Detection of antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in patients of infertility by monoclonal antibody based sandwiched enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

A sandwich ELISA to detect specific protein antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was developed by using polyclonal anti-BCG rabbit antibodies as the primary capture antibodies. The mycobacterial antigens were detected with horseradish peroxidase conjugated monoclonal antibodies (P 6) as secondary antibodies. The enzyme was detected by using 1,2 Phenylenediamine dihydrochloride (OPD) and Hydrogen peroxide as substrate. The antigen could be quantitated through linear regression analysis with lower detection limit of 1.25 micrograms/ml. 50 consecutive cases of infertility were examined by laparoscopy and tested for the presence of the antigen in the serum. Mycobacterial antigen could be detected in 9 of the 12 cases with definitive diagnosis of tuberculosis, 5 of the 23 where the diagnosis of tuberculosis was probable and in only 1 of 15 patients who had no laparoscopic abnormalities indicative of tuberculosis.

Pharmacokinetics of norethindrone acetate in women after the insertion of a single subdermal implant releasing norethindrone acetate.

The metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of norethindrone acetate (NETA) and norethindrone (NET) levels in plasma were studied after an iv injection of [3H]NETA in three women before and at 1 week, 1, 2 and 6 months following the insertion of a single silastic subdermal implant releasing microquantities of NETA. No significant change in the MCR of NETA was observed at 1 week (459 +/- 72 1/day), 1 month (489 +/- 113 1/day) and 2 months (522 +/- 144 1/day) compared with that of control (525 +/- 108 1/day). However, MCR of NETA showed significant increase in women exposed to continuous presence of NETA for a period of 6 months (608 +/- 121 1/day; P less than 0.025). NETA was rapidly and extensively metabolized into NET. At 1 week, 1, 2 and 6 months of study, NET was observed to be present in higher amounts compared with NETA. The production rate (PR) of progesterone decreased significantly at 2 and 6 months of NETA implant insertion compared with the PR before the insertion of implant.

Return of ovarian function and endometrial morphology in women treated with norethisterone oenanthate: a pilot study.

A comparative pilot study was undertaken in three centers to determine the time of return of ovulation after the injection of the steroidal contraceptive norethisterone oenanthate (NET-OEN). The effect of the compound on the endometrium and some properties of cervical mucus were also assessed. Increases in plasma progesterone levels suggested that ovulation resumed in all six women in Bahia within 60 days of injection of NET-OEN, whereas in Bangkok and New Delhi only two women in each center ovulated within this time. The difference in the time of return of ovulation between women in Bahia (mean time 42 days) and those in Bangkok and New Delhi (92.5 days) was statistically significant. Follicular function returned earlier than luteal function: all six women in Bahia and Bangkok and five of the six in New Delhi showed evidence of follicular activity within 60 days. All endometrial biopsies, obtained at a time of increased progesterone production, were secretory and suggested that administration of the gestagen did not exert a prolonged suppression of endometrial activity. In general, changes in cervical mucus were consistent with variations in plasma steroid levels.

A preliminary pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation of depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate and norethisterone oenanthate.

PIP: 2 populations attending WHO centers, one in Sweden and one in India, participated in a comparative, pilot trial of 2 increasingly popular injectable progestin-only female contraceptives, Depo-Provera and Norigest. The purpose of the study was to assess the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the 2 formulations (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate and norethisterone enanthate). Differences were found between Swedish women and Indian women in their reactions to the 2 drugs: 1) Norigest was detectable in blood samples a significantly shorter time after injection of the agent in Indian women than in Swedish women; this difference was not apparent with Depo-Provera. 2) Although there was no difference at the 2 centers in the time of ovulation return for subjects receiving Norigest, 0 of 4 Swedish women ovulated more than 156 days after Depo-Provera injection, whereas all 4 Indian women ovulated within 73 days of Depo-Provera injection; in the Swedish women, the levels of medroxyprogesterone were undetectable at time of return to ovulation, whereas Indian women had levels of .6 ng/ml when ovulation resumed. 3) In both cultures, Depo-Provera users had significantly more episodes of bleeding and spotting than Norigest users. This preliminary report emphasizes the variety of responses possible to injection of different contraceptive progestins among various populations and points to the need for further culturally comparative studies.^ieng