Antibiotic resistance patterns of group B streptococci in pregnant women.

This study examined the antibiotic resistance patterns of group B streptococci (GBS) isolated from gravid women. A total of 156 vaginal and cervical isolates of GBS were examined for resistance to penicillin, ampicillin, clindamycin, cefoxitin, gentamicin, and erythromicin. No resistance to penicillin or ampicillin was found, nor was penicillinase production demonstrated. A high level of resistance to gentamicin was noted (91%). Of the isolates examined, 9, 9.5, and 15.3% exhibited either resistance or intermediate susceptibility to erythromycin, clindamycin, and cefoxitin, respectively. Thirty strains (19%) exhibited a multiple antibiotic resistance pattern. Given the high penicillin and ampicillin treatment failure rates when attempting to eradicate vaginal GBS colonization and our findings of higher and multiple drug resistance patterns of GBS, the selection of an alternative antibiotic regimen is of considerable clinical importance. We recommend that routine reporting of GBS susceptibilities by clinical laboratories be adopted.     

Overexpression of c-Abl predicts unfavorable outcome in epithelial ovarian cancer

Objectives

Abelson tyrosine kinase (c-Abl) has been shown to promote solid tumor invasion and metastasis. However, little is known regarding whether c-Abl contributes to the development or progression of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). The aims of this study are to determine the expression of c-Abl and investigate a possible relationship between c-Abl and prognosis in EOC.

Methods

c-Abl protein level was evaluated in 137 EOC specimens by immunohistochemical staining and 32 EOC specimens by Western blot analysis. Expression of c-Abl in ovarian cancer cell lines was measured by Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence. Survival analysis was performed to assess the correlation between c-Abl expression and survival.

Results

Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis revealed that c-Abl was overexpressed in EOC compared with samples from a non-invasive ovarian tumor and normal ovaries (P < 0.05). Furthermore, expression of c-Abl was significantly associated with advanced FIGO stage, poor grade, serum Ca-125 and residual tumor size (P < 0.05). By Western blot analysis, c-Abl expression was examined in four ovarian cancer cell lines. Meanwhile, immunofluorescence was performed to show c-Abl expression in SKOV3 and 3AO cell lines. Survival analysis demonstrated that patients with low c-Abl staining had a significantly better survival compared to patients with high c-Abl staining (P < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, c-Abl overexpression, poor grade, advanced stage and suboptimal surgical debulking were independent prognostic factors of poor survival.

Conclusions

Our present study finds that c-Abl overexpression is associated with an unfavorable outcome. c-Abl may be a crucial predictor for EOC metastasis.     

A clinical study assessing the tolerability and biological effects of infliximab, a TNF-alpha inhibitor, in patients with advanced cancer

BACKGROUND: Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is an important regulator of the chronic inflammation contributing to tumour progression. Infliximab, an anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody was investigated in this trial of patients with advanced cancer. The primary objectives were to determine the safety profile and biological response of infliximab in a cancer population. Clinical response was a secondary objective. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-one patients received infliximab at 5 mg/kg (n = 21) or 10 mg/kg (n = 20) i.v. at 0 and 2 weeks and then every 4 weeks. Post-treatment samples were measured for changes in plasma and serum TNF-alpha, CCL2, IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP). RESULTS: Infliximab was well tolerated with no dose-limiting toxic effects. At both doses of infliximab, neutralisation of serum TNF-alpha was observed after 1 h while plasma CCL2, IL-6 and serum CRP were decreased 24 and 48 h following infliximab administration. Seven patients experienced disease stablisation (range 10-50+ weeks). There was no evidence of disease acceleration in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: Infliximab treatment was safe and well tolerated in patients with advanced cancer. There was evidence of biological activity with baseline TNF-alpha and CCL2 being correlated with infliximab response.     

Gestational trophoblastic disease of the fallopian tube.

Tubal gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) was diagnosed in 16 (0.8%) of 2,100 women with GTD managed at the New England Trophoblastic Disease Center. Tubal partial mole, complete mole and choriocarcinoma were present in 5, 5 and 6 patients, respectively. Patients with tubal GTD were not clinically distinguishable from those with traditional tubal pregnancies. While only one patient with tubal mole developed metastases, four patients with tubal choriocarcinoma presented with metastases. All the patients achieved complete, sustained remission.     

Intrauterine intravascular transfusion for severe erythroblastosis fetalis: how much to transfuse?

Intrauterine intravascular transfusion is now believed to be a more precise method for treating fetal anemia in erythroblastosis fetalis than is intraperitoneal transfusion. Previously established guidelines for the volume of blood to be given in intraperitoneal transfusion at a specific gestational age are not applicable for intravascular transfusion. In 28 patients, intravascular transfusion was performed on 81 occasions between 19-34 weeks' gestation. The total number of transfusions ranged from one to six per patient. The aim at each procedure was to achieve a final hematocrit of 35-50%. Factors examined as likely to determine the volume of blood required included pre-transfusion hematocrit, post-minus pre-transfusion hematocrit (hematocrit increase), the hematocrit of the transfused blood, gestational age, estimated fetal weight, and interval from last transfusion. The factors found to be most predictive of total volume of blood required for transfusion were the hematocrit increase and either estimated fetal weight or gestational age.     

Abruptio placentae: Perinatal outcome in normotensive and hypertensive patients

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare perinatal outcomes of hypertensive and normotensive women experiencing abruptio placentae. Our hypothesis is that hypertensive women have a less favorable perinatal outcome than do normotensive women. STUDY DESIGN: Women with the diagnosis of abruptio placentae delivered between July 1, 1988, and May 31, 1992, composed the study group (n = 226) in this case-control study. The incidence of abruptio placentae was 0.7% during this time. Those women with either multifetal gestations (n = 4) or delivery before 20 weeks' gestation (n = 2) were excluded from data analysis. The remaining 220 patients were divided according to their hypertensive (n = 29) or normotensive (n = 191) status. Maternal and neonatal medical records were reviewed and abstracted for demographic variables, antepartum complications, delivery route, abruptio placentae grade, neonatal gender, birth weight, Apgar score, cord pH, and perinatal mortality. These perinatal outcome variables were compared between the hypertensive and normotensive patient groups. RESULTS: Black women with abruptio placentae were significantly more likely to be hypertensive (p = 0.0078). Hypertensive women with abruptio placentae had the antepartum complication diabetes mellitus significantly more often than did normotensive women (p = 0.032). However, they were similar to normotensive women with regard to the frequency of positive urine drug screen and trauma. Hypertensive women were no more likely to be delivered before 32 or 37 weeks' gestation, have neonates weighing <1500 or 2500 gm, or to be delivered by cesarean section. Abruptio placentae grades 2 and 3 occurred more often in hypertensive women (p = 0.053), as did significantly lower umbilical cord artery (p = 0.005) and venous (p = 0.003) pH values. Neonates from hypertensive women were no more likely to have low 5-minute Apgar scores or to die than those from normotensive women. CONCLUSION: Although hypertensive women experiencing abruptio placentae are more likely to have higher-grade abruptio placentae and lower umbilical cord pH values, the overall perinatal outcome was not significantly different from that of normotensive women experiencing abruptio placentae. (AM J Obstet Gynecol 1994;170:1595-9.)