Determinants of organochlorine levels detectable in the amniotic fluid of women from Tenerife Island (Canary Islands, Spain).

Organochlorines (OCs) tend to accumulate in human tissues and can be measured in amniotic fluid (AF). The detection of OCs in AF samples reflects intrauterine exposure of human beings to these persistent organic pollutants. The present study was performed to evaluate the level of contamination of AF by OCs in 100 pregnant women from Tenerife Island (Canary Islands, Spain). Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to identify and quantify the analytes, including 7 polychlorobiphenyl (PCB) congeners and 18 OC pesticides and metabolites. The majority of the AF samples (67%) showed some detectable OC-residue, hexachlorobenzene (HCB) being the most frequently detected compound (66% of the samples) and at the highest concentration (median 0.023 ng/ml). Lindane was also detected in 28% of the samples. Inverse associations were found between previous lactation and hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCH) and cyclodienes in the group of younger women (p = 0.037 and p = 0.027, respectively). Unexpectedly, serum values of HCB (r = -0.414; p = 0.04), gamma-HCH (r = -0.294; p = 0.035), and SigmaOCs (r = -0.350; p = 0.014) were negatively related to age. Even more, women with detectable levels of HCH isomers were younger (33.9 +/- 4.9 years) than women with undetectable levels of them (36.1 +/- 4.9 years; p = 0.035). We conclude that approximately one in two fetuses in the Canary Islands is exposed to OCs in utero, and that, therefore, the exposure of young women from these Islands to some HCH isomers persists nowadays. Because prenatal exposure to these chemicals may be a causative factor in adverse health trends, further studies are required to enhance preventive measures.

¿Puede la ecografía tridimensional cambiar la exploración ecográfica ginecológica en nuestro medio? / Can 3-dimensional ultrasonography change gynecological ultrasonographic examination in Spain?

Objetivo: Comprobar si la ecografía en 3D vaginal es tan fiable como la convencional y si aporta alguna ventaja al diagnóstico ecográfico ginecológico. Material y métodos: Estudio prospectivo en 46 mujeres a las que se realizó consecutivamente una ecografía vaginal en 2D y en 3D. Se obtuvieron tres volúmenes en 3D (útero y cada uno de los ovarios) y se estudiaron 4 meses más tarde en un ordenador personal. Se compararon ambas técnicas con respecto el diagnóstico y la biometría ecográfica y el tiempo empleado. Resultados: Se comprobó un acuerdo total entre los diagnósticos ecográficos realizados en modo 2D y 3D (31 exploraciones normales, 16 quistes anexiales y 7 miomas uterinos), excepto para la visualización y medida del cuello uterino. El tiempo medio ± desviación estándar por exploración fue de 3,29 ± 1,32 min para el modo 2D y de 2,96 ± 0,58 min para el modo 3D (p = 0,076). La adquisición de los volúmenes en 3D necesita sólo 1 h, lo que permite destinar el ecógrafo a otras exploraciones durante 1 h 32 min (AU)

Objective: To verify whether 3D transvaginal ultrasonography is as accurate as 2D conventional ultrasonography and whether it provides additional advantages in gynecologic diagnosis. Material and methods: We performed a prospective study in 46 women who underwent 2D and 3D transvaginal scans successively. Three 3D volumes (uterus and each ovary) were acquired and evaluated 4 months later on a personal computer. We compared 2D and 3D scans in relation to sonographic diagnosis and biometry and the time spent. Results: There was complete agreement between 2D and 3D techniques for sonographic diagnosis (31 normal exams, 16 adnexal cysts and seven myomas), except for the visualization and measurement of the uterine cervix. The mean time for 2D scans was 3.29 ± 1.32 minutes and was 2.96 ± 0.58 minutes for 3D examination (P=.076). The time required to acquire 3D volumes was only 1 hour, freeing 1 hour and 32 minutes for the performance of new scans. Conclusions: Transvaginal 3D ultrasonography can be more efficient than conventional 2D ultrasonography in gynecologic diagnosis (AU)

Prediction of ovarian response and IVF/ICSI outcome by three-dimensional ultrasonography and power Doppler angiography.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate whether three-dimensional ultrasonography (3D-US) and power Doppler angiography (PDA) measurements can predict ovarian response and/or are associated with IVF/ICSI outcome. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective clinical study in 65 women undergoing IVF cycles. Ovarian volume (OV), number of antral follicles > or =2mm (NAF) and PDA indices: vascularisation index (VI), flow index (FI), and vascularisation flow index (VFI) were evaluated by 3D-US and PDA on the day of pituitary suppression control. These measurements, age and BMI were correlated with the number of follicles>10mm on the hCG day and the number of oocytes retrieved. RESULTS: Ovarian volume, NAF, VI, FI and FVI correlate significantly (P<0.01) with the number of follicles and oocytes recovered. Ovarian volume and the number of antral follicles predicted significantly the number of follicles (R=0.67; adjusted R(2)=0.43) and oocytes retrieved (R=0.63; adjusted R(2)=0.37). The oestradiol peak and the number of follicles, oocytes and Grade 1 embryos transferred were higher in the pregnant group. CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional ultrasound and PDA make it easier to evaluate all the sonographic parameters implied in ovarian response. Ovarian volume and the number of antral follicles are the only independent predictors of the number of follicles developed and oocytes retrieved.