Chromosome 6 abnormalities in ovarian surface epithelial tumors of borderline malignancy suggest a genetic continuum in the progression model of ovarian neoplasms.

Purpose: We used conventional cytogenetics, molecular cytogenetics, and molecular genetic analyses to study the pattern of allelic loss on chromosome 6q in a cohort of borderline epithelial ovarian tumors.

Experimental Design: Fifteen tumor samples were collected from patients undergoing surgery for ovarian tumors. The tumors of borderline malignancy, classified according to the standard criteria, included 4 mucinous and 11 serous tumors.

Bioelectrical impedance analysis during pregnancy and neonatal birth weight.

Objective: To generate reference ranges for bioelectrical impedance indices throughout pregnancy and to investigate whether a relationship exists between these indices and the neonatal birth weight.

Study Design: Pregnant women with a singleton gestation, gestational age lower than 12 weeks, and absence of medical diseases before pregnancy were enrolled. Patients with pregnancy complications, such as hypertensive disorders, diabetes, and antiphospholipides syndrome were excluded.

Electromagnetic stimulation on the bone growth using backscattered electron imaging.

The events at the hydroxyapatite implant material/tissue interface following electromagnetic stimulation were studied in the rabbit. Two kinds of hydroxyapatite were used: natural (NA) and synthetic (HA) both with a grain size of <50 microm. Bone defects, artificially created in rabbit tibiae, were filled with the material examined.

Effect of calcium hydroxide form and placement on root dentine pH.

Aim: The aim of this study was to measure variations in dentinal pH following the placement of various forms of calcium hydroxide in either the root canal or the pulp chamber.

Methodology: Extracted single-rooted human teeth were prepared, and the root canals instrumented using a conventional technique. Three cavities were drilled through the root dentine to within 1 mm of the canal wall at the cervical, middle and apical thirds.

Nomogram of Wharton's jelly as depicted in the sonographic cross section of the umbilical cord.

Objectives: To generate a nomogram for the sonographic measurement of Wharton's jelly area (WJA) during gestation and to investigate whether WJA is related to fetal biometric parameters.

Method: The sonographic cross-sectional area of the umbilical cord and of its vessels was measured in 659 fetuses between 15 and 42 weeks of gestation. The WJA was calculated by subtracting the vascular area from the umbilical cord area.

Minimal invasive laparoscopic hysterectomy with ultrasonic scalpel.

Background: The purpose of the study was to assess whether total laparoscopic hysterectomy with the ultrasonic scalpel offers advantages in term of intraoperative and postoperative outcomes over the conventional abdominal hysterectomy.

Methods: A case-control study to compare patients undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy and women undergoing abdominal hysterectomy for benign conditions was designed. Matching criteria were the menopausal status, the need of adnexectomy, and the uterus weight.

In-utero characterization of the blood flow in the Hyrtl anastomosis.

An anastomosis between the two umbilical arteries, located approximately within 3 cm from the placental insertion, has been previously described at delivery and in utero. However, the prenatal investigation of the Hyrtl anastomosis is limited to case reports. We report a series of antenatal functional evaluations of this vessel.

A multicentre collaborative study on the use of cold scalpel and electrocautery for midline abdominal incision.

Background: Although studies in animals demonstrated a better wound healing after abdominal incision with cold scalpel than with electrocautery, clinical experiences did not confirm these findings. The purpose of this study was to compare early and late wound complications between diathermy and scalpel in gynecologic oncologic patients undergoing midline abdominal incision.

Methods: Patients undergoing midline abdominal incision for uterine malignancies were divided into two groups according to the method used to perform the abdominal midline incision: cold scalpel and diathermy in coagulation mode.

Umbilical cord morphology and pregnancy outcome.

Traditionally, the prenatal assessment of the umbilical cord (UC) is limited to the assessment of the number of vessels and to the evaluation of umbilical artery blood flow parameters. Morphologic aspects of the UC have usually been studies by pathologists and retrospectively correlated with the perinatal outcome. The introduction of more sophisticated imaging techniques have offered the possibility to investigate the UC characteristics during fetal life from early to late gestation.

Incisional hernia in gynecologic oncology patients: a 10-year study.

Objective: To evaluate the independent contribution of clinical and constitutional factors in the development of early and late incisional hernias in women undergoing surgery for uterine cancer.

Methods: Over 10 years, patients undergoing extended abdominal hysterectomy for cervical or endometrial malignancies through a vertical incision were followed for the identification of incisional hernias. Logistic regression and survival analyses were used for statistics.

Toothbrush filaments end-rounding: stereomicroscope analysis.

Background, Aims: Toothbrush filaments with rounded ends allow for efficient removal of bacterial plaque and are less harmful to periodontal tissues than non-rounded bristles. The aim of this research was to evaluate the % of rounded filaments considered to be of acceptable quality in different toothbrush brands and to determine whether there is a standardization of quality, as manufacturers claim.

Method: Brushes tested included 2 samples of medium-hard nylon or tynex toothbrushes from 31 various types found on the retail market in Italy.

Umbilical vein blood flow in fetuses with normal and lean umbilical cord.

Objective: To evaluate whether umbilical vascular coiling is correlated with the umbilical vein blood flow profile and to investigate if this is different between fetuses with a lean and those with a normal umbilical cord.

Methods: Consecutive women with a singleton gestation who delivered at term and who underwent an ultrasound examination within 24 h from delivery were studied. Umbilical cord and vessel areas were calculated.

Carboplatin alone vs carboplatin plus epidoxorubicin as second-line therapy for cisplatin- or carboplatin-sensitive ovarian cancer.

Objective: The aim of the study was to analyze the benefit/toxicity profile of a second-line treatment with carboplatin alone or carboplatin plus another non-cross-resistant drug (epidoxorubicin) in ovarian cancer patients sensitive to cisplatin-based chemotherapy at first-line treatment.

Methods: We conducted a randomized clinical trial. Women with epithelial ovarian cancer FIGO Stage II--IV who had a complete or partial response to first-line treatment with cisplatin or carboplatin-based regiments and subsequently progressed or relapsed more than 6 months after discontinuation of first-line treatment were eligible for the study.

Laparoscopic abdominal staging in locally advanced cervical cancer.

In order to determine patterns of peritoneal spread in locally advanced cervical cancer, 59 patients with previously untreated stages IB and IIA tumor size > 4 cm, IIB, III and IVA cervical cancer were considered for laparoscopic abdominal staging. Fifty-six patients (95%) were considered suitable and underwent laparoscopy. Peritoneal spread was found in 15 (27%) patients.

Prospective multicenter study on urologic complications after radical surgery with or without radiotherapy in the treatment of stage IB-IIA cervical cancer.

A national collaborative group has conducted a multicenter prospective study on the use of a specific glossary for the complications associated with the treatment of cervical cancer, which were analytically described in 1989. This report analyzes the urologic complications with particular reference to radical surgery in stage IB-IIA cancer cases. In the prospective multicenter clinical study 2024 patients with frankly invasive cervical cancer were enrolled (IB = 1041; IIA = 308; IIB = 384; IIIA-B = 237; IV = 54).

Recurrence of ovarian endometriosis and anatomical location of the primary lesion.

Objective: To investigate whether the risk of endometriosis recurrence and pregnancy rate are related to the side of the pelvis on which the primary lesion is found.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Tertiary institutional hospital.

Microlaparoscopy: a new approach to the reassessment of ovarian cancer patients.

Background: The purpose of the work was to determine the feasibility and accuracy of microlaparoscopy as diagnostic method for the reassessment of ovarian cancer patients.

Methods: Eight patients scheduled for second-look laparoscopy who had undergone primary surgery for ovarian cancer followed by 6 cycles of chemotherapy were included in the study. Microlaparoscopy was performed using a 2.

Clinical value of intraoperative gross examination in endometrial cancer.

We present the largest multicenter study evaluating whether intraoperative visual estimation can accurately assess the depth of myometrial invasion in patients with endometrial cancer. The study population consisted of 403 consecutive women who underwent total hysterectomy for endometrial cancer. After the uterus was removed, a visual estimate of depth of gross myometrial invasion was recorded.

Intertwined Sharpey fibers in human acellular cementum.

We had carried out a detailed morphological study on the human acellular extrinsic fiber cementum (AEFC) in order to support the exclusively extrinsic origin of matrix collagen bundles. Mesial and distal cervical third of fresh premolars from young individuals were examined. Semi-thin and thin section clearly show the Sharpey fibres entering in the cementum at right-angle to the root surface and coursing throughout the cementum to the cemento-dentinal junction.

Estroprogestin vs. gonadotrophin agonists plus estroprogestin in the treatment of endometriosis-related pelvic pain: a randomized trial. Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio dell'Endometriosi.

Objective: This is a randomized clinical trial comparing estroprogestin (E/P) pill given for 12 months vs. gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonist (GNRHa) given for 4 months followed by E/P pill treatment for 8 months in the relief of endometriosis-related pelvic pain.

Methods: Eligible for the study were women with laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis and pelvic pain lasting 3-12 months after diagnosis.

Clay-nucleic acid complexes: characteristics and implications for the preservation of genetic material in primeval habitats.

The equilibrium adsorption of three nucleic acids: chromosomal DNA, supercoiled plasmid DNA, and 25S rRNA, on the clay minerals, montmorillonite (M) and kaolinite (K), were studied. Adsorption of the nucleic acid on the clays was rapid and maximal after 90 min of contact time. Chromosomal DNA was adsorbed to a greater extent than plasmid DNA and RNA, and the adsorption was also greater on M than on K.

Prenatal assessment of Wharton's jelly in umbilical cords with single artery.

Objective: To investigate whether the amount of Wharton's jelly in non-malformed fetuses with a single umbilical artery is different from that of fetuses with a normal umbilical cord.

Methods: We evaluated patients with singleton pregnancies, non-malformed fetuses and single umbilical artery undergoing sonographic evaluation at a gestational age ranging from 19 to 41 weeks' gestation. The cross-sectional areas of the umbilical cord and of the umbilical vessels were measured.

[Stark's method of cesarean section. Advantages compared to the traditional method].

Background And Aim: The increased incidence of caesarean section has led, over the past few years, to the revision of surgical methods in order to reduce fetus extraction time and the total costs of surgery, without detracting from cosmetic advantages. Stark devised a surgical technique for this purpose which aims to reduce operating trauma and duration of surgery and to ensure a faster recovery and greater well being.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study in all patients undergoing caesarean section using Stark's technique and we evaluated their postoperative progress based on body temperature and any complications involving the suture (infections, hematoma, adhesions, pain).

[Hypertension in pregnancy. Retrospective epidemiologic study].

Background: Pregnancy hypertension today has not a valid etiological explanation. It's possible however that the association of more factors could determine the symptoms. The pregnancy hypertensive disorders are not uncommon, with an incidence estimated from 6 to 8%.