Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) as a first trimester serum biomarker for preeclampsia screening: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study is to systematically examine the role of the pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) serum biomarker in the first trimester screening of preeclampsia (PE).

Materials And Methods: A systematic search of the literature was conducted on PubMed via Medline, and Cochrane Library up to 8 November 2022, for prospective studies evaluating PAPP-A serum levels in first trimester pregnant women as a screening biomarker for PE. Eligible were all prospectively designed case-control or cohort studies, published in English.

Application of Additive Manufacturing in Assisted Reproductive Techniques: What Is the Evidence? A Clinical and Technical Systematic Review of the Literature.

This article investigates the transformative impact of 3D and bio 3D printing technologies in assisted reproductive technology (ART), offering a comprehensive review of their applications in improving reproductive outcomes. Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a thorough literature search focusing on the intersection of ART and additive manufacturing, resulting in the inclusion of 48 research papers. The study highlights bio 3D printing's potential in revolutionizing female infertility treatments, especially in follicle complex culture and ovary printing.

A combined opposite targeting of p110δ PI3K and RhoA abrogates skin cancer.

Malignant melanoma is the most aggressive and deadly skin cancer with an increasing incidence worldwide whereas SCC is the second most common non-melanoma human skin cancer with limited treatment options. Here we show that the development and metastasis of melanoma and SCC cancers can be blocked by a combined opposite targeting of RhoA and p110δ PI3K. We found that a targeted induction of RhoA activity into tumours by deletion of p190RhoGAP-a potent inhibitor of RhoA GTPase-in tumour cells together with adoptive macrophages transfer from δ mice in mice bearing tumours with active RhoA abrogated growth progression of melanoma and SCC tumours.

Title: Repeated implantation failure is associated with increased Th17/Treg cell ratio, during the secretory phase of the human endometrium.

Repeated implantation failure (RIF) is a significant limiting factor in assisted reproduction. Chronic endometrial inflammation has been noted in RIF women, therefore we sought to investigate the potential association of endometrial Th17/Treg ratio and endometrial inflammation in these cases. Endometrial pipelle biopsies were obtained from volunteers, 29 women with RIF (failure to achieve pregnancy following at least 3 transfers of high-grade embryos in IVF-cycles) and 27 fertile women (at least one child) in total, at the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle.

Biological therapies for premature ovarian insufficiency: what is the evidence?

Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) is a multi-factorial disorder that affects women of reproductive age. The condition is characterized by the loss of ovarian function before the age of 40 years and several factors have been identified to be implicated in its pathogenesis. Remarkably though, at least 50% of women have remaining follicles in their ovaries after the development of ovarian insufficiency.

The expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone family peptides in premalignant and malignant vulvar lesions.

Objectives: To examine the relation of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) family peptides with inflammatory processes and oncogenesis, emphasizing in vulvar inflammatory, premalignant and malignant lesions, as well as to investigate the possibility of lesion cells immunoescaping, utilizing FAS/FAS-L complex.

Methods: Immunohistochemical expression of CRH, urocortin (UCN), FasL and their receptors CRHR1, CRHR2 and Fas was studied in vulvar tissue sections obtained from patients with histologically confirmed diagnosis of lichen, vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) and vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC). The patient cohort was selected from a tertiary teaching Hospital in Greece, between 2005 and 2015.

DNA Damage Estimation after Chronic and Combined Exposure to Endocrine Disruptors: An In Vivo Real-Life Risk Simulation Approach.

Exposure to chemical substances has always been a matter of concern for the scientific community. During the last few years, researchers have been focusing on studying the effects resulting from combined exposure to different substances. In this study, we aimed to determine the DNA damage caused after chronic and combined exposure to substances characterized as endocrine disruptors using comet and micronuclei assays, specifically glyphosate (pure and commercial form), bisphenol A, parabens (methyl-, propyl- and butylparaben), triclosan and bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate.

Ageing, a modulator of human endometrial stromal cell proliferation and decidualization: a role for implantation?

Research Question: Does ageing affect endometrial stromal cell function and gene expression involved in decidualization?

Design: Stromal cells were isolated and cultured (98% purity) from pipelle endometrial biopsies obtained from female donors, at the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle. Initially, 28 samples were collected (age range 25-46 years). These samples were divided into two groups: 25-35 years and 36-46 years.

Antifungal activity of amniotic fluid against different Candida species.

Background: Although Candida is a commensal of the urogenital tract, intrauterine fungal infections are extremely uncommon in clinical practice.

Aims: In the present work we evaluated whether amniotic fluid (AF) possesses direct antifungal activity against clinical isolates of Candidaalbicans and other Candida species.

Methods: A total of 23 AF samples from pregnant women with gestational age of 38-41 weeks were obtained under aseptic conditions by the aspiration of the amniotic sac during cesarean section.

Approaches to Improve Endometrial Receptivity in Case of Repeated Implantation Failures.

Repeated implantation failures are a constant challenge in reproductive medicine with a significant impact both on health providers and on infertile couples. Several approaches have been proposed so far as effective; however, accumulative data have clarified that most of the treatment options do not have the evidence base for a generalized application to be suggested by the relevant societies. Implantation failures are attributed to either poor quality embryos or to defected endometrial receptivity.

Role of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs) in Trophoblast Functions.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARα, PPAR, and PPAR) belong to the transcription factor family, and they are highly expressed in all types of trophoblast during pregnancy. The present review discusses currently published papers that are related to the regulation of PPARs via lipid metabolism, glucose metabolism, and amino acid metabolism to affect trophoblast physiological conditions, including differentiation, maturation, secretion, fusion, proliferation, migration, and invasion. Recent pieces of evidence have proven that the dysfunctions of PPARs in trophoblast lead to several related pregnancy diseases such as recurrent miscarriage, preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, and gestational diabetes mellitus.

Splenic pregnancy treated with transcatheter embolization and methotrexate.

Background: Primary splenic pregnancy is a rare entity, usually treated with splenectomy.

Case Presentation And Review Of The Literature: We report the first case of conservative management of splenic pregnancy with selective embolization and intramuscular methotrexate administration. Postoperative treatment was uneventful.

Update on the management of poor ovarian response in IVF: the shift from Bologna criteria to the Poseidon concept.

Despite the considerate progress to which assisted reproduction technology (ART) has been subject since 1978, some issues remain unresolved. Notably, the clinical management of patients with a poor ovarian response is still a challenge in everyday practice, frustrating to both the patient and the fertility expert. Poor ovarian responders (PORs) embody 9-24% of patients undergoing ovarian stimulation, meaning that up to one in four patients conceals a poor reproductive prognosis.

Acceptability of Self-Sampling for Human Papillomavirus-Based Cervical Cancer Screening.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-DNA testing combined with self-sampling could increase cervical cancer screening effectiveness, utilizing a sensitive screening modality and an easy sampling method with minimal pain or discomfort. Self-sampling acceptability, though, is pivotal. This study is a nested cross-sectional survey within GRECOSELF, a cross-sectional study on HPV-based screening with self-sampling, aiming at investigating self-sampling acceptability among Greek women residing in rural areas, and the factors affecting it.

Electronic versus conventional spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) fetal echocardiography: a direct comparison.

Objectives: Recent advances in Spatial Temporal Image Correlation (STIC) 4 D fetal echocardiography include the application of eSTIC based on electronic probe image acquisition. We aimed to directly compare the performance of conventional STIC versus eSTIC technique (B-Mode and color Doppler imaging) during off-line reconstruction of STIC/eSTIC fetal heart volume pairs.

Methods: Pairs of B-Mode and Color Doppler STIC volumes were acquired sequentially by firstly conventional (STIC) followed by electronic (eSTIC) probes during 33 consecutive obstetric scans at median 23 (range 13-31) gestational weeks.

Intrauterine G-CSF Administration in Recurrent Implantation Failure (RIF): An Rct.

This study investigates the effects of intrauterine G-CSF on endometrial thickness, clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate in a recurrent implantation failure (RIF) group with normal endometrium. This study was designed as a prospective randomized controlled trial with the involvement of 157 RIF group pati; ents. The RIF group was formed on the basis of the RIF criteria: "The failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after the transfer of at least four good-quality embryos in a minimum of three fresh or frozen cycles to a woman under the age of 40 years.

Correction to: ICSI does not offer any benefit over conventional IVF across different ovarian response categories in non-male factor infertility: a European multicenter analysis.

The original article unfortunately contained 2 mistakes.

A prospective, cross-sectional study of the protective and risk psychological factors of successful fertilisation outcome: preliminary results in a Greek sample.

The aim of this prospective, cross-sectional study was to examine the protective and risk psychological factors associated with the successful outcome of In fertilisation (IVF). Various psychological factors that may affect the IVF outcome were measured to a sample of 61 infertile women (mean age 37.2 ± 4.

ICSI does not offer any benefit over conventional IVF across different ovarian response categories in non-male factor infertility: a European multicenter analysis.

Purpose: To evaluate whether ICSI offers any benefit compared with IVF in different ovarian response categories in case of non-male factor infertility.

Methods: This is a retrospective multicenter analysis using individual patient data, conducted in 15 tertiary referral hospitals in Europe (1 center in Belgium and 14 in Spain). The study included the first cycle of all patients undergoing ovarian stimulation for IVF or ICSI in a GnRH antagonist protocol.

Implementation of HPV-based Cervical Cancer Screening Combined with Self-sampling Using a Midwifery Network Across Rural Greece: The GRECOSELF Study.

Self-sampling for human papillomavirus (HPV) testing is an alternative to physician sampling particularly for cervical cancer screening nonattenders. The GRECOSELF study is a nationwide observational cross-sectional study aiming to suggest a way to implement HPV-DNA testing in conjunction with self-sampling for cervical cancer screening in Greece, utilizing a midwifery network. Women residing in remote areas of Greece were approached by midwives, of a nationwide network, and were provided with a self-collection kit (dry swab) for cervicovaginal sampling and asked to answer a questionnaire about their cervical cancer screening history.