[Blood concentrations of calcium and magnesium in women with severe pre-eclampsia]. / Concentraciones séricas de calcio y magnesio en mujeres con preeclampsia severa.

Abnormalities in the calcium and magnesium metabolism may participate in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Serum levels of magnesium, calcium, sodium, potassium and chlorine were measured in 15 pregnant women with severe preeclampsia and 20 uncomplicated pregnant women. Serum sodium, potassium and chlorine concentrations were similar in both groups. Nevertheless, serum magnesium levels were significantly elevated in severe preeclamptic women relative to women with uncomplicated pregnancy. The serum calcium concentration and calcium/magnesium ratio were not differences in the preeclamptic and the healthy pregnant woman.

[Contraception knowledge and practices in pregnant adolescents]. / Conocimientos y prácticas anticonceptivas en adolescentes embarazadas.

The purpose of this article is to describe the knowledge and the background in the use of contraceptive methods in 100 pregnant adolescents in the prenatal care of the Hospital General "Dr. Manuel Gea González". In our study it was showed a lack of knowledge regarding the methods during the first sexual intercourse in the half of cases. At the time of the interview, only one-third of the adolescents had a suitable knowledge on at least one constraceptive method. It is very important for pregnant adolescents to have access to sex education including the use of contraceptive methods. This in turn, should impact positively to postpone the next pregnancy.

[Association between gestational age, weight, and Apgar score in newborns extracted in pelvic presentation]. / Asociación entre edad gestacional, peso y valor de apgar en recién nacidos extraídos en presentación pélvica.

The analysis for the present study was derived from 343 singleton pregnancies with a breech presentation. The variables associated with Apgar score at 5 minutes were, gestational age and birth weight. This association was observed in all patients and when they were analyzed separately according to route of delivery. The intrapartum and early neonatal mortality was absent in both groups. The perinatal outcome among the vaginally delivered frank breech infants at term was not statistically different compared with the group delivered by caesarean section.

[Physiological significance of zinc: perinatal approximation]. / Significado fisiológico del zinc: una aproximación perinatal.

Zinc is a very important micronutrient in several biological functions. During pregnancy, zinc deficiency causes fetal-growth retardation, malformations and others poor pregnancy outcomes. The additional need for zinc during pregnancy can be met by an increase in zinc intake, bioavailability or by physiologic adjustments in zinc homeostasis. However, there are factors associated with low intestinal zinc absorption such as diets high in phytate, and iron or calcium supplementation. Further studies of maternal zinc status are necessary to define a prophylactic supplementation to prevent zinc deficiency during pregnancy.

[Sociodemographic factors associated with depression in pregnant adolescents]. / Factores sociodemográficos asociados a depresión en adolescentes embarazadas.

The objective of this study is to determine the frequency of depression among pregnant adolescents and explore the potential risk factors associated to the depression. The sample comprised 59 pregnant teenagers recruited from the Program for Pregnant Adolescents in the Hospital General "Dr. Manuel Gea Gonzalez". All subjects completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and a sociodemographic and medical questionnaire. The frequency of depression was 39%. Sociodemographic correlates of depression were not identified using ratios and 95% confidence limits. Results indicate that the depression is common among pregnant teenagers. Adequate prenatal cares including screening for depression symptoms and development of treatment programs for affected pregnant adolescents are of particular importance for young mothers. In further studies is necessary to explore the impact of family environment.

[Vulvar angiomyofibroblastoma. Report of a case and review of the literature]. / Angiomiofibroblastoma vulvar. Informe de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

Angiomyofibroblastoma is a rare mesenchymal tumor predominantly of vulvar location. It is characterized being of superficial and slow-growth, low propensity for local recurrence and often misdiagnosed as a Bartholin's gland cyst, hydrocele of the canal of Nuck and aggressive angiomyxoma. A case of vulvar angiomyofibroblastoma in a 56 year-old woman is presented. The specimen was processed by structural and immunohistochemical analysis. It's important to suspect the diagnosis and to distinguish it of aggressive angiomyxoma.

[Viral hepatitis A and postpartum acute renal failure. Report of a case and review of the literature]. / Hepatitis viral tipo A e insuficiencia renal aguda posparto. Informe de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

Hepatitis A virus infection (HAV) has been perceived as a self-limited disease. However, acute renal failure is an infrequent but well-described complication of HAV infection. Although the mechanisms responsible are uncertain, they may be related to the immune complex. In this report we describe a patient with HAV and acute renal failure in the postpartum period.

[Effects of tibolone on lipid and glucose metabolism as well as insulin secretion in postmenopausal women]. / Efectos de la tibolona sobre el metabolismo de lípidos, glucosa y secreción de insulina en mujeres posmenopáusicas.

Tibolone is a synthetic steroid with progestogenic, androgenic and estrogenic properties. In postmenopausal women it has been shown that improves climateric complaints and prevents osteoporosis, without impact on endometrial thickness and uterine fibroids volume. Tibolone administration decreases cholesterol and triglycerides. Although, the effects of hormonal replacement on insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism has not been well established. The effect of tibolone 2.5 mg/day for 3 months was investigated in 10 healthy postmenopausal women. The results show that tibolone decreases tryglicerides and cholesterol levels along with an increase in fasting insulin levels. The oral glucose tolerance test was unaffected. This study suggests that tibolone reduces markers of cardiovascular disease.

[Sexual aggression in adolescents. Epidemiologic study]. / Agresión sexual en adolescentes. Estudio epidemiológico.

Sexual assault is an enormous social and public health problem. Most victims are young women. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of this crime in adolescents. The study involved 213 patients separated in two subgroups: adolescents and non adolescents. In adolescents, much of this violence is perpetrated by an acquaintance or relative. Th frequency of sexually transmitted diseases was 20% and rape-related pregnancy was identified in 10% of victims. All victims of sexual assault must be encouraged for both medical and psychological evaluation.

[Obstetric characteristics of adolescent pregnancy]. / Características obstétricas de la adolescente embarazada.

Obstetrical characteristics of pregnant adolescents. The aim of the present study was to determine the obstetrical characteristics of pregnant adolescents and to evaluate if the high risk comes from biological factors associate to their age or not. The obstetrical complications and the perinatal results were not different in relation from other groups, with exception of the minors of fifteen years in which the age constitutes an important risk. Nevertheless, the adolescent has other risks to the health such as the risk of acquiring sexual transmission diseases including HIV/AIDS. The child of a teen mother are also more likely to die in infancy, between the first month and the first year of life. Adolescents need information and services to protect their sexual and reproductive health.

[Physiopathologic bases for preeclampsia: a hypothesis]. / Bases fisiopatológicas de la preeclampsia: una hipótesis.

Preeclampsia represents the main medical complication of pregnancy and one of the most important causes of maternal mortality around the world. At this time, the etiology of the illness is unidentified and there is not sure predictors for early identification. The objective of this article was to provide an integrative hypotheses that suggests the possibility of to relate an increment of placental lactogen, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia and risk of preeclampsia.

[Pharmacological principles in pregnancy]. / Principios de farmacología en el embarazo.

Drug consumption during pregnancy is a widespread practice that may produce adverse effects on the developing fetus. The magnitude of drug disposition is influenced for maternal-fetal unit physiological changes. The maternal-fetal unit represents a unique pharmacological state with multiple compartments, wherein the mother-placenta-extra-amniotic membranes-amniotic fluid and fetus are each represented as a single compartment with different functions and genetics or cellular individual characteristics. It is a problem which should be focused on several perspectives including epidemiological, pharmacological and toxicological aspects. An understanding of these aspects is essential to rational and effective health public policy on prenatal care.

[Drug consumption during pregnancy]. / Consumo de fármacos en el embarazo.

The pregnant women receive different types of medications many of whose safety has not been clearly demonstrated. The drug use profiles vary from community to community which justify to make local studies. Two hundred obstetrical patients were interviewed throughout the prenatal control to obtain data on maternal drug consumption. The patients were interrogated with respect to names of drug products, routes of administration, dosage regimens and prenatal consumption or underlying disease states during pregnancy. The interval between administration of a drug and the time of delivery were also noted. In the prenatal period 79% received at least one product. The average number of drug products was 2 with a range from 0 to 6 different drugs. The principal drugs ingested were: vitamins (32%), antibiotics (24%), iron (9%), antiemetics (7%), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic (6%) and acetaminophen (5%). The only variable related to drug consumption was the presence of prenatal complications. This study represent an approach for monitoring the medical quality of prenatal care.

[Prolactin and its role in the regulation of ovarian function]. / La prolactina y su participación en la regulación de la función ovárica.

The prolactin is a versatile hormone with important functions in various phenomena such as immunological and reproductive process. Historically, the ovary-prolactin association has been viewed almost exclusively in the context of the hyperprolactinemia, although there are evidences that propts toward a direct control on ovarian function. Recently has been identified the synthetic apparatus of human prolactin localized in granulosa cells of ovarian follicle, it suggest an autocrine mechanism of prolactin in the intraovarian control. It is important ot establish the relations between the prolactin secreted by the pituitary and the prolactin-like peptides secreted by immunocompetent, endothelial and ovarian cells in several physiological and physiopathological states.

The prolactin inhibition of follicle-stimulating hormone-induced aromatase activity in cultured rat granulosa cells is in part tyrosine kinase and protein kinase-C dependent.

The inhibitory actions of prolactin on gonadal steroidogenesis have been reported in different species and under a variety of experimental approaches. In this study, the mechanisms of the in-vitro effects of human prolactin (hPRL) on human follicle stimulating hormone (hFSH)-induced aromatase activity were determined using cultured granulosa cells from diethylstilboestrol (DES)-primed immature rats. Human PRL caused a dose-dependent decrease in hFSH-induced 17 beta-oestradiol production, even when cells were cultured in the presence of a cAMP analogue (8-Br-cAMP). These effects of hPRL appeared to be specific, since addition of an anti-rat PRL receptor monoclonal antibody (mAb) mimicked the hPRL inhibitory effect upon steroidogenesis in rat granulosa cells. In order to assess the importance of tyrosine kinase and protein kinase-C activation in the hPRL inhibitory effects upon oestrogen biosynthesis, cells were cultured in the presence of kinase inhibitors. The results showed that addition of genistein or staurosporine (a tyrosine kinase and protein kinase-C antagonist respectively) to cultured granulosa cells resulted in potent inhibition of hPRL actions upon hFSH-induced aromatization in a dose-dependent manner. These observations suggest that tyrosine kinase and protein kinase-C activation are involved in the biochemical events leading to hPRL inhibitory effects at the gonadal level.