguras e eficazes. As prostaglandinas têm sido mais utilizadas na maioria dos países; entretanto, no Brasil apenas a PgE1 metil-análoga (misoprostol) está disponível comercialmente, e seu uso em obstetrícia tem aumentado significativamente em virtude de seu custo mais baixo em relaçäo às outras prostaglandinas, com eficácia comparável. Para avaliar o grau de modificaçäo servical obtido utilizando dois métodos distintos, foi realizado um ensaio clínico randomizado e cego com 60 gestantes que apresentaram morte fetal em gestaçäo com mais de 15 semanas e índice de Bishop inferior a 6 e estavam fora de trabalho de parto. As gestantes foram alocadas em dois grupos: um utilizando um comprimido de 200µg de misoprostol e outro uma laminária, inseridos por via intracervical 24 horas antes de iniciar a induçäo ocitócica. Näo houve diferença entre as variáveis de controle, nem com relaçäo às complicaçöes maternas. No entanto, houve diferença de efeitos entre os dois grupos, e 78,9 por cento das mulheres que utilizaram misoprostol evoluíram para parto durante as 24 horas reservadas para o preparo cervical. Além disso, neste grupo foram significativamente menores a dose de ocitocina utilizada, o tempo de internaçäo e o custo hospitalar. Ambos os métodos foram seguros e eficazes para o preparo cervical. Contudo, o misoprostol, na dose e via em que foi utilizado, demonstrou ser um método eficaz näo só no preparo cervical, mas também na induçäo de parto na populaçäo estudada.

The immunomodulatory and antitumor activities of trichosanthin-an abortifacient protein isolated from tian-hua-fen (Trichosanthes kirilowii).

Trichosanthin, a basic protein purified from the root tuber of Trichosanthes kirilowii, has been used effectively in China to induce midterm abortion in humans. In this paper, we show that trichosanthin at non-cytotoxic concentrations markedly inhibited the mitogen-induced lymphoproliferative response and the generation of a primary alloreactive CTL response in vitro. Similarly, the production of IL-2 by Con A activated splenocytes and the in vitro effector functions of macrophages were also significantly suppressed. In contrast, the cytolytic activity of CTL and NK cells was unimpaired. Moreover, the in vivo activation of NK cells was not significantly altered by a single injection of a non-toxic microgram amount of trichosanthin into mice. However, other immune reactivities such as the induction of a DTH response and the humoral antibody formation to SRBC were markedly depressed. Our data suggest that trichosanthin is a potent immunosuppressive protein that could affect humoral immunity and a variety of cell-mediated processes. In addition, our preliminary results show that this abortifacient protein could also inhibit the growth of a murine malignant tumour (MBL-2), both in vivo and in vitro.