Effect of hysterectomy or LNG-IUS on serum inhibin B levels and ovarian blood flow.

Objectives: Nearly one third of women complain of heavy menstrual bleeding during their reproductive years. Hysterectomy and levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) are effective treatment options for menorrhagia. However, the influence of these two treatment modalities on ovarian function remains unclear.

Paraovarian/paratubal cysts: comparison of transvaginal sonographic and pathological findings to establish diagnostic criteria.

Objectives: To describe the sonographic features of paraovarian cysts and to compare these features with pathological findings in order to define the best treatment options (surgical vs. conservative).

Methods: Fifty patients (mean age 48 (range, 14-68) years), each with a surgically proven paraovarian cyst, were retrospectively recruited.

Transvaginal sonographic features of peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Objectives: Peritoneal carcinomatosis involves the dissemination of intra-abdominal tumor tissue often associated with gynecological malignancies. The objective of this study was to describe the transvaginal sonographic appearance of this condition.

Methods: The data of 60 patients with surgically and histologically proven peritoneal carcinomatosis were analyzed.

Transvaginal sonographic appearance of peritoneal pseudocysts.

Objective: To describe the sonographic features of peritoneal pseudocysts (PPCs) in order to determine the particular aspects that distinguish them from true ovarian cysts.

Methods: Thirty-one women with PPCs were investigated using transvaginal sonography immediately before surgery. The diameters of the cysts were measured, and the shape, margins, content, location, presence of septa and echogenic portions were analyzed.

Effects of ospemifene, a novel SERM, on vascular markers and function in healthy, postmenopausal women.

Objective: Ospemifene, a novel selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), shows promise for bone preservation in postmenopausal women. This study examined the effects of ospemifene on different vascular surrogate markers.

Design: A double-blinded study was conducted in 160 healthy, postmenopausal women who used, in a randomized order, ospemifene (at daily doses of 30, 60, or 90 mg) or placebo for 3 months.

Comparison of uterine and spiral artery blood flow in women with unexplained and tubal infertility.

Objective: To evaluate the possible difference in uterine and spiral artery impedance to blood flow among women with unexplained and tubal infertility during spontaneous and gonadotropin-stimulated cycles.

Methods: We prospectively compared uterine and spiral artery pulsatility index and peak systolic velocity in a longitudinal study in women with either unexplained infertility (n = 20) or tubal infertility (n = 18). Measurements of uterine and spiral artery impedance were taken on days 11-12, 16-17 and 21-23 of the spontaneous cycle and on days 1, 5 and 10 during gonadotropin stimulation.

Transvaginal sonography in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

Objectives: To evaluate transvaginal sonography with power Doppler capacity in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and in discriminating appendicitis from pelvic inflammatory disease.

Patients And Methods: We describe transvaginal sonographic findings of six women with acute appendicitis selected from 31 women seen in an emergency room setting for clinically suspected pelvic inflammatory disease. The study population underwent gray-scale transvaginal sonography, and specific sonographic landmark findings for acute appendicitis and pelvic inflammatory disease were used.

Paraquat embryotoxicity in the Xenopus laevis cleavage phase.

The high Paraquat (PQ, 1-1'-dimethyl-4,4'bipyridylium dichloride) embryotoxicity in Xenopus laevis has been shown to be due to its rapid reduction and instantaneous re-oxidation which produces a reactive oxygen species, ROS. Nevertheless, PQ did not show any effects before hatching, stage 32, which showed a resistance, in early X. laevis development, to oxidative damage.

Comparison between 1 year oral and transdermal oestradiol and sequential norethisterone acetate on circulating concentrations of leptin in postmenopausal women.

Background: Oral and transdermal postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) affects lipid and glucose metabolism differently, which is of significance in the release of leptin by adipocytes. Moreover, oestrogen and progesterone can stimulate leptin secretion in women of reproductive age. Therefore, we compared the effects of oral and transdermal oestrogen plus progestin regimen on plasma leptin in 38 healthy postmenopausal women with normal body mass index (BMI), who wished to use HRT to control incapacitating climacteric symptoms.

Vaginal clindamycin in preventing preterm birth and peripartal infections in asymptomatic women with bacterial vaginosis: a randomized, controlled trial.

Objective: To determine whether treatment of bacterial vaginosis (BV) in early pregnancy decreases the risk of preterm delivery and peripartum infectious morbidity.

Methods: In this multicenter, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled intervention trial, screening for BV was performed by vaginal Gram stain obtained from 5432 healthy women with singleton pregnancies during the first antenatal clinic visit at 10--17 weeks' gestation. Bacterial vaginosis-positive women with no past history of preterm delivery were randomized to a single course of treatment with either 2% vaginal clindamycin cream or identical placebo cream for 7 days.

Transvaginal power Doppler findings in laparoscopically proven acute pelvic inflammatory disease.

Objectives: To evaluate the usefulness of power Doppler transvaginal sonography (TVS) in the diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and to assess the diagnostic reliability of specific sonographic findings.

Population: The study population consisted of 30 women admitted for suspected acute PID. The reference group consisted of 20 women with proven hydrosalpinx formation.

Randomized comparison between orally and transdermally administered hormone replacement therapy regimens of long-term effects on 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure in postmenopausal women.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess whether oral delivery and transdermal delivery of sequential combined hormone replacement therapy have similar effects on systemic blood pressure, as measured by 24-hour automated ambulatory recordings.

Study Design: Eighty-two healthy postmenopausal women, of whom 73 completed the study, were randomly assigned to start hormone replacement therapy with either orally (n = 38) or transdermally (n = 35) administered medication. Ambulatory blood pressure was recorded for a 24-hour period before the start of hormone replacement therapy and again 2 and 6 months later.

Prospective study on gynaecological effects of two antioestrogens tamoxifen and toremifene in postmenopausal women.

To assess and compare the gynaecological consequences of the use of 2 antioestrogens we examined 167 postmenopausal breast cancer patients before and during the use of either tamoxifen (20 mg/day, n = 84) or toremifene (40 mg/day, n = 83) as an adjuvant treatment of stage II-III breast cancer. Detailed interview concerning menopausal symptoms, pelvic examination including transvaginal sonography (TVS) and collection of endometrial sample were performed at baseline and at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months of treatment. In a subgroup of 30 women (15 using tamoxifen and 15 toremifene) pulsatility index (PI) in an uterine artery was measured before and at 6 and 12 months of treatment.

Uterine artery impedance to blood flow on the day of embryo transfer does not predict obstetric outcome.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of uterine artery impedance to blood flow on the day of embryo transfer for prediction of early pregnancy loss and obstetric outcome.

Methods: The uterine artery pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) were evaluated prospectively by transvaginal Doppler in 102 infertile women, who conceived as the result of fresh or frozen embryo transfer. Uterine artery impedance to blood flow was compared to the obstetric outcome.

Laparoscopic management of suspected acute pelvic inflammatory disease.

Study Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of acute-phase operative laparoscopy in women with suspected pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

Design: Open series (Canadian Task Force classification II-3).

Setting: University hospital.

Short-term metabolic effects of isradipine and metoprolol in pre-eclampsia.

Objective: To study the effects of isradipine or metoprolol on insulin sensitivity and lipid profiles as well as on blood pressure and umbilical vascular resistance in pre-eclamptic women in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Design: A single-centre, prospective, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy and parallel-group study.

Setting: Helsinki University Central Hospital, a tertiary referral centre.

Menorrhagia and uterine artery blood flow.

Menorrhagia is a significant problem in women of reproductive age. In half of the cases no specific aetiology is known. Vascular factors play a role but remain poorly understood.

Randomized comparison of oral and transdermal hormone replacement on carotid and uterine artery resistance to blood flow.

Objective: To compare the long-term effects of oral and transdermal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on carotid and uterine vascular impedance.

Methods: Sixty-three postmenopausal women were randomized to 1 year's treatment with oral or transdermal sequential combined HRT. Carotid and uterine artery pulsatility indices (PIs) were assessed by color Doppler at baseline, and after 2, 6, and 12 months of treatment.

Effects of transdermal nitroglycerin on impedance to flow in the uterine, umbilical, and fetal middle cerebral arteries in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation.

Objective: We studied whether transdermal nitroglycerin, a donor of nitric oxide, affects uterine, umbilical, and fetal cerebral blood flow in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia and impaired uteroplacental blood flow.

Study Design: Seventeen patients with preeclampsia were treated with a nitroglycerin patch, 10 mg per 24 hours, for three consecutive days between 28 and 36 weeks' gestation. The uterine, umbilical, and fetal middle cerebral artery pulsatility index and resistance index were assessed by color Doppler ultrasonography before the start of treatment, daily during treatment, and on the first 2 days after the removal of the last patch.

The long-term effects of oral and transdermal postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy on nitric oxide, endothelin-1, prostacyclin, and thromboxane.

Objective: Oral postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) decreases the risk of cardiovascular disorders, but the mechanisms of this protection are largely unknown. We compared the long-term effects of sequential oral HRT and transdermal HRT on vasodilatory nitric oxide and prostacyclin as well as vasoconstrictive endothelin- and thromboxane A2, all of which may be factors in the protective effect of HRT against cardiovascular disorders.

Design: Prospective, randomized study.