Rheumatic heart disease was the predominant type. Patients in NYHA class I/II had a better maternal and fetal outcome than those in NYHA class III/IV. Surgical correction of the cardiac lesion prior to pregnancy was associated with better pregnancy outcome. Pregnant women with prosthetic valves tolerated pregnancy well.

No abstract

No abstract

Ormeloxifene is an effective and safe therapeutic option for the medical management of menorrhagia.

SUMMARY Liver ischaemia was induced by cross clamping the hilar pedicle for 30 minutes in groups of rats with or without treatment with the iron chelating agent desferrioxamine (deferoxamine, DFR). The groups included eight animals each and were divided into the following treatment categories: control; ischaemia alone; ischaemia with subsequent reperfusion; ischaemia preceded by DFR, 60 mg/kg body weight; and reperfusion preceded by 20, 40, or 60 mg/kg DFR. The drug was given intravenously five minutes before either ischaemia or reperfusion. Malondialdehyde (MDA), a product of lipid peroxidation, and histopathological changes of liver tissue samples were used as indicators of hepatocellular injury. Lipid peroxidation (MDA concentration in [imolkg liver tissue) was highest (4.76 (1P19)) after ischaemia without reperfusion and less pronounced (2-87 (0.34)) after reperfusion. Both concentrations, however, were significantly (p<005) higher than basal (control) values (1P78 (0.27)). At 60 mg/kg body weight, DFR treatment reduced MDA to basal or even lower concentrations in both situations (1.98 (0.08) and 1.26 (0.06), respectively) with a corresponding improvement in liver histopathology. Lower DFR doses were less protective. The data suggest that liver ischaemia is associated with free radical initiated, and apparently iron catalysed lipid peroxidation, which can be significantly decreased by iron chelation.The harmful effects of complete interruption of blood flow to an organ has long been a topic of intense interest. Complete interruption of blood flow to the liver is often necessary during surgical intervention for trauma or when extensive resection of a tumour is performed.' With the recent development of liver transplantation, the effects of temporary ischaemia on restoration of liver function are of even greater importance. Under these conditions, the harmful consequences of liver ischaemia and subsequent reflow on liver function are often related to injury at the cellular and subcellular level (membrane integrity, mitochondrial function, protein synthesis, DNA, etc).-4Damage to cell and organelle membranes is probably the critical lesion that precedes irreversible cell injury.' This has been largely attributed to peroxida-