Folate receptor-mediated cervical staining as an adjunct to colposcopy which can improve the diagnostic accuracy of detecting high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions.

OBJECTIVES: Cervical cancer is rated fourth in terms of incidence and cancer-related mortality in women. Cytology-based screening programs and colposcopy provided insufficient rates of detecting cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) prompting researchers to develop new tools. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether folate receptor-mediated staining is useful in detecting CIN2+ during gynecological examination with colposcopy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In total 96 women with abnormal cytology findings were enrolled. The study was conducted on the Polish population. The diagnostic process consisted of colposcopy, receptor-mediated diagnosis (FRD), and histopathology examination. All women were subjected to the same diagnostic procedure. RESULTS: The patient mean age of 96 women was 38 ± 14.5 years. On colposcopy, high-grade lesions were detected in 83 women. The FRD gave positive results in 63 women. Histopathology revealed 1 case of carcinoma plano epithelial akeratodes, 21 cases of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, 13 cases of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. A total of 61 cases presented no pathology. FRD as an adjunct to colposcopy gave the following test results in detecting CIN2+ lesions: sensitivity - 94.29%, specificity - 46.67%, PPV - 50.77%, NPV - 93.33%, and accuracy - 64.21%. Using both techniques provided better results than using each of the tests alone. CONCLUSIONS: FRD is a promising test for the diagnosing CIN2+ cervical pathologies because it can increase the probability of detecting CIN2+ without any additional burden posed on patients. Further studies should be conducted on large and various populations to complement current evidence.

Use of electrical impedance spectroscopy as an adjunct to colposcopy in a pathway of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia diagnostics.

OBJECTIVES: Screening with cytology decreases cervical cancer burden, but new methods have emerged. We assessed thediagnostic value of electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in the real-world gynecological setting. The study aimed todetermine the diagnostic usefulness of EIS used as an adjunct to colposcopies in the diagnosis of high-grade squamousintraepithelial lesions in women with abnormal cytology findings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, single center, observational study considered 143 women. All were subjected toa colposcopy and EIS with ZedScan. ZedScan-guided or colposcopically-guided biopsies were carried out. RESULTS: Data from 118 women were analyzed. The average age of the included women was 38.29 } 12.52 years (range:22-86 years). Overall, 27 had a diagnosis of CIN2+ and above on histopathological examination, 99 had low-grade colposcopyresults, 18 had high-grade colposcopy results, and 80 had positive ZedScan examination. No adverse events relatedto the examination with ZedScan were observed. EIS used as an adjunct to colposcopies showed sensitivity of 96.30%(95% CI: 81.03-99.91) and specificity of 39.56% (95% CI: 29.46-50.36), and accuracy of 52.54% (95% CI: 43.15-61.81). Theprocedure allowed to detect 11 additional cases with positive histo-pathological result in comparison to colposcopies alone. CONCLUSIONS: Colposcopies performed with ZedScan as an adjunct were effective in detecting high-grade cervical lesions.Advantages of ZedScan include real-time result display, no additional diagnostic burden posed on the patient, andgood safety profile. Studies on large patient cohorts are needed for further evaluations of this diagnostic procedure andfactors which may affect its diagnostic accuracy.

The impact of chorionicity and the type of twin growth on the early neonatal outcome in twin pregnancies - 20 years of experience from one tertiary perinatal center.

OBJECTIVE: Twin pregnancies are associated with higher neonatal mortality and morbidity. Growth discordance and monochorionicity are among the factors that worsen the course of pregnancy. The study aimed to assess neonatal conditions and mortality in relation to growth type and chorionicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 820 pregnant women with twin pregnancies and their 1640 newborns were analyzed. The Apgar score and umbilical artery blood pH, as well as the rate of complications, were compared between dichorionic diamniotic (DCDA) and monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twins with symmetric and discordant growth. The Student's t-test and the Pearson chi-square test were used for comparisons. RESULTS: There were 576 (70.2%) DCDA pregnancies, including 421 (73.1%) with symmetric growth and 155 (26.9%) with discordant growth, and 244 (29.8%) MCDA pregnancies, including 110 (45.1%) with symmetric growth and 134 (54.9%) with discordant growth. A significantly greater percentage of twins with discordant growth occurred in women older than 34 years than in those that were younger. An Apgar score of ≤7 was significantly more common among MCDA discordant twins, while an arterial umbilical blood pH of <7.2 was more common among MCDA twins with symmetric growth. Early neonatal deaths (n = 29; 1.8%), respiratory disorders, and a birth weight of <1500 g were significantly more common in MCDA twins than in DCDA twins. CONCLUSION: MCDA twins with growth discordance are burdened with a higher risk of neonatal morbidity and mortality than symmetric DCDA twins. Chorionicity and growth discordancy are important determinants of the outcome of twin pregnancy.

Do lifestyle factors influence the rate of complications after amniocentesis?

BACKGROUND: The impact of lifestyle factors including health-promoting physical activity on complication rate following amniocentesis is unclear. OBJECTIVES: To examine the further course of pregnancy in patients undergoing amniocentesis in relation to selected risk factors including the level of health-promoting activity and occupational work on the complication rate after genetic amniocentesis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Medical records from 317 diagnostic amniocenteses were analyzed and 230 procedures carried out on 219 pregnant women were included in the study. RESULTS: The mean maternal age was 34.50 ±5 years (range: 22-47 years). In the patients studied, amniocentesis was performed at 12-24 gestational weeks with a median at 16 gestational weeks (mean: 16.13 ±2.02 weeks). Overall, 174 amniocenteses (75.6%) did not reveal any genetic disorder while 56 (24.4%) confirmed a genetic disorder. One hundred procedures (43.5%) were followed by at least 1 complication, while 130 procedures (56.5%) were uneventful. The following complications were observed: general pain - 37 (16%), fever - 5 (2.2%), dizziness - 7 (3%), amniotic fluid leakage - 5 (2.2%), vaginal bleeding - 3 (1.3%), and fetal death - 11 (4.8%). The following lifestyle factors were reported: use of stimulants - 12 (5.2%), occupational work - 158 (68.7%), commuting - 137 (59.6%), and physical activity - 62 (27%). Abdominal pain/uterine contractions were significantly more frequent with generalized pain, fever, vaginal bleeding, and physical activity. The presence of dizziness correlated with generalized pain in women who were working and commuting. Working occupationally when pregnant correlated positively with practicing sport. Better newborn condition was significantly correlated with older gestational age and longer sick leave. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity performed by pregnant women after amniocentesis increases the risk of post-procedural complications such as abdominal pain, uterine contractions, dizziness, and syncope. Reducing physical effort 2 weeks after the procedure is recommended. Further studies are warranted.

Postnatal condition of the second twin in respect to mode of delivery, chorionicity and type of fetal growth.

BACKGROUND: The increased use of assisted reproductive techniques (ART) contributes to the increased rate of twin pregnancies, which are burdened with a higher risk of complications. Factors that affect the condition of the second twin are understudied. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the delivery mode, chorionicity, amnionicity, and the type of fetal growth on the postnatal condition of the second twin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included data from 475 pregnant women with twin pregnancies. Maternal age, parity, chorionicity, amnionicity, type of fetal growth, mode of delivery, gestational weeks at delivery, Apgar score, and umbilical arterial blood pH were retrospectively analyzed. Data normality was checked with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The paired Wilcoxon signed-rank test and χ2 test were used for comparisons between groups. To check predictive value of the analyzed variables multiple linear regression was used. RESULTS: The mean maternal age was 29.22 (standard deviation (SD) ±5.19) years. The maternal age and gestational age at delivery did not differ significantly between women who delivered by cesarean section (CS) and vaginal delivery (VD). In the second twin, the Apgar score and values of arterial umbilical blood pH were lower in infants delivered by VD than in those delivered by CS (6.30 ±2.83 and 7.30 ±0.12; p = 0.0209 and 7.26 ±0.12 and 7.30 ±0.11; p = 0.0236, respectively). In monochorionic diamniotic twins with asymmetric growth, the second twin achieved significantly lower outcome than the first twin. Vaginal delivery was a predictive factor for a lower Apgar score and lower values of umbilical arterial blood pH in second twins, while not in first twins. Symmetrical fetal growth of twins was a predictive factor for better postnatal condition for both twins. CONCLUSIONS: In twin pregnancies, VD, but not CS, is associated with increased risk of worse postnatal condition of the second twin. In monochorionic diamniotic pregnancies complicated by growth discordance, CS seems to be a reasonable mode of delivery.

The role of ductus venosus Doppler flow in the diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities during the first trimester of pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: The ductus venosus (DV) is an intrahepatic end-part of the umbilical vein. Inappropriate first trimester DV Doppler blood flow patterns correspond to a higher risk of chromosomal abnormalities. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of ductus venosus Doppler flow in a first trimester screening for aneuploidies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study included 1526 singleton pregnancies with increased risk of chromosomal abnormalities who underwent prenatal first trimester screening between the years 2006-2009. All ultrasound scans were performed by experienced sonographers and included an assessment of fetal growth, nuchal translucency (NT), nasal bone assessment (NB) and ductus venosus (DV) blood flow. Reversed a-wave (atrial diastole) in the ductus venosus flow pattern was recognized as abnormal. In addition to DV blood flow, the levels of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and free ß - human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-hCG) in maternal serum were measured. The risk of chromosomal abnormalities was calculated using the Fetal Medicine Foundation software. The following risk levels were assumed: high risk results - 1:100 or lower, intermediate risk 1:100 - 1:1000, and low risk above 1:1000. In 523 pregnancies, patients underwent amniocentesis and karyotyping. RESULTS: The authors diagnosed 46 cases with chromosomal abnormalities (using amniocentesis and karyotyping). 29 patients had spontaneous miscarriage, in 21 cases they reported fetuses with congenital malformations (mostly heart defects). Abnormal DV blood flow was recognized in 113 pregnant women (7.4%). The majority of cases affected by abnormal DV blood flow were classified as intermediate and high disorder risk groups - 100 (6.5%). The comparison between a combined test with and without DV assessment revealed that the addition of DV flow pattern results increased sensitivity from 84% to 92% in screening for aneuploidies. The false-positive ratio was between 0.4% and 2.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Ductus venosus Doppler blood flow examination is useful in the first trimester prenatal diagnostic since it increases the sensitivity of the combined test in the assessment of risk for chromosomal abnormalities. The authors recommend assessing DV blood flow during the first trimester screening in all pregnancies, irrespectively of the chromosomal abnormalities background risk. This procedure in clinical practice seems to be favorable and less complicated.