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Biomedical subjects

A J Jaffa

Publications and source records attributed to A J Jaffa.

53 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Efficacy of varicocele embolization versus ligation of the left internal spermatic vein for improvement of sperm quality.

Efficacy of surgical varicocelectomy versus embolization of the spermatic vein was studied in 137 men diagnosed as suffering from left varicocele. The men were divided randomly into three groups according to the methods of treatment: A--embolization of the internal spermatic vein (51 men); B--Ivanissevich technique of high ligation of the spermatic veins (43 men); and C--Bernardi technique of high ligation (43 men). The groups were similar in terms of age, duration of infertility and possessed semen characterized as oligoteratoasthenozoospermia. The fertility of the female partners was evaluated carefully and they were found to be potentially fertile. Varicocele was diagnosed by at least two of the following methods: physical palpation during valsalva manoeuvre, venography, or scrotal scanning using the technetium pertechnetate radioactive method. Semen quality was assessed before treatment and at 3, 6 and 9 months post-treatment. Fecundity was followed-up for 18 months. The major results were: (i) Shrinkage of the varicocele was found in all three groups studied. The same rate of recurrence was recorded in the three groups (24%, 37% and 35% in groups A, B and C, respectively). (ii) Improvement of sperm quality was significant in groups A and B, with better results in group B. (iii) The pregnancy rate was significantly higher in group B, compared with A (38.2% vs. 20.6%; P less than 0.05). Thus, high ligation of the internal spermatic vein yields better results than low ligation or embolization as far as semen quality and pregnancy is concerned.

Embolization, Therapeutic↗
PubMed1987

Fistulization: an effective treatment for Bartholin's abscesses and cysts.

We describe our experience with the technique of fistulization for the treatment of Bartholin's abscesses and cysts. The principal objective of this treatment is the restoration of the normal gland's function. The study group included 46 patients who underwent the procedure during a 12-year period. Eight patients had to undergo a refistulization, a recurrency rate of 17.4%. The fistulization procedure provides satisfactory results in a high percentage of cases. It is a simple procedure requiring very little surgical time and has fewer recurrences than marsupialization and other forms of drainage.

Abscess↗
PubMed1985

Typhoid fever complicating pregnancy.

Typhoid fever in pregnancy may result in infection of the fetus, with consequent abortion. Currently, it is a rare complication of pregnancy in the industrially developed countries. This report documents a case of maternal typhoid fever with septic abortion, in which trans-placental infection of the fetus caused its demise.

Abortion, Septic↗
PubMed1981

Management of term breech presentation in primigravidae.

In a prospective study of 231 breech presentations in primigravidae at term 260 (81 per cent) were delivered vaginally with no perinatal mortality. A single case of fetal injury (Erb's palsy) was recorded and only one infant had an Apgar score of under 7 at 5 minutes. In 17 patients selected for vaginal delivery, caesarean section was necessary for abnormal uterine activity, prolapse of the umbilical cord of fetal distress. Elective caesarean section wad performed if routine x-ray pelvimetry showed values below defined limits at the brim, midcavity, or outlet or if the fetal head was extended.

Apgar Score↗
PubMed1980

Selective versus routine intrapartum monitoring: comparison of effects on perinatal outcome.

This study compares perinatal results of 7,604 deliveries in two successive years (1976--1977) in which no policy changes occurred other than a four-fold increase in electronic intrapartum monitoring. In the first year 15.4 per cent of births were monitored selectively. In the second year all births were monitored, with the exception of patients admitted at an advanced stage of labor and elective cesarean section. The results show no significant improvement either in intrapartum or in early neonatal mortality rates. The same results obtained in cesarean section rate and in instrumental deliveries. The only positive result is a significant reduction of low Apgar scores in the unselected monitoring group (1977). The low morbidity is considered to be a result not only of increased monitoring, but also of active management of labor, of a short duration of labor and of intensive neonatal care.

Apgar Score↗
PubMed1979

Midtrimester placenta previa: normal or pathologic finding.

During the years 1974-1977 ultrasonic placentography demonstrated midtrimester placenta previa (MTPP) in 123 women. The procedure was performed because of vaginal bleeding in 65 cases and prior to amniocentesis in 58 asymptomatic cases. Eighty-eight patients were found to have grade I placenta previa (PP), 12 to have grade II, 14 to have grade III, and 9 patients to have grade IV PP. These different variants of PP were correlated with the ultimate outcome of these pregnancies: Bleeding due to PP or PP at term were reasons for cesarean section in 4 cases of grade I PP, in 2 cases of grade II, in 7 cases of grade III, and in 7 out of 9 cases of grade IV PP. Among those patients who had grades III and IV PP, 13 out of 23 had premature or immature deliveries. These results suggest that finding of MTPP, especially symptomatic MTPP, should alert the physician to the clinical significance of PP later in pregnancy.

Cesarean Section↗
PubMed1978

Deflexion of the fetal head in breech presentation. Incidence, management, and outcome.

The deflexion attitude of the fetal head in 223 consecutive breech deliveries was radiologically evaluated and classified into four grades. Additional x-ray pelvimetry was performed on all primiparas (136 cases). Extended (35 cases with deflexion angle of 90 degrees or less) and hyperextended (2 cases with angle of more than 90 degrees) variants were found in 16.4%. In the cases of hyperextension, the patients had elective cesarean section, while in cases of other variants they were delivered vaginally in the absence of other indications to cesarean section. The overall cesarean section rate was 17.5%. No cases of perinatal mortality were recorded. Two hundred and sixteen babies had a 1-minute Apgar score of 7--10, 6 had a score of 4--6, and 1 had a score of 2. Only 1 of the 7 asphyxiated babies was of the group of 35 patients classified as having an extended variant. These favorable results confirm the importance of the radiologic assessment of the deflexion angle as a clinical tool.

Apgar Score↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Leiomyosarcoma of the colon and rectum.

Leiomyosarcoma of the colon is an uncommon lesion and may appear throughout the colon. Early diagnosis is seldom accomplished before complications such as bleeding or obstruction appear. Sometimes it is histologically difficult to distinguish between a benign and a mlaignant leiomyoma. Some leiomyomas have biologic evidence of malignancy. Five cases of leiomyosarcoma are described, one of which was histologically diagnosed as a leiomyoma, but two years later, at laparotomy, metastases were found.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cryptorchidism: incidence and sperm quality in infertile men.

In a population of 8500 men attending the andrology outpatient clinic, 200 men (2.35%) were recorded as having some disturbances with the descent of the testes into the scrotum. Medical history of the patients revealed that 51 underwent unilateral orchidopexy; 40 bilateral orchidopexy; and 24 were treated with human chorionic gonadotropin in order to induce descent of their testes. In addition, 6 patients reported spontaneous descent of the testes, and 13 others were found to be unilaterally cryptorchid upon physical examination. Results of semen analysis, hormonal profile, testes position, and testicular volume were compared to those of 105 proven fertile men. The major finding of this study shows that post-partum undescended testes suffer from primary Sertoli cell malfunction as reflected by elevated serum follicle stimulating hormone levels. Serum luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels were within the normal range. Surgical descent of the testes did not improve sperm production, proved by low sperm quality of all the study groups, compared to the cryptorchid group. Among the patients who were operated on, no correlation was found between age at operation and semen variables. All groups showed poor sperm quality which can be defined as oligoteratoasthenozoospermia. The degree of spermatogenic damage was in the following order of diagnosis or treatment: bilateral orchidopexy greater than cryptorchid testes greater than hormonal treatment greater than unilateral orchidopexy greater than late spontaneous descent of the testes. Thus, it is advisable to postpone surgical treatment of cryptorchidism and apply this only after a waiting period, and if the hormonal approach has failed to descend the testis.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dynamics of the intrauterine fluid-wall interface.

Intrauterine fluid movements, which are responsible for embryo transport to a successful implantation site at the fundus, may be induced by myometrial contractions. Myometrial contractions in nonpregnant uteri were studied from in vivo measurements of intrauterine pressures with fluid-filled catheters and by visual observations of high-speed replaying of ultrasound images of the uterus. Transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) images of sagittal cross sections of the nonpregnant uterus were scanned with an intravaginal ultrasound probe. Images at consecutive times (2 s apart) were digitized and processed by employing modern techniques of image processing. The sets of images were compared to evaluate time variation of the fluid-wall interface with respect to amplitude, frequencies, and wavelength of myometrial contractions. Analysis of TVUS images from 11 volunteers during the proliferative phase revealed that myometrial contractions are fairly symmetric and are propagated from the cervix towards the fundus at a frequency of about 0.01-0.09 Hz. The wavelength, amplitude, and velocity of the fluid-wall interface during a typical contractile wave were found to be 10-30 mm, 0.05-0.2 mm, and 0.5-1.9 mm/s, respectively. Additional data acquisition from a large number of normal subjects is needed to build a data base to predict normal characteristics of myometrial contractions in a nonpregnant uterus, in order to better understand their role in the preimplantation process.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Doppler velocimetry of the umbilical artery as a predictor of outcome in pregnancies characterized by elevated beta-subunit human chorionic gonadotropin.

OBJECTIVE: Women with unexplained elevated maternal serum beta-subunit human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG) are at an increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcome, most likely due to placental abnormalities. Such abnormalities may also result in disturbed blood flow through placental vessels. The purpose of this study was to assess whether Doppler velocimetry of the umbilical artery has a predictive value for pregnancy outcome in patients with unexplained elevated maternal serum beta-HCG. STUDY DESIGN: The study group included 63 patients, in whom the only finding was elevated maternal serum beta-HCG. Systolic/diastolic (S/D) ratios were calculated using a continuous wave Doppler measurement of the umbilical artery, performed beginning at 22 weeks of gestation and followed at 6- to 8-week intervals. Serial results for each individual were incorporated into a single 'velocimetry score', calculated as the rate of abnormal velocimetry measurements. RESULTS: beta-HCG was found to be associated with poor pregnancy outcome: including intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) (19%), pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) (14%), and preterm labor (PTL) (19%). Patients were then divided into 2 groups according to their velocimetry score: group A, VS < or = 80 (n = 47), and group B, VS > 80 (n = 16). A low velocimetry score was associated with a higher rate of IUGR, PIH, and a significantly higher rate of PTL. CONCLUSIONS: Umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry may serve as a predictor of pregnancy outcome in the high-risk group characterized by unexplained elevated beta-HCG.

Biomarkers↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Early pregnancy screening for neural tube defects in Israel.

A pilot project to detect neural tube defects (NTD) of the fetus by maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) screening of women in early pregnancy was initiated in Tel Aviv in 1982 at the instigation of the Israel Ministry of Health. The program was designed to be an extension of routine pregnancy care, which in this city is provided in municipal family clinics that are attended by about 50% of pregnant women before the 20th week of pregnancy. Of these women, 89% complied with the program. Women with a MSAFP level above a cutoff point of 2.4 multiples of the median (MOM) were invited for an ultrasound examination of the fetus, without having to repeat the MSAFP test, thereby reducing maternal anxiety. This deviation from the usual test system protocol did not impair sensitivity (87%), or specificity of the test on its own (95.6%), or in combination with ultrasound examination of the fetus and alpha-fetoprotein and acetylcholinesterase testing of the amniotic fluid (99.9%). The program detected 13 fetuses with an NTD; there were two false-negative results and one false-positive. The predictive value of a positive test was 93%. Its effectiveness as a preventive measure was impaired by the fact that 50% of pregnant women did not attend the family clinic before the 20th gestational week. An educational program for professionals and for the public is contemplated in order to reduce this proportion. Only 50% of normal twin pregnancies had an elevated MSAFP. A check on compliance with other screening systems during the interview for MSAFP screening led to the detection and elective abortion of two fetuses with Tay-Sachs disease. MSAFP screening in Israel is cost-effective rather than cost-beneficial.

Amniocentesis↗