Design and methodology of the 'endometriosis and pelvic floor dysfunction' (EndoPFD) multicenter cross-sectional study.

Objective: To assess the prevalence and the characteristics of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) in women with endometriosis.

Methods: This is a methodological paper that describes the 'Endometriosis and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction' (EndoPFD) multicenter study protocol. It involves three sites: the University Hospital of Pisa, the San Raffaele Hospital of Milan and the Vanvitelli University Hospital of Naples.

Minimal Invasive Abdominal Sacral Colpopexy and Abdominal Lateral Suspension: A Prospective, Open-Label, Multicenter, Non-Inferiority Trial.

Background: Abdominal minimally invasive surgery has become increasingly prominent for the treatment of prolapse. Abdominal sacral colpopexy (ASC) is the gold standard for the treatment of advanced apical prolapse; however, alternative surgical approaches such as the abdominal lateral suspension (ALS) have been developed to improve patient outcomes. This study aims to determine whether ALS improves outcomes compared to ASC in multicompartmental prolapse patients.

Effects of ospemifene on overactive bladder in postmenopausal women with vulvovaginal atrophy.

Objective: Overactive bladder (OAB) is a complex and multifactorial syndrome associated with urinary frequency, urgency and incontinence. The menopause-associated hormonal changes play a role in the development of this condition. Vaginal estrogens are effective in improving OAB in postmenopausal women (PMW) with vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA).

Technical features, perioperative and anatomical outcomes of a standardized suturing pattern for robotic sacrocolpopexy.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Several technical alternatives to repair mesh using laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy exist. We aim to describe the outcomes and surgical technique of robotic-assisted colpo-/cervicosacropexy using a standardized suturing scheme to repair the mesh.

Methods: We retrospectively reported data of 60 consecutive cases of robotic-assisted colpo-/cervicosacropexy for advanced multicompartmental prolapse using a standardized suturing design.

Menopause, aging and the failing pelvic floor: a clinician's view.

The management of pelvic organ disorders is common and challenging work. Nowadays, midlife women are more active than they were in the past, and the development of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) disrupts quality of life and impairs social and personal activities. The aging process and hormonal changes have a role in influencing the structure and function of the lower urinary and genital tract.

Pheochromocytoma diagnosed during pregnancy: a case report.

Pheochromocytoma is a rare catecholamine producing tumor. During pregnancy, this tumor can mimic gestational hypertension, preeclampsia or eclampsia. We present a case of a 38-year-old, multiparous woman admitted at 36 weeks of gestation due to hypertension.

Medium-term outcomes after robotic-assisted lateral suspension with mesh for advanced multi-compartmental prolapse.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Robotic abdominal lateral suspension (RALS) is an innovative mini-invasive surgical technique that allows treating apical and anterior prolapse. The safety and efficacy of this strategy have not yet been tested.

Methods: We completed a prospective case series of 115 RALS to treat apical and anterior prolapse stage III or IV, with no or minimal (stage I) posterior defect.

The synergistic effect of simultaneous addition of retinoic acid and vitamin D3 on the in-vitro differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia cell lines could be efficiently transposed in vivo.

Both human cell lines HL-60 and AML-193 exhibit a myeloblastic and promyelocytic morphology, respectively, but may be regarded as bipotent leukemic precursors. They can be triggered to differentiate to either granulocytes or monocytes upon retinoic acid (RA) or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (D3) addition, respectively. We have investigated the effect of combined addition of these chemical inducers on the in-vitro differentiation of both cell lines.

Erythrocyte uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity: diagnostic value and relationship with clinical features in hereditary porphyria cutanea tarda.

A marked discrepancy between mild and late clinical features and a nearly complete absence of erythrocyte uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity (Ery-UROD activity) was observed in a case of inherited porphyria cutanea tarda. The entity and time of appearance of clinical features, the onset of clinical symptoms after exposure to contributing factors, the effectiveness of phlebotomies and heterozygosity of the mother alone for uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (UROD) deficiency were typical for familial porphyria cutanea tarda (F-PCT), whereas the extremely low UROD activity was peculiar to hepatoerythropoietic porphyria (HEP). These observations indicate that: 1) Ery-UROD activity may not always be useful to discriminate between F-PCT and HEP; 2) Ery-UROD activity does not always correlate with clinical symptoms; 3) in inherited UROD deficiency, the genetic defect may be heterogeneous.

[The pathogenesis of hypocalcemia after thyroidectomy].

After thyroidectomy, either total or partial, hypocalcaemia can occur in some cases temporary and in other permanent. For explaining transient hypocalcaemia are reported some pathogenetic mechanism can assume particular aspects in hyperthyroid subjects. Permanent hypocalcaemia is substantially due to anatomical lesions to the parathyroid glands.