绝经后妇女低剂量激素替代治疗的有效性与安全性的临床研究

目的：探讨绝经后妇女低剂量激素替代治疗的有效性与安全性。方法：４４例绝经后妇女随机分为两组,试验组２２例,隔日口服结合型雌激素（ＣＥ）０．６２５ｍｇ与安宫黄体酮（ＭＰＡ）２ｍｇ交替应用;对照组２２例,口服ＣＥ０．６２５ｍｇ／ｄ,每月连续服用２５天,后１０天加用ＭＰＡ４ｍｇ。两组均连续服用４周期。结果：实验组１例退出,对照组２例退出。两组比较治疗效果无差异（Ｐ＞０．０５）,治疗后绝经期症状均明显改善（Ｐ＜０．００１）;两组血清总胆固醇（ＴＣ）、甘油三酯（ＴＧ）、低密度脂蛋白（ＬＤＬ）均明显下降,两组ＨＤＬ无显著变化（Ｐ＞０．０５）;两组尿钙／肌酐（Ｃａ／Ｃｒ）值均明显下降;试验组副反应明显低于对照组;阴道出血试验组２例（９．１％）,对照组１４例（６３．６％,Ｐ＜０．００１）;乳房胀痛试验组１例（４．５％）,对照组７例（３１．８％,Ｐ＜０．００１）。两组用药后无血压升高、乳腺增生及子宫内膜增生。结论：绝经后妇女低剂量激素替代治疗具有用量小、副反应少、有效、安全、经济、依从性高等优点。     

新生儿丁胺卡那霉素的药动学研究

目的　探讨丁胺卡那霉素（ＡＭＫ）在新生儿中有效、安全的用药剂量和方法。　方法　２９ 例不同日龄的新生儿,予ＡＭＫ７．５ ｍｇ／ｋｇ １ 次静脉滴注,于滴毕后０．５ 、４ 、８ 和１２ 小时分别采取静脉血,以荧光偏振免疫法测定血药浓度,并计算药动学主要参数。然后按药动学参数特点确定以ＡＭＫ 剂量１０ ｍｇ／ｋｇ 每天１ 次３０ 分钟静脉滴注,应用于２０ 例不同日龄细菌感染新生儿,分别测定血药峰浓度和谷浓度。　结果　ＡＭＫ 的代谢符合一室模型。２９ 例新生儿予ＡＭＫ７ ．５ ｍｇ／ｋｇ １ 次静脉滴注后,血药浓度峰值平均为（１１．５６ ±３ ．７４）μｇ／ｍｌ;而１２ 小时后的平均血药浓度在２ ．５ μｇ／ｍｌ 以下。表观分布容积（Ｖｄ）、消除半衰期（ Ｔ１／２）、消除速率常数（Ｋｅ） 和清除率（Ｃｌ） 分别为（０．７１ ±０ ．２１）Ｌ／ｋｇ、（４ ．７±１ ．６）ｈ 、（０ ．１６ ±０．０５）ｈ－ １ 和（１ ．８４ ±０ ．５）ｍｌ／（ｍｉｎ·ｋｇ）。随日龄增长,消除半衰期（Ｔ１／２） 逐渐缩短,而消除速率常数（Ｋｅ） 逐渐延长,差异有非常显著和显著意义（ Ｐ分别＜ ０．０１ 、＜ ０ ．０５） ;Ｖｄ 随日龄增长逐渐减少,而Ｃｌ 随日龄增长逐渐增高,但     

溶脲脲原体感染对大鼠生育及胚胎发育影响的研究

９０只雄性ＳＤ大鼠随机分为三组。Ａ、Ｂ两组每只动物膀胱内接种溶脲脲原体（ＵｒｅａｐｌａｓｍａＵｒｅａｌｙｔｉｃｕｍ，Ｕ．Ｕ．）悬液１ｍｌ（１０５ＣＣＵ／ｍｌ）；Ｂ组接种３个月后，每日口服（灌胃）美满霉素２０～１００ｍｇ／ｋｇ体重，共１４天。Ｃ组为对照。接种５个月后，所有动物进行交配试验。结果表明，接钟后Ａ组动物睾丸组织Ｕ．Ｕ．再分离率为６２．５％，Ｂ组５％，Ｃ组未检出Ｕ．Ｕ．。Ａ组睾丸Ｕ．Ｕ．阳性的动物左右睾丸重量均明显低于Ｂ组和Ｃ组（Ｐ＜０．０２）。Ａ组有１２例动物不育（３０％），Ｂ组有２例动物不育（１０％），Ｃ组全部生育。Ａ组仔鼠（ｎ＝２４０，５．９７±０．６５ｇ）及胚鼠体重（ｎ＝２９３，３．５６±０．９７ｇ）明显低于Ｂ组（分别为ｎ＝１８２，６．９８±０．２６ｇ和ｎ＝１６１，４．４３±０．７２ｇ）和Ｃ组（分别为ｎ＝３２５，６．８９±０．５３ｇ和ｎ＝３４６，４．１７±０．８７ｇ）。Ａ组还发现死胎、畸胎、皮下出血和宫内生长迟缓现象。提示：Ｕ．Ｕ感染可影响大鼠的生育力及胚胎发育，美满霉素可有效抑制Ｕ．Ｕ．生长，并在一定程度上改善生殖状况。     

习惯性流产的免疫学病因的研究

我们对２３对“原因不明”习惯性流产夫妇的ＨＬＡ，Ａ，Ｂ，Ｃ抗原进行了分型并以３０对正常夫妇做对照。同时还研究了流产患者血浆中ＩｇＧ、ＩｇＭ、ＩｇＡ、Ｃ３、Ｃ４的变化。结果表明：①Ａ１１，Ａ２６，Ｂ１４可能与习惯性流产有关联。②流产夫妇问ＨＬＡ．Ａ，Ｂ，Ｃ抗原相容性并不增大。③两组ＨＬＡ，Ａ，Ｂ，Ｃ抗原纯合性无差异。④就单个抗原而言，流产组夫妇Ｂ５相同者明显高于对照组（Ｐ＜０．００１），其他各位点无明显差异。⑤习惯性流产患者血浆中ＩｇＧ、ＩｇＭ及补体Ｃ３、Ｃ４含量较正常对照组轻度增高，但无统计学意义，而血浆申ＩｇＡ的含量则明显升高（Ｐ＜０．００１）。我们还检测了９５例“原因不明”的习惯性流产后者血清中抗夫淋巴细胞抗体，其阳性率明显少于对照组（Ｐ＜０．００５）。     

CA125与子宫内膜抗体测定用于诊断子宫内膜异位症

测定了４２例妇女血清和腹腔液ＣＡ＿（１２５）及子宫内膜抗体（ＥＭＡｂ）水平，其中经腹腔镜诊断为子宫内膜异位症者２８例（观察组），无子宫内膜异位症者１４例（对照组）。结果表明：观察组血清ＥＭＡｂ的吸光度为０．４４±０．１３，明显高于对照组的０．３４±０．０７，但两组间血清ＣＡ＿（１２５）差异无显著性；两含用于诊断的敏感性分别为７１．４３％和８２．１４％，特异性为５７．２１％和５７．１４％。两组腹腔液中ＥＭＡｂ差异无显著性；两组腹腔液ＣＡ＿（１２５）和ＥＭＡｂ水平均明显高于血清。     

硫酸普拉酮钠用于中期妊娠引产的疗效观察

对５０例利凡诺引产的中期妊娠妇女应用硫酶普拉酮钠（硫酸去氢表雄酮，ＤＨＡＳ）促宫颈成熟（用药组），并与同期５０例单纯利凡诺引产的中期妊娠妇女（对照组）进行比较。结果表明：用药组５０例宫颈Ｂｉｓｈｏｐ评分均有升高，显效率为８６％；总有效率为９８％；与对照组比较差异有显著性（分别为Ｐ＜０．００１及Ｐ＜０．０１）；用药组平均引产时间比对照组缩短１３．４小时，差异有显著性（Ｐ＜０．０１）。     

卵巢癌可溶性抗原和抗CD3单克隆抗体诱导细胞毒性T细胞抗人卵巢癌的实验研究

目的探讨卵巢癌过继细胞免疫治疗新方法。方法提取卵巢癌细胞（ＣＯＣ１和ＣＯＣ２ｎ）可溶性抗原（ＴＳＡ），用ＴＳＡ和抗ＣＤ３单克隆抗体（ＣＤ３ＭｃＡｂ）共同诱导正常人外周血单个核细胞（ＰＢＭＣ）产生细胞毒性Ｔ细胞（ＣＴＬ），用ＣＴＬ于体外杀伤ＣＯＣ１细胞和裸鼠体内抑制ＣＯＣ２ｎ移植瘤的生长，体外和淋巴因子激活杀伤细胞（ＬＡＫ）、淋巴因子和抗ＣＤ３单抗激活的杀伤细胞（ＣＤ３ＡＫ）细胞进行比较，体内和ＣＤ３ＡＫ细胞进行比较。结果ＣＴＬ、ＣＤ３ＡＫ和ＬＡＫ对ＣＯＣ１细胞的细胞毒作用分别为７９．４％、５２．１％和５１．７％（Ｐ＜０．０１）。在体内，ＣＴＬ与ＣＤ３ＡＫ和未经处理的对照组比较，卵巢癌细胞移植到裸鼠体内的第９天，肿瘤平均体积分别为４４．４±２４．２ｍｍ３、１１８．８±４０．０ｍｍ３和４４３．０±１５８．７ｍｍ３（Ｐ＜０．０１），裸鼠平均生存期分别为２８．５天、２５．５天和１７天（Ｐ＜０．０１）。结论本方法诱导产生的ＣＴＬ，在体内、体外对卵巢癌细胞均有较高的细胞毒作用，能明显抑制肿瘤生长，为卵巢癌治疗提供了新的思路。     

孕妇血清中抗心磷脂抗体水平对围产儿的影响

目的：探讨孕妇血清抗心磷脂抗体（ａｎｔｉｃａｒｄｉｏｌｉｐｉｎａｎｔｉｂｏｄｙ，ＡＣＡ）水平增高对围产儿的影响。方法：用酶联免疫吸附法（ＥＬＩＳＡ）测定２０８份健康孕妇的血清ＡＣＡ－ΙｇＡ、ＩｇＧ和ＩｇＡ结合指数，观察ＡＣＡ水平与小于胎龄儿、胎儿窘迫及新生儿窒息的关系。结果：小于胎龄儿组和围产儿缺氧组的ＡＣＡ－ＩｇＭ、ＩｇＡ结合指数显著高于对照组（Ｐ＜０．００１～Ｐ＜０．０５），而ＡＣＡ－ＩｇＧ结合指数差异无显著性（Ｐ＞０．２）；小于胎龄儿组的ＡＣＡ－ＩｇＡ结合指数显著高于围产儿缺氧组（Ｐ＜０．０２），但ＡＣＡ－ＩｇＭ和ＩｇＧ结合指数差异无显著性（Ｐ＞０．１，Ｐ＞０．５）；胎儿窘迫、新生儿窒息及胎儿窘迫合并新生儿窒息时，孕妇血清ＡＣＡ－ＩｇＭ、ＩｇＡ和ＩｇＧ结合指数差异无显著性（Ｐ＞０．０５）。结论：孕妇血清中的ＡＣＡ水平增高对围产儿预后具有显著的不良影响     

卵巢功能早衰患者抗卵巢抗体及细胞免疫功能的测定

目的：探讨卵巢功能早衰（ＰＯＦ）患者细胞免疫功能的变化及其与抗卵巢抗体（ＡＯＡｂ）之间的关系。方法：检测３０例正常妇女（对照组）和３０例ＰＯＦ患者（ＰＯＦ组）的血清ＡＯＡｂ、外周血Ｔ淋巴细胞亚群及对卵巢抗原的白细胞促凝血活性（ＬＰＣＡ）。结果：对照组血清ＡＯＡｂ水平为１．３９±０．７２ｋＵ／Ｌ，ＰＯＦ组血清ＡＯＡｂ水平为６．８０±１．９１ｋＵ／Ｌ，两者比较，差异有极显著性（Ｐ＜０．０１）。与对照组比较，ＰＯＦ组ＣＤ＋３、ＣＤ＋４细胞百分率（分别为６５．４２±５．３１％和４４．７９±５．９０％）明显升高，ＣＤ＋８细胞百分率（２５．６３±４．２６％）明显降低，ＣＤ４＋／ＣＤ＋８比值（１．６６±０．２７）增加（Ｐ＜０．０１）。ＣＤ＋４／ＣＤ＋８比值升高者的ＡＯＡｂ阳性率（８５．７％，１８／２１），明显高于ＣＤ＋４／ＣＤ＋８比值正常者（３／９，Ｐ＜０．０１）。ＡＯＢｂ阳性的ＰＯＦ患者ＬＰＣＡ水平上升，且与ＡＯＡｂ之间有非常显著的相关性（χ２＝８．３７８，Ｐ＜０．０１）。结论：ＰＯＦ患者对卵巢抗原同时产生细胞免疫和体液免疫反应，ＰＯＦ的发病可能与免疫因素有关。     

炔雌醇对绝经后妇女糖代谢的影响

目的：探讨合成雌激素炔雌醇对绝经后妇女糖代谢的影响。方法：将绝经后妇女１９例随机分为两组，口服炔雌醇（ＥＥ）０．０２５ｍｇ９例为Ａ组，口服ＥＥ０．０５ｍｇ１０例为Ｂ组，共服药３个月。服药前后均进行口服葡萄糖耐量试验和多样本的静脉葡萄糖耐量试验，同时测定血糖、胰岛素和计算曲线下面积（ＡＵＣ）以及胰岛素敏感指数（ＳＩ）。结果：两组均可有效降低空腹血糖、胰岛素水平，明显减少胰岛素ＡＵＣ，提高胰岛素ＳＩ。Ａ组血糖ＡＵＣ无多大变化，Ｂ组血糖ＡＵＣ明显增加。结论：炔雌醇可有效降低绝经后妇女的空腹血糖、胰岛素水平，减弱胰岛素抵抗。０．０５ｍｇＥＥ可损害糖耐量。     

Book Reviews

Book Review in this Article:
Objective Structured Clinical Examination in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, First Edition. Authors: Justin C, Konje and David J. Taylor. Publisher: Blackwell Science. Price: $90.00.
Key Topics in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Second Edition. Authors: R. Slade, E. Laird, G. Beynon, A. Pickersgill. Publisher: Bios Scientific Publishers. Price: $64.00.
Clinical Physiology In Obstetrics, Third Edition. Authors: Geoffrey Chamberlain and Fiona Broughton Pipkin. Publisher: Blackwell Science. Price: $323.00.
Ultrasound Screening for Fetal Abnormalities. Author: Report of the RCOG Working Party. Publisher: RCOG Press. Price: £6.00.
Fetal Abnormalities. Guidelines for Screening, Diagnosis and Management. Author: Joint Working Party of RCOG and RCPCH. Publisher: RCOG Press. Price: £6.00.
Colposcopy Cervical Pathology, Third edition. Author: Erich Burghardt, Hellmuth Piekel, Frank Girardi. Publisher: Trias. Price: $139.00.
varian and Fallopian Tube Cancer. Author: J.J. Kavanagh. S.E. Singletary, N. Einhom and A.D. DePetrillo. Publisher: Blackwell Science. Price: AUS$ 165.00.
Synopsis Of Gynecologic Oncology. Fifth Edition. Authors: C. Paul Morrow and John P. Curtin. Publisher: Churchill Livingstone. Price: not provided.
Bone Densitometry in Clinical Practice. Application and Interpretation. Author: Sidney Lour Bonnick. Publisher: Humana Press. Price: not provided.
Cardiovascular Disease and Steroid Hormone Contraception.
Author: Report of a WHO Scientific Group. Publisher: World Health Organisation (WHO). Price: Not for sale.
A History of Diabetes in Australia. Author: F.I.R. (Skip) Martin. Publisher: Miranova Publishers. Price: $25.00.     

In‐Hospital Birth Center with the Same Medical Guidelines as Standard Care: A Comparative Study of Obstetric Interventions and Outcomes

Background: A challenge of obstetric care is to optimize maternal and infant health outcomes and the mother’s experience of childbirth with the least possible intervention in the normal process. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of modified birth center care on obstetric procedures during delivery and on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Methods: In a cohort study 2,555 women who signed in for birth center care during pregnancy were compared with all 9,382 low‐risk women who gave birth in the standard delivery ward in the same hospital from March 2004 to July 2008. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated with 95% confidence interval (CI) and adjusted for maternal background characteristics, elective cesarean section, and gestational age. Results: The modified birth center group included fewer emergency cesarean sections (primiparas: OR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.58–0.83; multiparas: OR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.23–0.51), and in multiparas the vacuum extraction rate was reduced (OR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.26–0.67). In addition, epidural analgesia was used less frequently (primiparas: OR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.41–0.53; multiparas: OR: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.20–0.32). Fetal distress was less frequently diagnosed in the modified birth center group (primiparas: OR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.59–0.87; multiparas: OR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.29–0.69), but no statistically significant differences were found in neonatal hypoxia, low Apgar score less than 7 at 5 minutes, or proportion of perinatal deaths (OR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.14–1.13). Anal sphincter tears were reduced (primiparas: OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.55–0.98; multiparas: OR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.20–0.83). Conclusion: Midwife‐led comprehensive care with the same medical guidelines as in standard care reduced medical interventions without jeopardizing maternal and infant health. (BIRTH 38:2 June 2011)     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article:
A Guide to Effective Care in Pregnancy and Child-birth Second Edition. Author: Murray Enkin, Marc JNC Keirse, Megan Osborn
Safer Childbirth: A Critical History of Maternity Care. Author: Marjorie Tew. Publisher: Chapman & Hall. Price: not, Greg Robertson
Bailliere's Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Gynaecological Operative Laparoscopy: Current Status and Future Development. Author: C Wood. Publisher: Harcourt Brac, David S Browne
Advanced Laparoscopy for Surgeons. Author: Barry A Salky MD, Peter Paterson
Hysterectomy. Author: Michael P Diamond, James F Daniell, RA Watkins
Obstetrics and Gynaecology Review 1995. Author: Harrison H Sheld, AD Hewson
Dr Miriam Stoppard 'Menopause'. Author: Dr Miriam Stoppard, Maggi Ryan     

女性压力性尿失禁发生的危险因素分析

目的 调查城市社区女性压力性尿失禁发生的危险因素。方法 按照1：8随机抽样的方法,抽取福州市鼓楼区6066例妇女。调查项目包括：年龄、职业、文化程度、体重、血压、月经史、孕产史、分娩方式、新生儿体重、慢性疾病(高血压、糖尿病、慢性咳嗽、习惯性便秘)、腹腔或盆腔手术史、生活习惯(吸烟、酗酒、体育锻炼方式等)、尿失禁症状和发生频率、就医情况等。数据采用多因素回归分析。结果 问卷回收率为92．1％(5587／6066)。尿失禁发生率为18．1％,其中压力性尿失禁占8．8％。调查显示,诸因素中年龄[OR：1．010;95％可信限(CI)：1．001—1．025]、高体重指数(OR：1．092;95％CI：1．054—1．132)、高血压(OR：2．342;95％CI：1．026～5．349)、便秘(OR：1．448;95％CI：1．216—1．725)、多次流产(OR：1．306;95％,CI：1．113～1．533)、多次阴道分娩(OR：1．205;95％CI：1．009—1．440)、加腹压助产(OR．1．684;95％CI:1．140—2．489)、会阴直切(OR：2．244;95% CI：1．162～4．334)、会阴裂伤(OR：2．576;95％CI：1．724～3．851)、会阴切口感染(OR：5．988;95％CI：1．936—18．616)是尿失禁发生的危险因素。结论 压力性尿失禁的发生与多种因素有关,尤其与年龄和妊娠、分娩等产科因素关系密切。     

Transcervical Foley’s catheter versus Cook balloon for cervical ripening in stillbirth with a scarred uterus: a randomized controlled trial

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of the use of transcervical Foley’s catheter versus Cook cervical ripening balloon in pregnant women with stillbirth, unfavorable cervix and scarred uterus.

Design: Randomized controlled study.

Setting: El Minia University Hospital, El Minia, Egypt.

Patients and methods: Two-hundred pregnant women with stillbirth, unfavorable cervix and scarred uterus were recruited into this study. They were randomized into two groups. In group I (n?=?100), cervical ripening was done using Foley’s catheter. In group II (n?=?100), cervical ripening was done using Cook cervical ripening balloon.

Main outcome measures: Balloon insertion to delivery interval, successful ripening rate, cesarean delivery rate, maternal adverse events and maternal satisfaction.

Results: Time from balloon insertion to expulsion and from balloon insertion to delivery was significantly shorter in Foley’s catheter group. However, the difference between the two groups regarding time from balloon insertion to active labor, time from balloon expulsion to delivery, cervical ripening, cesarean section, instrumental delivery, pain score, need for analgesia, hospital stay and maternal satisfaction was not statistically significant.

Conclusions: Foley’s catheter and Cook cervical ripening balloon are comparable regarding efficacy and safety profile when used to ripen the cervix in pregnant women with stillbirth, unfavorable cervix and scarred uterus. However, Foley’s catheter has a shorter induction to delivery interval and is relatively cheaper device.     

Vaginal calculus as a late complication of bladder exstrophy

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To document an unusual finding of a vaginal calculus in a patient with bladder exstrophy. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Tertiary Centre, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Fourteen year old female. INTERVENTIONS: Cystotomy, introitoplasty. MAIN OUTCOME: Removal of vaginal calculus. MEASURES: None. RESULTS: Documentation and removal of a vaginal calculus. CONCLUSIONS: Vaginal calculi should be included in the differential diagnosis of urolithiasis in patients with bladder exstrophy.     

ß-hCG and prediction of therapeutic success in ectopic pregnancies treated with methotrexate,results from a prospective observational study

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of different beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (ß-hCG) levels measurement, for predicting success of medical treatment in cases diagnosed as tubal ectopic pregnancy (TEP).

Design: Five-year prospective observational study.

Setting: Prenatal Diagnosis Unit, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital – Barcelona.

Patients: TEP cases fulfilling criteria for medical treatment with Methotrexate.

Interventions: ß-hCG levels were measured on d 0, 4 and 7 of treatment. Results were compared by non-parametrical tests. A ROC curve was plotted to define cut-off points. Diagnostic accuracy of the different measurements was evaluated.

Main outcome measure: Failure of treatment defined as need for surgical treatment or persistence of high ß-HCG levels despite treatment.

Results: 126 women were diagnosed as TEP, eligible for medical treatment. There were no differences in parity, age, previous TEP, or adnexal mass size. Success rate was 88%. ß-HCG decreased significantly more, between days 0–7 and 4–7, in the successful cases. LR for success prediction was 6.2 and 7.8 for ß-HCG levels at days 4 and 7 respectively, 4.02 and 2.47 for decrement between days 0–7 (25%) and 4–7 (20%), respectively.

Conclusion: ß-hCG cutoff values have a potential for predicting a successful medical treatment of TEP.     

The use of biochemical markers in prenatal diagnosis of intrauterine growth retardation: insulin-like growth factor I, Leptin, and alpha-fetoprotein

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relation between weight deficit at birth and IGF-I, IGFBP-I, Leptin, and AFP levels in amniotic fluid after 14-18 weeks; to assess the diagnostic usefulness of these biochemical markers. STUDY DESIGN: Longitudinal, prospective study. Amniocentesis was performed in pregnant women after 14-18 weeks of gestation. Study population: 86 controls, 18 IUGR <10 percentile, and 17 IUGR <5 percentile. RESULTS: No significant correlation was found between severity of IUGR and IGF-I, IGFBP-I, or Leptin. AFP was inversely correlated with severity of IUGR; results for the IUGR <10 percentile were: S: 65.7%, SP: 56.9%, PPV: 38.3%, NPV: 80.3%, and an overall diagnostic capacity of 65.6%. Results for the IUGR <5 percentile were: S: 76.4%, SP: 54.8%, PPV: 21.6%, NPV: 93.4% were obtained, and an overall capacity of 70.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated values of AFP in amniotic fluid may help early detection of populations at risk of developing IUGR.     

Polycystic ovary syndrome and low-grade inflammation with special reference to YKL-40

Objective: To evaluate the plasma level of YKL-40 in a Danish polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) population and to investigate whether YKL-40 is associated with CVD risk factors such as waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), insulin resistance (IR), fasting glucose, fasting insulin, blood lipids and CRP.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Gynecological clinics at three Danish University Hospitals.

Patients: One hundred seventy-one premenopausal women with PCOS recruited consecutively from April 2010 to February 2012. PCOS was diagnosed according to the Rotterdam criteria.

Main outcome measures: Plasma level of YKL-40 in four phenotypes of PCOS defined by BMI and IR.

Results: No statistically significant difference was observed in the plasma level of YKL-40 across the four BMI/IR-phenotypes. Positive associations were observed between YKL-40 and BMI, total and free testosterone, triglycerides, and CRP. Total and free testosterone were independent predictors of YKL-40.

Conclusion: YKL-40, the marker of low-grade inflammation is not increased in women with PCOS.     

Lamellar bodies as a diagnostic test of fetal lung maturity.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the number of lamellar bodies in the amniotic fluid indicating fetal lung maturity and to define the effectiveness of a diagnostic test in a healthy pregnant population. METHODS: The study took place at the Hospital General de Zona #16 Centro Médico Nacional del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. Torreón, Coahuila, México, where 264 pregnant women were followed-up from August 1997 to October 1998. The women presented in labor between 26 and 41 weeks of gestation. Amniotic fluid was obtained during cesarean section or from the vaginal pool and lamellar bodies were counted without prior centrifugation in Cell-Dyn 3000's channel for blood platelets. Results were masked for neonatologists. RESULTS: The prevalence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) was found to be 14.9%. At the 8200/microl threshold, sensitivity was: 15.4% (95% CI=5.9-30.5%), specificity: 99.6% (95% CI=97.5-99.9%), positive predictive value (PPV): 85.7, negative predictive value (NPV): 87.1, likelihood ratio for a negative test (LR-): 0.85, and likelihood ratio for a positive test (LR+): 85.7. At the 57 000/microl level, sensitivity was: 92.3% (95% CI=79.1-98.3%), specificity: 70.9% (64.4-76.7%), PPV: 35.6, NPV: 98.1, LR-: 0.11, and LR+: 3.17. When the cut-off point was 79000/microl, sensitivity was: 100.0%, specificity: 43.0% (95% CI=36.5-49.8%), PPV: 23.5, NPV: 100.0, LR+: 34.3, and LR-: less than 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Counting lamellar bodies is a quick, readily available, and very effective test.