George A. Partsinevelos

Effects of mode of delivery on maternal–neonatal plasma antioxidant status and on protein S100B serum concentrations

Objective. To investigate the effect of the mode of labour and delivery on total antioxidant status (TAS) and on the protein S100B serum concentrations in mothers and their newborns. Material and methods. Sixty women with normal pregnancies were divided into three groups: Group A (n = 20) with normal labour and vaginal delivery (VG), group B (n = 18) with prolonged labour+VG and group C (n = 22) with scheduled caesarean section (CS). Blood was obtained at the beginning of the labour process and immediately after delivery (pre‐ and post‐delivery) as well as from the umbilical cord (CB). TAS and creatine kinase (CK) were measured using commercial kits. Serum S100B levels were evaluated with the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay “ECLIA” on the ROCHE ELECSYS 2010 immunoassay analyser. Results. Post‐delivery, TAS levels were significantly decreased in group A and especially in group B. S100B levels were increased in group B (0.0712±0.02 µg/L) as compared with those of group A (0.0567±0.03 µg/L, p<0.01) and group C (0.038±0.03 µg/L, p<0.01), the levels in group C remaining practically unaltered (pre‐ versus post‐delivery). In the newborns, S100B levels were almost 2‐fold higher in group B (0.67±0.18 µg/L) than those in group A (0.40±0.05 µg/L p<0.001) and group C (0.31±0.04 µg/L p<0.001). A negative correlation was found between TAS and S100B protein (r = −0.61, p<0.001), the latter positively correlated to CK (r = 0.48, p<0.01). Conclusions. The increased S100B serum levels in the mothers of group B, post‐delivery, may have been due to the long‐lasting, oxidative and/or psychogenic stress. The observed remarkably high levels of S100B in the group B newborns may have been due to compressive conditions on the foetus brain during this mode of delivery.

p16 INK4A Is a Strong Biomarker for Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia and Invasive Cervical Carcinoma: A Reappraisal

To assess the role of p16 INK4A, bcl-2, and p53 in cervical cancer screening, we conducted a retrospective trial of prospectively collected data. Sixty two women with abnormal Pap smears were subjected to colposcopy and biopsies from any abnormal lesion. Human papillomavirus (HPV)-DNA typing, histology, and immunochemistry for p16INK4A, bcl-2, and p53 were performed for these women. Histologic diagnosis was that of low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), or cancer in all cases. Human papillomavirus strains were identified in 56 patients (90.3%). All HSIL and invasive cancer cases were HPV positive. p16INK4A immunostaining yielded 100% sensitivity, 76% specificity, 61% positive predictive value, and 100% negative predictive value in cancer patients. The corresponding performance indicators for HSIL patients were 75%, 62%, 32%, and 91%. bcl-2 and p53 expression did not correlate with worsening grades of cervical disease. We conclude that p16INK4A seems to be a sensitive biomarker of high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cancer.

Imperforate hymen is associated with elevated serum CA125 and CA19-9 levels: a reappraisal.

however, laparoscopy did not detect the omental pregnancy and was in fact misleading. It was only the rise in b-HCG levels that alerted us to the possibility of an ongoing ectopic pregnancy. With the benefit of hindsight, we would question our decision to observe the patient when the b-HCG levels rose following the negative laparoscopy. It would seem more appropriate to perform a laparotomy or a repeat laparoscopy at this stage.