Uterine leiomyoma, a benign tumor, may be treated with drugs, albeit surgical resection is more common. The present study aimed to evaluate the treatment of leiomyoma cases by uterine artery embolization (UAE) using a gelatin sponge prepared by the pumping method. The results of 700 leiomyoma cases treated by UAE in the outpatient department were evaluated. UAE was performed by injecting gelatin sponge prepared by the pumping method into the uterine artery. Among 700 cases, effective cases were 680 (97.2%), ineffective cases were 18 (2.8%) and impossible cases for UAE were 2 (0.2%). Retreatment was required in 23 cases (3.3%). Complication events designated by the Society of Interventional Radiology Clinical Practice Guidelines occurred in 31 cases (4.4%): 1 case showed permanent adverse sequelae, 4 cases required major therapy with a prolonged hospitalization (>48 h) and 10 patients required therapy with minor hospitalization (<48 h). The remaining 16 cases required nominal or no therapy. Follow-up of patients was performed for 599 cases for an average period of 1.2±0.9 years, ranging between 1 month and 6 years. Pregnancy after UAE was observed in 12 cases/15 cycles. Thus, the findings indicate that UAE using gelatin sponge prepared by the pumping method applied to outpatients is a safe and useful treatment procedure.

We used a reversed-phase "high-performance" liquid-chromatographic system equipped with a multichannel ultraviolet spectrometric detector and a micro-computer for analyzing urine samples from patients with disorders of purine metabolism. This system recorded a series of absorption-spectrum data from a single chromatographic run and stored them for subsequent analysis. Because the retention times and ultraviolet absorption spectra of the eluates were recorded simultaneously, identification of peaks was easy and quite accurate for simultaneous quantification of orotidine, adenine, hypoxanthine, uric acid, xanthine, allopurinol (4-hydroxypyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine), oxypurinol (4,6-dihydroxypyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine), inosine, and 2,8-dihydroxyadenine--compounds extremely difficult or even impossible to quantify simultaneously with a conventional single-wavelength spectrometer. We used this method to investigate purine metabolites in urines from a patient with hereditary xanthinuria, three patients with 2,8-dihydroxyadenine urolithiasis, and a gouty subject taking allopurinol.

The relationship between types of chromosomal abnormalities and fetal development documented by ultrasonography was discussed in early spontaneous abortions. The subjects were 113 patients who had vaginal ultrasonography at least twice between 6 and 8 weeks of pregnancy, among 167 abortuses with chromosome analyzed. The results were also compared against those for 303 normally developing fetuses. The results obtained in the present study suggested that each fetus with a chromosomal abnormality succumbed at or after a specific stage of fetal development and that the fetal death might be the results of severe fetal growth suppression.

No abstract

Uterine leiomyoma, a benign tumor, may be treated with hormone therapy, conventional surgical resection and uterine artery embolization (UAE): this paper reports the study on safety after UAE treatment. Pregnancy processes and prognoses of a total of 41 cases from 39 patients (two women were pregnant twice) who succeeded to pregnancy after UAE treatment in our clinic were studied. The average age of patients was 34.5 (29-40). Patients included 24 cases of multiple uterine leiomyoma and 14 cases of solitary leiomyoma; the average size of leiomyoma was 388.3 cm 3 (15-1059 cm 3) and the average period between UAE operation and pregnancy was 26.5 months (1-120). Causes of pregnancy were 29 cases of natural pregnancy and 12 cases of infertility treatment: 28 cases succeeded in delivery, 7 cases resulted in spontaneous abortion, and 6 cases are ongoing. Premature birth, placental abnormality and low-weight babies were observed in 3, 3, and 1 cases, respectively; the latter 1 case was of triplets. Although the incidence of placental abnormality was a little high, no other serious complications were observed, suggesting that pregnancy after UAE has no problem from the obstetric point of view. In the future, UAE is considered to be worthwhile if carefully done for cases who want to become pregnant.