Epidemiological and clinicopathological characteristics of BRCA-positive and BRCA-negative breast cancer patients in Greece.

Purpose: BRCA mutation carriers can benefit from targeted clinical interventions. On the other hand, families with evident aggregation of breast cancer (BC) cases and a BRCA-negative genetic test can still be considered as of elevated risk, since the underlying genetic factor remains unidentified. In the present study, we compared clinical and demographic characteristics between BRCA1 mutation carriers (BRCA1mut) and non-carriers (non-BRCA1) in a Greek group of BC patients (n=321).

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia because of 21-hydroxylase deficiency. A genetic disorder of interest to obstetricians and gynecologists.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to deficiency of the enzyme 21-hydroxylase (21-OH), is distinguished in its classical and nonclassical form and is one of the most common autosomal recessive inherited diseases in humans. The classical form appears between 1:5000 and 1:15000 among the live neonates of North America and Europe, whereas the nonclassical form occurs in approximately 0.2% of the general white populations.

Hemodynamic alterations and wall properties in large arteries of young, normotensive, and non-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Young, normotensive, and non-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may present abnormal hemodynamic alterations (HA). The purpose of this study was to investigate heart rate (HR), intima-media thickness (IMT), and diameter (DCCA) in the common carotid arteries (CCA), flow velocities, and resistance index in both extracranial carotid and vertebral arteries (VA), in the abdominal aorta (AO) and in the renal arteries (RA) in PCOS women and matched controls. This was a case-control study conducted at a tertiary University Hospital.

Ultrasound assessment of endometrial thickness: correlation with ovarian stimulation and pregnancy rates in IVF cycles.

Purpose: To study the correlation between endometrial thickness and IVF outcome and factors affecting this relation.

Methods: Transvaginal ultrasound evaluation of endometrial thickness on hCG administration day in 112 IVF-ET cycles and comparison to indices of ovarian stimulation. Outcome was considered positive when fetal sac and fetal heart pulse were present at ultrasound.

Successful full-term pregnancies with assisted reproduction supported with prednisolone, acetylsalicylic acid and high progesterone doses in a lupus patient.

We present two rare cases of successful full-term pregnancies in a young woman suffering from lupus erythematosus for two years, who had subfertility problems and two missed abortions, before and after the diagnosis of lupus, with assisted reproduction. She received 10 mg of prednisolone daily from ovulation induction (with recombinant FSH--50 IU) until delivery, together with acetylsalicylic acid from ovulation induction until the 37th week of gestation and finally progesterone in high doses from the last insemination until the 12th week of gestation.

The prevalence of non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency in Greek women with hirsutism and polycystic ovary syndrome.

Unlabelled: The study was aimed to find out the prevalence of non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NC-CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHdef) among Greek women with hirsutism and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to compare the results of ACTH stimulated 17-hydroxyprogesterone 60 min (17-OHP60) values, with human leukocyte antigens (HLA) phenotypes, in any patient diagnosed as having NC-CAH. One hundred and seven women with hirsutism and PCOS were included in the study. All were presented at the Reproductive Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic with hirsutism and PCOS.

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.

Computerized analysis of fetal heart rate variability using the matching pursuit technique as an indicator of fetal hypoxia during labor.

Objective: To determine whether the computerized analysis of fetal heart rate variability with the new matching pursuit technique can indicate fetal distress during labor.

Study Design: Eighty women were studied during the intrapartum period with external cardiotocography. In all cases, cord arterial pH and 5-min Apgar Scores were evaluated.

Umbilical cord blood gas analysis in augmented labour.

Labour augmentation with oxytocin may produce an excessive increase in frequency, duration or strength in uterine contractions which may result in fetal stress. Umbilical cord acid-base assessment provides an objective parameter in evaluating the neonatal condition immediately after delivery. We evaluated the neonatal condition in 235 deliveries where oxytocin was used for labour augmentation.

The influence of vacuum extractor on fetal oxygenation and newborn status.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of vacuum extractor assisted delivery on fetal oxygenation and acid-base balance.

Methods: Sixty-one women were enrolled in the present study. The subjects were divided into two groups.

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.

Evaluation of non-reassuring fetal heart rate patterns with fetal pulse oximetry combined with vibratory acoustic stimulation.

Objective: To determine the value of fetal pulse oximetry and vibratory acoustic stimulation in the presence of non-reassuring fetal heart rate patterns during labor.

Design: Prospective study in women monitored by cardiotocography and fetal pulse oximetry during labor.

Materials And Methods: During a period of 18 months, 907 consecutive parturients in labor were monitored by cardiotocography.

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.

The value of transvaginal ultrasonography in diagnosis and management of cervical incompetence.

To determine the value of transvaginal sonography in women with a previous history of second trimester miscarriage due to cervical incompetence, 55 patients were subjected to either elective cervical cerclage or follow-up (every second patient) with weekly evaluations of the cervix by transvaginal ultrasonography. Emergency cerclage was applied when significant cervical changes were noted. All patients were evaluated with cervical cultures and ultrasound.

Minor prognostic factors in squamous cell vulvar carcinoma.

Purpose Of The Study: To evaluate minor prognostic factors in a patient population with squamous cell vulvar carcinoma, with particular attention to age, smoking, obesity and parity.

Methods: A total of 50 women with invasive squamous cell vulvar carcinoma were retrospectively analyzed. Factors assessed for prognostic value included age, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, smoking and parity.

Prognostic factors for survival in invasive squamous cell vulvar carcinoma: a univariate analysis.

The charts of 50 women with invasive squamous cell vulvar carcinoma were reviewed retrospectively, and pathologic, medical and life style factors were analyzed for their possible influence on survival using the Cox regression univariate model. The median age of the cohort was 73.5 years.

Maternal plasma leptin levels and their relationship to insulin and glucose in gestational-onset diabetes.

To investigate the changes in leptin levels and the relationship between this substance and insulin and glucose in pregnant women with gestational-onset diabetes, we measured plasma leptin levels in the maternal peripheral vein of 17 healthy and 17 diabetic women at 29 and 33 weeks of gestation. We also correlated maternal plasma leptin levels in diabetic women with fasting plasma insulin levels and plasma glucose levels obtained 1 h after oral administration of 50 g of glucose. Maternal serum leptin levels in women with gestational diabetes (mean +/- SD 16.

Sweeping of the membranes versus uterine stimulation by oxytocin in nulliparous women. A randomized controlled trial.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether sweeping of the membranes at term could shorten the length of pregnancy and reduce the incidence of postterm pregnancies. We randomly selected 104 nulliparas with uncomplicated pregnancy and gestational age between 281 and 287 days. Our patients were divided into three groups.

Renin-aldosterone system alterations during abdominal gynaecological operations under general or combined general and epidural anaesthesia.

Alterations of plasma renin-activity and aldosterone levels were comparatively studied in 41 premenopausal patients who were subjected to total abdominal hysterectomy. Twenty-one women received general anaesthesia (group A) and 20 received a combination of general and epidural anaesthesia (group B). Five blood specimens were drawn from each patient in order to determine plasma aldosterone levels (PA) and plasma renin activity (PRA) by radioimmunoassay (RIA).

A randomized trial of pulsatile vs continuous oxytocin infusion for labor induction.

In a prospective randomized study, 560 pregnant women were subjected to labor induction with continuous or pulsed intravenous oxytocin infusion. There were no significant differences with respect to maternal history, Bishop score and perinatal morbidity. The mean induction to delivery interval was shorter in the pulsed infusion group than in the continuous infusion group (325 +/- 63 vs 433 +/- 67 min in primiparous, p < 0.

Evaluation of fetal heart rate patterns during the second stage of labor through fetal oximetry.

The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and accuracy of fetal pulse oximetry during the second stage of labor in cases with abnormal fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns with reference to postpartum acid-base status and Apgar scores. Forty-eight parturients with normal and 20 parturients with abnormal FHR tracings during the second stage of labor were monitored by fetal pulse oximetry and postpartum umbilical artery pH, pO(2), pCO(2) values and 1- and 5-min Apgar scores. The mean SpO(2) value was 55.

Intrapartum vibratory acoustic stimulation after maternal meperidine administration.

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of the acoustic stimulation test in the interpretation of suspicious cardiotocograms obtained after meperidine administration to the mother during the first stage of labor.

Subjects And Methods: We studied 45 unselected parturients who received 50 mg meperidine i.m.

Gonadotropin ovulation induction and pregnancies in women with Kallmann's syndrome.

Only 17 cases of pregnancy in women with Kallmann's syndrome have been reported in the literature, eight as case reports. In our clinic, we diagnosed seven women with complete Kallmann's syndrome in a 16-year period. In five cases (unprimed patients) the diagnosis was established for the first time, while in the other two cases diagnosis had been established earlier.

The effect of early second stage bradycardia on newborn status.

In the present study 45 patients with intrapartum cardiotocograms showing prolonged fetal bradycardia during the early second stage of labor were included. Bradycardia persisted for 180 s or more with either rapid or prolonged return to baseline, without loss of variability and rise of baseline fetal heart rate (FHR). The mean duration of bradycardia was 5.