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Biomedical subjects

A J Jaffa

Publications and source records attributed to A J Jaffa.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Plasma interleukin-12 is elevated in patients with preeclampsia.

PROBLEM: Abnormal immune activation has been suggested as a contributor to the development of preeclampsia. We hypothesized that intact interleukin (IL)-12 directly, or through its main mediator, interferon (IFN)-gamma, contributes to the altered immune response observed in preeclampsia. METHOD OF STUDY: Plasma samples were collected from 20 patients with preeclampsia and 20 normotensive patients with uncomplicated pregnancies who were matched with the preeclamptic patients by age, gestational age, and parity. Samples were collected before the onset of labor, induction, or medical intervention. The samples were assayed for IL-12 and IFN-gamma by specific enzyme-linked immunoassays. RESULTS: IL-12 was detected in 35% of the preeclamptic patients and in 5% of the patients with normal pregnancies (P < 0.01). The detection rate and mean concentration of IFN-gamma were comparable in both groups. CONCLUSION: Intact plasma IL-12 is detected more frequently in preeclamptic patients, suggesting the involvement of this cytokine in the enhanced immune response observed in preeclampsia.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Reproducibility of transvaginal ultrasonographic measurements of endometrial thickness in patients with postmenopausal bleeding.

The aim of the study was to establish the reproducibility of transvaginal sonographic measurements of endometrial thickness in patients with postmenopausal bleeding (PMB). In a prospective blind study, two examiners measured the endometrial thickness in 48 patients presenting with PMB by transvaginal sonography on two separate occasions, 30 min apart. The analysis of variance performed at each endometrial thickness measured by the two examiners revealed no statistical difference. However, it was shown that the most accurate measurements are up to the level of 4 mm (mean deviation of 0.1 +/- 0.2 mm, range 0.7). Once the endometrial thickness reaches 5-6 mm the mean deviation becomes 0.3 +/- 1.2 mm with a range of variation of 4 mm. In conclusion, measurements of endometrial thickness in patients presenting with PMB can be repeated quite accurately up to a level of 4 mm thickness.

Endometrium↗
PubMed1997

Vascular endothelial growth factor is increased in patients with preeclampsia.

PROBLEM: This study was conducted to determine whether altered levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) may play a role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. METHOD OF STUDY: Maternal plasma samples were collected from 19 patients with preeclampsia (group A) either before the onset of labor, or before induction of labor or medical intervention. Plasma samples were also obtained from 19 normotensive patients with uncomplicated pregnancies (group B), who were matched with the patients with preeclampsia for gestational age and parity. Samples were frozen at -70 degrees C until assayed for VEGF by a specific enzyme-linked immunoassay. RESULTS: The mean maternal age was similar in groups A and B. For both groups the VEGF was detectable in all plasma samples. However, the plasma concentrations of VEGF were significantly increased in the group A patients, compared with those in group B (median, 47 ng/ml; range, 10.6-72 ng/ml versus median, 13.6 ng/ml; range, 0.66-20 ng/ml; P < 0.001). In group A, a positive correlation was noted between VEGF concentrations and the systolic and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.56; P = 0.01 and r = 0.48; P = 0.037, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal plasma VEGF levels were elevated in the patients with preeclampsia and correlated with the severity of hypertension, suggesting a role for VEGF in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Transvaginal sonohysterography for the early diagnosis of residual trophoblastic tissue.

We prospectively evaluated 29 patients with early postabortion or postpartum bleeding, suspected of having possible retained trophoblastic tissue by transvaginal sonography and transvaginal sonohysterography. All patients received methyl-ergometrine maleate (Sandoz) and amoxicillin and clavulinic acid (Pharmascope) orally for 5 days and were then reevaluated. Ten patients (34.5%) had a normal uterine cavity on both transvaginal sonography and sonohysterography. Nineteen patients (65.5%) were suspected of having residual trophoblastic tissue by transvaginal sonography. Of these, five (26%) showed normal uterine cavity by sonohysterography. One patient (8.3%) reported heavy bleeding with clots after the conservative treatment. Repeated examination revealed normal uterine cavity. The remaining patients underwent curettage, and histopathologic examination revealed trophoblastic tissue. Transvaginal sonohysterography is more accurate than transvaginal sonography for diagnosing residual trophoblastic tissue in patients with postpartum and postabortion bleeding. Its use may eliminate unnecessary curettage procedures.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1997

Influence of ovulation induction with human menopausal gonadotropin on uterine blood flow: comparison of unexplained and mechanical infertility.

A prospective study in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment was conducted to assess whether any difference may be present in uterine blood flow between unexplained and mechanical infertility, before and during ovulation induction. The ascending branch of the uterine artery, the arcuate arteries, and the radial arteries were examined by transvaginal, color pulsed Doppler sonography on day 3 and on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration. Patients with mechanical factor demonstrated a decrease in resistance to blood flow in all the examined vessels during ovulation induction. Patients with unexplained infertility showed a contrasting trend in changes of uterine blood flow (e.g., as the cycle progressed, the resistance index increased). Moreover, the resistive index values on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration were significantly higher in patients with unexplained infertility. It is quite possible that the rise in impedance to uterine blood flow during ovulation induction and the higher impedance on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration in patients with unexplained infertility may be one of the factors responsible for the lower conception rate in these patients.

Arteries↗
PubMed1996

The sensitivity and specificity of vaginal sonography in detecting endometrial abnormalities in women with postmenopausal bleeding.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of vaginal sonography in the detection of endometrial abnormalities in patients with postmenopausal bleeding (PMB). METHODS: In a prospective study, 54 patients with PMB were examined with vaginal ultrasonography prior to dilatation and curettage. The mean endometrial thickness was compared with the histopathological results. A cutoff value of 5 mm was prospectively chosen to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of this method. RESULTS: The calculated sensitivity for the measurement of endometrial thickness as a predictor of endometrial pathology was 89%, and the specificity was 83%. We found carcinoma associated with an endometrial thickness of 6 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Although its sensitivity was high, we feel that an endometrial thickness > 5 mm should constitute a cause for concern but not a definitive indication of pathology. Thus we believe that, at this point, the role of vaginal sonography as an aid in determining which women with PMB should undergo curettage has yet to be determined.

Dilatation and Curettage↗
PubMed1996

Transvaginal sonohysterography: a new aid in the diagnosis of residual trophoblastic tissue.

OBJECTIVE: The study was undertaken to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of transvaginal sonohysterography in postabortion and postpartum patients suspected of having residual trophoblastic tissue. METHODS: Twenty two women with late postabortion and postpartum bleeding were evaluated by transvaginal sonography and transvaginal sonohysterography. The patients were prospectively divided into two groups according to the sonohysterographic findings. Women with an empty uterine cavity or with free-floating masses received conservative treatment. Those with suspected attached residual trophoblastic tissue underwent curettage. RESULTS: Sonohysterography confirmed the findings of two-dimensional sonography of an empty uterus in 8 patients; however, a free floating endometrial mass was found in 4 patients and that of an empty uterine cavity in another 2 of 14 patients suspected of having residual trophoblastic tissue by the two-dimensional ultrasound. All 14 patients who were treated conservatively ceased bleeding. The 4 patients with a free-floating mass reported ejection of a vaginal mass within 6 days of treatment. Eight patients underwent curettage. Residual trophoblastic tissue was found in all of them. CONCLUSION: Transvaginal sonohysterography is a simple and effective method for the evaluation of residual trophoblastic tissue in patients with postpartum and post-abortion bleeding. Its use may eliminate unnecessary curettage procedures.

Abortion, Incomplete↗
PubMed1996

Transvaginal ultrasonographic measurements of endometrial thickness: a reproducibility study.

OBJECTIVE: The study was undertaken to assess the reproducibility of endometrial thickness measurements by transvaginal ultrasonography (TVS). METHODS: In a prospective blind study, two examiners measured the endometrial thickness of 25 patients by TVS on two separate occasions 30 minutes apart. RESULTS: The reliability test performed for each examiner was statistically less significant for the intra-observer variation of each observer (r = 0.95 and r = 0.93), than between both examiners (r = 0.85). Although there was no statistically significant difference between the observations, the mean range of observations was 2.12 + 1.27 mm. CONCLUSIONS: A safety margin of error should be taken into consideration while recommending a cutoff under which no curettage is needed.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Acid accumulation during end-stage bradycardia in term fetuses: how long is too long?

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the existence and degree of fetal accumulation of acid during end-stage bradycardia as reflected by the base deficit. This may set a criterion for proper intervention during labour. SETTING: Maternity unit of the Tel Aviv Medical Centre. SUBJECTS: Forty-three consecutively born term infants whose mothers were delivered by vacuum extraction were analysed: 27 because of end-stage bradycardia and 16 controls whose mothers were delivered electively because of maternal indications. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Analysis of umbilical arterial cord blood for pH, PCO2 and base deficit. The base deficit was compared between the groups using the two-tailed Student's t test, and was correlated with variables of fetal heart rate monitoring using the Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The base deficit was greater in newborns who had end-stage bradycardia than in controls (11.02 vs 5.01, P < 0.0001). The duration of loss of short term variability in fetal heart rate during end-stage bradycardia correlated positively with the base deficit (r = 0.8, P < 0.0005). Conversely, the time until the loss of short term variability during end-stage bradycardia correlated negatively with the base deficit. The length and the depth of the bradycardia and their product, had a weaker correlation with the base deficit. CONCLUSIONS: End-stage bradycardia, which presumably reflects fetal hypoxia, is associated with acidaemia in the umbilical artery at birth in some fetuses. The fetuses who are predisposed to acidaemia, as reflected by an increased base deficit, are those who lost their fetal heart rate variability during end-stage bradycardia for more than 4 min or started to lose this in less than 3 min from the beginning of the end-stage bradycardia. Operative vaginal delivery should be reserved for these indications.

Acid-Base Imbalance↗
PubMed1996

Sensitivity and specificity of sonohysterography for the evaluation of the uterine cavity in perimenopausal patients.

Sonohysterography is a technique for evaluating the uterine cavity by the instillation of sterile saline solution through an 8 Fr Foley catheter, before performing an ultrasonographic evaluation. The sensitivity and specificity of the procedure were evaluated in comparison to hysteroscopy. In a prospective double-blind study, 47 postmenopausal patients were evaluated first by sonohysterography, and within 1 week by hysteroscopy. After comparing the hysteroscopic and sonohysterographic results, sonohysterography showed a sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 100%. Sonohysterography is an accurate mode of diagnosis for pathologic intrauterine processes in perimenopausal patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Continuous wave Doppler velocimetry of the main-stem uterine arteries: the transvaginal approach.

The purpose of the study was (1) to establish the efficacy of the transvaginal approach for continuous wave Doppler velocimetry of the main-stem uterine arteries in normal pregnancy and (2) to provide reference values for the flow velocity waveform indices of the main-stem uterine arteries in normal pregnancy. In a cross-sectional study from 16 to 40 weeks of pregnancy, 201 healthy normal women were examined by transvaginal continuous wave Doppler, and flow velocity waveforms were obtained from the main branch of the uterine artery on both sides. Nomograms were compiled for the systolic: diastolic ratio, pulsatility index and resistance index. Values for all variables declined during the course of pregnancy until 22 weeks' gestation, and then remained stable to term. Intra- and interobserver variations were 5% and 8%, respectively, and the examination time was < 5 min. Flow velocity waveform indices declined during pregnancy, indicating a decrease of resistance in the uteroplacental circulation. Our results are comparable to those obtained transvaginally by pulsed wave Doppler, previously reported in the literature. The transvaginal approach for continuous wave Doppler velocimetry of the main-stem uterine arteries is a simple, quick, accurate, safe, cheap and highly reproducible method, and is therefore suitable for evaluating the uteroplacental circulation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Postpartum surveillance of urinary retention by ultrasonography: the effect of epidural analgesia.

Our objective was to investigate by ultrasonography whether the risk for postpartum urinary retention is increased following administration of epidural analgesia during labor and delivery. In a prospective study, 106 healthy women who had undergone vaginal delivery were evaluated. Sixty-eight of the women had received epidural analgesia during labor and delivery. All subjects had an ultrasound examination at a mean of 42 h after delivery, and residual urine volume was estimated immediately after voiding. Correlations among obstetric parameters, epidural analgesia and residual urine volumes were evaluated. The mean accuracy rate of ultrasonography for estimation of bladder volumes was +/- 10.2%. No cases of clinically evident urinary retention were diagnosed in the total puerperal population. There were no significant differences between the groups in the average amounts of residual urine as measured by ultrasonography. With modern obstetric practice, epidural analgesia for labor is not associated with an increased risk for postpartum urinary retention. The non-invasive nature of ultrasound renders it especially attractive and useful for measuring residual urine volume in postpartum patients. The safety, simplicity and relative comfort of this method over-ride the slightly imperfect calculations that it currently yields, and makes it preferable to catheterization or cystometry for evaluation of residual urine volume.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

The effect of an in-vitro fertilization pregnancy on a woman with genital tuberculosis.

The coexistence of an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancy and genital tuberculosis may pose life-threatening consequences. This case report describes catastrophic dissemination of latent genital tuberculosis, followed by IVF and pregnancy. The role of both IVF manipulation and the pregnancy itself in the exacerbation of latent tuberculosis is discussed. In addition, some measures for the detection, follow-up and treatment of latent genital tuberculosis in patients who undergo IVF are proposed.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Flow velocity waveforms of the uterine artery in pregnancy: transvaginal versus transabdominal approach.

Our objective was to compare recordings of flow velocity waveforms from the uterine artery via the transvaginal and transabdominal approach in normal human pregnancies. In a cross-sectional study from 16 to 40 weeks' gestation, 88 healthy pregnant women underwent a continuous-wave Doppler examination of their uterine arteries by both the transvaginal and the transabdominal approach. Measurements were recorded for both uterine arteries and averaged. Values recorded transabdominally were significantly lower than those obtained transvaginally in all patients < or = 27 weeks' gestation. From 28 weeks to term, transabdominal values remained lower, but the difference was smaller and insignificant, and noted only as a trend. Transvaginal velocimetry of the uterine artery produces significantly higher systolic:diastolic ratios than that of transabdominal recordings until 27 weeks' gestation. Thereafter, trophoblastic invasion of the uteroplacental circulation is maximal, and the difference between the values are minimal and insignificant. However, a pattern of lower resistance in the transabdominal approach remains consistent until term.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1995

Are Israeli women in a low risk group for developing squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix?

OBJECTIVE: Invasive cervical squamous cell carcinoma is not a common disease among Jewish women. In the present study an attempt was made to find what is the distribution of the known risk factors in this population. METHODS: Three hundred and ninety-one patients with various cervical cytological abnormalities comprised the study group. They were compared to 350 Israeli women with negative cytology. The risk factors were extracted from an anonymous questionnaire. The results were statistically analyzed and compared to the equivalent figures published in the literature pertaining to non-Jewish women. RESULTS: The prevalence of abnormal cytology among the Israeli women was almost the same as that of the non-Jewish group: 24/1000 and 26/1000, respectively. Significant statistical differences were found between the following risk factors: number of sexual partners, age at first intercourse, age at first pregnancy. Women in the study group were younger when they became sexually active and at first pregnancy, they had a larger number of sexual partners, fewer of them were married and fewer of them were observant of Jewish ritual practices. In addition, they had achieved higher academic levels than the women in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that the distribution of the known risk factors among the study group was practically the same as those in the non-Jewish population. Moreover, it was found that there was an increase of 29.2% (from 17/1000 to 24/1000) in the prevalence of cervical premalignant lesions among the Israeli women. We believe that this population can no longer be considered as being at low risk for this disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Cystadenofibroma of the ovary in young women.

Cystadenofibroma of the ovary, a relatively rare benign tumor, usually appears during the fourth and fifth decades. This tumor has malignant ultrasonographic features and may also macroscopically appear as malignant during surgery. Since this tumor has a rare malignant potential, it is well-advised to be aware of the possibility of a cystadenofibroma before selecting an aggressive surgical approach in young patients. We present five cases of young patients with cystadenofibromas of the ovary.

Adenofibroma↗
PubMed1994

Uterine rupture at 33 weeks' gestation subsequent to hysteroscopic uterine perforation.

A 40-year-old woman underwent operative hysteroscopy for suspected submucosal myoma, during which the uterine fundus was perforated. At laparotomy the perforation site was sutured. In a subsequent pregnancy she had a sudden onset of abdominal pain. Laparotomy revealed a uterine rupture with a partially protruding placenta. A healthy newborn was delivered by a low-segment cesarean section.

Adult↗