[Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and pregnancy. Report of a case with favourable outcome].

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a heterogeneous group of diseases, where connective tissue laxity is the main feature. Several pregnancy and delivery complications, mainly related to vascular and uterine rupture or to soft tissue tears, are described. A case of a full term pregnancy is reported and the clinical value of obstetrical management is discussed.

[Maternal viral and gestational risk factors in vertical transmission of HIV-1 infection].

Background: Several risk factors are related to vertical transfer of HIV-1 infection, but the influence of each one separately is controversial. Various risk factors have been evaluated altogether and separately, in order to find a single condition, that is, early in pregnancy predictive of fetal infection.

Methods: A prospective, observational study has been carried out during the period January 1992-January 1997, at the Centre for infectious diseases in pregnancy, University Hospital of Bari, a tertiary reference setting.

Solitary hepatocellular adenoma in infancy.

Here is presented an exceptional case of liver cell adenoma in a five-year-old child. The neoplasm was diagnosed when the child was taken to hospital in a state of shock and coma because of the contemporary laceration of the neoplasm and of the spleen in consequence of a causal falling. The neoplasm is histologically defined, possible clinical pictures are described as well as the differential diagnosis and the tests useful for the diagnosis.

Morphological changes of the ovarian surface epithelium in women with ovarian polycystic disease or endometrial carcinoma and a control group.

The ovarian surface epithelium and that of related inclusion cysts were studied in 50 women with ovarian polycystic disease and they were compared with our preceding observations performed on women with endometrial carcinoma (n = 50) and on women without any hyperplastic or neoplastic genital tract pathology (n = 50). In 16 women (32%) the ovarian epithelium with normal aspect was found on the surface of the ovary and in inclusion cysts. In the remaining 34 women (68%) surface papillomatosis, hyperplastic and metaplastic changes were present on the ovarian surface and/or in the inclusion cysts.

Hyperplasia and metaplasia of ovarian surface epithelium in women with endometrial carcinoma. Suggestion for a hormonal influence in ovarian carcinogenesis.

Surface ovarian epithelium and that of related inclusion cysts were comparatively studied in two groups of patients: one group of 50 non-pregnant women without myometrial, endometrial, or cervical hyperplasia and/or neoplasia; a second group of 50 women surgically treated for endometrial cancer and without evidence of ovarian pathology. Papillomatosis, hyperplasia and tubaric, squamoid, endometrioid and mucinous metaplasia were more frequently present in ovarian surface epithelium or in related inclusion cysts in patients with endometrial carcinoma. These findings may be correlated with a hormonal oncogenic stimulus involved in the genesis of endometrial cancer and suggests a new "hormonal" hypothesis in the pathogenesis of common epithelial tumors of the ovary.

[Evaluation of the metacarpophalangeal profile (MPP) and of the dermatoglyphic pattern in Crouzon's syndrome].

The evaluation of metacarpophalangeal profiles (MPP) and dermathoglyphics patterns in two families affected by Crouzon's syndrome differing from genic expressivity, showed indicative findings for brachidactyly and "broad thumb and hallux" character. These abnormalities show Crouzon's disease not to be a true craniofacial dysostosis and number it among the wide sphere of syndromes presenting acrocephalic alterations.

Gold-nickel alloys in dental prostheses.

A gold-nickel master alloy was prepared by arc melting in an inert atmosphere and from it, mechanical test specimens and dental prostheses were made by centrifugal casting. The cast alloy had a yield strength of about 7,400 kg/cm2, with an elongation of 12%. The alloy was clinically tested in the form of partial dentures and crown and bridge materials.