Levels and profiles of brominated and chlorinated contaminants in human breast milk from Thessaloniki, Greece.

Human breast milk samples (n=87) collected between July 2004 and July 2005 from primipara and multipara mothers from Thessaloniki, Greece were analysed for six groups of persistent organic pollutants (POPs): polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs), chlordane compounds (CHLs), hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB). DDTs [median: 410ng/g lipid weight (lw)], PCBs (median: 90ng/g lw) and HCHs (median: 40ng/g lw) were the predominantly identified compounds in all the breast milk samples. Levels of PBDEs (median: 1.

Correlation between asymmetric dimethylarginine maternal plasma levels and preeclampsia.

Objective: To aim of our study is to support the correlation between blood pressure and asymmetric dimethyl argine (ADMA) concentrations as a possible marker for early diagnosis of the preeclampsia syndrome.

Study Design: We attempted to calculate in 38 pregnant women with preeclampsia (group A) plasma levels of the main inhibitor to nitric oxide synthase (NOS), which is ADMA, and to compare our findings with the levels of ADMA in 36 non preeclamptic pregnant women (group C) and also with the levels in 29 pregnant women who had a history of preeclampsia in previous pregnancies (group B). Maternal venous EDTA plasma samples of 5 ml were collected and analyzed to measure the ADMA concentrations in each subject.

Pregnancy-associated breast cancer--a review analysis.

Unlabelled: The aim of the present review was to assess the relationship between pregnancy and/or lactation and breast cancer, the influence of pregnancy on mortality and prognosis of the disease, the consequences of breast cancer to the current pregnancy and also to discuss the future perspective for women's fertility.

Materials And Methods: Articles were obtained from Medline (1988 present) using as keywords breast cancer, pregnancy, breastfeeding, lactation, carcinoma and pregnancy.

Results: Unfortunately, delays in diagnosis and treatment are common during pregnancy and the prognosis is thus worsened.

Verification of the accuracy of cervical cytology reports in women referred for colposcopy.

Objective: To verify the accuracy of cervical cytology in correlation with colposcopic and histological findings. DESIGN/SETTING/POPULATION/METHODS: In this retrospective chart review study 545 women, referred to the outpatient clinic for colposcopy, were included in the study. During the 4-year study period, two consultants performed the colposcopies and further necessary procedures, whereas patient charts were reviewed by two of the co-authors.

D-dimer levels as a predicting factor for DIC following single twin death: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Intrauterine death of one twin in the second or third trimester occurs in about 1% of all twin pregnancies. The retention in utero of the dead fetus may be associated with maternal disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Case: We present the case of a diamniotic monochorionic pregnancy with intrauterine death of the first twin at 24 weeks.

Incidental diagnosis of atypical polypoid adenomyoma in a young infertile woman.

Atypical polypoid adenomyoma (APA) is considered to be a rare, benign form of a polypoid mass that exhibits glandular and squamous epithelial cell proliferation with varying degrees of atypia in association with cellular smooth muscle stroma. More frequently it manifests during the reproductive and premenopausal age with a reported mean age of 40 years. The published series indicates an average risk of endometrial carcinoma of 8.

Anovulation with or without PCO, hyperandrogenaemia and hyperinsulinaemia as promoters of endometrial and breast cancer.

The relationship of infertility, endocrinology and cancer has become clearer in recent years. Polycystic ovaries (PCO) increase the risk of endometrial cancer. Prolonged amenorrhoea, therefore, should be prevented in such cases with the use of cyclical progestogens, in order for regular withdrawal bleeds to be induced and the endometrium protected from long-term unopposed oestrogen stimulation.

Intravenous administration of iron sucrose for treating anemia in postpartum women.

Background: To compare the efficacy of oral and intravenous administration of iron supplements for treating postpartum anemia.

Methods: One hundred and four anemic postpartum women were studied prospectively. The criteria for the diagnosis of anemia were Hb<8 gr/dl and ferritine<10 microg/dl.

Anorexia nervosa in pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature.

Anorexia nervosa is a complex illness rarely encountered in pregnant women. It is a disorder characterized by markedly decreased food intake accompanied by a distorted body image, resulting in an inability to maintain the body weight within 85% of ideal body weight. We describe a case of a pregnant woman diagnosed with anorexia nervosa at 28 weeks of gestation.

A prospective two years study of first trimester screening for Down syndrome.

Introduction: Nowadays maternal age of pregnant women has increased in most developed countries. The rate of women above 35 years old constitutes about 15% of pregnancies.

Aim: The aim of our study is to prove that by first trimester screening, the number of women who have indication for invasive prenatal diagnostic procedure is significantly reduced.

Tension free vaginal tape underneath bladder base: does it prevent cystocele recurrence?

Objective: The target of the current prospective study was to assess the effectiveness of the polypropylene tapes in preventing recurrence of cystocele formation when placed underneath the bladder base.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-two Caucasian women, predominantly postmemopausal with marked descent of the anterior, middle and/or posterior pelvic segment, participated in the study. Vaginal reconstructive surgery including anterior colporrhaphy and Kelly placation, posterior colpoperineorrhaphy and/or hysterectomy, was undertaken in all subjects.

A four-year retrospective study of amniocentesis: one centre experience.

Aim: Monitor the performance of the amniocentesis procedure for prenatal diagnosis and particularly the acquisition of results (time to get, success in getting them).

Materials And Methods: This is a retrospective review of case notes of all pregnant women undergone amniocentesis in our department during the period 2002-2005. Two main operators performed the procedure, using 22 gauze needle usually and 20 gauze should longer needle was needed.

Ligation of internal iliac artery for severe obstetric and pelvic haemorrhage: 10 year experience with 11 cases in a university hospital.

Bilateral iliac artery ligation is an effective second-line procedure to control massive obstetric and gynaecological haemorrhage, it is life-saving in certain cases and has the advantage that it preserves fertility, which is particularly important in young women of low parity. Bilateral ligation of internal iliac arteries is a life-saving procedure in cases of massive obstetric haemorrhage. It has the advantage of preserving fertility compared with the commonly performed emergency obstetric hysterectomy.

Anterior vaginal wall reconstruction: anterior colporrhaphy reinforced with tension free vaginal tape underneath bladder base.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of the polypropylene tape in preventing cystocele recurrence.

Methods: Fifty Caucasian women aged 50-77 years (mean age 66.6 years), with stage II-IV pelvic organ prolapse, enrolled into the study.

Current caesarean delivery rates and indications in a major public hospital in northern Greece.

Background: Over the past 25 years, there has been a sustained increase in caesarean section (CS) rates around the world. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the current CS rates and particularly the trends of CS indications in Greece.

Aim: To assess the overall CS rates and indications in a major Greek teaching hospital over the last five years.

Knowledge and practice of contraception among Greek female medical students.

Objective: In Greece, modern contraceptive methods are used on a limited scale. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge as well as the practice of contraception among female medical students in Greece.

Study Design: Knowledge and practice of contraception of 102 female graduating medical students were assessed with a self-administered, anonymous questionnaire.

Painful menstruation.

Painful menstruation is a cyclic painful condition that adversely affects the woman's wellbeing for a large part of her life. Its pathogenesis is not always understood. Prostaglandins seem to be intimately involved in primary dysmenorrhoea although it is difficult to understand the underlying cause for their excessive secretion.

Simultaneously detected primary malignant tumors of ovary and endometrium with unusual histology.

A case of a mucinous adenocarcinoma of the ovary with a synchronous endometroid tumor of the endometrium with focal features of undifferentiated carcinoma and deep myometrial invasion is reported. A review of the literature revealed that our case is interesting in view of the fact that simultaneous presentation of primary ovarian and endometrial neoplasms is rare and usually related to low-stage ovarian lesions and well-differentiated and superficial endometrial carcinomas in contrast to our case with the focal features of undifferentiated carcinoma and the deep myometrial invasion. These double tumors usually present in premenopausal subfertile women with abnormal uterine bleeding.

A case of unilateral Horner's syndrome after combined spinal epidural anesthesia with ropivacaine 10mg/mL for cesarean section.

We report a case of transient unilateral Horner's syndrome during the setting of combined spinal epidural anesthesia for elective cesarean section using ropivacaine 10mg/mL. The pathophysiology of Horner's syndrome and the possible mechanisms in relation to combined spinal epidural anesthesia are also presented.

Early antiplatelet and antithrombotic therapy in patients with a history of recurrent miscarriages of known and unknown aetiology.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of early thromboprophylaxis throughout pregnancy in women with previous history of first trimester recurrent miscarriages of unknown aetiology.

Methods: Low dose aspirin and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) were administered from the day of detection of the fetal heart up to the 37th week, in two groups of patients of known (Group A, n = 24) and unknown aetiology recurrent miscarriages (Group B, n = 27).

Results: The success rate (viable pregnancy >24 weeks) was high and equally effective in both Groups A and B (83.