Endometriosis allergic or autoimmune disease: pathogenetic aspects--a case control study.

Purpose Of Investigation: The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between endometriosis and pathologies on an immune basis for the possible involvement of the immune system in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective study, data of 304 patients with endometriosis and 318 without endometriosis were collected in a uniform manner for both groups and inserted into two databases, respectively, for patients with and without endometriosis. The authors calculated the percentages of patients with allergies, autoimmune diseases, asthma in both groups, and later statistical analysis were performed with two different chi-square tests.

Exposure to Endocrine Disruptors and Nuclear Receptors Gene Expression in Infertile and Fertile Men from Italian Areas with Different Environmental Features.

Internal levels of selected endocrine disruptors (EDs) (i.e., perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), di-2-ethylhexyl-phthalate (DEHP), mono-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (MEHP), and bisphenol A (BPA)) were analyzed in blood/serum of infertile and fertile men from metropolitan, urban and rural Italian areas.

The ultrasonographic detection of follicular rupture at the time of intrauterine insemination: is it really decisive?

Our aim is to assess the impact of the ultrasonographic detection of follicular rupture on the intrauterine insemination success. A total of 313 women undergoing ovarian stimulation for intrauterine insemination were enrolled. Transvaginal ultrasonography was performed to check whether the dominant follicle had ruptured and according to that the patients were divided into two groups.

Quality of sex life in endometriosis patients with deep dyspareunia before and after laparoscopic treatment.

Purpose: The present work aims at showing how dyspareunia linked to endometriosis can affect the life of fertile age women and how surgical treatment of endometriosis can relieve painful symptoms and consequently improve sex and social life.

Methods: From a cohort of 320 women with a clinical and instrumental diagnosis of pelvic endometriosis, 67 patients were selected. These patients had deep dyspareunia that underwent laparoscopic surgical treatment.

The role of ovarian fossa evaluation in patients with ovarian endometriosis.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate prospectively the presence of endometriosis in the peritoneum of the ovarian fossa of patients affected by endometriomas and its correlation with the adhesion between this peritoneum and endometrioma.

Methods: Patients presenting ovarian endometriomas and candidate to laparoscopy were considered for inclusion in the study. Patients underwent laparoscopic excision of endometriomas.

Clinical factors and malignancy in endometrial polyps. Analysis of 1027 cases.

Study Objective: To assess the prevalence of polyps carrying a malignancy and match association between clinical factors and oncologic progression.

Study Design: A retrospective study (Canadian Task Force classification II-3) at a university hospital in Rome, Italy. We retrospectively analyzed data from 1027 women consecutively treated for endometrial polyps at our center in the period 2002-2011.

Exposure to endocrine disrupters and nuclear receptor gene expression in infertile and fertile women from different Italian areas.

Within the PREVIENI project, infertile and fertile women were enrolled from metropolitan, urban and rural Italian areas. Blood/serum levels of several endocrine disrupters (EDs) (perfluorooctane sulfonate, PFOS; perfluorooctanoic acid, PFOA; di-2-ethylhexyl-phthalate, DEHP; mono-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate, MEHP; bisphenol A, BPA) were evaluated concurrently with nuclear receptors (NRs) gene expression levels (ERa, ERb, AR, AhR, PPARg, PXR) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Infertile women from the metropolitan area displayed significantly higher levels of: BPA compared to fertile women (14.

Levels of Galectin-3 and Stimulation Expressed Gene 2 in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis: a pilot study.

Endometriosis is a puzzling disorder with obscure pathogenesis. Several studies suggest that peritoneal fluid is a key inflammatory environment in the development and progression of the disease. This study analyzed the levels of two inflammatory factors - Galectin-3 and Stimulation Expressed Gene 2 - in the peritoneal fluid of 15 women affected by endometriosis and 8 controls.

Combined oral contraceptives: health benefits beyond contraception.

It has been recognized for over 50 years that combined oral contraceptives (COCs) are also capable of offering health benefits beyond contraception through the treatment and prevention of several gynaecological and medical disorders. During the last years a constant attention was given to the adverse effects of COCs, whereas their non-contraceptive benefits were underestimated. To date, most women are still unaware of the therapeutic uses of hormonal contraceptives, while on the contrary there is an extensive and constantly increasing of these non-contraceptive health benefits.

Celiac disease and endometriosis: an insidious and worrisome association hard to diagnose: a case report.

Background: Primary infertility is an unusual presentation of celiac disease (CD). When non-classical symptoms are present, the diagnosis is not easy and it becomes even more difficult when CD is associated with endometriosis, representing a diagnostic challenge for medical practitioners and gynecologists.

Case Report: A 34-year-old patient presented to the authors' observation with primary infertility.

Doppler velocimetry of the ovarian artery as a tool to detect LH surge in stimulated cycles.

Our aim was to assess the velocimetric pattern of the ovarian artery as a possible marker of LH surge in stimulated cycles. A total of 130 women undergoing ovarian stimulation for intrauterine insemination were randomized in two groups. Each woman was stimulated with 75 IU of recombinant FSH starting from the third day of the cycle.

Bisphenol A and the female reproductive tract: an overview of recent laboratory evidence and epidemiological studies.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a high production volume monomer used for making a wide variety of polycarbonate plastics and resins. A large body of evidence links BPA to endocrine disruption in laboratory animals, and a growing number of epidemiological studies support a link with health disorders in humans. The aim of this review is to summarize the recent experimental studies describing the effects and mechanisms of BPA on the female genital tract and to compare them to the current knowledge regarding the impact of BPA impact on female reproductive health.

Pregnancy in a unicornuate uterus: a case report.

Introduction: A unicornuate uterus accounts for 2.4 to 13% of all Müllerian anomalies. A unicornuate uterus with a non-communicating rudimentary horn may be associated with gynecological and obstetric complications such as infertility, endometriosis, hematometra, urinary tract anomalies, abortions, and preterm deliveries.

Premature ovarian failure in a 17-year-old woman.

Introduction: Premature ovarian failure (POF) in a healthy adolescent is a rare event. It is diagnosed by the presence of amenorrhea, hypoestrogenism, and elevated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels before the age of 40.

Case: The patient presented with amenorrhoea at 17 years after identifying a change from her regular to irregular and metrorrhagic cycles.

The risk factors for failure of labor induction: a cohort study.

Purpose: To assess how some factors may influence the failure of labor induction.

Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study from January 2009 to December 2011 with 248 patients who were admitted to the Obstetrics Unit of Ferrara University for labor induction. We selected only patients with unfavorable characteristics such as nulliparity, maternal and gestational age, and Bishop score and specific obstetric conditions such as mild preeclampsia, isolated oligohydramnios, premature rupture membrane, gestational diabetes, and hypertension for the success of labor induction.

A 29-year-old woman with complex atypical hyperplasia and polycystic ovary syndrome: a challenging issue.

Background: The standard treatment for complex atypical hyperplasia is hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Although radical surgery offers high survival prospects, it also eliminates any chance of further fertility, thus in young nulliparous women who wish to preserve their childbearing potential, a conservative progestin therapy is preferable.

Case Report: The authors report a case of complex atypical hyperplasia in a 29-year-old nulliparous woman with polycystic ovary syndrome treated with norethisterone acetate in order to preserve her childbearing potential.

Fertility preservation in female cancer patients: an emerging challenge for physicians.

Fertility preservation has become an issue of great importance in female cancer patients due to increasing survival rates and delayed childbearing. It is an emerging challenge for physicians, cause of several related issues (multidisciplinary approach, doctor-patient communication, ethical, religious and legal problems) and many unresolved questions. This review aims to update the latest literature data, summarizing the effects of cancer treatments on female fertility and the various options currently available to offer cancer patients the opportunity of future pregnancies.

Assessment of HPV-mRNA test to predict recurrent disease in patients previously treated for CIN 2/3.

Background: The use of HPV-mRNA test in the follow-up after LEEP is still matter of debate, with regard to its capacity of prediction relapse.

Objective: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the reliability of HPV-mRNA test to predict the residual and recurrent disease, and its accuracy in the follow-up of patients treated for CIN 2/3.

Study Design: Multicenter prospective cohort study.

Metabolic syndrome and polycystic ovary syndrome: an intriguing overlapping.

Metabolic syndrome is an increasing pathology in adults and in children, due to a parallel rise of obesity. Sedentary lifestyle, food habits, cultural influences and also a genetic predisposition can cause dyslipidemia, hypertension, abdominal obesity and insulin resistance which are the two main features of metabolic syndrome. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition directly associated with obesity, insulin resistance (HOMA index) and metabolic syndrome, and it is very interesting for its relationship and overlap with the metabolic syndrome.

Can Doppler study of the ovarian artery predict the fertility outcome of intrauterine insemination?

Background: To test the velocimetric pattern of the ovarian artery as a routine ovarian reserve test.

Methods: We enrolled 317 consecutive patients from January 2011 to June 2012. At the second day of the menstrual cycle, a transvaginal ultrasound was performed to evaluate the antral follicle count and ovarian volume, and Doppler of both ovarian arteries was also performed.

Borderline ovarian tumors, fertility-sparing surgery and pregnancy outcome.

Background: Borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) represent a type of epithelial tumors having a biologic intermediate behavior between clearly malignant and straight benign tumors. Most of BOTs interest women during fertile age, for which it is necessary to consider a fertility sparing surgery.

Aim: To evaluate the clinical aspects and pregnancy rate of women affected by borderline ovarian tumors who have undergone fertility sparing surgery.

Ovarian stripping versus cystectomy: recurrence of endometriosis and pregnancy rate.

Purpose: To compare two different surgical techniques, stripping or cystectomy, in patients treated with the same post-operative medical therapy in terms of recurrence of endometrioma, recurrence of pain and spontaneous pregnancy rate within 2 years from surgery.

Methods: The inclusion criteria of this study were: (1) 25-40 years old; (2) ovarian endometrioma more than 3 cm of diameter detected by transvaginal ultrasonography (3) regular menstrual cycle (4) post-operative treatment with GnRH analogs, (5) tubal patency assessed by laparoscopic chromopertubation (6) normal human semen characteristics. Exclusion criteria were uterine myoma, previous medical treatment for endometriosis, presence of adenomyosis, previous surgery of ovarian endometrioma, multiple cysts, bilateral involvement, co-existence of deep endometriosis.

Gynecologic sarcoma: a clinico-pathological review.

Most of the cases showing good prognosis in literature are probably intermediate tumors between benign and malignant of undetermined malignant potential (UMP) and other tumors with intermediate features which are currently not considered among sarcomas. Misdiagnosis of a malignant lesion as a benign one has a tragic outcome for the patient. Best therapic choice for sarcomas remains surgery, while chemotherapy (CTX) and radiation therapy (RT) could be used in adjuvant settings.

Maternal and perinatal outcomes in spontaneous versus assisted conception twin pregnancies.

Objective: To compare maternal and perinatal outcomes in twin pregnancies conceived via assisted reproductive techniques (ART) compared with spontaneous twin pregnancies.

Study Design: This retrospective study examined 345 dichorionic, di-amniotic twin pregnancies (207 conceived spontaneously and 138 conceived via ART), delivered between January 2007 and June 2011 at the San Pietro Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Rome, a tertiary medical centre. Maternal and perinatal outcomes were compared.

Evaluation of serum anti-Mullerian hormone levels to assess the ovarian reserve in women with severe endometriosis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to measure anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) serum levels in women with severe endometriosis, in order to demonstrate the effect of the disease on ovarian reserve.

Study Design: Prospective case-control study. One hundred and ninety-five patients were enrolled: 130 fertile patients (group A) and 65 patients with stage III and IV endometriosis, diagnosed by laparoscopy and histological examination (group B).