Lipid and lipoprotein changes during the seven days off oral contraception in women using two triphasic preparations.

This study was designed to determine whether mean values for lipids and lipoproteins changed during the 21 days on oral contraceptive (OC) preparations and during the seven days off the pills. The design allowed for comparison of the effects of Triphasil and Ortho 777 and for examining the consistency over two pill cycles. The mean values for total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL3-subfraction were consistently lower on Day 20 when compared to Day 2 (p less than 0.05) for the two cycles and higher on Day 2 of Cycle II when compared to Day 20 of Cycle I. This fall-rise-fall pattern was consistent for cholesterol in 17 out of 28 of the women studied and these women were heavier (p less than 0.05), had a greater mean Quetelet Index (p less than 0.05) and had been using OCs for a shorter mean period of time (p less than 0.05). Consistently higher apolipoprotein A1 mean values were found on Day 20 of both cycles for Triphasil users compared to Ortho 777 users (p less than 0.02). This paper discusses the importance of these findings in relation to study design when measuring for differences between OC preparations and changes over time.

PIP: This study was designed to determine whether mean values for lipids and lipoproteins changed during the 21 days on oral contraceptives (OCs) and during the 7 days off the pill. The design allowed for comparison of the effects of Triphasil and Ortho 777 and for examining the consistency over 2 pill cycles. The mean values for total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and HDL3-subfraction were consistently lower on day 20 when compared to day 2 (P0.05) for the 2 cycles and higher on day 2 of cycle 2 when compared to day 20 of cycle 1. This fall-rise-fall pattern was consistent for cholesterol in 17 of 28 women studied and these women were heavier (P0.05), had a greater mean Quetelet Index (P0.05), and had been using OCs for a shorter mean period of time (P0.05). Consistently higher apolipoprotein Al mean values were found on day 20 of both cycles for Triphasil users compared to Ortho 777 users (P0.02). This paper discusses the importance of these findings in relation to study design when measuring for differences between OCs and changes over time.

Postcoital contraception: some characteristics of women who use this method.

This paper describes some of the characteristics of the women who attended a medical clinic requesting postcoital contraception. The information is derived from 871 observations in 653 women who requested this contraception. The mean age of women at the time of first request for this method was older than expected (21.9 years) and the mean time from first coitus to first request for the method was longer than expected (2.7 years). Previous pregnancy with therapeutic abortion was reported by 11.3% of the women. Multiple users of the method were younger at their first visit, and more likely to report a previous pregnancy. The method of contraception used before and after the need for postcoital contraception tended to be the same. Barrier method users have need of this method either for use when they fail to use their barrier method or for use when their barrier method fails. The need for more general availability of this method is discussed.

PIP: This paper describes some of the characteristics of the women who attended medical clinic requesting postcoital contraception. The information is derived from 871 observations in 653 women who requested this contraception. The mean age of women at the time of 1st request for this method was older than expected (21.9 years) and the mean time from 1st coitus to 1st request for the method was longer than expected (2.7 years). Previous pregnancy with therapeutic abortion was reported by 11.3% of the women. Multiple users of the method were younger at their 2st visit, and more likely to report a previous pregnancy. The method of contraception used before and after the need for postcoital contraception tended to be the same. Barrier method users have need of this method either when they fail to use their barrier method when their barrier method fails. Multiple users of postcoital contraception seemed to be women who were having difficulty with both contraceptive choice and accepting their own sexual behavior. Any attitude on the part of contraceptive providers that makes a woman feel badly about herself or failure to use contraception may make their returning for postcoital contraception more difficult. All women who use this method should be encouraged to return for postcoital contraception whenever the need arises.

Postcoital contraception with dl-norgestrel/ethinyl estradiol combination: six years experience in a student medical clinic.

Postcoital contraception with ethinyl estradiol/dl-norgestrel in combination has been available to women students attending the University of British Columbia since 1974. This paper reports on the side effects, cycle control and efficacy, for a six-year period (1979-1985). In this sample of women 50% reported side effects of nausea alone or nausea with vomiting. Length of the menstrual cycle was shortened in women who took the medication prior to the expected day of ovulation. The number of pregnancies reported was significantly (p less than 0.002) less than the number expected had the medication not been taken. Some women took the medication even though there was a possibility of conception earlier in the cycle and this might account for four of the failures. The mode of action of the postcoital medication remains unsolved making it difficult to understand possible reasons for the other 14 failures.

The effect of triphasic and biphasic oral contraceptive preparations on HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in young women.

Lipid changes were measured during two consecutive studies on efficacy, side effects, and metabolic changes of oral contraceptive (OC) preparations. The mean lipid values of women on OCs at the start of the two studies were compared to those of women who had not taken OCs for at least 3 months. It was found that LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) mean values of the women on OCs were higher than the mean values of women who had not taken OCs for at least 3 months. In study #1, women received the OC preparation Triphasil. In study #2, women were randomised to one of 3 OC preparations (Triphasil, Ortho 777 or Ortho 10/11). HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and LDL-C were measured over time at six months and at 12 months after receiving the study medications. The results show that HDL-C increased in women on Ortho 777 and 10/11 and decreased in women on Triphasil at six months, and these changes were not found at 12 months. The results showed change over time for the LDL-C mean values, in that women not on OCs at the start of the studies had increased LDL-C mean values, and women on OCs at the start of the studies had decreased LDL-C mean values. Further the LDL-C mean values in women not on OCs at the start of the studies who received Triphasil (containing the gonane progestin dl-norgestrel) increased over time, whereas the combined mean values of those who received Ortho 777 and Ortho 10/11 (containing the estrane progestin norethindrone) did not increase over time.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PIP: Lipid changes were measured during 2 consecutive studies on efficacy, side effects, and metabolic changes of oral contraceptive (OC) preparations. The mean lipid values of women on OCs at the start of the 2 studies were compared to those of women who had not taken OCs for at least 3 months. It was found that LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) mean values of the women on OCs were higher than the mean values of women who had not taken Ocs for at least 3 months. In study 1, women received the OC preparation T riphasil. In study 2, women were randomized to 1 of 3 OC prep arations (Triphasil; Ortho 777; or Orhto 10/11). HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) and LDL-C were measured over time at 6 months and at 12 months after receiving the study medications. The results show that HDL-C increased in women on Ortho 777 and 10/11 and decreased in women on Triphasil at 6 months, and these changes were not found at 12 months. The results showed change over time for the LDL-C mean values, in that women not on OCs at the start of the studies had increased LDL-C mean values, and women on OCs at the start of the studies had decreased LDL-C mean values. Further the LDL-C mean values in women not on OCs at the start of the studies who received Triphasil (containing the gonane progestin dl-norgestrel) increased over time, whereas the combined mean values of those who received Ortho 777 and Ortho 10/11 (containing the estrane progestin norethindrone) did not increase over time. Since blood samples were taken at random during the menstrual cycle, analyses were performed to determine if this variable would have confounded the results. A week negative correlation was found with LDL-C values in women after 6 months on the study medication. No other significant correlation was detected for this variable in the data.

The preparation of dihydrodiols from 7-methylbenz[a]-anthracene.

The products formed when the carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbon 7-methylbenz[a] anthracene is oxidized with an ascorbic acid-ferrous sulphate mixture have been investigated. All 5 possible dihydrodiols were formed and the isolation of the 3 non-K-region dihydrodiols, trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-7-methylbenz[a]anthracene, trans-3,4-dihydro-3,4-dihydroxy-7-methylbenz[a] anthracene and trans-8,9-dihydro-8,9-dihydroxy-7-methylbenz[a] anthracene is described. The purification of the dihydrodiols was carried out by thin-layer (TLC) followed by preparative high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The ultra-violet, spectral and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) characteristics of the dihydrodiols are reported and the data used to assign the proposed structures. An explanation for the unusual preferred conformation which the 8,9-dihydrodiol adopts is advanced.

Studies on the conformational properties of the high-mobility-group chromosomal protein HMG 17 and its interaction with DNA.

The conformation of the non-histone chromatin protein, HMG 17, has been studied using circular dichroism, infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies, and by small-angle scattering. The results show that in free solution this protein has little or no secondary or tertiary structure in contrast to the other high-mobility-group proteins, HMG 1 and 2, which exhibit highly ordered structures. Protein HMG 17 binds to calf thymus DNA in an ionic-dependent manner, precipitating the DNA at high protein/DNA ratio. The nuclear magnetic resonance data suggest that the principle DNA-binding segment of HMG 17 is that between about residues 15 and 40.

A pH-dependent interaction between histones H2A and H2B involving secondary and tertiary folding.

It has been shown by high-resolution proton magnetic resonance (PMR) spectroscopy and circular dichroism (CD) that an H2A/H2B histone complex exists after salt extraction of these histones from chromatin and that this complex can be fully renatured from both urea-denatured acid-extracted and from urea-denatured salt-extracted histones. The histone complex is shown to involve specific secondary and tertiary structure. Formation of this complex is observed to be critically dependent on pH, occurring at and above pH 5. It cannot be induced below pH 5 by increase in ionic strength. From CD spectra the H2A/H2B complex is shown to contain about 37% alpha helix but no beta structure, the latter being confirmed by infrared spectroscopy in the 6-mum region. The PMR spectra show that the structured region includes most of the aromatic residues of both histones, at least two histidine residues of H2B and probably histidines 31 and 82 of histone H2A. The secondary structure of histones H2A and H2B is predicted using the Chou and Fasman procedure and comparisons are made between the predictions for histones of different species. These results in conjunction with the experimental evidence lead to the conclusion that at least residues 31-95 of H2A and residues 37-114 of H2B, i.e. the more apolar regions of the molecules, are involved in the tertiary structure of the H2A/H2B complex.