Content of folic acid and free homocysteine in blood serum of human papillomavirus-infected women with cervical dysplasia.

The authors estimated the concentrations of folic acid and free homocysteine in the blood serum of women with CIN III (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia-Burghard's classification) infected with DNA HPV (human papillomaviruses) of type 16 and/or 18. The control group consisted of 49 patients with normal cytological smears without HPV infection. Types 16 and/or 18 DNA HPV were found in 50 patients. This women qualified for the studied group. The sequence of DNA HPV type 16 and/or 18 was identified with the PCR method (polymerase chain reaction). The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was employed to evaluate the levels of folic acid and free homocysteine in the blood serum of the examined patients. Significantly lower levels of folic acid and higher levels of free homocysteine were observed in the blood serum of HPV-positive patients with CIN III. The correlation was found between serum concentrations of folic acid and free homocysteine in both groups.

New data on toxic metal intoxication (Cd, Pb, and Hg in particular) and Mg status during pregnancy.

The technological revolution we witness today poses a threat to the homo sapiens species, and its biological results are unpredictable. Excess toxic metals in the environment and the deficiency of bio-elements are particularly harmful for developing organisms. Long-term fetal exposure during pregnancy to even lower concentrations of toxic metals, which have the ability to accumulate, often leads to irreversible developmental disorders, On the basis of accessible literature, the paper presents transplacental transmission of cadmium, lead and mercury to the fetus. The disadvantageous effects of cadmium and lead on ionic transmission, functional potential and submicroscopic amnion structure as well as the interdependence between the unfavorable effects of these two metals on the amniotic membrane and the competitive antagonistic activity of Mg ions are emphasized. This paper presents a hypothesis suggesting the involvement of cadmium in the etiopathogenesis of eclampsia based on the literature. It also considers the present state of knowledge of the toxic effects of Cd, Pb and Hg on the course of pregnancy and fetal development. Magnesium--an intracellular cation second in importance to potassium plays a significant biological role, though it has not been fully explored yet. The concentration of Mg in the placental and fetal tissues increases during pregnancy. The requirements for this element in a pregnant woman's organism generally exceed its supply; hence, pregnancy should be considered a condition of 'physiological hypomagnesemia'. The accessible data concerning the content of Mg during pregnancy in the blood as well as in the uterine muscular wall in physiological and pathological pregnancies are diverse. The prevailing opinion is that oral supplementation of magnesium during pregnancy makes up for its deficit in the organism of the pregnant woman and also positively influences fetal development. It is recommended to administer magnesium with food in the form of magnesium salts at the dose 5 mg/kg body mass daily. In clinical obstetric practice magnesium therapy is necessary in cases of imminent preterm birth and preeclampsia. This paper discusses the mechanism and therapeutic effectiveness of magnesium sulfate as used in complications of pregnancy. The contamination of the pregnant woman's organism by toxic metals--cadmium, lead and mercury--poses a serious risk of the same quantitative degree of contaminating the organism of the child developing in her womb. Qualitative changes may be much more serious in the fetus as they affect young structures, intensively developing, with no well-formed defense mechanisms. It is also worth mentioning that the complications in the course of pregnancy may result from toxic metal concentrations lower than those leading to fetal necrosis or premature termination of pregnancy.

[PCR and Digene Hybride Capture System I in identification of human papillomavirus]. / Zastosowanie metody PCR oraz Digene Hybride Capture System I do identyfikacji DNA wirusów Papilloma.

We have analyzed and compared two different systems used in identification of DNA HPV. 100 samples obtained from patients with I degree and II degree Papanicolaou smears and 200 from patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia were analyzed. The obtained data indicate higher sensitivity of the PCR method compared to Digene Hybride Capture System.

[Seventh caesarean section with the same woman--case report]. / Siódme ciecie cesarskie u tej samej ciezarnej.

Seventh caesarean section in the same pregnant woman was described. Pregnancy was terminated in 36 week of gestation cause of preterm uterine activity, after getting pulmonary maturation and estimating ultrasound fetal weight over three kilograms. The caesarean section and postoperative period were uncomplicated. There is little literature about multiple repeat caesarean sections. The authors discuss changes in outcomes and complications of multiple caesarean sections through last three decades.

[Use of amnion in the treatment of anterior segment diseases of the eye]. / Zastosowanie owodni w leczeniu schorzen przedniego odcinka oka.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to present the results of treating the anterior segment of the eye with amnion membrane transplantation (AMT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 16 patients were treated with amnion membrane transplantation because of: pemphigoid ocularis, combustio chaemica, ulcus corneae, keratopathia bullosa, descemetocele, symblepharon, graft disease. Histopathological investigations were performed by the use of impression cytology. RESULTS: In 4 patients we obtained only temporary improvement. In 12 patients the treatment was successful with complete reepithelialization of the cornea and the conjunctiva. The impression cytology study showed an intensive regeneration of the corneal and conjunctival epithelium.

[Management in premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) at term--own experiences]. / Postepowanie w przedwczesnym peknieciu blon plodowych w terminie porodu-doswiadczenia wlasne.

UNLABELLED: In our study the management and outcomes in 211 women with premature rupture of the membranes at term was analyzed. According to the time elapsed since PROM to delivery the study group was divided into four groups: within 6 h, within 6-12 h, within 12-24 h and over 24 h after PROM. The analysis was focused on the maternal age, obstetric history, induction of labor, mode of delivery, duration of interval between PROM and active labor, use of maternal antibiotics, newborns evaluation in Apgar score and the neonatal infections. CONCLUSIONS: 1. In our study PROM at term occurred more frequently in primigravidae than in multigravidae. 2. The relationship between duration of time from the membranes rupture to delivery and frequency of labor induction, use of maternal antibiotics and neonatal infections was observed. 3. The higher percentage of cesarean sections in patients with interval from PROM to delivery less than 6 and over 24 hours was found.

[Influence of captopril on hemodynamics of human placenta in vitro]. / Wplyw kaptoprilu na hemodynamike lozyska ludzkiego in vitro.

OBJECTIVES: Captopril, an agiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) is widely used drug in antihypertensive treatment. After maternal therapy with ACEI several adverse effects on fetus and neonate have been described but the patomechanism is not well known. DESIGN: The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of varying Captopril concentrations on the perfusion pressure in fetal vessels in the in vitro placental double-sided perfusion model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human placental cotyledons from term normal pregnancies were perfused with 100 ng/ml and 1000 ng/ml of Captopril. The perfusion pressure in fetal circuit in every 30 minutes of 3-hours experiment was measured. RESULTS: The highest mean perfusion pressure in fetal circuit was observed in placentas perfused with Captopril in the dose of 100 ng/ml, whereas Captopril in the dose of 1000 ng/ml significantly decreased perfusion pressure after 180 minutes of the experiment. CONCLUSION: The decrease in perfusion pressure in fetal vessels after relative high dose of Captopril may indicate its direct or indirect influence on capillaries.

[Urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity in women with preeclampsia]. / Aktywnosc N-acetylo-beta-D-glukozaminidazy (NAG) w moczu u kobiet w ciazy powiklanej stanem przedrzucawkowym.

OBJECTIVES: Preeclampsia is the pregnancy specific disorder in which reduced organ perfusion and ischemia of the kidney, liver and brain can be detected. In the kidney, the most typical anatomopathological lesion is glomerular endotheliosis but renal tubular damage was also demonstrated. The NAG is an enzyme which is released into urine from the lysosomes of the proximal renal tubules epithelium and therefore increased urinary NAG activity is a marker of tubular damage or dysfunction. DESIGN: The aim of the study was to assess the renal tubular damage in women with preeclampsia by measuring of urinary NAG activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 46 pregnant women in third trimester with preeclampsia. 36 normal pregnant women in third trimester and 26 healthy nonpregnant women served as two control groups. Urinary activity of NAG was measured in the second morning urine sample by colorimetric method and the results were expressed as NAG/creatinine ratio (U/mmol). RESULTS: Urinary NAG/creatinine ratio was increased in normal pregnant women in third trimester (0.77 +/- 0.44 U/mmol) exceeding that of nonpregnant women (0.23 +/- 0.16). In women with preeclampsia, the urinary NAG/creatinine ratio was significantly higher when compared to the normal pregnant women in third trimester (1.46 +/- 1.63 U/mmol). There were no correlation between urinary NAG excretion and blood pressure results in women with preeclampsia. CONCLUSIONS: The increased urinary NAG activity in women with preeclampsia seems to be a sign of proximal tubular damage. The renal function follow up study in such women is indicated.