Prognostic Value of Serum Creatinine Levels in Patients with Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

Aim: To evaluate preoperative serum creatinine level as a prognostic parameter in patients with primary epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

Patients And Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, serum levels of creatinine were evaluated in 498 patients with EOC. Data were extracted from our prospectively maintained database.

Prognostic value of preoperative hyponatremia and thrombocytosis in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

Background: Preoperative hyponatremia and thrombocytosis are associated with perioperative morbidity in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). The aim of the present study was to evaluate preoperative hyponatremia and thrombocytosis as prognostic parameters in patients with EOC.

Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, serum levels of sodium and thrombocyte counts were evaluated in 498 patients with EOC.

Paget's Disease of the Vulva Treated with Imiquimod: Case Report and Systematic Review of the Literature.

Background: Extramammary Paget's disease of the vulva (EPDV) is a rare adenocarcinoma in situ of the vulvar skin and is often resected with involved margins due to its reticular growth pattern. Adjuvant treatment with the immunomodulator imiquimod may be suitable to avoid repeated and mutilating surgery.

Case Presentation: We present the case of a 73-year-old woman with EPDV, initially treated with surgical resection and re-resection for involved margins.

Dynamic changes of tumor gene expression during repeated pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) in women with peritoneal cancer.

Background: Intraperitoneal chemotherapy is used to treat peritoneal cancer. The pattern of gene expression changes of peritoneal cancer during intraperitoneal chemotherapy has not been studied before. Pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy is a new form of intraperitoneal chemotherapy using repeated applications and allowing repeated tumor sampling during chemotherapy.

Efficacy of Monsel Solution After Cervical Biopsy: A Randomized Trial.

Objectives: To estimate the efficacy and side effects of Monsel solution for hemostasis after cervical punch biopsy.

Methods: In a prospective, randomized trial, we compared application of Monsel solution versus a "wait and see" approach in women undergoing cervical punch biopsies in a 1:1 ratio. The primary end point was vaginal bleeding (VB) after 15 minutes measured by scoring a sanitary pad with a 5-level pictogram.

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for women with granulosa cell tumors of the ovary: a systematic review of the literature.

: Adult and juvenile granulosa cell tumors of the ovary are rare functional sex-cord-stromal ovarian neoplasms characterized by low malignant potential and late relapse. Evidence-based management options for primary and recurrent juvenile (JGCT) and adult (AGCT) granulosa cell tumors are limited and treatment options have not been standardized. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) may be an option to treat these women effectively.

Spray Versus Forced Coagulation in Large Loop Excision of the Transformation Zone: A Randomized Trial.

Objective: Large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) is the standard surgical treatment for cervical dysplasia. The optimal way to achieve local hemostasis in women undergoing LLETZ is unknown.

Materials And Methods: In a prospective, randomized trial, we compared spray coagulation and forced coagulation in women undergoing LLETZ in a 1:1 ratio.

Quality of websites of obstetrics and gynecology departments: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The internet has become an easily accessible and widely used source of healthcare information. There are, however, no standardized or commonly accepted criteria for the quality of Obstetrics and Gynecology websites. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the quality of websites of Obstetrics and Gynecology departments in German-speaking countries and to compare websites nationally and internationally.

Decline of semen quality during IVF is not associated with subjective male stress.

The aim of the present study was to assess if semen quality declines during in vitro fertilization (IVF) and whether or not this phenomenon is triggered by chronic male stress. In order to test this hypothesis, we first investigated a retrospective cohort of 155 male IVF patients (testing cohort). Subsequently, we started a prospective cohort study in men undergoing their first IVF and assessed semen quality and subjective male chronic stress using a validated tool, i.

Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) evaluation of theoretical versus hands-on training of vaginal breech delivery management: a randomized trial.

Objective: To compare the skills of performing a vaginal breech (VB) delivery after hands-on training versus demonstration.

Study Design: We randomized medical students to a 30-min demonstration (group 1) or a 30-min hands-on (group 2) training session using a standardized VB management algorithm on a pelvic training model. Subjects were tested with a 25 item Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) scoring system immediately after training and 72 h thereafter.

Objective structured assessment of technical skills evaluation of theoretical compared with hands-on training of shoulder dystocia management: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To compare the skills of performing a shoulder dystocia management algorithm after hands-on training compared with demonstration.

Methods: We randomized medical students to a 30-minute hands-on (group 1) and a 30-minute demonstration (group 2) training session teaching a standardized shoulder dystocia management scheme on a pelvic training model. Participants were tested with a 22-item Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills scoring system after training and 72 hours thereafter.

Two multidrug-resistance (ABCB1) gene polymorphisms as prognostic parameters in women with ovarian cancer.

Background: The transport protein P-glycoprotein, which is encoded by the multidrug-resistance ABCB1 gene, is crucially involved in the export of taxanes and other cytotoxic substances out of the cell. Treatment response to paclitaxel has been shown to correlate with ABCB1 gene polymorphisms. Data regarding the prognostic value of ABCB1 gene polymorphisms in ovarian cancer patients is conflicting.

Gene expression signatures of breast tissue before and after cross-sex hormone therapy in female-to-male transsexuals.

Objective: To evaluate gene expression signatures of breast tissue in female-to-male (FtM) transsexuals under cross-sex hormone therapy (HT).

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Academic research institution.

OCT-4 expression in follicular and luteal phase endometrium: a pilot study.

Background: The stem cell marker Octamer-4 (OCT-4) is expressed in human endometrium. Menstrual cycle-dependency of OCT-4 expression has not been investigated to date.

Methods: In a prospective, single center cohort study of 98 women undergoing hysteroscopy during the follicular (n = 49) and the luteal (n = 40) phases of the menstrual cycle, we obtained endometrial samples.

Repeat surgery in patients with cervical cancer stage FIGO IA1: a series of 156 cases and a review of the literature.

Background: Many physicians advocate repeat surgery after cervical conization with a diagnosis of cervical cancer stage FIGO IA1. In a multicenter trial, whether repeat surgery is a necessary therapeutic procedure in the treatment of cervical cancer stage FIGO IA1 was evaluated and a literature review performed.

Patients And Methods: From 1997 to 2006, 156 patients with squamous cell cervical cancer, stage FIGO IA1, were primarily treated with conization in three different institutions; 102 of these patients underwent repeat surgery, comprising the study group for the present trial.

Side effects of phytoestrogens: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Background: Phytoestrogens are widely used by postmenopausal women for the treatment of the climacteric syndrome. The risk of adverse effects of this treatment, however, is unknown.

Methods: Using a fixed-effects model, we performed a meta-analysis of side effects comparing phytoestrogen treatment with placebo or no treatment in randomized controlled trials.

Serum C-reactive protein in the differential diagnosis of ovarian masses.

Objective: A number of serum tumor markers have been investigated to aid clinicians in the differential diagnosis of ovarian masses. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) is a widely used biomarker of inflammation and has been previously shown to be a promising biomarker in patients with ovarian cancer.

Study Design: In a retrospective single-center study, we evaluated serum CRP in 576 patients with benign and in 242 patients with malignant (ovarian tumors of low malignant potential [LMP]: n=44, epithelial ovarian cancer [EOC]: n=198) ovarian masses.

Intrauterine fetal death and delivery complications associated with coagulopathy: a retrospective analysis of 104 cases.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of delivery complications associated with coagulopathy in women with intrauterine fetal death (IUFD).

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of women with IUFD at >24 weeks gestation or a birth weight of >500 g between 1994 and 2007. Clinical data were assessed by chart review.

Endocervical cytobrush for the detection of cervical dysplasia before large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ).

Background: We aimed to identify the number of histologically verified cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)/cervical cancer lesions detected by endocervical cytobrush (EC) which have been missed by repeat PAP smear and colposcopy before large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ).

Patients And Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 1,676 consecutive patients in a colposcopy clinic undergoing repeat PAP smear, colposcopy, biopsy, and subsequent LLETZ.

Results: Data were available for 1,421 patients.

The perioperative morbidity of laparoscopic pelvic lymph node staging in patients with advanced cervical cancer.

Background: Laparoscopic pelvic lymph node staging is widely used in patients with cervical cancer prior to the initiation of primary chemoradiation therapy. Data on the morbidity of this procedure are sparse.

Patients And Methods: Between 1995 and 2007, 71 patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (FIGO stage IB2-IIIB) underwent laparoscopic pelvic lymph node staging prior to primary chemoradiation therapy.

Clinical outcome monitoring in a reproductive surgery unit: a prospective cohort study in 796 patients.

Objective: To systematically monitor the frequency and risk factors of adverse events (AEs) in a reproductive surgery endoscopy unit.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Academic research institution.

Inguinal sentinel lymph node dissection vs. complete inguinal lymph node dissection in patients with vulvar cancer.

Background: The aim of this retrospective study was to ascertain the postoperative morbidity in patients with vulvar cancer undergoing sentinel lymph node vs. complete inguinal lymph node dissection.

Patients And Methods: In total 29 and 46 patients with vulvar cancer, were treated by the technique of inguinal sentinel lymph node dissection or complete inguinal lymph node dissection, respectively.

Serum C-reactive protein as independent prognostic variable in patients with ovarian cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate serum C-reactive protein (CRP) as prognostic variable in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

Experimental Design: In a multicenter study, preoperative serum CRP was evaluated in 623 patients with EOC. Results were correlated with clinical data.

A common polymorphism of the SRD5A2 gene and transsexualism.

The relation between genetic variation of the androgen metabolism and transsexualism is unknown. In a case-control study of 100 male-to-female (MtF) transsexuals, 47 female-to-male (FtM) transsexuals, and 1670 controls, the authors assess allele and genotype frequencies of the steroid 5-alpha reductase (SRD5A2) Val89Leu polymorphism using polymerase chain reaction. Allele and genotype frequencies are not significantly different between MtF transsexuals and male controls (SRD5A2 V: 137/200 [69%] and SRD5A2 L: 63/200 [31%] vs 1065/1510 [71%] and 445/1510 [29%], respectively; P = .