Second trimester angiotensing-converting enzyme and uterine artery Doppler as predictors of preeclampsia in a high-risk population.

Objective: To investigate whether serum angiotensing-converting enzyme (ACE) and uterine artery Doppler (UAD) are useful markers as predictors of preeclampsia (PE) in a high-risk population.

Methods: Patients at risk of PE (n = 68) were subclassified as having PE (n = 8) or no PE (n = 60). Blood samples were obtained between 19 and 22 weeks of gestation.

Placental growth factor, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 and progesterone as diagnostic biomarkers for ectopic pregnancy and missed abortion.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate if progesterone, placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt1) serum levels are useful markers to differentiate between ectopic pregnancy (EP), missed abortion (MA) and viable intrauterine implantation pregnancy (IUP).

Methods: We designed a retrospective case-control study which included 100 pregnant women (50 EP and 50 MA) at 6-8 weeks of gestation with βhCG serum levels between 800 and 3500 UI/L and a viable IUP group. Progesterone, PlGF and sFlt-1 levels were measured with an electrochemiluminescence assay (Roche Diagnostics, Manheim, Alemania).

The real role of prediagnostic high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the cancer risk: a concise review.

Background: In several observational and clinical studies, the association between serum cholesterol levels and cancer is still unsettled although serum total cholesterol has been associated with increased mortality from cancer. Moreover, the importance of abnormal levels of serum lipid components as the main features of dyslipidemia and the risk of individual cancers is unclear. The prevalence of dyslipidemia is increasing worldwide but, the precise aetiology of the link between risk of cancer and the behaviour of lipid profile, prior diagnosis, has yet to be determinated.

Performance evaluation of biochemical and ultrasound markers for the screening of chromosomal numerical abnormalities in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Background: To estimate the effectiveness of the first-trimester combined screening test in our population, departing from the results of diagnostic sensitivity and false positive rate (FPR), and checking some important parameters in prenatal screening.

Methods: The test was evaluated on 14250 pregnant women. The following variables were studied: the number of invasive techniques and the reasons for using such techniques, newborns with chromosomal abnormalities, total number of births, variation of biochemical markers throughout the gestational weeks, and MoM (multiple of the median) for biochemical and ultrasound markers.

Kidney stones in a Mediterranean population from the south of Spain.

Background: Kidney stones have become increasingly prevalent in the developed countries over the past 100 years. The incidence of urolithiasis in a population depends on the geographical area, racial distribution, socio-economic status and dietary habits. During the past decades, these factors have changed affecting the incidence and also the chemical composition of calculi; nowadays in our region, the most common stones composition is calcium oxalate.