Biomedical subjects

K Stefanidis

Publications and source records attributed to K Stefanidis.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

Severe nonimmune hydrops fetalis and congenital corneal opacification secondary to human parvovirus B19 infection. A case report.

BACKGROUND: In parvovirus infections in animals, congenital anomalies are seen, but the teratogenic potential in humans seems fairly low. CASE: A fetus with hydrops, ascites and pleural effusion was seen at a prenatal ultrasound examination. Fetal cordocentesis was performed, and fetal blood was positive for parvovirus antibodies. Intravascular fetal blood transfusion was given at 21 and 23 weeks of gestation. At 39 weeks labor started spontaneously, and a 2,960-g, female infant was delivered. The newborn had bilateral opacification of the cornea. CONCLUSION: In this case a combination of fetal parvovirus B19 infection and congenital corneal opacification was seen. This case also demonstrates that blood transfusions in hydropic fetuses may reverse the hydrops and prevent intrauterine death.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

A randomized study of local or general anesthesia for laser conization of the cervix.

Laser Conization of the cervix was performed in both inpatient and outpatient settings with either local or general anesthesia. All of the patients included had abnormal cervical smears, abnormal colposcopic findings and were allocated to one of two groups, A and B. Patients in group A had general anesthesia while patients in group B had only local anesthesia. A standard operative technique, was used and all patients had estimation of blood loss, recording of operative time, surgical suite time, anesthesia induction time, and assessment of postoperative pain and morbidity. Statistical analysis was performed using the student t-test. We concluded that laser conization of the cervix can be performed more cheaply with local anesthesia than with general anesthesia and with little discomfort, less nausea, and vomitting.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Uterine artery Doppler velocimetry with leiomyomas.

The study was conducted to establish a correlation between Doppler velocimetry in relation to uterine weight in any phase of the menstrual cycle and symptoms in women who have leiomyomas. Doppler velocimetry was carried out on both uterine arteries in 18 pre-menopausal women and one post-menopausal woman prior to undergoing abdominal hysterectomy at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, NY and at Ioannina University Hospital. The t-test was used for statistical analysis. Changes in flow velocity correlated directly with uterine size. When a division at 500 g was used, S/D ratio was 2.74 +/- 0.53 for larger uteri vs. 4.2 +/- 1.24 for smaller uteri, p < 0.006. Eight women presented heavy bleeding and the mean S/D ratio was 3.75 +/- 1.36 while eleven women presented mild bleeding and the mean S/D ratio was 3.51 +/- 1.2 (p > 0.5). Thus the study has demonstrated that in cases of uterine leiomyomas, the uterine artery flow increases although angiography had previously shown decreased vascularity within the tumor.

Arteries↗

PubMed1998

The effects of tamoxifen on the endometrium, blood flow of the uterine arteries and serum lipoprotein (a) levels in postmenopausal women.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of tamoxifen therapy on the endometrium by transvaginal color Doppler sonography and on lipid profile focusing on lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] levels. Seventy-five postmenopausal breast cancer patients were examined by transvaginal color Doppler sonography and serum Lp(a) levels. Lipid parameters were measured after overnight fasting. Forty of the patients were treated with tamoxifen (20-30 mg/day) for at least 1 year. The remaining 35 patients did not receive tamoxifen and were used as controls. Statistical analysis was performed using t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test (Systat version 5.0). The patients receiving tamoxifen had significantly thicker endometrium (7.9 +/- 3.6 mm) compared to the control group (4.5 +/- 1.8 mm) (p < or = 0.001). The mean pulsatility index and resistance index of the uterine arteries in the tamoxifen group were 2.063 +/- 0.49 and 0.83 +/- 0.07, respectively, and were significantly lower than those of the control group (2.69 +/- 0.16 and 0.88 +/- 0.02) (p < 0.001). In addition, tamoxifen decreased total cholesterol (p < 0.001) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p <0.001) and apolipoprotein B (p < 0.05) significantly. Tamoxifen also increased high density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.05) and apolipoprotein A-I (p < 0.05). These results indicate that tamoxifen stimulates the endometrium and acts as an anti-atherogenic agent in postmenopausal women.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

Comparison of somatomedin-C (SMC/IGF-I), human placental lactogen and Doppler velocimetry between appropriate and small-for-gestational-age pregnancies.

Thirty-two pregnant women with small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses and 45 pregnant women with appropriate-for-gestional-age (AGA) fetuses (controls) were recruited after the 32nd week of gestation. Blood samples were collected for estimation of somatomedin-C (SMC/IGF-I) and hPL in the maternal serum and in the umbilical cord serum. The systolic/diastolic (S/D) ratio of the umbilical artery was also recorded. The results showed somatomedin-C and hPL levels in the maternal serum and in the umbilical cord to be significantly decreased and the Doppler S/D ratio to be significantly increased in the SGA group. In this group, using the multivariable regression analysis, we found significant correlations between maternal hPL, somatomedin-C, Doppler S/D ratio and birth weight.

Birth Weight↗

PubMed1998

Laparoscopic treatment of interstitial pregnancy using the harmonic scalpel.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a laparoscopic technique of cornual resection using the harmonic scalpel. METHODS: Four patients with unruptured interstitial pregnancies were treated laparoscopically using the harmonic scalpel at Ioannina University Hospital. RESULTS: There were no failures in the technique in any of our patients. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that interstitial pregnancies of a maximum gestational age of 7-8 weeks and sac diameter less than 4-5 cm may be treated laparoscopically.

Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal↗

PubMed1998

Breast cancer during pregnancy and lactation.

Three cases of breast cancer during pregnancy and lactation which were referred to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of loannina University Hospital during the period 1990-1997 are presented. Diagnosis and management of these cases are discussed and a strength protocol is suggested to identify new cases of breast cancer during pregnancy and lactation.

Abortion, Therapeutic↗

PubMed1997

Vaginoscopic approach to outpatient hysteroscopy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a new method of outpatient hysteroscopy. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School of Ioannina, Greece, and Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn, New York. PATIENTS: Three hundred twenty-four women, 316 of whom were symptomatic and 8 asymptomatic. INTERVENTIONS: Hysteroscopic vaginoscopy with directed endometrial biopsies. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The procedure was successful and well tolerated in 211 (65%) women. In 90 (27.9%) women, the procedure was successful but with significant pelvic pain, and in the remaining 23 (7.1%) it was complicated by either vagal reaction or complete intolerance. Hysteroscopic findings were in agreement with histopathologic results in 290 (89.5%) patients. In all 12 women with endometrial adenocarcinoma, hysteroscopic findings were identical with histopathologic results. CONCLUSION: The vaginoscopic approach is effective for outpatient hysteroscopy.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Comparison of tamoxifen with danazol for treatment of cyclical mastalgia.

This study evaluates the benefits and side-effects of two drugs (tamoxifen or danazol) used randomly in women with severe cyclical mastalgia. Ninety-three patients with severe cyclical mastalgia of more than 6 months duration were randomly selected for treatment with tamoxifen (32 women), danazol (32 women) or placebo (29 women) for six consecutive cycles. A standard protocol was used, which included pain relief as measured by linear analog, side-effects and cost. Statistical analysis was performed using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U or Kruskall-Wallis tests and Student's t-test. As measured by linear analog scoring, pain relief was achieved in 23/32 (72%) of those receiving tamoxifen, 21/32 (65%) of those taking danazol (p < or = 0.001) and 11/29 (38%) of those taking placebo. Twelve months after the end of treatment, 17 (53%) women who received tamoxifen were still free of symptoms, as compared with 12 (37%) of the danazol-treated patients (p < 0.001) and none of the placebo-treated patients. These results suggest that tamoxifen is highly efficaceous and cost effective for the management of severe cyclical mastalgia.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Lead concentrations in maternal and umbilical cord blood in areas with high and low air pollution.

The lead concentrations in maternal and umbilical cord blood were determined in 50 parturient women at delivery. Twenty-five lived in agricultural areas with low air pollution and 25 lived in urban areas with high air pollution. The mean lead concentrations (mean +/- SD) in maternal and umbilical cord blood and the correlation coefficient of mothers from urban areas with high air pollution were 37.2 +/- 4.7 ng/ml, 20 +/- 3.4 ng/ml and r = 57, respectively. The mean lead concentrations in maternal and umbilical cord blood and the correlation coefficient of mothers from agricultural areas with low air pollution were 20.5 +/- 5.6 ng/ml, 12.9 +/- 3.6 ng/ml and r = 0.70, respectively. Our results show that the difference in mean lead concentration between the blood of mothers both from urban and agricultural areas and the blood from the umbilical cords of their newborns was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The factors that control the transfer of lead from the mother's blood to the fetus are the quantity of the element in the mother's blood and the placenta itself which has a dynamic protective function that is amplified when maternal blood lead levels are raised.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Folate status during labor: relationship with pregnancy outcome.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to determine the folate status of pregnant women at labor, and to detect probable relationships with the gestational age at delivery, the birth weight of the newborns, as well as the mode of the delivery, taking into account any changes in the fetal heart rate (FHR) at labor and, subsequently, operative delivery. METHODS: Maternal serum folate levels were determined using automated fluorometric enzyme-linked assays. Gestational age was determined by ultrasound in the first trimester followed by serial fetal biometry. RESULTS: The results of our study in 101 consecutive pregnant women revealed that the mean (+/-SD) maternal serum concentration of the folate during labor was 12.01 (+/-4.16) ng/ml (range 2.50-23). The mean (+/-SD) gestational age at labor was 38.5 (+/-1.2) weeks (range 35-41 wks) as also the mean (+/-SD) birth weight of the newborns was 3.217 (+/-403) g (range 2,000-4,250 g). CONCLUSIONS: No significant correlation (p>0.05) between folate levels of the maternal serum and gestational age at delivery or birth weight was found. The mode of delivery as a result of probable relationship between operative delivery and maternal serum folate levels was also not found.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of Percoll gradient and swim-up preparation on the chromomycin A3 staining of normal and abnormal semen samples.

The protamination of spermatozoa recovered by Percoll gradient and swim-up was investigated by means of chromomycin A3 (CMA3) staining. A total of 34 semen samples from patients undergoing IVF treatment were divided in two groups: normal (A) and oligoasthenozoospermic (B). Samples were divided in fractions, subjected to both techniques of preparation, and stained by CMA3. The percentage of CMA3 positive spermatozoa recovered by Percoll was comparable to swim-up in the normal group. In the abnormal group Percoll resulted in significantly lower CMA3 percentage. It is concluded that the degree of protamination in recovered spermatozoa is influenced by the technique of preparation.

Cell Separation↗