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The concentrations of retinol (vitamin A) were measured in 36 samples of human amniotic fluid obtained near term. Mothers with normal pregnancy had higher amniotic fluid retinol levels than patients with diabetes or toxemia. The results indicate that some maternal complications during pregnancy affect the transport of retinol into amniotic fluid, possibly due to reductions in the uteroplacental blood flow.

The effects on general and bone metabolism of femoral neck fracture patients of 0.25 μg α-calcoid given orally twice daily (n=9) and 25 μg calcitonin given subcutaneously 30 times (n=10) in 10 weeks were studied against a control (n=ll). Bone histology and histomorphometry showed non-age related osteoporosis in 30% and osteomalacia in 22% of the patients studied. Impaired serum vitamin D status was found in 47 – 88% of patients, secondary hyperparathyroidism and increased serum parathyroid hormone in 59% and decreased serum calcitonin levels in 69%. On histology, normal findings and non-age related osteoporosis on histology were associated with low serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3,1,25- and 24,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3. Very high serum levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3and low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3occurred in fracture patients with osteomalacia. Calcitonin improved calcium balance, reduced osteoporosis and increased the serum 1,25- and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3levels but had no effect on osteomalacia. Vitamin D reduced osteomalacia, slightly increased the serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3concentration and decreased serum levels of parathyroid hormone. Both treatments gave a similar slight decrease in serum calcitonin concentrations. A mechanism of action for the treatments is suggested.

To investigate the combined metabolic effects of beta-mimetic therapy and general anesthesia on maternal and fetal/neonatal metabolism, 14 patients were treated with isotonic saline, 11 with intravenous fenoterol (3 μg/min) and 9 with intravenous isoxsuprine (150 μg/min) for 30 minutes prior to cesarean section. The maternal heart rate and blood pressure as well as the maternal and fetal acid-base balance were followed. The neonatal glucose level was monitored for 36 hours after delivery.The heart rate and the diastolic and systolic blood pressure values increased during the operation in each group, without any marked differences between the groups. At delivery, the mean maternal BD (base-deficit) value was higher in the fenoterol patients than in the control patients, indicating a trend towards metabolic acidosis. The other values of acid-base balance in the maternal and umbilical arterial and venous blood did not reveal any differences between the groups. The neonatal glucose level at 2 hours after delivery was higher in the fenoterol group than in the control group. The other values recorded during 36 hours revealed no differences between the groups.Beta-mimetic treatment preceding general anesthesia in cesarean section does not have unfavorable effects on the mother, the fetus or the newborn. Such therapy thus does not seem contraindicated when uterine contractions should be rapidly suppressed in cases of fetal distress before operation.