RESUMO
Cytogenetic studies were performed on 1,180 individuals--490 couples + 200 females presenting with habitual spontaneous abortion (HSA). These revealed 24 abnormal results (2.03%)--15 were apparently balanced reciprocal translocations and 9 were Robertsonian translocations. Of 97 pregnancies among the translocation carriers, there were 10 living children and 87 pregnancy losses--a loss rate of 89.7%. There were 11 familial translocations. In 10 familial cases with a full family tree, there were 27 spontaneous abortions and 64 livebirths among the 30 adult translocation carrier relatives--a loss rate of 29.6%. This is twice the risk found in the general population but not as high as in the probands, who had 6 times the abortion rate in the general population. Mechanisms are suggested for this difference. The subsequent pregnancy history of 12 index translocation couples showed an apparently improved pregnancy outcome with 13 further fetal losses and 13 living children, over a follow-up time per patient ranging from 1-5.5 years. However, when the pregnancy losses at ascertainment were combined with postascertainment losses, the overall rate of pregnancy loss remained the same.
Assuntos
Aborto Habitual/genética , Aberrações Cromossômicas/genética , Translocação Genética , Aborto Habitual/epidemiologia , Adulto , Aberrações Cromossômicas/diagnóstico , Aberrações Cromossômicas/epidemiologia , Transtornos Cromossômicos , Feminino , Morte Fetal , Seguimentos , Humanos , Incidência , Cariotipagem , Masculino , Linhagem , Gravidez , Resultado da Gravidez , Diagnóstico Pré-NatalRESUMO
Random testing of urine from opiate addicts in the methadone treatment programme at the Drug Dependency Service, Brisbane Street, Sydney, was carried out for 18 months. Six samples from each of approximately 100 clients (that is, 580 specimens) have been analysed. It was found that clients receiving high methadone dosages (80 mg and over) used illegal opiates significantly less frequently than those on lower dosages. Furthermore, a decline in the use of illegal opiates and an increase in the proportion of "clear" urine specimens (that is, clear of all drugs except methadone) were indicators of the effectiveness of the methadone programme. It was concluded that urine testing was a useful and objective means of evaluating methadone or any other drug addiction treatment programme, and of monitoring what other drugs were being taken, both consciously or inadvertently in combinations. The results of urine testing can also be of value to counsellors in the therapeutic situation.
