Hexoprenaline Compared with Atosiban as Tocolytic Treatment for Preterm Labor.

Preterm birth is defined as a live birth before 37 weeks of gestation and is associated with increased neonatal morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of hexoprenaline and atosiban for short- and long-term tocolysis and their effects on neonatal and maternal outcomes. This retrospective cohort study included women with threatened preterm labor between 24 + 0 and 34 + 0 weeks of gestation without premature rupture of membranes.

Diversity and complexity of the cavotricuspid isthmus in rabbits: A novel scheme for classification and geometrical transformation of anatomical structures.

The aim of this study was to describe the morphology of the cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) in detail and introduce a comprehensive scheme to describe the topology of this region based on functional considerations. This may lead to a better understanding of isthmus-dependent flutter and fibrillation and to improved intervention strategies. We used images of the cavotricuspid isthmus from 52 rabbits of both sexes with a median weight of 3.

Do different treatment strategies influence women's level of psychosexual distress? Observational cohort study of women with premalignant HPV-associated genital lesions.

Objective: To examine the impact of different treatment strategies - surgical treatment or watchful waiting- on sexual activity, psychosocial distress, and fear of progression in women with Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-associated premalignant genital lesions.

Study Design: Observational cohort study of women diagnosed with HPV-associated premalignant lesions of the cervix, vagina or vulva. Patients were stratified into two groups depending on the severity of their premalignancy: surgical treatment or watchful waiting.

Comparison of Primary Tumor Size in Stage I and III Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

Background: Two studies have found primary ovarian carcinomas in stage I disease to be larger than those in stage III. Thus, these stages may represent different tumor entities.

Materials And Methods: The clinical data from 553 patients operated on between 1985 and 2012 for epithelial ovarian cancer were retrospectively analyzed.

Histological parameters and alcohol abstinence determine long-term prognosis in patients with alcoholic liver disease.

Background & Aims: Few data exist on predictors of long-term prognosis in patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Most studies have only assessed short-term prognosis in patients with advanced ALD. We aimed to assess the prognostic impact of clinical, biochemical and histological parameters on long-term prognosis in patients with early/compensated and decompensated ALD.

Characterization of the early local immune response to Ixodes ricinus tick bites in human skin.

Little is known about the immunomodulation by tick saliva during a natural tick bite in human skin, the site of the tick-host interaction. We examined the expression of chemokines, cytokines and leucocyte markers on the mRNA levels and histopathologic changes in human skin biopsies of tick bites (n=37) compared to unaffected skin (n=9). Early tick-bite skin lesions (<24 hours of tick attachment) were characterized by a predominance of macrophages and dendritic cells, elevated mRNA levels of macrophage chemoattractants (CCL2, CCL3, CCL4) and neutrophil chemoattractants (CXCL1, CXCL8), of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-1β, and the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-5.

Arterial blood gases during and their dynamic changes after cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A prospective clinical study.

Purpose: An arterial blood gas analysis (ABG) yields important diagnostic information in the management of cardiac arrest. This study evaluated ABG samples obtained during out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (OHCPR) in the setting of a prospective multicenter trial. We aimed to clarify prospectively the ABG characteristics during OHCPR, potential prognostic parameters and the ABG dynamics after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).

Effect of eplerenone on parathyroid hormone levels in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism: results from the EPATH randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Accumulating evidence points toward mutual interaction between parathyroid hormone (PTH) and aldosterone as potential mechanism for increasing cardiovascular risk in primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT).

Methods: The Eplerenone on parathyroid hormone levels in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (EPATH) trial is a single-center, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial. The primary aim is to evaluate the effects of the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist eplerenone on plasma intact PTH (iPTH) concentration in patients with pHPT.

Sexual Activity, Psychosexual Distress, and Fear of Progression in Women With Human Papillomavirus-Related Premalignant Genital Lesions.

Introduction: Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are very common in women 18 to 30 years old and substantially affect women's sexual health.

Aim: To examine sexual activity, psychosexual distress, and fear of progression in women diagnosed with HPV-related precancerous genital lesions.

Methods: In this observational study, women diagnosed with premalignant lesions of the cervix, vagina, or vulva were recruited from a university hospital-based colposcopy clinic.

Retropubic vs. transobturator tension-free vaginal tape for female stress urinary incontinence: 3-month results of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: We conducted a prospective randomized controlled noninferiority trial to compare objective and subjective outcomes of retropubic tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) with those of transobturator tape (TVT-O) as primary treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women.

Study Design: The study was conducted at 25 gynecology units in Austria and Germany; regional and academic hospitals participated. A total of 569 patients were randomly assigned to undergo TVT or TVT-O.

Marinobufagenin in essential hypertension and primary aldosteronism: a cardiotonic steroid with clinical and diagnostic implications.

Background: The cardiotonic steroid marinobufagenin (MBG) is increasingly suggested to be responsible for some of the cardiovascular injury that has been previously attributed to aldosterone. We examined the clinical correlates of circulating MBG concentrations in hypertensive patients and tested the hypothesis that MBG serves as a reliable diagnostic tool for detecting primary aldosteronism (PA).

Methods: Plasma MBG concentrations (mean: 0.

Human nonmercaptalbumin-2: a novel prognostic marker in chronic liver failure.

Albumin is the major plasma protein with several important biological functions. Various disturbances of albumin function have been demonstrated in end-stage liver disease. These functional disturbances may be related to oxidative modifications of albumin at cysteine-34, including the irreversibly oxidized human nonmercaptalbumin-2 (HNA2).

Validation of a point-of-care (POC) lactate testing device for fetal scalp blood sampling during labor: clinical considerations, practicalities and realities.

Background: Although fetal blood sampling for pH is well established the use of lactate has not been widely adopted. This study validated the performance and utility of a handheld point-of-care (POC) lactate device in comparison with the lactate and pH values obtained by the ABL 800 blood gas analyzer.

Methods: The clinical performance and influences on accuracy and decision-making criteria were assessed with freshly taken fetal blood scalp samples (n=57) and umbilical cord samples (n=310).

Short-term neonatal outcome in diabetic versus non-diabetic pregnancies complicated by non-reassuring foetal heart rate tracings.

Objective: Analysis of the impact of non-reassuring foetal heart rate patterns (FHR) and suspected foetal distress during active labour on the neonatal outcome in diabetic compared to non-diabetic mothers.

Methods: Retrospective case-control study comparing the short-term neonatal outcome including Apgar score at 5 min, and arterial/venous umbilical cord blood pH of 57 deliveries of women with different types of diabetes and 114 healthy controls. Patients were selected out of all deliveries with suspected foetal distress during active labour and performed foetal scalp pH samplings (n = 590) at the Medical University of Graz, Austria, during 2008-2009.

Efficacy of misoprostol in relation to uterine position in the treatment of early pregnancy failure.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of misoprostol in the treatment of missed or incomplete abortion in relation to uterine position.

Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, misoprostol was evaluated as first-line treatment for missed and incomplete abortion before 13 gestational weeks. Between 2009 and 2011, women received 600 μg of sublingual misoprostol for missed abortion or 400 μg for incomplete abortion.

Increasing arterial oxygen partial pressure during cardiopulmonary resuscitation is associated with improved rates of hospital admission.

Aim: As recent clinical data suggest a harmful effect of arterial hyperoxia on patients after resuscitation from cardiac arrest (CA), we aimed to investigate this association during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the earliest and one of the most crucial phases of recirculation.

Methods: We analysed 1015 patients who from 2003 to 2010 underwent out-of-hospital CPR administered by emergency medical services serving 300,000 inhabitants. Inclusion criteria for further analysis were nontraumatic background of CA and patients >18 years of age.

Conization of the uterine cervix: does the level of gynecologist's training predict margin status?

The management of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia is becoming more individualized. The European Federation of Colposcopy has developed guidelines for quality assurance and also certifies specialists. The status of the resection margins of conization specimens is prognostically important and is a quality feature.

Twin-to-twin delivery time: neonatal outcome of the second twin.

Objective: To examine the effect of twin-to-twin delivery time (TTDT) on neonatal outcome.

Methods: We evaluated twin deliveries >34 weeks of gestation. Twin pregnancies with both twins delivered by cesarean section and pregnancies with antenatal complications were excluded.

Maxillary rehabilitation of periodontally compromised patients with extensive one-piece fixed prostheses supported by natural teeth: a retrospective longitudinal study.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the long-term success and stability of periodontal tissue around extensive one-piece prostheses supported by natural teeth in periodontally compromised maxillae.

Materials And Methods: A total of 28 fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) fabricated by different technologies were inserted in 28 patients with a history of chronic periodontitis after successful periodontal treatment. Subsequently, a program of supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) was instituted.

Evaluation of indocyanine green clearance and model for end-stage liver disease for estimation of short-term prognosis in decompensated cirrhosis.

Background: Indocyanine green (ICG) clearance has been proposed as a quantitative liver function test several decades ago. Interest in this method has been renewed following the development of finger pulse densitometry for noninvasive estimation of the ICG plasma disappearance rate (PDR). On the other hand, the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), which is based on routine laboratory parameters, is widely used for estimation of short-term survival in cirrhosis, but its prognostic value in critically ill cirrhotic patients is unclear.

How accurate is frozen section histology of pelvic lymph nodes in patients with endometrial cancer?

Objective: Recent prospective data support the trend towards systematic retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in patients with high-risk endometrial cancer. Because para-aortic node involvement in the absence of pelvic node involvement is uncommon, a reliable finding of negative pelvic lymph nodes (PLN) at intraoperative frozen section examination might allow omitting para-aortic dissection. We analyzed the diagnostic accuracy of frozen section examination of PLN in patients with endometrial cancer.

[Amniotic fluid insulin levels versus mean maternal blood glucose levels in gestational diabetes mellitus: an analysis of the neonatal outcome].

Purpose: To compare the obstetric and neonatal outcome in pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus after amniocentesis for amniotic fluid insulin measurement or maternal blood glucose monitoring or both as selection criterion for therapy.

Material And Methods: In a retrospective study, 408 diabetic pregnancies were analyzed; 307 were treated with diet alone (group 1) and 101 with diet and insulin (group 2). Pearson's chi2 or Fisher's exact test was used to assess obstetric and anthropometric data within these groups, and p values <0.

Cystic periventricular leukomalacia in preterm infants: an analysis of obstetric risk factors.

Objective: To identify obstetric risk factors and to elucidate the effect of prolonged rupture of the membranes on the development of cystic periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) in preterm infants.

Methods: A retrospective case-control study of 95 preterm infants with the diagnosis of PVL and 245 healthy controls matched for gestational age. A total of 52 antenatal, intrapartum and neonatal characteristics were studied by univariate methods and logistic regression.

Quality of life and sexual functioning after cervical cancer treatment: a long-term follow-up study.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate the long-term treatment side effects on the quality of life (QoL) and sexual functioning of cervical cancer survivors undergoing different treatment regimens.

Methods: QoL and sexual functioning were measured using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, the Cervix Cancer Module, and the Sexual Activity Questionnaire.

Results: One hundred twenty-one cervical cancer survivors (63 Surgery, 38 Surgery/CT, and 20 Surgery/RT) participated.