Frequency of endometriotic lesions in peritoneum samples from asymptomatic fertile women and correlation with CA125 values.

Context And Objective: Serological testing for CA125 has been widely used to detect endometriosis and to monitor its progression. However, controversy still exists regarding the usefulness of the plasma CA125 assay for diagnosing endometriosis. Furthermore, some authors have described superficial endometriosis as a cyclical and normal phenomenon in women's lives, and have indicated that development and progression of this disease would only occur in some women as a result of immunological changes.

Heparanase-2 expression in normal ovarian epithelium and in benign and malignant ovarian tumors.

Introduction: Studies have highlighted the changes that take place in the environment between the cell and the extracellular matrix during the process of neoplastic expansion. Several papers have associated the expression of heparanase 1 with various malignant tumors. Heparanase 2 is probably related to loss of cell adhesion.

OC-125 immunostaining in endometriotic lesion samples.

Purpose: To determine the presence of OC-125 staining in endometriotic lesions and to verify whether there is an association with endometriosis stage.

Methods: Thirteen patients from the Family Planning programs (group I) and 53 patients from the Chronic Pelvic Pain outpatient clinic (group II) were studied. Endometriotic lesions were excised from areas of endometriosis incidence and studied by histopathological assay and by immunohistochemistry for OC-125 staining.

Role of glutathione S-transferase (GSTM1) gene polymorphism in development of uterine fibroids.

Glutathione S-transferase (GSTM1) plays an important role in the excretion of catechol estrogens and is therefore a candidate marker for fibroids. However, this case-control study demonstrated no association between GSTM1 polymorphism and the risk of leiomyoma in Brazilian women.

The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene polymorphism and prevalence of uterine fibroids.

Objective: To assess the possible association between the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) polymorphism and uterine fibroids in Brazilian women.

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: Department of Gynecology; teaching hospital.

Does gestrinone antagonize the effects of estrogen on endometrial implants upon the peritoneum of rats?

Objective: To evaluate the effects of estrogen treatment in combination with gestrinone on an experimental rat model of endometriosis.

Methods: Uterine transplants were attached to the peritoneum of female Wistar rats via a surgical autotransplantation technique. The implanted area was measured during the proestrus phase and after hormonal treatment.

Sulfated glycosaminoglycans of periurethral tissue in pre- and postmenopausal women.

Objective: The objective was to determine the sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in pre- and postmenopausal women.

Study Design: Periurethral tissue was obtained from 44 consecutive women who underwent surgery for urinary incontinence, for pelvic organ prolapse, or for other gynecologic benign conditions. Biopsy specimens were assessed by biochemical methods to characterize and quantify sulfated GAG.

Effects of estrogen and estrogen-progestogen therapy on homocysteine levels and their correlation with carotid vascular resistance.

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between homocysteine levels and carotid vascular resistance in menopausal women submitted to estrogen and estrogen-progestogen therapy.

Methods: Eighty-six women with a mean age of 52 years were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, 6-month study. Patients were allocated to use one of three oral therapies: placebo (n = 26), micronized estradiol 2 mg/day (n = 30) or micronized estradiol 2 mg/day plus norethisterone acetate 1 mg/day (n = 30).

Gene analysis in patients with premature ovarian failure or gonadal dysgenesis: a preliminary study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of mutations in the coding region of the QM gene and fragile X in patients with premature ovarian failure and gonadal dysgenesis.

Methods: After approval by the local Ethics Committee, blood samples, in EDTA, of 100 normally ovulating women, 23 with premature ovarian failure (POF) and 14 with gonadal dysgenesis 46XX, aged less than 40 years, were screened for mutation in the QM gene coding region. All patients with POF have 46, XX karyotype and serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) over 30 mIU/mL.

Uterine volume and menstrual patterns in users of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system with idiopathic menorrhagia or menorrhagia due to leiomyomas.

Background: A prospective cohort study was carried out to evaluate uterine volume and the volume of uterine leiomyomas in women using the levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) to treat idiopathic menorrhagia (n=32) and menorrhagia due to leiomyomas (n=27). A control group used the device as a contraceptive method (n=28).

Methods: Clinical and ultrasonographic evaluations were carried out at insertion and at 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months later.

The progesterone receptor gene polymorphism, PROGINS, may be a factor related to the development of uterine fibroids.

Objective: To assess the possible association between the polymorphic allele of the progesterone receptor gene, named PROGINS, and uterine leiomyomas.

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: Department of Gynecology.

The benefits of androgens combined with hormone replacement therapy regarding to patients with postmenopausal sexual symptoms.

Objective: To evaluate the benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) combined with methyltestosterone (MT) in postmenopausal women with sexual dysfunction.

Design: This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover trial. Eighty-five women using HRT were divided into four treatment groups: GI-HRT plus placebo for 4 months; GII-HRT plus MT 2.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in the lower urinary tract in rats after castration and estrogen administration.

Objective: To evaluate quantitatively, by means of immune histochemistry, the expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the bladder, vesicourethral junction, and urethra in normal, castrated adult rats and under estrogen administration.

Design: Sixty adult virgin rats (Rattus norvergicus albinus, Rodentia, Mammalia) from the CEDEME-UNIFESP Animal House were used. Rats were divided into three groups.

Latin American position on the current status of hormone therapy during the menopausal transition and thereafter.

Objective: Data from placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials conducted during the past few years resulted in critical re-evaluation of the overall health benefits of hormone therapy (HT) in women during the menopausal transition and thereafter. These data stimulated vigorous debate among experts and produced several position papers by North American and European authorities providing guidance on the use of HT. It is well known that cultural, geographic and ethnic differences influence the acceptance and risk perception of HT.

Long-term evaluation of lipid profile and oral glucose tolerance test in Norplant users.

Purpose: This study reports the results of the lipid profile and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in 46 normal patients tested before and after 5 years of Norplant use.

Results: After 5 years, there was a substantial decrease of 28.9% in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and a similar but less pronounced fall of 7.

Sulfated glycosaminoglycans of the periurethral tissue in women with and without stress urinary incontinence, according to genital prolapse stage.

Objective: The objective was to determine sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAG) of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in women with and without stress urinary incontinence according to genital prolapse stage.

Study Design: Periurethral tissue was obtained from 30 women who underwent surgery for urinary incontinence, for pelvic organ prolapse, or for other benign gynecologic conditions. Biopsy specimens were assessed by biochemical methods to characterize and quantify sulfated glycosaminoglycans.

The effects of bethanechol and cisapride on urodynamic parameters in patients undergoing radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

To evaluate the effects of bethanechol and cisapride on urodynamic parameters in patients undergoing radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 79 patients with cervical cancer were randomized to receive bethanechol (30 mg/day), cisapride (30 mg/day), bethanechol combined with cisapride (same doses) and placebo. Urodynamic study was performed, including flowmetry, cystometry, pressure-flow study and urethral pressure profile before radical hysterectomy.

Human papillomavirus DNA detection in male sexual partners of women with genital human papillomavirus infection.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in the male partners of HPV-infected women, assess the concordance of the viral group in the infected pair, define the most affected sites in the male genitalia, and compare diagnostic methods in men.

Methods: Fifty male, stable sexual partners of women positive for HPV DNA by the Hybrid Capture 2 (hc2) test had material brushed from six different anogenital areas for hc2 testing. One week later, patients underwent classic peniscopy, and the lesions were biopsied for histologic analysis and hc2 testing.

Sulfated glycosaminoglycans of the vagina and perineal skin in pre- and postmenopausal women, according to genital prolapse stage.

The aim of this study was to analyze the amount and types of sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the posterior vaginal wall and perineal skin in menacme and postmenopausal women, according to genital prolapse stage. Samples of vaginal tissue and perineal skin were obtained from 40 women who underwent vaginal surgery. Sulfated glycosaminoglycans were extracted by extensive tissue maxatase digestion, submitted to electrophoresis on agarose gel, and their concentrations were determined by densitometry.

Effects of tamoxifen on Doppler velocimetry parameters of periurethral vessels in postmenopausal women.

The purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of tamoxifen on periurethral vessels by Doppler velocimetry examination. Increase in the number of these vessels as well as decrease in resistance and pulsatility indices by tamoxifen were observed.

Correlation between valsalva leak point pressure and maximal urethral closure pressure in women with stress urinary incontinence.

This study analyzed the relationship between valsalva leak point pressure (VLPP) and maximal urethral closure pressure (MUCP) in women with stress urinary incontinence. One hundred sixty-one patients were selected with diagnosis of mixed or stress urinary incontinence. During urodynamics we measured VLPP and MUCP.

Lipid profile in women over 35 years old using triphasic combined oral contraceptives.

Twenty-nine women aged 35 years old or more, using triphasic combined oral contraceptive (COC) were evaluated during six cycles for the following parameters: total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and its subfraction HDL2, triglycerides, apoproteins A and B, Castelli risk index I and II (cholesterol/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C) and apoprotein ratio (apoprotein B/apoprotein A). The same laboratory measurements were done in a control group of 49 non-COC-user women. The results showed that there were no differences on most of the studied parameters between user and nonuser women.

A comparative study of MMP-2 in vulvar neoplasms.

Objective: To investigate differences in MMP-2 protein expression in VIN, vulvar invasive carcinoma, and lichen sclerosus, we performed an immunohistochemical study in which tissue samples from individuals affected by these conditions were compared with normal vulvar tissue.

Methods: A total of 57 cases were selected, as follows: 14 cases of vulvar invasive carcinoma, 22 of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (6 of VIN I, 5 of VIN II, and 11 of VIN III), 9 of vulvar lichen sclerosus, and 12 samples of normal vulvar tissue. Immunohistochemistry was done with primary monoclonal antibodies against MMP-2 and quantification of the immunostaining was done by counting the number of antigen-positive stromal cells per 1000 stromal cells.

Cervical biopsy-based comparison of a new liquid-based thin-layer preparation with conventional Pap smears.

The objective of this study is to compare the diagnostic efficacy of universal collection medium (UCM) liquid-based cytology (LBC) (Digene Corp., MD) and the conventional Pap smear in a comparative study, using histologic results as the gold standard. This was a cross-sectional study.

Nonobese women with polycystic ovary syndrome respond better than obese women to treatment with metformin.

Objective: To determine the clinical, hormonal, and biochemical effects of metformin therapy in obese and nonobese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Design: Controlled clinical study.

Setting: Department of Gynecology of Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.