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population known to have a high prevalence of diabetes may have been due to the fact that pregnant women in Malta are currently not routinely screened for this condition via oral glucose tolerance tests.The association between threatened spontaneous abortion and pregnancy complications can be partly explained by an increase in reactive oxygen species and chronic damage to fetal membranes, which can lead to impaired placentation [1]. Placental oxidative stress is associated with increased necrosis and apoptosis of the villous trophoblast and involvement of cytokines. In the present study, the overall rate of spontaneous abortion in the study group (26.6%) was higher than in studies of other populations (e.g. 9% [1] and 14% [4]). This may have been because of variations in cytokine levels between different ethnic populations living in different environments. Future studies should measure plasma levels of T helper (Th)-1 and Th-2 cytokines in a cohort of Maltese women with threatened spontaneous abortion, and compare them with those of a matched comparable different population.

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of and risk factors for postoperative febrile morbidity after laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH).MethodsThis retrospective study was carried out using the medical records of women with benign gynecologic conditions who underwent LAVH between June 2007 and May 2012 at Srinagarind Hospital in Thailand. Data were collected to assess baseline patient characteristics, occurrence of body temperature ≥38°C on two occasions at least 6 hours apart in the 24 hours following the surgical procedure, and possible risk factors related to postoperative febrile morbidity.ResultsIn total, 199 women underwent LAVH during the study period. They had a mean age of 46±6 years, a mean body mass index of 24.0±3.2 kg/m2, a mean surgical duration of 134±52 minutes, median estimated blood loss of 200 mL, a mean total hospital stay of 5±2 days, and a mean postoperative hospital stay of 3±2 days. Postoperative febrile morbidity was documented in 31 cases (15.6%). The cause of postoperative fever was unknown in most cases, with only two cases having an identifiable cause. The risk of postoperative febrile morbidity was highest in women treated with more than two antibacterial agents and with a regimen of more than 3 days.ConclusionThis study shows a moderately high rate of febrile morbidity after LAVH, for which the main risk factors were use of multiple drugs and doses for antibiotic prophylaxis.