Primary hyperparathyroidism in pregnancy treated with cinacalcet: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: The efficacy and safety of various modes of medical treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism in pregnancy are largely unknown.

Case Presentation: We report the case of a 34-year-old white woman with primary hyperparathyroidism symptomatic for nephrolithiasis. Her serum calcium was 3.

Receptor modulation and functional activation of human CD34+ Lin- -derived immature NK cells in vitro by Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG).

It is not yet clear whether immature NK (iNK) cells are bystanders to or rather participate in immune responses to pathogens that may colocalize in areas of NK-cell maturation such as bone marrow or lymph nodes. Mycobacteria, including Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), have been shown to interact with peripheral NK cells and in vivo may colocalize in areas of iNK-cell development. We studied infection with BCG of human cord blood CD34(+) Lin(-)-derived cultures containing myelomonocytes and iNK cells in vitro.

Defective placental adhesion in voluntary termination of second-trimester pregnancy and risk of recurrence in subsequent pregnancies.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of defective placental adhesion (DPA) in voluntary termination of second-trimester pregnancy and the risk of DPA recurrence in subsequent pregnancies.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients who underwent voluntary second-trimester pregnancy termination in the period between January 2000 and December 2009. In all cases, the fetus and the placenta were submitted to pathological examination accordingly to our clinical protocol.

Evaluation of patients' satisfaction of cervical ripening using dinoprostone by either intravaginal gel or pessary: an open-label, randomized, prospective study.

Objective: To evaluate patient satisfaction of cervical ripening using dinoprostone (PGE2) by either intravaginal gel or pessary.

Study Design: A group of 173 nulliparous women requiring cervical ripening were recruited in the study and randomized to receive either intravaginal gel (Prepidil, Upjohn, Milan, Italy [group A]) or intravaginal pessary (Propess, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Malmö, Sweden [group B]). Before administration of PGE2 and after delivery, the patients answered a questionnaire investigating the anxiety and discomfort caused by cervical ripening.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy.

According to current definition, peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare disorder in which left ventricular dysfunction and symptoms of heart failure occur in the last month of pregnancy. It has been reported that the incidence of PPCM is 1 in 3,000-4,000 live births. The pathogenesis is poorly understood, however, infectious, immunologic, and nutritional causes have been hypothesized.

Myasthenia gravis during pregnancy.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) affects women in the second and third decades of life, overlapping with the childbearing years. During pregnancy, the course of this disease is unpredictable; worsening of symptoms occurs more likely during the first half of pregnancy and postpartum. MG can be well managed during pregnancy with relatively safe and effective therapies.

Adenomyosis in a patient with mosaic Turner's syndrome.

Background: Few case reports describing endometriosis in patients with gonadal dysgenesis have been published, but none has reported the presence of adenomyosis in a patient with Turner's syndrome.

Case: A 31-year-old woman with mosaic Turner's Syndrome (45,X/46,XX/47,XXX) was referred to us because of severe iron deficiency anaemia due to hypermenorrhea and persistent lower abdominal pain for more than six months. She presented normal secondary sex development, normal breast, normal pubic and axillary hair.

Post-operative complications after caesarean section in HIV-infected women.

This retrospective study evaluated complications associated with caesarean section in HIV-infected women. For each HIV-positive patient ( n=45) a control group of ten seronegative women ( n=450) was matched for age, number of foetuses, gestational age, indication for caesarean section, status of the membranes and kind of anaesthesia. All women delivered in the same hospital using a uniform protocol.

Prospective study of mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis C virus: a 10-year survey (1990-2000).

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV). We also aimed to analyze the time of clearance of maternal antibodies in the serum of non-infected babies.

Methods: Between March 1990 and March 2000, 170 consecutive anti-HCV-positive women and their 188 babies entered this prospective study.

Role of amniotic membrane transplantation for conjunctival reconstruction in ocular-cicatricial pemphigoid.

Purpose: To evaluate the role and the effectiveness over time of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) as a first-step procedure to treat conjunctival reconstruction in late-stage ocular-cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP).

Design: Prospective interventional noncomparative case series.

Participants: Nine eyes (9 patients) with advanced OCP.