Twisted fallopian tube in pregnancy: a case report

BACKGROUND: Isolated twisted fallopian tube is an uncommon event, isolated twisted fallopian tube in pregnancy is also very rare. The diagnosis is often difficult and established during the operation. The right fallopian tube is most common affected. CASE PRESENTATION: We report an uncommon twisted left fallopian tube in pregnancy. A 34-year-old G(3)P(2) 28 weeks pregnant woman presented with acute left lower abdominal pain. The clinical and ultrasonographic findings led to diagnosis of twisted left ovarian cyst. Emergency exploratory laparotomy was performed. A twisted left fallopian tube and paratubal cyst was noted and left salpingectomy was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful and the pregnancy continued until term without complication. CONCLUSIONS: Although isolated twisted fallopian tube during pregnancy is very rare, it should be included in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen in pregnancy. Early surgical intervention will decrease obstetric morbidity and may allow preservation of the fallopian tube

Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome with pleural effusion: a case report

In corporate governance systems boards perform three functions: the interlocking function (from a resource-dependency and network perspective), a monitoring function (from an agency perspective), and a strategic function (from a strategic choice perspective). In a one-tier board the board of directors incorporates non-executive directors (outsiders, they sometimes represent the interests of key-stakeholders) and executive directors (top management) of the firm. In a two-tier board there is a clear distinction between the directors as members of a supervisory board and the top management team. The board serves in this respect as a supervisory board vis à vis the management board. In the Netherlands a two-tier board is prevalent. Firms who act under the structural regime have boards that are characterized by the co-option principle. This means that board members have to act in the best interest of the firm and ultimately choose each other (and are not chosen by the shareholders or other stakeholders). Co-option has some advantages, but also some clear drawbacks, such as the potentiality of groupthink. The structural regime and other governance regimes, in which the relationship between supervisory board and management board is established, have moderating effects on the hypothesized relationships between the three functions and performance of firms.

Suppression of inflammatory and fibrotic responses in allergic inflammation by the amniotic membrane stromal matrix.

BACKGROUND: The amniotic membrane (AM), which is the innermost layer of the placenta, was shown to possess anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties in various in vitro and clinical studies. PURPOSE: To evaluate the anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects of the AM matrix (AMM) on human conjunctival and lung fibroblasts in an in vitro system that tests fibrotic and inflammatory responses at the effector stages of allergic inflammation. METHODS: Human conjunctival or lung fibroblasts were seeded on plastic or on the stromal aspect of the AM, which was mounted on plastic inserts. Sonicates of human peripheral blood eosinophils activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or human mast cell (HMC-1) leukaemia cell sonicates, were added to sub-confluent fibroblast monolayers. Proliferation of the sub-confluent fibroblasts was assessed using the [3H]-thymidine incorporation assay. The production of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and IL-8 in conjunctival or lung fibroblasts was measured in conditioned media from these cultures by ELISA. RESULTS: After 4 days in culture, the [3H]-thymidine incorporation assay indicated a reduced proliferation of activated conjunctival and lung fibroblasts when cultured directly on the AMM. The production of both TGF-beta1 and IL-8 was significantly suppressed in activated conjunctival fibroblasts cultured on the AMM compared with those cultured on plastic, while the production of both TGF-beta1 and GM-CSF was decreased in human lung fibroblast cultured on the AMM. CONCLUSIONS: The AMM is capable of suppressing fibrotic responses in an in vitro system of effector stages of ocular allergic inflammation. These data may provide a basis for exploring matrix components in the AM for the treatment of allergic eye disease