Interleukin-6 and Mycoplasma hominis as markers of preterm birth and related brain damage: our experience.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate whether a high concentration of interleukin-6 (IL)-6 in the amniotic fluid is associated to a higher risk of preterm delivery, premature rupture of the membranes (PROM), and periventricular leucomalacia (PVL) in preterm infants; we have further investigated whether the levels of IL-6 are related to the presence of vaginal infection by mycoplasms.

Methods: One hundred eight patients were screened by vaginal swab, sonography, amniocentesis, and dosage of IL-6 in the amniotic fluid during the second trimester of pregnancy.

Results: High levels of IL-6 and vaginal mycoplasms are related to preterm birth and PROM.

Sexual behaviour among Italian adolescents: knowledge and use of contraceptives.

Background: Comprehensive data concerning the sexual behaviour of Italian adolescents are lacking; the planning of prevention programmes is therefore difficult.

Methods: The current study evaluates the knowledge of Italian adolescents about sexuality and their use of methods to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. The age at first intercourse in the current sample was compared to that found in past samples to ascertain whether sex education was needed at an earlier age.

Case report of a sarcoma botryoides of the uterine cervix in fertile age and literature review.

Introduction: The sarcoma botryoides of the cervix uteri occurs very rarely in fertile women.

Case: Here is a case of a 35-year-old fertile woman, who developed a sarcoma botryoides of the cervix uteri. The diagnosis required clinical examination, ecography, NMR, CT scan and a pathological examination of the surgical sample.