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BACKGROUND: Treatment for patients with recurrent ovarian cancer has been mainly based on systemic therapy. The role of secondary cytoreductive surgery is unclear. METHODS: We randomly assigned patients with recurrent ovarian cancer who had a first relapse after a platinum-free interval (an interval during which no platinum-based chemotherapy was used) of 6 months or more to undergo secondary cytoreductive surgery and then receive platinum-based chemotherapy or to receive platinum-based chemotherapy alone. Patients were eligible if they presented with a positive Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynäkologische Onkologie (AGO) score, defined as an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance-status score of 0 (on a 5-point scale, with higher scores indicating greater disability), ascites of less than 500 ml, and complete resection at initial surgery. A positive AGO score is used to identify patients in whom a complete resection might be achieved. The primary end point was overall survival. We also assessed quality of life and prognostic factors for survival. RESULTS: A total of 407 patients underwent randomization: 206 were assigned to cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy, and 201 to chemotherapy alone. A complete resection was achieved in 75.5% of the patients in the surgery group who underwent the procedure. The median overall survival was 53.7 months in the surgery group and 46.0 months in the no-surgery group (hazard ratio for death, 0.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.59 to 0.96; P = 0.02). Patients with a complete resection had the most favorable outcome, with a median overall survival of 61.9 months. A benefit from surgery was seen in all analyses in subgroups according to prognostic factors. Quality-of-life measures through 1 year of follow-up did not differ between the two groups, and we observed no perioperative mortality within 30 days after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: In women with recurrent ovarian cancer, cytoreductive surgery followed by chemotherapy resulted in longer overall survival than chemotherapy alone. (Funded by the AGO Study Group and others; DESKTOP III ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01166737.).

To evaluate the efficacy of palivizumab in infants of 29 to 32 weeks of gestational age (GA) based on a risk score tool developed for Austria. Retrospective single-center cohort study including all preterm infants of 29 (+0) to 32 (+6) weeks of GA born between 2004 and 2012 at a tertiary care university hospital. Data on RSV-related hospitalizations over the first 2 years of life were analyzed and compared between those having received palivizumab and those without. The study population was comprised of 789 of 816 screened infants, of whom 262 (33%) had received palivizumab and 527 (67%) had not. Nine of 107 rehospitalizations (8.4%) in the palivizumab group compared to 32 of 156 rehospitalizations (20.5%) in the group without prophylaxis were tested RSV-positive (p = 0.004; OR 0.356 [CI 90% 0.184–0.689]). Proven and calculated RSV hospitalization rate was 3.1% (8/262) in the palivizumab group and 5.9% (31/527) in the group without (p = 0.042; OR 0.504 [CI 90% 0.259–0.981]). Increasing number of risk factors (up to three) increased the RSV hospitalization rate in infants with (6.1%) and without (9.0%) prophylaxis. RSV-associated hospitalizations did not differ between groups with regard to length of stay, severity of infection, age at hospitalization, demand of supplemental oxygen, need for mechanical ventilation, and admission rate to the ICU. A risk score tool developed for infants of 29 to 32 weeks of gestational age led to a reduction of RSV-associated hospitalizations without influencing the severity of disease.

Objectif : On estime que, chaque annee, 3 millions de jeunes filles subiraient une mutilation genitale feminine (MCIF) dans le monde. Les consequences psychologiques, identitaires et sexuelles ainsi que leur prise en charge n'ont ete decrites que depuis peu. Apres une analyse sociodemographique et culturelle des MGF, nous decrivons une technique de reparation chirurgicale du clitoris et analysons ses resultats anatomiques, psychologique, identitaires, et fonctionnels. Patientes et methodes : Il s'agit d'une etude retrospective concernant 30 femmes ayant beneficie d'une transposition clitoridienne au Centre Hospitalier de Rouen. Elles ont toutes ete recontactees afin d'evaluer leurs motivations pour cette chirurgie et d'etudier le resultat sur la feminite, l'anatomie, la psychologie et la fonctionnalite. Resultats : 26 femmes ont pu etre evaluees a long terme. Leur motivation principale etait dans 77% des cas la recherche d'une identite feminine. L'intervention a consiste a exposer et mobiliser le moignon clitoridien en sectionnant progressivement le ligament suspenseur du clitoris. Le moignon est ensuite libere de tout tissu sclereux. Cela permet de reconstituer un neogland puis de le positionner en situation physiologique. La duree mediane de l'intervention a ete de 35 minutes. Il y a eu 9 complications precoces mineures, sans aucune reprise chirurgicale. Nous avons compare les resultats preoperatoire et post-operatoire, ainsi que des sous-groupes predefinis. Les resultats sont significatifs dans leur ensemble. Les patientes signalent une amelioration anatomique dans 96% des cas, une amelioration identitaire dans 88% des cas, une amelioration psychologique dans 96% des cas, et une amelioration de la sexualite dans 88% des cas. Conclusion : La technique que nous decrivons est simple avec des complications minimes. Elle procure de bons resultats tant au niveau anatomique que fonctionnel et repond bien a la demande de ces femmes.

Background Although recent reports suggest that the use of probiotics may enhance intestinal functions in premature infants, the mechanisms are unclear, and open questions remain regarding the safety and its efficacy. Objective The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of probiotics on prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants in Nepal. Method We conducted a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study of 72 hospitalized preterm infants. They were randomly allocated to receive probiotics (lactobacillus rhamnosus 35) at a dose of 0.8 mg in infants1500 gms and 0.4 mg in infants1500 gms in 2 ml of expressed breast milk two times daily or the same amount of expressed breast milk as placebo (without probiotics). Result Seventy-two patients were studied. The probiotics group (n=37) and placebo group (n=35) showed similar clinical characteristics. The incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis was found less frequently in the probiotic group (6/37, 16.2%) compared to the control group (10/35, 28.6%), this difference was not significant (p=0.16). This is 12.35% reduction in the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis. Among the risk factors for necrotizing enterocolitis, pregnancy risk factors and perinatal risk factors were not significant. However neonatal risk factors were more frequent in the probiotic group (59.3%, n=32) than in the placebo group (40.7%, n=22), the difference was significant (p=0.02). Conclusion In the western world probiotics have been shown to be preventive in regard to necrotizing enterocolitis incidence. The present randomized trial showed a trend towards necrotizing enterocolitis minimal reduction in Nepal too. Further studies in a larger cohort are warranted to prove this effect for preterm infants.

We report a case of laparoscopic ovarian transposition and ovarian cryopreservation in a nulliparous 25-year-old woman with rectal cancer. The authors focus on the surgical technique and the importance of preserving ovarian function.

An accurate estimation of the pitch is essential for many speech processing applications, such as speech synthesis, speech coding, and speech enhancement. A widely used assumption in most common pitch estimation methods is that pitch is constant over a segment of short duration. This assumption does not apply in reality and leads to inaccurate pitch estimates. In this paper, we present a method for continuous pitch estimation that is able to track fast changes. In the presented framework, the pitch is modeled by a B-spline expansion and optimized in a multistage procedure for increased robustness. The performance of the continuous optimization procedure is compared to state-of-the-art pitch estimation methods and is evaluated both for artificial speech-like signals with known pitch, and for real speech signals. The results of the experiments show that our method leads to a higher accuracy of the estimate of the pitch than state-of-the-art methods

Every year 3 millions of young women had undergone female genital mutilation. The psychological, identical and sexual consequences, as well as the treatment were described only recently. After a sociodemographic and cultural reminder, we analyze the anatomical, psychological, identital, and functional results of the reconstructive surgery.We conducted a retrospective monocentric study. Thirty women were included in our series. All the patients operated according to the technique of Pierre Foldes were contacted again, to estimate their motivations for this surgery and study the results on femininity, anatomy, psychology and functionality of this intervention.Twenty-six women were able to be estimated in the long term. Their main motivation was in 77% of the cases the research for a feminine identity. We compared the pre- and postoperative results, as well as different predefined under groups. The results shown a significant improvement between the pre- and the postoperative estimation for each of the items. The patients indicate an improvement: anatomical in 96% of the cases, for identity in 88% of the cases, psychological in 96% of the cases, and for sexuality in 88% of the cases.This technique allows an improvement for anatomy and functionality but also for physical image, well-being and feminity.

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) occurs in neonates whose mothers have taken addictive drugs or were under substitution therapy during pregnancy. Incidence numbers of NAS are on the rise globally, even in Austria NAS is not rare anymore. The aim of our survey was to reveal the status quo of dealing with NAS in Austria.A questionnaire was sent to 20 neonatology departments all over Austria, items included questions on scoring, therapy, breast-feeding and follow-up procedures.The response rate was 95%, of which 94.7% had written guidelines concerning NAS. The median number of children being treated per year for NAS was 4. Finnegan scoring system is used in 100% of the responding departments. Morphine is being used most often, in opiate abuse (100%) as well as in multiple substance abuse (44.4%). The most frequent forms of morphine preparation are morphine and diluted tincture of opium. Frequency as well as dosage of medication vary broadly. 61.1% of the departments supported breast-feeding, regulations concerned participation in a substitution programme and general contraindications (HIV, HCV, HBV). Our results revealed that there is a big west-east gradient in patients being treated per year.NAS is not a rare entity anymore in Austria (up to 50 cases per year in Vienna). Our survey showed that most neonatology departments in Austria treat their patients following written guidelines. Although all of them base these guidelines on international recommendations there is no national consensus.

To evaluate rates of rehospitalisation due to respiratory illness in preterm infants of 29-36 weeks gestation without chronic lung disease.Retrospective single centre cohort study including infants from 1998 to 1999 with follow-up over two respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) seasons.Of 435 infants included 61 infants (14%) experienced 78 rehospitalisations. The overall RSV attack rate was 4.4% over two consecutive RSV seasons for infants below 6 months of age at onset of RSV season (7.7 and 1.1%, respectively, p=0.015), with significant differences between infants of 29-32 and 33-36 weeks gestational age (10.5% vs. 2.3%, p=0.008). None of the infants needed mechanical ventilation or admission to the intensive care unit. Infants with RSV infection were younger of age (mean 4.2 vs. 8.2 months; p=0.015), had longer stays at the hospital (11.5 vs. 7.0 days; p=0.006), and more severe courses of disease (score 3.0 vs. 1.8; p0.001). Additional risk factors for RSV infection were multiple gestation (OR 5.5; CI 95% 1.439-21.028) and congenital heart disease (OR 4.2; CI 95% 1.005-17.669).The total burden of respiratory disease and RSV infection in this population was low. A lower gestational age, multiple gestation, and congenital heart disease were associated with increased risk of RSV infection.

Cystic periventricular leukomalacia refers to necrosis of the white matter in a characteristic distribution dorsal and lateral to the external angles of the lateral ventricles in preterm infants. The pathogenesis includes either hypoxic-ischaemic lesions resulting from impaired perfusion at the vascular border zones or the role of intra-amniotic infection with toxic effects of endotoxins and cytokines on oligodendrocytes. This overview illustrates the pathogenic theories, risk factors, diagnosis by cranial ultrasonography, and the actual classification. Cystic periventricular leukomalacia is the most severe and frequent cause of cerebral palsy in preterm infants and is almost constantly associated with serious subsequent neuromotor impairments such as diplegia or tetraplegia. Dependant on site and extension of the cysts additionally visual impairments, seizure disorders, hearing impairments, mental retardation, and microcephaly are observed.

To evaluate complications and functional outcomes at 1 year and more of a modified Tension-free Vaginal Tape (TVT) technique from that of classic TVT.Retrospective study comparing the two techniques. For the modified TVT technique, a peri-urethrovesical hydrodissection was performed. An 18-gauge hollow needle, in which a thread was introduced, was used as an ancillary for the placement of the sling. The sling was secured to the thread and then positioned with it. Bladder filling objectified perforations. An absorbable suture around the sling allowed its descent if necessary.One hundred and eighteen procedures were performed (54 classic TVT and 64 modified TVT). For the standard TVT and the modified TVT, the vesico-urethral perforation rates were respectively 7.4% and 1.5% (P0.05), those of reoperations for pulling the sling downward 11.1% and 1.5% (P0.05). A 1 year and more, healing and satisfaction rates were respectively 83.3% and 79.2% for the standard TVT versus 88.2% and 90% for the modified TVT (NS). The dissatisfaction rate was lower for the modified TVT (P0.05).By modifying the placement of the classic TVT, it is possible to reduce its complications while maintaining its efficacy.

Presenting our experience concerning interstitial pregnancies (IP) surgical management and to evaluate our patients' subsequent long-term fertility.Twenty patients underwent surgical treatment of IP in our department over 15 years. In this retrospective study, we present symptoms that led to diagnosis, treatments, fertility and obstetrical outcome.Mean gestational age at diagnosis was 8SA, with a median BHCG rate of 7411 IU/L, and a patient mean age of 30 years. Ninety percent of patients had at least one risk factor for ectopic pregnancy. Pain or bleeding were the most common symptoms at admission, 4 patients were admitted in an hypovolemic shock status. Location of the interstitial ectopic pregnancy was discovered during surgery in 45 % of cases. Six patients had a large hemoperitoneum bigger than 1L, 5 patients had an IP of uterine stump after salpingectomy for a previous ectopic pregnancy. The most used surgical technique was in 60 % of cases the excision by Endo GIA stapling(®) with salpingectomy. Regarding fertility, 12 patients wished pregnancy in the aftermath of the intervention, 10 had at least one pregnancy, among them there is an ectopic contralateral ampullary pregnancy, and a contralateral recurrence of interstitial pregnancy. Four patients were delivered by cesarean section and 4 patients were delivered vaginally, some several times. No uterine rupture occured.Interstitial pregnancy is a rare ectopic pregnancy. Its diagnosis is difficult and may involve maternal life-threatening and fertility. In subsequent pregnancies, the clinician has to be careful concerning the risks of interstitial pregnancy recurrence and uterine rupture.

Background The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the characteristics of borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) diagnosed during pregnancy. Patients and methods We conducted a retrospective multicenter study of 40 patients with BOTs diagnosed during pregnancy between 1997 and 2009 at five tertiary universitary departments of Gynecology and Obstetrics and one French cancer center. The medical records were reviewed to determine surgical procedure, histology, restaging surgery and recurrence. Results Mean patient age was 30.2 ± 5.4 years. Most BOTs were diagnosed during the first trimester of pregnancy (62%). Salpingo-oophorectomy (N = 24) was more frequently performed than cystectomy (N = 11) during pregnancy (P = 0.01). Only two patients had an initial complete staging. BOTs were mucinous, serous and mixed in 48%, 42% and 10% of patients, respectively. Twenty-one percent of mucinous BOTs exhibited intraepithelial carcinoma or microinvasion. Forty-seven percent of serous BOTs exhibited micropapillary features, noninvasive implants or microinvasion. Restaging surgery performed in 52% patients resulted in upstaging in 24% of cases. Recurrence rate in patients with serous BOT with micropapillary features or peritoneal implants was 7.5%. Conclusions BOTs diagnosed during pregnancy exhibit a high incidence of aggressive features and are rarely completely staged initially. Given this setting, up-front salpingo-oophorectomy should be considered and restaging planned.

The aim of this study was to describe our experience with cervico-isthmic cerclage by abdominal approach and to assess this efficacy.A retrospective analysis of 13 transabdominal cerclages (eight by laparotomy and five by laparoscopy), seven cases performed before pregnancy and six cases between 12 and 14 weeks of gestation, between 2004 and 2009. We analyzed the previous obstetric accidents, the etiology of cervical incompetence and the patient outcome after cerclage.Median age of the patients was 35 years [27-42 years]. Patients had an average of pregnancy 4,2 [1-7], with 3,3 previous fetal losses or preterm delivery. Eighty percent had a prior failed transvaginal cerclage. The mean operative time of laparotomic cerclage was 100 minutes and 94 minutes by laparoscopy, with a mean hospitalization time respectively of seven and 2,5 days. No operative complication was reported. Eleven women were pregnant after cervico-isthmic cerclage: nine deliveries by caesarean section at term, and two preterm births between 34 and 37 weeks of gestation. Two patients are looking for being pregnant and one of those is currently doing a procedure of IVF.Transabdominal cervico-isthmic cerclage is an alternative technique for the management of cervical incompetence after failed vaginal cerclage. Our data indicated that the cervico-isthmic cerclage placed laparoscopically compares favorably with the laparotomy approach in regard to operative technique and risk of complications.

To determine and compare the fertility and pregnancy outcomes following embolisation with or without uterine-sparing surgery for postpartum haemorrhage, and to attempt to identify specific risk factors associated with an increased likelihood of intrauterine synechia.Retrospective study.University-affiliated tertiary referral centre.All consecutive women who had an embolisation with or without uterine-sparing surgery (vessel ligation and/or uterine compression) for postpartum haemorrhage between 1994 and 2007 were included.Data were retrieved from medical files and telephone interviews.Fertility and pregnancy outcomes, synechia.Data were available for 68 of the 85 women (80%) included in the study. Among the 15 women who complained of amenorrhoea or decreased flow of menstruation, synechia was found in all those who decided to undergo an ambulatory hysteroscopy (n = 8). Seventeen women had 26 pregnancies with 19 term deliveries, one ectopic pregnancy, two abortions and four miscarriages. The clinical courses of the 19 complete gestations were uneventful, but postpartum haemorrhage recurred in six women (31.6%) (caused by placenta accreta in two women). Fertility and pregnancy outcomes did not differ between women who had undergone embolisation versus both embolisation and a uterine-sparing surgical procedure. The occurrence of synechia was significantly associated with a higher rate of placenta accreta/percreta (P0.001) and postpartum fever above 38.5 degrees C (P = 0.04).Embolisation, whether or not associated with a uterine-sparing surgical procedure, for postpartum haemorrhage does not appear to compromise a woman's subsequent fertility and obstetric outcome. Nevertheless, these women should be considered at high risk for postpartum haemorrhage during future deliveries.

Post-partum haemorrhage remains a major cause of maternal mortality. Surgical management may be needed in patients with hemodynamic instability. Arterial embolization may be needed in case of persisting haemorrhage despite initial surgical management. We report a case of buttock necrosis occurring after pelvic embolization to control refractory post-partum haemorrhage and failed subtotal hysterectomy with bilateral internal iliac arteries ligation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of buttock necrosis complicating a severe post-partum haemorrhage reported in the literature.

Recent developments in the technology industry and academia show that users are increasingly becoming the focus in technology development. Not only new applications capable of performing certain tasks are brought to potential users, but also technical innovations that are built around people in order to best fit their needs. Beyond standard web and desktop applications, an ideal use of this principle would be in a digital representation of a real-world city which allows city inhabitants to access, add, and modify information and thus use the city in a more informed way. The term WikiCity represents this concept. The development of a WikiCity requires answers to questions such as: how can a city be sensed, modeled, and actuated in realtime? How can inhabitants interact with information in the city? The paper presents this idea through a use-case scenario in which users can inform themselves about certain events in the city. They can retrieve real-time information related to the events such as nearby happenings, availability of public transportation, and traffic conditions, or create a personalized event route. Users can also feed information back into the WikiCity system before, during, and after attending events. This requires new developments in modeling of human behavior, flexible back-end infrastructures, and semantic-web. The architecture of such system including the relations between data sources and user services, and data flow procedures are explained in the paper. A first implementation of the WikiCity concept was presented at the White Night event in Rome, Italy on September 8, 2007.

Between January 1984 and March 1989 twenty-seven low birth weight infants (mean birth weight 1351 gm, mean gestational age 30 weeks) required shunts after development of a posthaemorrhagic hydrocephalus. Revision of the shunt occurred in 78% of the patients with a range of 1 to 11 revisions. Obstruction of the ventricular catheter was the main cause of mechanical complications that occurred in 75%. Preterm infants weighing less than 1000 gm revealed an enormous infection rate of 71%. Initial shunt placement in the first 8 weeks of life was more likely to need shunt revision (94%) than that placed at older age (44%). There was no difference between the type of shunt and percentage of shunt revision, but the Heyer-Schulte system in comparison with the Codman Uni shunt was more likely to have mechanical complications. Infants with Grade IV haemorrhage required the same percentage of revisions as those with Grade III haemorrhage. There was no association between preoperative therapy and the need for shunt revision. A great amount of erythrocytes and very low glucose levels in the preoperative CSF were more likely to predict shunt revision than predicted by the CSF protein.

Pregnancy in a rudimentary uterine horn is a rare event which can be revealed by uterine rupture. Following the fetal extraction, some authors recommend the ablation of the rudimentary horn, in order to limit the risk of uterine rupture in case of subsequent pregnancy in the same horn. We report the obstetrical outcome of a patient with a history of rudimentary uterine horn rupture the treatment of which was conservative.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anatomical and functional medium-term efficacy and possible complications of vaginal prosthetic surgery with transobturator and infracoccygeal support to treat genital urinary prolapse.A prospective and monocentre study was conducted, from February 2002 till February 2005. All the patients with or without stress urinary incontinence (SUI), who presented either a recurrent prolapse, either a voluminous genital prolapse of stage 3 or 4 notably a dominant cystocele, either a post-hysterectomy vaginal vault prolapse or even a prolapse of lesser importance but in a context of obesity, were operated according to the transobturator infracoccygeal sling technique.One hundred and three patients with a mean age of 65+/-11 years (41-84) were enrolled, with once on two SUI. Thirty percent of the patients had recurrent prolapse and 44% post-hysterectomy vaginal vault prolapse. With a mean follow-up of 32+/-13 months (12-53), the success rate of the technique was estimated to be 97% anatomically (three failures) and 89% in terms of urinary symptoms (69% of patients were cured, 20% were improved and 11% failed). Quality of life of the patients was sharply improved and their degree of satisfaction was high. Sexuality of the population which was limited here (44% of active patients) did not seem very modified by surgery. Complications were represented by a case of urinary retention observed with a secondarily pelvic haematoma, a low rectal injury without consequence, three blood transfusions. Three patients developed de novo overactive bladder. The prostheses exposure rate was 16%, once requiring on two one re-intervention. Prostheses were perceived during the postoperative evaluation by the examiner for 43% of the patients. But examination was painful only in 9,7% of the cases.Combined treatment of vaginal prolapse and associated urinary incontinence is possible by the use of a single transvaginal prosthesis. The medium-term anatomical and functional results are very good. The results on continence are good and a subsequent specific procedure is always possible in the case of failure or insufficient improvement. The prostheses exposure rate is similar to that observed with synthetic transvaginal prostheses. The exact tolerance of vaginal prosthetic repair of the prolapse of young women being this day an unknown, we remain careful on the extension of the indications of this technique in this category of population.

We report a case of laparoscopic ovarian transposition and ovarian cryopreservation in a nulliparous 25-year-old woman with rectal cancer. The authors focus on the surgical technique and the importance of preserving ovarian function.

The aim of this study is the description and anatomical and functional outcome assessment of a novel surgical procedure, based on rectovaginal fascia defect repair with polypropylene mesh using the tension-free transobturator and infracoccygeal route based on the integral theory developed by Petros.Prospective, consecutive and single centre study performed between February 2003 and April 2005. Inclusion criteria were symptomatic posthysterectomy stage three to four regarding posterior compartment prolapse according to the Baden and Walker classification, with no anterior and/or apical prolapse. Principles and description of this new surgical procedure are described.Fourteen patients, with a mean age of 63.5 years and a mean body mass index of 29.2, were included in the study. All the patients had previous hysterectomy, 64.3% reported at least one previous surgery for pelvic organ prolapse, 44.5% reported at least one reoperation. All patients complained of rectocele and/or enterocele stage three. No perioperative or postoperative complication occurred. With a median follow-up of 13 months (range 3-32.9), no recurrence and no anterior or apical compartment prolapse occurred. No vaginal erosion an infection of the mesh was observed. The mean level of subjective satisfaction was 9.23 on a visual analogical scale (0-very disappointed, 10-very satisfied).This new surgical procedure is effective and safe for the repair of posthysterectomy large posterior compartment prolapse. A long-term follow-up is required to confirm these promising results.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and the potential complications in the short and medium terms of the transobturator and infracoccygeal hammock, a surgical technique suggested to treat in one sole operating time, by vaginal way, cystocele and stress urinary incontinence.From February 2002 till August 2004, 45 patients aged 66+/-11 years on average, presenting a stage 3 or stage 4 cystocele associated with stress urinary incontinence (proven for 40 of them and masked by the prolapse itself for the other five) benefited from this new surgical procedure.With a mean follow-up of 31+/-9 months, the success rate of the technique is estimated at 98% on the anatomical aspect (one single failure) and at 91% on the urinary aspect (73% of the patients were cured, 18% improved and 9% in failure). No patient presented urinary retention except one with an infected pelvic hematoma requiring its evacuation and the partial ablation of the prosthesis. Postvoid residual volume at discharge was 83 ml. Two patients developed de novo bladder overactivity. Unfortunately we had to regret nearly 18% of exposed prosthesis. This result should be improved by the exclusive use of polypropylene monofilament prosthesis with broad meshes, weak weights and by reduced vaginal scars.Total treatment by monoprosthesis of cystoceles with associated stress urinary incontinence constitutes an interesting prospect for some high-risk genital urinary prolapses for anatomical repetition or post-operative dysvoiding. Patients with recurrent failures of prolapse surgical cure, those with a large cystocele or by extension with a complete prolapse of the three floors, and even those with a post-hysterectomy prolapse have perhaps found a durable solution with their problem.

To prospectively evaluate the potential role of 3DUS of the neonatal brain.60 patients from the NICU (gestational age: 25-42 weeks, mean: 31.6 weeks, age: 0 to 90 days, median: 10 days) underwent 2D- and 3D-neurosonography. Both studies were evaluated independently by two observers for comparison. Inter- and intraobserver variability were calculated.All 3DUS were of diagnostic quality and could be performed without sedation. 3DUS missed no essential diagnosis as established by conventional ultrasound (2DUS). Diagnosis included normal or physiologically immature neonatal brains (n = 21), plexus cysts (n = 4), plexus bleedings (n = 10), intraventricular haemorrhages grade I-III (n = 8), periventricular pathology such as periventricular echodensities (n = 4) and periventricular haemorrhages or cerebral infarctions (n = 6), hydrocephalus (n = 4), widened subdural spaces (n = 2) and one suprasellar midline tumour. 3DUS imaging time at the patient (4.8 +/- 2.6 min) was significantly shorter than for 2DUS (9.1 +/- 6.1 min). The additional axial plane provided by 3DUS improved the sonographic potential for differential diagnosis. 3DUS allowed an improved standardisation and documentation potentially valuable for follow-up. No statistically significant differences in intra- and interobserver variability were noted compared to 2DUS. Restrictions of 3DUS were the lack of directional Doppler data and the lower resolution particularly of the purely reconstructed plane.Bedside neonatal 3D-neurosonography at the NICU is feasible with diagnostic quality without sedation. 3DUS improves comparison during follow-up, as well as standardisation and documentation, and can be considered a useful adjunct in neonatal 2D-neurosonography.

Surgical management of an intractable postpartum haemorrhage after failure of medical and obstetric measures is not limited to the emergency peripartum hysterectomy. Uterine atony and abnormal placental insertions are the major causes of primary postpartum haemorrhages. Involving mostly young women, having few or no child, before with a healthy uterus, in first intention conservative option is recommended. The simplest methods must be known and be applied. It will be essentially progressive uterine arteries' ligation, which can be adapted to the majority of situations. Internal iliac arteries' ligation is a little less effective and technically more difficult to carry out. It remains interesting in obstetrical traumatic hurts, which do not concern the uterus. New and easier surgical methods, such as uterine compression or hemostatic suturing techniques have been described for which we lack experience. The quality of the result depends of the length of intervention and the cause of the bleeding. Nevertheless the main cause of failure with conservative treatments is placenta accreta. In case of failure of a conservative treatment, it would be dangerous to multiply techniques. Emergency peripartum hysterectomy then should remain the choice procedure.

Update of knowledge on the various methods of management of intractable postpartum haemorrhage.PubMed, MEDLINE were the electronic sources, in English and French languages, used for data retrieval. Uterine atony and abnormal placental insertions (placenta praevia or accreta) are the major causes of primary postpartum haemorrhages. To preserve fertility, we dispose of angiographic selective embolization or surgical vascular ligations. Embolization is a non-invasive method practicable by simple catheterization under local anesthesia. Vascular ligations of the uterine vessels or internal iliac arteries require mostly laparotomy. New and easier surgical methods, such as uterine compression or hemostatic suturing techniques have been described for which we lack experience.For uterine atony, the success rate of arterial embolization and uterine artery ligations is close to 100%. Ligation of internal iliac arteries is a little less effective and technically more difficult to carry out. It remains interesting in obstetrical traumatic hurts, which do not concern the uterus. If bleeding from the lower segment occurs during caesarean section, low uterine artery ligatures are necessary. These methods are all the more effective than they are prematurely implemented before the rise of major coagulopathy. In this case, uterine devascularization has also to be applied to ovarian vessels. With placenta accreta, accreta portion of the placenta can be left in place and arterial embolization or vascular ligations can be done. Nevertheless the main cause of failure with conservative treatments is placenta accreta.The simplest and the least morbid methods must be retained. After vaginal birth, arterial embolization can be done, if there is no maternal haemodynamic disorder nor interventional vascular radiology unit nearby. During caesarean section, progressive uterine artery ligation can be done adapted to the bleeding cause. In case of failure of a conservative treatment, it would be dangerous to multiply techniques. Emergency peripartum then should remain the choice procedure.

Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) is used as a vasodilator in pulmonary hypertension (PH) of the newborn infant.Retrospective analysis of patients, who were treated at our department with iNO in the period from 1994-2001. Response was defined as an increase of the paO (2)/FiO (2) Ratioor = 20 % and/or a decrease of the oxygenation index (OI)/= 20 % after 2 h (early response), and consecutively after 24 h (late response). The patients were divided into a) primary persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newbom (PPHN), or b) pulmonary hypertension secondary to meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), sepsis or congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).Between 1994 and 2001 we treated 47 patients with iNO at our neonatal intensive care unit. We included 16 (35 %) preterm infants (GA 34,5 [25 - 37] weeks, GG 2061 [680 - 3410] g) (Median/Range) and 31 (65 %) newbom (GA 40 [38 - 42] weeks, GG 3510 [2550 - 4560] g). 18 (38 %) patients suffered from primary PPHN, 29 (62 %) from secondary PPHN (14 MAS [30 %], 8 sepsis [17 %], 4 CDH [8 %]). 8 (50 %) preterm and 20 (64 %) term infants showed a positive iNO response after 2 h, again 8 (50 %) preterm and 20 (64%) term infants showed a positive iNO response after 24 h. There was neither a significant difference between term and preterm infants at 2 h, nor at 24 h. Between 2 h and 24 h 10 patients changed in their response to iNO. 5 (18 %) patients with early response showed a significant degradation after 24 h, whereas 5 (26 %) of the patients without early response showed a significant improvement of the oxygenation alter 24 h. Alltogether 13 (72 %) patients with PPHN, 8 (57 %) with MAS, 2 (50 %) with CDH, 4 (50 %) with sepsis showed a positive iNO response after 24 h. In regard to the oxygenation parameters at start of iNO-therapy, the patients with early response did not differ from the patient without response (median OI: 20,0 versus 21,8, median paO (2)/FiO (2) Ratio: 59,3 versus 55,0 mmHg at the start of the iNO therapy).In regard to iNO response, there was no significant difference between term and preterm infants. Due to the changing response, a positive iNO-response after 2 h had no predictive value for the further prognosis of the oxygenation situation under iNO therapy.

A 27-year-old woman underwent surgery for an abdominal wall mass later confirmed to be a relapse of Stage I ovarian mucinous adenocarcinoma. The authors stress that caution should be observed during laparotomy to remove a malignant neoplasm in order to avoid parietal dissemination.

The case of a 16-year-old woman with typical clinical features of acute vulval ulcer, Lipschutz's disease, is reported. The main differential diagnoses are discussed. Isolated vulval ulcer can reveal a recurrent aphthous ulcer, Behçet's disease or Crohn's disease. In contrast, acute vulval ulcer spontaneously heals with no recurrence, that must be taken into account for diagnosis.

Cystic periventricular leukomalacia refers to necrosis of the white matter in a characteristic distribution dorsal and lateral to the external angles of the lateral ventricles in preterm infants. The pathogenesis includes either hypoxic-ischaemic lesions resulting from impaired perfusion at the vascular border zones or the role of intra-amniotic infection with toxic effects of endotoxins and cytokines on oligodendrocytes. This overview illustrates the pathogenic theories, risk factors, diagnosis by cranial ultrasonography, and the actual classification. Cystic periventricular leukomalacia is the most severe and frequent cause of cerebral palsy in preterm infants and is almost constantly associated with serious subsequent neuromotor impairments such as diplegia or tetraplegia. Dependant on site and extension of the cysts additionally visual impairments, seizure disorders, hearing impairments, mental retardation, and microcephaly are observed.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes seasonal epidemics between December and March (April) and remains the main agent that causes severe lower respiratory tract infections in young infants. Children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia up to 24 months of age and preterm infants with a gestational age of 32 weeks and below, who are less than six months of age, are at highest risk for severe RSV infection. RSV-IGIV has been demonstrated to reduce significantly RSV associated hospitalizations, RSV associated hospital days and the incidence of severe RSV lower respiratory tract infections. Monthly infusions during RSV season were safe and well tolerated. Adverse events related to the hyperimmune globulin infusion were generally mild (3%) including fluid overload, decreased oxygen saturation and fever. Palivizumab, an intramuscularly administered humanized monoclonal antibody (RSV-glycoprotein-F antibody), will be preferable for the future because of ease of administration and comparable reduction in the risk of hospitalization. RSV-IGIV and palivizumab are both cost expansive and prophylaxis should be limited to high-risk infants.

Our purpose was to measure sperm creatine phosphokinase (CK) activity, which reflects cytoplasmic retention in immature spermatozoa, in normospermic and oligozospermic Hungarian men.A study of 109 randomly selected men in a university-based andrology laboratory was done.CK activity differed between normospermic and oligozospermic men (0.21 +/- 0.02 vs. 1.19 +/- 0.15 CK IU/10(8) sperm; n = 56 and n = 53; mean +/- standard error of the mean, respectively). There was an inverse correlation between sperm concentration and CK activity (r = -0.70; n = 109). However, 28% of men in the range with less than 10 million sperm/ml had normal sperm CK activity (below the mean + 2 standard deviations of the group with greater than 30 x 10(6) sperm/ml), whereas 36% of men in the group with 20-30 million sperm/ml and 5% in the group with greater than 30 million sperm/ml had elevated CK activities, indicating that the incidence of mature and immature spermatozoa in specimens is independent from the sperm concentrations.The improved facility of sperm CK activity measurements, compared with sperm concentrations, in the assessment of sperm maturity was confirmed in a Hungarian population. The CK measurements aid the selection of the most efficient treatment for couples with male-factor or unexplained infertility, particularly when considering the options of intrauterine insemination, varicocelectomy followed by a waiting period, or ovulation workup/induction in wives of men who are oligozospermic but may have fertile sperm.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease that develops in preterm infants treated with oxygen and positive-pressure ventilation for respiratory distress syndrome. Despite the introduction of new treatment modalities (surfactant therapy, high-frequency oscillation) and improvements in the outcome of critically ill preterm infants, BPD has become an extremely important complication of neonatal intensive care and the most common form of chronic lung disease in infants. Specific pathogenesis, treatment modalities, prognosis, and multidisciplinary approaches to the prevention of BPD are described in detail. Extrinsic allergic alveolitis ("hypersensitivity pneumonitis") is a rare pulmonary disease in childhood due to inhaled organic dust, containing fungal antigens, thermophilic actinomycetes, or avian proteins. Diagnosis is often difficult, but it should be considered in every child with persistent and otherwise unexplained respiratory symptoms.

The spectrum of chronic interstitial lung disease in children includes a large and heterogeneous group of rare disorders. This paper reviews these disorders by focussing on basic pathophysiological mechanisms, and by discussing the difficulties in the classification of these diseases. Diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are also listed. The overall prognosis is dubious and mortality remains high.

Between July 1993 and December 1994 five term infants of mothers with Graves' disease were hospitalised at the Frühgeburtenstation of the Univ.-Frauenklinik Graz. Four Mothers had elevated TSH-receptor-antibody (TRAb)--levels during pregnancy, one had normalised TRAb-titers. In one case hyperthyroidism was first diagnosed during pregnancy. Three newborns had elevated TRAb-titers; in one of them thyrotoxicosis was diagnosed clinically and biochemically at the second day of life, one newborn had mild hyperthyroidism with tachycardia at the end of the first week of life and one newborn was asymptomatic by immediately initiated therapy. The two other newborns had normal thyroid hormone and antibody levels and no symptoms or signs of hyperthyroidism. The cases are reported and discussed in detail and our overall approach to diagnosis and treatment of neonatal hyperthyroidism in case of maternal Graves' disease will be given.

Prostaglandins (PGs) are of primary importance in the initiation and maintenance of labor in women. A major intrauterine source of prostaglandins is the amnion, which synthesizes increased amounts of PGE2 at term labor. Because PG endoperoxide-H synthase (PGHS) catalyzes the rate-limiting step of PG synthesis from arachidonic acid, we investigated the changes in amniotic PGHS specific activity during gestation and at term and preterm labor. Also, we determined the level of immunoreactive PGHS protein in the amnion to evaluate the mechanisms by which PGHS activity may be regulated. PGHS specific activity, measured at the amount of PGE2 produced by amnion microsomes under optimal conditions, was 18.2 +/- 3.7 pg PGE2/micrograms protein.min (mean +/- SE; n = 19) at term (37-42 weeks gestation) before the spontaneous onset of labor. PGHS specific activity was significantly higher after spontaneous term labor (38.9 +/- 6.0 pg PGE2/micrograms protein.min; n = 19; P < 0.05). Amnion samples from preterm (< 36 weeks gestation) nonlaboring patients contained low levels of PGHS specific activity (5.9 +/- 1.8 pg PGE2/micrograms protein.min; n = 9), which increased significantly with spontaneous preterm labor (28.3 +/- 6.8 pg PGE2/micrograms protein.min; n = 10; P < 0.05). Longitudinal analysis of the data showed that PGHS specific activity was low in the first and second trimesters of gestation, but increased dramatically before labor onset at term. We detected PGHS protein in all microsomal samples, with an antiovine PGHS antibody recognizing both PGHS-1 and -2 isoforms of the enzyme. However, there was no correlation between PGHS specific activity and the amount of immunoreactive PGHS protein. Using an antibody specific for PGHS-2, we detected immunoreactive protein in only 9 of the 25 tissues examined and found no correlation between PGHS specific activity and the amount of PGHS-2 protein. These results suggest that 1) PGHS specific activity in the amnion increases sharply before the onset of labor at term; 2) further increases in specific activity occur during term and preterm labor; and 3) the specific activity of PGHS in the amnion is not related directly to the amount of immunoreactive enzyme protein.