Abnormal folate metabolism as a risk factor for first-trimester spontaneous abortion.

Objective: To assess the potential role of folic acid in early pregnancy loss by measuring homocysteine (hcy) levels in healthy, pregnant women who present with a current first-trimester miscarriage.

Study Design: This was a cross-sectional analysis comprising 13 patients aged 18-31 years old who had a scheduled dilatation and curettage for a first-trimester miscarriage. The controls were 15 patients of similar maternal age presenting for a first-trimester prenatal care visit.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of the treatment for intermediate risk endometrial cancer: postoperative brachytherapy vs. observation.

Objective: To compare the survival, morbidity, and cost of treating women with intermediate risk endometrial cancer with postoperative vaginal cuff brachytherapy versus observation followed by treatment for vaginal recurrence.

Methods: A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed comparing two treatment strategies for intermediate risk endometrial cancer (Stage IC, IG3, II-tumors limited to the uterus with greater than 50% myometrial invasion or poor differentiation or cervical metastasis). All patients undergo hysterectomy, oophorectomy, and lymphadenectomy: strategy 1-postoperative vaginal cuff brachytherapy, strategy 2-observation.