Maternal and cord blood betatrophin (angiopoietin-like protein 8) in pregnant women with gestational diabetes and normoglycemic controls: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.

Aims: This systematic review and meta-analysis examined maternal and cord blood betatrophin levels in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and normoglycemic controls.

Material And Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, LILACS, WangFang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched for literature from inception until May 2022. The primary outcomes were maternal and cord blood betatrophin levels.

Asprosin levels in women with and without the polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at summarizing the evidence concerning circulating asprosin, and related endocrine and metabolites in women with and without the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We performed a comprehensive literature search in Pubmed, Web of Science, Scielo, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure for studies published until May 20, 2022, that evaluated circulating asprosin levels in women with and without PCOS, regardless of language. The quality of studies was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

Apelin levels in pregnant women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus: a collaborative systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated maternal apelin levels in pregnant women with and without GDM. Secondary outcomes were glucose- and lipid-related results. Databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, LILACS, CNKI, and Wang Fang were searched.

Association of breastfeeding duration with carotid intima-media thickness in later life: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To assess the relationship of breastfeeding duration with maternal ultrasound carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in later life.

Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Central database searching up to December 15, 2020, for eligible studies that reported on the breastfeeding duration and ultrasound measurement of CIMT in later life. The exposed group corresponded to breastfeeding duration ≥ 6 months whereas the control group was women with breastfeeding of shorter duration or nil breastfeeding.

Circulating kisspeptin and anti-müllerian hormone levels, and insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the available evidence regarding circulating kisspeptin and anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index in adolescents and women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Method: We performed a comprehensive literature search in Medline, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies evaluating circulating kisspeptin levels in women with and without PCOS published until September 24th, 2020. Co-primary outcomes were the HOMA-IR index and AMH.

Association of female genital mutilation and female sexual dysfunction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To meta-analyze possible associations between female genital mutilation (FGM) and female sexual dysfunction, dyspareunia and pelvic pain.

Method: A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, African Index Medicus and Cochrane Library. The PICO protocol included Population: Studies evaluating girls or women; Intervention/Exposure: participants with FGM; Comparison: participants without FGM; Outcomes: female sexual function, dyspareunia or pelvic pain using validated tests.

The effect of endometriosis on sexual function as assessed with the Female Sexual Function Index: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: To systematically compare sexual function between non-treated women with and without endometriosis.

Methods: A systematic review was performed on PubMed/Medline, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases searching studies that analyzed sexual function (assessed with the 19-item Female Sexual Function Index [FSFI]), and dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain and dysmenorrhea (assessed with a visual analogue scale [VAS]) in women with and with endometriosis.

Results: In 4 studies, non-treated women with endometriosis presented a higher risk of female sexual dysfunction (mean total FSFI score ≤ 26.

Uterine fibroids and preterm birth risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: This study explored the association between the presence of uterine fibroids (UF), as determined by ultrasound, and preterm birth (PB) risk.

Methods: Medline, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus and Web of Science databases. Studies reporting women with and without UF demonstrated by an ultrasound exam.

The effect of consuming milk and related products during human pregnancy over birth weight and perinatal outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Data addressing the effect of milk and related products (M&RPs) on fetal growth are contradictory. The aim was to meta-analyze the effect of consuming M&RPs during human pregnancy over perinatal outcomes.

Method: A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library.

The polycystic ovary syndrome and gynecological cancer risk.

This review updates the knowledge regarding the association between the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the risk of gynecological cancer. We performed a literature review of clinical and epidemiological studies concerning PCOS and the risk of breast, endometrial and ovarian cancer after selecting information by quality of scientific methodology. It was found that evidence does not support a link between PCOS and breast cancer risk.

Vitamin D testing: advantages and limits of the current assays.

Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency has become a pandemic health problem with a consequent increase of requests for determining circulating levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]. However, the analytical performance of these immunoassays, including radioimmunoassay and ELISA, is highly variable, and even mass spectrometric methods, which nowadays serves as the gold standard for the quantitatively determination of 25(OH)D, do not necessarily produce comparable results, creating limitations for the definition of normal vitamin D status ranges. To solve this problem, great efforts have been made to promote standardization of laboratory assays, which is important to achieve comparable results across different methods and manufacturers.

Effectiveness of the cervical pessary for the prevention of preterm birth in singleton pregnancies with a short cervix: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of cervical pessary application for the prevention of spontaneous preterm birth (SPB) in singleton pregnancies with a sonographically measured short cervix.

Methods: Searches were conducted in PubMed-Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, and clinical trial registries for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in all languages from inception through 28 July 2018. Inclusion criteria were registered RCTs of singleton pregnants with a short cervix (≤ 25 mm) measured at 22-24 weeks comparing the use of a cervical pessary versus controls over the risk of SPB.

Uterine or paracervical lidocaine application for pain control during intrauterine contraceptive device insertion: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Objective: Systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effects of uterine or paracervical lidocaine application on pain control during IUD insertion.

Methods: PubMed and five other electronic research databases were searched through 15 November 2017 for RCTs comparing lidocaine treatment vs. a control (placebo or no-intervention) to prevent pain during IUD insertion.

Single versus double-balloon catheters for the induction of labor of singleton pregnancies: a meta-analysis of randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of single- versus double-balloon catheter (SBC vs. DBC) for cervical ripening and labor induction with an unfavorable cervix.

Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-RCTs (qRCT) regarding the use of SBC or DBC for labor induction of live singleton cephalic pregnancies (≥ 35 weeks) of any parity with an unripe cervix (Bishop score ≤ 6).

[Maternal and perinatal outcomes in nulliparous gestations with late onset preeclampsia: Comparative study with gestations without preeclampsia].

Objective: To assess obstetrical outcomes in a sample of nulliparous gestations with preeclampsia, as compared to gestations without preeclampsia, attended in the Enrique C. Sotomayor Hospital of Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Method: This was a comparative study of maternal and perinatal outcome data of gestations with late onset preeclampsia (n=150; gestational age=36.

[Menopause-related symptoms in middle-aged women residing in the Zaragoza Province].

Objetive: The aim of this study was to assess menopausal symptoms and related sociodemographic conditions in middle-aged women from the Spanish province of Zaragoza.

Method: This was a cross-sectional study in which 241 women (40-59 years old) from the Zaragoza province completed the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and a sociodemographic questionnaire containing personal and partner data to assess symptoms associated with the menopause.

Results: The most prevalent symptoms were musculoskeletal, followed by hot flushes and perspiration.

Assessing the content and quality of information on the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis on the World Wide Web.

Objective: To evaluate the content and quality of currently available Internet-based information on the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Design: A sample was obtained comprising the 75 top sites retrieved with the Google search engine using 'treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis' and then evaluated according to predefined general and specific criteria, content type, language and quality. Using a systematic scoring tool, each site was assessed for factual information provided and site quality.