Umbilical Cord Knots And Encirclements

Although cord knots and/or encirclements account for 1 in 10 stillbirths of infants weighing 2,500 g or more, no problem due to this cause was encountered in a prospective study of 1,115 vaginal deliveries. In this study there were 6 cases of cord knot (0.5%) and 158 of cord encirclement (14.2%). The range of cord length was 27-122 cm, the 10th, 50th and 90th percentiles being 40, 52 and 69 cm respectively. In this study there was no clinical warning (fetal distress) of cord encirclement or knot during pregnancy, labour or delivery.     

ACUPUNCTURE AS AN ANTI-EMETIC IN MINOR GYNAECOLOGICAL SURGERY

A study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture as an anti-emetic in patients undergoing minor gynaecological surgery. 100 patients were studied divided into study group (Group I) and control group (Group II) of 50 patients each. In group I patients, acupuncture needle was inserted at acupuncture point P6, 10 minutes before induction of anesthesia. In group II, no acupuncture was used. Anaesthetic technique was similar in both the groups. Five patients (10%) in group I and twenty (40%) in group II had one or more emetic episodes. These results show that acupuncture can be one of the modalities for the prevention of nausea and vomiting in postoperative period and its use as an anti-emetic should be explored further.KEY WORDS: Minor gynaecological surgery, Acupuncture point P6 (Neiguan), Postoperative vomiting     

Functional analysis of R75Q mutation in the gene coding for Connexin 26 identified in a family with nonsyndromic hearing loss

Mutations in the gene (GJB2) coding for Connexin 26 (Cx26) are responsible for genetic forms of sensorineural hearing loss. This article describes a family characterized by congenital profound hearing loss, inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion and associated to a R75Q substitution in Cx26. Cell transfection and fluorescence imaging, dye transfer experiments and dual patch clamp recording showed that the mutant completely prevents the formation of functional channels despite assembling into junctional plaques, in communication incompetent HeLa cells. The disease is not associated with palmar and plantar keratosis in any of the family members, suggesting that R75Q substitution is not sufficient for the development of the complete syndromic phenotype. The association of palmar and plantar keratosis with profound hearing loss may be dependent on genetic background, requiring a functional interaction between the mutated Cx26 and other epidermally expressed connexins.     

Determination of IL-1 and IL-6 Levels in Human Embryo Culture-Conditioned Media

PROBLEM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6 in 24-hour human embryo culture-conditioned media (HECCM) and to find any embryo-related factor(s) to predict pregnancy during IVF procedure. METHOD: IL-1β and IL-6 levels were measured in 36 samples of HECCM and 17 cell culture media that had not been exposed to embryos, which were used as controls. Both cytokine levels were measured by the ELISA technique, using commercially available kits. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: We found an average IL-1β level ± SEM of 82 ± 4 pg/ ml (n=11) in HECCM from viable pregnancies and a significantly lower value, 14 ± 2 pg/ ml (n=25, P<0,001), in HECCM from embryos that did not lead to viable pregnancies. In control media the average IL-1β level was 11 ± 1 pg/ml (n=17), (P <0.001 vs. HECCM from viable pregnancies). In contrast IL-6 levels were undetectable in all samples analyzed. Judging by our results we suggest that measurement of IL-1 level in HECCM could be a useful parameter for predicting implantation in techniques of assisted reproduction.     

Characterization of a novel HLA-Cw*02 variant, Cw*0208, in a Caucasian individual

We describe an additional HLA-Cw*02 variant, HLA-Cw*0208, which has been identified in a renal transplant recipient of Caucasian origin (Italy). After performing preliminary serological typing, we analyzed exons 2 and 3 of the HLA-C locus polymorphism by cloning the amplified DNA and using a sequence-based typing method. The new allele differs from Cw*020202 by one nucleotide substitution at nucleotide 61 (G-->A) of exon 2, which translates to a difference of one amino acid at residue 21 (His-->Arg) of the HLA-C heavy chain. We propose that Cw*0208 was generated by a random point mutation in codon 21 from the Cw*020202 allele, or through gene conversion of Cw*020202 with another allele, probably the Cw*1205 and Cw*1602 alleles.     

Distinct mRNA microarray profiles of tolerogenic dendritic cells

Dendritic cells are crucial to the activation as well as suppression of the immune response. Previous reports have illustrated that APC interacting with antigen-specific T suppressor cells become tolerogenic, inducing T helper anergy. To characterize the molecular changes occurring in tolerogenic APC, the mRNA profile of KG-1 dendritic cells exposed to allospecific T helper and T suppressor cells were analyzed. This study now provides evidence that immature dendritic cells stimulated by T suppressor cells differentiate into mature dendritic cells with a distinct phenotype. The identification of Ts induced pathways of dendritic cell differentiation is critical to the development of new therapeutic strategies.     

Detection of hepatitis C virus-RNA by polymerase chain reaction in dental surgeries

The mean prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Italy is 0.87%. It reaches 2% in Campania, Southern Italy. Approximately 50% of community acquired non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis cannot be associated with known parenteral exposure. A recent Italian study has shown that the only demonstrable risk factor in 9% of acute C/NANB hepatitis is dental treatment. There are no data on direct contamination by HCV of dental surgeries. Possible environmental contamination by HCV-RNA was investigated in dental surgeries after treatment of anti-HCV and HCV-RNA positive patients. Thirty-five anti-HCV and HCV-RNA positive patients with chronic hepatitis underwent dental treatment and were enrolled in this study. Eight had chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH), 23 chronic active hepatitis (CAH), and 4 cirrhosis. A total of 328 samples collected from instruments and surfaces were tested after dental treatment of 35 anti-HCV positive patients. The presence of HCV-RNA was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to evaluate contamination of instruments and surfaces in dental surgeries. Twenty (6.1%) out of 328 collected samples were positive for HCV-RNA. The positive samples were from work benches (two), air turbine handpieces (one), holders (four), suction units (one), forceps (four), dental mirrors (two), and burs (six) Our data indicate that there is extensive contamination by HCV of dental surgeries after treatment of anti-HCV patients and that if sterilisation and disinfection are inadequate there is the possible risk of transmission to susceptible individuals. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.