Risk of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy following assisted reproductive technology: overview and meta-analysis.

The extent of the increased risk of pregnancy hypertensive disorders following assisted reproductive technology (ART) was investigated. PubMed and the Cochrane Collaboration Library were used as data sources to identify and select longitudinal cohorts comparing pregnancies following ART with spontaneously conceived pregnancies, between 1978 and June 2016. Risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of three outcomes, ie, gestational hypertension (GH), preeclampsia (PE), and their sum (PHD), were calculated.

Angiopoietin-2 primes infection-induced preterm delivery.

Current knowledge on the participation of angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) in the inflammatory process and on the importance of bacterial endotoxins (LPS) in the induction of preterm delivery (PTD) led us to investigate the role of Ang-2/LPS interplay in the pathogenesis of PTD. At a first stage, Ang-2 was measured at the end of the first trimester of pregnancy in the serum of 50 women who delivered prematurely; of 88 women well-matched for age and parity who delivered full-term; and of 20 non-pregnant healthy women. Ang-2 was greater in pregnant than in non-pregnant women.

Predictive value of increased nuchal translucency as a screening test for the detection of fetal chromosomal abnormalities.

Objective: The study aimed to estimate the incidence of increased nuchal translucency in the first trimester ultrasound scan results (cut-off limit 2.5 mm) and to evaluate the predictive value of increased nuchal translucency as a screening test for the detection of fetal chromosomal abnormalities.

Methods: We used the ultrasound scan results of nuchal translucency evaluation and the results of chromosomal analysis of the invasive prenatal control performed as a result of increased nuchal translucency.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia caused by cold agglutinins in a young pregnant woman.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia is a rare disorder. A 34-year old woman presented with thrombophlebitis after her first delivery, during puerperium. A high titer of cold agglutinins was found.

Cytokine concentrations during the first days of life.

Objective: To evaluate the cytokine concentration patterns during the first 5 days of life by measuring serum concentrations of type-1 cytokines, like interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and type-2 cytokines, like IL-4, as well as the receptors of IL-2 (sIL-2R) and IL-4 (sIL-4R) during the early neonatal period.

Subjects And Methods: Forty-two healthy term neonates were included in the study. Cytokine concentrations were measured in umbilical cord, in the 1st and 5th day after birth and compared with those in serum of 30 healthy adults.

Immunological factors and their role in the genesis and development of endometriosis.

The article presents an overview of immunological factors and their role in the genesis and development of endometriosis, with emphasis on inflammatory cytokines and growth and adhesion factors. Although retrograde menstruation is a common phenomenon among women of reproductive age, not all women with retrograde menstruation suffer the disease. Development of endometriosis seems to be a complex process, facilitated by several factors, including quantity and quality of endometrial cells in peritoneal fluid (PF), increased inflammatory activity in PF, increased endometrial-peritoneal adhesion and angiogenesis, reduced immune surveillance and clearance of endometrial cells, and increased production of autoantibodies against endometrial cells.

Fetal pulse oximetry and wavelet analysis of the fetal heart rate in the evaluation of abnormal cardiotocography tracings.

Aim: Previous studies indicate that the addition of wavelet analysis of the fetal pulse oximetry tracings (FSPO2) and fetal heart rate (FHR) variability to cardiotocography (CTG), for intrapartum fetal monitoring, provides useful information on the fetal response to hypoxia. We applied the new procedure in non-reassuring CTG patterns, in which cesarean section was performed, and tested its accuracy in the diagnosis of the intrapartum fetal compromise.

Methods: At the 'Aretaieion' University Hospital labor ward, 318 women with term fetuses in the cephalic presentation entered the trial during labor.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of a uterine malignant melanoma presenting as a large pelvic mass.

The uterus is an extremely rare location for a primary or metastatic melanoma. We describe the ultrasonographic appearance of a malignant melanoma of the uterus presenting clinically as a large mass in a 78-year-old woman. Transabdominal sonography revealed a solid uterine mass measuring 13 x 11.

Alterations in Doppler velocimetry indices of the umbilical artery during fetal hypoxia in labor, in relation to cardiotocography and fetal pulse oximetry findings.

Aim: The aim was to investigate fetal peripheral blood flow using external cardiotocography (CTG), Doppler velocimetry, and pulse oximetry (PO) in normal labor compared with those complicated by hypoxia.

Subjects: During labor, 35 term fetuses with oxygen saturation values (FSPO(2)) between 30 and 40%, and 25 term fetuses with FSPO(2) values < or =30% for a period of 20 s to 2 min were studied. Fetuses were assessed using simultaneous CTG, PO, and Doppler ultrasonography of the umbilical artery (UA).

Gestational diabetes exhibits lack of carnitine deficiency despite relatively low carnitine levels and alterations in ketogenesis.

Objective: Previous studies have underlined the importance of the carnitine shuttle system and its dysfunction both in normal pregnancy and in type 1 and 2 diabetes. The objective of this paper was to delineate more systematically the role of the carnitine shuttle system in normal pregnancy and in gestational diabetes.

Methods: A total of 119 women matched for age comprised three groups: 40 normal adult non-pregnant women (NNP), 46 normal pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancy (NP) and 33 women with gestational diabetes (GDM).

Insulin levels, insulin resistance, and leptin levels are not associated with the development of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

Insulin levels, insulin resistance, and leptin levels were evaluated in 47 women who developed ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) after participation in assisted reproduction technologies programs and in 47 matched controls who did not develop such a complication. Analysis of the results in relation to underlying polycystic ovarian syndrome and hyperinsulinemia revealed no association of insulin levels, insulin resistance, and leptin levels with the development of OHSS.

Thyroid hormone resistance and enlargement of the sella turcica during pregnancy.

Case Report: A 26-year-old pregnant woman was admitted to our institution running her 30 weeks of gestation. The patient had a past history of total thyroidectomy cause of a thyroid papillary carcinoma and presented with increased supraphysiological TSH levels under 250 microg T4, while slightly hyperthyroid, from the clinical point of view. Partial resistance to thyroid replacement therapy or TSH-secreting tumour was evoked.

Evaluation of fetal intrapartum hypoxia by middle cerebral and umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry with simultaneous cardiotocography and pulse oximetry.

Objective: To investigate fetal circulation at different stages of hypoxia during labor, and to study blood flow alterations in the brain and peripheral tissues, through simultaneous use of three non-invasive techniques.

Materials And Methods: Ninety two pregnant women between 38 and 41 weeks of gestation, comparable for maternal age and parity, were simultaneously monitored with cardiotocography (CTG), continuous fetal pulse oximetry and Doppler ultrasonography during the first stage of labor. In 70 cases evaluation was successful, and useful data was obtained.

Intrapartum surveillance of IUGR fetuses with cardiotocography and fetal pulse oximetry.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of intrapartum fetal pulse oximetry, as a predictor of metabolic acidosis at birth of fetuses with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).

Study Design: We studied 18 IUGR fetuses (group I) and a control group of 30 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) fetuses (group II) during labor. Both groups had abnormal fetal heart rate tracings and were monitored simultaneously throughout labor with cardiotocography and fetal pulse oximetry.

Maternal serum leptin concentration during the second trimester of pregnancy: association with fetal chromosomal abnormalities.

Recent studies suggest that leptin, the product of the obese gene, is produced by the placenta during pregnancy. The present study addressed the question whether second trimester maternal serum leptin could be altered by fetal Down syndrome or Edwards syndrome. Maternal serum leptin concentrations were measured in 18 pregnancies complicated with Down syndrome, six pregnancies complicated with Edwards syndrome and 183 uncomplicated pregnancies during the second trimester of pregnancy.