Cervicovaginal fistula presenting during miscarriage.

Cervicovaginal fistula is a recognized complication of induced mid-trimester termination of pregnancy, but more recently it has also been recognized as representing a complication of prior cervical cerclage. We report the ultrasound findings of prolapse of the amniotic sac through a cervicovaginal fistula in a woman with prior cervical cerclage. A woman with cervical incompetence and prior failed McDonald cerclage presented for prophylactic Shirodkar cerclage. Before the procedure, transvaginal ultrasonography revealed a live intrauterine pregnancy at 14 weeks' gestation. Upon further ultrasound examination, the amniotic sac appeared to protrude through the posterior wall of the cervix into the vaginal vault. Pelvic examination verified prolapse of the amniotic sac through a cervicovaginal fistula. The patient underwent an uncomplicated dilatation and evacuation. Women with a history of cervical cerclage are at risk for the development of cervicovaginal fistula, the detection of which is important to prevent potential morbidity.

Treatment of hypertension in the elderly with labetalol.

Elderly and young hypertensive patients differ with regard to clinical and pathophysiologic profiles. In the elderly, hypertension is generally characterized by elevated peripheral vascular resistance and decreased cardiac output. To establish an individualized or patient-specific approach to their treatment, antihypertensive agents must be evaluated specifically in this subpopulation. Labetalol, an alpha- and beta-blocking agent, has been shown to lower blood pressure in young and elderly hypertensive patients primarily by reducing peripheral vascular resistance without compromising cardiac output. Examination of recent reports on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic effects, and on the efficacy and safety of labetalol in elderly persons with hypertension, leads us to conclude that the drug appears to be well suited for use in these patients.

Physiologic and cellular insulin action in a glucose-intolerant model of type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes in rats.

A B-cell-deficient model for Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus has been investigated with regard to insulin action at the cellular level. Two-day-old male Sprague Dawley rats were injected with streptozotocin (90 mg/kg) or citrate buffer. At 6 weeks streptozotocin-treated animals were hyperglycaemic and exhibited glucose intolerance, e.g. at 45 min post-glucose (1.5 g/kg) the change in serum glucose level from baseline was 6 +/- 7 mg% in control rats vs. 212 +/- 18 mg% for the streptozotocin-treated rats. Basal activity and insulin action in isolated adipocytes, as estimated by 2-deoxyglucose uptake and glucose metabolism, were not influenced by streptozotocin treatment. For example, uptake of 0.1 mmol/1 2-deoxyglucose at 1000 microU insulin/ml was 58 +/- 8 pmol/10(5) cells min-1 vs 54 +/- 6 pmol for adipocytes isolated from experimental vs. control animals. Although serum insulin levels in streptozotocin-treated rats were significantly decreased (p less than 0.05), there was no difference in insulin receptor number or affinity. Glucose intolerance present in this model is similar to that in Type 2 diabetes. However, concomitant insulin intolerance was not observed. Taken together with our findings of unaltered insulin action at the cellular level, this suggests that the pathogenesis of insulin resistance is not dependent on glucose intolerance. Moreover, this hyperglycaemic model is responsive to oral hypoglycaemic agents and can be used to establish their direct effects on physiologic and cellular insulin action.