[Recent developments in internal medicine].

Whilst the practice of hospital based internal medicine is often carried out in tight collaboration with clinical specialities, in particular for deciding on the indication of interventional and diagnostic procedures, it is important to remain objective with respect to the indications and benefits of these acts. This is the case in areas such as cardiovascular medicine and nephrology. Recent studies also have the potential to modify current guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.

AMH concentration is not related to effective time to pregnancy in women who conceive naturally.

This study determined whether anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentration influences the time necessary to conceive a live-born child--effective time to pregnancy (eTTP)--in a population of women who conceived naturally. This is an observational study of 87 women with a planned spontaneous pregnancy resulting in a live birth. eTTP was assessed retrospectively by a questionnaire and AMH was measured in a frozen serum sample from first trimester of pregnancy.

Procalcitonin levels during pregnancy, delivery and postpartum.

Aims: To determine the normal value ranges of procalcitonin (PCT) in women with uncomplicated pregnancies.

Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted between May 2009 and February 2010 among 60 women without signs of clinical infection (31 vaginal deliveries, 29 cesarean sections) attending the maternity unit of the University of Geneva Hospitals. Sequential follow-up of PCT levels was performed at 24-28 weeks (n=7), 36-40 weeks (n=60), at delivery (n=59), and at days 2-3 (n=58) and 10 (n=53) postpartum using a sensitive PCT assay with a functional sensitivity of 0.