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Biomedical subjects

L Baxi

Publications and source records attributed to L Baxi.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Screening recommendations for gestational diabetes mellitus.

As a result of extensive experiences in multiple centers and a review of the current literature, we conclude that a plasma glucose level obtained 1 hour after a 50 gm oral glucose challenge is the "best" gestational diabetes mellitus screening test. This universal screening is performed at least once during pregnancy. The screening threshold should be no higher than 140 mg/dl, or an unacceptable loss in sensitivity occurs. Universal screening for gestational diabetes mellitus is justified by morbidity reduction, cost, and protocol simplicity and ease.

Blood Glucose

Mitochondrial myopathy and preeclampsia associated with pregnancy.

Mitochondrial myopathy is characterized by weakness, exercise intolerance, and acidosis. Pregnancy has been reported to accelerate the disease process. This report discusses pregnancy and management of labor complicated by mitochondrial myopathy and the therapeutic dilemmas that arise when preeclampsia is diagnosed.

Female

False-negative syphilis screening: the prozone phenomenon, nonimmune hydrops, and diagnosis of syphilis during pregnancy.

The prevalence of congenital syphilis is rapidly rising in several areas of the United States. Efforts to control the disease depend on the effectiveness of established screening strategies and treatment of infected pregnant women. False-negative test results hinder these efforts and leave the fetus at risk for acquiring congenital syphilis. Recently we encountered four cases of false-negative syphilis serologic results in women who gave birth to infants with congenital syphilis. The false-negative results were caused by the prozone phenomenon. The prozone phenomenon, seen during primary and secondary syphilis, occurs because a higher than optimal amount of antibody in the tested sera prevents the flocculation reaction typifying a positive result in reagin tests. Serum dilution is necessary to make the correct diagnosis. We recommend that for any pregnant woman with apparently negative syphilis serologic results in whom fetal compromise of unknown etiology exists, particularly nonimmune hydrops, nontreponemal testing should be repeated using serum dilutions to prevent a missed diagnosis of syphilis. We further recommend serum dilution as a routine procedure for all pregnant women in areas of high syphilis prevalence.

Adult

Early detection of caudal regression syndrome with transvaginal scanning.

High-resolution transvaginal ultrasonography may recognize structures in the first- and early second-trimester fetus. In a patient with pregestational diabetes, caudal regression syndrome in the fetus was diagnosed using transvaginal ultrasonography. At 9 weeks of gestation, a shortening of the crown-rump length and a protuberance of the lower spine suggested caudal regression syndrome. By 17 weeks of gestation, the diagnosis was made with certainty. The transvaginal approach has changed the role of first-trimester ultrasound in the diabetic pregnancy. We suggest that transvaginal ultrasonography be used for purposes of accurate dating and for early detection of diabetic embryopathy, particularly in patients with poor periconceptional glycemic control.

Adult

Transvaginal salpingocentesis: a new technique for treating ectopic pregnancy.

Transvaginal sonography is an important tool for diagnosing ectopic pregnancy. In this report the transvaginal passage of a needle, with sonographic guidance, into a tubal gestational sac with a live fetus is demonstrated. We injected potassium chloride solution to arrest cardiac activity, terminating the ectopic pregnancy without surgical intervention. The new therapeutic use of transvaginal sonography is an important addition to the treatment of this prevalent disease.

Adult

Bilateral luteomas of pregnancy in a patient with diabetes.

A patient with diabetes and luteomas of the ovaries demonstrated a significant and progressive rise in the serum levels of androstenedione and testosterone during pregnancy. The levels of these hormones were also elevated in cord blood and ovarian fluid. The increased insulin requirement to maintain euglycemia was observed at an earlier date in this pregnancy than in her previous pregnancy.

Adult

Complete congenital heart block: risk of occurrence and therapeutic approach to prevention.

A retrospective literature review revealed that in 41% of cases of complete congenital heart block (CCHB) there was at least one other affected sibling, emphasizing the considerable risk of carrying a second affected fetus with CCHB. Therefore an aggressive approach was taken to prevent CCHB in a fetus with a high risk for the condition as defined by (1) presence of DR3 and high titers of antibodies to SSA(Ro) and SSB(La) in the mother (2) previous history of CCHB in a sibling. In a feasibility study, thrice weekly plasmapheresis was initiated in the 19th week of gestation to remove antibodies from the maternal circulation in advance of major placental transport to the developing fetus. Prednisone was also administered to decrease antibody synthesis. The concentration of total maternal IgG and antibodies to SSA(Ro) and SSB(La) were decreased by greater than 60% during the course of therapy. Planned delivery of a healthy baby was done at 36 weeks.

Adult

Pregnancy complicated by maternal spina bifida. A report of two cases.

Pregnancy occurred in two women who had undergone corrective surgery for meningomyelocele. Both women had urinary incontinence leading to urinary tract infections and, in one, to vulvitis urinosa. There is limited literature on maternal meningomyelocele and its complications.

Adolescent

Evolution of complete heart block in a fetus and its perinatal management.

The antepartum course of a patient with a fetus showing heart block and complex congenital heart disease was followed closely using serial nonstress tests, ultrasonograms, and echocardiograms. Internal fetal heart rate and capillary pH monitoring during labor were useful in guiding the successful vaginal delivery.

Adult

Plasma beta-endorphin and beta-lipotropin in the human fetus at delivery: correlation with arterial pH and pO2.

Beta-endorphin-like immunoactivity was measured in the umbilical cord plasma of 45 term human fetuses. Mean concentration was 91 +/- 16 (SEM) pg/ml,an the normal adult level of 30.7 +/- 2.7 pg/ml. This immunoactivity was further characterized in 10 cases by Sephadex G-50 chromatography to separate beta-endorphin from beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH). Mean beta-endorphin and beta-LPH concentrations were 57 +/- 12.8 and 455 +/- 101 pg/ml, respectively. Both were higher (P less than 0.01) than the mean beta-endorphin and beta-LPH concentrations reported in the adult. The mean molar beta-endorphin to beta-LPH ratio was 0.35 in the fetus and 0.36 in the adult. In 17 fetuses whose umbilical arterial and venous concentrations were measured separately, mean beta-endorphin-like immunoactivity was higher in the artery than in the vein. A highly significant negative correlation (r = -0.831; P less than 0.001) was present between umbilical arteiral pH and beta-endorphin-like immunoactivity. A negative correlation (r = -0.611; P less than 0.005) with arterial pO2 was also noted. We conclude that high levels of beta-endorphin-like immunoactivity, composed of both beta-endorphin and beta-LPH, circulate in the human fetus at term, and that hypoxia and secondary acidosis may be major stimuli to the release of these peptides.

Adult