Value of autopsy in renal malformations: comparison of clinical diagnosis and post-mortem examination.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: This 6-year retrospective study reports 14 cases of renal malformations, observed in foetuses and newborns. The objective was to evaluate the usefulness of post-mortem examination in cases of renal malformations by a comparison of the post-mortem findings with clinical diagnosis. METHODS: This study included laboratory tests, ultrasonography, karyotype and detailed pathological evaluation of the foetuses and newborns by external, macroscopic, microscopic and placental examination. RESULTS: The results of post-mortem examination were of paramount importance: they disclosed renal malformations escaped on prenatal studies (42,86%), provided extensive additional informations (50%), or confirmed the diagnosis hypothesis (7,14%). CONCLUSIONS: Thus, this study confirmed the need of pathological examination for foetuses and newborns, after medical abortion and neonatal death. The pathologist's contribution to the multidisciplinary management of prenatal or postnatal abnormalities is important in particular for further genetic counseling. (www.actabiomedica.it).

Pelvic lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer: our current experience.

OBJECTIVE: Lymph node involvement is the single most important factor in the prognosis of endometrial cancer, because it is predictive of locoregional and distant metastases. The purpose of our study was to determine whether lymphadenectomy is useful in the surgical staging of endometrial cancer and if it may help establish a more accurate prognosis and reduce the need for postoperative therapy in patients without surgical complications. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective study on 55 patients with diagnosis of endometrial cancer. RESULTS: Surgical staging of patients undergoing pelvic lymphadenectomy (47/55) showed that 59.6% of cases (n = 28) had Stage I cancer (IA in 4, IB in 16, IC in 8), 17.02% (n = 8) Stage II (IIA in 3, IIB in 5), 21.2% (n = 10) Stage III (IIIB in 5, IIIC in 5), and 2.1% (n = 1) Stage IVA. In the remaining eight patients with a very high anesthesiologic risk (ASA 4), surgical staging was incomplete because they underwent only node palpation. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, as we wait for the sentinel lymph node technique to demonstrate satisfactory results and be standardized also for endometrial cancer, we believe that surgical lymph node dissection plays a crucial role in debulking this type of cancer. When performed by a good surgical oncology team, it does not entail a significantly increased operative risk.

A perspective study on correlation between HPV DNA and lymph nodes in surgically treated cervical carcinoma patients. Preliminary data.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to analyze the presence of HPV DNA in lymph nodes in patients with cervical cancer. STUDY DESIGN: A prespective study was performed on a total of 18 patients with cervical cancer in FIGO Stage I-II. The surgical procedure consisted of systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy with removal of the common/external/internal (obturator) iliac lymph node chains, followed by radical hysterectomy depending on the clinical stage, or by Piver's type II radical laparohysterectomy for Stage IA2 carcinoma and Piver's type-III laparohysterectomy for Stage IB or Stage II carcinoma. After removal by a technique not yet described in the literature, the lymph nodes were processed directly in the operating room. HPV DNA testing was done using a cytobrush device. At the end of this operation, the lymph nodes were sent to the hospital's pathologist for metastasis detection. RESULTS: The correlation between a positive HPV DNA test in the cervix and lymph node metastasis was non significant (p < 0.63). By contrast, the correlation between a positive HPV DNA test in the lymph nodes and lymph node metastasis was highly significant (p < 0.005), as was the correlation between positive HPV DNA tests in the cervix and lymph nodes (p < 0.005). Finally, the correlation between disease stage and positive HPV DNA testing in the lymph nodes was also significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the technique that we used for HPV DNA extraction appears safe and reproducible. The results are comparable with, if not better, than those obtained with other techniques reported in the literature. The presence of HPV DNA in the lymph nodes is probably an early indicator of metastasis and as such it could be used as a predictor of relapse. Normally untreated patients who have this marker could then receive adjuvant therapy.

Incidence of port-site metastasis after laparoscopic management of borderline ovarian tumors: a series of 22 patients.

PURPOSE: The aim of this work was to evaluate the incidence of port-site metastasis in patients undergoing laparoscopy for borderline ovarian carcinoma (BOT). METHODS: Twenty-two patients who underwent laparoscopy from 2004 to 2008 for BOT were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: In 15 patients an ultraconservative procedure with enucleation of the annexal neoplasia was carried out, while in five (23%) unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed and in two cases (9%) bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was done. CONCLUSION: The literature data report few cases of port-site metastasis in BOT patients. Residual cutaneous metastases have been reported to occur within 12 months from the first surgery, generally in association with serous histology. In our analysis, we found 17 out of 22 cases of serous BOT, three mucinous and two endometriod. In no case was cutaneous metastasis revealed after an average of 30 months of follow-up.

Acrofacial dysostosis syndromes: a relevant prenatal dilemma. A case report and brief literature review.

The acrofacial dysostosis (AFD) syndromes are an heterogeneous group of disorders with undefined classification and inheritance. We report the sonographic and clinical features of an AFD fetus with predominantly pre-axial forms. We made a prenatal diagnosis of Nager syndrome but postnatal examination showed post-axial defects previously undetectable by ultrasound.

Very-early-onset discordant growth in monochorionic twin pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: The significance of growth restriction in the first trimester in karyotypically normal fetuses is uncertain. CASE: We report a case of diamniotic monochorionic twin pregnancy with marked growth discordance noted in the first trimester. No major congenital or karyotype abnormalities or ongoing evidence of twin-twin transfusion syndrome were found during gestation. Birth weight discordance in the twins was 49.5%. Histologic examination revealed immature villi, with a shortage of terminal villi and an abundance of intermediate mature villi, as well as hypoxic areas with altered villi in the part of the placenta supplying the smaller twin. CONCLUSION: The causes underlying discordant growth in karyotypically normal twin pregnancies without evidence of twin-twin transfusion syndrome are not entirely clear. There may be other conditions responsible for discordant growth that occur in the first or early second trimester of pregnancy.

Oligohydramnios and fetal renal sonographic appearances related to prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors. A case report.

A case of acute neonatal renal failure in twins following tocolytic treatment with ketoprotene is described. The twins had visible signs in utero of developed anhydramniosis associated with morphological renal abnormalities on ultrasound. At birth both twins had acute renal failure with reduced creatinine and urea levels, which could only be normalized after 3 and 18 months, respectively.

Transabdominal antepartum amnioinfusion.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study was to evaluate whether transabdominal antepartum amnioinfusion is associated with maternal complications during pregnancy and at childbirth. METHODS: Fifty-three pregnant women, hospitalized for oligohydramnios and submitted to transabdominal antepartum amnioinfusion between 16 and 34 weeks' gestational age, were compared with a historic group of 42 pregnant women treated conservatively. RESULTS: The study population was divided into two groups of women with ruptured and unruptured membranes (Groups A and B, respectively). The latency period between time of admission and term of pregnancy was more favorable in amnioinfused patients (Group A: 22 vs. 11 days; Group B: 30 vs. 9 days), and none of the maternal adverse events under study was significantly more common in amnioinfused patients. By contrast, maternal temperature over 38 degrees C was more frequent among controls than among amnioinfused patients with ruptured membranes (23% vs. 4%); so was the number of cesarean sections for fetal distress in Group B (50 vs. 11%). CONCLUSIONS: Antepartum amnioinfusion does not appear to induce greater complications than conservative treatment for oligohydramnios, with or without premature rupture of membranes. On the contrary, this procedure seems to offer several benefits to pregnant women.

Antepartum amnioinfusion: a review.

OBJECTIVE: Antepartum amnioinfusion is a relatively recent procedure introduced with fetal medicine techniques. It is usually indicated for severe oligohydramnios in order to avoid the related complications such as pulmonary hypoplasia, the deforming effects of oligohydramnios, variable fetal heart rate decelerations and intraventricular hemorrhage. Antepartum amnioinfusion is also employed to improve ultrasound visualization in cases with oligohydramnios. Our objective was to evaluate the benefits and complications related to this procedure which is still less commonly used compared to intrapartum amnioinfusion, and whose risks are therefore not well established. STUDY DESIGN: Reports of study designs identified from searches of MEDLINE, PUBMED, the Cochrane Collaboration, specialized databases and bibliographies of review articles were identified. Studies in women who underwent amnioinfusion between 1987 and 2002 were included. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Amnioinfusion seems to offer several benefits, in terms of both prenatal diagnosis and favorable perinatal outcome. Most clinical experiences report that amnioinfusion is safe, both for the mother and for the fetus. However, randomized control-group studies subdivided on the basis of the cause of oligohydramnios (e.g. premature rupture of membranes, fetal growth restriction, obstructive uropathy and renal agenesis) could help to determine the advantages and risks linked to this procedure. Prospective randomized studies should therefore be encouraged, to clarify any possible doubts regarding the procedure, before it can be introduced into routine practice in the management of oligohydramnios.

Ultrasound assessment of biometric trends in a case of thanatophoric dysplasia.

We present a case of thanatophoric dysplasia diagnosed at the 21st week of gestation. Serial ultrasound was performed throughout pregnancy. The scans showed a distinctive pattern of development of the fetal long bones. Up to week 25, the fetal long bones appeared to grow steadily but slower compared to normal measurements (4-5 SD below the mean); then, between weeks 26 and 30, long bone growth was further and more severely hampered, until it almost stopped altogether approaching term, with measurements 9-12 SD below the mean at week 38.

Doppler velocimetry and thrombophilic screening at middle trimester of gestation: preliminary data.

OBJECTIVE: To establish whether asymptomatic normotensive pregnant women with an abnormal uterine Doppler velocimetry, have haematological changes characteristic of congenital or acquired thrombophilia, and whether this information improve predict in pregnancy complications. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study involved the enrolment of 30 healthy normotensive pregnant women between the 23rd and 27th week of gestation, subdivided into group A (normal uterine Doppler velocimetry) and group B (abnormal uterine Doppler velocimetry). Besides uterine velocimetry (resistence index and presence/absence of notch), at enrolment in the study the PI of the umbilical artery and of the middle cerebral artery were measured, in addition to the usual foetal biometric parameters (biparietal diameter and abdominal circumference). Contemporaneously, a 20 ml blood sample was taken for the dosage of protein C, protein S, antithrombin III, activated protein C resistance, antiphospholipid antibodies and platelet functionality. Subsequently, for all the remaining period of the pregnancy, data were collected relating to the onset of any materno-foetal complications and modality of delivery, as well as neonatal data up to the first 20 days of life. RESULTS: The incidence of adverse perinatal outcomes (pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension, abruptio placentae, endouterine foetal death, preterm birth, caesarean section because of maternal or foetal problems, APGAR score lower than 7 at the 5th minute of life, small for gestational age) resulted as being 75% in group B versus 11% in group A (P<0.001). The mean gestational age at delivery was 34 weeks (range 27-41) in group A versus 39 weeks (range 37-42) in group B (P<0.001). No difference emerged as to either the mean activity in the plasma levels of the coagulation protein studied in patients with normal and abnormal uterine velocimetry. The same consideration is also true if the population is analysed in relation to the lesser or greater seriousness of the Doppler velocimetry abnormalities. Subdividing the patients in relation to the absence and to the presence of unfavourable perinatal outcomes, the thrombophilic indices appear to be substantially comparable. CONCLUSION: Uterine Doppler velocimetry, carried out between the 24th and the 26th week of pregnancy, proves its validity by identifying a population at high risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. In contrast, the investigations carried out on the haematological abnormalities characteristic of thrombophilia do not reveal any significant differences, either between patients with normal and those with abnormal velocimetry, or between patients with adverse perinatal outcomes and those without. It is thus unlikely that these preliminary data will lead to an improvement in the clinical reliability of uterine velocimetry.

Sonographic assessment of amniotic fluid volume between 11 and 24 weeks of gestation: construction of reference intervals related to gestational age.

OBJECTIVE: At present, most of the methods for sonographic assessment of amniotic fluid volume are unreliable in the second trimester of pregnancy, or else they do not present nomograms related to gestational age. DESIGN: The aim of this prospective cross-sectional study was to construct normal reference ranges of four ultrasound parameters for the evaluation of amniotic fluid volume which could be applied in the second trimester. For these parameters we calculated normal curve limits suitable for use in clinical practice. SUBJECTS: From a population of normal pregnant women between the 12th and the 24th weeks of gestation undergoing a routine ultrasound examination during 1997 at our institute, 273 were found to be suitable for the study, after the exclusion of all cases which presented any feto-maternal pathology or complications up to the 24th week. METHODS: The largest 'amniotic pocket' in a vertical direction, free of small fetal parts and umbilical cord, was measured: the maximum vertical and transverse diameters were measured on the same scan; the mean diameter and the product of the two diameters were calculated. The 'mean amniotic fluid diameter', the 'two-diameter pocket', the 'largest vertical pocket' and the 'largest transverse pocket' were the four sonographic parameters considered. RESULTS: The four parameters correlated well with gestational week and with the biparietal diameter; the normal reference intervals and normal curve were then calculated. All these parameters were found to have good intra- and interoperative reproducibility. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the use of an ultrasound semiquantitative method based on the measurement of a single amniotic fluid pocket and involving normal reference intervals according to gestational age could improve the early diagnosis of amniotic fluid variations during the second trimester, although this has yet to be confirmed by extensive clinical trials.

Doppler velocimetry and non stress test in severe fetal growth restriction.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of Doppler velocimetry and cardiotocography in surveillance of the fetus affected by severe fetal growth retardation (FGR) and hence their capacity in predicting adverse perinatal outcome. This could therefore permit the timing of delivery thus reducing perinatal morbidity and mortality. METHODS: 53 women with high risk pregnancies, all suffering from various pathologies such as gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, Antithrombin III deficit, and in whom FGR (fetal abdominal circumference < 2.5th percentile for gestational age) diagnosed between the 24th and 35th week of gestational age, were retrospectively enrolled in the study. Doppler velocimetry was carried out on the main vascular districts - both arterial [umbilical artery (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), aorta (Ao) and uterine artery] and venous [umbilical vein (UV), ductus venosus (DV), inferior vena cava (IVC)]. Also evaluated was the amniotic fluid index (AFI). Daily non stress tests (NST) were conducted at least thrice a day for an overall period of not shorter than 60 min. Also considered were the methods of delivery and the perinatal outcome, e.g. gestational age at birth, perinatal mortality, incidence resuscitation, etc. RESULTS: The 53 patients studied were subdivided into three groups on the basis of the initial velocimetric exam of the umbilical and uterine arteries. Group A was comprised of those with altered waveforms of the UA, Group B those with altered waveforms on the uterine artery while Group C contained those with altered waveforms both of the UA and uterine artery. The period of study for group C was on average six days (p < 0.05) while for groups A and B they were on average 10 and 22 days, respectively. Group C also presented higher incidences of altered waveforms in the venous compartment, i.e. absent or reversed end diastole (ARDEF) was observed in 89% of the cases versus 0% and 7.6% observed in Group A and B, respectively. Altered waveforms in the DV and pulsations in the UV were both observed in Group C while the same was not observed in either group A or B. The NST did not show any substantial difference between the groups - only as the appearance of decelerations present in over half the cases in all groups at the end of the study. Group C also presented higher incidences in adverse perinatal outcome as compared to groups A and B such as as low birth weight (868 g vs 1,324 g & 1,397 g, p < 0.001), neonatal resuscitation (52.6% vs 0% & 7.6% p = 0.001), longer periods of admission to neonatal intensive care unit (67 days vs 32 & 33 p < 0.001) and perinatal mortality (36% vs 0 & 0, p < 0.05). The velocimetric indices which appear to better predict perinatal mortality are those related to the venous compartment giving a diagnostic accuracy of 92.8% (KI > 0.75) in case of pulsations in the UV, 86.6% (KI > 0.75) with alterations on the DV, and of 78.5% (KI > 0.40) for those on the IVC. Cardiotocography revealed to be less capable in predicting perinatal mortality giving a diagnostic accuracy of 66.6% (KI > 0.40) with a non reactive, non variable NST. CONCLUSION: The data presented show that velocimetric modifications in the fetal venous compartment constitute a relevant prognostic sign in the prediction of perinatal mortality and neonatal resuscitation. The further the vessels compromised are from the heart, the higher is the relative risk for perinatal mortality, equal to 5.0 (95% C.I. = 0.61-40.9) with alterations on the IVC, of 8.2 (95% CI = 1.04-61.5) when they involve the DV, and of 18.0 (95% = 2.44-133) when pulsations are obtained on the UV.

[Sonographic characterization, Doppler ultrasonography and tumor markers in the diagnosis of malignancy of ovarian masses]. / Ecostructtura, eco Doppler e markers tumorali nella diagnosi di malignità delle masse ovariche.

BACKGROUND: The study analyses the diagnostic possibilities regarding ovarian neoplasms offered by different clinical approaches: B-mode morphological ultrasonographic examination, colour Doppler and Doppler pulsed ultrasonography, and lastly the assay of a number of tumour markers. METHODS: A prospective study was carried out in 125 selected patients attending the Ultrasonography unit of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic at Parma University between June 1997 and June 1999 who presented an adnexal mass . All patients underwent transvaginal ultrasonography (multifrequency vaginal probe 5.0-6.5 MHz, Esaote Idea, Genova) to characterise the mass, applying 5 different ultrasonographic scores: Granberg, Sassone, Di Priest, Lerner, Ferrazzi. Colour Doppler imaging was then performed to analyse the vascularisation of the mass, also using pulsed Doppler to study a number of velocimetric parameters: pulsatility index, index of resistance, systolic and diastolic peak velocity, mean velocity. All the patients underwent surgery using laparotomy or video laparoscopy, accompanied by histological analysis. A number of different tumour markers were assayed prior to surgery: Cal25, CA19-9, CEA, beta-HCG, alpha-fetoprotein. RESULTS: Out of 127 pelvic masses examined, histological analysis showed that 19 were malignant and 108 benign. The diagnostic accuracy of malignancy was comparable for the 5 scores studied, with a minimum of 57.48% for Lerner and a maximum of 77.16% for Di Priest. The central importance of vascularisation was the only significant parameter among those analysed using colour Doppler which was useful for the diagnosis of a malignant neoplasm, with a diagnostic accuracy of 82.95%. No indicator obtained using pulsed Doppler was useful for diagnostic purposes. CA125 was the only tumour marker that revealed a statistically significant difference emerged between the benign (21.6 U/ml) and malignant (220.8 U/ml) masses. Its diagnostic accuracy was 75.58%. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed that the three methods analysed do not differentiate substantially in their overall diagnostic capacity of malignant ovarian neoplasms. The best performances for ecographic scores (Di Priest) did not exceed a sensitivity of 89.47% with a 21.25% incidence of false positives; this was comparable to CA125 with a sensitivity of 85.71% and false positives in 22.09%. In relation to the central importance of vascularisation, colour Doppler achieved a lower sensitivity (55.55%), but this was confirmed by a low incidence of false positives (7.95%). This revealed its importance as a useful method, especially for excluding the presence of malignant tumours.

[Amnioinfusion: techniques, indications, and controlled retrospective study of 55 cases]. / Amnioinfusione: tecniche, indicazioni e studio retrospettivo controllato di 55 casi.

Amnioinfusion is a relatively recent procedure introduced among fetal medicine techniques. Its applications focus on two different methods: transcervical and transabdominal. The first procedure usually is carried out during "intrapartum amnioinfusion" to prevent or treat fetal heart rate (FHR) decelerations related to oligohydramnios or to dilute thick meconium staining of the amniotic fluid. The latter method used during "antepartum amnioinfusion" is usually indicated for severe oligohydramnios in order to avoid the complications related such as pulmonary hypoplasia, deforming effects of oligohydramnios, variable FHR decelerations and intraventricular hemorrhages. Antepartum amnioinfusion, also used to improve ultrasound visualisation in presence of oligohydramnios, is less employed as compared to intrapartum amnioinfusion, therefore its risks are not well established. In order to study possible adverse effects on the mother or foetus, fifty five patients affected by oligohydramnios at 17th-34th week of gestational age were submitted to antepartum amnioinfusion (1-5 procedures) and were matched retrospectively with forty seven women with the same characteristics treated with the conservative and expectant management. The trend of pregnancy was the same for both groups in relation to maternal fever > 38 degrees (10.9% in the amnioinfused group vs 17.0% in control group ns), leukocyte count > 18,000/mm3 (25.5% vs 21.3%, ns), C-reactive protein > 10 ng/ml (10.9% vs 6.4%, ns). The latency period between admission and delivery was significantly longer in the amnioinfused group than in the control one [21 (range 1-98) vs 9 days (range 0-72); p < 0.001] and the frequency of Apgar score < 7 at the 5th min was less represented in the amnioinfused group than in the control group (32.3% vs 66.6%; p < 0.001). In conclusion, it was interesting to note that antepartum amnioinfusion seems to increase the latency period between premature rupture of membranes and delivery, but it remains to clarify if this procedure is as much safe for the fetus as for the mother.

Amnioinfusion in the management of oligohydramnios.

Oligohydramnios, with its extremely varied aetiology, is associated with unfavourable perinatal outcome, especially if detected during the second trimester. Amnioinfusion has recently become widely used for the diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic management of oligohydramnios, although as yet no incontrovertible proof exists of its advantages over conservative treatments. This study analyses our preliminary experience regarding antepartum amnioinfusion, aimed at clarifying its diagnostic and therapeutic role and its relative harmlessness. The outcomes of 80 pregnancies with oligohydramnios were analysed, comparing the 35 amnioinfused cases with the 45 conservatively treated ones; the cases were classed as second or third trimester, according to when a reduction in amniotic fluid was diagnosed. In the amnioinfused group, latency was longer; this was only significant in the third trimester (a median 14 days vs. 5 days; p < 0.05), no difference occurring in the incidence of spontaneous abortion, intrauterine death or preterm delivery. Analysis of neonatal outcomes at the second trimester shows a lesser incidence of neonatal deaths (5% vs. 33%; p < 0.05). The number of neonates discharged after amnioinfusion at the II trimester (3 out of 4) constitutes 75% of live births, compared with only 25% (2 out of 8) among those not undergoing amnioinfusion in the same period. Cumulative analysis of neonatal complications in the two treatment groups revealed no significant differences; cases of serious neurological damage at the third trimester were more frequent in the non-amnioinfused group (7 out of 27 vs. 0 out of 15; p < 0.05). There were no differences between the two groups (amnioinfused and not) with regard to maternal parameters of phlogosis analysed (leukocytosis, hyperpyrexia, CRP C-reacting Protein). In conclusion, our experience shows that within the limits of the small number of samples here used, amnioinfusion, involving few maternal or fetal risks, is advantageous as to perinatal mortality and morbidity. We thus confirm it as one of the few available methods in the active management of pregnancies affected by second-term and incipient third-term oligohydramnios.

Influence of residual insulin secretion and duration of diabetes mellitus on the control of luteinizing hormone secretion in women.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to establish whether the persistence of residual beta-cell activity after long-term diabetes mellitus (DM) exerts a protective role on luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion. METHODS: The LH responses to stimulation with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) (100 microg in an i.v. bolus) or naloxone (4 mg injected in an i.v. bolus, followed by the constant infusion of 8 mg in 2 h) were measured in C-peptide-positive (CpP) and C-peptide-negative (CpN) normally menstruating women with short-term (group 1 < 3 years, CpP n = 11, CpN n = 11) or long-term (group 2 > 10 years, CpP n = 11, CpN n = 11) DM and in age-matched normal control subjects (n = 11). RESULTS: Gn-RH induced significant increments in LH secretion in all groups. Significant LH responses to naloxone were observed in all groups, except in group 2 CpN patients. However, the LH response to either Gn-RH or naloxone was significantly lower in group 1 CpN, group 2 CpP and group 2 CpN patients than in the normal control subjects. Furthermore, the LH response was significantly lower in group 2 CpP than in group 1 CpP patients and in group 2 CpN than in group 1 CpN subjects. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate a role for both deficiency in residual endogenous insulin secretion and duration of diabetes in the derangement of LH secretory control. The data suggest that the protective role exerted by residual beta-cell activity on LH secretion during the early years of DM diminishes with time elapsed after the onset of diabetes mellitus.

Altered neuroendocrine control of GH secretion in normal women of advanced reproductive age.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that the neuroendocrine control of growth hormone (GH) secretion changes with increasing age in women with normal menstrual cycles and sex steroid levels. METHODS: In order to verify this hypothesis, 8 younger (22-32 years) and 8 older (41-45 years) women with normal menstrual function and gonadal steroid levels were tested with the serotonergic agent sumatriptan (6 mg in a subcutaneous bolus), the GABAergic agonist sodium valproate (800 mg orally), the dopaminergic compound L-Dopa (500 mg orally) and placebos. Furthermore, all women were tested with GH-releasing hormone (GH-RH 1 microgram/kg body weight in an intravenous (i.v.) bolus) to determine whether GH secretion in response to its specific releasing factor was preserved. Serum GH levels were recorded over 2 hours in all tests and IGF-I levels in basal samples. RESULTS: Plasma IGF-I concentrations and the GH responses to sumatriptan, sodium valproate and L-Dopa were significantly lower in older than in younger women. Also, the GH-RH-induced GH response was significantly lower in older than in younger subjects. When peak GH responses to releasing stimuli were compared with age, significant negative correlations were found in all tests. CONCLUSIONS: These data did not show a specific neurotransmitter change underlying defective GH secretion in older aged reproductive women. On the other hand, the results indicated that age-related changes in the secretory machinery of GH, such as a reduced pituitary sensitivity to GH-RH and/or a reduction in the pituitary GH secretory capacity, affect women during the last years of the reproductive period.

Amniotic fluid index variations after amniocentesis, amnioinfusion and amnioreduction: preliminary data.

We studied the relationship between the ultrasonographically measurable variations in the amniotic fluid index (AFI) and actual changes in the amniotic fluid volume induced by three differing invasive procedures: genetic amniocentesis, amnioinfusion and amnioreduction. We examined 50 patients, all between the 15th and 34th weeks of pregnancy, subdivided into three groups. The first group consisted of 33 women who underwent genetic amniocentesis, the second was of 11 patients submitted to amnioinfusion for oligohydramnios (AFI < 5 cm), and the third was composed of 6 patients affected by hydramnios (AFI > 20 cm) and treated with amnioreduction. In all cases AFI was measured before and after the invasive procedures and their variations (delta AFI) were correlated to the actual quantities of liquid infused or extracted. All the procedures gave rise to statistically significant AFI changes. After genetic amniocentesis, the mean change was from 12.0 to 10.9 cm (p < 0.005), after amnioinfusion from 3.1 to 10.6 cm (p < 0.0001) and after amnioreduction from 33.1 to 22.0 cm. (p < 0.005). However, a significant linear correlation between delta AFI and the fluid volume variations actually induced was found for amnioinfusion (y = 0.236537 + 0.031465x; R2 = 44.4%; p < 0.05) and for amnioreduction (y = -0.0584294 + 0.012008x; R2 = 89.8%. p < 0.00001). Only for amnioreduction is it possible, as proved by a multiple regression analysis, to improve the predictability of delta AFI, taking into consideration together with the quantity of fluid aspirated, the value of the preprocedure AFI (R2 = 92%; p < 0.05).