Different Effects of Cigarette Smoke, Heated Tobacco Product and E-Cigarette Vapour on Orbital Fibroblasts in Graves' Orbitopathy; a Study by Real Time Cell Electronic Sensing.

Thyroid autoimmunity in Graves' disease (GD) is accompanied by Graves' orbitopathy (GO) in 40% of the cases. Orbital fibroblasts (OF) play a key role in the pathogenesis and cigarette smoking is a known deteriorating factor. Alongside conventional cigarettes (CC) new alternatives became available for smokers, including heated tobacco products (HTP) and E-cigarettes (ECIG). We aimed to study the cellular effects of smoke extracts (SE) in orbital fibroblasts. Primary OF cultures from GO and NON-GO orbits were exposed to different concentrations of SE (1%, 50%) and the changes were followed using Real Time Cell Electronic Sensing (RT-CES). Untreated GO and NON-GO cells had different maximum cell index (CI) values of 3.3 and 2.79 respectively (p < 0.0001). CC, HTP and ECIG treated NON-GO fibroblasts exhibited peak CIs of 2.62, 3.32 and 3.41 while treated GO cells' CIs were higher, 5.38, 6.25 and 6.33, respectively (p < 0.0001). The metabolic activity (MTT) decreased (p < 0.001) and hyaluronan production doubled (p < 0.02) after 50% of CC SE treatment in all cell cultures. GO fibroblasts were more sensitive to low concentration SE then NON-GO fibroblasts (p < 0.0001). The studied SEs exerted different effects. RT-CES is a sensitive technique to detect the effects of very low concentration of SE on fibroblasts.

Unusual onset of thyroid associated orbitopathy during pregnancy: case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid associated orbitopathy (TAO) is the most common extrathyroidal complication of Graves' disease. The disease course ranges from mild, where symptomatic therapy is sufficient, to severe, where high dose steroid administration or orbital decompression surgery is required. Women of their reproductive age are more likely to be affected. Although pregnancy is a state of enhanced immune tolerance, TAO may develop or worsen in 0.2-0.4% of pregnant women. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 19-year-old woman who has developed hyperthyroidism and progressive TAO during the second trimester of her third pregnancy, which has improved postpartum. The possible mechanisms and the importance of follow up in pregnancy is discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Expectant mothers with Graves' disease require follow up of eye signs throughout pregnancy, preferably in the setting of a thyroid-eye clinic.

Thyroglobulin level at week 16 of pregnancy is superior to urinary iodine concentration in revealing preconceptual and first trimester iodine supply.

Pregnant women are prone to iodine deficiency due to the increased need for iodine during gestation. Progress has recently occurred in establishing serum thyroglobulin (Tg) as an iodine status biomarker, but there is no accepted reference range for iodine sufficiency during pregnancy. An observational study was conducted in 164 pregnant women. At week 16 of gestation urinary iodine concentration (UIC), serum Tg, and thyroid functions were measured, and information on the type of iodine supplementation and smoking were recorded. The parameters of those who started iodine supplementation (≥150 µg/day) at least 4 weeks before pregnancy (n = 27), who started at the detection of pregnancy (n = 51), and who had no iodine supplementation (n = 74) were compared. Sufficient iodine supply was found in the studied population based on median UIC (162 µg/L). Iodine supplementation ≥150 µg/day resulted in higher median UIC regardless of its duration (nonusers: 130 µg/L vs. prepregnancy iodine starters: 240 µg/L, and pregnancy iodine starters: 205 µg/L, p < .001, and p = .023, respectively). Median Tg value of pregnancy starters was identical to that of nonusers (14.5 vs. 14.6 µg/L), whereas prepregnancy starters had lower median Tg (9.1 µg/L, p = .018). Serum Tg concentration at week 16 of pregnancy showed negative relationship (p = .010) with duration of iodine supplementation and positive relationship (p = .008) with smoking, a known interfering factor of iodine metabolism, by multiple regression analysis. Serum Tg at week 16 of pregnancy may be a promising biomarker of preconceptual and first trimester maternal iodine status, the critical early phase of foetal brain development.

[Pregnancy and cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass]. / Terhesség és nyitott szívmutét.

Heart disease during pregnancy necessitating cardiac surgery is potentially increasing maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Most patients know about their heart disease long before conception however the relation between the deteriorating cardiac function and the perinatal complications is not emphasized. Best possible results can be achieved by providing preconception counseling for cardiac patients. Consequently, heart-surgery can be performed before pregnancy thereby the maternal risk is lower and fetal loss or induced abortion can be avoided. The pregnant state is not optimal for cardiac surgery as the principal interest of the mother and the fetus is different. Cardiac surgery should be reserved only for saving the patient's life when medical therapy proves insufficient or when conservative management leads to acute heart failure. The multidisciplinary approach, correct risk assessment, diagnosis, operative indication, timing along with appropriate anaesthesia, extracorporeal circulation and alert monitoring of the uterine activity and fetal heart rate patterns make the intervention technically safe. Fetal monitoring is inevitable for prompt correction of operative conditions in case of impending hypoxemia. The perioperative fetal risk can be reduced by applying normothermia, high mean arterial pressure and cardiac index during the intentionally shortest intervention. Cardiac operation with cardiopulmonary bypass during pregnancy has become a relatively safe procedure for the mother but not for the baby.

Characteristics of female child sexual abuse in Hungary between 1986 and 2001: a longitudinal, prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the characteristics of female child sexual abuse and to explore common features that may be utilized as targets for possible methods of prevention. DESIGN: Prospective, longitudinal study. SETTING: A Hungarian county, University of Debrecen. PARTICIPANTS: Between 1986 and 2001, 209 girls under the age of 18 who had been exposed to sexual abuse visited the Department of Adolescent Gynecology. METHODS: We prospectively collected data illustrating the characteristics of all cases. Events in which victim and perpetrator were members of the same family were recorded as intrafamilial. Subsequent legal procedures were also evaluated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We describe the medical and legal approaches to handling child neglect. RESULTS: Seventy-five percent of the victims were students, and 47% of them were between 11 and 14 years of age. The perpetrator was familiar to the victim in 66% of the cases, and a stranger in 34%. Fifty-two (25%) perpetrators were members of the victims' families. In 11% of cases, the perpetrator was the victim's father and in 10%, her stepfather. The abuse had occurred on multiple occasions in 21%. The occurrence rate of assault was highest in the summer season (59%). Thirty-nine percent of victims were accompanied by their mothers when they attended the clinic and 43%, by police. officers. Vaginal penetration was the type of abuse in 80%, and sexual perversion in 20%. Sixty-six victims were physically injured, and in 38 cases the presence of sperm was confirmed in vulvo-vaginal smears. One pregnancy occurred as the result of the abuse. In all, 127 cases were reported to the police; 56 of the perpetrators were sentenced as a result of legal proceedings. CONCLUSION: A high proportion of female child sexual abuse takes place within the family and is revealed only after multiple episodes. The low reported prevalence of sexual assault is the consequence of the lack of cooperation between the emergency services in Hungary and the Hungarian criminal law. Prevention requires vigilance in out-of-school times, child education, early involvement of healthcare professionals, and adjustment of the administration of justice.

[Current practice and results of labor induction]. / A szülésindukció gyakorlata és eredményei.

INTRODUCTION: The role of labor induction has been gradually increasing in the last decade all over Europe due to the early detection of fetal jeopardy, improvement of neonatal therapy and availability of cervical ripening agents. Success rate of vaginal delivery depends on maternal, fetal condition and cervical status. PATIENTS: Authors report the outcome of 795 labor inductions during the period from 1996 to 2000 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Debrecen, Hungary. Preinduction cervical ripening and induction method was based on Bishop score and clinical situation. RESULTS: The rate of induced labor was 5.97% out of 13312 consecutive deliveries. The outcome of induction is discussed in details. The caesarean section rate after induction of vaginal delivery was 25% in this high risk group, and 33.3% among the total number of inductions. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical application of prostaglandins for cervical ripening among high risk pregnant women facilitates the decision of labor induction and provides a favourable rate of vaginal deliveries.

[Practical aspects of Doppler sonography in obstetrics]. / A doppler-ultrahang szülészeti alkalmazásának gyakorlati szempontjai.

Doppler sonography has become a principal diagnostic method of antenatal care in Hungary during the past decade. Consequently, the perinatal outcome of high-risk pregnancies has significantly improved. Evaluation of the fetal circulation facilitates clinical diagnosis, antenatal and subnatal fetal surveillance, arrangement of functional tests and optimal timing of delivery. Advanced clinical efficacy is based on identical practical aspects and standardized routine. Based on their clinical experience and the published scientific data authors propose practical guidelines for Doppler evaluation of the uteroplacental and the fetal arterial and venous circulation. Summary of the blood flow velocity waveform analysis, and the steps of useful application offer consistent clinical comprehension and proper diagnosis.

Fetal arterial redistribution indicating true umbilical cord knot.

True umbilical cord knot often remains undiscovered prenatally due to a lack of characteristic clinical or ultrasound signs. We present a pregnancy with favorable outcome in which a non-stress test (NST) found non-reassuring fetal status. Abnormal Doppler blood flow patterns in the descending aorta and in the middle cerebral artery revealed fetal arterial redistribution with normal circulation in the umbilical artery despite a true cord knot. The benefit of fetal Doppler assessment is discussed. Increased aortic-cerebral ratio may reflect acute hypoxic compromise caused by the transitory constriction of the true umbilical cord knot with unrecognized morphologic and circulatory signs.

[Management of third-trimester low-risk pregnancies--European survey]. / Terhesgondozás harmadik trimeszterbeli alacsony kockázatú terhességekben--európai felmérés.

AIM: Main objective of pregnancy care is to provide health both for the mother and baby. Two main points of this care are to preselect high and low risk pregnancies and to determine the timing of delivery in case of fetal jeopardy or maternal emergency situations in the third trimester. Although we have evidence based techniques that are effective in reducing perinatal mortality in selected high-risk groups, the content of routine pregnancy care in low-risk third trimester pregnancies is not well defined yet. Management of these patients differs from center to center and from country to country and is mainly determined by obstetrical traditions of different geographical areas. PATIENTS/METHODS: Based on the data of questionnaires about recent practice of 28 European obstetrical departments in 10 countries participating in EuroGRIT trial the authors sketch out current management of third trimester low risk pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of current discrepancy in applying functional tests it is absolutely required to introduce new methods in the future only within the framework of evidence based medicine.

[The value of Doppler sonography in the detection of fetal hypoxia]. / A Doppler-ultrahangvizsgálat helye a magzati hypoxia igazolásában.

Doppler ultrasound has become a part of routine antenatal fetal surveillance during the past two decades. It provides insight into the utero-placental and fetal arterial, venous circulation non-invasively. Doppler examination has a key role in the detection of hypoxic risk since abnormal blood flow patterns can be demonstrated before the clinical manifestation of fetal disorder. Doppler velocimetry facilitates judgment in the diagnosis, monitoring fetal well-being during pregnancy and labor, scheduling antenatal tests and timing delivery. Authors review the effects of chronic and acute hypoxia on fetal hemodynamics. On the basis of the present knowledge and experience a brief summary is given about the role of Doppler velocimetry in the early detection of hypoxic fetal jeopardy during pregnancy and labor.

[Isolated ovarian abscess in the puerperium]. / Szülés után kialakuló izolált petefészektályog.

Isolated ovarian abscess is the infection of the ovary without tubal involvement. A number of predisposing factors have been identified. The appearance after spontaneous vaginal birth is rare. The clinical presentation is varied, the symptoms are not specific. Proper diagnosis necessitates the complete evaluation of clinical signs, laboratory tests and imaging techniques. The effective treatment is mostly operative. The authors present the detailed management of a postpartum patient with an isolated abscess of the right ovary. Antenatal identification and treatment of cervico-vaginal infection along with strict antiseptic way of care during labor and delivery may result in less prevalent and less severe postnatal maternal inflammatory complications.