[Embryo reduction in twin pregnancy on maternal request: A French practice study].

Introduction: In France, embryo reduction is controversial in twin pregnancy, especially when there is no underlying pathology. The objective of this study was to establish the status of this practice in France and to depict the ethical issues around this problematic.

Study Design: A questionnaire drafted by Maternal and Fetal Medicine physicians and family planning teams of the University Hospital from Strasbourg was distributed to the 48 French Multidisciplinary Prenatal Diagnosis Centers, among which 28 answered (58,3%).

An international expert consensus statement focusing on pre and post hair transplantation care.

Aim: To achieve international expert consensus and give recommendations on best practices in hair transplantation surgery, focusing on pre- and post-transplantation care.

Methods: A modified Delphi method was used to reach consensus. An international scientific committee developed an 81-statement questionnaire.

Antibiotics for amniotic-fluid colonization by Ureaplasma and/or Mycoplasma spp. to prevent preterm birth: A randomized trial.

Objective: To assess whether antibiotics used for treatment in asymptomatic second-trimester women positive for Mycoplasma or Ureaplasma spp. detected by amniotic-fluid PCR prevents preterm delivery.

Design: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

The performance of an intermediate 16th-week ultrasound scan for the follow-up of euploid fetuses with increased nuchal translucency.

Objective: The objective of the study is to assess the utility of an intermediate ultrasound scan at 16(+0) to 18(+6)  weeks of gestation in euploid fetuses with increased nuchal translucency ≥ 3.5 mm.

Methods: Three hundred eighty-nine fetuses with nuchal translucency (NT) ≥ 3.

Randomized Clinical Trial of Virtual Reality Simulation Training for Transvaginal Gynecologic Ultrasound Skills.

Objectives: To compare the impact of virtual reality simulation training and theoretical teaching on the ability of inexperienced trainees to produce adequate virtual transvaginal ultrasound images.

Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial with parallel groups. Participants included inexperienced residents starting a training program in Paris.

Angle of fetal head progression measured using transperineal ultrasound as a predictive factor of vacuum extraction failure.

Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of angle of progression (AoP) of the fetal head for a failed vacuum delivery.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study that included women with a singleton pregnancy of ≥ 37 weeks' gestation, in cephalic presentation requiring vacuum extraction. Transperineal ultrasound was performed immediately before vacuum extraction, although AoP was measured on stored images after delivery.

Non-invasive prenatal testing for trisomy 21 based on analysis of cell-free fetal DNA circulating in the maternal plasma.

Objective: By-the-book implementation of non-invasive prenatal test and clinical validation for trisomy 21.

Study Design: Publicly funded prospective study of 225 cases. Women at risk for trisomy 21 > 1/250 based on combined ultrasound and serum markers during first or second trimester were eligible following an informed consent.

[Elastography of cervix to predict delay from induction to delivery].

Objective: Induction of labor for medical indications has become a routine practice. To date, the Bishop score remains as the standard method to predict the duration of induced labor. Elastography is an objective method of assessing the relative consistency of tissues.

Birth of a boy with isolated short stature after prenatal diagnosis of a Xp22.3 nullosomy due to an inherited t(X;15) (p22.3;p10) translocation.

Translocations between X and acrocentric chromosomes are rare. We report on the inheritance of a familial t(X;15)(p22.3;p10) translocation in a fetus referred for short long bones.

Prenatal BACs-on-Beads™: the prospective experience of five prenatal diagnosis laboratories.

Objective: We previously reported on the validation of Prenatal BACs-on-Beads™ on retrospectively selected and prospective prenatal samples. This bead-based multiplex assay detects chromosome 13, 18, 21 and X/Y aneuploidies and the nine most frequent microdeletion syndromes. We demonstrated that Prenatal BACs-on-Beads(TM) is a new-generation, prenatal screening tool.

[Standardization of the gynecological emergency ultrasound examination].

Standardization of the gynecological emergency ultrasound examination could allow more accurate evaluation in gynecologic or general emergency unit. A systematic set of images, "Standardized Acute Female Echography" (SAFE), was defined. In practice, four pictures are realized whatever presenting complaint (set "A").

Prenatal BACs-on-Beads™ : a new technology for rapid detection of aneuploidies and microdeletions in prenatal diagnosis.

Objective: Molecular cytogenetic techniques on uncultured prenatal samples are the sole tests applied in some countries in cases with advanced maternal age (AMA) or increased risk after prenatal screening. Moreover, there is a trend to perform invasive prenatal diagnosis (PD) during the first trimester before ultrasound manifestations, so new rapid and reliable assays are necessary to investigate microdeletions not detectable with the conventional karyotype. We report the validation study of the prenatal bacterial artificial chromosomes-on-Beads™ (BoBs™ ; CE-IVD), a bead-based multiplex assay detecting chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X/Y aneuploidies and nine microdeletion regions having an overall detection rate of 1/1700.

Severe life-threatening hemoperitoneum from posttraumatic avulsion of a pedunculated uterine leiomyoma.

Uterine leiomyomas are common tumors in women, and most of their complications are well known. Rupture of a uterine leiomyoma is an unusual source of severe hemoperitoneum. The cause seems to be spontaneous rupture of a leiomyoma vessel or is secondary to abdominal trauma.

[Hair micrograft technique for eyebrow reconstruction].

Subject: The eyebrow reconstruction should restore an eyebrow with a natural shape and with matching hair direction.

Method: We describe the micrograft hair technique for eyebrow reconstruction, using either hair from the opposite eyebrow or hair from the scalp. We illustrate our technique with three clinical cases: a traumatic eyebrow injury, a burn scar and a progressive hair loss.

Laparoscopic partial splenectomy using radiofrequency ablation.

Introduction: Epidermoid cysts are believed to be congenital in origin and often present in the pediatric population. Because of the concerns of compromised immunologic function after total splenectomy and increasing demand for minimally invasive approaches, interest has increased in performing the partial splenectomy in this patient population by laparoscopic techniques. Nonetheless, concerns for adequate hemostasis have limited its widespread adoption.

The lateral infraureteral parametrium: myth or reality?

Objective: The objective of the study was to describe the surgical anatomy of infraureteral parametrium.

Study Design: Findings of laparoscopic dissections during 12 type III radical hysterectomies were compared with findings obtained by bilateral pelvic dissections of 5 fresh and 5 embalmed female cadavers and to magnetic resonance imaging of 10 healthy controls.

Results: Two anatomical entities of the parametrium were distinguished: (1) the lateral mesometrium corresponding to the blade containing vessels and lymph nodes of the uterus; and (2) the infraureteral parametrium extending dorsally from cervix and vagina.

Human hair shape is programmed from the bulb.

Background: Few biological data on curly hair follicles have been reported in the literature.

Objectives: To investigate the growth and morphology of curly hair follicles.

Methods: Follicles were dissected from scalp skin samples from African, Guyanese and caucasian volunteers and were observed macroscopically, in culture in William's E medium, and by immunohistochemistry.

Androgenetic alopecia: combining medical and surgical treatments.

Background: Medical treatment or surgical reconstruction is used separately to treat androgenetic alopecia. Two drug molecules (5% minoxidil solution and oral finasteride 1 mg) have proven efficacy to stabilize hair loss and promote hair regrowth. Microtransplant of one to three hair follicular unit grafts can provide a definitive hair restoration with a natural appearance.

[Indications for micrograft hair transplantation].

Advances in treatment of androgenetic alopecia have led to the development of novel medical or surgical therapies adapted to the severity of hair loss and balding. Follicular units or tiny micro-graft hair transplants are a fundamental technical progress. This technique leads to the simple and painless permanent restoration of hair in male and female baldness.