Biochemical analysis of catecholamine and cortisol for the evaluation of the fetal distress in third trimester stillbirths.

BACKGROUND: Stress hormones like catecholamine and cortisol are thought to reflect the magnitude of physical stress in adults and were studied in relationship to the cause of death and agony time. Intrauterine distress, intrapartum events, and modes of delivery can affect the fetal endocrine stress response, as reflected by biochemical analyses. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of catecholamines and cortisol as markers of ante-mortem fetal distress. The role of cortisol as a marker of circadian timing of delivery was also assessed. METHODS: A 2-year prospective cohort-comparison inclusion of stillbirths and newborns took place with collection of antemortem data, labor parameters, neonatal outcome, post-mortem data and blood samples. Stillbirths were classified as acute or chronic on the basis of a multidisciplinary evaluation. Heart blood of stillbirths and cord blood of newborns were analyzed by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) for adrenaline and noradrenaline and by immunoassay for cortisol determination. RESULTS: Fifteen stillbirths and 46 newborns, as a comparison group, delivered by spontaneous vaginal birth, elective, and emergency cesarean sections were included. Stillbirths' main cause of death was cord thrombosis. Levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline (median: 14,188 pg/ml and 230.5 pg/ml, respectively) were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in stillbirths than in newborns and were also higher in acute compared to chronic distress. Cortisol levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in spontaneous vaginal delivery (median: 18.2 µg/dl) compared to elective cesarean sections (median: 3.8 µg/dl). No difference in cortisol concentrations was detected between newborns delivered at morning and at afternoon/evening. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the biochemical measurement of adrenaline and noradrenaline levels might reflect a marked physical stress response during the process of death in stillbirths. On the contrary, the elevation of cortisol levels could mirror the elevation in maternal cortisol level during vaginal delivery. For the post-mortem evaluation of stillbirths, the analysis of CA levels could provide additional data on the duration of distress, useful to integrate the forensic diagnosis.

Analysis and distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in decidua and villi placenta explants.

Placenta mediates the transfer of nutrients, oxygen and drugs from mother to fetus. It is constituted by two cellular layers separated by the intervillous space: the outer is in direct contact with maternal blood (decidua placenta), and the inner (villi) directly in contact with the fetus. Environmental contaminants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) also demonstrated the ability to cross the tissue multiple layers, posing at risk the health of the fetus. The aim of the present study was to analyse the PFAS amount in decidua and villi placenta explants and to study differences in their distribution among the two side of this organ. The determination of 23 PFAS was carried out by liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry (LC-HRAM). Our research included women who delivered at term between 2021 and 2022. Our data indicated that all samples contained at least one PFAS, demonstrating the ubiquitarian presence of these compounds in our population. A high occurrence of PFOS, PFOA and PFHxS, followed by PFHxA, PFBS and PFUnA was found. The fluorotelomer 6:2 FTS was also present in more than 40% of samples and this represent the first data on placenta explants. Mean and median PFAS values for decidual explants were 0.5 ng/g and 0.4 ng/g (SD 0.3), while for villi explants mean and median values were 0.6 ng/g and 0.4 ng/g (SD 0.4). A different pattern of accumulation was observed between villi and decidual explants for PFOS, PFOA and PFUnA (villi > decidua) and PFHxA, PFHxS, PFBS and 6:2 FTS (decidua > villi). Even if the mechanism of this selectively accumuation is not yet understood, molecular degree of ionization and its lipophilicity could at least in part explain this difference. This study expands the limited data describing PFAS levels in the placenta and pose attention on PFAS exposure during pregnancy.

Self-Amputation of the Extra Digit in a Fetus with Polydactyly: First Ultrasound Demonstration.

We herein report the first ultrasound evidence of the self-amputation of an extra digit in case of fetal polydactyly. The prenatal evidence of fetal polydactyly is not always followed by postnatal confirmation. This is not always due to ultrasound misdiagnosis, but often to an in utero self-amputation phenomenon. We demonstrate that there is the detachment of part of the digit, leading to the evidence of a neonatal bump on the site of the prenatal extra digit. This demonstration has been possible by the direct visualization of the remnant by ultrasound.

Coexistence of adenomyosis and endometrioid endometrial cancer: Role in surgical guidance and prognosis estimation.

The aim of the current study was to diagnose the concomitant presence of adenomyosis (AM) in endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC) in order to evaluate its value as an oncological prognostic marker. A retrospective analysis of 289 patients diagnosed with EEC who underwent total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and pelvic-lymphadenectomy was conducted. The total cohort included 37 patients in Group A (those with concomitant AM and EEC) and 252 patients in Group B (those affected only by EEC). The following factors were evaluated: Presence or absence of AM, tumor grade, depth of myometrial invasion, tumor size, lymphovascular space involvement, lymph node status, peritoneal cytology, concomitant detection of endometrial atypical-hyperplasia or polypoid endometrial features and tumor stage according to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) classification. Uterine examination of different sections of uterine cervix, corpus, myomas and cervical or endometrial polyps was performed. The diagnosis of AM was confirmed when the distance between the lower border of the endometrium and the foci of the endometrial glands and stroma was >2.5 mm. Parametric and nonparametric statistical tests were performed when possible; continuous variables were analyzed using a Student's t-test, and categorical variables were analyzed by the χ2 test or Fisher's exact test. The association between FIGO stage and group was determined to be significant: 83.8% of Group A patients were categorized as FIGO stage I, vs. 68.7% of Group B patients. In addition, Group A was associated with lower grades in FIGO stage, myometrial invasion, lymphovascular space involvement, lymph node involvement and tumor size. The findings suggest that the intraoperative evaluation of the presence of AM in patients with EEC may aid surgeons in estimating oncological risk and in selecting the most appropriate surgical treatment.

Quality of life in patients affected by endometrial cancer: comparison among laparotomy, laparoscopy and vaginal approach.

The aim of this study is to verify if the surgical approach (laparoscopy/laparotomy/vaginal) in stage-I endometrial cancer treatment, may have effects on intra- and post-operative outcomes and on the patient's quality of life. The study group consisted of patients with histological diagnosis of type-I endometrial adenocarcinoma, stage-I. They were divided into three groups according to surgical approach chosen (laparotomic/laparoscopic/vaginal). Every patient answered a telephone health survey (SF-36) at 30 and 180 days post-surgery. Surgical-operating times, hospitalization length and short/long-term complications after surgery were also compared. The SF-36 survey revealed a better performance status in patients who underwent laparoscopy as compared to those who received laparotomy or vaginal surgery. We found significantly better results considering General Health, Physical Functioning, Role-Physical and Bodily Pain in the laparoscopy group after 30 and 180 days. Patients who underwent laparoscopy had significantly shorter hospitalization and less post-operative complications even if laparoscopy required significantly longer surgical-operating times compared to vaginal surgery. Our data confirm the superiority of the laparoscopic approach respect to the laparotomic and vaginal ones both in term of hospitalization length and post-operative complications.

Uterine smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP): pathology, follow-up and recurrence.

The term smooth uterine muscle of uncertain malignant potential (STUMPs) indicates a group of uterine smooth muscle tumors (SMTs) that cannot be diagnosed unequivocally as benign or malignant. Diagnosis, surgical management, and follow-up of this neoplasm remain controversial, especially in pre-menopausal women with fertility desire, due to the non aggressive behaviour and prolonged survival rate when compared to leiomyosarcomas. However, recurrence is estimated between 8.7% and 11% and may include delayed-recurrences. We reported five cases of uterine masses treated by surgical procedure diagnosed as STUMP on final pathology. Four patients underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy with or without salpingo-oophorectomy. One patient underwent excision of uterine mass and subsequent total abdominal hysterectomy plus bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy after the diagnosis of STUMP. All patients in our study remained recurrence-free to date (with a follow up period ranging from 6 to 81 months). Based on our experience and in consideration of the lack of consensus regarding the malignant potential, diagnostic criteria, gold-standard treatment and follow-up, we believe that close multidisciplinary management is mandatory in the event of STUMP. We suggest that gynaecologist, dedicated pathologist (with high level of expertize in gynaecological pathology) and oncologist should work as a team in the counselling and management of this neoplasm from detection till completion of follow up. Furthermore, we recommend immunohistochemistry to investigate the overexpression of p16 and p53 in order to identify the cohort of patients at increased risk of recurrence who may benefit from more aggressive surgical-oncological strategies.

Assessment of tumor size as a useful marker for the surgical staging of endometrial cancer.

Accumulating evidence suggests that the estimation of tumor size may improve endometrial cancer treatment. We conducted an observational study aimed at elucidating the association between tumor size and other universally accepted prognostic factors in order to identify suitable preoperative parameters which can guide surgery in a subgroup of early corpus endometrial cancer. We found that when tumor size increased, both stage and grading were significantly increased. Tumor size was correlated with CA 125 serum values, node metastasis and peritoneal cytology status. Patients who have grade 1 or 2 endometrioid corpus cancer, myometrial invasion < 50% and ≤ 3 cm largest tumor diameter can only be treated with hysterectomy. The tumor largest diameter should be evaluated as a preoperative parameter that indicates patients who do not require lymphadenectomy.