[Premature membrane rupture. Comparison of diagnostic tests].

Background: Objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the vaginal pH-test, the Fern-test, the research of foetal cells and of foetal fibronectin in vaginal discharge, which are used to diagnose premature rupture of membranes.

Methods: To this aim 40 pregnant patients between 24th and 37th weeks gestation have been examined, considered at risk for sub-clinic loss of aminiotic fluid: 23 were affected by preterm labour and 17 by suspected rupture of membranes.

Results: Subsequently amniotic sac was confirmed to be ripped in 10 cases (25%): 2 (8.

[Non-invasive instrumental method in uncontrollable post-partum hemorrhage (an alternative to hemostatic hysterectomy)].

A new non-invasive instrumental technique which is useful to stop the most severe post-partum haemorrhages is described. This technique is proposed as an alternative to more invasive methods such as the binding of uterine or hypogastric arteries, which is itself a trauma, not always effective and could promote the obstetric shock. The method proposed by the authors is not invasive, can be performed in a few minutes and performed without the help of anaesthesia.

A prospective study of fifty-three consecutive calcium heparin treated pregnancies in patients with antiphospholipid antibody-related fetal loss.

Objective: In this study the efficacy and safety of calcium heparin administered alone for the prevention of fetal loss related to antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) were evaluated.

Methods: Fifty-three consecutively ascertained pregnancies were followed in 53 patients who had a history of at least 2 consecutive miscarriages during the first trimester and/or 1 fetal death during the second or third trimesters. In addition, all patients had at least 2 positive aPL tests more than 8 weeks apart before pregnancy, or a positive aPL test at the beginning of pregnancy.

Surgical second look in ovarian cancer: a randomized study in patients with laparoscopic complete remission--a Northeastern Oncology Cooperative Group-Ovarian Cancer Cooperative Group Study.

Purpose: The usefulness of extensive and repetitive surgery for patients with ovarian cancer still remains unproven (at least for some conditions). We planned an accurate prospective test of the hypothesis that patients with advanced-stage disease, after they had reached a clinical complete remission (CR), may benefit from surgical second look (SSL).

Patients And Methods: One hundred two patients in CR (as assessed by clinical findings, markers, and visualization by computed tomographic [CT] scan and laparoscopy), after initial debulking and first-line chemotherapy, were randomized to two arms, which were well balanced for predictive criteria such as age, stage at presentation, histology, grading, date of randomization, and residua after first surgery.

Pelvic and mammary Burkitt-like lymphoma with simultaneous development of leukemia.

The authors report the case of a young nun who came to their attention because of the simultaneous development of mammary and pelvic lymphoblastic lymphoma and acute leukemia showing aspects typical of nonendemic Burkitt's lymphoma. The rapid tumoral growth and the equally rapid spontaneous cell lysis led to severe renal insufficiency and metabolic acidosis which were ultimately the cause of death. Given the rareness of the clinical situation and the diagnostic problems involved, the authors examined the literature dealing with this subject.