Serum determination of the level of iron, ferritin and transferrin in pregnant patients and their relation to preterm delivery

Seventy-five women presenting with preterm labor whose gestational age ranged from 26 to less than 37 weeks were chosen as the study group. Another 75 women were used as a control group [25 women whose gestational age ranged from 38 to 40 weeks presenting in labor and the other 50 women with gestational ages ranged from 27 to 37 weeks attending the antenatal clinic and were not in labor]. 5 ml venous bloods were withdrawn from the anti-cubital vein from each woman, 2 ml for hemoglobin and 3 ml for serum assay of iron, ferritin and transferring determinations. The results revealed that the concentration of serum ferritin was higher in preterm group and the differences were statistically significant. However, the differences between concentrations of serum iron and serum transferrin among these groups have no significance. In conclusion, the differences of serum iron and transferrin has no significant value in cases of preterm labor, hut the difference in serum ferritin has a good significant value in cases of preterm labor, thus elevation of serum ferritin in the second trimester can be used a predictor of early spontaneous preterm labor

Role of minilaproscopy in evaluation of pelvic adhesions after laparoscopic ovarian electrocautery in patients with polycystic ovarian disease [PCO]

This study was performed to evaluate the incidence of pelvic adhesions after laparoscopic ovarian electrocautery, assess the efficacy of Lactated Ringer's solution in prevention of adhesions and lastly to compare the diagnostic accuracy of minilaparoscopy with that of 10 mm laparoscopic. Thirty-five patients with PCOD were selected for this study. These patients had bilateral laparoscopic ovarian drilling by unibolar electrocautery. Lactated Ringer's solution [500 cc] was left intraperitoneally at the end of the procedure in 22 cases designed as group I. While, no fluid was left in the other 13 cases designed as group II. Second-look laparoscopy was done 3-4 weeks later, first by minilaparoscope then by the standard 10 mm laparoscope. The overall incidence of adhesions in this study was 68.65% [24 cases out of 35]. Adhesions were less in group I [59.1%] than in group II [84.6%]. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean adhesion score by minilaparoscope and 10 mm laparoscope. However, there was a significant positive correlation [r = 0.856] when using either of them detect the adhesion score

Calcium and prostaglandins in blood and uterine muscle in normal and abnormal uterine actions

Uterine activity integral [UAI] together with plasma and uterine muscle calcium ions, PGF2 alpha and PGE2 were estimated in 32 primigravidae of those admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of El-Menia University Hospital and delivered by cesarean section. Seven women showed normal uterine action, 15 showed hypotonic uterine action, and 10 showed hypertonic uterine action. The study showed that PGE2 alpha and calcium ions levels increased in blood and uterine muscle during labor, especially in the hypertonic state and decreased in the hypotonic contractions, whereas, PGE2 showed no significant changes. These changes could incriminate PGF2 alpha and calcium ions in the pathogenesis of these abnormal uterine actions

role of cervical biopsy in unexplained infertility: case conrol study

Unexplained infertility has a variable incidence. Its diagnosis and management are difficult. In the present study, 52 patients were diagnosed to have unexplained infertility according to Templeton and Penny [1982]. Cervical biopsies were taken from that group and compared to 42 controls. Chronic cervicitis was found in 28 cases [53.9%], two of them were bilharzial compared to 6 [14.3%] in the control group. In 8 patients of the unexplained infertility group, the peroxidase antiperoxidase staining [PAP] was positive for IgA [15.4%] compared to 3 cases in the control group [7.1%] suggesting an immunological cause of unexplained infertility in this subgroup. This finding in addition to the high incidence of chronic cervicitis in apprantly normal looking cervix r may recommend the use of cervical biopsy in investigation of unexplained infertility