Local administration of 25 microg of micronized 17beta-estradiol is an effective and a safe treatment option in the management of women with urogenital complaints.

CapsuleWith the use of polymerase chain reaction, human papillomavirus and Chlamydia trachomatis were detected in 7.4 % and 1 % of placental samples from miscarriages, respectively. 2 Structured abstract and key wordsObjective: In order to determine the role of infections in miscarriages, chorionic villi from aborted material were subjected to cytogenetic evaluation and analysed for the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), adeno-associated virus (AAV) and human papillomaviruses (HPV).Design: Retrospective study. Setting: University hospital and academic research institution.Main Outcome Measure(s): Karyotyping and detection of bacterial and viral DNA by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in placenta specimens. Result(s):In 54 (50 %) of 108 samples the karyotype was normal, in 38 (35 %) samples it was abnormal and in 16 (15 %) samples karyotype was undetermined. No U. urealyticum, M. hominis, HCMV or AAV 2 DNA was detected, while C. trachomatis DNA was detected in one (1 %) and HPV DNA in eight (7 %) samples. No significant correlation of HPV positive findings with karyotype status was established. Conclusion(s):Our findings do not support a role of C. trachomatis, U. urealyticum, M. hominis, HCMV and AAV infections in miscarriages during the first trimester of pregnancy. However, further investigation should be made to determine a possible involvement of HPVs in the development of genetic abnormalities of the fetus, and in miscarriages.

The range of phenotypes observed in this unique family suggests that there may be transmission of a mutation in a novel sex-determining gene or in a gene that predisposes to chromosomal mosaicism.

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Transabdominal placental biopsy under ultrasound guidance was carried out in 260 cases in the second trimester and 50 cases in the third trimester of pregnancy. Placental tissue was aspirated using an 18 or 20 gauge needle. In a total of 310 placental biopsies in the second and third trimester, 100 were performed because of suspicious ultrasonographic findings. Placental biopsy is simple in the presence of severe oligohydramnios where fetal blood sampling is usually more difficult. Oligohydramnios and polyhydramnios were the ultrasonographic findings in 50% of cases and were found to be associated with 30% of abnormal chromosomal findings. There was one (0.3%) abortion within two weeks following placental biopsy. Placental biopsy did not affect the outcome of the pregnancy.