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Doppler velocimetry is a non-invasive method to monitor pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia. We aimed to assess the predictive value of adverse perinatal or maternal outcome of three ratios, i.e. middle cerebral to umbilical arteries pulsatility indices (PI), middle cerebral to uterine arteries PI and uterine to umbilical arteries PI, compared with that of uterine and umbilical arteries PI in pre-eclamptic patients. This is a cohort study on 168 singleton pregnancies between January 2010 and June 2013. Doppler velocimetry was performed at the diagnosis of pre-eclampsia. Logistic regression analysis was performed and receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curves were calculated to determine the predictive ability of each Doppler index. Multivariate analysis was run to adjust results for confounding parameters. Seventy-eight cases were complicated by adverse perinatal outcome, 79 by maternal one, 49 by both. Considering perinatal outcome, area under ROC curve was 0.730 for uterine arteries PI, 0.691 for umbilical artery PI and 0.834 for middle cerebral to uterine arteries PI ratio, while for maternal one 0.720 for uterine arteries PI, 0.686 for umbilical artery PI and 0.817 for middle cerebral to uterine arteries PI ratio. At multivariate analysis, only middle cerebral to uterine arteries PI ratio remain statistically significant for both outcomes (p = 0.001). The cited ratio appeared more accurate than all other considered indices in predicting perinatal and maternal outcomes in patients affected by pre-eclampsia.

Background: We report the results of 2-year regular use of the hemorrhoidal laser procedure (HeLP) in 97 patients with symptomatic second- to third-grade hemorrhoids with minimal or moderate internal mucosal prolapse., Methods: Data on duration of the procedure, perioperative complications, postoperative pain, downgrading of hemorrhoids, resolution or persistency, and recurrence of hemorrhoidal disease (HD) were prospectively collected., Results: No significant intraoperative complications occurred. The median follow-up was 15 months. Postoperative pain was null in most patients. There were no cases of rectal tenesmus or alteration of defecation habits. Symptoms and HD downgrading reached a "plateau" at 3 to 6 months after the HeLP. At this evaluation, frequency of bleeding, pain, itching, and hemorrhoidal acute syndrome decreased by 76% to 79%. HD grade showed a significant reduction. HD recurrence rate was 5% at 2 years., Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that the HeLP is a safe, effective, and painless technique for the treatment of symptomatic second- to third-grade hemorrhoids with minimal or moderate mucosal prolapse, ideally suitable as ambulatory treatment., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a leading cause of maternal and foetal mortality and morbidity. Chronic Hypertension (CH) and a previous PE are well known risk factors for PE. If the prevalence of PE in nulliparous is about 2%, it raise up to 7-10% in women with CH or a previous PE. However, the role of these risk factors when PE occurs is still under discussion, Objectives: To detect if maternal history of previous PE and/or Chronic Hypertension (CH) is associated with a worse clinical outcome in women affected by PE., Methods: Cohort study on 100 consecutive singleton pregnancies complicated by PE referred to our Department from January 2010 to December 2011. PE and CH were defined according to ISSHP criteria. Small for Gestational Age (SGA) was defined as Birth Weight under the 5th percentile per Gestational Age. Patients were divided into two groups depending on positive (Group A, n=25) or negative (Group B, n=75) history for PE and/or Chronic Hypertension (CH). Patients assessed to group A were under prophylactic therapy with ASA 100mg oid. Clinical and perinatal outcomes were reviewed. Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (APO) was defined as Apgar score less than seven at five minutes, pH<7.20; birth weight<5th percentile (SGA), stillbirth or neonatal death., Results: Groups were comparable for Maternal Age (Group A: 34years median, IQR 30-36yy; Group B: 34years, IQD 28-36yy ) and BMI (Group A: 23.7Kg/mq median, IQR 20.8-27.1Kg/mq; Group B: 22.4Kg/mq median IQR 20.3-26.0Kg/mq). One case of stillbirth (Group A) and four cases of neonatal death were observed, 1/25 in Group A (4%) and 3/75 (4%) in Group B. No differences were found in Gestational Age (GA) at diagnosis of PE (Group A: 32+2w median, IQR 28+0-35+4w; Group B: 33+2w median, IQR 30+0-36+1w); GA at delivery (Group A: 34+1w median, IQR 31+5-36+5w; Group B: 34+2w median, IQR 32+0-36+3w) Birth Weight percentile (Group A: 6th percentile median, IQR 2-21th percentile; Group B: 5th percentile median, IQR 1-15th percentile), prevalence of Small for Gestational Age (14/25 and 42/75, for Group A and B respectively), prevalence of APO (13/25 and 44/75, for Group A and B respectively)., Conclusion: Our data suggest that a positive history for PE and/or CH does not influence clinical outcome in women affected by PE. This result could be explained by the administration of prophylactic ASA 100mg oid in this group of patients., (Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Introduction: Uterine artery (UtA) Pulsatility index assessed in the second trimester is known to be the best predictor of Pre-eclampsia (PE) in women with risk factors. The role of this index when PE occurs seems to be related with clinical outcome., Objectives: To detect if there does exist a correlation between mean UtA PI, assessed at diagnosis of PE, and: (A) Gestational Age (GA) at delivery; (B) birth weight (BW) percentile. To detect the predictive value of mean UtA PI and the development of adverse pregnancy outcome (APO)., Methods: Cohort study on 100 consecutive singleton pregnancies complicated with pre-eclampsia referred to our Department from January 2010 and December 2011. Doppler evaluations were performed from diagnosis to delivery. Mean UtA PI obtained at time of diagnosis of PE were analysed. PE was defined according to ISSHP criteria. Clinical and perinatal outcomes were reviewed. APO was defined as Apgar score less than 7 at five minutes, pH <7.20; birth weight <5th percentile (SGA), stillbirth or neonatal death. Receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve was used to determine the predictive ability for subsequent development of APO., Results: Maternal characteristics and main pregnancy outcomes are shown in Table 1. Fifty-six pregnancies developed APO. One case of stillbirth and four cases of neonatal death were observed. SGA occurred in 56/100 neonates; 52/95 (55%) live births were admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Table 1. Mean UtA PI at diagnosis of PE was 1.40 (SD±0.28) in women that developed APO and 1.10 (SD±0.41) in women that did not develop APO (p=0.02). Pearson's Correlation coefficient for mean UtA PI and GA at Delivery was -0.533 (p=0.002); while for mean UtA PI and BW percentile was -0.466 (p=0.007). The prediction of subsequent development of APO, expressed as the area under ROC curve, was 61.6 (95% CI 0.44-0.79) for UtA PI at Diagnosis of PE., Conclusion: Our data confirm that mean UtA PI, assessed at diagnosis of PE, represent a good independent predictor for GA at delivery end BW percentile. However the predictive value for development of APO seems to be poor., (Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Introduction: Chronic hypertension (CH) is a common disorder occurring in approximately 1-5% of pregnant women. Many studies emphasize that the development of superimposed preeclampsia (PE) is associated with high rates of adverse pregnancy outcome. Accurate prediction of women at risk for PE is crucial to judicious allocation of monitoring resources and use of preventive treatment, in order to improve maternal and neonatal outcome. Recent systematic review and meta-analysis showed that mean arterial pressure (MAP) is a better predictor for pre-eclampsia than systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, Objectives: To detect the value of MAP in the first and second trimesters to predict PE in women with CH. To determine if MAP, assessed in the second trimester, can increase the predictive value for PE of II trimester UtA PI., Methods: Cohort study on 100 consecutive singleton pregnancies complicated with CH referred to our Department from January 2008 to June 2011. Blood pressure was measured by a mercury sphygmomanometer at 11-14+6w and 23+0-25+6w, MAP was calculated. Doppler-velocimetry was performed at 23+0-25+6w, mean UtA PI was calculated. PE and CH were defined according to ISSHP criteria. Clinical and perinatal outcomes were reviewed. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the predictive ability of I and II trimesters MAP and II trimester mean UtA PI for subsequent development of PE. Logistic regression analysis was run to assess the additional value of II trimester MAP to II trimester UtA PI., Results: Mean maternal age was 36 years (SD ±5yy); mean Body mass Index was 24Kg/mq (SD ±5Kg/mq); GA at I Trimester evaluation was 11+4w (SD ±1+5w); I trimester MAP was 100.46mmHg (mean, SD ±9.94mmHg); GA at Doppler and II trimester MAP was 24+4w (SD ±4dd); II trimester MAP 97.53mmHg (mean, SD ±10.27mmHg). Nineteen cases of PE were observed. Seventy patients were under prophylactic ASA 100mg oid. Fifty-two patients were under anti-hypertensive therapy from the first trimester. No differences in prevalence of PE were observed between patients in and out prophylactic treatment, as well as no differences in prevalence of PE were observed between patients under anti-hypertensive treatment or not. The prediction of subsequent development of PE, expressed as the area under ROC curve, was 0.469 (95% CI 0.34-0.59) for I trimester MAP; 0.659 (95% CI 0.55-0.76) for II trimester MAP; 0.748 (95% CI 0.65-0.83) for II trimester mean UtA PI; GA at delivery was 37+4w(mean, SD ±3+2w); mean BW was 2958g (SD ±735g); BW percentile was 38 (mean SD ±29 percentiles); mean BW z-Score was -0.63 (SD ±1.6). Logistic regression analysis showed that MAP does not increase the predictive ability of II trimester UtA PI in women with CH., Conclusion: In our findings, MAP seems not to be a good predictor for subsequent development of PE in women with CH, moreover, it seems to be not useful to increase the predictive value for PE of II trimester UtA PI. II trimester UtA PI has been confirmed to be the best predictor for subsequent development of PE., (Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Introduction: Recently Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) to uterine artery (UtA) Pulsatility Index (PI) ratio and MCA to Umblical Artery (UA) PI ratio have been described to be good predictors of neonatal outcome in pre-eclamptic patients in the third trimester and have been proposed to identify fetuses at risk of morbidity and mortality., Objectives: To investigate the value of doppler indexes such as MCA PI, UA PI; MCA to UtA PI ratio and MCA to UA PI ratio to predict adverse pregnancy outcome (APO) in patients affected by Pre-eclampsia (PE)., Methods: Cohort study on 100 consecutive singleton pregnancies complicated with pre-eclampsia referred to our Department from January 2010 and December 2011.Doppler evaluations were performed from diagnosis to delivery.UtA, UA and ACM PI were assessed at each scan, Measurements obtained within one week from delivery were analysed, and MCA/UA PI ratio and MCA/UtA PI ratio calculated.PE was defined according to ISSHP criteria.Clinical and perinatal outcomes were reviewed.APO was defined as Apgar score less than 7 at five minutes, pH<7.20; birth weight <5th percentile (SGA), stillbirth or neonatal death. Receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curves were used to determine the predictive ability for subsequent development of APO. Logistic regression was run to assess the additional value to the routine indexes for both ratios., Results: One case of stillbirth and four cases of neonatal death were observed.SGA was present in 56/100 neonates; 52/95 (55%) live births were admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.Maternal Age was 33years (mean, SD±5yy), mean maternal BMI was 23.6Kg/mq (SD±4.9Kg/mq), gestational age (GA at diagnosis of PE was 32+5w (mean, SD±3+6w), GA at delivery was 33+4w (mean, SD±3+4w), birth weight percentile was 13.33 (mean, SD±18.23), pH was 7.26 (mean, SD±0.11)Fifty-six pregnancies developed APO. Doppler findings assessed within one week from delivery are shown in Table 1, values are expressed as mean (±SD). The prediction of subsequent development of APO, expressed as the area under ROC curve, was 0.695 (95% CI 0.59-0.80) for UtA PI; 0.730 (95% CI 0.62-0.81) for UAPI; 0.677 (95% CI 0.55-0.78) for MCA PI; 0.785 (95% CI 0.66-0.87) for MCA/UA PI; 0.774 (95% CI 0.66-0.86) for MCA/UtA PI. Moreover, a MCA/UA PI=1.28 showed a sensitivity of 74.4% and a specificity of 76.0% in predicting APO. Logistic regression analysis showed that the better index combination is represented by MCA/UA PI and MCA/UtA PI., Conclusion: In addition to UtA and UAPI, MCA/UA PI ratio and MCA/UtA PI ratio are useful predictors of neonatal outcome in pregnancies complicated with PE., (Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier B.V.)