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The hormonal microenvironment of 213 follicles in 44 stimulated cycles was analysed. Mature and intermediate oocytes were found to be associated with larger follicles which contained significantly higher levels of E2, P, FSH and LH, while smaller follicles containing significantly higher T level usually gave rise to immature oocytes. The fertilization rate was higher in mature and intermediate oocytes than in immature oocytes. In this study there was no significant difference in the cleavage rate of the fertilized eggs in relation to the E2, P, T, FSH and LH concentrations in follicular fluid as well as to the contents of these hormones per follicle.

Umbilical and uterine artery Doppler studies were carried out in 113 cases of normal pregnancy and in 32 patients with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH). The results were analyzed by calculating the systolic/diastolic (S/D) ratio. In normal pregnancy the umbilical velocity wave S/D ratio declined from 3.9 to 2.1 from 20th week to term, and the uterine wave S/D ratio remained constant between 1.8 and 1.9. In many cases of severe PIH the umbilical and uterine artery velocity wave S/D ratios were raised, indicating increased resistance to the blood flow. The changes of umbilical waveforms appeared earlier than those of the uterine arterial waveforms.

Methods of ovum pickup in the IVF/ET program in our hospital from January 1st 1988 to January 31st 1989, were reported. In the initial stage of the program in 1987, laparotomy follicle aspiration was used, which resulted in two cases of clinical pregnancy and full term delivery. Ovum pickup using an ultrasonic endovaginal transducer with a needle guide was introduced in the latter part of 1987. In 1988, the transvaginal method was employed more frequently than the laparotomy and has since become the routine in our program. The rate of embryo transfer and the average number of embryos transferred were quite similar in the two groups. Either method was adopted at that time according to the facilities available and the characteristic pathological conditions of our patients, of whom most had previous history of operation resulting in severe pelvic adhesions. The transvaginal ultrasonic needle guided method for egg retrieval is non-invasive, readily accepted by the patients and therefore may be done repeatedly on one patient in order to increase the cumulative pregnancy rate. However, the laparotomy (transabdominal) route for ovum pickup together with other pelvic surgeries is still indicated in some cases. The clinical pregnancy rate per transfer showed no statistical difference between the two groups.

The frequencies of chromosomal aberrations and sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE) in peripheral blood lymphocytes of 40 workers chronically exposed to sulphur dioxide (SO2) at a sulphuric acid factory in Taiyuan City (North China), were studied. It was shown that the mean frequency of chromosomal aberrations and the mean frequency of lymphocytes with chromosomal aberrations of the SO2-exposed workers were both higher than the controls. The mean per 1000 metaphase frequencies of severe chromosomal aberration types (chromosome rings, translocations, and dicentrics) of the workers and the controls were 9.63 and 2.27, respectively. The difference between them was statistically significant (p less than 0.01). It was also shown that the mean SCEs/cell of SO2-exposed workers and non-exposed controls were 6.72 +/- 0.22/cell and 2.71 +/- 0.13/cell (p less than 0.01) respectively. SCEs/cell in 39 workers were all higher than 5, only 1 worker was 4.73. However, 41 controls were all lower than 4, only 1 control was 4.92. The difference between the worker and the control group was statistically significant. These results show that SO2 is a clastogenic and genotoxic agent. No positive correlation between the frequencies of chromosomal aberrations or SCE and length of service in the workers has been observed. No significant difference between smokers and non-smokers was found in these assays.

Forty-four infertile women in 44 cycles were stimulated by CC/hMG/hCG (39 cycles) and by CC/hCG (5 cycles) for the purpose of in vitro fertilization (IVF, 37 cases with 35 transfers) and gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT, 7 cases). Intraoperative ovum pick-up was performed 32-36 hours after hCG injection. Blood E2 and P levels were determined. Blood E2 was found to be proportional to the number of mature and intermediate oocytes obtained, and correlated with the number of follicles (greater than 10 mm) and the total follicular fluid volume. Altogether 213 follicles aspirated were analyzed. There was a highly significant linear correlation (r = 0.72, P less than 0.01) between the follicular diameter (X cm) on the operation day and the aspirated follicular fluid volume (FFV, Y). The equation of the line was Y = 3.8 X-4.4. The higher concentrations of follicular E2, P, FSH, LH and lower T concentration were crucial to the maturing process of oocytes. It was found that mature oocytes could be retrieved from 26.5% of the small follicles, so it is worthwhile to aspirate the small ones. The fertilization rate was much higher with the mature oocytes than the immature ones. But the morphologically mature oocytes might function differently, i.e. the mature oocytes retrieved from the small follicles or from follicles with unbalanced hormonal microenvironment usually give a low fertilization rate.

Frequencies of lymphocytes with micronuclei (MNF) in human peripheral blood cultures from workers in a sulphuric acid factory (the SO2 concentrations in the workplace ranged from 0.34 mg/m3 to 11.97 mg/m3 air) were investigated. It was shown that among 40 workers, the MNF of 28 workers was more than 0.1%, and the MNF of 7 workers was greater than the upper limit of the normal range (0.2%). The mean MNF of the worker and the control group was 0.168% and 0.071%, respectively. The difference between them was statistically significant (P less than 0.001). It implies that SO2 is a clastogenic and genotoxic agent. No positive correlation between the MNF and length of service in workers has been observed. In the control population, the MNF of smokers was significantly higher than that of non-smokers (P less than 0.001).

Taking the puerarin content---the chief constituent of Pueraria lobata---as the index in the mixed decoction of Pueraria lobata etc, we have adopted the method of orthogon al experiment to explore the best decocting conditions for Pueraria lobata. The results show that a better way to decoct Pueraria lobata is to cut the root into slices of 0.4-0.7 cm, and water 12-15 times the weight of the root and decoct for 30 minutes. It makes no big difference whether the root is soaked or not.