XENTURION is a population-level multidimensional resource of xenografts and tumoroids from metastatic colorectal cancer patients.

The breadth and depth at which cancer models are interrogated contribute to the successful clinical translation of drug discovery efforts. In colorectal cancer (CRC), model availability is limited by a dearth of large-scale collections of patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) and paired tumoroids from metastatic disease, where experimental therapies are typically tested. Here we introduce XENTURION, an open-science resource offering a platform of 128 PDX models from patients with metastatic CRC, along with matched PDX-derived tumoroids.

Radiofrequency ablation is an effective treatment for Bethesda III thyroid nodules without genetic alterations.

Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is effective in the treatment of thyroid nodules, leading to a 50-90% reduction with respect to baseline. Current guidelines indicate the need for a benign cytology prior to RFA, though, on the other side, this procedure is also successfully used for the treatment of papillary microcarcinomas. No specific indications are available for nodules with an indeterminate cytology (Bethesda III/IV).

Clinical Outcomes of Thermal Ablation Re-Treatment of Benign Thyroid Nodules: A Multicenter Study from the Italian Minimally Invasive Treatments of the Thyroid Group.

Thermal ablation (TA) is an established therapeutic option alternative to surgery in patients with solid benign thyroid nodules causing local symptoms. However, a variable part of thyroid nodules remain viable after these nonsurgical treatments, and as many as 15% of nodules treated with TA may require a second treatment over time. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of TA re-treatment on symptomatic benign thyroid nodules where the volume decreased by <50% after the first procedure ( = technique inefficacy).

Uterine fibroid size modifications during pregnancy and puerperium: evidence from the first systematic review of literature.

Purpose: The influence of pregnancy on uterine fibroid size still remains an unsolved dilemma. Basing on current knowledge, physicians are not able to inform patients about the likelihood of uterine fibroids to modify their size during pregnancy. Study aim was to summarize available evidence concerning the size modifications of uterine fibroids during each trimester of pregnancy and during puerperium.

Laparoscopic uterine artery bipolar coagulation plus myomectomy vs traditional laparoscopic myomectomy for "large" uterine fibroids: comparison of clinical efficacy.

Purpose: Laparoscopic myomectomy is the uterus-preserving surgical approach of choice in case of symptomatic fibroids. However, it can be a difficult procedure even for an experienced surgeon and can result in excessive blood loss, prolonged operating time and postoperative complications. A combined approach with laparoscopic uterine artery occlusion and simultaneous myomectomy was proposed to reduce these complications.

Salpingectomy before assisted reproductive technologies: a systematic literature review.

Salpingectomy is largely used in case of hydrosalpinx in infertile women scheduled for assisted reproductive technologies (ART), whereas there is no consensus on its role in absence of hydrosalpinx. The current is a systematic literature review to collate all available evidence regarding salpingectomy as fertility enhancement procedure before ART in infertile patients. Our primary endpoint was to assess the impact of the surgical procedure on ovarian reserve, and secondary outcomes were to evaluate its benefits and harms on ART outcomes.

Sonographic assessment of placental location: a mere notional description or an important key to improve both pregnancy and perinatal obstetrical care? A large cohort study.

During a standard obstetrical sonogram, the assessment of placental location (PL) is often limited to a mere notional description without formulating any association to possible implications on pregnancy and childbirth. The aim of the study was to speculate if different sites of PL may have a role in influencing fetal presentation-(FP) at birth and if certain pregnancy-complications may be more closely associated with one rather than with another PL. We conducted an observational-prospective-cohort study on pregnant women referred to the Ob/Gyn Unit of Padua University for routine third-trimester ultrasound scan.

Preventive and Therapeutic Role of Dietary Inositol Supplementation in Periconceptional Period and During Pregnancy: A Summary of Evidences and Future Applications.

Although inositol dietary deficiency in the general population has not been demonstrated at the serum level, several findings are emerging regarding the impact of inositol supplementation in periconceptional period and in early phases of pregnancy. We are aimed to summarize all experimental (murine in vivo and in vitro murine embryo studies) and clinical (human) evidences regarding the role of inositol in the prevention and treatment of folate-resistant embryo neural tube defects (FR-NTDs) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We also collected all information regarding the effect that inositol supplementation may have in the metabolic reassessment of early and late pregnancy in order to draw evidence-based conclusions and suggest further studies defining the potential therapeutic role of this molecule in human reproduction.

Gonadal failure is associated with visceral adiposity in myotonic dystrophies.

Background: Hypogonadism occurs in myotonic dystrophies type 1 (MD1) and type 2 (MD2). Sertoli and Leydig cell secretions, including insulin-like peptide-3 (INSL3), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B, were evaluated in male patients with MD.

Design: Academic settings.

Subtotal versus total laparoscopic hysterectomy: could women sexual function recovery overcome the surgical outcomes in pre-operatory decision making?

Purpose: Hysterectomy is the most common surgical procedure performed in gynecology and, in over 95% of the cases, does not necessarily require the removal of the uterine cervix to be completed successfully. In clinical practice, however, less than 20% of gynecologists offer patients the possibility to express a personal preference concerning the choice between total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) and laparoscopic subtotal hysterectomy (LSH). The aim of this study is to compare patients who have undergone TLH versus LSH for benign uterine diseases in terms of intra-operative/peri-operative surgical outcomes and short-term recovery of sexual function.

Thermal balloon ablation versus transcervical endometrial resection: evaluation of postoperative pelvic pain in women treated for dysfunctional uterine bleeding.

Purpose Of The Study: To evaluate postoperative pain after mini-invasive surgical treatment for dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) with transcervical endometrial resection or thermal ablation balloon.

Materials And Methods: A longitudinal observational study, analyzing 47 women affected by DUB who underwent endometrial ablation was conducted. The authors collected evaluation of pelvic pain at one and four hours after intervention and the individual necessity of analgesics.

Pregnancy outcome after laparoscopic myomectomy.

Purpose Of Investigation: Main purpose of this study was to analyze the reproductive and obstetrical outcome as delivery mode and incidence of major complications (uterine bleeding and uterine rupture) after laparoscopic myomectomy.

Materials And Methods: The authors conducted an observational study in patients who underwent laparoscopic myomectomy. Inclusion criteria were: surgery performed for single and or multiple myomas sized between five and 15 cm and pregnancy desire.

Evaluation of adhesions after laparoscopic myomectomy using the Harmonic Ace and the auto-crosslinked hyaluronan gel vs Ringer's lactate solution.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a crosslinked hyaluronic acid (HA) for the prevention of postsurgical adhesions after laparoscopic myomectomy using the Harmonic Ace.

Materials And Methods: Women 23-42 years of age who wished to conceive underwent laparoscopic myomectomy. As adhesion preventing agents, crosslinked HA gel was applied on the myometrial scar at the end of the surgery in Group A, whereas in Group B a Ringer's lactate solution was used in a prospective, observational study.

Preliminary study of the effects of preventive measures on the prevalence of Canine Leishmaniosis in a recently established focus in northern Italy.

Canine Leishmaniosis is endemic in Mediterranean areas, with a well-documented northward spread. The mass use of preventive measures against sandfly bites (collar and spot-on formulations) was tested in a small focus recently established in an isolated hilly area of north-eastern Italy (Colli Euganei). In 2006 and 2007, a total of 449 dogs living in the southern part of Colli Euganei were screened against Leishmania infantum using an immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), and 31 (6.

Atypical endometrial lesions: hysteroscopic resection as an alternative to hysterectomy.

Background: Endometrial hyperplasia is a precursor to endometrial carcinoma: the risk of progression to invasive endometrial cancer is increased in postmenopausal women and much more in cases of atypical endometrial hyperplasia (25%-30%). In addition, in 12.7% to 42.

Prolactin and proinflammatory cytokine expression at the fetomaternal interface in first trimester miscarriage.

Objective: To investigate the expression of prolactin (PRL), PRL-receptor (PRL-R), and the TH1 cytokines interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) at the maternofetal interface.

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: University hospital unit of gynecology and obstetrics and research laboratories.

Identification of new variants of human BMP15 gene in a large cohort of women with premature ovarian failure.

Context: Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a cause of female infertility characterized by primary (PA) or secondary amenorrhea (SA) and elevated gonadotropins. The pathogenesis is unknown in most cases. We recently reported two sisters with PA carrying a heterozygous mutation of BMP15 gene (locus Xp11.

Circulating levels of inhibin A, inhibin B and activin A in normal and intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) fetuses.

Objective: To evaluate the relationships between circulating levels of inhibin A, inhibin B and activin A, and sex, gestational age and gonadotropins in normal and pathological fetuses.

Study Design: The study included 31 normal fetuses and 12 affected with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) of gestational age ranging 20-40 weeks.

Results: No gender difference in inhibin A and activin A levels were observed.

Lack of expression of endometrial prolactin in early implantation failure: a pilot study.

Background: Animal models and experimental studies suggest a role for paracrine prolactin (PRL) signalling in decidualization and embryo implantation. We investigated the expression of endometrial prolactin (e-PRL) and prolactin receptor (PRL-R) in the endometrium of women affected by unexplained infertility (UI) and repeated miscarriages (RM).

Methods: Patients (n = 24) were divided into three groups: RM, n = 5; UI, n = 11; controls, n = 8.

Serum activin A levels in different thyroid disorders.

Activin A belongs to the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily that exerts a wide range of biologic activities on cellular proliferation and differentiation. Although it was suggested that gonadal tissue is the primary site of activin production, several extragonadal sources have subsequently been identified, including human thyrocytes. The goal of the present study was to evaluate serum activin A levels in a series of patients with different thyroid disorders during the active state of the diseases and after recovery.

Isolated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) deficiency in a young man with normal virilization who did not have mutations in the FSHbeta gene.

Objective: To determine the cause of isolated FSH deficiency in a young infertile man.

Design: Case report.

Setting: Clinical and genetic studies in an academic research environment.

Pituitary function in a man with congenital aromatase deficiency: effect of different doses of transdermal E2 on basal and stimulated pituitary hormones.

To clarify the role of estrogen on male pituitary function, the effects of different doses of transdermal E2 on pituitary secretion were evaluated in a man with aromatase deficiency. The study protocol was divided into the following three phases: no E2 treatment (phase 1); 25 microg transdermal E2 twice weekly for 9 months (phase 2);12.5 microg transdermal E2 twice weekly for 9 months (phase 3).

Relevant cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase isoforms in human pituitary: effect of Gs(alpha) mutations.

Both cAMP production by adenylyl cyclase and cAMP degradation by phosphodiesterases account for intracellular cAMP levels. We previously demonstrated an increased phosphodiesterase activity in GH-secreting adenomas bearing the gsp oncogene. Here we characterize both the activity and the expression of cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase genes in the human pituitary and in gsp+ and gsp- GH-secreting adenomas and analyze the impact of this intracellular feedback mechanism on the levels of cAMP-responsive element-binding protein phosphorylation.

Bioactivity and glycosylation of circulating prolactin in various physiological and pathological conditions.

Multiple posttranslational processes modify native PRL and result in the secretion of several PRL isoforms with different bioactivity. Since we observed that serum samples contain non-lactogenic substances able to interfere in Nb2 cell bioassay, in this study we extracted PRL molecules from sera of pregnant and non-pregnant normal adults, fetuses and patients with prolactinoma and evaluated the ability of partially purified PRL to stimulate Nb2 cell proliferation. The preliminary immunopurification of PRL samples, conferred good sensitivity and specificity to PRL biological assay.