Asymptomatic bacteriuria is common during pregnancy and may adversely affect both the mother and her fetus. Nitrofurantoin (NF) has been long recognized as an effective agent in both nonpregnant and pregnant women suffering from urinary tract infections. This meta-analysis was conducted in order to evaluate the safety of NF ingested during early pregnancy. Of twenty-two studies, only four met the inclusion criteria and their analysis could not demonstrate any significant correlation between NF ingestion and fetal malformation. The pooled odds ratio was 1.29 with 95% confidence interval 0.25-6.57. Although the number and quality of the studies included are limited, we thought it important to present the existing data. More extensive controlled studies are urgently needed in order to increase the significance of our study.

To investigate the effect of ovarian steroids on the brain stem during changes of estrogen and progesterone blood levels, we recorded brain stem auditory evoked potentials with increased stimulus rates from 26 women treated for sterility by menotropins (Pergonal and Metrodin). These women were divided into three groups according to their estrogen and progesterone blood levels. The brain stem auditory evoked potential results revealed a significant delay of peak III only, with an increased stimulus rate in the group with the highest estrogen level. Estrogen may cause a brain stem synaptic impairment, presumably because of ischemic changes, and thus also may be responsible for a higher incidence of Bell's palsy during pregnancy.

The toxic effects on the stria vascularis of treatment with cisplatin alone and combined with the aminoglycoside antibiotic, gentamicin, were studied in guinea pigs. The toxicity induced in albino and pigmented guinea pigs was investigated morphologically with light and transmission electron microscopy, and functionally by brainstem-evoked response audiometry. The results of hearing thresholds were variable, ranging from no change in one ear in some of the animals to a hearing loss of 20 dB in one or both ears when treated with low-dose cisplatin alone or in combination with gentamicin. Bilateral deafness resulted from high-dose cisplatin combined with gentamicin. The combined treatment produced prominent structural damage in the stria vascularis. The results should be considered when aminoglycoside therapy is required in conjunction with cisplatin.

A simple prognostic index for hospitalized geriatric patients is reported herein. Seven parameters including: mobility, sphincter control, mental competence, feeding ability, presence of pressure sores, medical condition and family state were recorded in 70 patients. The sum of the scores of all parameters constituted the prognostic index. At the end of 3 months the patients were divided into two groups: 18 patients who were discharged (group 1) and 52 patients who were still hospitalized (35 cases) or had died (17 cases) (group 2). The mean index for group 1 was 14.9 ± 3.2 (mean ± SD), while that for group 2 was 23.5 ± 4.3 (p < 0.00001). Eighty-three percent of the patients in group 1 and only 8% of those in group 2 had scored lower than 17. Thus, the score of 17 or more had a prognostic sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 83%. The predictive value of indices of 17 or more was 94%. The index described offers therefore a simple and relatively accurate tool for the assessment of the prognosis of elderly patients.