Vaginal-assisted laparoscopic radical hysterectomy: rationale, technique, results.

Objective: Total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (TLRH) makes it difficult to resect adequate vaginal cuff according to tumor size and to avoid tumor spread after opening the vagina. Laparoscopic-assisted radical vaginal hysterectomy (LARVH) is associated with higher risk for urologic complications.

Methods: The vaginal-assisted laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (VALRH) technique comprises 3 steps: (1) comprehensive laparoscopic staging, (2) creation of a tumoradapted vaginal cuff, and (3) laparoscopic transsection of parametria.

Assessment of long-axis ventricular function in the fetal heart with a tissue-tracking algorithm.

Objective: Tissue-tracking echocardiography (TTE) is a method for quantitative assessment of myocardial contraction and relaxation. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of TTE in fetuses and investigate fetal myocardial properties in normal pregnancies.

Methods: Two hundred thirty pregnant women participated in the study.

Fertility outcome after radical vaginal trachelectomy: a prospective study of 212 patients.

Objective: For treatment in patients with early-stage cervical cancer, radical vaginal trachelectomy (RVT) as a fertility-preserving surgery can be put on a par with radical hysterectomy as to oncologic safety. Our aim was to investigate the fertility concerns and outcome.

Methods: Prospective collection of fertility data of patients treated with RVT.

Addressing concerns about cisplatin application during pregnancy.

Introduction: Cervical cancer in second trimester of pregnancy is an oncologic challenge. Cisplatin is recommended to prevent cancer progression. This is a series correlating in vivo cisplatin concentration in the fetomaternal compartment and in breast milk with child development.

Pregnancy after lymphadenectomy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical vaginal trachelectomy in FIGO stage IB1 cervical cancer.

Objective: To report a case of full-term delivery after laparoscopic lymphadenectomy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical vaginal trachelectomy in bulky stage IB1 cervical cancer.

Design: Case report.

Setting: University hospital.

Fetal fibronectin as a predictor of spontaneous preterm birth: a European perspective.

Preterm birth (PTB) is estimated to account for 6-10% of all births worldwide with 13 million PTBs occurring annually and 1 million resulting in death. The diagnosis of spontaneous preterm labor and accurate prediction of preterm delivery is notoriously difficult. Identification of effective risk assessment markers can potentially improve outcomes by enabling targeted therapy while allowing efficient use of resources and avoiding unnecessary interventions.

Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors CIP1 (p21) and KIP1 (p27) in ovarian cancer.

Purpose: Deregulation of the cell cycle is one of the important prerequisites for cancer development. p21 and p27 are both universal inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases and can therefore influence cell cycle or tumor progression. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of p21 and p27 expression on survival and chemotherapy response.