Interleukin-6 and Mycoplasma hominis as markers of preterm birth and related brain damage: our experience.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate whether a high concentration of interleukin-6 (IL)-6 in the amniotic fluid is associated to a higher risk of preterm delivery, premature rupture of the membranes (PROM), and periventricular leucomalacia (PVL) in preterm infants; we have further investigated whether the levels of IL-6 are related to the presence of vaginal infection by mycoplasms. METHODS: One hundred eight patients were screened by vaginal swab, sonography, amniocentesis, and dosage of IL-6 in the amniotic fluid during the second trimester of pregnancy. RESULTS: High levels of IL-6 and vaginal mycoplasms are related to preterm birth and PROM. We had no case of PLV. CONCLUSION: In order to achieve a good therapeutic purpose and get to an efficient strategy, the patients have to be elected by a number of criteria, which may include anamnesis elements, vaginal swab, then cytokines dosage in selected women, thus excluding the low-risk cases. Further studies are expected in order to plan guidelines including the dosage of ILs and principally of IL-6 as a main marker of preterm birth, above all during the second trimester.

Sexual behaviour among Italian adolescents: knowledge and use of contraceptives.

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive data concerning the sexual behaviour of Italian adolescents are lacking; the planning of prevention programmes is therefore difficult. METHODS: The current study evaluates the knowledge of Italian adolescents about sexuality and their use of methods to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. The age at first intercourse in the current sample was compared to that found in past samples to ascertain whether sex education was needed at an earlier age. The efficacy of one school-based sex education programme was analysed. RESULTS: Overall 630 students in three Italian cities were surveyed. Just over half the students were sexually active. Among these, the mean age at first intercourse was 15.6 years (SD +/- 1.3). The contraception most widely used was the condom although 'coitus interruptus', 'natural family planning' and 'no method' were also mentioned. The knowledge among students from Latina, after they had received sex education, was significantly better. CONCLUSION: Our data show a lower mean age at first intercourse than has been reported for earlier periods by other authors. School-based sexual education is effective in improving knowledge. Sexual health services for young people must be available and counselling services improved.

Case report of a sarcoma botryoides of the uterine cervix in fertile age and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: The sarcoma botryoides of the cervix uteri occurs very rarely in fertile women. CASE: Here is a case of a 35-year-old fertile woman, who developed a sarcoma botryoides of the cervix uteri. The diagnosis required clinical examination, ecography, NMR, CT scan and a pathological examination of the surgical sample. Radical surgery and chemotherapy was performed. The patients is still living after more than 1 year after treatment. DISCUSSION: Although the combined modality approach has given, if not constant, acceptable outcomes, a larger investigation on all the cases of sarcoma botryoides of the cervix uteri is expected.