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To compare trends and rates of cesarean section delivery by indication in one academic center.

AbstractThis study looks at the effects of imposed confinement on morphology related properties in vapor grown carbon nanofibers (VGCF) polypropylene nanocomposite filaments. Different levels of imposed confinement are achieved through varying the content of the VGCF and the dimensions of the nanocomposite filaments. The resulting molecular confinement is apparent through a sharp increase (termed the inversion point) in a number of properties at low filament diameters, which is associated with a formation of a ‘shish kebab’ structure and a transition from a skin/core morphology to an axially oriented lamellar structure.

A single course of antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) is associated with a reduction in respiratory distress syndrome and neonatal death. Multiple Courses of Antenatal Corticosteroids Study(MACS), a study involving 1858 women, was a multicentre randomized placebo-controlled trial of multiple courses of ACS, given every 14 days until 33+6 weeks or birth, whichever came first. The primary outcome of the study, a composite of neonatal mortality and morbidity, was similar for the multiple ACS and placebo groups (12.9% vs. 12.5%), but infants exposed to multiple courses of ACS weighed less, were shorter, and had smaller head circumferences. Thus for women who remain at increased risk of preterm birth, multiple courses of ACS (every 14 days) are not recommended. Chronic use of corticosteroids is associated with numerous side effects including weight gain and depression The aim of this postpartum assessment was to ascertain if multiple courses of ACS were associated with maternal side effects.

The aim of the study was to assess the expression of cyclooxygenases (COX)-2 in nonepithelial ovarian malignancies.

Objective To assess the effectiveness of systemic treatment with methotrexate in combination with local injection for unruptured tubal pregnancy, and to evaluate reproductive function following treatment.

Endometriosis was induced surgically by implanting pieces of endometrium in the uterine mesenteries of 50 rats. Their fertility was then assessed after various treatments. Ten rates with endometriosis were treated with microsurgical excision of implants, 10 with high-frequency diathermy, 10 with danazol, and 10 with intraperitoneal indomethacin. Ten more rats had implants that were left untreated. The results were compared with those of ten rats that had sham surgery with implantation of fat in the uterine mesenteries. Reproductive performance was better in control animals with sham surgery than in animals with endometrial implants. Maximum restoration of fertility was achieved with indomethacin. Microsurgery and danazol therapy both were effective in preventing residual endometriosis, but the animals tended to be less fertile after treatment. Adhesions were most pronounced after diathermy and least pronounced after microsurgery or indomethacin therapy. In rats treated with indomethacin, persistent endometriotic cysts were invariably smaller near the site of intraperitoneal injection: this suggests a local antiprostaglandin effect.

To compare the in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) outcome of a 3-day gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) administration: ultrashort protocol with the outcome of long-acting GnRH-a cycles or human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) alone.

To evaluate sperm penetration assay (SPA) value as a screening tool before in vitro fertilization (IVF).

To study the effect of mycoplasmas and Chlamydia trachomatisinfection on semen quality, these microorganisms were cultured from the semen and anterior urethra respectively, in a group of 175 infertile men suspected of a silent genital infection with a poor postcoital test. Chlamydia infection, but not mycoplasmas, was parodoxically more frequent in the apparently normal than oligoteratoasthenozoospermia patients. Mycoplasmas male infection, but not chlamydia, was more frequent in cases with female, mechanical, and/or organic infertility factors. Infection was unrelated to the accessory gland evaluation or sperm variables. However, seminal antisperm antibody activity was significantly increased in cases with any positive culture. By this local antibody increase, chlamydia and mycoplasmas may significantly reduce sperm egg penetration ability.

The fertility outcome is presented in 118 patients after conservative surgery for unruptured tubal pregnancies. This patient group experienced 142 pregnancies, 127 of which were intrauterine (89.4%). The intrauterine pregnancies (IUPs) occurred in 83 patients (70.3%) and 63.5% (75/118) had live births. The recurrence rate of tubal pregnancy was 12.7%. Of the 65 patients with a normal contralateral tube 53 (81.5%) followed surgery with an IUP, 76.1% a live birth, and 7.7% a recurrent tubal pregnancy. Fifty-seven percent of the patients with a single tube followed with an IUP, and 47.6% had a live birth. The recurrence of tubal pregnancy in this group was 28.5%. Of the patients who underwent expression of tubal gestation, 60.6% followed with an IUP, and 57.5% with a live birth with no recurrence of tubal pregnancy.

Binovular follicles were found in 15 (0.3%) of 4,695 follicles containing oocytes. These binovular follicles were either with adjacent cumulus complexes (9 cases), or separate corona radiata and common cumulus mass (1 case), or two oocytes within a single zona pellucida (5 cases). In each of the latter form, there was a smaller and a larger oocyte. All the smaller oocytes and two larger ones possessed a germinal vesicle, whereas the remaining three larger oocytes were mature and developed normally. Though being exposed to the same intrafollicular milieu, there can be a difference in the maturity of the nucleus and characteristics of the cytoplasm of both oocytes.

Contradictory findings were reported concerning the role of tubal disease in the genesis of ectopic pregnancy in in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). We report on six ectopics that occurred in 141 IVF-ET pregnancies (4.3%). All of the six cases were among 84 patients with tubal disease, and none occurred in the remaining 57 patients with other etiological factors. No correlation was found in other parameters including: ovulation induction, number of embryos transferred, and luteal support. A comparison between the ectopics and six matched controls demonstrated similar estradiol levels, but β-hCG levels on day 15 to 17 after ET were lower. Homolateral salpingectomy was performed in all six cases, but a contralateral resection was carried out in three of them. More comprehensive studies are needed to clarify whether tubal pathology really increases the risk for ectopic gestation in IVF-ET.

Long acting D-Trp-6-luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) microcapsules, 3.2 mg were given monthly, intramuscularly for a period of 6 months to 26 menstruating patients with symptomatic leiomyomas. The patients ages were 22 to 52 years. Five patients (20%) were infertile. Patient evaluation before initiation of treatment included endometrial biopsy, ultrasonic measurements of uterine and tumor volumes, and bonemineral density. The patients were periodically followed hormonally and ultrasonographically. A statistically significant reduction in uterine and tumor volumes (maximal after 4 months of treatment) was observed in all the patients except one. Two patients discontinued the treatment after 2 months, preferring surgery. A nonsignificant decrease in the mean bone-mineral density was noted after completion of therapy. Minor side effects such as hot flushes, vaginal dryness, backache, vaginal spotting, and nervousness, were encountered frequently, disappearing within 6 weeks after the last injection. A significant increase in uterine and myoma volume was noted in all the patients at 3 months after treatment.

To compare fertilization and pregnancy rates between cycles with polypronuclear fertilizations and cycles with normal fertilizations.

Delayed fertilization is common in cycles with immature oocytes. This phenomenon was observed in 42 of 423 with mature oocytes. Of the 42cycles, 16 were excluded because of the presence of sperm autoantibodies. Sperm parameters of the remaining 26 (6.1%) cycles (group A) were compared with those in cycles with no fertilization at all (group B) and those in the control group (group C). The percentage of normal forms was 15% in group B and 24% in group A compared with 51% in group C. Fertilization rates were 32% in group A compared with 81% in group C. The incidence of poor embryonic morphology was 82% in group A compared with 29% in group C. Delayed fertilization and poor embryonic morphology associated with impaired sperm quality is of clinical and prognostic importance.

Long-acting GnRH-a (D-Trp6microcapsules, 3.2mg) was intramuscularly injected, either in early follicular phase (group A) or midluteal phase (group B). Two hundred sixteen cycles were randomly allocated. Ovarian suppression was significantly more prompt in group B. Follicle cysts were diagnosed in 19% and 16% of groups A and B, respectively; their appearance and regression were significantly more rapid in group B cycles. More ampules of human menopausal gonadotropin were needed in group B. The number of oocytes retrieved was not significantly different between the groups. However, in group A more mature oocytes and more embryos with good morphology were achieved in the patients. Cancellation rate was 2.8% in groups A and B. Pregnancy rate and outcome were similar in both groups.

The value of luteal phase supplementation with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was assessed after a combined protocol of ovarian stimulation, using a long acting gonadotropin releasing hormone analog (GnRH-a) and human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG), in a randomized prospective study of 36 consecutive cycles in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) program. The patients were allocated on the transfer day to either luteal phase supplementation with hCG (Group A, n = 18) or none (Group B, n = 18). Nine patients of Group A conceived as compared with 3 in Group B. Five patients, all in Group A, developed ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) (3 moderate and 2 severe forms). Analysis of the hormonal profiles disclosed similar progesterone (P), estradiol (E2), and E2/P ratio up to the 6th post ovum pick-up day. Then, E2and mainly P levels decreased only in Group B resulting in a rising E2/P ratio. These findings stress the importance of luteal support in IVF cycles treated with GnRH-a. In light of the increased risk of OHSS among hCG treated patients, further studies are needed to assess the optimal preparation needed.

The incidence and behavior of follicle cysts after different timing of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (GnRH-a) administration was studied in 321 in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. Group M included 198cycles in which GnRH-a was injected at menstruation. Of these, 171 (88.6%) were without cysts (group M1) and 27 (13.6%) with cysts (group M2). Group L comprised of 123cycles in which GnRH-a was administered in the midluteal phase. Of them, 70 (56.9%) were without cystic finding (group L1), 19 (15.4%) with follicle cysts (group L2), and 34 cases (27.6%) with visible corpus luteum at the time of GnRH-a initiation (group L3). Both groups with follicle cysts demonstrated a higher luteinizing hormone peak and continuous elevated estradiol (E2) levels. In group M2, the E2rise and the cysts persisted longer compared with group L2. Gonadotropin treatment was accordingly postponed until the cysts regressed spontaneously. Only two cases of group M2 required aspiration of the cysts. Follicle cyst formation is not related to the timing of GnRH-a administration and their occurrence did not have adverse effects on IVF outcome.

A prospective study was designed to compare cycles stimulated by human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) (group A) with cycles pretreated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist causing pituitary desensitization followed by hMG stimulation (group B). Three hundred two cycles were randomly allocated to each group. Cancellation rate was 27.2% in group A compared with only 3.3% in group B. Significantly less hMG ampules for a shorter period were needed in group A patients. Lower estradiol and higher luteinizing hormone levels were detected in the hMG group. Patients in group B yielded significantly more oocytes and more embryos per retrieval. A significantly higher pregnancy rate per cycle was obtained in group B (27%) as compared with that of group A (13%). Moderate and severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome was significantly more frequent in group B than in group A.

To avoid cancellation of in vitro fertilization (IVF) because of early luteinization, pituitary suppression by gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) was carried out in 111 cycles. D-Trp-6-luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) microcapsules were administered intramuscularly at menstruation and menotropin (hMG) stimulation was started 19 days (mean) later. In 3 cycles (2.7%), only early luteinization occurred. The mean number of oocytes per cycle was 6.7, with a fertilization and cleavage rate of 50 and 95%, respectively. A mean of 3.4 embryos were transferred per cycle. The 111 cycles resulted in 34 clinical pregnancies, 41% per cycle with embryo transfer. The early abortion, multiple pregnancy, and ovarian hyperstimulation rates were 24, 18, and 11%, respectively. It is concluded that D-Trp-6-LH-RH/hMG cycles are associated with a very low occurrence of early luteinization, high number of oocytes and embryos, and a substantial incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

To prevent neonatal hypoxic-ischemic morbidities, a nonreassuring fetal heart rate (NRFHR) during labor is considered a major indication for prompt delivery (30 minutes) via emergency cesarean section (ECS). The 30-minute rule is commonly used for decision-to-delivery interval when ECS is performed. This study was undertaken to assess the effect of a departmental program designed to shorten the decision-to-delivery interval for ECS for NRFHR on maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Previous studies overestimated the incidence of pregnancy-associated rhinitis because it is a poorly defined clinical condition. The objective of this study was to assess the incidence of this unique type of rhinitis using up-to-date strict criteria. This prospective study included 109 primigravida parturients who were interviewed using a structured questionnaire and underwent detailed rhinoscopy. Pregnancy-associated rhinitis was defined as nasal obstruction symptom and rhinorrhea appearing during pregnancy, lasting for at least 2 months, and disappearing postpartum. The incidence of rhinitis associated with pregnancy at the time of delivery was 9%. No correlation was found between symptoms and signs. Pregnancy-associated rhinitis is an infrequent clinical entity. It may be related to hormonal changes and possibly altered sensation of nasal airflow.

A case of tubal pregnancy demonstrated by sono-graphy is presented. In addition to the true ectopic gestational sac, an intra-uterine structure closely resembling a ge-stational sac was detected simultaneously. Such a finding of a pseudogestational sac in the uterine cavity may mislead to the diagnosis of an intra-uterine gestation. Thus, this sonographic finding is not sufficient to exclude the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. Clinicians should be aware of the possible finding of a pseudogestational sac in cases of ectopic pregnancy and the pathophysiological basis of this phenomenon is discussed.

To identify the relation of missed abortions and intrauterine pathology.

Background. The development of advanced endoscopic instrumentation in recent years has demonstrated the superiority of direct visual examination over radiographic demonstration of various body cavities. Just as laparoscopy has gradually taken a primary role in the surgical investigation of the ovulatory infertile patient, the role of intrauterine endoscopy in comparison to hysterosalpingography (HSG) needs to be reevaluated.Methods. Four hundred and sixty-four infertile women had undergone both hysterosalpingography and a diagnostic hysteroscopy and the findings were analysed.Results. Compared to hysteroscopy the sensitivity of HSG was 98%, but its specificity only 15%, the positive predictive value 45%, and negative predictive value 95%. On hysteroscopy a normal uterine cavity was found in 53% of the cases with a filling defect and in 56% of those with uterine wall irregularity on HSG.Conclusions. Hysteroscopy, a safe and rapid direct visualisation of the uterine cavity, is superior to HSG in the identification of intrauterine pathology. In view of the low positive predictive value and the low specificity of the HSG, we believe it should be replaced by the diagnostic hysteroscopy as a first line infertility investigation.

The clinical and urodynamic relationship between the onset of menopause and the appearance of lower urinary tract symptoms has been studied in 12 premenopausal urinary symptom-free patients in whom hypoestrogenism was induced by treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs. No urodynamic changes in the cystometric, uroflowmetry, and urethral pressure profile measurements were found after 6 months of treatment. Clinically, only one patient had diural frequency after treatment. We conclude that estrogen deficiency in the absence of aging and other factors leading to urinary symptoms is probably of minimal significance as a cause of lower urinary tract disability in the immediate menopausal period.

To evaluate reproductive outcome after laparoscopic local methotrexate (MTX) injection for tubal pregnancy.

Because little is known about repeat laparotomy in the early postoperative period following cesarean section—one of the least frequent short-term complications—the investigators reviewed 3380 women having cesarean deliveries in the years 1996 to 2006. They represented 18% of all parturients seen during this period. Eighteen women, 0.53% of those having cesarean section, underwent re-laparotomy during the same hospitalization.

It is not uncommon for the umbilical cord to become encircled around fetal parts—most often the neck. A single loop is present at this site in about 1 in 5 parturients. The encircled cord may be compressed at the time of delivery, compromising blood flow and the overall state of the fetus. This prospective randomized trial enrolled 60 women in whom encirclement was diagnosed by ultrasonography during active labor. In half the cases the cord was cut, while in 30 control cases it was left intact (but if loose was slipped over the head). There were no important demographic differences between women in the study and control groups.