[Medical indications for abortions induced in the 2d trimester of prenatal life. Epidemiological considerations and prospects of prevention]. / Motivazioni mediche degli aborti indotti nel secondo trimestre di vita prenatale. Considerazioni epidemiologiche e prospettive di prevenzione.

A review of more then 20,000 induced abortions led to recognize a series of about 1,500 late abortions induced upon medical indication during the second trimester of pregnancy, in accordance with the 1978 italian Law. About 20% of these abortions were performed in teen-agers. Only 3.5% of these 1.500 abortions corresponded to the classic "therapeutical" motivation due to danger to the physical health of the mother. Eugenic abortions induced by ascertained fetal malformation, chromosomal abnormality or other suspected prenatal pathology, could be identified in 36.9% of cases, even if legal motivation went correlated to the mental health of the mother. In 59.6% of cases motivation was a peculiar psycho-emotional condition of mother suffering, inducing fear for her mental health. Data were analysed and correlated to a series of relevant variables. Considerations of general value regarding the prevalence of the phenomenon of rejected pregnancies, the rate of spontaneous abortions, and the lack of birth control, are based on the comparison of the results with those of the first trimester induced abortions, spontaneous abortions and natality rate recorded in the same Hospital, in the population of Milan and in the italian largest region, Lombardy. Consistently with the recognition, based on biological, medical and ethical ground, of the presence of a new human life during pregnancy, the Author stresses the need for a realistic approach to the problem also from the legal and medical point of view. In particular, the urgent need for comprehensive and efficient programs of prevention of abortion, which still remains all over the world a major challenge for society, human dignity and modern gynaecological science is emphasized.

[Recent changes in the field of therapeutic abortion: statistical data, observations, perspectives]. / Variazioni recenti in tema di aborto terapeutico: dati statistici, considerazioni, prospettive.

PIP: Trends in abortions performed over the past 12 years at a clinic in Milan, Italy, are analyzed. Consideration is given to age of woman, marital status, region of residence, and previous pregnancy history. Data are also presented on methods of abortion and on reasons for abortions performed after 90 days of pregnancy. (SUMMARY IN ENG)^ieng

[Medical motives for induced abortion in hospital]. / Motivazioni mediche addotte per l'aborto provocato in ospedale.

PIP: By 1978, the ruling concerning abortion liberalization of the law No. 194 resulted in an increase in the number of therapeutic abortions performed each year. At the Hospital Istituti Clinici di Perfezionamento of Milan, 2995 abortions were recorded during the 4 years prior to the passage of the ruling and 114 of them were performed for medical reasons. Over the 4 year period following the passage of the law (1978-82), 10,823 cases of abortion were recorded; of these 2072 were spontaneous abortions, 407 were therapeutic abortions for medical indications, and 8344 were legal abortions for socioeconomic reasons. The cases of therapeutic abortion during 1974-82 were analyzed. In particular, during the last 2 years, only 3% of such abortions were performed on medical grounds alone while 27% were performed because of genetic diseases and 70% for emotional disorders. Therapeutic abortion was performed after 14 weeks of gestation in 98.5% of cases; 45% of these patients were unmarried, 44% were primigravidae, and 24% were under age 20. Abortion on medical grounds is done to prevent inherited fetal disorders in most cases (eugenic abortion) and this should be carefully considered in order to create a program for abortion prevention. (author's modified)^ieng

[Experimental assessment of some pharmacodynamic features of ketoprofen lysine. Pain relief activity, antipyretic effects, anti-inflammatory activity, anti-platelet aggregation activity and interference with the biosynthesis of prostaglandins]. / Analisi sperimentale di alcuni aspetti farmacodinamici del ketoprofene lisina. Attività antidolorifica, effetti antipiretici, attività anti-infiammatoria, attività antiaggregante piastrinica ed interferenze con la biosintesi delle prostaglandine.

An experimental assessment was made of the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and platelet anticlumping activity of ketoprophene lysine, and its effect on body temperature and prostaglandin synthesis. The drug's pharmacodynamics was very similar to that of ketoprophene and its gastric tolerance was better. It was also well tolerated by the dog joint surfaces and cardiovascular apparatus when given i.m. or i.v., even at doses higher than those advised for man, or when infiltrated in ketoreceptor areas.