Publications by authors named "Angela Falbo"

Background: Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a complication of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). It is a potentially life-threatening condition that usually occurs either after human chorionic gonadotropins (hCG) administration in susceptible patients or as a result of an implanting pregnancy, regardless of whether it was achieved by natural conception or infertility treatments. Despite many years of clinical experience regarding the adoption of preventive measures and the identification of patients at high risk, the pathophysiology of OHSS is poorly understood and no reliable predictive risk factors have been identified.

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Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) seem to have impaired reproductive performances. It is generally considered that an altered ovulatory function is the main cause of infertility in the affected women. However, other factors may play a role in the pathogenesis of the PCOS-related infertility.

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Article Synopsis
  • An increase in couples seeking assisted reproductive technology (ART) has been noted, yet success rates remain low at about 20%-30%, highlighting the need to improve these statistics, especially by considering male fertility factors that are often overlooked.
  • This study analyzes data from couples at a fertility center between 1992 and 2020 to see if traditional semen analysis can help predict the success of ART, focusing on fertilization, pregnancy, and live birth rates in relation to semen parameters.
  • Findings indicate that men with abnormal semen parameters have significantly lower fertilization rates, while specific metrics like sperm motility and morphology are strong predictors of successful fertilization, pregnancy, and live births in both in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic
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According to our systematic literature review (PRISMA guidelines), only 37 vulvar squamous cell carcinomas (VSCCs) were diagnosed during pregnancy (age range: 17-41 years). The tumor size range was 0.3-15 cm.

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Classically, follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR)-driven cAMP-mediated signaling boosts human ovarian follicle growth and oocyte maturation. However, contradicting data suggest a different view on physiological significance of FSHR-mediated cAMP signaling. We found that the G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) heteromerizes with FSHR, reprogramming cAMP/death signals into proliferative stimuli fundamental for sustaining oocyte survival.

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Background And Aims: Sphingosine-1 phosphate (S1P) is a lysosphingolipid present in the ovarian follicular fluid. The role of the lysosphingolipid in gonads of the female is widely unclear. At nanomolar concentrations, S1P binds and activates five specific G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), known as S1P, modulating different signaling pathways.

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Commercial hMG drugs are marketed for the treatment of infertility and consist of highly purified hormones acting on receptors expressed in target gonadal cells. Menopur® and Meriofert® are combined preparation of FSH and hCG and are compared in vitro herein. To this purpose, the molecular composition of the two drugs was analyzed by immunoassay.

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Uterine transplantation (UTx) associated with IVF restores fertility in women affected by absolute uterine factor infertility (AUFI). Pregnancies achieved both in women undergoing any solid organ transplantation and following IVF are associated with an increased risk of maternal and neonatal complications. This systematic review evaluated this risk in UTx-IVF treated women focusing on the safety and efficacy features of the treatment.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study analyzed 4,779 slow-frozen embryos to support standardization of IVF cryopreservation methods due to a lack of international guidelines on vitrification vs. slow-freezing.
  • The results showed that the Freeze/Thaw 1™ Kit® (kit 3) had higher embryo survival (79.9%) and replacement rates (91.5%) compared to two other kits, with a significant difference in blastomere degeneration rates.
  • The findings suggest that using a consistent composition of cryoprotectants in warming solutions could improve embryo survival and support the development of a standardized thawing protocol in IVF.
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Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most frequent cause of anovulatory infertility. In women with PCOS, effective ovulation induction serves as an important first-line treatment for anovulatory infertility. Individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis is considered as the gold standard for evidence synthesis which provides accurate assessments of outcomes from primary randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and allows additional analyses for time-to-event outcomes.

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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common female disorder with a pathogenesis still today not completely known. To the present, PCOS is considered more than just a reproductive disorder since several metabolic consequences that could affect women's health during different stages of reproductive and post-reproductive life were reported. The aim of the current review was to evaluate present evidence-based data regarding the pregnancy complications in infertile patients with PCOS.

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As anemia in pregnancy is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes, we sought to define the mean and the fifth percentile of Hb and Ht using a contemporary multiethnic large cohort of low-risk pregnancies, and assess potential racial differences. We conducted a retrospective cohort study on women who delivered between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2013 in Reggio Emilia County, Italy. Linear mixed effects models were used to describe changes in mean Hb and Ht, while quantile regression with matrix-design bootstrap defined changes in the fifth percentile of Hb and Ht, controlling for race, maternal age, smoking, and pregnancy number.

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Objective To investigate whether different antenatal care models could account for differences in operative delivery rates and adverse neonatal outcomes among low-risk pregnant women, and to identify independent variables associated with delivery modes and adverse neonatal outcomes. Study design Retrospective cohort from a single center of singleton, term, live births between January 2012 and June 2014. Rates of cesarean deliveries, operative vaginal deliveries, and neonatal morbidities were analyzed among women followed by private obstetrician-gynecologists versus national health system providers (certified nurse midwifes supervised by obstetrician-gynecologists), and adjusted for potential confounders.

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Background: Intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI) is still proposed and employed in the clinical practice to improve the reproductive outcome in infertile couples scheduled for conventional intracytoplasmic sperm injection (cICSI). The aim of the current randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to test the hypothesis that IMSI gives a better live birth delivery rate than cICSI.

Methods: Infertile couples scheduled for their first cICSI cycle for male factor were allocated using a simple randomization procedure.

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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) represents the most common endocrine dysfunction in fertile women and it is considered a heterogeneous and multifaceted disorder, with multiple reproductive and metabolic phenotypes which differently affect the early- and long-term syndrome's risks. Women with PCOS present an adverse reproductive profile, including a high risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes mellitus. Patients with PCOS present not only a higher prevalence of classic cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type-2 diabetes mellitus, but also of nonclassic cardiovascular risk factors, including mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety.

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Background: The great majority of studies performed so far concerning women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have focused on diagnosis, menstrual cycle abnormalities, hirsutism and infertility. Although progress has been made in developing methods for achieving a pregnancy and reducing multiple gestations in women with PCOS, little attention has been paid to pregnancy complications and subsequent child outcomes. This review aims to summarize current knowledge regarding the clinical and pathophysiological features of pregnancy and children in women with PCOS.

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Myomectomy is the most frequent reproductive surgery to preserve, improve fertility, or both. The present study was designed to assess the safety and efficacy of minilaparotomy for myomectomy through a systematic review of randomized and non-randomized controlled trials with a meta-analysis. All available studies comparing minilaparotomy myomectomy with laparotomy, other minimally invasive surgeries, or both, were included.

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Background: Primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the cervix is a very rare disease, with non-specific clinical presentation. Its prognosis depends on accurate and timely diagnosis and therapy. Moreover, the management of this tumour has never been standardized.

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Background: Data on patients with endometrial cancer converted to laparotomy are totally lacking. The aim of the present study was to evaluate surgical and oncological outcomes in patients with endometrial cancer scheduled for laparoscopic staging but converted to laparotomy.

Methods: Data of consecutive patients who had undergone surgery for staging endometrial cancer in seven Italian centers were reviewed.

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To evaluate the effects of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) on human reproduction, we reviewed the current literature using a systematic search for published studies (articles and/or abstracts) without limits for English language. We searched on Medline (through PubMed), the Institute for Scientific Information, the Web of Science and the websites for the registration of controlled trials (http://controlled-trials.com/).

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Alterations in lipid pattern and increased risk for obstetric/neonatal complications have been observed in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Pregnancy leads to physiologic changes in lipoprotein metabolism, and alterations in lipid profile have been related with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Based on these considerations, the aim of the present prospective controlled clinical study was to test the hypothesis that the changes in the lipid profile in patients with PCOS during pregnancy are characteristic and potentially related to the increased risk of obstetric/neonatal complications.

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This study evaluated the impact of different phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) on early trophoblast invasion and placentation. Pregnant patients with different PCOS phenotypes and healthy pregnant women, matched for age and body mass index, were enrolled. Histological analysis of trophoblastic and decidual tissue and macroscopic and microscopic assessment of the placentas were performed.

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Context: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and pregnancy are conditions characterized by an increased low-grade chronic inflammation state. A higher incidence of pregnancy complications has been detected in pregnant PCOS women.

Objective: The objective of the study was to test the hypothesis that the low-grade chronic inflammation state typical of PCOS patients persists during gestation and is exacerbated by pregnancy and contributes to the increased risk of obstetric/neonatal complications.

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