Fetal loss following second trimester amniocentesis. Who is at greater risk? How to counsel pregnant women?

Objective: The purpose of this retrospective observational cohort study was to determine the impact of certain risk factors on fetal loss, after mid-trimester amniocentesis.

Material And Methods: Six thousand seven-hundred and fifty-two (6752) consecutive amniocenteses with known pregnancy outcome performed during a 7-year period (2004-2010) were included in this study. Different maternal-, fetal- and procedure-related factors were evaluated in this study.

Risk for fetal loss and prematurity after 12,413 second trimester amniocenteses in a single center.

Objectives: The purpose of this retrospective controlled study is to estimate the risk for fetal loss and preterm delivery attributed to second trimester amniocentesis from a single tertiary center.

Methods: The study group consists of 12,413 singleton pregnancies with consecutive amniocenteses, performed in a single tertiary center during a 15-year period (1996-2010) with known pregnancy outcome. The control group consisted of 6993 pregnancies with negative second trimester screening for aneuploidies during the same period who did not have any invasive test.

Invasive diagnostic procedures and risk of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.

Objective: To determine whether the risk of hypertensive complications differs among low-risk women who undergo prenatal diagnosis via chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and amniocentesis.

Methods: In a retrospective study, data were analyzed from women who underwent prenatal diagnosis by CVS or amniocentesis at Alexandra Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece, between 1998 and 2011. All women had either transabdominal CVS at 10-13 weeks of pregnancy with a 20-gauge needle, or amniocentesis at 17-21 weeks with a 22-gauge needle, both under direct ultrasound guidance.

Induction of labor versus expectant management for pregnancies beyond 41 weeks.

Objective: To compare the outcome following labor induction at 41 + 1 weeks of gestation and after expectant management and selective induction at 42 completed weeks.

Method: A retrospective analysis of post-term pregnancies in a 2-year period. In the induction group, women at 41 + 1 weeks of gestation received 3 mg prostaglandin E2 (dinoprostone) in the posterior fornix, repeating the dose 6 h later.

Preterm birth trends in Greece, 1980-2008: a rising concern.

Objective: To identify preterm birth trends in Greece.

Design: Retrospective epidemiological study.

Setting: Women giving birth in Greece from 1980 to 2008.

Appropriate cone dimensions to achieve negative excision margins after large loop excision of transformation zone in the uterine cervix for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Aims: To determine appropriate cone dimensions for predicting margin status after large loop excision of transformation zone (LLETZ) treatment.

Methods: An observational study performed at the Colposcopy Unit of a university hospital setting involving patients who underwent LLETZ conisation within a 1-year period. Data concerning the characteristics, cone dimensions, lesion grade and excision margins of the patients were recorded.

Fetal MRI: is it really helpful?

Objective: The aim of this study is to emphasize on the diagnostic effectiveness of fetal MRI that led to increased utilization in fetal medicine as well as its value in prognosis and decision making in the modern obstetric practice.

Methods: One hundred five (n = 105) pregnant women were referred for a fetal MRI examination after a high detailed ultrasound examination revealed a fetal abnormality. Fetal MRI was performed using 1, 5 Tesla units, with T1, T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted images.

Three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound for the study of cervical cancer and precancerous lesions.

Objective: To evaluate the blood flow characteristics of the cervix in normal women and in women with cervical precancerous lesions or cervical cancer.

Methods: We studied 165 women with three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound (3D-PDU), of whom 71 had cervical cancer, 61 had precancerous lesions and 33 were healthy controls. The cervix was manually traced in the stored volumes using 15° rotation steps and the following 3D-PDU indices were calculated: vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularization flow index (VFI).

Regeneration of uterine cervix at 6 months after large loop excision of the transformation zone for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Objective: To sonographically investigate cervical regeneration 6 months after large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) conisation for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) pathology.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: University Hospital setting.

Optimum mode of delivery in gestations complicated by preterm premature rupture of the membranes.

Objectives: To provide evidence about the preferable mode of delivery, vaginal (VD) or caesarean section (CS), in PPROM.

Methods: A retrospective study of 190 cases. Survival analysis was used to identify statistically significant differences in mortality rates.

Cervical cone measurements and residual disease in LLETZ conisation for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Aim: To investigate the oncologically safe limits of excision in large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) conisation performed for cervical pathology.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective study conducted at the Colposcopy Unit in a University Hospital setting. Three hundred and sixty-one cases of LLETZ conisation were conducted in a 2-year period.

Sonographic measurement of cervical volume in nonpregnant women using the geometric formula for a cylinder versus the three-dimensional automated virtual organ computer-aided analysis (vocal).

Background: To sonographically evaluate the volume of uterine cervix in nonpregnant women with use of the geometric formula for a cylinder and to assess agreement with the reference Virtual Organ Computer-Aided AnaLysis (VOCAL) method.

Methods: Three-dimensional ultrasound volume datasets of the uterine cervix from 81 women were obtained prospectively within a 1-year period. Volume measurements were performed using VOCAL and the geometric formula for a cylinder.

Partial molar pregnancy with a chromosomically and phenotypically normal embryo: presentation of an extremely rare case and review of literature.

We present an extremely rare case of partial molar pregnancy with a chromosomically and phenotypically normal embryo and review of the literature. A 31-year-old nulliparous was referred to us at 30 weeks of gestation due to absence of fetal movements and subsequent ultrasound examination revealed intrauterine demise. Prenatal amniocentesis due to raised maternal serum α-fetoprotein had shown a karyotypically normal female embryo and second trimester ultrasound demonstrated no anatomic abnormalities.

Erythrocyte membrane AChE, Na(+), K(+)-ATPase and Mg(2+) ATPase activities in mothers and their premature neonates in relation to the mode of delivery.

Aim: To investigate erythrocyte membrane AChE, Na(+), K(+)-ATPase and Mg(2+)-ATPase activities in mothers and their full-term or premature newborns in relation to the mode of delivery.

Methods: Blood was obtained from mothers pre- and post-delivery and the umbilical cord (CB) of their full-term newborns: Group A₁ (n = 16) born with vaginal delivery (VD), Group B₁ (n = 14) full-terms with scheduled cesarean section (CS), Group A₂ (n = 12) prematures with VD, Group B₂ (n = 14) prematures with CS. Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) and common laboratory tests were measured with routine methods, and the membrane enzyme activities spectrophotometrically.

The role of cervical length measurement at 11-14 weeks for the prediction of preterm delivery.

Objective: To determine whether cervical length (CL) measurement at 11?14 weeks is predictive of preterm delivery (PTD).

Methods: This was a prospective study of a low-risk population of 1113 women, who underwent CL measurement at 11-14 weeks. Mean CL was calculated for deliveries at >37, <37 and <34 weeks.

The effect on the fetal pituitary-adrenal axis of dexamethasone administration early in the second trimester of pregnancy.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a single dose of dexamethasone to pregnant women at early second trimester on the fetal pituitary-adrenal axis.

Methods: Thirty-eight women between 13 and 15 weeks' gestation were included in the study. Blood was taken from the mothers and their fetuses for the evaluation of plasma ACTH, cortisol, and free cortisol levels before and after treatment with a single dose of 1 mg of dexamethasone orally at 11 p.

Prenatal diagnosis of prune-belly syndrome at 13 weeks of gestation: case report and review of literature.

We present a case report of a foetus with Prune-Belly syndrome (PBS) which was diagnosed sonographically during the 13th week of gestation and review of the literature. Sonographic diagnosis was based on abnormally distended urinary bladder and abdomen and absence of 'keyhole sign'. Termination was performed on parental request and post-mortem examination revealed absence of abdominal wall musculature and the distended urinary bladder in a male foetus.

Gitelman syndrome-associated severe hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia: case report and review of the literature.

We report a case of a woman with Gitelman syndrome who presented to our hospital mainly due to hyperemesis. Following her admission, intravenous potassium and magnesium supplementation was commenced to counter the observed hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia. Hyperemesis receded and although serum potassium remained low, she became asymptomatic.

The contribution of three-dimensional power Doppler imaging in the preoperative assessment of breast tumors: a preliminary report.

Purpose. The aim of this study was to determine the value of 3D and 3D Power Doppler sonography in the detection of tumor malignancy in breast lesions and to find new diagnostic criteria for differential diagnosis. Methods.

Amniotic fluid interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha at mid-trimester genetic amniocentesis: relationship to intra-amniotic microbial invasion and preterm delivery.

Objective: To determine the value of amniotic fluid interleukin-6 (AF IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (AF TNF-alpha) in the diagnosis of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity and in the prediction of preterm delivery (PTD).

Study Design: Following amniocentesis, a sample of amniotic fluid was sent for aerobic and anaerobic bacterial cultures along with Ureaplasma urealyticum culture and it was also assessed for IL-6 and TNF-alpha.

Results: Forty-eight women who delivered preterm (<37 weeks) were matched with 96 controls.

Amniotic fluid interleukin-18 at mid-trimester genetic amniocentesis: relationship to intraamniotic microbial invasion and preterm delivery.

Objective: To determine the value of amniotic fluid interleukin-18 (AF IL-18) in the diagnosis of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity and prediction of preterm delivery (PTD).

Design: Analysis of the results of AF collected prospectively following genetic amniocentesis between February 2006 and September 2007.

Setting: A tertiary referral centre for fetal medicine.

Imperforate hymen with hematocolpometra combined with elevated Ca125.

In the present case, ultrasound examination ruled out the presence of hematosalpinx or other gynecological tumors. This was of great importance to the surgical intervention, especially for avoiding laparotomy. Dilatation of the vagina and uterus, due to imperforate hymen with retrograde menstruation should be considered in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain in premenarchal girls (Fig.

Bidirectional communication between neural and cardiac cells in human amniotic fluid.

Objective: To evaluate whether amniotic fluid cells contain cardiomyocyte- and neuron-like cells.

Study Design: In this experimental study, cells from human amniotic fluid samples were analyzed for mRNA expression of microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2), vimentin and oxytocin (OT) receptor via RT-PCR. Immunocytochemistry was also performed with MAP-2, OT receptor, vimentin and troponin I antibodies.