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The study aimed to determine if the addition of daily low-dose oral estrogen with a cyclical progestogen given to young women using a depot gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog implant for the treatment of their premenstrual syndrome (PMS) would affect the clinical outcome. In a double-blind placebo-controlled study in a specialist premenstrual syndrome clinic setting, 60 women aged between 20 and 45 years were randomized to one of three treatment groups: Group A (placebo implant four weekly + placebo tablets daily), Group B (goserelin 3.6 mg implant four weekly + estradiol valerate 2 mg daily with norethisterone 5 mg from days 21-28 of a 28-day cycle) or Group C (goserelin 3.6 mg implant four weekly + placebo tablets daily). Differences between PMS scores at 2, 4 and 6 months were compared with pretreatment values. There was a significant improvement in PMS scores in Group C (Zoladex + placebo) after 2, 4 and 6 months of treatment when compared to pretreatment values and Group A (placebo + placebo). The addition of a low-dose oral estrogen with a cyclical progestogen to GnRH analog treatment (Group B) resulted in a less dramatic response when compared to pretreatment values and no significant improvement when compared to Group A (placebo + placebo) at 2, 4 and 6 months of treatment. The addition of a low-dose oral estrogen with a cyclical progestogen to depot GnRH analog therapy in the treatment of PMS reduces the clinical response.

Numbers and approximate sizes of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) and rainbow trout (S. gairdnerii Richardson) were estimated by snorkel divers at 6 sites in the middle reaches of the Rangitikei River, North Island, New Zealand, over 14 months. The results showed that different species and sizes of trout varied in abundance with time. The species of fingerling trout (6-12 cm FL) could not be identified because of their small size and shoaling behaviour. Rainbow trout abundance varied seasonally and was greatest in January and April (between 18 and 60 fish per kilometre) when fish between 23 and 38 cm FL were the most abundant size class. Brown trout abundance showed much less variation with time (between 5 and 36 fish per kilometre at most sites). Also in contrast to rainbow trout, the majority of brown trout were > 38 cm FL, and in June, when the greatest density was observed (56 fish per kilometre), 70 redds were seen at the same site. Two sites were dived within a 48 h period to test the variability of the method. Comparisons between the 3 dives at each site revealed no significant differences between the numbers offish in different species and size classes.

Fifty patients receiving estradiol implants for long-term treatment of premenstrual syndrome were studied over 5.6 years (range 2-8 years). There was a continued beneficial response to treatment in all symptoms, varying between 74% for bloating and 96% for depression. Menstrual cycle control improved in 31 patients and periods were less painful in 30 patients. Cyclical progestogenic symptoms occurred in 58% of patients. These were partially relieved by alterations in dose, type and duration of progestogen treatment but in 7 patients the symptoms remained severe. Eight patients had a hysterectomy during treatment; 5 for continuing progestogenic symptoms, 1 for prolapse and 2 for prolonged menstrual bleeding despite adequate progestogen therapy. Attempts to reduce the dose of progestogen led to cystic hyperplasia in 4 patients. This was treated by hysterectomy in 2 patients and corrected with two 21-day courses of progestogen in the other 2. Uterine enlargement with a mean weight of 133 g (125-145 g) associated with myometrial hypertrophy occurred in all 8 hysterectomy patients. There were no complications from venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, breast disease or atypical endometrial hyperplasia.

The occurrence of adult quinnat salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum)) in the Rangitikei River, North Island, New Zealand, has been confirmed on several occasions since 1922, but juvenile salmon have not previously been recorded. In late February 1981 a 79-mm-fork-length smolt was caught in a stranded side channel 180 km upstream from the mouth. This suggests that quinnat salmon can spawn successfully in this river.