Cardiovascular Risk Perception and Knowledge among Italian Women: Lessons from IGENDA Protocol.

A multicenter, cross-sectional observational study (Italian GENder Differences in Awareness of Cardiovascular risk, IGENDA study) was carried out to evaluate the perception and knowledge of cardiovascular risk among Italian women. An anonymous questionnaire was completed by 4454 women (44.3 ± 14.

IGENDA protocol: gender differences in awareness, knowledge and perception of cardiovascular risk: an Italian multicenter study.

Aims: Recent reports evidenced gender differences in the knowledge, perception and awareness of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Despite the number of high-quality trials that attempted to establish the efficacy of different preventive interventions on CVDs, in the Italian scenario the differences by gender in awareness, knowledge and perception of CVD have not been addressed yet. So, the aims of this cross-sectional, observational and multicenter study will be to evaluate the gender differences in the awareness and perception of CVD risk, to assess the knowledge of CVD symptoms and preventive behaviors/barriers in men and women participating in this study, and to provide a national primary care approach for gender-oriented cardiovascular prevention strategies and therapy.

Modulation of Oxidative Stress by 17 β-Estradiol and Genistein in Human Hepatic Cell Lines In Vitro.

Background/aims: estrogens and phytoestrogens exert hepatoprotection through mechanisms not clearly examined yet. Here, we investigated the protective effects exerted by 17β-estradiol and genistein against oxidative stress in hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and the involvement of specific receptors and the intracellular signalling.

Methods: Huh7.

Robotic-Assisted Conservative Excision of Retrocervical-Rectal Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis: A Case Series.

Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) is a complex disease that impairs the quality of life and the fertility of women. Colorectal DIE accounts for 70% to 93% of all the intestinal endometriotic sites and frequently needs a surgical approach. However, the indications for the surgical management of this condition are still controversial.

Intraoperative radiotherapy in gynaecological and genito-urinary malignancies: focus on endometrial, cervical, renal, bladder and prostate cancers.

Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) refers to the delivery of a single radiation dose to a limited volume of tissue during a surgical procedure. A literature review was performed to analyze the role of IORT in gynaecological and genito-urinary cancer including endometrial, cervical, renal, bladder and prostate cancers.Literature search was performed by Pubmed and Scopus, using the words "intraoperative radiotherapy/IORT", "gynaecological cancer", "uterine/endometrial cancer", "cervical/cervix cancer", "renal/kidney cancer", "bladder cancer" and "prostate cancer".

Monomeric adiponectin increases cell viability in porcine aortic endothelial cells cultured in normal and high glucose conditions: Data on kinases activation.

We found that monomeric adiponectin was able to increase cell viability in porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAE) cultured both in normal and high glucose condition. Moreover, in normal glucose condition monomeric adiponectin increased p38MAPK, Akt, ERK1/2 and eNOS phosphorylation in a dose- and time-dependent way. Also in high glucose condition monomeric adiponectin increased eNOS and above kinases phosphorylation with similar patterns but at lower extent.

Monomeric adiponectin modulates nitric oxide release and calcium movements in porcine aortic endothelial cells in normal/high glucose conditions.

Aims: Perivascular adipose tissue can be involved in the process of cardiovascular pathology through the release of adipokines, namely adiponectins. Monomeric adiponectin has been shown to increase coronary blood flow in anesthetized pigs through increased nitric oxide (NO) release and the involvement of adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1). The present study was therefore planned to examine the effects of monomeric adiponectin on NO release and Ca(2+) transients in porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAEs) in normal/high glucose conditions and the related mechanisms.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Protects Vascular Endothelial Cells from Oxidative Stress by Apoptosis Inhibition, Cell Survival Signalling Activation and Mitochondrial Function Protection.

Background/aim: Previous reports have made it hypothetically possible that human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) could protect against the onset of pregnancy-related pathological conditions by acting as an antioxidant. In the present study we planned to examine the effects of hCG against oxidative stress in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).

Methods: HUVEC were subjected to peroxidation by hydrogen peroxide.

Osteoporosis's Menopausal Epidemiological Risk Observation (O.M.E.R.O.) study.

Osteoporosis (OP) and related fractures are well-known severe conditions affecting quality of life and life expectancy of postmenopausal women, with high economic costs in Europe. On behalf of The Italian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (Società Italiana di Ginecologia ed Ostetricia, SIGO), the Osteoporosis's Menopausal Epidemiological Risk Observation (O.M.

In anesthetized pigs human chorionic gonadotropin increases myocardial perfusion and function through a β-adrenergic-related pathway and nitric oxide.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is not only responsible for numerous pregnancy-related processes, but can affect the cardiovascular system as well. So far, however, information about any direct effect elicited by hCG on cardiac function, perfusion, and the mechanisms involved has remained scarce. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the primary in vivo effect of hCG on cardiac contractility and coronary blood flow and the involvement of autonomic nervous system and nitric oxide (NO).

Acylated and unacylated ghrelin impair skeletal muscle atrophy in mice.

Cachexia is a wasting syndrome associated with cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and several other disease states. It is characterized by weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite, and skeletal muscle atrophy and is associated with poor patient prognosis, making it an important treatment target. Ghrelin is a peptide hormone that stimulates growth hormone (GH) release and positive energy balance through binding to the receptor GHSR-1a.

Vaginal hysterectomy and multimodal anaesthesia with bipolar vessel sailing (Biclamp(®) forceps) versus conventional suture technique: quality results' analysis.

Purpose: The medical and economic benefits of the transvaginal approach over the abdominal and laparoscopic methods are demonstrated in many studies. Vaginal hysterectomy with bipolar vessel sailing (BiClamp(®)) represents an example of mininvasive surgery and could be a valid and cost-benefit alternative in the surgical treatment of benign gynaecologic disease. BiClamp(®) may be carried out according to Clavè's technique with a good result in postoperative pain.

Diacylglycerol kinase α mediates 17-β-estradiol-induced proliferation, motility, and anchorage-independent growth of Hec-1A endometrial cancer cell line through the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor GPR30.

Increased levels of endogenous and/or exogenous estrogens are one of the well known risk factors of endometrial cancer. Diacylglycerol kinases (DGKs) are a family of enzymes which phosphorylate diacylglycerol (DAG) to produce phosphatidic acid (PA), thus turning off and on DAG-mediated and PA-mediated signaling pathways, respectively. DGK α activity is stimulated by growth factors and oncogenes and is required for chemotactic, proliferative, and angiogenic signaling in vitro.

Accuracy and efficacy of narrow-band imaging versus white light hysteroscopy for the diagnosis of endometrial cancer and hyperplasia: a multicenter controlled study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate, in a multicenter study, whether the narrow-band imaging (NBI) technology may improve the diagnostic reliability of hysteroscopy in the diagnosis of endometrial cancer and hyperplasia.

Methods: A total of 801 outpatient women undergoing diagnostic hysteroscopy were enrolled. All women underwent fluid minihysteroscopy with white light (WL) and NBI exploration with endometrial eye-directed biopsy.

Laparoendoscopic single-site surgery for treatment of concomitant ovarian cystectomy and cholecystectomy.

Since the first laparoscopic appendectomy was performed by Semm in 1983, laparoscopic surgery has become the criterion standard surgical route for treatment of several pathologic conditions across disciplines. Attempts to minimize access-related injuries and complications resulted in development of laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS), which, because of the decreased number of ports used, may be the next generation of minimally invasive surgery. Laparoscopic single-site surgery has been reported in nephrectomy, pyeloplasty, radical prostatectomy, cholecystectomy, and colorectal, bariatric, and gynecologic surgery.

Narrow-band imaging in diagnosis of endometrial cancer and hyperplasia: a new option?

Study Objective: To estimate whether the use of narrow-band imaging (NBI) hysteroscopy increases concordance between visual identification and a histologic diagnosis of endometrial cancer and hyperplasia.

Design: Prospective study (Canadian Task Force classification: II-2).

Setting: Department of obstetrics and gynecology, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy.

Peritoneal psammocarcinoma diagnosed by a Papanicolau smear: a case report.

Background: Serous psammocarcinoma is a rare variant of epithelial neoplasia that can arise from the ovaries or peritoneum. It is characterized by massive psammoma body formation, invasiveness and low grade cytologic features.

Case: A 70-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital; a bimanual examination with cervicovaginal smear was performed.

Differential expression of microRNAs between eutopic and ectopic endometrium in ovarian endometriosis.

Endometriosis, defined as the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, is a common gynecological disease with poorly understood pathogenesis. MicroRNAs are members of a class of small noncoding RNA molecules that have a critical role in posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression by repression of target mRNAs translation. We assessed differentially expressed microRNAs in ectopic endometrium compared with eutopic endometrium in 3 patients through microarray analysis.

Role of HPV testing in the follow-up of women treated for cervical dysplasia.

Purpose: The aim of study was to investigate factors predicting persistence or relapse of disease after cervical conisation for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (CIN 2 or 3).

Methods: The study involved 78 women with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, conservatively treated with loop electroexcision procedure for cervical conisation and subsequent with CO(2) laser-vaporisation of the cervical bed. Histological specimens were totally included and examined by an experienced pathologist.

Minilaparotomy in spinal anaesthesia: a surgical choice in treatment of benign gynaecologic disease.

Purpose: Minilaparotomic access in spinal anaesthesia represents an example of mininvasive surgery and could be a valid cost-benefit alternative in the surgical treatment of benign gynaecologic diseases.

Methods: The study is a randomized study. We analyzed a consecutive series of 80 patients treated for benign gynaecological diseases with spinal (group A) or with general anaesthesia (group B).