Tumor necrosis factor in peritoneal fluid from asymptomatic infertile women.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a cytokine that can be found in the peritoneal fluid (PF) of patients with endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) as a response to inflammatory disorders and infections. The cytotoxic effect of this cytokine could be a factor participating in the pathology of various gynecological diseases, and could also be accountable for the high immunological response and damage to the tubal epithelium. The objective of this study was to establish the presence of TNF-alpha in asymptomatic infertility and its association with various isolated bacteria.

[Determination of the tumor necrosis factor in the peritoneal fluid of gynecologic patients with intraperitoneal infections and endometriosis].

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) is a cytokine which can be found in peritoneal fluid (PF) of patients with endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) as a response of inflammatory disorder and infections diseases. The cytotoxic effect of this cytokine could be participating in the pathology of different gynecologic problem and be accountable of the high immunological response and damage on the tubal epithelium. The objective of this study was determinate the presence of TNF-alpha in PF of endometriosis patients, fallopian tube occlusion (FTO) and PID and their correlation with different isolated bacteria.

Vitamin C status, cervico-vaginal infection and premature rupture of amniotic membranes.

A prospective study to evaluate the role of vitamin C and cervico-vaginal infection in the premature rupture of amniotic membranes (PROM) was designed. The leukocyte vitamin C levels of 44 pregnant women that did not consume vitamin supplements was evaluated at weeks 20, 28 and 32 of pregnancy. On each evaluation the presence of cervico-vaginal infection was diagnosed and treated.

[Utility of the Papanicolaou smear in the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis].

In 200 studied patients there was a sensitivity of 49% and specificity of 100%; bacterial vaginosis incidence was 17.7%; the probability of false negatives was 73%. So, Papanicolaou's smear is not an adequate method for bacterial vaginosis diagnosis, but the negative result, excludes the possibility of disease.

[Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in a group of adolescents attending a perinatal care institute].

To start an active sexual activity at an earlier age and with a larger number of partners, has arousen the frequency of sexually transmitted diseases (STS). The teenagers are a group particularly affected. The objective of this article is to report the etiology of STD in a group of teenagers, out-patients at the Instituto Nacional de Perinatologia (INPer).