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Biomedical subjects

G Contu

Publications and source records attributed to G Contu.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Sonographic biometrical range of external genitalia differentiation in the first trimester of pregnancy: analysis of 2593 cases.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to establish the accuracy of fetal gender assignment by sonography in the biometrical range of 18 to 29 mm of biparietal diameter (BPD). METHODS: Transvaginal and/or transabdominal sonography was used to detect the sagittal sign as a marker of fetal gender in 2593 fetuses with BPD between 18 and 29 mm. The results of sonographic examination were compared with the gender at birth or with karyotype obtained from amniotic fluid cells or chorionic villus sampling. RESULTS: Fetal gender assignment was feasible in 2374 of 2593 cases (91%). Of the 2188 fetuses with known fetal sex outcome, 1025 were males and 1157 were females, and 6 had genital anomalies. In fetuses without genital anomalies, an accuracy rate of 100% was achieved at a BPD of >/=24 mm. The results of the six cases with genital malformations were considered separately. CONCLUSION: Sonography is a reliable method for the study of the morphological development of the external genitalia in fetuses 'in vivo'; it is possible to assign fetal gender in 95 to 99% starting at a BPD of 20 mm and to achieve an accuracy rate of 99 to 100% from a BPD of 22 mm, but fetal sex assignment should not be undertaken below a BPD of 22 mm, and especially not in cases where fetal sexing affects pregnancy management.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed2004

Acupuncture plus moxibustion to resolve breech presentation: a randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: In many Western countries breech presentation is an indication for elective Cesarean section. In order to correct fetal presentation, the stimulation of the acupoint BL67 by moxibustion, acupuncture or both has been proposed. Since no studies had previously been carried out on Western populations, pregnant Italian women at 33-35 weeks gestational age carrying a fetus in breech presentation were enrolled in a randomized, controlled trial involving an active BL67 point stimulation and an observation group. METHODS: A total of 240 women at 33-35 weeks of gestation carrying a fetus in breech presentation were randomized to receive active treatment (acupuncture plus moxibustion) or to be assigned to the observation group. Bilateral acupuncture plus moxibustion was applied at the BL67 acupoint (Zhiyin). The primary outcome of the study was fetal presentation at delivery. RESULTS: Fourteen cases dropped out. The final analysis was thus made on 226 cases, 114 randomized to observation and 112 to acupuncture plus moxibustion. At delivery, the proportion of cephalic version was lower in the observation group (36.7%) than in the active-treatment group (53.6 %) (p = 0.01). Hence, the proportion of Cesarean sections indicated for breech presentation was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the observation group (52.3% vs. 66.7%, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture plus moxibustion is more effective than observation in revolving fetuses in breech presentation. Such a method appears to be a valid option for women willing to experience a natural birth.

Acupuncture↗
PubMed2001

Sonographic early fetal gender assignment: a longitudinal study in pregnancies after in vitro fertilization.

OBJECTIVES: A longitudinal evaluation by sonography of external genitalia in human embryos/early fetuses with a known time from fertilization is lacking. Our aim was to assign by sonographic evaluation of external genitalia the early fetal gender in a cohort of pregnancies after in vitro fertilization. Sonographic examinations were performed in each case in three subsequent sessions over a period of time early in gestation in order to establish a temporal threshold, expressed in terms of days from fertilization, at which absolute accuracy in gender prediction is achievable. METHODS: Thirty-two fetuses were included in this prospective longitudinal study. Each was examined three times for gender assignment. The first observation was performed between 65 and 69 days from fertilization, the second between 70 and 74 days and the third between 75 and 79 days. Transvaginal and/or transabdominal sonography was used to detect the 'sagittal sign' as a marker of fetal gender. The results of ultrasound examinations were compared with gender at birth or with karyotype obtained from amniotic fluid cells or chorionic villus sampling. RESULTS: Fetal gender assignment was feasible in 29 out of 32 fetuses (90%) at the first examination and in all cases at the second and third examinations. Fetal gender prediction was correct in 76% of cases in which fetal gender was assigned (22/29) at the first examination; accuracy for males was 46% (6/13) and for females 100% (16/16). At the second and third examinations, accuracy for gender prediction achieved 100% for both genders. Concerning the temporal threshold, absolute accuracy in gender prediction was achieved at 69 days from fertilization, corresponding to 11+6 weeks based on the last menstrual period. CONCLUSION: This study provides important information about the earliest stage, expressed in terms of days from fertilization, at which it is possible to make a certain diagnosis of fetal gender by sonography.

Female↗
PubMed1999

Biometrical threshold of biparietal diameter for certain fetal sex assignment by ultrasound.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to establish the biometric threshold of biparietal diameter (BPD), assumed to be an independent variable of gestational age, at which 100% accuracy in the assessment of fetal sex by ultrasonography is achievable. METHODS: Transvaginal and/or transabdominal sonography was used for detecting the 'sagittal sign' as a marker of fetal sex in 385 fetuses with BPD between 18 and 29 mm. The results of ultrasound examination were compared with sex at birth or with karyotype obtained from amniotic fluid cells or chorionic villus sampling. RESULTS: Fetal sex assignment was feasible in 337 of 385 cases (87.5%). Of the 312 fetuses with known fetal sex outcome, 164 were males and 148 were females. An accuracy rate of 100% was achieved when a BPD of > or = 23 mm was obtained. CONCLUSION: This study provides important information about the earliest stage of fetal development, expressed in terms of BPD, at which a diagnosis of fetal sex can be made with 100% accuracy.

Biometry↗
PubMed1995

Bisdioxopiperazine, (+)-1,2-bis(3,5-dioxopiperazinyl-1-yl)propane (ICRF 187), enhances the antiproliferative effect of cisplatin on human ovarian cancer cells.

The bisdioxopiperazine ICRF 187 is a potent intracellular chelating agent which effectively diminishes Adriamycin cardiotoxicity without compromising its antitumor activity. Our study aimed at verifying whether ICRF 187 can modulate the cytotoxic action of cisplatin (CDDP) on ovarian cancer cells. We used the A2780 ovarian cancer cell line and a subline resistant to CDDP (A2780-CDDP) obtained in our laboratory by continuous exposure of the parenatal cells to progressively increasing CDDP doses. In both cell lines ICRF 187 (0.1-0.5 microgram/ml) used in combination with CDDP (0.01-1 microgram/ml) produced a dose-dependent reduction of CDDP IC50 (the concentration inhibiting 50% of cell growth). Moreover, when ICRF 187 was used in combination with CDDP, analysis of the data by the isobole method showed that the combination of the two drugs produced a synergistic antiproliferative activity in both cell lines, with a CDDP potentiation up to fivefold. Our in vitro data show that ICRF 187 can synergize with CDDP. Prospective clinical trials are now needed to verify whether the addition of ICRF 187 to CDDP-containing regimens will result in an improved clinical response in ovarian cancer.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1994

Preovulatory human follicular fluid in vitro inhibits interleukin (IL)-1 alpha, IL-2, and production and expression of p55 chain IL-2 receptor of lymphomonocytes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immunoactivity of human follicular fluids (FFs) of ovaries stimulated with exogenous gonadotropins. PARTICIPANTS: Follicular fluids and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained at the time of ovum pick-up from 15 women (25 to 34 years of age) undergoing gonadotropin stimulation for GIFT. METHODS: The evaluation of the blastic response of PBMC to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), PHA plus recombinant interleukin (IL)-2, and recombinant IL-2 alone was performed by measuring 3H-thymidine (3H-TdR) incorporation by the cells cultured in media with or without FF. The percentage of CD25 expression on PHA-stimulated T lymphocytes was evaluated by flow cytofluorometry. The levels of IL-1 alpha and IL-2 in supernatants from PHA-stimulated PBMC were evaluated by an ELISA. RESULTS: The PBMC blastic response to PHA, to recombinant IL-2 alone, and to PHA plus recombinant IL-2 was suppressed by the addition of FF. However, the percentage of inhibition of 3H-TdR incorporation induced by FF in cultures performed in the presence of PHA alone was significantly higher than that obtained in cultures performed in the presence of PHA plus recombinant IL-2. The percentage of expression of the CD25 on PHA-stimulated lymphocytes was also significantly lower in presence of FF in comparison with the controls. Similarly, the production of IL-1 alpha and IL-2 in culture media of PHA-stimulated PBMC was significantly lower when FF was added in culture medium. CONCLUSIONS: The present data confirm that preovulatory FFs obtained by gonadotropin-stimulated ovaries contain unknown factors that induce immunosuppression. Furthermore, our study explains that the immunosuppressive activity of FF is mediated by the specific inhibition of the production of IL-1 alpha and IL-2 and by the decreased expression of the CD25.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Evidence that granulosa cells inhibit interleukin-1 alpha and interleukin-2 production from follicular lymphomonocytes.

OBJECTIVE: Relationships between immune and endocrine systems seem to occur in ovarian follicular fluids (FF). Lymphomonocytes have been found in preovulatory follicles and their specific products, cytokines [interleukin-1 (IL1), IL2], were demonstrated to inhibit steroidogenesis. Ovarian steroids, in turn, reduce the cytokine production from immune-competent cells. In the present study we evaluated whether lymphomonocytes are present in FF, and if both their subset distribution and their IL1 alpha and IL2 secretions, after activation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA), are similar to those of peripheral blood. Interferences of IL1 alpha and IL2 production by FF lymphomonocytes caused by isolated granulosa cells were also evaluated. PARTICIPANTS: The study was performed on 86 FFs obtained from follicles containing mature oocytes that were aspirated at the time of ovum pickup from 27 women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with exogenous gonadotropins for an in vitro fertilization (IVF) program [IVF-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) or gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT)]. RESULTS: Lymphocytes were found in FF. The distribution of CD8+ and CD3+ lymphocyte subsets is equal to that in peripheral blood, but the percentage of CD11b+, CD16+, and CD4+ cells (its trend) is higher in FF than in peripheral blood. The amount of IL2 and IL1 alpha deriving from PHA-activated FF lymphomonocytes is similar to that of peripheral blood PHA-activated lymphomonocytes. Granulosa cells significantly blunt IL2 and IL1 alpha production by FF lymphomonocytes. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that preovulation, a migration of lymphomonocytes from the peripheral compartment to the follicle occurs. However, unfavorable effects of IL2 and IL1 alpha, cytotoxic and antisteroidogenetic activities, are counteracted by the products of granulosa cells. The higher amounts of CD11b+, CD16+, and CD4+ in FF suggest that they could be involved in other immune processes.

Adult↗