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Although Holder pasteurization is the recommended method for processing breast milk, it does affect some of its nutritional and biological properties and is ineffective at inactivating spores. The aim of this study was to find and validate an alternative methodology for processing breast milk to increase its availability for newborn babies and reduce the financial loss associated with discarding milk that has become microbiologically positive. We prepared two series of breast milk samples inoculated with the Bacillus cereus ( B. cereus ) strain to verify the effectiveness of two high-pressure treatments: (1) 350 MPa/5 min/38 °C in four cycles and (2) cumulative pressure of 350 MPa/20 min/38 °C. We found that the use of pressure in cycles was statistically more effective than cumulative pressure. It reduced the number of spores by three to four orders of magnitude. We verified that the method was reproducible. The routine use of this method could lead to an increased availability of milk for newborn babies, and at the same time, reduce the amount of wasted milk. In addition, high-pressure treatment preserves the nutritional quality of milk.

Despite the progress in the quantification of xenobiotics, the development and validation of methods designed for endogenous substances still remain challenging due to the natural presence of the analytes in a biological matrix, leading to the inability to obtain a blank sample. Several generally recognized procedures are described to solve this issue, like using surrogate or analyte-depleted matrices or surrogate analytes. However, the workflows used do not always meet the requirements for developing a reliable analytical method or are cost-intensive. This study aimed to design an alternative approach for preparing validation reference samples using authentic analytical standards while preserving the nature of the biological matrix and solving the problem with the inherent presence of analyzed compounds in a studied matrix. The methodology used is based on the standard-addition type procedure. However, unlike the original method, the addition is modified according to a previously measured basal concentration of monitored substances in the pooled biological sample to obtain a predefined concentration in reference samples according to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) validation guideline. The study shows the advantages of described approach on an example of LC-MS/MS analysis of 15 bile acids in human plasma and compares it with other methods commonly used in this field. The method was successfully validated according to the EMA guideline with lower limit of quantification of 5 nmol/L and linearity in the range of 5 - 2000 nmol/L. Finally, the method was used in a metabolomic study on a cohort of pregnant women (n = 28) to confirm intrahepatic cholestasis, the major liver disease observed in pregnancy., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Bacillus cereus is relatively resistant to pasteurization. We assessed the risk of B. cereus growth during warming and subsequent storage of pasteurized banked milk (PBM) in the warmed state using a predictive mathematical model. Holder pasteurization followed by storage below -18 °C was used. Temperature maps, water activity values, and B. cereus growth in artificially inoculated PBM were obtained during a simulation of manipulation of PBM after its release from a Human Milk Bank. As a real risk level, we chose a B. cereus concentration of 100 CFU/mL; the risk was assessed for three cases: 1. For an immediate post-pasteurization B. cereus concentration below 1 CFU/mL (level of detection); 2. For a B. cereus concentration of 10 CFU/mL, which is allowed in some countries; 3. For a B. cereus concentration of 50 CFU/mL, which is approved for milk formulas. In the first and second cases, no risk was detected after 1 h of storage in the warmed state, while after 2 h of storage, B. cereus concentrations of 10 2 CFU/mL were occasionally encountered. In the third case, exceeding the B. cereus concentration of 10 2 CFU/mL could be regularly expected after 2 h of storage. Based on these results, we recommend that post-pasteurization bacteriological analysis be performed as recommended by the European Milk Bank Association (EMBA) and using warmed PBM within 1 h after warming (no exceptions).

A systematic study, performed from 2017-2020 looked at the rate of positive post-pasteurization B. cereus findings, the quantity of B. cereus in pasteurized banked human milk (PBM), and the rate of B. cereus toxicogenic isolates from PBM. During the study period, 6815.71 L (30,943 tested bottles) of PBM were tested, with an average amount per year of 1703.93 L (7736 tested bottles). The PBM discard rate per year due to bacterial contamination varied between 8.7-10.0% and contamination with B. cereus was the most frequent reason. The total number of B. cereus positive tests was 2739 and the proportion of its positivity from all positive tests was between 56.7-66.6%. The prevalence of B. cereus positive tests rose significantly in the summer months. The production of enterotoxin was found in 3 of the 20 tested samples (15.0%). The B. cereus CFU-quantities in the PBM were below 10 CFU/mL in 80% of cases (16 of 20 samples tested). The quantitative data can be used in the risk assessment of cold storage of PBM at temperatures above zero and manipulation of PBM prior to its administration.

Objective: To summarize current knowledge regarding Lactobacillus crispatus-dominated vaginal microbiota in pregnancy, as well as an association between the presence of Lactobacillus crispatus-dominated vaginal microbiota and pregnancy complications., Design: Review., Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Hradec Kralove., Material and Methodology: In this review, the results from literature available about the presence of L. crispatus-dominated microbiota in pregnancy are summarized., Results: Pregnant women with Lactobacillus crispatus-dominated vaginal microbiota is very common in pregnancy and it is associated with a lower risk of preterm delivery., Conclusion: Lactobacillus crispatus-dominated vaginal microbiota represents an optimal vaginal microbiota in pregnancy.

Objective: To summarize current knowledge concerning cesarean scar defects and its manifestation, diagnostics and treatment possibilities., Design: Review., Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Hradec Kralove., Methodology: Research from available literature works and studies regarding facts about cesarean scar defects., Conclusion: Cesarean scar defect is one of known complication after cesarean section which has become more common in consequence of rising cesarean delivery rate. It is associated with sundry gynecological and obstetric difficulties like abnormal uterine bleeding, pelvic pain, infertility, cesarean scar defect pregnancy or uterine rupture. The most common diagnostic way is using transvaginal ultrasound, sonohysterography or hysteroscopy. Treatment choice is due to a size of cesarean scar defect and also pregnancy planning. Alternatives of treatment including hormonal contraception and various surgery such as hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, laparotomy and transvaginal procedures.

Preterm prelabour rupture of membranes beyond the 34th week of gestation (late PPROM) is frequently associated with the risk of the microbial invasion of the amniotic fluid (MIAC) and histological chorioamnionitis (HCA). Hence, we employed a Tandem Mass Tag-based approach to uncover amniotic fluid proteome response to the presence of MIAC and HCA in late PPROM. Protein dysregulation was associated with only five cases in the group of 15 women with confirmed MIAC and HCA. Altogether, 138 amniotic fluid proteins were changed in these five cases exclusively. These proteins were particularly associated with excessive neutrophil responses to infection, such as neutrophil degranulation and extracellular trap formation. We believe that the quantification of these proteins in amniotic fluid may assist in revealing women with the highest risk of excessive inflammatory response in late PPROM.

Objectives: This study aims to identify the differences in the use of HPV vaccination between female medical students in the Czech and Slovak Republics and their possible causes., Methods: We performed a cross-sectional survey among female students of general medicine in all faculties of medicine in the Czech and Slovak Republics., Results: We obtained 630 questionnaires from the Czech Republic and 776 questionnaires from the Slovak Republic. In the Czech Republic, 65.4% of female medical students underwent HPV vaccination, while in the Slovak Republic, the figure was 21.1%. In the Czech Republic, residency and religion of students did not influence their rate of vaccination. However, in the Slovak Republic, village residency with less than 5,000 inhabitants lowered the probability of vaccination with OR = 0.56 (95% CI: 0.38-0.84), and the Catholic religion lowered the probability of vaccination with OR = 0.40 (95% CI: 0.28-0.57). Czech students were informed about the possibility of vaccination by a paediatrician in 55.7% of cases, while the figure for Slovak students was 26.8%. In the Czech Republic, 75.7% of students participated in regular cervical oncologic screening, while in the Slovak Republic, the figure was 57.7%. Vaccination of relatives would be recommended by 86.5% and 80.5% of Czech and Slovak students, respectively., Conclusions: The adoption of an oncologic prevention programme and the more extensive propagation by paediatricians are probably the medical reasons for the higher HPV vaccination among Czech students. Demographic factors - village residency and religion - are also important.

Background: Amniotic fluid is clinically accessible via amniocentesis and its protein composition may correspond to birth timing. Early changes in the amniotic fluid proteome could therefore be associated with the subsequent development of spontaneous preterm delivery., Objective: The main objective of this study was to perform unbiased proteomics analysis of the association between mid-trimester amniotic fluid proteome and spontaneous preterm delivery and gestational duration, respectively. A secondary objective was to validate and replicate the findings by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a second independent cohort., Methods: Women undergoing a mid-trimester genetic amniocentesis at Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra between September 2008 and September 2011 were enrolled in this study, designed in three analytical stages; 1) an unbiased proteomic discovery phase using LC-MS analysis of 22 women with subsequent spontaneous preterm delivery (cases) and 37 women who delivered at term (controls), 2) a validation phase of proteins of interest identified in stage 1, and 3) a replication phase of the proteins that passed validation using a second independent cohort consisting of 20 cases and 40 matched controls., Results: Nine proteins were nominally significantly associated with both spontaneous preterm delivery and gestational duration, after adjustment for gestational age at sampling, but none of the proteins were significant after correction for multiple testing. Several of these proteins have previously been described as being associated with spontaneous PTD etiology and six of them were thus validated using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Two of the proteins passed validation; Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, but the results could not be replicated in a second cohort., Conclusions: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 are potential biomarkers of spontaneous preterm delivery and gestational duration but the findings could not be replicated. The negative findings are supported by the fact that none of the nine proteins from the exploratory phase were significant after correction for multiple testing., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Objective: To summarize current knowledge regarding Lactobacillus iners-dominated vaginal microbiota in pregnancy, as well as an association between the presence of Lactobacillus iners and pregnancy complications Type of study: Review., Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove., Methods and Results: In this review, the results from literature available about the presence of L. iners-dominated microbiota in pregnancy and the association between the presence of L. iners-dominated microbiota and abortion, spontaneous preterm delivery with intact membranes, and preterm prelabor rupture of membranes are summarized., Conclusion: L. iners-dominated vaginal microbiota appears to be associated with an increased risk of the development of specific pregnancies pathologies.

Clinical observations and animal experiments have shown that higher fetal DNA in maternal plasma could participate on the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. The understudied factor that could participate in interindividual variability in cell-free DNA is enzymatic activity of deoxyribonuclease (DNase). We have found that healthy pregnant animals have higher plasma DNase activity than healthy pregnant women. Injection of cell-free fetal DNA into pregnant animals had no effect on DNase activity. Interspecies differences in DNase activity should be considered in animal experiments focusing on the role of fetal DNA in preeclampsia and cell-free DNA in other disease models.

Purpose: To compare the influence of the LASIK and ReLEx SMILE refractive method on tear osmolarity Methods: Prospective non-randomized comparative study. We evaluated the results in two groups of patients who underwent binocular refractive surgery to remove myopia and possibly astigmatism in the eye clinic of Horní Počernice. In each group were 15 patients (30 eyes), patients of one group undergoing FS-LASIK refractive surgery, in the second group a ReLEx SMILE procedure. Bilateral measurement of the tear film osmolarity using the TearLab instrument on the day of surgery, the first day after surgery, one month and 3 months after surgery was performed on each patient. Results: The mean preoperative value of the osmolarity of the tear film was practically the same in both groups, in the ReLEx SMILE group 294.9 ± 13.4 mOsm/l and in the FS-LASIK group 296.4 ± 13.1. One and three months after the surgery in the ReLEx SMILE group, these values increased to 301.4 and 296.4 ± 13.3 mOsm/l respectively, the elevation of values one month after surgery was statistically significant. In the FS-LASIK group, one month after surgery, the osmolarity was 320.1 ± 14.7, three months postoperatively 306.5 ± 13.1 mOsm / l. Both of these values compared to the preoperative value were statistically significantly higher. The increase of the mean osmolarity was statistically significantly higher in the FS-LASIK group compared to the ReLEx SMILE. Three months after surgery, the difference between groups was not statistically significant. Conclusion: In our group of patients, after the FS-LASIK refraction procedure, we noted a higher mean osmolarity of tear film in comparison with patients after the ReLEx SMILE in all evaluated timepoints (1 day, 1 month and 3 months after surgery). We consider ReLEx SMILE as a method with less impact on the quality of tear film, with a faster return to original osmolarity and potentially higher patient comfort. Key words: Tear osmolarity, Relex SMILE, FS-LASIK.

Objective: A case report of the pregnancy complicated by the presence of vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation in fetus., Design: The case report., Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Masaryks Hospital, Jilemnice; Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, University Hospital in Hradec Králové., Case Report: The description of the pregnancy complicated by the presence of vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation in a fetus 32 weeks gestation which led to a progressive heart failure and the development of the hydrocephalus., Conclusion: The vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation is a rare cerebrovascular malformation of the fetus, the diagnosis of this malformation is usually detectable during prenatal ultrasound examination possibly also by magnetic resonance imaging.

Introduction: Remodeling of human placental membranes (amniochorionic or fetalmembrane) throughout gestation, a necessity to accommodate increasing uterine volume, involves continuous alterations (replacement of cells and remodeling of extracellular matrix). Methodologic limitations have obscured microscopic determination of cellular and layer-level alterations. This study used a combination of advanced imaging by multiphoton autofluorescence microscopy (MPAM) and second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy along with tissue optical clearing to characterize the 3Dimensional multilayer organization of placental membranes., Methods: Placental membranes biopsies (6 mm) collected from term, not-in-labor cesarean deliveries (n = 7) were fixed in 10% formalin (native) or treated with 2,2'-thiodiethanol to render them transparent for deeper imaging. Native and cleared tissues were imaged using MPAM (cellular autofluorescence) and SHG (fibrillar collagen). Depth z-stacks captured the amnion epithelium, underlying matrix layers, and in the cleared biopsies, the decidua layer., Results: MPAM and SHG revealed fetal membrane epithelial topography and collagen organization in multiple matrix layers. Term amnion layers showed epithelial shedding and gaps. Optical clearing provided full-depth imaging with improved visualization of collagen structure, mesenchymal cells in extracellular matrix layers, and decidua morphology. Layer thicknesses measured by imaging corroborated with histology. Mosaic tiling of MPAM/SHG image stacks allowed large area visualization of entire biopsies., Conclusion: MPAM-SHG microscopy allowed for study of this multi-layered tissue and revealed shedding, gap formation, and other structural changes. This approach could be used to study structural changes associated with membranes as well as other uterine tissues to better understand events in normal and abnormal parturition., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim of this review is to analyze the existing possibilities of using ultrasound in the diagnosis of the fetal inflammatory response., Design: Review., Settings: Gynekologicko-porodnická klinika, Fakultní nemocnice Ostrava., Methods: Preterm delivery is defined as a delivery before completed 37 weeks of gestation. Approximately one-thirdof these cases is associated with preterm premature rupture of membranes. About forty percent of preterm premature rupture of membranes is complicated by the fetal inflammatory response syndrome, which is associated with the development of severe perinatal morbidity. Recent prenatal diagnosis of the fetal inflammatory response syndrome is based on the invasive methods (amniocentesis, cordocentesis), which are limited by several risk factors accompanying these procedures and technical difficulties. Therefore, there is an effort to replace them by non-invasive approach. The development of ultrasound, as a diagnostic method through the last decade, and knowledge of pathophysiological and morphological changes in fetal organs associated with the fetal inflammatory response may lead to more specific diagnosis in the future and improvement of neonatal outcome., Conclusion: Early identification of fetuses affected by FIRS in pregnancies with PPROM is necessary for right management of these pregnancy pathology. At this moment, ultrasonography examination of fetal lineal vein and fetal echocardiography, seems to be suitable for diagnosing FIRS.

Aim: To evaluate our own results of the use of hybrid monovision technique, in patients after bilateral cataract surgery, where in the dominant eye the monofocal intraocular lens is implanted and in the non-dominant eye the multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) is implanted., Material and Methods: Prospective follow-up of group of 33 patients with bilateral cataract surgery and induced hybrid monovision. In the dominant eye, the hydrophilic monofocal aspheric intraocular lens Auroflex (Aurolab) was implanted, and in the non-dominant eye the hydrophilic multifocal aspheric intraocular lens Seelens (Hanita) was implanted. During the post-operative period, the uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), best-corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA), best-corrected near visual acuity (CNVA), and distance-corrected near visual acuity (DCNVA) were established. Further, the monocular contrast sensitivity, subjective satisfaction, and dysfotopsias appearance were examined. The examinations were held 3 and 6 months after the surgery., Results: In dominant eyes with implanted monofocal lens, UDVA improved from 0.61 ± 0.39 logMAR preoperatively to 0.03 ± 0.14 logMAR at 6 months after the surgery. In non-dominant eyes, with implanted multifocal intraocular lens, UDVA improved from 0.30 ± 0.23 logMAR preoperatively to -0.04 ± 0.06 logMAR. The average binocular UDVA (bUDVA) was -0.07 ± 0.08 logMAR and binocular CDVA (bCDVA) -0.12 ± 0.06. The average UNVA in dominant eyes 6 months after the surgery was 0.62 ± 0.18 logMAR, in non-dominant eyes 0.18 ± 0,15 logMAR, binocularly 0.15 ± 0.11 logMAR. The contrast sensitivity was in the eyes with implanted multifocal IOL slightly worse comparing to the eyes with implanted monofocal lens, albeit only in the space frequency of 6 cycles per degree (CPD) this difference was statistically significant. Subjectively, the presence of dysfotopsia and other problems were very low, the average values of single answers were from 1.3 to 2.1 (on the scale 1 - 5, 1 - no problems and 5 - severe problems). Also, we noticed high percentage of subjective satisfaction with the surgery results (94 %). Six percent of patients wear glasses for near distance as a standard, 42 % of patients wear them occasionally, and 45 % of patients dont use glasses for near distance at all., Conclusion: The technique of hybrid monovision is effective, safe, and relatively cheap method solving the loss of accommodation in patients after the cataract surgery. This method extends the spectrum of our possibilities how to solve the loss of accommodation in these patients.Key words: hybrid monovision, multifocal intraocular lens, contrast sensitivity.

Aims: Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum are potentially pathogenic bacterial species that are frequently isolated from the urogenital tract of women. These pathogens could be responsible for various genitourinary diseases and have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and female fertility problems. The aim of this study was to analyse the presence of M. hominis and U. urealyticum in the cervical canal of uterus of women with and without fertility problems., Methods: Endocervical swabs obtained from women with reproductive problems and fertile women were tested by both cultivation and polymerase chain reaction. The antimicrobial susceptibility to the azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline and erythromycine of the isolated strains of M. hominis and U. urealyticum was also tested by the microdilution broth method., Results: A total of 111 women with fertile problems were examined. U. urealyticum was detected in samples from 44 (39.6%) women. M. hominis was detected in significantly fewer samples, i.e. only from 9 (8.1%) samples. From these, 6 (5.4%) women were positive for both microorganisms. The fertile group consisted from 23 women. The presence of U. urealyticum was detected in 8 (34.7%) of them. M. hominis was detected only in the mixture with U. urealyticum in 3 (13.0%) cases. The most effective antibiotic against both species in our study was doxycycline., Conclusion: The results show slightly higher incidence of M. hominis and U. urealyticum in the genitourinary tract of women with fertility problems compare with control group. The potential negative effect of these species on the reproduction ability of women was not observed.

Objective: The preterm prelabor rupture of membranes is a serious obstetric complication that is frequently complicated by the presence of microorganisms in amniotic fluid. The aim of our work is to characterize current status of nonculture detection of microbial invasion into the amniotic cavity and the experience with the technique performed in University Hospital in Hradec Kralove., Design: Original survey article., Setting: Institute of Clinical Biochemistry and Diagnostics - molecular biology department, University Hospital Hradec Kralove., Conclusion: Application of nonculture techniques of microorganisms determination in amniotic fluid in patients with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes is currently available. According to the detection of genital mycoplasmas as the dominant pathogens in the amniotic fluid this technique should be regarded as the standard examination method in these patients.

Study Hypothesis: In women with preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM), increased oxidative stress may accelerate premature cellular senescence, senescence-associated inflammation and proteolysis, which may predispose them to rupture., Study Finding: We demonstrate mechanistic differences between preterm birth (PTB) and PPROM by revealing differences in fetal membrane redox status, oxidative stress-induced damage, distinct signaling pathways and senescence activation., What Is Known Already: Oxidative stress-associated fetal membrane damage and cell cycle arrest determine adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as spontaneous PTB and PPROM., Study Design, Samples/materials, Methods: Fetal membranes and amniotic fluid samples were collected from women with PTB and PPROM. Molecular, biochemical and histologic markers were used to document differences in oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme status, DNA damage, secondary signaling activation by Ras-GTPase and mitogen-activated protein kinases, and activation of senescence between membranes from the two groups., Main Results and the Role of Chance: Oxidative stress was higher and antioxidant enzymes were lower in PPROM compared with PTB. PTB membranes had minimal DNA damage and showed activation of Ras-GTPase and ERK/JNK signaling pathway with minimal signs of senescence. PPROM had higher numbers of cells with DNA damage, prosenescence stress kinase (p38 MAPK) activation and signs of senescence., Limitations, Reasons for Caution: Samples were obtained retrospectively after delivery. The markers of senescence that we tested are specific but are not sufficient to confirm senescence as the pathology in PPROM., Wider Implications of the Findings: Oxidative stress-induced DNA damage and senescence are characteristics of fetal membranes from PPROM, compared with PTB with intact membranes. PTB and PPROM arise from distinct pathophysiologic pathways. Oxidative stress and oxidative stress-induced cellular damages are likely determinants of the mechanistic signaling pathways and phenotypic outcome., Study Funding and Competing Interests: This study is supported by developmental funds to Dr R. Menon from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and funds to Dr M. Kacerovský from the Ministry of Health Czech Republic (UHHK, 001799906). The authors report no conflict of interest., (© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective: To summarize current knowledge about cesarean scar pregnancy and to provide a review about available managements of this serious pregnancy pathology., Design: Review article., Setting: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, District Hospital Náchod., Results: Cesarean scar pregnancy is likely to be a result of impaired healing of the scar along with an increased affinity of trophoblast cells to extracellular matrix. A transvaginal ultrasonography represents a key tool in the cesarean scar pregnancy identification. The main goal of the cesarean scar pregnancy treatment is to preserve fertility. There are different approaches how to manage this pregnancy complication. A surgical treatment is characterized by an exstirpation of ectopic pregnancy. This approach makes a repair of lower uterine segment possible and it may improve a prognosis for subsequent pregnancy. However, the most common management is a conservative treatment with a methotrexate administration. Recently, an innovative mini-invasive treatment with a Foley catheter has been reported. A regular evaluation of βhCG concentrations and a transvaginal ultrasound examination are used for a follow-up. Subsequent pregnancy is possible, yet it should be considered as a high-risk., Conclusion: Despite the fact the frequency of cesarean scar pregnancy increases, cesarean scar pregnancy still represents a rare but serious pregnancy pathology. In case of an early diagnosis, it should be managed with respect to preserve fertility.

Rationale, Aims and Objectives: To evaluate obstetricians' inter- and intra-observer agreement on intrapartum cardiotocogram (CTG) recordings and to examine obstetricians' evaluations with respect to umbilical artery pH and base deficit., Methods: Nine experienced obstetricians annotated 634 intrapartum CTG recordings. The evaluation of each recording was divided into four steps: evaluation of two 30-minute windows in the first stage of labour, evaluation of one window in the second stage of labour and labour outcome prediction. The complete set of evaluations used for this experiment is available online. The inter- and intra-observer agreement was evaluated using proportion of agreement and kappa coefficient. Clinicians' sensitivity and specificity was computed with respect to umbilical artery pH, base deficit and to Apgar score at the fifth minute., Results: The overall proportion of agreement between clinicians reached 48% with 95% confidence intervals (CI) (CI: 47-50). Regarding the different classes, proportion of agreement ranged from 57% (CI: 54-60) for normal to 41% (CI: 36-46) for pathological class. The sensitivity of clinicians' majority vote to objective outcome was 39% (CI: 16-63) for the umbilical artery base deficit and 27% (CI: 16-42) for pH. The specificity was 89% (CI: 86-92) for both types of objective outcome., Conclusions: The reported inter-/intra-observer variability is large and this holds irrespective of clinicians' experience or work place. The results support the need of modernized guidelines for CTG evaluation and/or objectivization and repeatability by introduction of a computerized approach that could standardize the process of CTG evaluation within the delivery ward., (© 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

The authors present a short summary of placental pathology for the general pathologist. Practical tips for macroscopic examination of formalin-fixed material are listed and several cases are presented for illustration of the theoretical text.

Objective: To draw a comparison between spontaneous vaginal delivery and vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery in relation to the incidence and the type of levator ani avulsion in primiparas., Design: Retrospective observational study. SETTIMG: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of Ostrava., Methodology: In the study, the primiparas who were from 6 to 12 months after spontaneous vaginal delivery (group A, n = 52) or after childbirth with vacuum extraction (group B, n = 51) underwent translabial 3D ultrasound. The obstetric data had been obtained from the hospital database. Translabial 3D ultrasound examination were performed by two sonographists. The monitored parameter was the distance between urethra and fibres of musculus levator ani - levator urethra gap [6]. The distance longer than 25 mm was considered an avulsion injury [6, 22]. Other parameters assessed in relation to the avulsion were: women's age, BMI, epidural analgesia, episiotomy performance, the length of the first and the second stages of labour, and fetal weight., Results: Musculus levator ani avulsion was diagnosed in 10 women - unilateral in 8 cases and bilateral in 2 cases. In group A, women after spontaneous birth, we noticed avulsion injury in 7.7% of cases, whereas in group B, women after vacuum extraction, we recorded avulsion injury in 11.8% of cases. Thus the use of vacuum extraction is not statistically significant risk factor for avulsion musculus levator ani. Statistically significant difference in comparison group A and B was recorded in BMI, the length of the second stages of labour and episiotomy performance., Conclusion: We did not prove a statistically significant connection between avulsion injury and delivery with the use of vacuum extraction in comparison to avulsion injury incidence in uncomplicated vaginal delivery group (tab. 1). Vacuum extraction does not appear as a risk factor for avulsion in contrast to forceps delivery.

Background: The study aimed at finding a laboratory approach to detect endothelial damage in normal pregnancy as well as in pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia using selected markers of endothelial activation., Materials: A total of 403 healthy pregnant women without a history of deep vein thrombosis and/or hypertension were prospectively studied. From all women, venous blood was collected before the end of the 1st trimester, between weeks 24 and 28 of gestation, and in the 3rd trimester (weeks 34-36). Assays of tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, von Willebrand factor activity and antigen, thrombomodulin, endothelial protein C receptor, and endothelial microparticles activated by TF were performed., Results: When comparing women who developed preeclampsia during pregnancy (the average levels were 23.41 μg/L, 34.33 μg/L, and 53.56 μg/L in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimesters, respectively) with healthy pregnant women (the average levels were 19.05 μg/L, 28.47 μg/L, and 39.86 μg/L in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimesters, respectively) significant differences in the levels of thrombomodulin were found in all three trimesters. By contrast, no statistically significant differences in the levels of vWF (both antigen and activity), t-PA, EPCR, EMPs, MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-9 were found in any trimesters in the same group., Conclusions: Pregnancy and preeclampsia strongly influence the levels of studied markers. The findings of this work confirm the possible predictive potential of thrombomodulin and PA-1.

Objective: Preterm prelabor rupture of membranes is responsible for approximately one third of all preterm deliveries. The most common complications associated with this pregnancy pathology are microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity, intraamniotic inflammation, intraamniotic infection and histological chorioamnionitis. This article explains these complicatioss and their relation to the optimal management of preterm prelabor rupture of membranes., Design: Overview study., Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Hradec Kralove., Methods: To analyze current knowledge and our own experiences regarding inflammatory complications of preterm prelabor rupture of membranes., Conclusion: Inflammatory complications of preterm prelabor rupture of membranes are associated with risk of development of early onset sepsis. Nevertheless, gestational age is a main confounder affecting neonatal morbidity and mortality.

Purpose: Compare the effect of cataract surgery with conventional phacoemulsification and cataract surgery performed on the cornea assisted by femtolaser with the help of contactless endothelial microscope. THE GROUP OF PATIENTS AND METHODS: In each group there were 25 eyes (25 patients) after the cataract surgery with conventional phacoemulsification and 25 eyes (25 patients) after cataract surgery performed on the cornea assisted by femtolaser with the help of contactless endothelial microscope. The number of endothelial cells was measured preoperatively, 1 day, 1 week and 1 month after the surgery., Results: We compared the loss of endothelial cells during 3 various periods. The first day after the surgery we noticed an average decrease in number of endothelial cells by 1, 1% in the group with femtosecond laser, in the group with conventional phacoemulsification we noticed an average decrease of 3, 8 %. The first week after the surgery we noticed an average decrease in number of endothelial cells by 4, 5 % in the group with femtosecond laser, in the group with conventional phacoemulsification we noticed on average decrease of 6, 2 %. One month after surgery we noticed on average decrease in number of endothelial cells by 5, 1 % in the group with femtosecond laser, in the group with conventional phacoemulsification we noticed on average decrease of 9, 3 %. The difference between the average values in both groups was not at any point statistically significant (indication of statistically significance was value of P < 0. 05)., Conclusion: Cataract surgery performed on the cornea assisted by femtolaser reduces trauma of the cornea and it reduces the lost of endothelial cells in comparison to conventional phacoemulsification.