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This study aimed at a possible classification of climacteric arthroses of the hand. 132 females suffering from arthralgias of the wrist and finger joints who had consulted our outpatient department originally because of climacteric complaints, were examined while asking them to complete a questionnaire with clinical criteria for classifying arthroses of the hand. The requisite number of criteria required for classification as ¿arthrosis of the hand¿ were attained in all three groups of females (premenopausal and postmenopausal women without operation, as well as hysterectomised and/or ovarectomised women¿, although the ex-ray showed no signs of degenerative arthritis. The subjective complaints voiced by the patients are opposed to the x-ray finding, so that it is not permissible to classify climacteric arthralgias of the wrist and finger joints as ¿arthritis¿.

The menopausal syndrome consists of a variety of psychic and physical signs of different intensity. At our outpatient department for problems in menopause and prevention of osteoporosis (1. Dept. of Gynaecol. and Obstetrics, Vienna) 1287 women who were consulting this department for the first time because of prevailing complaints or prophylactic reasons, were registered during the years 1988 and 1989. In the course of this work we paid particular attention to the symptom "eye complaint" as a sign of the beginning of the menopausal period. 98 out of 430 patients with eye complaints were examined ophthalmologically. Referring to our patient population we tried to analyse epidemiologically the frequency and the degree of severity of menopausal eye complaints as well as the therapeutical response to a hormone substitution therapy. To what extent an endocrinological explanation can be found and which facts lead us assume such a statement, we have tried to demonstrate in the discussion.

In 21 patients, suffering from amenorrhoeic hypergonadotropic ovarian insufficiency (age 27 +/- 3 years [FSH: 43 +/- 10, LH: 40 +/- 8]), the bone density was measured by single-photon densitometry (SPA), before starting a hormonal replacement therapy with oestrogen/progesterone. Every 5 months, the trend in bone density change was measured in all cases. The bone density before hormonal treatment was lower in the WHO III-group (1.36 +/- 0.21 g/cm; 1.09 +/- 0.26 g/cm2) than in the age-matched group (1.57 +/- 0.21 g/cm; 1.28 +/- 0.31 g/cm2). Bone density increased after hormonal therapy (p less than 0.05). These results point to the necessity of hormonal replacement therapy in cases of WHO III.

In this experimental study, the feelings of climacterium in two groups of menopausal women were compared (a test group with climacteric complaints vs a control group without complaints). 70 patients were given a questionnaire: EWL by Janke and Debus, FPI and Giessen-test. The evaluation of the socio-economic data exhibited the fact, that patients in the group with complaints took more drugs than the other group and were more inclined to weight gain. Gynecological data showed significant differences in the beginning and the experience of menstruation. Psychological tests of the group with complaints showed a lack of self-assurance and increased anxiety. These women had also a tendency toward psychosomatic disorders and were less assertive in their social contacts. The discriminant analysis of menopausal and personality variables classified the women equally into the group with complaints compared to the control group.

In the literature you can find several therapeutic possibilities in the treatment of carcinoma by additive ozone therapy. We investigated the consequences of ozone therapy for the immunological status, lysozyme and vitamin A. 21 women with progressive cervical cancer (Stage III, IV) got besides the conventional irradiation therapy also an additive ozone therapy. After irradiation and ozone therapy a small decrease in IgG, IgA and IgM can be seen. A statistical significance could not be evaluated. There was no difference to the control group in lysozyme and vitamin A.

In 67 patients, in most of whom the spermiogram did not, a priori, furnish definitive proof of fertility, the hamster egg human sperm penetration test was performed as part of a screening programme for infertility therapy conducted from February 1984 to February 1985. Evaluation of the test was facilitated by identification of the decondensed spermatozoon head in the penetrated hamster egg with a simple fluorescein staining instead of the usual aceto-lacmoid staining. The penetration rate (= percentage proportion of the hamster ova liberated from the zona pellucida which are penetrated within 3 hours following incubation with 1 million motile spermatozoa) was evaluated statistically in comparison to the fertility criteria of the spermiogram (motility, density, pathoforms), in order to verify the existence of possible fertility disturbances due to inability to penetrate despite the motility of the spermatozoa. In 42 patients the diagnosis of infertility was confirmed by a penetration rate of less than 10%. In 17 patients fertility was conformed according to HSPT (penetration rate of over 20%), while in 7 patients fertility was in the lower normal range. In the light of the authors' findings fertility confirmed by the HSPT is a precondition of referral for extracorporeal insemination. In the light of the authors' findings intrauterine insemination appears advisable for women whose fertility is in the lower normal range according to HSPT.

The menopausal syndrome consists of a variety of psychic and physical signs of different intensity. At our outpatient department for climacteric complaints and osteoporosis prevention (1. Dept. of Gynecol. and Obstetrics, Vienna) 820 women, who have been consulting this department for the first time because of prevailing complaints or prophylactic reasons, were registered in the year 1986. In the course of this work we paid particular attention to the symptom "pain in a joint" as a sign of the beginning climacteric period. Referring to our patient population we tried to analyse epidemiologically the frequency and the degree of severity of menopausal arthritic pain as well as the therapeutical response to a hormone substitution therapy. To what extent an endocrinologic explanation can be found and which facts let us assume such a statement, we tried to demonstrate in the discussion.