[Variations in fibronectin plasma levels after surgical stress]. / Variazioni dei livelli plasmatici di fibronectina dopo stress chirurgico.

Depletion of reticuloendothelial system following major operations or trauma closely correlates with a decrease of plasmatic levels of fibronectin. Aim of the study is to evaluate the changes in plasma fibronectin levels after a surgical stress. Twenty patients who underwent elective gynecological surgery for a variety of pathological condition were the subject of our study. Circulating levels of fibronectin showed a significative decrease, as compared to preoperative values, and returned to normal during the second postoperative day. The recovery to normal values of this plasma glycoprotein was associated, in our patients, with a normal postoperative course.

[Beta-mimetic tocolysis: maternal and fetal side-effects]. / La tocolisi beta-mimetica: effetti collaterali materni e fetali.

The literature on materno-foetal effects of the administration of beta-mimetic tocolytics has been examined. Data and series observed show a certain number of unwanted maternal and foetal effects of a metabolic and cardiocirculatory nature. Although these are usually reversible, they may, in conditions of latent pathology, turn into serious accidents. Critical evaluation of research carried out makes it possible to reiterate the usefulness of these drugs, always providing that the absolute need to use them can be demonstrated, and that their use is preceded by careful evaluation of the patient's cardiocirculatory and metabolic condition.

[Fetal macrosomia. Maternal and fetal implications]. / Macrosomia fetale. Implicazioni materne e neonatali.

Ninety-six cases of fetal macrosomia have been tested to focus on the factors necessary to select women running the risk of delivering macrosomic fetuses. The results of these studies are the following ones: a) pregnant women with pathology are multiparas; b) they are usually characterized by peculiar weight increase in pregnancy; c) they have gone beyond pregnancy term; d) they have previously delivered macrosomic fetuses. The Authors focus on the necessity to anticipate diagnosis and to plan caesarean section in order to avoid the traumatic lesions this kind of babies are frequently affected by.

Enhanced iodine concentrating capacity by the mammary gland in iodine deficient lactating women of an endemic goiter region in Sicily.

Iodine balance during pregnancy and lactation was investigated by measuring iodine concentration in the urine of 11 pregnant women, born and living in a moderately iodine deficient endemic goiter area in Northeastern Sicily, collected during the last week of pregnancy, and between the 5th and 7th day after delivery, and in their milk sampled simultaneously with the urine of their newborns. The results were compared with those obtained on similar samples from 16 euthyroid age-matched nongoitrous women and their offspring from an iodine sufficient area. Urinary iodine concentration in pregnant women from the endemic area (1.28 +/- 0.13 micrograms/dl, mean +/- SE) was significantly lower than that of pregnant women from the iodine sufficient area (3.77 +/- 0.57 micrograms/dl) (t = 3.56, p less than 0.005). The longitudinal measurement of iodine concentration in each nursing woman showed a marked increase (approximately 90%) when compared with the values obtained during pregnancy in both endemic and control groups (2.32 +/- 0.36 and 7.76 +/- 2.08 micrograms/dl; t = 2.13 p less than 0.05, respectively). The slight difference in milk iodine concentration between the endemic (3.25 +/- 0.77 micrograms/dl) and the control (4.33 +/- 0.57 micrograms/dl) group was not statistically significant (t = 1.14; p less than 0.5, NS). Similarly no difference was found in urinary iodine excretion between the endemic and the control newborn groups (3.41 +/- 0.76 and 4.30 +/- 0.65 micrograms/dl, respectively, t = 0.88 p less than 0.1, NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)