Glycosylated hemoglobin level in patients with and without surgical site infection after hysterectomy.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection (SSI) occurs in 11-12% of surgeries. The glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) has been found to be significantly elevated in those who presented infection. OBJECTIVE: To compare the concentration of HbA1c between patients with and without SSI after hysterectomy. METHOD: In healthy, postoperative women with total abdominal (open) hysterectomy, the HbA1c serum concentration was measured (normal <5.7%) and the difference between those who presented SSI and other risk factors for SSI were compared with Mann Whitney U test was used. The HbA1c values were stratified as normal or abnormal and were contrasted with the presence or absence of SSI by means of X2. RESULTS: 27 women without SSI and 20 with SSI were studied. The preoperative glucose was and 88 (70-99) mg/dl and 86 (70-99) mg/dl for the groups with and without SSI respectively. The HbA1c was significantly higher in the group with ISQ 5.6% (5-8) vs. 6.5% (5.2-8.2). The sensitivity of HbA1c with cut point <5.7 was 80% and the specificity was 51.9%. CONCLUSION: HbA1c can serve as a prognostic criterion of ISQ.

ANTECEDENTES: La infección del sitio quirúrgico (ISQ) se presenta en el 11-12% de las cirugías. La hemoglobina glucosilada (HbA1c) se ha encontrado significativamente elevada en los pacientes que presentan infección. OBJETIVO: Comparar la concentración de HbA1c entre pacientes con y sin ISQ posterior a una histerectomía. MÉTODO: En mujeres sanas posoperadas de histerectomía total abdominal (abierta) se midió la concentración sérica de HbA1c (normal < 5.7%) y se comparó la diferencia entre las que presentaron ISQ y las que no. Se investigaron también otros factores de riesgo para ISQ. Se utilizó la prueba U de Mann Whitney. Los valores de HbA1c se estratificaron como normales o anormales, y se contrastaron con la presencia o no de ISQ por medio de la prueba ji al cuadrado. RESULTADOS: Se estudiaron 27 mujeres sin ISQ y 20 con ISQ. La glucosa preoperatoria fue de 88 (70-99) y 86 (70-99) mg/dl para los grupos con y sin ISQ, respectivamente. La HbA1c fue significativamente mayor en el grupo con ISQ (5.6%; 5-8) que en el grupo sin ISQ (6.5%; 5.2-8.2). La sensibilidad de la HbA1c con un punto de corte < 5.7 fue del 80% y la especificidad fue del 51.9%. CONCLUSIÓN: La HbA1c puede servir como criterio pronóstico de ISQ.

Ovarian biopsy in infertile patients with ovarian dysfunction.

Evaluation of ovarian histology is feasible by obtaining ovarian tissue through laparoscopy; however, the role of an ovarian biopsy in an infertility workup is not widely accepted. To gain insight into the role of ovarian biopsy in reproductive medicine, we conducted a cross-sectional study in infertile patients with ovarian dysfunction and correlated follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol serum concentrations with ovarian follicular counts. Fifty women were recruited and classified into four groups: premature ovarian failure (POF), chronic anovulation, diminished ovarian reserve, and ovulatory patients (control group). Ovarian endocrine function was assessed by the determination of FSH, luteinizing hormone, and estradiol serum concentrations and correlated with the number of follicles present in the ovarian biopsies obtained by laparoscopy. The number of ovarian follicles observed for each individual biopsy varied extensively. Patients with POF presented significantly lower counts of primordial, primary, and secondary follicles. No significant differences were found in the other groups. In the total sample, primordial follicle counts correlated inversely with serum FSH levels (r = -0.4, p = 0.003) and directly with serum estradiol levels (r = 0.5, p = 0.001) however, such associations no longer remained after adjusting by group. We conclude that ovarian biopsies do not provide additional information to the clinical-hormonal criteria previously established in the workup of infertile patients. Therefore, its use cannot be generalized in the study of infertile patients with ovarian dysfunction. In contrast, ovarian biopsies may be useful to identify patients with POF when the ovarian reserve is likely altered.

[Serum levels of IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha in infertile patients with ovarian dysfunction]. / Concentraciones séricas de IL-1beta, IL-6 y TNF-alpha en pacientes infértiles con disfunción ovárica.

BACKGROUND: Some cytokines that take part in the ovarian cycle regulation, such as IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha play an important role during growth and development of ovarian follicle. Quantification of some cytokines is promissory in the work-up of ovarian reproductive pathology. OBJECTIVE: To determine serum levels of IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha in infertile patients with ovarian dysfunction and to compare them with those found in ovulatory patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study in infertile patients with premature ovarian failure, diminished ovarian reserve, chronic anovulation and ovulatory patients that were well-characterized by clinical and hormonal parameters. We determined serum concentrations of IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha by an ELISA method. Statistics was conducted by using one way ANOVA, Kruskall-Wallis and Pearson correlation analyses. RESULTS: We studied a total of forty patients. The mean age was 30 years; we did not find significant differences among groups. Overall mean of cytokines concentration was: 13.2 pg/mL for IL-1beta; 8.4 pg/mL for IL-6; and 1.5 pg/mL for TNF-alpha. We observed a significant difference in the concentration of TNF-alpha in the premature ovarian failure group when it was compared to the control group. Pearson correlation coefficients were no significant. CONCLUSION: A wide range of dispersion of serum cytokines concentration was observed. Serum concentrations of TNF-alpha in woman with premature ovarian failure were significantly lower than those in the control group. Our findings represent a precedent in the powerful utility of the quantification of these cytokines in reproductive medicine.

[Maternal mortality at the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS). Initial results from a reduction intervention strategy]. / Mortalidad materna en el IMSS. Resultados iniciales de una intervención para su reducción.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the preliminary results of a medical manager intervention to improve the quality of medical care during pregnancy, delivery and puerperium, on the maternal mortality rates in population covered by the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We selected the 14 administrative delegations of IMSS that showed the highest rates and absolute numbers of maternal deaths in the years 1999 to 2001. Within this group, the manager medical staff developed activities for medical training of family physicians and gynecologists, to improve medical resources, to achieve a better coordination among medical services, to adequate reference of obstetrical complications to higher-level hospitals, and for monitoring of maternal mortality committees operation. The other 23 IMSS administrative delegations were used as controls. RESULTS: Maternal mortality rates fell down from 40.7 to 28.2 per 100,000 live births among the delegations included in the strategy (mean reduction 30.7%). Among the control delegations maternal mortality rate fell down 1.5% only (32.3 to 31.8 per 100,000 live births). A similar phenomenon was observed for the absolute number of maternal deaths, with a reduction of 36.7% and 8.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The improving intervention was associated with a noticeable reduction in the maternal mortality rate. It is necessary a long-term observation to confirm a cause-effect relationship.

[Ovarian fibrothecal tumor: case report]. / Fibrotecoma ovárico: informe de un caso.

Tumors with stromal or sex-cords origin are scarce, and comprise only 5% or less of all ovarian tumors. Nevertheless functional tumor types are the most striking ones, only few of them produce hormonal symptoms. Fibrothecal tumors belong to the stromal cells tumor class, with differentiation towards both fibroblastic-type cells of thecal cell. We present a case report of a 68 years old woman with an ovarian tumor sized 14 x 9 x 7 cm. The treatment was the extirpation of the tumor. Microscopic evaluation of the surgical piece reported an ovarian fibrothecal tumor.

Concentración plasmática de indicadores bioquímicos en la preeclampsia-eclampsia y su asociación con la severidad de la patología / Plasmatic concentrations of biochemical indicators in preeclamsia-eclampsia and their relationship with the severity of preeclampsia

Se ha demostrado que las concentraciones de moléculas asociadas con el daño endotelial, la coagulación y la vasoconstricción están alteradas en la preeclampsiaeclampsia, sin haberse evaluado su relación con los diferentes grados de severidad de esta entidad. Objetivo. Determinar el grado de asociación entre las concentraciones plasmáticas de fibronectina ED1+, antitrombina III, prostaciclina y tromboxano y la severidad de la preeclampsia. Métodos. Se tomó una muestra de sangre periférica en 215 mujeres en el tercer trimestre de la gestación, que ingresaron al Hospital de Ginecología y Obstetricia 4 "Luis Castelazo Ayala" con los diagnósticos de preeclampsia leve (n=103), preeclampsia severa (n=71), síndrome de HELLP (n=25) o eclampsia (n=16). Los plasmas se almacenaron a -70ºC hasta su análisis. La fibronectina ED1+ se midió mediante análisis inmunoenzimático; la actividad de antitrombina III mediante análisis amidolítico automatizado y los metabolitos estables 6cetoprostaglandina F1a y tromboxano B2 se cuantificaron mediante radioinmunoanálisis

Evaluación y preparación de gametos / Evaluation and management of gametes

En primer término se presentan los criterios aceptados internacionalmente para la evaluación cuantitativa, morfológica y bioquímica de las muestras de semen; tanto para su análisis previo al intento de cualquer alternativa de reproducción asistida, como en el momento de realizar el procedimiento correspondiente. En el siguiente rubro se discuten las caracteríticas bioquímicas de las soluciones que se utilizan por la inducción in vitro de la capacitación-reacción acrosomal; eventos indispensables, previos a que se lleve al cabo la interacción in vivo o in vitro de los gametos homólogos. Se presenta también la metodología más utilizada para el manejo extracorpóreo de los espermatozoides y para evaluar la eficiencia con que estas células llevan al cabo in vitro la reacción acrosomal, así como la utilización del bioensayo de la penetración del óvulo de hamster ibre de zona pellucida, para valorar la capacidad de los espermatozoides humanos para penetrar a la gameta femenina. Finalmente, se analizan las características morfológicas de las diferentes estructuras que conforman los complejos cumulus oophorus-corona radiada-zona pellucida-vitelo, así como la composición bioquímica y hormonal del líquido folicular, obtenidos después de la punción folicular. Esto con la finalidad de conocer la calidad de los ovocitos recuperados, su posibilidad de ser fertilizados y su potencialidad de desarrollarse en etapas subsecuentes que culminan con el nacimiento de productos a término, viables y sanos.