Validation study of the Access antimüllerian hormone assay for the prediction of poor ovarian response to controlled ovarian stimulation.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of the antimüllerian hormone (AMH) level determined using the Access AMH assay for predicting poor ovarian response (POR) defined as ≤4 oocytes retrieved, including the validation of the predefined AMH cutoff of 0.93 ng/mL in both serum and plasma.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Multicenter evaluation of the Access AMH antimüllerian hormone assay for the prediction of antral follicle count and poor ovarian response to controlled ovarian stimulation.

Objective: To evaluate a new fully automated antimüllerian hormone (AMH) assay for prediction of poor ovarian response (POR) to ovarian stimulation defined as four or fewer oocytes retrieved.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Thirteen private and academic fertility centers in the United States.

Spontaneous pregnancy reaches viability after low first trimester serum progesterone: a case report.

Background: Progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum until completion of the luteal-placental shift at approximately 6-10 weeks following last menstruation. Studies have shown that first trimester progesterone levels are predictive of pregnancy viability, and some authors support a level of 5 ng/mL as an absolute threshold to indicate viability.

Case: A 47-year-old woman with recurrent pregnancy loss was noted to have a very low first trimester progesterone level (1.

Cost analysis of abdominal, laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted myomectomies.

Study Objective: To perform a cost-minimization analysis of abdominal, traditional laparoscopic and robotic-assisted myomectomy.

Design: Cost analysis (Canadian Task Force Classification III).

Setting: Academic medical center.

A nationwide survey of oncologists regarding treatment-related infertility and fertility preservation in female cancer patients.

Objective: To survey oncologists regarding their knowledge and practice patterns concerning fertility preservation for female cancer patients.

Design: An online survey was sent to oncologists at cancer centers ranked by U.S.

Eligibility and accessibility of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) for the treatment of uterine leiomyomas.

Objective: To evaluate patient eligibility and accessibility of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) for women with symptomatic uterine leiomyomas who desire conservative therapy.

Design: Retrospective analysis of 169 patients referred for minimally invasive treatment of leiomyomas between November 2007 and February 2009. Clinical eligibility for MRgFUS was determined by Food and Drug Administration-based treatment guidelines.

Progesterone stimulates mitochondrial activity with subsequent inhibition of apoptosis in MCF-10A benign breast epithelial cells.

The effects of progesterone on breast epithelial cells remain poorly defined with observations showing both proliferative and antiproliferative effects. As an example, progesterone levels correlate with increased epithelial cell proliferation, but there is discordance between the dividing cells and the cells with nuclear progesterone receptor expression. The release of paracrine growth factors from nuclear receptor-positive cells has been postulated as a mechanism, since in vitro studies show a lack of growth effect by progesterone in breast epithelial cells lacking nuclear receptors.

Pilot survey of oncologists regarding treatment-related infertility and fertility preservation in female cancer patients.

Objective: To conduct a quantitative survey that focuses on oncologists' practice patterns and attitudes surrounding treatment-related infertility and fertility preservation, specifically among women of reproductive age.

Study Design: A 19-item survey was emailed to medical, pediatric, radiation and surgical oncologists at Duke University. Descriptive statistics were used.

Ovarian preservation by GnRH agonists during chemotherapy: a meta-analysis.

Purpose: Treatment with cyclophosphamide (CYC) confers up to a 40% risk of ovarian failure in women of reproductive age. The use of GnRH agonists (GnRHa) to preserve ovarian function has been investigated in several small studies. We performed a systematic review of studies examining whether a GnRHa administered during chemotherapy is protective of ovarian function and fertility.

A pilot study of predictive markers of chemotherapy-related amenorrhea among premenopausal women with early stage breast cancer.

Background: Premenopausal women treated for early stage breast cancer (ESBC) are at risk for chemotherapy-related amenorrhea (CRA). Prospectively-validated, predictive markers of CRA are needed.

Patients And Methods: Premenopausal women with ESBC and planned chemotherapy (>/= 25% risk of amenorrhea) were evaluated.

Thrombospondin-1 and thrombospondin-2 mRNA and TSP-1 and TSP-2 protein expression in uterine fibroids and correlation to the genes COL1A1 and COL3A1 and to the collagen cross-link hydroxyproline.

Uterine fibroids are composed of altered collagen fibrils and represent an arrested response to injury-initiating fibrosis. In many tissues, TSP-1 is secreted by adult macrophages and monocytes upon wounding and is involved in the activation of transforming growth factor beta. In the absence of TSP-1, the orchestrated process of wound healing is impaired.

Estrogenic ovulatory dysfunction or functional female hyperandrogenism: an argument to discard the term polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders seen among reproductive-age women, with a prevalence of 4%-9% depending on the criteria used to define the syndrome. The diagnostic criteria for PCOS have been surprisingly controversial and confusing for patients, clinicians, and researchers. We believe that the confusion surrounding PCOS arises almost entirely because its name refers to a trait that is inconsistently present and irrelevant to both the etiology and the treatment of the disorder.

Laparoscopic findings, histopathologic evaluation, and clinical outcomes in women with chronic pelvic pain after hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.

Study Objective: To laparoscopically evaluate the pelvis of patients with chronic pelvic pain after hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, to determine any associated factors to the pain.

Design: Retrospective cohort of patients with chronic pelvic pain after hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (Canadian Task Force Classification II-2).

Setting: University-affiliated teaching hospital.

Mullerian agenesis and thrombocytopenia absent radius syndrome: a case report and review of syndromes associated with Mullerian agenesis.

Unlabelled: Mullerian agenesis, commonly referred to as Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome (MRKHS), is a congenital defect that is most commonly associated with renal and spinal malformations. It is very rare for Mullerian agenesis to be accompanied by malformations of the extremities. In this report, we describe a 22-year-old woman with Mullerian agenesis and thrombocytopenia absent radius syndrome (TARS).