Antibiotic treatment of intra-amniotic infection with Ureaplasma urealyticum. A case report and literature review.

Background: Ureaplasma urealyticum is the most common pathogen cultured from the amniotic cavity of women with preterm labor and intact membranes. However, experience with antibiotic eradication of the pathogen in this setting is limited.

Case: We report a case of U.

Congenital hypofibrinogenemia in pregnancy: report of two cases and review of the literature.

Fibrinogen abnormalities have been implicated in many adverse pregnancy outcomes, mainly spontaneous abortion, placental abruption, and postpartum hemorrhage. Two new cases of congenital hypofibrinogenemia in pregnancy are reported detailing their obstetric course and management. The relevant obstetric and hematologic literature is reviewed, including previous case reports and studies concerning the mechanisms of pregnancy complications.

The lateral recumbent head-down position decreases the incidence of epidural venous puncture during catheter insertion in obese parturients.

Purpose: The unintentional and unrecognized cannulation of an extradural vein is a potentially serious complication of an epidural anesthetic. The present study was undertaken to assess the incidence of blood vessel puncture related to epidural catheterization in three different body positions, in a cohort of morbidly obese parturients, following the completion of a similar study published in 2001 from which such parturients were excluded.

Methods: The study was conducted in 450 (three groups of 150) morbidly obese, obstetric patients undergoing continuous epidural analgesia during labour.

The onset of p53-dependent apoptosis plays a role in terminal differentiation of human normoblasts.

The p53 tumor suppressor gene was found to play a role in the differentiation of several tissue types. We report here that p53-dependent apoptosis plays a role in the final stages of physiological differentiation of normoblasts, resulting in nuclear condensation and expulsion without cell death. Blood samples of healthy newborns, cord blood as well as bone marrow, were analysed for apoptosis by TUNEL and p53 expression by immunostaining.

Midtrimester triple-test levels in women with chronic hypertension and altered renal function.

Objective: To study the association between midtrimester triple-test levels and renal function in pregnant women with chronic hypertension.

Methods: Forty-three patients with chronic hypertension for whom renal function was evaluated by the creatinine clearance test between 14- and 20-weeks gestation were studied. Midtrimester triple-test values obtained as part of Down screening program were correlated with renal function.

Characteristics of maternal heart rate patterns during labor and delivery.

Objective: To find patterns characteristic of maternal heart rates recorded by an electronic fetal monitor and compare them with concomitant fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns.

Methods: Maternal heart rates and FHRs during active labor and delivery were simultaneously recorded in 26 parturients with singleton pregnancies in vertex presentation. The FHRs were obtained by an external ultrasound transducer or via a spiral scalp electrode and maternal heart rates by a triple-wire cable with electrocardiographic electrodes attached to the chest.