Microbiota-based analysis reveals specific bacterial traits and a novel strategy for the diagnosis of infectious infertility.

Tubal factor infertility (TFI) accounts for more than 30% of the cases of female infertility and mostly resides from an inflammatory process triggered by an infection. Clinical appearances largely differ, and very often infections are not recognized or remain completely asymptomatic over time. Here, we characterized the microbial pattern in females diagnosed with infectious infertility (ININF) in comparison to females with non-infectious infertility (nININF), female sex workers (FSW) and healthy controls (fertile).

[Premature rupture of fetal membranes at term: an indication for induced labor with prostaglandins?].

Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) at term is thought to be related to an increased infection risk for mother and child. A prospective study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of prostaglandins for induction of labour in 433 cases of PROM presenting after 35 completed weeks of gestation. Intracervical gel or vaginal pessaries were given in dependence on the Bishop-score.

Polyploidies in abortion material decrease with maternal age.

Among 639 spontaneous abortions between the 8th and 14th week of gestation 342 (53.5%) revealed an abnormal karyotype. While the rate of trisomies distinctly increased with advancing maternal age, a decrease in the rate of 45,X conceptuses and polyploidies was observed among abortions from older women.

Genetic amniocentesis in twin pregnancies: results of a multicenter study of 529 cases.

To evaluate the risk of abortion after genetic amniocentesis in twin pregnancies, a retrospective study of 15 centers was performed. The spontaneous abortion rate up to 20 completed weeks of gestation was 2.3%; the abortion rate up to 28 completed weeks, as defined by WHO, was 3.

Clinical diagnosis of partial duplication 7q.

We report on two sibs with partial dup (7q), a retarded 9-month-old boy and an aborted fetus of 17 weeks' gestational age. Besides minor anomalies, the boy had frontal bossing, macrocephaly with hydrocephaly, a high forehead, and a large fontanelle. GTG banded chromosomes showed a 14p+ abnormality.